The Best of Men - an epic fantasy (Song of Ages Book 1)

by Wilf Jones

  ‘Is everyone satisfied? I thank Mistress Younger for drawing my attention to such an important factor of this meeting. There are here invited representatives of the three countries of Gothery, Pars and Aegarde. I am only sorry that at present we include no Masacheans. No, don’t be surprised at that. No matter what you may presently believe to be the case, we are all under attack and share a common enemy.

  ‘Already battles have been fought, lives have been lost; we have witnessed destruction and cruelty and pain; but these are merely the opening forays in what will be a long and considered campaign. In recent weeks my companions and I have cut a path through the heart of this continent and everywhere we found peril and mystery and wicked intent. Most of you have had the tale of our adventure in one way or another so I’ll not cover the ground again. Mador’s problems at Ayer, the affair on Tumboll, our encounter with the spy in Slaney, the Battle of Moreda and the dispute in Astoril were all critical moments for those involved but these events were only symptoms of a greater malaise. Today I want to explain to you the nature of the disease we face. Yes, General Alling?’

  Angren had noticed that Alling seemed distracted as though something was preying on his mind. Now he’d half risen from his chair as if to make some pronouncement. All eyes were upon him and the wizard’s were steely with disapproval as though he knew what the General would say. Alling at first bridled at that look but then thought the better of it. ‘I suppose it can wait until you are done,’ he said frostily, ‘but mark my word, I will have my say.’

  Faces around the table displayed astonishment at the General’s lack of good grace but the wizard was unmoved.

  ‘I look forward to your comments but, for now, perhaps I can continue? Good. As I was saying, we are all under attack but it is Pars that currently bears the brunt. King Mador is beleaguered. In the East, five months gone, Masachea made a massive and unprecedented attack upon Mador’s border garrison at Aristeth. I offer condolence to Lady Althoné: her family and house were decimated by that attack. Mador’s reply was as swift and potent as could be and now his armies police the Masachean border. But it is no easy job. The Masacheans continue to press against them as though driven to it and there seems little chance of respite.

  ‘In the North, six or seven weeks back, rumours were voiced talking of brigands or a rogue army destroying towns and villages. Mador sent the army of the Royal House of Sands to investigate. Their commander, Lord Jaspar, made several uncomfortable reports. He found no brigands and no army but only a land emptied of people. The garrison of Castle Greteth in the Francon Valley was deserted. Jaspar has made the castle his base but how he’s doing there we don’t know. His last report was received in Ayer on the twenty-fourth of July, almost a month ago. Anparas and Temor have been sent north to face whatever there is to face and to rescue Sands.

  ‘And then there is the West. It was back in March that Athoff first moved to usurp the authority of his father. He was clever. I don’t know what poison was used to make his father seem confused and incapable, but it took very little persuasion to convince the senate that Agwis was unfit to hold office. At present the King is held under house arrest and Athoff is free to do whatsoever he likes. Apparently what he likes is to cause trouble. He is raising an army, and it’s heading this way.

  ‘Mador takes this as a direct threat to Pars. He argues that Athoff’s plan cannot end with the annexation of Gothery. He may be right: Athoff is ambitious. Possibly he sees himself as some Asteranorean Emperor: a potentate set to rival the Emp Radis on Sullinor. Whatever Athoff’s intention, for the defence of Pars, Mador knew that he must do something and do it quickly. If I hadn’t spoken to him, Anparas and Temor would have crossed the River and marched on the capital. They would have placed Astoril under martial law.‘

  ‘Utter rot!’ Gothery’s ministers were all shocked at the thought of a Partian invasion but Alling was furious. ‘I bow not to invaders, east or west. Four thousand to take Gothery? Not while I stand. Do you think my forces tame?’

  ‘Well there is the point General: I think them tamed.’

  ‘Then you’re a fool.’

  ‘Am I? Think about it. How is the State of Gothery? Mador was very sure the force he sent would be sufficient to the task. His spies tell him that nothing in Gothery is as it should be. Do you disagree? Any of you? Fel?’

  Awdrey nodded vigorously. ‘We all know it, Seama. My end of things is terrible. The manufactories all seem in trouble at once: managers gone missing, machines breaking down, all sorts of bother with payments going astray, materials not coming through. It’s a mess. Come on Mart, it’s the same with the army. You were only saying the other day that you hadn’t a single captain you could trust to be in the right place at the right time. And Gurdy, what about all that trouble with the defence budget? Soldiers not getting their pay, no money for upkeep, be it property or weapons. And what about that damn stupidity when the launderers refused to clean the Royals’ uniforms unless they got cash in hand? What a sight eh, the King’s Elite washing their own smalls! Where’s the dignity in that? Seama’s right, my friends, and we know it. It’s all gone to pot.’

  Fel Awdrey’s colleagues looked as though they were sucking lemons, even Mart Alling, but the old man hadn’t finished.

  ‘And I’m surprised we haven’t had more trouble. Have you read the papers lately? Have you seen the cartoons? Headless chickens, that’s what they call us. People on the street think we’re a joke and some are saying it’s about time something was done about it. Two small armies take Gothery? I tell you, a party of pensioners could do the job!’

  There was some nodding of heads but not everyone agreed with him. ‘Theatrical as ever, Fel,’ said the Chancellor, ‘but off the mark as usual. I am completely on top of what the papers are saying. Let me assure you of that.’

  ‘Theatrical am I? Well I’m not sure whether I’m in a farce or a tragedy but it’s easy to see the villain of the piece. I’ve heard you had Gombret’s son arrested—‘

  ‘Enough!’ The Marquess of Hollingdale nearly toppled over in his chair. Seama’s voice had a paralysing quality to it. Shame, Angren thought, I was beginning to enjoy that.

  ‘I didn’t ask you here to argue the toss about the Chancellor’s methods – though I am sure words might be said at some point in the near future. For now, Fel, we have issues more pressing.’

  Awdrey bowed slightly and gave Seama a quick grin. Chancellor-baiting was obviously one of his favourite pastimes. Angren thought he could get to like the old boy. The wizard continued.

  ‘The Chancellor, whatever his actions, really is not the villain of this piece. You all know where that title lies but at this point you don’t know why.’ He looked from one face to another and then settled his gaze upon the Prime Minister.

  Keth Hardie nodded. He seemed embarrassed.

  ‘Yes. Yes, we all know who. Everyday we sat in conference debating what we should do about him, and everday we did nothing. How could we have been so weak?’

  The question brought out sighs of agreement from his colleagues. Angren wasn’t impressed: the Gotherians had such an air of defeat about them, slumped in their chairs or leaning on the table, heads in hands. Even the arrogant Chancellor seemed at a loss. Where was the fight? Where was the pride? This pathetic bunch was supposed to be running the country and all they could do was mope. Angren pulled a face in disgust and Seama noticed.

  ‘No Angren, you don’t understand; you shouldn’t blame them. These are good, strong people in the normal way of things, but this time they faced an adversary completely beyond them. He was very nearly too strong even for me.’

  Angren didn’t believe that for a minute and thought the wizard was just trying to make the Gotherians feel better. Not too bad an idea, he supposed.

  ‘So,’ he said, ‘Tell us about this Dr Bliss then. Sounds like he’s in the thick of it.’
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br />   ‘He is the thick of it. Tarangananda uh-Bib, that’s his real name, Dr. Bliss only here in Astoril. A part of his name actually translates as bliss; why he should want to be so obvious I don’t know. He arrived in Gothery at just about the same time the Masacheans attacked Aristeth. Within a month he’d manoeuvered himself into a position in the King’s household. It was easy for him to manipulate the situation here because he’s not really a Doctor. He is, as you now understand, an extremely powerful wizard. He used magic to confuse you all – even now when you think of him you become compliant because the magic lingers. He used potions to control Sirl, he corrupted loyal servants to gain control of the Court, and he set saboteurs and spies to bring Gothery’s industry to wrack and ruin. Dr Bliss is the greatest of villains.

  ‘Much of his activity was designed with the purpose of softening you up. He wanted to make Gothery an easy target for that hot-head in Garassa. What Athoff needed then was an excuse to invade and a cause to help bring his forces together. You see, raising an army in Aegarde is a convoluted process. Pars of course has professional armies all pledged to the crown; they obey orders, they fight whoever their King tells them to and they do it without question. In Aegarde there’s a system of allegiance, certainly, but it’s far from regular. Valdez can tell you that the four Dukedoms are each a law unto themselves; the Fat Thousands, the Hundred Kingdoms and the biggest part of Matagorda a hotch potch of local powers and private armies. None of these jump at the King’s command. What they all need is something to get their gander up: a common threat, a wrong to right. And so Dr Bliss gave Athoff some help.

  ‘The Black Company made its first appearance barely a month after the good doctor arrived in Gothery. I can tell you, beyond any doubt, that Uh Bib was their paymaster. Of course there is no independent evidence linking the Company with Athoff, nor even any physical proof that Athoff was in communication with the wizard—’

  ‘On that I beg to differ.’

  ‘Chancellor?’

  ‘I never trusted Bliss. Keth may say we stood by and did nothing but he should speak for himself. It was plain to me that he had some hold over the King less wholesome than the office of Doctor would suggest. It was easy to understand the career he’d mapped out for himself but it wasn’t in my mind to give him a free hand.’

  ‘And yet, Tys, that is exactly what he had.’

  Heald was rarely daunted by criticism.

  ‘That may be true, Prime Minister, but at least I sought evidence against him. It fell to me to have him watched very closely—’

  ‘Apparently not close enough,’ Fel threw in with a grin, ‘You don’t normally require so much evidence before arrestin’ people.’

  ‘No easy task arresting Tarangananda uh Bib,’ said Seama, ‘I tried it myself and failed. Not exactly easy to have him watched either.’

  ‘As I found,’ agreed Heald, ‘My agents never seemed able to keep up with him. We did however manage to identify his familiars and functionaries – not all, of course – and so we watched them instead. Even some members of the Royal Troop seemed all too ready to jump at his command. Captain Cardre was always at his door. Cardre is master of the King’s despatches, a critical commission in the circumstances, and so I had a man in there. According to his report, every few days a party would leave before dawn on fast horses bound westerly. My man never got in on any of the missions but he did get to see the direction on one of the papers sent: it was addressed to Athoff Ringsøyr. Clear evidence of collusion, don’t you think?’

  Many around the table murmured agreement but Admiral Alveson piped up in protest.

  ‘Well, it’s not clear to me,’ he said. The Admiral had a high pitched whine in his voice that Angren found irritating. ‘At a time of dispute between nations, surely this is simply some official communication, a step in negotiation?’ He looked to his friend Mart Alling for support but the general shook his head.

  ‘Not official – I’d have known about it.’

  ‘I agree,’ said Gurdy Younger, ‘the protocol is that we agree communiques in cabinet. You must know, Admiral, that we sanctioned nothing of the sort.’

  ‘But still, without knowing what was written…’

  ‘Does this matter, Admiral Alveson?’ Seama was clearly annoyed that his argument was heading off on the wrong fork. ‘The fact remains that a connection exists between Uh Bib and the Black Company and with Athoff. Otherwise none of this makes sense. The threat to your borders from Aegarde has been constructed by uh Bib. What I am trying to get you to understand is that your Dr Bliss has more than Gothery in his sights.

  ‘I’m convinced that Uh Bib is the author of Mador’s problems also. It’s true that I can’t place him in Masachea; nor could I swear it was his spell-making that threatened Ayer; and there is no evidence that he’s connected with the Halfi on Tumboll. Yet still I’d wager anything that he’s the prime mover in the East as in the West.’

  ‘A busy man then. You have to admire his energy.’

  ‘There is nothing I admire about the Randálan, Fel.’

  ‘No,’ Fel admitted, ‘perhaps not.’ He scratched at his beard. ‘What I don’t see, Seama, is why he’s doing all this. No doubt it keeps him entertained but where’s he going with it?’

  Gurdy Younger was with him on that one. ‘You called him the Randálan Are we to assume he’s in the pay of the Emperor?’

  ‘A worrying thought isn’t it, that the Emp Radis is casting his gaze once more upon the green fields of Asteranor? But no. The Emperor has too many troubles at home. The city states on Oxitor have become a thorn in his side since he tried to annexe them; and the Scorpion Men in the south-east become ever more radical – some elements are threatening open rebellion. If you add to that a thousand miles of ocean to cross, the problem with the Corayan pirates and throw in, if you like, the Emperor’s own personal discomforts, the chance of his attacking us seems increasingly remote. A different story in his youth of course. Thirty years ago he set his best agent to prepare the ground for an all-out invasion, and that agent very nearly succeeded.’

  Fel Awdrey was quickest on the uptake. ‘Thirty years ago?’

  ‘Yes Fel.’

  ‘Then it’s all the more likely, aint it? Thirty years ago was when that fellow… damnation! I knew I’d heard the name before. Uh Bib, the Randálan, Dr Bliss. It’s the same man. Same man, same task.’

  ‘But a different paymaster.’

  ‘You’ve lost me,’ said Gurdy Younger, slightly exasperated, ‘Are you saying that Bliss has tried this before?’

  ‘Yes. His strategy then was not the same. He tried to take control of Errensea. As Taprod he could have created mayhem. Fortunately we managed to oust him before he could complete the spell.’

  ‘He has great power, this wizard, if he could attempt to subdue the Council?’

  ‘Yes, Mistress Younger – and more now than previously.’

  ‘But you say he has a new paymaster. If Bliss is so powerful I cannot see him bowing to the odious Athoff.’

  ‘It’s not Athoff, Gurdy.’

  ‘Not the Masacheans surely,’ said the Chancellor, plainly outraged at the thought, ‘they can hardly walk in a straight line!’

  ‘No, Tys, it is not the Masacheans. They are a part of this but they wouldn’t have the capacity to drive it. Bliss is our designer, the drive comes from somewhere else entirely.’

  Angren knew where all this was leading but around the table was a sea of confused faces. Seama needed to get on with it, he thought, or he’d lose them. Apparently the wizard had reached the same conclusion.

  ‘Ladies and Gentlemen,’ he said. “The time has come to complete the circle, to reveal the missing link in the chain. The answer lies here.’

  Seama had reached into the leather satchel at his feet. He threw a bundle of manuscript pages onto the table before him.


  ‘This is a copy of The Song of Ages. It is the answer to the mystery.’

  Angren looked over at Alling and wasn’t disappointed. The general rolled his eyes to the ceiling. ‘Pieces of paper!’ he said, ‘And foul looking pieces at that. Where on Ea’ are we going this time?’

  Seama shrugged. ‘Yes, it’s a little discoloured and tattered. Luckily I managed to recover it from my saddle bags before the Cottle went down, but it got a soaking and I haven’t Grek’s ability with scrip: I spoiled some of the pages trying to dry it out, yellowed the rest. But never mind the condition, the text remains. Within these pages is a tale of the past and, more importantly, a warning for the future. These are the revelations of Haslem the Great and we’d do well to consider them.’

  ‘Haslem the Great?’

  ‘Yes Gurdy.’

  The Minister’s voice was edged with reverence. An essential study at the Collegium but elswhere Haslem’s texts were relatively innaccessible. The common people of Gothery rarely had the honour of reading them.

  ‘Oh, this goes from silly to stupid!’

  ‘That, Mart Alling, is hardly respectful to one of the Founders,’ said Fel Awdrey, his voice was mild in tone but there was a glitter in his eyes, ‘and most certainly not respectful to the Lord Seama.’

  ‘Control of His Majesty’s forces is my office. My remit does not extend to finding soft words for interloping conjurors!’

  ‘You little pipsqueak! You’ll apologize for that and now!’

  Awdrey was out of his chair, the better to press his point, but Seama intervened.

  ‘Forget it, Fel. His comment is fair. The fact is it’s up to me to show that my argument is neither silly nor stupid. General, may I ask, once again, will you allow me to continue? Perhaps I’ll be able to persuade you?’