Jean Lorrah - Flight to Savage Empire

Even if the empire eventually conquered the savages and he and Corus were released, their own people now regarded them as dead men. What did the future hold, then? He had been forced to swear on his Reader’s Oath that he would not take his own life-but could a dead man be bound by an oath?

Astra empathized with the man’s sense of isolation- made especially piquant by the presence of another Master Reader in the next room, firmly closed to Reading. Amicus was offering an apology-but Corus refused to listen.

By the simple expedient of waiting for his thoughts to turn to it, she found out how Amicus had wronged Corus when they were captured by the savages. Amicus and Corus, out of fear, had done nothing about their suspicions-even knowledge-of Portia’s corruption. When Lenardo had been prying for what they knew, Corus might have confessed-except that Amicus had attacked him-had actually grappled mind to mind as Portia had with Astra! No wonder the other man was unforgiving.

I wish he had confessed. 1 wish 1 had. They probably would have killed us, but -

Astra Read Amicus’ heartfelt wishes that he could undo all the wrong decisions he had ever made-and most of all, that he could make it up with Corus and once more be friends, fellow Readers. It was hard to be sympathetic, though, with someone who wished he had taken a different path only because of where the one he had chosen had ultimately led.

Corus remained steadfastly closed to Reading-Astra guessed that he would never trust Amicus again.

Then her errant powers picked up a surface thought from Corus-something very peculiar. Not Reading, he was not sending his thoughts out clearly the way Amicus was-she wished the other Reader would stop trying to get through so she could Read-

Corus was glad that he would not be returning to the empire! He felt… safe? There was a phrase running through his mind, like a talisman: “When the moon devours the sun, the earth will devour Tiberium.”

“A prophecy?” Zanos asked when Astra told him what she and Javik had learned.

“It sounds like one-but from so long ago that the prophet who spoke it is long forgotten. Lenardo and his friends believe it-and believe that it will happen soon. Lady Lilith is preparing to join with the other alliance members in some plan to avert disaster.”

“The earth will devour Tiberium,” Zanos mused. “That has to mean another earthquake. Are you sure they don’t plan to cause one? There’s a solar eclipse due sometime soon.”

“About Summer Festival,” said Astra. “That would fulfill the part about the moon devouring the sun, all right. Zanos, I can’t Read Lilith at all-she has full Adept powers. I found her by visualizing, and she was directing her retainers to prepare for her absence. She told them she was needed to help prevent a disaster. Of course, she could have been lying.”

“So could Serafon,” Zanos said suddenly. “She’s not too old to have come with us-look at Trel! I think she knew that prophecy, too, and stayed behind to use her own powers to help avert disaster, or to save people if it happens.”

“So either she will be working alone against the force of the savages and nature,” Astra said, “or she will soon have plenty of help. The members of the savage alliance plan to take every minor Adept and the few Readers they have and sneak into the empire.”

Every day Astra and Javik Read both to Zendi and back to Lilith’s castle. There was no sign of Seriak-

apparently he had tired of waiting and gone elsewhere to plot for power. To Astra’s relief, there was also no sign of Vortius. If Zanos became involved in the fate of the Settlement, perhaps he would eventually grow beyond his need for revenge.

Everything they could Read pointed to the savage alliance’s sincerity in trying to prevent disaster in Tiberium. Some among them knew Aventine Readers on the Path of the Dark Moon-and brought about an uneasy treaty to get the network of Readers they needed for their project.

“I wish we could join them!” said Javik. “I’ve come to believe they intend only to help.”

But when the Lady Lilith left her castle, riding straight south to meet with Wulfston, Lenardo, and Aradia near where they would enter the empire, Zanos wondered, “Why are they leaving now? Summer Festival is twenty days away. ‘

“I don’t know,” Astra admitted. “They’re following Lord Lenardo-that’s all I’ve been able to make out.”

Trel was apprehensive. “It’s all very fine for those strong Adepts and Readers to go try to save the Aventine Empire-but who’s going to look out for their lands while they’re gone?”

The idea, it seemed, was for potential enemies not to know they were gone. The watchers sent their messages as usual: hill clan movements, weather warnings, trade caravans. But never a word about the movements of the Lords Adept.

Each day Astra and Javik Read out of body, finding life proceeding in Zendi, in Wulfston’s castle, and in Lilith’s just as if the rulers were at home. But while in the southern lands people saw their rulers seldom, at Lilith’s castle there were no crowds for the Lady Adept and her son to walk concealed among… and the local peasants began to wonder why they were never seen.

One day as Astra and Javik were about to withdraw from their surveillance, Astra felt Master Ami-cus’ sudden startlement.

Carefully, she Read with him. He was Reading northward, to the deserted outlaw camp. It was still empty, but below it, on the road leading to the castle, rode a dozen men.

Strangers , the watcher on the hillside flashed to the one on the castle tower. Merchants, by the look of them .

But Amicus could Read the real threat, miles away, just outside Lilith’s border: a small army, perhaps two hundred strong. Certainly enough to take the castle, provided the Adepts were away!

Astra Read the Master Reader’s indecision-should he call for the guard and give warning? Would he be believed? Besides-he was being held prisoner here. Why aid his enemies? If that army attacked before Lilith returned, what hope had the people around here of defending the castle?

But the invaders were pure savages-if they won, and then found out he was a Reader, they would certainly kill him. Those so-called merchants were scouts for the distant army. He could Read what they discovered, follow them back to their camp, assess their chances-

If it appeared they would win, he would pose as a nonReader and throw in his lot with them while he decided whether to sell them his skills or make his escape. But if Lilith returned before the attack, then he would give the warning, and try to make a powerful friend in the Lady Adept.

Amicus’ self-serving meditations sickened Astra, and she withdrew from his mind lest her feelings give her away to him. The group of men posing as merchants approached the castle and hailed the watch. “Fine goods to offer the lord or lady of this excellent household!” cried their leader-and as he did so, the thought occurred to the two watchmen that their

lady had been remiss in rewarding them lately-they deserved the silver coins the man held out, glistening in the sunlight.

“A small reward for your service, men-get me an audience with the ruler of this land, and you will be rewarded further.” And again, images formed in the men’s minds, of golden coins, of silk for their wives- and of Lilith denying them, taxing them, taking their lands. All lies-but for that one moment, they believed that their mistress had wronged them, and deserved to lose their loyalty.

“The Lady Lilith be not here, sir,” one of them replied.

Not to be outdone, the other said, “No, nor her son neither-but mayhap ol’ Rondivore will trade wi’ ye.