Devan Chronicles Series: Books 1-3 (20 page)

Keverin listened in amusement to Jymis’ definition of a witch. Many of his utterances were contradictory. Julia wasn’t old, but perhaps he was assuming that even witches had been young once.

“—against the God’s plan for this world.”

“I don’t know what the God’s plan is, and I hesitate to say you do,” Keverin said glancing at Gideon.

“The God’s plan is unknowable by his children,” Gideon agreed quickly. “Yet we are born to learn. He sends us back to discover what he wishes us to know. When we have succeeded, we will live by his side forever,” Gideon said reverently. “Life without end.”

Keverin inclined his head and circled his heart. “Such we know. Julia is no witch, but she is a mage. I believe the God guided Darius’s hand when he brought her here. Darius would never steal a woman from her home unless the God wished it.”

“I fear your foolish acceptance of this woman, lord Keverin. As for Darius, I never had much use for that man. I seriously doubt the God would choose such as he to do his will, or that he willed this woman be brought here.”

“Why? Darius was a mage. Already he was chosen by the God to wield His power. Surely it makes perfect sense to choose him again.”

A vain throbbed at the bishop’s temple and his jaw clenched tight with suppressed anger. “The barrier was placed between the worlds to prevent this kind of thing. The God sends us to learn what he wishes us to know. If he wanted that woman here, she would have been
born
here.”

“I disagree,” Keverin and Gideon said at the same time. Gideon seeded the question to his lord and Keverin continued. “You have just agreed the God’s plan is unknowable, yet now you propose to know his will with regard to Julia’s presence here. You can’t have it both ways my lord bishop.”

“I can and I do. We have a choice in what we do on this Earth. The God does not prevent us from making errors—it is often the only way for us to learn, but the barrier
was
put there to stop us interfering with other worlds.”

Keverin found himself unable to dispute Jymis’ words. He didn’t like the doubt the bishop had put in his head. Had there been another way to save Athione? He couldn’t think of one, only... No, there wasn’t one. When King Pergann was young, bringing Julia would have been unnecessary, but as soon as the queen died in child-bed a new path for Deva had been set. Who but the God knew what might have been had Queen Alyssa not died? Pergann had been a good king for Deva back then. He would have seen the need for the library. Just think, a library built twenty years ago might now be full of studying mages. The Hasians would have met their match when they tried to invade, but it hadn’t happened that way. Instead, Pergann had wasted his life and Deva’s peril was a direct result of his neglect. The library had come too late, instead of the sound of hundreds of mages studying, it echoed with emptiness. One boy only was straining to learn the unlearnable. Mathius had admitted that without the others to teach him he had little hope. He often persevered long into the night hoping for the God’s blessing upon his endeavour. So far it had not come.

“What would you have of me?” Keverin asked.

“I have already said it. This woman must be brought to trial for heresy. None but the Church may judge this matter. Not you, not the King, only the Church.”

“And I have said I deny you this. Where does that leave us?”

“You imperil your soul.”

“And you imperil your
life!
” Keverin shouted angrily.

“My lord!” Gideon gasped in shock.

Keverin raised a hand to quiet Gideon. “I will not be the source of your doom Jymis. The sorcerers will. You not only imperil your life, but all my people’s lives as well. The girl is needed. Without her magic it is certain Athione will fall to the sorcerers who, you will remember, truly are heretics. I cannot allow that and I won’t. The girl is under my protection as Lord Protector of the West. The only authority higher is the King and the God above him. Until I’m ordered by either one, she will remain safely here.”

“You forget one more has the power to overthrow you, Lord Keverin. I will send to the Holy Father for a ruling.” Jymis climbed to his feet. “I will pronounce anathema on you, and you will fall.”

Marcus moved in a blink, but Keverin halted him with a glare. “Hold!”

Jymis looked back at Marcus whose eyes glittered with the need to stop him from harming his lord. Marcus knew as well as Keverin did that there were more types of harm than the merely physical. If the Holy Father did rule in Jymis’ favour, the people would have little choice but to heed it. Anything else would imperil their souls.

“You would do well to look to your own soul, Marcus. This man—” Jymis said pointing at Keverin who now stood as well. “This man will lead you to ruin.”

“My lord Keverin is the best lord we could have in these times. Any who say differently are fools and worse than fools. Only a traitor would attempt to weaken Athione in time of war. Be warned lord bishop, if you attempt to pull my lord down, I will
kill
you.”

“That’s enough,” Keverin grated. “You will not harm this man Marcus—I order it. The bishop will be leaving now to—” he turned to Jymis. “Do you wish lodgings here?”

“No. I will stay with Father Dobry,” Jymis said and made for the door without a by your leave.

After Marcus’ words who could blame Jymis for turning down Athione’s hospitality? Dobry was a priest in East Town. He was an uncommonly intelligent man. Keverin had no second thoughts where Dobry was concerned. With luck he would see the obvious and dissuade Jymis from his recklessness.

Keverin let Jymis go and turned to Gideon who was looking unsure what to do for the best. “Escort him, Gideon. Tell two of the men to accompany you.”

“Thank you my lord, but the bishop arrived with a squad of the Red Guard.”

That was a surprise. The Red Guard rarely left Holy Isle, but it did save him needing to send an escort.

“Fine then, but you had better go.”

Gideon bowed and hurried away to catch Jymis.

“That was ill done, Marcus. I thank you for the thought behind your action, but I fear you have made matters worse.”

Marcus snorted. “Forgive me my lord, but that man is not a fool. He knows what removing The Lady would mean.”

The Lady? Marcus was beginning to sound like the men. They already looked upon Julia with awe, and Keverin had an inkling why that was. She was literally one of a kind. In their minds, and his he supposed, she was sent by the God to save them. It was a miracle they said, and who was he to deny the truth of that? It
was
a miracle. What could be more unlikely than a woman with the gift?

“If not a fool, then a traitor,” Keverin said troubled. “I don’t believe that. He’s a man of the God. Why would he want Athione to fall?”

“Who can say? One thing I do know, he’s trouble of the worse kind. I will challenge him for you and—”

“
You will not!
” Keverin said clenching his fists. “You have your orders where Jymis is concerned. Anyway, you know full well a priest cannot be challenged.” He saw rebellion crystallise into a decision in Marcus’ eyes. “And I will not have murder on my conscience,” he said cutting that avenue off before Marcus did more than think about it. “Give oath.”

“My lord!” Marcus gasped in shock.

“Give oath I say.”

“Yes my lord,” Marcus said with a sigh. He circled his heart and spoke the words. “I swear not to harm the lord bishop Jymis—”

“Nor
order
it,” Keverin added quickly as he saw another path to Jymis’ death.

Marcus hesitated for a long moment. “And I further swear not to order his death,” he said stiffly.

“Good,” Keverin said clapping his captain on the shoulder to soften the indignity of being ordered to give an oath. “Now then, we have some decisions to make. Jymis will do what he said he would do, of that I have no doubt. Traitor or not, we need to stop that somehow.”

“I liked my idea better.”

Keverin grinned. “It had the promise of being permanent at least. No, killing a priest is a bad business, Marcus. Besides, if I go around killing those I don’t like, how am I different from Mortain and his ilk?”

“You are the exact opposite my lord! There’s no similarity at all.”

“I thank you,” Keverin inclined his head. “But I would see it stay that way. No killing.”

“You have my oath my lord, but if I may give council?”

“I would appreciate it.”

“Write a letter—a long letter to both the King and the Holy Father. Don’t let Jymis poison them against you.”

“Good idea. I’ll send them with our best courier. Has Julia healed Ged yet?”

Marcus shook his head. “He died early this morning my lord.”

Curse them! Every candlemark that went by, more names were added to the death rolls. Men he had known for years. “His brother?”

“Healed but grieving my lord.”

“Have him up here. I think a change of surroundings might help Kinnon with that.”

Marcus nodded and turned to leave, but as he did so he stumbled slightly.

“You are injured?” Keverin said with concern.

“It’s nothing my lord, a mere scratch.”

Keverin frowned, but nodded. Marcus left to find Kinnon and Keverin sat behind his desk to pen the letters, but as he progressed he seriously wondered if the King would even read his. As far as Keverin knew, the Chancellor held no ill will toward him, but that did not mean he would help either. The Holy Father then was his only real chance to avoid disaster. Keverin made that letter the stronger of his two thrusts. He looked upon this as an attack no less important than the Hasians in the pass. What point winning the war, only to lose to internal division?

Keverin finished composing the letters and laboriously re-copied them in his best hand. He wrote deliberately and precisely to the King, but he decided to personalise the one to the Holy Father by enquiring after his health, and speaking as one friend to another. The man was quite old now and frail, but his mind was as sharp as a sword. Farran would see the implications, he was sure.

Kinnon had still not arrived by the time Keverin was finished, so he read through the letter to the King before progressing to the second one.

—and I hope this finds you in good health. Jessica was very pleased with your gift and treasures it. I am sure you will receive her thanks before long, but this is not the time for happy news my friend.

That should help to remind Farran of Athione’s friendship. Jessica and Farran had long been friends, but it couldn’t hurt to remind him. Besides, Jessica truly did enjoy his poetry. The Holy Father had been something of a scholar before ascending his throne. He still wrote when he had time, but spare time was rare for those in positions of authority, as Keverin well knew.

Farran’s little book of poems was well written. Keverin had taken the liberty of having it copied for the library. Of course the binding was plain and undecorated unlike Jessica’s copy, but at least the work could be enjoyed by those who preferred to read within the fortress. It was very popular in the women’s quarter.

Keverin scanned the pages of his letter.

—Lord bishop Jymis. He was of the opinion that I fail in my duty to the Church by sheltering her... I’m afraid he will no doubt contact you with his request. I must strongly urge you not to do this thing. Julia is our salvation, without her we are lost... We have many dead here and I commend their souls to Him...

The girl is no witch, on my honour she is not! Without her, my losses would be far greater than they are, but even with her aid I am informed of more deaths among the wounded with each candlemark that passes...

That painted a grim picture indeed, and it was exactly what Keverin wanted. The worse he made it seem, the more dire Julia’s removal would be. He did not have to work hard to make things seem dire—they could hardly be more dire!

—Darius is gone to the God. Gone from me with all my mages except Mathius and Julia...

The God sent her to me, this I believe with all my heart. Marcus advises precipitant action, but I have his oath to proceed no further with this. Jymis will no doubt inform you of a threat to his life. I swear to you this will not happen. He is safe within my fortress for as long as we are safe from the sorcerers, how long this will be I do not know. Jymis has taken up residence with Dobry in East Town...

That should work against Jymis. He was bound to report Marcus’s words in the worst possible light, but with luck, the letter would cut off that line of attack.

Julia can be an infuriating girl. She is but a child, but still her tongue can flay the hide off of Moriz!

Keverin chuckled at that part and thought the Holy Father would as well. As a priest, the Holy Father was celibate, but he had lived long enough to know what living with a woman like Julia was like. That girl was fiery, that’s what she was. Coming too close to her would be a bad mistake to make. She would burn him without the aid of magic!

The men call her THE Lady as if there could be no other. They are in awe of her and regard her presence here as a miracle. The God help me, I do too. She took a war arrow through the shoulder and didn’t cry until they pulled it out. I would have been screaming long before.

A slight exaggeration there at the end, but he wished to paint her as a brave girl who was relying on the Holy Father for protection, which wasn’t far from the truth.

Please know that I bare you all friendship and goodwill. I dare to predict that you will like Julia. With the God’s blessing, we may come through this so that you may meet her and see her innocence for yourself.

Your friend and servant,

Keverin, Lord of Athione.

That should do it. Keverin sealed both letters and impressed his seal into the hot wax. He blew over the crossed fists of Athione to cool the wax faster and stood to see what was keeping Kinnon. Marcus should have returned with him long ago. Keverin found Marcus outside the citadel, but Kinnon was nowhere to be seen.