Cry of the Newborn

by James Barclay

  'Let's be absolutely clear,' said the Chancellor. ‘I don't like you or the meddling with God's earth you are permitted in the name of science and engineering. I have no respect for a calling that openly questions my faith as part of its remit. And as you will be aware, I am a very busy woman as my position demands.' ‘I think the Advocate—'

  'The Advocate is not here. I am.' The Chancellor paused and stared at him for a moment. 'You look scared, Orin. I find that disturbing. After all, I am only the Advocate's appointed representative of God on this earth. Surely you have nothing to fear from me.'

  D'Allinnius's throat was tight. He reached out for the water jug and found himself pressing his lips together with the effort of keeping his hand steady.

  'I did not expect you, that's all,' he said through dry lips. 'I don't know why you're here.'

  'And that scares you, doesn't it, Orin? Someone of my importance sitting in your house awaiting you. I expect servants to be scared of me but the Advocate's Master Engineer? What must you have done to be so worried?'

  D'Allinnius took a sip of his water. He was sweating. His mind wouldn't settle. He tried desperately to calm himself. But the more he focused, the more the reasons for the Chancellor's presence reared in his head. And he had been sworn to secrecy by the Advocate herself.

  'I have done nothing,' said D'Allinnius. 'Barring carrying out my duties as ordered by the Advocate, who is my ruler. Not you.' That last was a whisper.

  The Chancellor leaned forwards slightly. 'Do not attempt to hide behind the Advocate's toga. The laws allowing practice of other religions are there for political expediency in ill-educated border territories only. They do not apply here as they do not apply in Caraduk. And I will root out and destroy heresy against the Omniscient where I find it. That is my prime motivation.'

  'Those laws apply across the Conquord, Chancellor Koroyan. You, like I, cannot choose when and where they are enforced.'

  'Hmm.' The Chancellor's smile was ice. ‘I think you will find you are mistaken in that, Orin. As you are if you think you can refuse my demands now. I should remind you that you are very much alone here. I am suspicious and I want answers.'

  D'Allinnius took a deep breath. ‘I have nothing to say to you.'

  'Another mistake,' said Koroyan. 'I don't want to have to use coercion or, God-embrace-me, force but you make it so difficult.'

  'There is nothing you have that would force me to speak against the vows I have made to my Advocate.' But he was quaking inside at the promise in Koroyan's voice.

  'You think yourself immune because of your position but you are wrong. The Advocate might turn a blind eye to your proclivities but that does not make them any the less abhorrent.'

  D'Allinnius crumbled inside. 'How could you—' He said before clamping his mouth shut.

  'Oh, Orin, how naive you are. I am the Chancellor of the Order of Omniscience. Only the Advocate is closer to God than I am. No one denies me anything. Not for long. When I ask, people answer. Always.'

  The Chancellor straightened her back and made a single gesture with her left hand. The two men rose and strode round the table to stand behind D'Allinnius.

  'Abuse of minors is a crime against God and the Conquord,' she said. 'But I will do as the Advocate does if you tell me what I must know. I am charged with the sanctity of the Omniscient. Therefore I must know if heresy is being spoken or practised. I know you journeyed to Caraduk with Paul Jhered. I know you undertook an investigation. That the Order was not involved leaves me deeply concerned. Tell me. What did you find fluttering under the Vasselis banner?'

  'It is not for me to tell you,' said D'Allinnius, swallowing at the constriction in his throat. 'And you cannot scare me with your threats. I am protected. Ask the Advocate.'

  'But I am asking you.'

  'I will not tell you.'

  He felt hands, strong hands, clamp on to his shoulders. He smelled sweat and violence in the air. The Chancellor looked at him in mock concern.

  'Please don't make me hurt you, Orin.'

  He shook his head, scouring the depths of his dwindling courage. 'I will not tell you,' he repeated. 'Yes, Orin, you will.'

  Herine was surprised at how pleased she was to see Paul Jhered. The Exchequer had breezed into the palace, demanding an audience. He was not changed and had indulged in little more than a perfunctory

  wash. He stank of the sea. She untied and dismissed her consort, whom she had been enjoying very much, but found herself smiling as Jhered's eyes followed the beautiful young man out, the growl on his lips hurrying him along.

  'Oh, Paul, you are an impossible man. Scaring my consort and barely letting me cover my dignity before you burst in.'

  She lay back on the bed in what she knew was a decorous fashion while she watched Jhered move to a recliner and sit down to pour himself watered wine and heap a plate with fruit.

  'Then you need faster servants. I told the woman to run. Clearly she did not.'

  'She did and she was out of breath when she spoke to me. Can it really be so important, what you discovered in Westfallen, or have you come to wreak revenge for your punishment?'

  'On the contrary. I thank you for what was a fascinating, if disturbing, trip. And yes, it is that important, as you well know. Come and join me here, Herine. I'm uncomfortable staring at you on your bed.'

  Herine laughed, wrapped her gown more tightly around her and gathered it at the waist with a leather cord.

  'I've missed you,' she said. 'You and I should not be falling out.'

  'You don't seem to have despaired too deeply,' said Jhered. 'The Games were a success, I am told.'

  'Yes, they were. And I note you have timed your return impeccably,' said Herine sharply. 'Not even you can have failed to sense the mood of the city.'

  'I am sure the citizens are very happy,' said Jhered. 'Perhaps not our Atreskan and Goslander friends, though.'

  'My latest reports have our armies north and south scoring significant victories and the east holding firm against the mass of the enemy. Victory is close.'

  'I pray that you are right. How long until the next reports?'

  Herine shrugged, bored of the discussion. 'In the next seven to ten days.' She beckoned for Jhered to pour her some wine. 'So, is it witchcraft and heresy or is Vasselis sinking into delusion?'

  Jhered opened a leather satchel he was carrying and pulled out a bound document. He handed it across the table. Herine took it and opened it to the first page.

  'There are two documents. This is the shorter one. It contains a summary, recommendations and detailed accounts of what we saw and understand. The longer version contains genealogy and speculation on ability and development. It also contains the sworn statements of every man and woman in Westfallen, plus all those involved from the house of Vasselis. I will leave it in the satchel for you.' ‘I see.'

  Herine began to read. She scanned the summary and flicked on into the accounts, finding herself drawn deeper and deeper into the content which read like fiction. Outrageous, dangerous fiction from warped minds. She heard Jhered speaking to her. Words like 'custody', 'weapon', 'observation' and 'control' filtered through but she was barely listening. She could scarce believe the words before her were signed as truth by the man opposite her. She felt her eyesight funnelling and her skin crawling. The blood ran hot in her veins and her palms were clammy.

  She had no option; she read the whole report then and there, trying to see a way out and searching for the falsehoods and trickery that would show it to be an elaborate ruse. Jhered's recommendations spoke of careful education and later, introduction to the Order and thence the populace. They discussed likely fear but balanced that with the potential for progress and advancement of the human condition. All of it under the auspices of the Advocacy. But he had missed the most fundamental fact.

  'This is abhorrent,' she said when she felt able to speak with any strength. ‘I asked you to travel with an open mind but not without the guidance of God. This is an affront to the Omn
iscient. What were you thinking?'

  'That is exactly what I felt when I first saw the Ascendants and spoke to Westfallen's Reader. But you have to divorce yourself from the scriptures and see this for what it is. An experiment on the edge of acceptability but one that would have been replicated by nature and hence God over the course of time. Is that heresy? It's the question that has been plaguing me.'

  'How can you even ask that, Paul?' Herine shook her head, disappointment seeping through her. 'Maybe I shouldn't have sent you. Vasselis has obviously influenced you.'

  'Don't say that until you have read every word in both reports. It does disturb me, yes. But these are the facts . . . for the people of

  Westfallen, it is literally their everyday life. All the Ascendants are for them is the next step. The fire is alight.'

  'Then it must be extinguished,' said Herine. 'Paul, I am Prime Speaker of the Order of Omniscience. I am His representative on earth. I allowed the investigation to go ahead without the Order out of respect for you, Vasselis and the knowledge that there would be no balance from Felice Koroyan. But what I've read here ... I don't know how you have reached the conclusions you have reached. A weapon? They will be uncontrollable. I don't see how they can be allowed to survive, I really don't.'

  Jhered tensed and frowned. 'You cannot unleash the Chancellor on them. Not now.'

  Herine shook her head. 'However it is dressed up, what I read here is a crime, nothing more. And it is a crime that has been being perpetrated for a very long time.' She sighed. 'I cannot have such flagrant breaches of the laws of the Conquord. People must be brought to trial for this and be found innocent or guilty by the Order and the magistrates.'

  'All I ask is that you consider this more fully before making such a decision. Read what we have presented. Think. Meet them.'

  'I will meet them. Here. In Estorr. And in chains. Do I make myself clear?'

  'You are talking about Arvan Vasselis here, Herine. Think what that means.'

  'I know,' she whispered.

  Herine stared at Jhered, watching him consider his next actions. She knew he was torn. God-surround-them but she felt a dread weight on her as she spoke the words. She would read tonight. After all, there was no prospect of sleep. But in the morning, she could not imagine her mind would have changed. And that meant Arvan Vasselis would stand before her, in all probability to hear her pronounce death by fire.

  'I will receive my orders from you in the morning,' said Jhered, standing, his voice flat. 'And if you wish me to organise the custody of all those involved, I will do it for you, my Advocate.'

  'No, Paul. I'm sorry but no. Harkov will go. This is a job for the palace guard, not for you.'

  'And I just walk in circles here until he returns with my friend bowed under the weight of his bonds?' Jhered shook his head. 'Thirty days at the very least. It will drive me mad.'

  'You have other duties that will occupy your mind, my Exchequer. Marshal Defender Yuran refused to attend the games. I want you there because he must be removed and the levium can oversee a bloodless change with you at their head.'

  'And who will rule in his place?'

  'Consul Safinn, naturally. Had I listened to my head, he would have been sitting on the throne since accession.'

  'And are you not interested in the reasons Yuran did not attend? Perhaps he felt his absence would be a blow to morale with Tsardon raiders swarming his borders and his country in uproar.'

  'His message of refusal mentioned nothing but his contempt for the Games and their timing.' Herine shrugged. 'It is the final insult.'

  Jhered inclined his head. 'Whatever your wish, my Advocate.'

  'I'll have the orders ready for you at dawn. Bring Harkov with you.' She watched him nod and turn to go. 'And Paul?' He stopped but did not turn back. 'Thank you.'

  'Don't. This is not a time for gratitude.'

  She bowed her head and it was a long time before she felt able to face the night.

  Chapter 33

  848th cycle of God, 14th day of Solasrise 15th year of the true Ascendancy

  Words had been muttered during the night. Jhered had been informed and at dawn had gone to his bedside. He'd been unconscious since being found and the search of his villa had revealed that he had been the only survivor. All of his staff were dead. Not tortured and beaten like him; executed. Their necks broken and their bodies laid out to be found and accorded their burial rights.

  Jhered looked down on D'Allinnius and almost wished he had died too. His injuries were appalling and Jhered could only respect the courage he must have shown in trying to resist revealing the secrets his attackers had wanted. The surgeons were not at all sure he'd survive but Jhered was desperate that he confirmed the identities of those who had done this to him. Jhered was certain he already knew but against the Order, there could be no action without witnessed testimony. Hence Harkov sat by him.

  D'Allinnius was almost unrecognisable. His face had been systematically battered. His jaw was smashed, his teeth gone or chipped. The swelling was awful around his eyes and mouth, one ear had been sliced from his head and his hair had been ripped or burned from his scalp. His arms were broken, he had lost three fingers and all his remaining nails were torn away. Similar treatment had been meted out to his legs and feet.

  Bruising was extensive all over his body and his genitals had been branded with hot metal. Salves and lotions were smeared over those parts of his body not covered by bandages. Jhered's fury threatened to consume him. Nothing excused this cruelty and if he was right and it was the Order, it was a crime against God that they would have to answer.

  D'Allinnius's eyes were moving beneath his blackened lids and periodically a whimpering escaped his lips. Jhered wiped a hand across his mouth and looked up at the surgeon in attendance.

  'You're sure you don't remember what he said?' he asked.

  'No, my Lord. I was too far away when he began to mutter and I couldn't get him to repeat himself.'

  'You're sure he was conscious?' asked Harkov.

  The surgeon nodded. 'He looked at me. Eyes full of pain and fear. Who would do such things to this man? This man?'

  'We'll find out,' said Jhered. 'Don't concern yourself with that, just with keeping him alive.'

  'That depends as much on Orin as it does on me now,' she said. 'He is splinted, his pain is lessened and he is as comfortable as I can make him. He lost a lot of blood lying in his villa for God knows how long but if he wills it, he can live. Though how his mind will be is another question.'

  Jhered breathed through fingers that were across his mouth and leaned his elbows on the bed. He felt completely responsible. It was he who had persuaded D'Allinnius to join him and Harkov. He who had assured the scientist that he would be safe and that the Advocate would protect him. So much for the assurances of the Exchequer.

  He had to assume D'Allinnius had been broken eventually and that preparations were being made for the torturers to travel to West-fallen. He had ordered a small fleet be readied to carry two hundred levium south on the morning tide and his spies were all over the city, looking for information. There didn't seem to be any unusual Order activity on the docks or in the Chancellery but he had been unable to find the Chancellor herself and that did worry him. She could be hard to locate but this was beginning to be too much of a coincidence. The Advocate was being unusually tight-lipped. Jhered didn't like it at all.

  'Come on, Orin, speak to us,' said Jhered gently. 'Give us the means to catch who did this.'

  D'Allinnius coughed. Jhered wiped the spittle from his lips with a cool wet cloth. The chambers in which he was being kept were attached to the palace. Vaulted ceilings held up by pristine white ionic scrolled columns. Soft light streamed in through huge expanses of netted glass which looked out on to fountains and gardens. Inside, his was the only bed but every other flat surface was covered with fresh-cut flowers and green leaves, their scents a balm to the nostrils.

  'That's it, Orin. All over now. You're safe. Rea
lly safe this time. No one can touch you here. No one can hurt you.' 'He's waking,' said the surgeon.

  The scientist stirred. Limbs moved feebly and the whimpering was pained. Jhered wished he could do something more than mop his brow, practically the only area on his body not bruised or burned.

  'Don't move, my friend,' said Jhered. 'Rest your body. Speak if you can.'

  D'Allinnius's eyes flickered and opened a crack. His face screwed up against the light and there were tears in the corners of his eyes. Jhered smiled.

  'I'm sorry this has happened to you,' he said.

  D'AUinnius almost smiled but the bruising and his cracked, burned lips stopped him.

  'Price . . . of . . . fame,' he managed. Jhered was amazed he could summon the desire to attempt a joke.

  'You need to rest, Orin,' said Jhered, briefly resting a hand on his shoulder. 'For now, just tell me who did this.'

  'They know everything,' wheezed Orin. 'I tried.'

  'That much is obvious,' said Harkov. 'Your bravery is incredible.'

  'Who?' prompted Jhered.

  'Chancellor,' said Orin, around mumbles and gasps of pain.

  Jhered's jaw dropped and he glanced around quickly. Only he, Harkov and the surgeon could have heard that.

  'Personally?' he asked, unwilling to believe it. Orin nodded, an agonised gesture. 'Why didn't she kill you?'

  'She thought she had,' said Orin. He pushed his tongue across his lips. 'I assume.'

  'It would have been easy for her to think so,' said the surgeon. 'When he came in here, his breathing was so shallow I thought he was gone. We needed to use a mirror to be sure he was worth tending.'

  'Glad you had one handy.' Orin coughed violently and shuddered with the attendant torment.

  'Quiet now,' said Jhered. 'Sleep, Orin. And thank you.'

  D'Allinnius's eyes bored into his with a sudden energy. 'Save the Ascendants. They are only children.'

  'I intend to,' said Jhered.