Selene had never seen the Primo before. She'd expected the First Augur to be a crueller-looking version of Godel. Instead, Carious was an unimpressive figure: short, bald and with too much weight for his own good hanging from his chin. Perhaps his stock was from some higher-g world where people tended to be shorter and squatter. Or perhaps, being at one with his beloved Concordance, he shunned the metabolism modifications that might actually make him healthier and give him a longer life. Artificial enhancements were, naturally, an abomination.
He stood in his ornate regalia of office, the two Void Walkers behind him staring into the distance as if entranced or stunned. He paused for a moment, gathering his words. Selene wasn't sure what emotion he was trying to work his face into. It might have been regret or sorrow. His words would be broadcast over and over to every world controlled by Concordance.
“My friends and children, I am speaking to you from the God Star, bathed in the light of Omn's grace, and I have to convey to you my overwhelming sense of sorrow, even grief. Many of you will have seen the latest transmission from the apostate, Ondo Lagan, claiming to have found miraculous proof that Omn's church, Concordance, is the source of all the galaxy's grief and brutality.”
Carious held out his hands, palm forwards, in a gesture that said, I speak to you openly and honestly. “We are all aware, of course, that this is a twisted and malicious inversion. Lagan claims that he has found Coronade, the mythical world where all was peace and bliss, yet what he shows us is a planet devastated by extreme orbital bombardment, its cities ruined by attack, its people wiped out by firestorm and environmental collapse.
“My friends, he shows us the truth – the real truth – without intending to do so. Whatever this world is that he has found, he is at least correct in one regard: it was once heavily-populated, and is now lifeless, its biosphere blasted into oblivion. This was the reality of life before Omn ordered his Augurs to bring peace to the galaxy. This was the grim experience of our forebears. Horror and death, endured unendingly. And now? Now there is no war, no conflict. The worlds are at peace because the Cathedral ships intervene if anyone attempts to incite war.
“This means, of course, that it is sometimes necessary for our ships to ensure order is respected. We intervene to protect lives and livelihoods where we absolutely must, when all else fails. Is that not a small price to pay? Is that not preferable to endless conflict? No one who doesn't step out of line has any cause to fear Concordance; on the contrary, they will be met with our eternal love. It is only those who threaten our peace, who wish to dismantle the galaxy-wide accord, that have any reason to fear Concordance.”
Now the Primo adopted an expression of almost desperate sadness. “And one such is certainly Ondo Lagan. Another is his accomplice, Selene Ada. I do not know what hatred drives them to endanger us all, what twisted reason they have to wish to return the galaxy to its days of brutality. Perhaps they are simply ill, deserving our pity rather than our anger. But that is their desire, make no mistake. I am sure it is tempting, sometimes, to listen to their outlaw lies, their whispers of rebellion and their talk of a glamorous life of freedom, but they are lonely, desperate people who have turned their backs on their homes and their families, and who wish only to do you, each and every one of you, great harm. Rest assured, we will not let them. They will be found, and the light of Omn will be shone upon them. They will emerge as better, wiser, happier people. Until then, I ask you to ignore their words. I ask you to look at the so-called proofs they are broadcasting and see them for the simple lies they are. May the light of Omn shine upon you.”
Carious closed his eyes and dipped his head.
Selene cut the images off. “Looks like our broadcasts got through, then.”
“Interesting, though, isn't it?” said Hessia. “They're clearly genuinely worried about your Coronade claims. Normally they don't react in any way to your communications, but this time they've wheeled Carious out to challenge your ideas. It has to be significant.”
Ondo was nodding, and it wasn't hard to spot the look of amusement on his features. “We've got them worried. And where is Godel? There was no sign of the Storm Gatherer within the stellar weapon fleet, but she had to be behind the attempts to explode the Periarch star.”
Hessia said, “It looks to me as if Carious is imposing his will, reminding the galaxy – and her – that he is the one in charge. We might not see Godel again for some time. It's possible we might never see her again. She might have been … introduced to the light of Omn in a very physical way.”
Ondo nodded. “She wouldn't be the first. Concordance claim that ascension to the First Augurs, to Secundus and then to Primo, is all a matter of divine will, but it looks to me like the raw brutality of power-struggle politics. It's amusing in its way, but it doesn't change anything. Concordance are still there and we're still here.”
Selene held up the red bead that Surtr had given her. It was the first time she'd shown it to anyone.
“There's also this. Surtr gave it to me before it left. We've seen coloured beads like this before – a green and black pair at the Haven – but we haven't been able to study them, and we don't know how they function. Or even if they function.”
Hessia held out her long-fingered hand to take the bead. She held it up
