Read Online Echoes of the Great Song by David Gemmell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: David Gemmell
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came to him.
Krals, sabre-tooths and nomads would make such a journey almost impossible.
Added to which, and this was the real reason for his despair, he knew now that the power of the White Pyramid was fading. Shielded from the sun it could no longer replenish its own energy, let alone power fresh chests.
Ro was tempted to refill his goblet, but he did not. Instead he turned his mind to the problem of Talaban.
There was little doubt that the captain had saved his life back on the ice. But this could not outweigh the fact that he had struck a Questor, in full view of the Vagar team and the savage Touchstone. Perhaps even some of the sailors had seen it.
Had it just been the Vagars Ro could have sentenced them to death. But Talaban would never allow such a fate for Touchstone. It was a thorny problem.
He was considering the possibilities for revenge when Talaban arrived. The captain entered without knocking, which was his right but nevertheless galling.
'How are you feeling, Questor?' he asked.
'I am well. Thank you for saving my life.'
'May I sit?' This, at least, was courteous, and Questor Ro gestured for him to take a chair. 'I congratulate you, sir,' said Talaban. 'I did not have any faith in this venture, and you have proved me - and many others - wrong.'
'A small success, captain. We lost one chest, and powered only four. But I thank you for your kind words. Did my Vagar team escape the eruption?'
'Most were killed by the krals, but five escaped. They were concerned for your health. They believed you had been struck down by the beasts.'
'And you apprised them of the real situation?' asked Ro, mildly.
'I did not. I merely told them you had fought the krals and suffered an injury, but that you would be well. It does no harm for the Vagars to see the rejuvenating powers of the Avatar.'
'But your man Touchstone saw you strike me?' 'No, Touchstone was badly injured by a kral. Six ribs were broken and his lung pierced. He was only semi-conscious when I carried you to the boat. I can assure you, Questor, that no one observed me strike you.'
'Well, it is of no consequence, Talaban,' said Ro, forcing a smile.
'I disagree, Questor. We are a minority people, and if the Vagars, or other tribes, witness us at odds with one another it would create an impression of weakness. I regret deeply the action I took but, as the alternative was to let you die, I felt I had no choice. However, on the more positive side, despite the loss of our equipment, the Vagars did witness you and me fighting the krals. They will carry the tale back to the cities, and further enhance the myth of Avatar superiority.'
'Myth? Why do you say myth?'
Talaban smiled. 'We are merely men, Questor. No more than that. But we need the myth in order to rule.'
Questor Ro was not surprised by Talaban's heresy, but he feigned shock nonetheless. 'You are losing your faith, Talaban. We were born to rule. And there is no question that we are superior to lesser beings. We are virtually immortal, and our knowledge is as far above theirs as they are above dogs.'
'Precisely, Questor. Knowledge. That is all it comes down to in the end. We discovered the secrets of the sun's power. They did not.'
'And that, in itself, proves our superiority,' said Ro triumphantly. 'I have lived with Vagars these last seventy years. I know what they are capable of. They can be loyal, and really quite bright. But they do not possess our insights. The Avatar is a different breed - a race apart. Take Viruk, for example. He embodies all that is strong in the Avatar.'
Talaban fell silent. Ro met his level gaze. 'Say what you are thinking, captain. Do you disagree?'
Talaban smiled. 'It is good to see you well, sir. I must attend to Touchstone.'
Rising, he bowed low, then departed.
Questor Ro sat at his desk for a while, thinking over the brief conversation. He had hoped Talaban would take the bait, and condemn Viruk. It would have been pleasant to have passed on the information to
Krals, sabre-tooths and nomads would make such a journey almost impossible.
Added to which, and this was the real reason for his despair, he knew now that the power of the White Pyramid was fading. Shielded from the sun it could no longer replenish its own energy, let alone power fresh chests.
Ro was tempted to refill his goblet, but he did not. Instead he turned his mind to the problem of Talaban.
There was little doubt that the captain had saved his life back on the ice. But this could not outweigh the fact that he had struck a Questor, in full view of the Vagar team and the savage Touchstone. Perhaps even some of the sailors had seen it.
Had it just been the Vagars Ro could have sentenced them to death. But Talaban would never allow such a fate for Touchstone. It was a thorny problem.
He was considering the possibilities for revenge when Talaban arrived. The captain entered without knocking, which was his right but nevertheless galling.
'How are you feeling, Questor?' he asked.
'I am well. Thank you for saving my life.'
'May I sit?' This, at least, was courteous, and Questor Ro gestured for him to take a chair. 'I congratulate you, sir,' said Talaban. 'I did not have any faith in this venture, and you have proved me - and many others - wrong.'
'A small success, captain. We lost one chest, and powered only four. But I thank you for your kind words. Did my Vagar team escape the eruption?'
'Most were killed by the krals, but five escaped. They were concerned for your health. They believed you had been struck down by the beasts.'
'And you apprised them of the real situation?' asked Ro, mildly.
'I did not. I merely told them you had fought the krals and suffered an injury, but that you would be well. It does no harm for the Vagars to see the rejuvenating powers of the Avatar.'
'But your man Touchstone saw you strike me?' 'No, Touchstone was badly injured by a kral. Six ribs were broken and his lung pierced. He was only semi-conscious when I carried you to the boat. I can assure you, Questor, that no one observed me strike you.'
'Well, it is of no consequence, Talaban,' said Ro, forcing a smile.
'I disagree, Questor. We are a minority people, and if the Vagars, or other tribes, witness us at odds with one another it would create an impression of weakness. I regret deeply the action I took but, as the alternative was to let you die, I felt I had no choice. However, on the more positive side, despite the loss of our equipment, the Vagars did witness you and me fighting the krals. They will carry the tale back to the cities, and further enhance the myth of Avatar superiority.'
'Myth? Why do you say myth?'
Talaban smiled. 'We are merely men, Questor. No more than that. But we need the myth in order to rule.'
Questor Ro was not surprised by Talaban's heresy, but he feigned shock nonetheless. 'You are losing your faith, Talaban. We were born to rule. And there is no question that we are superior to lesser beings. We are virtually immortal, and our knowledge is as far above theirs as they are above dogs.'
'Precisely, Questor. Knowledge. That is all it comes down to in the end. We discovered the secrets of the sun's power. They did not.'
'And that, in itself, proves our superiority,' said Ro triumphantly. 'I have lived with Vagars these last seventy years. I know what they are capable of. They can be loyal, and really quite bright. But they do not possess our insights. The Avatar is a different breed - a race apart. Take Viruk, for example. He embodies all that is strong in the Avatar.'
Talaban fell silent. Ro met his level gaze. 'Say what you are thinking, captain. Do you disagree?'
Talaban smiled. 'It is good to see you well, sir. I must attend to Touchstone.'
Rising, he bowed low, then departed.
Questor Ro sat at his desk for a while, thinking over the brief conversation. He had hoped Talaban would take the bait, and condemn Viruk. It would have been pleasant to have passed on the information to
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