David Gemmell - Echoes of the Great Song

'And what happens when — and if — I drain Almeia's power? What will become of me then?'

'Anu's pyramid will be complete. That will feed you.'

She laughed at him, the sound bitter and derisive. 'Anu's pyramid will kill me!' she shouted. 'It will rip my soul from me.' As soon as she had spoken the words she blanched. 'No!' she whispered. 'What have I done?'

Ro stood by silently, staring at her stricken face.

'I have doomed them all,' she whispered. 'Almeia was here. She heard me! Oh sweet Heaven!'

'She knows what?' asked Ro.

'Anu's pyramid is not intended to feed the crystals but to drain them utterly. He is building a weapon against Almeia. This journey was merely a distraction, to keep her energies focused on me.' Suddenly she cried out, as another spasm of pain tore into her. 'I cannot… survive… without feeding, Ro!'

Tenderly he took her hand. 'Sit with me on the floor. Link with me as I move through the Six Rituals. We will find calm. We will win, Sofarita. Let your pain and your need flow into me and we will fight it together.'

'It will destroy you,' she whispered.

'We will see,' he said.

They sat together on the rug, hand in hand.

The Great Hall of the Questors was rarely used, save for ceremonial functions or the funeral orations — thankfully rare — of those Avatars who died after centuries of service. Situated beneath the Great Library the vast circular hall had high arched windows and banks of seats around the walls. It had been built to stage plays for guests of the ambassador to the Avatar Prime and could accommodate 800 people.

Now it was scarcely half-full as all of the surviving Avatars and their families gathered to listen to the words of the Questor General. Rael stood in the centre of the hall, gazing at the people as they took up their seats.

Rarely were all of the Avatars gathered together, and only at times like this did it come home to him how few they were. Six of the women held newborn babes. A mere six. Elsewhere the younger children were playing in the high gallery watched over by two of the mothers.

When at last all were gathered — save the twenty men sailing with the Serpent — Rael called for silence. Then he told them all of the offer made by Cas-Coatl. Unity with the Almecs. A new life with a brother race. He made it clear to them that he believed the assurances given by the Almec. Then he fell silent for a moment.

'I shall speak again at the close of the debate,' he said. 'But now I shall take questions.'

'What changed their minds, Rael?' asked Niclin.

'I believe the most significant factor is the work of Anu. The Crystal Queen learned of his talents and knows that by absorbing his wisdom and his knowledge she can assure herself of life eternal.'

'What was it that stopped you agreeing at once?' asked Caprishan.

'As I said, I shall speak later.'

High at the back of the hall Mirani raised her hand.

'I recognize the Lady Mirani,' said Rael.

'What are the Almecs' intentions towards the peoples of the twin cities? It is my understanding that these killers leave' only destruction in their wake.'

'They intend to kill all of the Vagars,' said Rael, his voice even. 'Cas-Coatl maintains that the Crystal Queen needs this sustenance until such time as Anu's pyramid begins to generate power.'

'So they are offering us our lives in return for utter betrayal?'

'Indeed they are,' said Rael. Mirani met his gaze, and fell silent.

'Has Anu been apprised of the situation?' asked another man, sitting close to the front.

'We have no way to contact him,' said Rael.

The blue-bearded Goray raised his hand. Rael gestured for him to speak. 'As you know,' he began, 'I am one of the oldest here. I have seen many wars and a host of battles. My question is this: do you, Questor General, believe this war can be won?'

'I believe it can be won,' said Rael.

'Then I have a second question. What becomes of us if we do win? Where do we go?'

'I cannot say, Goray. For I do not know. Are there any other questions?'

Niclin rose. 'Can we win back power once Anu's work is completed?'

'I do not believe that we can,' admitted Rael. 'Our days of pre-eminence here are over. Worse still, I do not believe the Vagars will allow us to merely go on as immortals in their midst. There will be those who seek revenge against us for what they perceive as past wrongs. There will be others who envy our immortality. No. If we do win this war we must make our home elsewhere.'

'Unless we join with the Almecs,' said Caprishan.

'Indeed so,' agreed Rael.

No-one spoke, and Rael waited for several heartbeats. 'Now,' he said, 'it is time to debate the question facing us. As is our custom I shall ask two of our number to address us, one in favour of joining with the Almecs, one against. I will ask Questor Caprishan to put forward reasons in favour of accepting Cas-Coatl's offer.'

Caprishan stood, walked out to the centre of the floor and turned to face his fellow Avatars.

'It seems to me,' he said, 'that there is little need to debate this issue. We are no longer fighting for our homes and our land, for we have no land and our homes and possessions will be forfeit should we succeed against the Almecs.

'But let us put aside thoughts of the war and the loved ones we have lost since it began. Let us look instead at our first thoughts concerning the Almecs. Since we first learned of them we knew they were Avatars like ourselves. We hoped that they would accept us as brothers and join with us in maintaining control of this savage world. That was our hope then. Why should that be changed? What prospects have we if the war goes on? To become an exiled people — if indeed the Vagars do not seek to murder us when the war is won? To sail the seas and set up dirt camps on some foreign shore? To grub in the earth like farmers? How many of us know how to plant crops and gather them? How many can raise cattle, and butcher them? Does anyone here know how to build a house, or weave a cloth, or make a chair?

'We are gods, my friends. Gods do not have to concern themselves with such grubby detail. We have servants to minister to us and serfs to farm the land.

'So, the Almecs need to kill a few Vagars. Why should that concern us? Their lives are measured in a few heartbeats. Ours are almost eternal.

'The simple truth is that if we defeat the Almecs we defeat ourselves. Therefore we should join with them.'

He was widely applauded as he strode to his seat. Rael moved back to the centre. 'I ask Viruk to speak in rebuttal,' he said.

Viruk, sitting two rows back, looked startled. He rose and walked down the steps to where Rael waited. 'But I agree with Caprishan,' he whispered. 'Why choose me?'

'Because you are a gardener,' said Rael, moving away.

Viruk stood in the centre of the hall looking at the silent Avatars in the bank of seats before him. He had sat listening to Caprishan and had agreed with every word. Debating the issue seemed pointless. And yet Rael had asked him to speak in rebuttal. The Questor General had chosen him. Viruk felt honoured, for Rael was the one man he respected above all others. In many ways he loved him as he had never loved his own father. And it was important to Viruk that he did not let him down.

They were waiting for him to speak and he had no idea what he was going to say. Rael's words meant nothing to him. What did gardening have to do with an Almec-Avatar alliance?

'I think our cousin is a little tongue-tied,' said Caprishan. Nervous laughter rippled out. Viruk gave a wide smile. And in that moment he knew what Rael required of him.

'I was thinking of my garden,' he said. 'Of all the plants and shrubs and insects and worms. Did you know that the humble worm is vital, for its tunnels allow air to penetrate and feed the earth? The flying insects which plague us in the city during the heat of summer pollinate the plants, allowing them to seed and enchant future generations. Everything in my garden speaks of harmony and of continued life and growth. Each has its purpose in the great scheme. But I am a ruthless gardener. Those plants which fail to flower are ripped out with the weeds. Thus my garden thrives.