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"I suspect," Wulfston said slowly, "that he is even more manipulative than
that. He wants me to think that
Lenardo is dead so that I will take revenge on his supposed murderer. Revenge
Norgu understands.
Remember his pleasure in destroying his fathers attackers? But someone sent
those killers, and Norgu has not yet had revenge on that someone."
Tadishas green eyes showed grim understanding. "We Karili are too close to
Norgu. We see him as a spoiled child, but he has developed a dangerous
cunning. He told you Z'Nelia killed Lenardo. He must think Z'Nelia sent the
men who murdered Matu and of course he could be right."
Tadisha paused abruptly, staring at him. "I just realized that you never Lord
Wulfston, I do not think I
have ever met a man before at least not a man of such powers whose first
thought would not be of revenge." She lowered her eyes, suddenly closed to
Reading. "Wise men would then put the thought from their minds, knowing
revenge only brings more revenge. But what kind of man does not even consider
it?"
"One who has witnessed a lifetime of war, and wants no more of it," he
replied. "If Lenardo were truly dead, how would it help his people or his wife
and children for me to risk my life in revenge? Those who counsel war would
say if I did not kill Z'Nelia she would decide that I was weak, and soon she
would come to the Savage Empire to depose me. But how likely is that, when she
has her own battles right here?"
"That is true," agreed Tadisha.
"If, however, I challenged her, provoked her, either she would kill me now,
leaving my sister without my help, or if I succeeded in killing or otherwise
defeating her, her heirs would then seek revenge on me, perpetuating an enmity
I never wanted in the first place."
Tadisha asked, "Where you come from, do you stand alone in these ideas?"
"No. One ruler cannot end the cycle of revenge; other lords would simply kill
him and continue warring, the history of the Savage Lands before this
generation. Our alliance is a precarious thing, which must be nurtured for the
future. Were Lenardo dead, my first duty would be to go home and help to
preserve it.
As it is, my first duty is to rescue my brother. Will your Assembly allow me
to address them?"
"I think so. Come, then, and I will present your petition."
Wulfston was, indeed, allowed to present his offer to aid the Karili against
the Savishnon, in return for their help, first in locating his missing friends
and the
Night Queen crew, and then in retrieving Lenardo from Norgu.
"How much help can you be to us?" challenged Kamas.
"If you had not drugged me," Wulfston replied, "I could demonstrate my powers.
Let me explain it this way: undrugged and rested, I can do all that you saw
Norgu's father do in the vision Barak provided and more. I also have many
years' experience at teaching people with minor powers to use them to best
advantage& and to unite them to overcome someone of greater power. If all of
you were to work together, as the Movers and Seers of my homeland do, even a
Mover of Z'Nelias powers would be helpless against you."
"Would you then set yourself up as our leader?" Ashuru questioned in acid
tones.
"Not at all, Queen Ashuru," he replied, wondering why she was suddenly hostile
again. "You are the leaders of your people; they will not follow a stranger.
Nor do I know your terrain, your languages, your customs. As soon as the
threat to you is over, and I am reunited with my brother and the people we are
responsible for, I will leave Africa."
Finally Wulfston was dismissed, while the Assembly debated accepting his
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offer. One of the burly guards appeared again, but this time the man bowed,
led Wulfston up a different flight of steps than those to his room, and left
him in a kind of study or library, reminiscent of the one Aradia had lost when
Castle
Nerius was destroyed.
He found books, scrolls, and even clay tablets with writing that looked like
pictures of birds and animals.
A little investigation turned up several in the Aventine language, and even a
few in the savage dialects.
Those, however, could tell him nothing he did not already know, while the rest [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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