How do these priests get the money to buy anything?
They sell horoscopes to gullible people who believe in that nonsense, and they charge a fairly steep price.
Good. They swindle their parishioners, and then we swindle them. I love doing business with a man who devoutly believes hes more clever than I am. Thanks for the information.
Glad I could help. Do you need any pots or pans?
Not right at the moment, no. Thanks all the same.
He knows who you are, Althalus, Emmys voice warned.
Yes, I know. Hes clever, Ill give him that, but hes not really a merchant.
How did you know that?
He didnt once ask me what line I was in. Thats the first question any merchant asks. No merchant wants a competitor right across the street. Should we get rid of him? Eliar and I could kill him right now.
No. You two arent the ones who are supposed to deal with Khnom. Just be careful around him, thats all.
Where do we go now? Eliar asked.
Theres a merchant community over by the east wall, Althalus replied. Well set up camp there and start looking for the one we want first thing in the morning.
Could you make me some soap? Eliar asked as they led their horses off down the rubble-strewn street.
Probably. Why?
Emmy wants me to take a bath. Is that the first thing that pops into every womans mind? Every time Id visit my mother back home, those were usually the first words that came out of her mouth.
You dont like bathing, I take it?
Oh, Ill bathe if it really gets necessary, but once a weeks usually enough, isnt it? Unless youve been cleaning the stables, of course.
Emmys got a very sharp nose, Eliar. Lets neither of us go out of our way to offend her.
You too, Althalus, Emmys voice murmured.
I dont need a bath, Em, he silently protested.
Youre wrong. You definitely need a bath. Youve been riding for several weeks now, and youve got a very horsey fragrance about you. Bathe. Soon. Please.
They started out early the following morning, and after a few awkward starts Eliar became more proficient. His open, boyish face helped quite a bit as he hopefully approached each hooded priest with his question. Most of the priests, Althalus noticed, refused to come right out and admit that they couldnt read the alien script carved into the Knife-blade Eliar showed them. Their usual response was a brusque, Im too busy for that kind of nonsense. Several they encountered, however, offered to translate for a price. One hollow-eyed fanatic launched a blistering denunciation, declaring that any script that he couldnt read was obviously the handwriting of the devil himself.
Althalus and Eliar left him in the middle of the street still preaching to nobody in particular.
Here comes another one, Eliar said quietly. Maybe we can start making wagers about what theyll say when I show them the Knife. This one looks like an Im too busy sort of fellow to me.
Id put him in the Ill have to charge you for a reading crowd, Althalus replied, grinning.
What gives him away?
Hes cock-eyed. Hes got one eye on the sky watching for Deiwos and the other on the ground looking for a penny that somebody might have dropped.
I just hope hes not like the last one. The next one who calls my Knife an instrument of the devil is going to get my fist in his face.
The priest approaching them up the empty street had a gaunt, hungry look about him, and his disconnected eyes and wild hair gave him the appearance of a lunatic. His shabby brown robe was filthy, and there was a powerful odor about him.
Excuse me, your worship, Eliar said politely, going up to the cock-eyed holy man. I just bought this Knife and it seems to have some kind of writing on the blade. I never got around to learning how to read, so I cant tell what it says. Could you help me out?
Let me see it, the priest growled in a harsh, rasping voice.
Eliar held out his laurel-leaf dagger.
The sudden scream was shockingly loud, echoing from the ruined walls of nearby buildings. The ragged priest stumbled back, covering his eyes with his hands and screaming as if hed just been dipped in boiling pitch.
I hope you wont take this personally, your worship, Eliar said, driving the Knife directly into the shrieking priests chest.
The scream cut off abruptly, and the dead man collapsed with not so much as a twitch.
Althalus spun, his eyes searching every vacant window and doorway. As luck had it, they were alone. Get him out of sight! he barked at Eliar. Hurry!
Eliar quickly put the Knife away, seized the fellows wrists and dragged him behind a partially collapsed wall. Did anybody see us? he asked just a bit breathlessly.
I dont think so, Althalus replied. Come here and keep watch. I want to search the body.
What for? Eliar stood up. His hands were trembling slightly.
Calm down, Althalus told him. Get a grip on yourself.
Im all right, Althalus, Eliar said. Its just that he startled me when he started screaming like that.
Why did you apologize before you killed him?
Just trying to be polite, I guess. Mother taught me to mind my manners. You know how mothers are.
Watch the street. Let me know if somebody happens along. Althalus roughly searched the body, not really knowing what he might be looking for, but the dead mans pockets had absolutely nothing in them. He kicked a bit of rubble over the body, and then he came back out into the street.
Did you find anything? Eliar asked. His voice still sounded a little excited.
Calm down, Althalus told him. If youre going to do this, do it right. People who are all worked up make mistakes.
Then a black-robed priest came striding up the rubble-littered street toward them. He was a fairly young man, and his hair was a rich auburn color. His dark eyes were flashing indignantly. I saw what you just did! he said. You men are murderers!
Shouldnt you get a few details before you start making accusations like that? Althalus said calmly.
You killed him in cold blood!
My blood wasnt particularly cold, Althalus said. Was yours, Eliar?
Not really, Eliar replied.
The man was not a priest. Reverend Sir, Althalus told their accuser. Quite the opposite unless Daevas set up a priesthood of his own here lately.
Daeva! the youthful priest gasped. How did you know that name?
Is it supposed to be a secret? Althalus asked mildly.
That information is not supposed to be in the hands of the general population. Ordinary people arent equipped to deal with it.
Ordinary people are probably much wiser than you think they are, Reverend, Althalus told him. Every family has a few black sheep. Theres nothing really unusual about it. Deiwos and Dweia arent really happy that their brother went astray, but it wasnt really their fault.
Youre a priest, arent you?
You make it sound almost like an accusation, Althalus said, smiling slightly. Eliar and I sort of work for Deiwos, but I wouldnt go quite so far as to call us priests. The man Eliar just put to sleep was one of the people who work for Daeva. As soon as we discovered that, we killed him. Theres a war in the works right now, Reverend. Eliar and I are soldiers, and were going to fight that war.
Im a soldier of Deiwos, too, the priest asserted.
That hasnt been established yet, my young friend. Theres a little test youd have to take first. Thats what you just saw happen here. The fellow lying over behind that wall didnt pass the test, so Eliar killed him.
The stars havent said anything about a war.
Maybe the news hasnt reached them yet.
The stars know everything.
Maybe. But maybe theyve been told to keep the information to themselves. If I happened to be the one whos running this war, I dont think Id be scrawling my battle-plans across the sky every night, would you?
The priests eyes grew troubled. Youre attacking the very core of religion, he accused.
No. Im attacking a misconception. You look at the sky and imagine that youre seeing pictures up there, but they arent really pictures, are they? Theyre just disconnected points of light. There isnt a Raven up there, or a Wolf, or a Serpent, or any other imaginary picture. The wars right here, not up there. But this is all beside the point. Lets find out if you really are one of the soldiers of the Sky-God.
I have taken a vow to serve him, the priest asserted devoutly.
Did he ever get around to telling you whether or not he accepted your vow? Althalus asked slyly. Maybe you dont qualify.
The auburn-haired young mans eyes grew even more troubled.
Youre filled with doubts, arent you, friend? Althalus said sympathetically. I know that feeling very, very well. Sometimes your faith falters and everything you want to believe seems to be nothing but a mockery and a deception some cruel joke.
I want to believe! I try so hard to make myself believe.
Eliar and I are here to make it easier for you, Althalus assured him. Show him the Knife, Eliar.
If you say so, Eliar said obediently. He looked at the troubled priest. Dont get excited about this, Your Worship, he said. Im going to show my Knife to you. Im not threatening you with it or anything. Theres some writing on the blade that youre supposed to read to us. If you cant read it, well shake hands and part friends. If you do happen to see a word on the blade, youll be joining us. This is that test Althalus was talking about.
Just show him the Knife, Eliar, Althalus said. You dont have to make a speech to him.
He gets grouchy sometimes, Eliar told the now-baffled priest. Hes the oldest man in the world, and you know how grouchy old men get sometimes. Wed better get down to business before he starts jumping up and down and frothing at the mouth.
Eliar! Althalus almost shouted. Show him the Knife!
You see what I mean about him? Eliar said. He took the Knife out from under his belt and pointed at the complex engraving on the blade. This is what youre supposed to try to read, he explained. The word sort of jumps right out at you, so you dont really have to work at it too hard.
Eliar! Althalus almost pleaded.
Im just trying to help him, Althalus. Eliar held the hilt of the dagger firmly in his fist and turned his hand to hold the blade directly in front of the trembling priests pale face. What does it say. Your Worship? he asked politely.
The youthful priest went paler still, as if every drop of blood had drained from his face. Illuminate, he replied so reverently that it seemed almost a prayer.
The dagger in Eliars fist broke into joyful song.
I knew he was the one, Althalus, Eliar said in an off-hand sort of way. Thats why I was trying to sort of ease him into it. Youre a fairly good sergeant, but sometimes youre just a little rough. You ought to work on that, if you dont mind my saying so.
Thanks, Althalus replied in a flat, almost unfriendly way.
Its part of my job, Althalus, Eliar replied, tucking the Knife back under his belt. Im sort of your second in command, so if I see a way to do things better, Im supposed to suggest it to you. You dont have to listen if you dont want to, of course, but Id be letting you down if I didnt say it, wouldnt I?
Dont say anything, Althalus, Emmy silently commanded.
Althalus sighed. No, dear, he replied in a resigned tone.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The auburn-haired young priest had sunk limply down onto a mossy stone, and he sat staring at the ground in a kind of distracted wonder.
Are you all right? Eliar asked their new companion.
I have seen the word of God, the priest replied in a trembling voice. Deiwos has spoken to me.
Yes, Eliar replied. We heard him, too. Then he amended that. Well, actually we heard the Knife, but since its Gods Knife in the first place, it sort of amounts to the same thing, I guess.
Why did the Knife make that sound? The priests voice was still shaking and filled with awe.
I think thats Gods way of letting us know that youre the one weve been looking for. My names Eliar.
Im known as Bheid, the priest replied, looking into the young Arums face with a puzzled expression.
Im pleased to make your acquaintance, Bheid, Eliar said, grasping the priests hand.
Arent you a bit young to be a holy man? Bheid asked. Most holy men Ive known are much older.
Eliar laughed. Nobodys ever called me a holy man before, and Im not, really. Im just a soldier who happens to be working for God right now. I dont really understand whats going on, but thats all right. A soldier doesnt have to understand. He just has to do as hes told.
Bheid started to rise, but Eliar put one hand on his shoulder. It might be better if you sat still for a while, he suggested. If youre feeling at all the way I did when I first read the Knife, youre probably a little wobbly right now. Gods got a very loud voice. Im sure you noticed that.
Oh, yes, Bheid replied fervently. What are we supposed to do now?
Youll have to ask Althalus here. Hes the only one who can talk to Emmy, and Emmys the one who makes the decisions.
Whos Emmy?
As I understand it, shes the sister of God, but right now she sort of looks like a cat, and she spends all her time sleeping in that hood Althalus has on the back of his cloak. Its sort of complicated. Emmys older than the sun, and shes very sweet, but if you make a mistake and cross her, shell swat the end of your nose right off.
Bheid looked at Althalus. Is this boy all right? he asked.
Eliar? Althalus replied. I think so. Of course he hasnt had anything to eat for an hour or two, so he might be a little light-headed.
I dont understand any of this at all, Bheid confessed.
Good. Thats the first step toward wisdom.
This might all make more sense if I knew your sign, Althalus and Eliars as well. If I can cast your horoscopes, Ill probably know just who you are.