'Torio, was not today's battle enough to show you how the savages use their powers? They destroy with them- they don't do good. Their misuse of power brought the attack in which Decius was injured.'
'I know,' Torio said miserably.. 'But why, Magister? Oh!' He suddenly remembered. 'Master Lenardo, why must such power be only for evil?'
'It is the nature of power to corrupt,' Lenardo replied, the tenet drilled into him since his own power to Read had been discovered when he was eight years old. 'Our society is designed so that no one person may hold enough power to corrupt him.'
It was a set speech. Torio accepted it, kneeling beside Decius. 'Yes,' he whispered fiercely, 'I know. Still… why have we never sought to acquire the skills of our enemy and regulate them as we do our own? We have the society that could do it, Master.'
Lenardo sighed. The old argument of youth, rising afresh in each generation. 'Torio, when you ask that, you are ready for Master Clement's private tutoring. I will inform him.'
'Why won't you teach me, Master Lenardo? You have always been my teacher. There is no reason for us to sit still and let the savages destroy us. Are we savages ourselves, afraid of anything we don't understand?'
Just then, Decius stirred and moaned. Both Lenardo and Torio bent over him, their discussion forgotten as they sought to make the injured boy more comfortable. But the worry preyed on Lenardo's mind. My teaching did not lead Galen in the right path. Because of my weakness, the entire Aventine Empire may fall.
As soon as the wounded were attended to, preparations for burial of the dead begun, the homeless given shelter, Masters Clement and Lenardo returned to the chamber beneath the keep to report the result of the battle to Portia. Leaving their bodies behind, they entered a plane of privacy. Only another Reader on the same plane could perceive their thoughts, unless they deliberately directed them to someone.
Portia relayed the message to recall the troops marching toward Adigia, and then listened with sad intensity as Lenardo told her about Galen.
//You are certain it was Galen, and that he was Reading for the enemy? The boy was a fool, but I never thought him so vile a traitor.//
Her words stung Lenardo. //I did not think so either. You know I opposed his exile. Portia, something must be done to stop Galen, or the empire is doomed. Every year, the savages force our borders back further. Now, with a Reader to guide them-//
//Lenardo-Clement-how many others know that a Reader was directing the attack?//
//Why… no one,// said Clement.
//Good. Do not tell anyone.//
//But Portia,// protested Lenardo, //something must be done!//
//Indeed, we must put a stop to Galen's aiding the savages-but in doing so, we must not make our own people mistrust us.//
//What do you mean?// asked Master Clement.
//My friends, you have been too long out there along the border, where simple people respect and accept you. Here at the center of government many fear the Readers. We must show that we police our own-or they will fear that any or all of us might turn our talents to abetting the enemy.//
//But this is the first time-// Master Clement began.
//Aye,// she replied, //it has finally happened, the secret fear of non-Readers. Did you think only Readers capable of predicting such an event? Others are as intelligent as we-and many far more crafty. For centuries we Readers have disciplined ourselves. The only restriction the government places on us is that we may not hold, office. Do you want to see other restrictions, the academies broken up, non-Readers interfering with the education of Readers?//
//Portia, surely you-// Master Clement began gently.
//No, Clement, I do not exaggerate. You do not know the fight I have had to wage against such measures in the senate-ever since the savages destroyed the irrigation lines seven years ago and nearly caused a famine. Many argue that the Readers should have known what the savages planned.//
//No one can Read so far!// Master Clement protested.
// We know that,// Portia agreed, //but the non-Readers who fear us also fear that we do not reveal all our powers. If they find out about Galen, there will be widespread distrust of Readers. Should that happen-should the non-Readers rise up against us, refuse to trust our abilities-the empire is doomed.//
Perhaps the empire is doomed anyway, thought Le-nardo. He had meant to shield the traitorous thought, but the rapport with Portia's agile mind was too strong.
//Will you give up without a struggle, Lenardo?// she asked.
//I have been struggling all my life,// he replied, //and yet the savages advance upon us. My family fled the city of Zendi when the savages took it.-1 remember, though I was only five years old. When I came to Adigia as a child, the academy was safe, secure, well inside the border. But year by year the savages advanced, pushing our borders back. I have fought them stroke for stroke with my sword, and I have fought from afar with my mind. To what avail? Only by good fortune was Adigia not taken today-and next time it will be taken. Master Clement and I have already decided the academy must be moved-but how long before the savages advance again to wherever we rebuild?//
//What would you have me do, Lenardo?// asked Portia.
//Galen is the immediate danger. No one can find him but another Reader-and I am the one responsible, Masters, for I taught him the skills he now uses against us.//
//No, Lenardo!// exclaimed Master Clement. //Your power as a Reader exceeds mine. I have just appointed you Master, and had intended to send you safely to Tiberium, no longer risk your life anywhere near the border. The empire needs you as a Reader, not a soldier.//
//Not a soldier,// Lenardo replied; //a spy. I must stop Galen-bring him home. He is a weapon I crafted; now our enemy has that weapon, and I feel an obligation to take it from them.//
There was a long pause. Then Portia said, //It may take all your skills, and if you should succeed in persuading Galen-or killing him-then your life will surely be forfeit, Lenardo.//
//Perhaps. Nonetheless, Galen is my responsibility.//
//Portia, you cannot let him-// Master Clement began.
//My old friend,// she said, //I would not send Lenardo if there was anyone else, but only a Reader of his accomplishments has a chance of locating Galen, let alone reaching him. And if Galen has respect for anyone in our empire, surely it will be for his teacher.//
Despite their bodiless state, Lenardo sensed from Master Clement something like the stinging of tears as he said, //Portia, you know there is only one way Lenardo could cross the border and not be slaughtered at once. He would have to be branded a traitor in a public exhibit at the gates-once branded, how could he ever return?//
Out of touch with his own body, Lenardo experienced his fear as pure emotion. He had not thought of that- barred forever from home if he should somehow live through his mission! Barred forever from the rapport with other Readers…
//No,// said Portia, //he would not be prevented from returning. Remember the story of Barachus, who went out in the same way among the savages and returned with detailed plans of their stronghold at Galicium? Through his efforts the savages were driven back, and Barachus became a senator, bearing the brand on his arm as a mark of honor to the end of his days.//
//Then… we must see that there is no chance that Lenardo will be killed or driven away if he lives to return,// said Master Clement.
//Aye,// replied Portia. //I had meant to keep the plan among the three of us-but you and I are old, Clement. There should be a third who knows, younger than we-a Reader who can tell other Readers if we should not be here when Lenardo returns.//
Lenardo was grateful for the confidence of that 'when.'
//Lenardo,// said Master Clement, //'is there one among our young Readers you would trust with this secret - and your life?//
//Aye,// Lenardo replied at once. //Torio. He shows promise of becoming more skilled a Reader than I… and I think knowing what Galen has done will increase his own loyalty to the Empire.//
Thus it was settled, a plan of Readers, by Readers, the emperor himself not to be told of it until Lenardo had succeeded-or died trying. The failure of the enemy to take Adigia gave them some time, for even the savages could
