you afraid I'll be arrested, Patera? Cast into the pits? You'd be
Prolocutor, presumably. I've no fear of the pits.' Quetzal's long-skulled,
completely hairless head bobbed above his cup. 'Not at my
age. None.'
'None the less, I implore Your Cognizance to be more--ah--circumspect.'
'Why isn't the city burning, Patera?'
Caught by surprise, Remora glanced at the closest window.
'Mud brick and shiprock walls. Timbers supporting upper floors.
Thatch or shingles. Five blocks of shops burned last night. Why isn't
the whole city burning today?'
'It's raining, Your Cognizance,' Remora summoned all his courage.
'It's been raining--ah--forcibly since early this morning.'
'Exactly so. Patera Calde Silk went to Limna on Molpsday with a
woman. That same day, you sent Incus there to look for an
acquaintance of his. A woman, since you were reluctant to speak of
it. Councillor Loris spoke through the glass an hour before lunch.'
Remora tensed. 'He told you Councillor Lemur was no longer
among us, Your Cognizance?'
Quetzal swung his head back and forth. 'That Lemur was still
alive, Patera. There are rumors. So it would appear. He wanted me
to denounce them this afternoon.'
'But if Councillor Loris--ah--assures--'
'Clearly Lemur's dead. If he weren't, he'd speak to me in person.
Or show himself at the Juzgado. Or both.'
'Even so, Your Cognizance--'
Another crash of thunder made common cause with Quetzal's
thin hand to interrupt.
'Can the Ayuntamiento prevail without him? That's the question,
Patera. I want your opinion.'
To give himself time to consider, Rernora sipped his now tepid
tea. 'Munitions, the--ah--thews of contention, are stored in the
Alambrera, as well as in the, um, cantonment of the Civil Guard,
cast of the city.'
'I know that.'
'It is an, er, complex of great--um--redoubtability, Your
Cognizance. I am informed that the outer wall is twelve cubits
in--ah--laterality. Yet Your Cognizance anticipates its surrender
tonight? Before venturing an opinion, may I enquire as to the
source of Your Cognizance's information?'
'I haven't any,' Quetzal told him. 'I was thinking out loud. If the
Alambrera doesn't fall in a day or so, Patera Calde Silk will fail.
That's my opinion. Now I want yours.'
'Your Cognizance does me honor. There is also the--um--dormant army
to consider. Councillor Lemur--ah--Loris will undoubtedly issue
an--ah--call to arms, should the, um, situation,
in his view, become serious.'
'Your opinion, Patera.'
Remora's cup rattled in its saucer. 'As long as the--ah--fidelity of
the Civil Guard remains--um--unblemished, Your Cognizance,' he
drew a deep breath, 'it would appear to me, though I am assuredly
no--um--master hand at matters military, that--ah, um--Patera
Calde cannot prevail.'
Quetzal appeared to be listening only to the storm; for perhaps
fifteen tickings of the coffin-shaped clock that stood beside the
door, the howling of the wind and the lash of rain filled the room.
At last he asked, 'Suppose that you were to learn that part of the
Guard's gone over to Silk already?'
Remora's eyes widened. 'Your Cognizance has--?'
'No reason to think so. My question's hypothetical.'
Remora, who had much experience of Quetzal's hypothetical
questions, filled his lungs again. 'I should then say, Your Cogni
zance, that should any such unhappy circumstance--ah--circumstances
eventuate, the city would find itself amongst--ah--perilous
waters.'
'And the Chapter?'
Remora looked doleful. 'Equally so, Your Cognizance. if not
worse. As an augur, Silk could well, ah, proclaim himself Prolocutor,
as well as calde.'
'Really. He lacks reverence for you, my coadjutor?'
'No, Your Cognizance. Quite the, um, contrary.'
Quetzal sipped beef tea in silence.
'Your Cognizance--ah--intends the Chapter to support the--um--host
of, er, Patera Calde?'
'I want you to compose a circular letter, Patera. You have nearly
six hours. It should be more than enough. I'll sign it when we're
through in the Grand Manteion.' Quetzal stared down at the
stagnant brown liquid in his cup.
'To all the clergy, Your Cognizance?'
'Emphasize our holy duty to bring comfort to the wounded and
the Final Formula to the dying. Imply, but don't say--' Quetzal
paused, inspired.
'Yes, Your Cognizance?'
'That Lemur's death ends the claim to rule the councillors had in
the past. You say you know Patera Calde Silk?'
Remora nodded. 'I conversed with him at some--ah--extensively
Scylsday evening, Your Cognizance. We discussed the financial--um--trials
of his manteion, and--ah--various other matters.'
'I don't, Patera. But I've read every report in his file, those of his
instructors and those of his predecessor. Thus my recommendation.
Diligent, sensitive, intelligent, and pious. Impatient, as is to be
expected at his age. Respectful, which you now confirm. A tireless
worker, a point his instructor in theonomy was at pains to emphasize.
Pliable. During the past few days, he's become immensely
popular. Should he succeed in subjugating the Ayuntamiento, he's
apt to remain so for a year or more. Perhaps much longer. Charteral
government by a young augur who'll need seasoned advisors to
remain in office...'
'Indeed, Your Cognizance.' Remora nodded energetically. 'The
same--ah--intuition had occurred tome.'
