Zandru's Forge (75 page)

“Do any of us? Doubtless, in some comer of this world, people recount very much the same sort of story about me, or will in a generation or two. Varzil—” Carolin watched as his friend reacted to the shift in his voice. Their eyes met, and the difference of years fell away. “Varzil, let’s give them something to
really
talk about.”

“You mean to carry through with our Compact? There will be much resistance. Kings are not overly enthusiastic about placing restrictions on their own military resources unless their neighbors do it first and no one wishes to take the risk of beginning.” Varzil’s expression lightened. “I do not know if it can be accomplished in our lifetime, or at all, but this I do believe, that if it is possible, we two must do it together.”

Carolin spread his hands. “On this account, we can only do our part. Who will listen and who will join us, that is in the hands of the gods. I have something more definitive in mind, something we can most surely realize together. Men need more than promises to give them hope. I saw that all too clearly during my years of exile. I could not issue orders to my men and hide safely in my tent. To give them heart, I had to walk the camp, to let them see me and hear my voice. Ordinary men are neither beasts without imagination nor gods unto themselves. What they need now is a symbol, a concrete promise that the future need not be a repetition of the past.”

Varzil’s eyes widened with understanding. “The Tower at Neskaya. We spoke of rebuilding it, you and I together.”

“That we did, and that it would be a place of study and of service, set beyond any petty involvements in the world’s strife. Now that dream can be fulfilled. Will you work with me to build not only the physical Tower, but the real one? Will you be Keeper of this new Neskaya, this beacon of hope?”

Unthinking, Carolin had reached out his hands as he had so many times in the months just past, as one lord after another hand placed his hands between Carolin’s own and pledged his fealty. After a moment’s hesitation, Varzil reached out. He set one hand between Carolin’s and the other to the outside, so that each held the other’s in the time-honored gesture of loyalty.

“With all my heart, and with all the power that is at my command, I will.”

“Then let us begin.”