Roger Taylor - The Return of the Sword

The remark brought to the surface a question that had been forming in Antyr’s mind for some time. He was hesitant about voicing it even though everything he had seen since he had arrived had shown him that Andawyr encouraged inquiry. He started it carefully.

‘I hope you won’t think this is an impertinent question, but…’ He hesitated. ‘Exactly what is it that your Order does? How does it sustain itself? Even what I’ve seen of this place is enormous and there must be so many people here.’

‘Ah, food, water, clothing, and the like, all the many services that any community needs, eh?’

‘Well, yes.’

As ever, Andawyr seemed to be pleased with the question ‘We get by very much the same way as any other community, I suppose,’ he said. ‘We support ourselves in those things that we can, and trade with our neighbours for those we can’t. We offer many services. We’re not concerned exclusively with esoteric studies into the nature of being and existence, or with preparing for the return of Sumeral, by any means. We study anything and everything.’ He became unexpectedly serious. ‘Ethriss himself set us on that way. Always he inveighed against ignorance. “A shadow-dwelling creature” he called it. “A bringer of darkness and superstition and all the horrors that only the arrogance of mindless certainty can create.” It was perhaps the only thing he was known to get angry about – even in himself – especially in himself. In fact, it’s said that the reason for his ultimate injunction to us was that he’d discovered something he knew he himself could never fathom. He told us to “go beyond”. Go beyond.’ Andawyr mulled over the words silently for some time before continuing in a more matter-of-fact vein. ‘Still, returning to your question. Some of us are farmers – you may have seen the cultivated fields as you came through the valley. Some go out as teachers, some as healers, some as advisers to those who find themselves obliged to rule, some as arbitrators to smooth out disputes, some as musicians, and, as you might imagine from this place, we know more than a little about building. We’ve many, many useful trades and skills.’ He gave a knowing laugh. ‘No Dream Finders, though.’

‘Not yet, anyway,’ Antyr offered.

Andawyr inclined his head with heavy graciousness.

‘And, too, we’re fortunate. History, both the old and the terrible recent, has given us the trust and support of those same neighbours, the Riddinvolk especially. They’re an unusual people.’

‘So Yatsu and Jaldaric told me. It seems they live for their horses and… the Muster… is it?’

‘They do, and it is,’ Andawyr chuckled. ‘Hence Usche’s caustic reference to my own riding ability. They judge everyone by their horsemanship. It’s a social code of unbelievable subtlety – quite defeats me, for sure. But they’re very tolerant and good-natured – live and let live.’ The chuckle became a laugh. ‘It’s always fun to see them “making allowances” for outlanders like me as we wobble along on horseback – doing their damnedest not to be patronizing – or not to laugh. You watch when we go down to Anderras Darion. I’ll be more than surprised if at least once you don’t catch Usche looking at you as though you were a particularly awkward child. They’ll even do it to the likes of Yatsu and Jaldaric. They can’t help themselves.’

‘Where did this… enthusiasm… come from?’ Antyr asked.

‘Oh, like many things it harks all the way back to the First Coming. It’s a military tradition that’s become an integral part of their society. The Fyordyn have something similar with the service of their young people in the Lords’ High Guards.’ He became pensive. ‘Though, like us here, in the absence of threat I’m afraid much of the original intention had been allowed to slip away. It’s more than fortunate there was enough left to save us all when He returned.’ He shrugged off the mood. ‘Anyway, happily the Riddinvolk still have a highly developed sense of neighbourliness and this adds much to our life here in addition to the winning of our basic necessities.’

‘It sounds very civilized – very comfortable.’

‘It is, though you’d not have thought so sixteen years ago. We were as war-torn and fearful as I suspect any of your peoples have ever been. However…’ He clapped his hands. ‘Enough of that. This profession of yours. This Dream Finding. My curiosity’s burning a hole in something. I feel like a child at the Winter Festival. Are you sure I’m not imposing on you, asking you to do whatever it is you do, for me, tonight?’

‘It’s no imposition at all,’ Antyr replied.

‘It might well mean a long night for you. Jaldaric was right, I don’t sleep a great deal.’

‘Don’t worry. That’s nothing new for me. Quite often my clients have difficulty sleeping…’

‘That’s why they need someone to help with their dreams, of course.’

‘Exactly. But don’t concern yourself about me. Just do what you normally do, Tarrian and Grayle are already watching you. They’ll tell me when you’re asleep.’ Antyr’s tone became confidential. ‘But I’ll have to go to bed myself soon, it’s been a long day. Yatsu and Jaldaric have a great flair for getting up as soon as the sky begins to lighten and it’s not something I’ve managed to get used to. Nor do I think I’m likely to.’

‘Yes, they’re very strict with themselves, the Goraidin,’ Andawyr said understandingly. ‘I’ll have Ar-Billan show you to your quarters as soon as you’re ready.’ He put his hand to his forehead. ‘And I’ll have to show you where my room is, won’t I?’

‘That’s no problem,’ Antyr reassured him, indicating the wolves. ‘But there is something very important that you need to know about. Or, more particularly, that anyone likely to come into your room needs to know about.’

Andawyr gave him an enigmatic look.

‘Does anyone wake you in the morning – a servant, perhaps?’

‘Not as a rule. But if I oversleep, Oslang usually takes a malicious delight in playing the Goraidin himself.’

Antyr thought for a moment. ‘Everyone’s so unfamiliar with Dream Finding round here,’ he said, half to himself. ‘We must be careful. I think – no, I know – we should have Jaldaric or Yatsu present. They understand what’s involved. And I’d like to speak to Oslang anyway.’ He took Andawyr’s arm. ‘It’s very important that he, or anyone else liable to enter your room, does exactly as I tell them.’

‘You’re beginning to make this sound rather alarming.’

‘Yes and no. For us, it’s all quite safe – innocuous even – but for any inadvertent intruder, it’s more than alarming, it’s dangerous – very dangerous.’ Antyr released Andawyr’s arm and his manner became professional. ‘Tarrian and Grayle guard us both and they guard us totally and in a manner over which they’ve no control. Put briefly, if anyone tries to touch us or wake us, they’ll be attacked without hesitation. And, Tarrian and Grayle being the animals they are, that person will probably be killed.’

Andawyr looked uneasy. ‘You talk to them, don’t you?’ He touched his temple. ‘Can’t you tell them in advance who they should and should not attack?’

‘No.’ Antyr’s denial coincided with one from the two wolves resonating in Andawyr’s mind. He shook his head and screwed his eyes tight shut. Antyr went on. ‘I told you, it’s beyond any control – theirs or mine. But there’s no danger, providing everyone knows what to do and does it – namely nothing, except sit still and watch.’

Andawyr adopted an expression of qualified reassurance.

‘As you’ve just been saying, the danger lies in ignorance,’ Antyr said.