“Exactly. They read the causes and effects incorrectly, then misinterpreted the results. By trying to defeat the future they wrote their own downfall.”
“Be careful what you wish for.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m trapped climbing the tree of time myself. I have places to go and things to do according to the workings of this world.”
“True. A point I wanted to make. The reason I wanted to see you. I am an Instrumentality, now. Almost a new thing. My eyes are open to the Night. But I’m still human enough to see how I could be of use to an enemy of the Night.”
“You’re volunteering to spy?”
“Sort of. First I have to undo what rage made me do after my suffering at al-Khazen.”
“So you said. Yes.” Hecht was not ready to take the Night at its word, or at face value. Slippery was a defining characteristic of the Instrumentalities of the Night, be they gods or woodland sprites.
“Trust you need not invest. Judge by results.”
“You want to help in the struggle, feel free. A window into the supernatural realm would be priceless. But I can’t manage it. The old man will have to do. He can get any really useful information to me quickly.”
“He could teach me that traveling trick.”
“He could. You never know. He’s always got another surprise up his sleeve. But I wouldn’t count on it.”
“We have an understanding?”
“I’m not sure. I’m not clear on what you want for you.”
“At its simplest, absolution. Asgrimmur Grimmsson, as Svavar, was a terrible man. Not as bad as his brother Shagot, but a waste of flesh. What Svavar became might be worse-though that was circumstance, not intent. The ascendant absorbed power from two major Instrumentalities-which left him the slave of the qualities that made Svavar so awful.”
“But you’re a changed man now.” Hecht could not suppress his skepticism.
“The power of the metal to burn out evil and self-delusion can’t be explained in any way that would make sense to you. For weeks I’ve looked for an explanatory metaphor. There must not be one. Just say silver ripping through me constituted a baptism of the soul and spirit.”
Soul and spirit? The remark bore a suspicious odor. Some heretics believed men had two souls, consciousness and spirit. Hecht did not know the details. He shied away from deviant thinking.
The ascendant guessed his thoughts. “There’s a saying to the effect that there are more things in heaven and earth than we know. That is true beyond mortal imagining. For every Instrumentality you know there are a dozen in the air, the water, and the earth below. You know nothing about them because they never interact with human beings. They’ve always been insignificant in the history of your world. And always will be if they’re left alone.”
Hecht was becoming impatient. What the ascendant really wanted was company.
“I’ll release you in a moment, Captain-General.”
Hecht could not move.
“Those like Kharoulke prey on benign Instrumentalities. That explains how the Windwalker gets stronger when the wells of power are dying.”
“Not a secret.”
“Of course. But the dark Instrumentalities have never been so efficient. Not even Kharoulke’s generation, before they were defeated and constrained. They’ve changed. They’ve become devourers.”
Hecht noted the use of “they.” “There are others? Besides the Windwalker?”
“Yes. They’re still blind and only beginning to waken. But mortals are looking for them, wanting to quicken them. Hoping to become them.”
“Er-Rashal al-Dhulquarnen.”
“First try. Go. Enjoy your war. Cleanse the Connec of revenant Night. But your success won’t stay that nation’s doom.”
Hecht could move. He did so instantly, despite having a thousand questions.
The ascendant was amused.
Cloven Februaren should be careful. This thing was no dim pirate.
Brothe was calm. Pinkus Ghort told the Captain-General, “I almost wish you could stay around, Pipe. It’s so quiet.”
“Enforce that yourself. You have the power and the men.”
“And could be out of a job. I’m not on the payroll to keep the peace. I’m here to make sure Brothe runs the way Bronte Doneto and the Five Families want it to run. In that order. They could hardly care less if the lower classes murder each other. And they’re behind the Colors.”
Those political parties, once just passionate partisans of various racing teams, had been quiescent since the collapse of the hippodrome. Which had been reconstructed sufficiently that a partial racing season was set for the coming summer. Street politics would come along with. Had begun already and were in abeyance only because the Patriarchal garrison was intolerant of disorder.
Hecht said, “I’ll enjoy it from afar. If it gets to be too much, come see me. The militias of the various Patriarchal States desperately need reorganization.”
“Thought you already did that.”
“I tried. Against a lot of inertia. A couple more tries, I’ll get them hammered into a tool that’s ready to use when I need it.”
Something flickered behind Ghort’s eyes. A shadow. A thought he did not care to share. “I’m glad I’m not at the tip of the spear no more. Here I’ve got some control over my life. I can squirrel away a little wealth.”
Hecht filed that for consideration. That would be Pinkus Ghort expressing shadow thoughts as plainly as he dared.
Hecht had a row with Pella. The boy did not want to stay behind. Hecht ended it. “I promised Anna. I keep my promises. If your studies don’t keep you out of trouble, Principat? Delari can find something for you to do.”
Madouc visited Hecht in his office in the Castella. “Captain-General.”
“Madouc.” Coolly. Displeasure carefully constrained.
“I want to withdraw my resignation. If you will permit.”
“What’s changed, Madouc? I’ll never be any different.”
“I understand. I was tired and frustrated. The trip to Fea, with all that bad weather, broke me. I’ve had time to get over it.”
Hecht had not replaced Madouc. It was not a pressing concern. “All right. Get caught up.”
“Thank you, Captain-General. I’ll try to be less prickly.”
Cloven Februaren told Hecht, “Addam Hauf told Madouc to come back. He got bumped up two stages inside the Brotherhood hierarchy and proclaimed chief observer of Piper Hecht. You’ll see some changes among your lifeguards. Several who aren’t Brotherhood will go. Others who are will be replaced by men less captivated by you personally.”
“Ah. So now I’ll be like the old-time emperors. Protected from everything except my protectors.”
“Seems to be the idea.”
“I shouldn’t have let him come back.”
“Better the devil you know.”
“Possibly.”
“Take care. I won’t be around much anymore. Other chores need my attention.”
Hecht said only, “I’ll miss you, then.”
“The Connec should present no special challenges. Just be alert. And let Madouc do his job. He’s good at it. When you let him be.”
“I get the message.”
