wanted to be.'
Ignacio looked at Silus, then at Katya cradling the curve of her belly and his features softened.
'Throw me a knife.' He said to Jacquinto before scrambled into the rigging.
Soon they were moving at the creature's full pace and Silus communicated his thanks to the leviathan. It responded with a great, booming call that vibrated the planks of the deck.
Brother Incera polished the telescope's eyepiece before bringing his right eye to bear on it once again. He found that he hadn't been mistaken after all. The thing that looked like a small black dot moving across the face of Kerberos was not a flaw in the lens.
The astronomer noted the position of the dark spec on his charts before increasing the magnification and looking again.
The dot now resolved itself into a sphere, about an eighth the size of Kerberos, its surface a pure featureless black. He tracked its progress for a couple of hours before satisfying himself that it was not on a collision course with Twilight. Then he cranked the handle that lowered the telescope's cradle, stepped down from the seat and stretched to work out the kinks in his back.
In all his years as the Final Faith's head astronomer, he had done little more of note than track the movement of the stars and record the phases of eclipses. He had studied what few ancient astronomical texts there were, but they told him nothing he couldn't have found out for himself just by looking at the sky. It would seem that to the Old Races the heavens were just as much a mystery as they currently were to the humans. Yet the Final Faith still maintained an interest in the astronomical arts and this was why Brother Incera had occupied his position for the last three decades, tucked away in his dusty observatory in one of the highest towers of Scholten cathedral.
He had to admit that he was a touch alarmed at the appearance of the new moon. Katherine Makennon would have to be informed. No doubt she would be just as surprised at his continued existence as she would be at the news of the astronomical phenomena.
Brother Incera felt a little trepidation at the prospect of an audience with the Anointed Lord. It had been quite some time since he had last spoken to the leader of the Final Faith. In fact it had been quite some time since he had last spoken to anybody.
Carefully, he descended the spiral staircase that led from his garret down to the main levels, his arthritis burning deep in his bones. By the entrance to a bell tower he paused to catch his breath and managed to startle a passing Eminence who hadn't expected to see so pale or so elderly a figure leaning against a wall in this part of the cathedral. The Eminence hurried on, throwing glances behind him as though he wasn't sure that Brother Incera wasn't a ghost.
The astronomer muttered a benediction at the priest's back before descending into the main body of the cathedral.
Here he briefly basked in the warm, heavily incensed air that wafted through the decorated arches and aisles. In their stalls beyond the transept, the Eternal Choir's song heralded the approach of dusk, the last few rays of the sun pouring through the stained-glass windows painting the robed singers with vivid splashes of colour.
Brother Incera realised that this meant that it would be at least two hours before the next service and, in all likelihood, Katherine Makennon would currently be in her audience chamber.
He descended more stairs before being stopped at an ornately decorated door by two knights of The Order of the Swords of Dawn.
'State the nature of your business with the Anointed Lord.'
'I… I.' Brother Incera swallowed. It had been so long since he had spoken that his throat seemed to catch on each word. 'I have important astronomical news that I believe the Anointed Lord will want very much to hear.'
One of the knights disappeared into the chamber only to reappear a moment later to usher him into the hallowed sanctuary.
Brother Incera had forgotten how beautiful Katherine Makennon was and, for a moment, he looked in confusion at the bejewelled hand she held out to him. But then, remembering the seriousness of his news, he composed himself and kissed the symbol of the Final Faith before bowing low.
'Brother Incera.' Makennon said. 'What a pleasant surprise. It has been quite some time since we last discussed matters of astronomy.'
In fact, Brother Incera was fairly certain that they had never discussed matters of astronomy. He had, of course, been introduced to Makennon at her inauguration, but since then she had shown as much interest in matters concerning the heavens as had the crumbling relics who had preceded her ministry.
'Forgive me Anointed Lord, but I had thought you wouldn't remember me. I am most honoured.'
'Well of course I remember you, Brother Incera. I often think of you up in the heights of Scholten, gazing at the stars. I only wish I had time for such activity myself. You must feel so close to the Lord of All, looking up at His most holy and divine work.'
'Oh yes, yes I do. The beauty of Kerberos never fails to move me.'
There was the sound of someone stifling a laugh from one of the dark arches that ringed the chamber, before a skeletal man with a shaved head, wearing dark robes, stepped into the light.
'Ah, Querilous.' Makennon said. 'Have you met Brother Incera?'
They hadn't met but Brother Incera had certainly heard of Querilous Fitch. He thought, with some regret, that previous Anointed Lords would never have employed someone so enamoured of the sorcerous arts. Even in his garret he had heard rumours of the magics being employed by the Faith to further the aims of the church.
'We haven't. But Mr Fitch's reputation precedes him.'
Brother Incera shook Querilous's hand and the sorcerer returned his weak grip with one that made his bones ache.
'And have you named a new star in honour of the Anointed Lord?' Fitch said, a not entirely pleasant smile on his lips.
'N-no. This astronomical matter is rather more serious.'
The smile dropped from Querilous's face and he gestured for Brother Incera to continue.
'I have sighted a body of some sort moving across the face of Kerberos. It appears to be a black sphere. It's quite featureless and, at the moment, it holds a steady orbit.'
'A black sphere? Has it come from Kerberos?' Makennon said. 'Could it be a sign from the Lord of All?'
'I don't know, but I don't think so. What is more there was no warning or sign of its approach. It's almost as though it appeared out of nowhere.'
'A dark sphere moving across the face of Kerberos.' Querilous said quietly, almost to himself, and Brother Incera noticed that he had paled.
'Querilous. Do you have a notion of what it could be?' Makennon said.
'Just something that the… prisoner said before it expired. It may be nothing to worry about but I probably should take a look for myself.'
'Very well. Brother Incera, I'm sure you will not object to Querilous accompanying you to the observatory?'
'Not at all, Anointed Lord. It will be an honour.'
Brother Incera had almost forgotten how much he hated displaying false deference. One of the advantages of being so isolated in his work was that he very rarely had to tug the forelock to higher ranking church members.
As they ascended to his tower, he insisted that Querilous walk ahead. The thought of having such a one at his back sent a chill through him.
In the observatory he noted Querilous looking with disdain at the piles of charts and mouldering books, many of which were draped with cats. In a corner, on Brother Incera's rumpled cot, a ginger moggy nursed six kittens.
'Ah, my family. They keep me company and keep me sane. Feel free to pet them, I can assure you that none bite.'
'Thank you, but I'd rather not. Now if you could show me this object that has so perplexed you, I would appreciate it.'
Brother Incera showed Querilous how to position himself in the telescope's cradle before checking the magnification. Having made a few adjustments he gestured to the eyepiece. 'Please.'
