‘Well?’ Sinaclara said, addressing Taropat.
He stood up and gestured to Tayven, who unstrapped a large leather satchel lying between his feet. From this, he withdrew an object wrapped in several layers of linen.
‘Give it to me,’ Sinaclara said.
Tayven glanced at Taropat, who nodded. With some reluctance, he held the object out. It was hard for them to surrender it, she knew. Within each of them, even the one who was so clearly Taropat’s kin, burned the desire to take the Crown for themselves. They could not help it, for they were only men, and the allure of the Crown was strong. But upon the head of any but the true king, it would be a force of chaos, no matter how good or true the owner of that head might believe themselves to be.
Reverently, Sinaclara unwrapped the Crown and held it up before her face. Just an artefact, fashioned in an ancient time, hidden for centuries, perhaps longer. She turned it in her hands. There were marks upon it, scars of earlier battles. Each dent upon its surface was a relic of humanity’s ignorance, for even those who had aspired to wear the Crown had not always lived up to its potential. Perhaps she was wrong now and the path she had unveiled was that of a lie. How could she tell? The allure of the Crown was strong indeed. Sinaclara sighed, and placed it upon a table. The men gathered around her.
‘You must tell me of your adventure,’ she said. ‘Please, refresh yourselves. This may be a long day.’
She listened without commenting as they related the story, even though she knew they left many details out. They could not speak of the embarrassment and pain of their individual lessons and experiences, but despite that she could see it shining from them.
Taropat spoke bitterly of his temporary blindness at the last lake. The episode had marked him. Sinaclara could smell his anger and resentment at not witnessing the city of angels for himself, something he wholeheartedly believed he had deserved.
At the end of the story, Sinaclara said, ‘You surrendered the prizes that had become most dear to you. I am sure it was this act alone that allowed you to attain the Crown.’
‘We have not lost the prizes,’ Tayven said, touching his throat. ‘They are within us. We do not need the artefacts anymore.’ He turned to Taropat. ‘The gift of the Eye is within you too, no matter what happened at the lake.’
‘You have your brother to thank for that,’ Sinaclara said.
Taropat’s face was pinched. ‘I know.’ He sighed and smiled sadly at Merlan. ‘Perhaps I do not deserve it. Perhaps the gift is rightly Merlan’s.’
Merlan shook his head. ‘I don’t believe so. We each had our part to play, and one aspect of mine was to be your strength.’
‘Do you understand the significance of the city of angels?’ Sinaclara asked, looking from Merlan to Taropat. ‘There is a link here with your native sea dragons.’
‘I have a feeling they come from the same source.’ Taropat frowned. ‘No, if I had the knowledge once, it eludes me now. What do you know?’
‘Azcaranoth had an alliance with the dragons,’ she said. ‘It is a very ancient story, perhaps history, perhaps allegory, who knows? But the legend goes that the king of the angels sent the dragons of every element to destroy Azcaranoth and his conspirators. They were to be punished for consorting with mortals, for helping them create civilisation. Azcaranoth passed to humanity great knowledge that was sacred in nature. For that indiscretion, he had to die. However, the angel king had not counted on Azcaranoth’s persuasive nature. He managed to charm the dragon spirits to ally with him. Together they built vast cities, one of which was Pelagra, beneath the ocean. Here the Ustredi were spawned, the sea people, who were the ancient ancestors of the Palindrakes.’
Taropat’s mouth turned down into a sneer. ‘Do not taint the day with that name. It should not be spoken before the Crown.’
Sinaclara paused, judging the moment. Then she said, ‘It is only a story. I thought you might be interested in it.’ Merlan, she could tell, was anxious to hear more, as was Tayven. Shan, Taropat’s apprentice, shared his master’s prejudices. She could feel the black waves of hatred pulsing out of him. He should learn to think for himself. Sinaclara’s heart was heavy within her breast. There would be a severing here. It was inevitable. Strange the way it would go. Tayven and Shan were so alike physically, as were Taropat and his brother. The pairs would be like warped reflections of one another.
‘Did you believe we could do it?’ Shan asked in a husky voice.
She nodded. ‘Oh yes. I was both afraid and hopeful that you would.’
‘Who will you crown, now you have it?’
She heard the hope in his voice, the determination and mettle. She could feel the burn of Taropat’s desire to make a better world, scoured of monsters. She could feel Tayven’s uncertainty warring with a sense of purpose, and she could hear the murmur of Taropat’s brother’s troubled soul, because he feared he knew her answer. And he did.
She drew in her breath. ‘There is only one man in this time,’ she said. ‘He is the sum of all of you. I know that during your journey, two of you have come to feel the Crown is yours. One of you is afraid of who should wear it, and it clouds his judgement. But the fourth companion knows the answer.’ She looked into Merlan Leckery’s dark eyes. ‘Will you tell them?’
He shook his head and turned away. ‘I know only what others think,’ he said.
‘What do you mean?’ Taropat asked harshly.
The tension in the room had heightened. I shall break this company, Sinaclara thought. I do not want to, and it will be wrong, but my words will break them. ‘Valraven Palindrake,’ she said.
For a moment, there was silence, then Taropat laughed. ‘I might have known,’ he said. ‘Wrap the Crown, Tayven. It will not remain here.’
Tayven hesitated, then reached out to take it, but Sinaclara stayed his hand. ‘You will not,’ she said.
‘Take it, Tay,’ Shan said.
‘You are not thinking,’ Sinaclara said. ‘You are just reacting, driven by your own fears. Taropat, whatever your feelings for me, I know you trust my judgement. Remember our alliance, how we planned this quest together.’
‘I knew it!’ Shan cried. ‘It was planned all along. You used us!’
Sinaclara fixed him with a level gaze. ‘Never that,’ she said. ‘The quest was planned only in some respects, Shan. You must believe that. Taropat and I spoke about it before he left for Mewt. And,’ she added, ‘you would not have succeeded if I had not told you what to expect, and what to do, at Recolletine. You must accept I speak the truth.’
‘I will never accept that,’ Taropat said.
‘Nor I!’ snapped Shan. ‘You lied to me.’
Sinaclara spread out her hands. ‘Shan, don’t be so naïve. The days of divinely-picked heroes have gone. I did what was best.’
‘It makes a travesty of what we’ve been through,’ Taropat said. ‘None of us survived the lakes to be told an incarnation of evil should attain the fruit of our labour. I would never have confided in you if I’d known your secret desire. You want your dark angel to become flesh. I should have known better than to trust a woman again.’
Sinaclara couldn’t help bridling at that. ‘If we are speaking of secret desires, perhaps we should discuss your own. You want to possess the Crown as the ultimate revenge on Valraven. You believe he bettered you in the one thing that mattered.’
‘Meaning?’ Taropat said.
‘Bedding his own sister, your wife, Pharinet. You cannot forgive him for the love she bore him.’
Taropat laughed coldly. ‘How wrong you are. I care nothing for that conniving whore. Khaster is dead in me. Your insults mean nothing. I am strong. I may not be fit to wear the Crown, but I am eminently more suitable than a dissolute wretch like Valraven Palindrake. Perhaps we have yet to find the man who will be the true king. But the Crown will not stay here with you, madam, and your strength is no match for ours.’
‘No, it isn’t,’ Sinaclara said quietly. ‘However, beyond my door, a dozen of m
y Jessapurian colleagues wait for my command. They are armed. If you touch the Crown, you’ll never leave this house alive. I’m sorry. It’s what must be. I cannot let personal feelings sway my judgement. There are greater matters at stake.’
‘So, it has come to this,’ Taropat said. ‘You have used us for your own foul ends. You are part of all that is wrong with the world. What fools we were!’
‘You are wrong Taropat,’ Sinaclara said. ‘Your own shuttered mind prevents you from seeing the truth. Only two of you have spoken. What is your view, Tayven? Can you look into my eyes and say I am mistaken?’
Tayven drew a hand across his face. ‘I know that some factions believe Palindrake should be king.’
‘I’m asking you what you think, what you really think.’
He shook his head. ‘I’m not sure. That is the truth. I can sense what might be, but I’m faced with what is.’
‘And you, Merlan Leckery,’ Sinaclara said, raising her voice. ‘Tell your brother your thoughts. Tell him how you convinced Varencienne Palindrake to take her husband back to the old domain. What was your argument, eh? Have you kept so silent on this matter?’
‘Merlan, what does she mean?’ Taropat said.
Merlan’s face was utterly white. ‘Maycarpe thinks Valraven is the one.’
‘Rather more than that,’ Sinaclara said. ‘Merlan convinced Varencienne she should help Valraven reawaken the sea dragons and reclaim his heritage. Is that not so, Merlan?’
‘I was working under Maycarpe’s directive,’ Merlan said.
‘I can’t believe this of you,’ Taropat whispered. ‘After all that has happened to our family – to Ellony. No wonder the quest took its toll upon you.’
‘I am not wholly convinced, believe me,’ Merlan said. ‘But I do not think personal concerns should enter this matter.’
‘Merlan, are you mad?’ Shan cried. ‘Palindrake is the embodiment of the empire’s power. He is the destroyer.’
‘He is many things,’ Merlan said. ‘All that you say and more.’ He made an anguished sound. ‘Damn this, I won’t keep silent. Taropat, there is something you should know.’
‘Shut up, I don’t want to hear it!’ Taropat snarled.
‘Of course you don’t. It might compromise your righteous anger! Hasn’t the lesson of your blindness taught you anything about your stubborn pride? I know the full story of what happened between you and Tayven, because Shan has told it to me.’
‘Shan!’ Taropat glared at his apprentice, who shrugged in embarrassment.
‘I felt he should know.’
‘Don’t blame him,’ Merlan said. ‘The fact is that after hearing the story, I understood so much. Something you have failed to do. You hate Valraven most because he would not help you save Tayven. You resented feeling so powerless, so in need of his aid. You hated him then for not being the great saviour he’d always been for you. But in a way, you have always hated him: for being stronger than you, for bettering you and saving your skin.’
‘Thank you for this lesson,’ Taropat said in a strangely sweet tone. ‘I’d not thought of it before.’
‘Oh, don’t play with me!’ Merlan cried. ‘It is the truth. You wanted the Crown for yourself, so you could be the stronger and better man for once. You can’t bear to think that Valraven is like the rest of us – a mixture of attributes, both good and bad.’
‘Oh, tell me some good!’ Taropat said, throwing up his arms. ‘I can’t wait to hear it.’
‘I can do that,’ Merlan said softly. ‘You’ve never known it, but after you ran away from your problems, Valraven did try to help Tayven. He went to Bayard as you asked. He didn’t do this for himself, but for you.’
‘He took me out to battlefield and left me there?’ Tayven asked in a horrified voice.
Merlan shook his head. ‘No, he was too late. Bayard’s people had taken you away by then. Valraven had his men search for what he presumed would be your body, but it was never found. We know why now. Valraven told me this the last time I saw him in Caradore.’
‘If what you say is true, it makes no difference,’ Taropat said. ‘That’s merely a convenient excuse. He didn’t go when he could have made a difference.’
‘He has tortured himself about it,’ Merlan said. ‘He knows he acted too late.’
Taropat uttered a sound of contempt. ‘Poor Valraven. How that must hurt him. He should have seen what happened – to both Tayven and I. Then he might understand pain.’
‘Is your damage so sacred, Khaster?’ Merlan asked. ‘Are you so privileged? Other people have suffered at the Malagashes’ hands. Have you ever stopped to consider what changed Valraven from the friend you loved into the cold creature that could kill without thinking?’
There was a brief silence, then Taropat said softly, ‘So, it becomes clear. My dear brother was the viper in our midst all the time. No wonder Maycarpe wanted you to accompany us to Recolletine.’
‘No, it wasn’t like that!’ Merlan said.
‘We should have left you at Malarena,’ Taropat said. He looked coldly at Tayven. ‘And you were the one to convince Shan and me otherwise. You haven’t truly revealed your thoughts yet, Tayven. Are you with Maycarpe, or with us?’
‘It is one and the same,’ Tayven said. ‘We are the company.’
‘I will never serve evil,’ Taropat said.
‘Nor I!’ Shan echoed.
‘You are dividing yourselves,’ Sinaclara said. ‘Think clearly.’
‘There is no company,’ Taropat said, ‘not anymore.’ He crossed the room and hefted his backpack onto his shoulder. ‘Shan, come here.’
‘Don’t leave,’ Sinaclara said. ‘It would be the worst thing you could do.’
‘I will fight you,’ Taropat said. ‘Don’t ever doubt it. I hope you’re ready for it.’
‘Taropat, see reason,’ Sinclara said. ‘We must talk about this. We must exorcise the past, for it’s clouding your judgement.’
‘You know nothing,’ Taropat said. ‘Come, Shan. If we have to fight our way out of here, so be it.’
‘Shan,’ Sinaclara said. ‘Don’t listen to him. Stay. Listen to me. Let me tell you the truth, so you may judge for yourself.’
‘I know what’s right,’ Shan said and went to Taropat’s side.
Merlan appealed to his brother. ‘Khaster, remember who you are. Remember the beginning. That is what you must fight for, not bitterness or anger.’
‘Khaster is dead,’ Taropat said. ‘He was killed by the man you would have me serve. You are all under his spell. I pity you.’ He addressed Tayven. ‘I’ll give you one more chance. Come with us. Help us fight for justice.’
Tayven was silent for a moment. ‘You shouldn’t go,’ he said at last.
‘You had me fooled,’ Taropat said and marched to the long windows that led to the garden. Merlan ran after and tried to stop him, but Taropat threw his brother aside with little more than a flick of his hand. A display case went over. Glass, china and stone shattered as some of Sinaclara’s precious artefacts crashed out of it to the floor. The door opened and a group of Jessapurians poured into the room.
‘Stop!’ Sinaclara cried, more to her people than to Taropat, but the Jessapurians did not appear to hear her. They rushed towards the windows and Taropat and Shan fled into the gardens.
Sinaclara pressed her fingers briefly against her eyes. ‘This must not be,’ she murmured.
Merlan staggered to his feet. ‘They mustn’t be harmed.’
‘They won’t,’ Sinaclara said. ‘Taropat will get away.’
‘Let him calm down,’ Merlan said. ‘We can leave it overnight, then Tayven and I will go to his house tomorrow. Maybe he’ll talk to us when he’s had time to think.’
‘Too late,’ Sinaclara said. ‘They’ll be on their way to Cos by then.’
‘Cos? What are you talking about?’
‘They will seek out Helayna,’ Sinaclara said. ‘She and Taropat will fashion Shan into a rival of Valraven. I’ve seen this. I�
��ve dreaded it happening.’
‘Then you must stop it,’ Merlan said. He appealed to Tayven. ‘You must know where Helayna is. Go after them. They have the power of the Eye and the Claw. What will happen if those powers fall into the hands of what’s left of the Cossic resistance?’
Tayven turned to Sinaclara. ‘Lady, is that my function? Must I go after them?’
Sinaclara swallowed with difficulty. Her throat felt as if it was gripped by an iron hand. ‘It is not our place to end past conflicts. Only Valraven Palindrake can do that.’
‘I will seek out the Dragon Lord,’ Merlan said. ‘At once. He must be told of this.’
‘It is not yet time,’ Sinaclara said. ‘You can’t. It would do more damage than good. You must trust me.’
‘Then what should we do?’ Merlan demanded. ‘Clearly, we have to do something.’
Sinaclara reached out and gently touched the crown. ‘We have this,’ she murmured, her fingers running over its delicate tines. ‘That was the aim of your quest.’
‘But what of the company?’ Merlan said. He punched a fist into his open palm. ‘Oh, I have to go after them. It can’t end like this!’
‘Stay,’ Sinaclara said sharply, then more gently, ‘You have to let them go. It is their choice. They have yet to find their own silence.’
Crown of Silence Page 45
