A roar went up from the Regdenir around the room. Some audnir were nodding and clapping; some were shaking their heads. Not quite understanding the reaction, Jim turned toward Margrev and Madhar. Margrev’s eyes were moist, his face turning to Jim in wonder. Madhar approached Jim, laughing and nodding.
The two rows of dignitaries behind him were up and milling around the stage, talking loudly.
Margrev and Madhar took up positions on either side of Jim and escorted him across the stage to Jispora Flac. The alliance chair looked coldly into Jim’s eyes.
“You have been briefed far better than I had anticipated.”
“I don’t understand,” said Jim.
Flac obviously did not believe him. He turned away from Jim and began a conversation with another of his party.
“What’s eating him?” Jim asked Madhar.
“Oh, Jim. You’ve really done it this time,” she said, shaking her head.
“What? What did I say?”
“Ask the Regdenir.”
Jim was beginning to worry. The Great Hall was still full of the buzz of hundreds of loud voices.
“Margrev?”
“You chose well in quoting scripture, James Able.”
“I did? I mean...What scripture?”
“Come. There is a reception awaiting you. You will have another chance to eat our more exotic foods. We can talk there. What a day, James Able, a great day!”
The banquet buffet was laid out in an adjoining hall. The group on stage led the way, but soon many from the assembly filed into the room. They brought the noise of heated discussion with them.
Madhar, Margrev, Larspa Culle (the radical), and Madlen Torespora (the dodderer) stood nibbling various foods with Jim. He got the impression that Torespora was posing for the cameras that had followed him around the room. Jim did not talk much with Culle but could see she had as keen a sense of humor as Madhar.
He tried a couple of times to talk to Margrev, but they were constantly interrupted. Eventually, he became so frustrated that he grabbed the Regdenir by the arm and moved away from the others.
“I really want to know what I said.”
“Of course. But wait just a moment.”
Jim looked around to where Margrev had pointed. Almeth Luca was sailing through the crowd toward them.
“James Able,” Luca said in greeting, bowing slightly.
“Almeth Luca. How is your son?” asked Jim, teeth gritted with tension.
“My son is recovering from his injuries.”
“He was hurt?”
“He will recover.”
Jim nodded.
Margrev Aplar said, “James Able has asked to understand better why his remarks were of such significance.”
Almeth Luca looked into Jim’s eyes again with an imperious glance. “It has never been heard that a stranger could quote our scripture.” His eyes moved off Jim and into the distance. “The symbol of the eclipse is often used to convey a variety of conditions: a spiritual darkness, an exile, the darkness of ignorance...”
In Sopha’s father, Jim could hear the same practiced speech of a teacher that he had heard in the son.
“In The Prophecies, there are many such images. Only one uses the word ‘a’nir.’ It is the Prophecy of Regnarmar. It is accepted that it predicts the dawn of a new age for understanding and peace. It is much disputed whether this is a spiritual or worldly change.”
“I understand when you say ‘much disputed.’ I have seen how you guys discuss things in the Regdekol.”
The Regdenir looked at Jim with a fierce expression, a fire lighting in his eyes. It passed in a moment as a broad smile spread across his face. “Hah! I will add allowing you to see the Regdekol to the list of Sopha’s sins! When did he show you this prophecy?”
“He didn’t. I have never seen it.”
“Then how,” asked Margrev, “did you know to use the word ‘a’nir’?”
“I learned it from Madhar.”
This surprised both Regdenir.
“I was talking to her about you all being Turcanians.”
“What?”
“What is a Turcanian?”
“Exactly. We call your sun Turcanis Major. Your nearest neighboring star is Turcanis Minor. So we refer to any inhabitant of these systems as Turcanian. Madhar told me you had no modern word that included everyone. Then she remembered ‘a’nir.’”
Almeth looked to Margrev, who nodded and said, “Nect’s great-grandmother was Fratuin Regdenir. She would have heard it.”
Almeth nodded. “It is well said. Your words are timely. For us to take such overt action, as we have, in the affairs of the audnir is rare. Perhaps this is the prophecy being fulfilled. Perhaps this will be the last time we need to act so.”
Jim remembered the reaction of Alliance Chair Flac. “Let me ask you: why did Jispora Flac not like my use of the word?”
“He is a weak and pliable politician. Your use of scripture speaks to a stability and a history in which he plays little part and over which he has no control,” answered Almeth.
Margrev added, “He will see it not as something that will change our world and the hearts of our people, but simply as a maneuver to endorse our ‘faction’ over his.”
Almeth sighed. “I do not see how we can come from under this shadow. Your words have enlivened us, but I fear our imaginations are ahead of our feet.”
“It won’t be easy. It never is,” said Jim.
“Angara Myourn has said it will take much work by the Second Order to turn all hearts and minds from division,” said Margrev.
“Indeed,” said Almeth, drawing up to his full height. “Then it is clear. James Able, you must arrange that no diplomatic missions be sent until we have completed this work. There must be no more contact while we are not yet a’nir.”
Jim’s jaw dropped.
“You can’t be serious! You can’t do that!”
The sound of his raised tone carried into the room, and many faces turned to listen. Madhar was quickly at his side.
“What’s wrong, Jim?”
Jim gestured toward Almeth Luca.
“Tell her.”
The Regdenir turned to Madhar and said, “We see that the divisions between us, and the divisions within your own people, are such that we cannot yet present ‘one face’ to our neighbors. Therefore, we will not do so, until we are ready.”
Madhar took a moment to comprehend the magnitude of what was
