Chapter 49: Open Seat
Veleus remained seated until he’d reassured himself that both Orleus and Miceus would recover. And the prisoners were in safer hands. All except Gerusa. The Palace Guard had been understandably reluctant to arrest a High Councilor. That would be a matter for the High Council.
By then, he was reasonably sure that he could climb the last flight of stairs without having to stop half-way to catch his breath. He’d spent the time thinking about the next step. The rogue guardsmen would be taken care of without his interference.
Gerusa was another matter. And the sooner she was taken care of, the better for everyone—in particular, his sons. It was clear now that Vatar and his family would never be truly safe here until Gerusa’s power was broken. Obviously, she needed to be kept away from Miceus, too.
Then, too, whatever was ahead for Cestus it would certainly be easier to manage on a rational level without Gerusa’s venom poisoning the Council. The proceedings against Gerusa might even give Cestus enough time to consolidate his control of the situation before the Council noticed. It was past time the High Council loosened its choke hold on the Fasallon. He’d said so for years. But it must be managed carefully. Peacefully. Especially if Cestus was right and he was the Fasallon who was not a Fasallon. In that case, they were at the fork of Abella’s prophecy. How they reacted now would determine their whole future—greatness or destruction.
Orleus returned from helping to remove Miceus to his own apartments nearby and the care of his wife. “The Healer says he’ll recover. A day or two in bed, for the blood loss.” He paused to stretch his shoulders. “Well, then, I suppose it’s time I got back to the farm.”
Veleus looked up. “I’d like you to stay just a little longer.”
“What for?”
Veleus gestured to the corner, where Gerusa remained tied up—and gagged. “One more loose end. And the sooner it’s tied up the safer for everyone. I’m sorry to have to involve you in this, but I think it’s time to call an emergency session of the High Council. I need you to help me get her up to the Council Chamber. And to tell what you saw. Gerusa’s and my battles have been too public. It’s best if I’m not the only witness against her.”
Orleus glanced toward his mother and nodded. “You’re right. She’ll just keep plotting against Vatar until she’s stopped.”
~
Veleus called the High Council directly, with Far Speech, ignoring the bell that usually called them into session. He wasn’t sure whether the ringers were in on Cestus’s plan or not. Better not to call attention to them, either way.
They arrived at the Council Chamber, Veleus in the lead. Orleus behind, pushing Gerusa before him.
Amaurea’s eyes narrowed on seeing this. “What is this about, Veleus?”
Gerusa moved toward her seat, but Orleus pulled her back. The two of them remained standing at the end of the long table. Orleus ostentatiously kept one hand on the hilt of his sword. He gripped Gerusa’s arm firmly with the other.
Veleus took his seat before answering. “Gerusa acted in direct opposition to the decision of this Council. Earlier today, she ordered the kidnapping of Vatar’s children.”
“You’re certain it was Gerusa?” one of Gerusa’s allies asked.
Veleus arched an eyebrow. “The children were found in her apartment. Along with the suborned members of the Temple Guard who’d taken them from Vatar’s farm. Orleus can attest to this.”
Amaurea shot Gerusa a disgusted look. “The children have been returned to their father?”
Veleus permitted himself a weary smile. “Yes, but the girl was seriously injured by the Temple Guard Gerusa sent to take them. One of them hit her. Boreala is tending to her, now. In the process of rescuing them, Gerusa stabbed our other son, Miceus, with her own hand. He’s also recovering.”
Amaurea drummed her fingers on the table. “What do you have to say for yourself, Gerusa?”
Gerusa pulled her arm free of Orleus’s grip. She jerked her chin up. “I only did what we have always done. I acted to bring children with Fasallon blood into the care of the Temple.”
Amaurea vented a frustrated sigh. “This Council had made its decision to agree to leave Vatar’s family alone. That would naturally include his children.”
Gerusa took a step forward. “You can allow that half-blood to dictate to you if you like. But I won’t.”
Amaurea stood up at the other end of the table. “You do not speak or act for the entire High Council, Gerusa.”
Gerusa leaned forward. “Someone has to have the courage to act!”
Amaurea slapped her hands on the table. “That’s not your decision to make. Especially when the Council has already decided the issue. The fact that you don’t agree with our decision does not give you the right to act in defiance of it.”
Gerusa tossed her head. “What are you going to do to stop me? The place at the head of this table should have been mine!”
Amaurea drew herself up to her full height. “What am I going to do? This. I put before this Council that Gerusa has forfeited the right of Talent. Shall she be expelled from the Council?”
Veleus stifled the urge to smile. The vote around the table was nearly unanimous. Even Gerusa’s allies couldn’t take her side in this. Not now.
Amaurea sat back down. “Very well, Gerusa, you are no longer a member of the High Council of the Fasallon. And I order that you be restricted to your chambers pending further determination of your crimes and the fitting punishment for them.” She turned to remaining members of the Council. “Who is next in line from Abella’s lineage?”
A Councilor near the far end of the table sighed. “That lineage grows thin. The most Talented descendant of Abella is Master Healer Boreala. Next would be Gerusa’s other daughter, Selene.”
Amaurea turned to Veleus. “Will Boreala serve?”
Veleus rubbed the back of his neck. Boreala would certainly resist, for more than one reason. But he didn’t doubt that Selene would be her mother’s creature. It would be almost as bad as having Gerusa still on the Council. “I’ll do my best to persuade her.”
“You can’t cast me off like this and replace me with my daughter!” Gerusa raged.
“We just did,” Amaurea answered coolly. “We’re adjourned.”
~
After leaving the Council Chamber and arriving at the floor below, Veleus stopped first at Miceus’s apartment, where Athra assured him that Miceus was asleep, resting comfortably. Veleus went on to his own apartments. There was at least one other family member he needed to know about before he could rest. “Vatar?”
“Yes, Father?” Vatar answered.
“How is Savara?”
Vatar smiled. “She’s awake. Boreala says she’ll be fine.”
“Good. Is Boreala still there?” Veleus asked.
“Yes. She’s planning to stay overnight, so she can keep an eye on Savara. How’s Miceus?”
“He’ll mend, too.” Veleus paused for a moment. He needed to speak to Boreala very soon. Preferably in person. Better to wait until everyone was rested. There’d been more than enough excitement for one day. And, in his experience, tired people tended to be harder to persuade. “Ask Boreala to wait for me. I’ll come up as early as I can tomorrow morning.” Besides, by then maybe the boats would be running as normal again.
~
The boats weren’t running as normal. Veleus was forced to contact Cestus for permission to be rowed across. A potentially difficult situation. Fortunately, he was early enough that not too many other Fasallon were awake to see it. Still, Veleus made a show of thanking the boatmen and paying them each with a Caerean coin. Probably past due for that to become the custom, anyway. Getting back across discreetly was likely to be a bigger problem. By then, the High Council would surely have taken note of Cestus’s actions. If he was going to be of any help to Cestus, it wouldn’t do to appear to be in on it—or receiving special treatment.
Veleus sighed as he walked through the
jostling crowds and started up the hill. Why couldn’t problems come one at a time?
The first thing he did when he reached the farm was to ask about his granddaughter again.
“She’s well, Father,” Boreala answered. “She ate a little broth last night and some porridge this morning. I predict difficulties in keeping her quiet by midday.”
Veleus smiled. “That’s generally a good sign as I recall.” He drew her over to sit on the bench under the apple tree. “I wanted a chance to talk to you about something else, too.”
“What’s that?”
“Did Orleus tell you about what happened yesterday?”
Boreala laughed. “We got a blow by blow from Thekila until Quetza brought Savara here. Then I was pretty busy for a while. And tired, once I was sure the danger was past. I think Orleus said something about the High Council kicking Mother out. They didn’t really, did they?
Veleus nodded. “They did.” He shook his head. “Gerusa never could control her temper—or just never tried. She challenged Amaurea directly. Which, of course, left Amaurea little choice. And after what she’d just done, even her allies couldn’t stand up for her.” He turned to look Boreala in the eye. “They want you to take her place.”
Boreala drew back. “Me? I can’t be on the Council. I don’t have time. Anyway, I hate the Council.”
Veleus leaned forward. “Sure you can. If you want to make changes in the High Council and in the sometimes high-handed way they treat everyone else, there’s no better way.”
“I—”
“Let me finish,” Veleus interrupted. “I have two more arguments for you to consider. It can’t possibly be long now before the High Council figure out what Cestus has been up to. Another sympathetic member on the High Council could make all the difference for him.”
Boreal paused. “What’s the other argument?”
“If you don’t take it,” Veleus said. “They’ll offer the seat to Selene. And she’s sure to be a proxy for your mother. Gerusa’s old allies will probably fall in line behind her. It’s practically a guarantee that the changes I’ve been working for—that Cestus has risked everything for—won’t happen.”
Boreala sighed. “All right. I’ll give it a try. I don’t promise to continue.”
Veleus smiled. “Good. We’d better get back to the Palace. As soon as I’ve seen Zavar and Savara for myself. I expect another Council meeting very soon.”
~
Veleus was right. He and Boreala barely made it back to the Palace of the Fasallon before the call—by Far Speech—came for another emergency meeting of the High Council. He tried to prepare her as they climbed the stairs to the Council Chamber at the very top of the Palace. “For today, don’t say too much. No one will think much of it at your first meeting. There’s a Sooth Teller on the Council who’ll know if you lie. Just try to follow my lead. I wish we’d be sitting closer to each other, but that can’t be fixed today.”
As they entered the chamber, he directed Boreala to what had been her mother’s seat. The members spared only a moment to welcome her.
“Do you have any idea what’s happening, Veleus?” Amaurea asked almost as soon as he was seated.
Veleus took a moment to answer. He couldn’t tell a direct lie—the Sooth Teller would be able to read that. But he also didn’t want to let the other Councilors know that he’d been aware of the situation almost a full day before them—and hadn’t told them. “From what I’ve seen, it appears that many—possibly most—of the unTalented are refusing to work.”
“Do you know why?” Montibeus asked.
Veleus shrugged. “Why ask me? Hadn’t we better ask them?”
Amaurea made a frustrated noise. “Who do you suggest we ask? We don’t seem to be able to get anyone to give us a straight answer.”
Veleus looked out the opposite window for a moment as if he were thinking. “If it were up to me, I’d start with Dinus. He always seems to know what’s going on.”
Amaurea responded with a tight smile. “Good idea. Send for him.”
“Send who?” Montibeus asked. “The Palace Guard aren’t answering the bell.”
Veleus stood up. “Fortunately, I’ve never minded using my own legs. I’ll get him.”
Veleus gave only half his attention to the stairs as he walked down them. At least there was no reason to hurry. The High Council would hardly expect that of one of their members. Bad enough, as far as most of them were concerned, that they had to run their own errands. “Cestus!”
“What is it, Father?” Cestus’s mental voice sounded weary.
“The Council has noticed what’s happening. They’re meeting now. I’ve advised them to start by questioning Dinus.”
“Good idea. He’s the one in charge at the Palace. My second.”
Veleus sighed. “You know you’ll have to appear before them yourself. Very soon.”
“I know. But I can’t get away just yet. Tell Dinus to try to buy me some time.”
Veleus nearly staggered under the wash of exhaustion that accompanied that statement.
~
Veleus showed Dinus up to the open end of the table and resumed his seat.
Amaurea allowed both of them a moment to catch their breaths. “Can you tell us what’s going on, Dinus?”
Dinus blinked and swallowed hard. “Some of the unTalented have decided not to continue working under the existing conditions.”
“What? Why not?” One of Gerusa’s former allies asked.
Dinus cleared his throat. “They’re tired of having every aspect of their lives determined for them. They want more control.”
Amaurea frowned. “The High Council doesn’t dictate every aspect of anyone’s lives.”
“Not directly, perhaps. But you do maintain the system that is tilted heavily toward the most Talented. The ones who make all the decisions are always Talented, even in positions where Talent is completely unnecessary. Even if the particular Talented in charge has no idea what’s really required to get the job done—and often doesn’t care. It’s the less-Talented lower bureaucrats like me who have to find a way to make their often idiotic decisions work.
“The system the Council maintains forces the less-Talented and especially the unTalented into untenable positions. The hierarchy, one way or another, determines what we can be, what we must do. Even if we hate the jobs you give us, we have no choice. And if we are fortunate, if we like what we do and are good at it, no matter how hard we work it will never be enough. We will always be in that same job. We can never rise into the positions reserved for those with Talent. We’re tired of it.”
Amaurea shook her head. “No one’s ever complained about it before.”
Montibeus cleared his throat. “That’s not exactly true. My office gets protests and requests for exceptions all the time.” He looked up at Dinus. “We try to accommodate the petitioners when we can.”
“Not all of those above us are as generous,” Dinus said.
Amaurea sighed. “Well, then. What is it you want? We can’t overturn the entire system for you.”
Dinus sucked in a deep breath. “You’ll need to talk to our leader if you want to discuss that.”
“Who is your leader, then?” Amaurea asked.
Dinus shot a quick look at Veleus before answering. “Cestus.”
Veleus did his best to look surprised, but was careful not to say anything. The Sooth Teller could only read a spoken lie, after all. He couldn’t read thoughts.
Amaurea’s brow furrowed. “Who is Cestus? I don’t think I’ve heard of him before.”
Montibeus opened his mouth to answer, but Veleus cut him off. “One of my sons. He teaches in the Temple.”
Amaurea turned toward him. “One of your sons, Veleus? Who was his mother?”
Veleus permitted himself a small smile. “You wouldn’t know her. She’s Caerean.” No need to point out that she was also now Dinus’s wife.
“Well, then, how do we send for Cestus?”
Montibeus turned to look at Veleus. “He has very little Talent. I think he can hear Far Speech from some people.”
Veleus met his friend’s gaze. “Most people, if they’re close enough physically. At more distance, though, you’re right. He hears people with whom he has a connection better. I’ll call for him if you like.”
“Do so,” Amaurea said.
Veleus concentrated. “Cestus?”
“Yes, Father.”
“The High Council is calling for you.”
Cestus sighed. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Veleus blinked his eyes back into focus. “He’ll come. He’s over in the Temple, so it may take a little time.”
Amaurea stared at Veleus, eyes narrowed with suspicion. “You don’t seem very surprised by any of this, Veleus. Did you know this was going to happen?”
Veleus shook his head. “No. I had no idea what Cestus was planning.” It was the truth. He hadn’t known anything about the revolt before Cestus triggered it. “But I’m not shocked that the unTalented eventually said enough. I’ve said it many times before, in this very room. We have placed too much value on Talent alone. There are many other kinds of ability and we ignore all of them to our cost in favor of just this one. Honestly, how much Talent does it take to run any part of the bureaucracy? No doubt Far Speech is occasionally useful, but beyond that what use is Talent for, say, a Captain of the Palace or Temple Guard? Or his lieutenants?”
Chapter 50: Change in High Places
Cestus looked up as the boat bumped against the pier. He hated to disembark. The short row over from the Temple wharf was the first real rest he’d had since before this time yesterday. He trudged up the broad stone steps and down the long entry hall. He sagged into a chair while he conferred with Dinus. No new problems here, at least.
With a tired grunt he stood up and faced the stairs that would lead up to the Council Chamber at the very top of the Palace. He wanted to just crumple onto the bottom step at the thought of climbing all that way, but Cestus stiffened his spine and started upward.
He paused again at the open door, squaring his shoulders. This was the critical moment. Cestus lifted his chin and strode in, doing his best to hide his weariness.
The Voice of Prophecy (Dual Magics Book 2) Page 32
