Quest (40 page)

We didn't know exactly who you were, but we knew you were of the Sisterhood and in trouble.'

Herra couldn't hide her fear. 'Aharri, this is terrible! She ought to have reached you by now, surely?'

'Yes.'

'May the God watch over her!'

Aharri shook his head, as if to clear it. 'I'l send out messengers. Fat Harrol has been trustworthy in the past, so we’l see what he has to say. But if he's betrayed us . . . '

'Harrol's frightened,' put in Jonner, unable to keep silent for long, however august his company. 'Those devils are keeping a pretty tight rein on things in the city. He might not have had any choice in the matter.' He walked across the cellar and bowed awkwardly to them.

'We need no obeisances,' said Herra quietly. 'We're companions in misfortune this night.'

'Sorry, Sister - er - Elder Sister. Er - what do I call you? I haven't had much to do with the Sisterhood. Been too busy travelling around and I don't often get ill.' He turned to Aharri. 'We were in Harrol's eating house. He took your daughter off to the kitchens, seeing as they don't let women eat in public places any more. The understanding was that he'd get her to you. I didn't think he was lying to us, either.'

'No, he meant what he said at the time,' agreed Herra.

Aharri bowed his head. 'I'll try him first.' He had to pause for a moment before he could continue. 'If those devils have her, and if I cannot help her escape, I must try to kill her myself. I can't leave my little Carryn in their hands.'

Herra laid a hand on his arm, not surprised to find the muscles quivering under his rigidly-imposed self-control. 'If you can get me some different clothing, Aharri, I'll go back to the eating house and question Harrol. I shall know whether he's speaking the truth. You won't be certain. And I can
compel
him to answer, if necessary.'

'No!' said Davred sharply. 'We daren’t risk you again, Elder Sister.'

'Not much risk,' said Herra. 'If I know Aharri, he'll be able to take me there safely and get me away again afterwards.

Besides, it's my fault for leaving the child there. My mistake, my atonement.'

'No! The risk is too great. The world needs you too badly, Herra.'

Her eyes seemed to be glittering oddly, though there wasn't much light in the cellar. The expression on her face made Jonner shiver. He wouldn’t have liked to try opposing her.

'Do you think you can stop me, Davred?' There was genuine amusement in Herra's voice.

'I must try.'

Aharri looked from one to the other anxiously.

'Let me talk to my young friend, Aharri.'

Another courteous bow and Jonner found himself being shepherded back to the far corner of the cellar, this time by their host. His mind was reeling under a second shock. Davred. She'd called the young chap Davred! He gawked over his shoulder at his companions in misfortune. The Elder Sister of Temple Tenebrak and the Manifestation of their God! Just walking about the streets and dodging Benner's guards like anyone else! And he along with them. What had the world come to?

QUEST Shannah Jay 147

Jonner was aghast at the realisation of how he would suffer if he was captured with them. Why, there was a huge reward posted for the capture of the Elder Sister of Temple Tenebrak, and an equally high sum offered for anyone who apprehended the imposter the Sisters called the Manifestation of their God. Not that Jonner or anyone else with any sense would risk betraying either of them! Some things were just too dangerous. What good was a reward if you weren't alive to enjoy it?

Besides, the Sisters were all right.
They
didn’t go round hurting people.

Davred looked at Herra, his concern visible in his face. She seemed almost feverish. 'Is something the matter, Herra? You seem - different.' She was different. This night's adventures had not worn her out like the others he’d shared with her. Her eyes were sparkling and now that he examined her in the light, he could see that she seemed radiant with energy.

'We would say,
The God has breathed into me
, Davred. Can you not see it?' She saw his lack of comprehension and laughed aloud. 'Sometimes I forget how much you have yet to learn about us, dear friend. I think I may be allowed to call you friend now. When I say
The God has breathed into me,
it means my body is entering its last phase in this life cycle.'

He turned pale and she laid a hand on his arm. 'This is nothing to fear. Our Brother is very kind to some of us. He doesn't let our powers fade away and our eyes dim. Those of us who are adepts at my level sometimes sense what is happening and enjoy our last years most of all. We cal it attaining Enhancement.'

'Years?'

'I could have as many as ten years left - or as few as one. But for the rest of my time, my powers will be at their height. I shall even know when my end has come, and shall go to meet our Brother joyfully. However, there can be no more Renewals.'

'I can't imagine Sunrise without you. You are the pivot of our Quest.' How natural it was to align himself with the Sisterhood. Davred felt he belonged completely to this planet now. Its troubles were of far more import to him than those of Confex.

'It may be years yet. You won't be so easily rid of me, Davred. And,' she hesitated, 'will it comfort you to know that my attaining Enhancement gives me great joy, even in this time of trouble, for itmeans that my soul has not been tainted by the deeds forced upon me. I shall not have to retrace any of my steps on the Ladder of Life. This time, when I die, I think I may even rise to the next Level of Existence. So you see, my friend, my very dear Davred, you must rejoice for me, as I rejoice for myself.'

'I shall also rejoice for every day that you're still with us and grieve when you're gone. We are as children, compared to you. And Katia and I aren’t fit to carry the burden of the Quest.'

She touched his cheek with a motherly gesture, and the unsightly wart disappeared beneath her caress. 'I shan't leave you yet. But you needn’t fear to be inadequate, for you're learning and growing fast in your mastery of our Disciplines.

When I'm gone, the next stage, which you and Katia will lead, will be different. Not, I think, an echo of this one. Each person brings something new to the Quest.'

Giving in to an impulse, she stretched up to embrace him. 'Ah, Davred, I had six children, but I couldn't stay with them, not even to see them grow up. I wish I'd known their love for longer! Leaving my family was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I think our Brother understands this and has sent you and Katia to be the children of my old age.'

He bent his head and kissed her in the formal manner, first on one cheek, then on the other, but afterwards he hugged her closely. 'I left my mother when I was eight, Herra, heedlessly, not caring. I was annoyed when she wept over me. And I've not seen her since, except on holocube recordings. The university world was too far away, and I never made the time to return - or she to visit me. It wasn't until I came to Sunrise that I learned how to love.'

'You couldn't do what you will have to, without love as a foundation.
Hatred builds no towers
.'

He hugged her again. 'You and Katia are teaching me wel .'

She nodded, stroked his cheek briefly, then pushed him away. 'It's settled, then.'

She walked over to rejoin Aharri. 'So, my dear friend, Davred and I have agreed that I shall go and question Fat
QUEST Shannah Jay 148

Harrol for you. In the daylight would be best, and as soon as possible. They'll expect us to wait until after dark. I shall need richer clothes - something more flamboyant, I think. I shal seem an older man, the sort who must make a final flourish before age claims him, whereas they will expect us to go about quietly, seeking to remain inconspicuous.' She chuckled. 'I shall flaunt myself in front of them - and I shall enjoy it.' The smile faded and she laid a hand on Aharri's shoulder. 'If anything can be done, Aharri Bel-Ashkaron, then be sure that I shall do it.'

'I know.' He held the hand for a moment, then became brisk. 'My people and I will accompany you to the end of the street where the eating house lies, and we'll await you there. If you don't return within the hour, we’ll follow you inside and force Harrol to tell us where my daughter is.'

'Give me two hours. It may take a while to get him on his own.'

He hesitated. It was agony to think of his daughter in danger. But Herra turned her glowing eyes upon him and he nodded. 'Very well. Two hours. But not a second longer.'

* * *

There were few people in the littered streets. Most of those who had survived the riots were stil keeping to their homes for safety. Herra, her hair no longer grey but a dull brown, like fading leaves in autumn, strode along with a distinct swagger, drawing the eye.

When accosted, she showed her interrogators a token given by the Servants of the Shrine only to those who had served wel and long at the altars, and she smirked knowingly as she held it out.

Aharri didn’t say how he’d obtained this token and Herra didn’t ask. She hated the piece of metal, which seemed heavy with suffering, but carried it because the less she had to use her own powers, the stronger they would remain. She didn’t yet know how much of an Enhancement she would attain. It happened so rarely it wasn’t well documented in the Archives.

When she entered the eating house, she complained loudly that the entrance steps needed sweeping. Hand conspicuously on dagger hilt, she strutted over to the counter, slammed her other fist down on it, and demanded the best, the very best wine they had - and two glasses, clean glasses, mind! Harrol didn’t recognise her, and hurried eagerly to serve such a free spender.

With great condescension Herra allowed him to lead her to a choice seat at a highly-polished table near the fire.

When he brought the wine over, she smiled wolfishly, insisted that he share a glass with her, and wouldn’t take no for an answer. The lightest of Compulsions set a gleam of fear in his eyes, and he subsided willy-nilly on to a stool next to her. His hand shook as she forced him to pour himself a drink.

'You betrayed us, my friend. Remember to smile as you drink! We don't want anyone to think you aren't enjoying my company, do we?'

His eyes flew open in shock. 'Who are you?'

'I was here yesterday with a few companions - and a girl whom you led away. Her father would like to know where she is.'

The glass would have fallen from his grasp had she not steadied his hand around it.

'Where is she?'

Stark fear was in his eyes and he could hardly breathe, let alone utter a word.

'
Where?
' The Compulsion was strong. She was angry.

'Th-they took her.'

'
They?
'

'Those of the Serpent.'

'You betrayed us!'

He shook his head. 'No! Never! Not wil ingly, at least. They just came - I knew nothing, believe me - but one of my
QUEST Shannah Jay 149

kitchen drudges was spying on me. He is of their kind. I swear I didn't betray you! He must have overheard me telling my wife about it.'

'Continue. And
speak the truth!
'

'When the drudge told them about her, what could I say but that I was about to hand her over to them myself. I - it was all I could do! Nothing to gain by losing life over it, was there?'

She motioned with her hand for him to be silent and he obeyed, sitting in mute, sweating misery next to her. Then she snapped her fingers and looked deep into his eyes. After a moment she sighed. 'I believe you, but you realise, surely, that this forces you to a decision.'

'A decision? Me? What do you mean?'

'Hitherto you’ve tried to serve many different masters. And managed - just - to honour your promises to each of them. Now, Harrol of Yannersee, you must make your choice. Either you must join Those of the Serpent, or you must help the Sisterhood in its struggle to overcome this Evil. You cannot remain apart. Which shall you choose? Evil - or the Path of Wisdom?'

'I am an old man . . . '

She chuckled. 'I'm old too - much older than you. What has that to do with anything?'

'I . . . '

'
Can
you serve the Serpent? Have you ever made sacrifice in the shrine?'

He turned bright red. 'Once. Once only. And I nearly didn't succeed. I felt dirty for weeks afterwards. Some things are not for public display! When I found myself unable to complete the sacrifice the next time, they laughed at me.'

'And they let you stay away from the shrine?'

'I pay a fine instead. I'm not the only one. As long as you register as impotent and pay the fines on time, they don't bother you much. And I
am
impotent! In the shrine, anyway. The God our Brother knows it's the truth. I couldn't do it again in that place!' Panic twisted his face as he realised whose name he had invoked aloud. He cast a terrified glance around to see if anyone had heard him, but no one appeared to have noticed his lapse. His hand tightened on the glass of its own accord and he drained it suddenly. 'I cannot serve the Serpent. I must, I
will
help the Sisterhood.'

'I thought as much. But you're afraid, are you not? Afraid of death and pain.'

He nodded and paled at the mere thought, licking his lips as if they had gone suddenly dry. His protuberant blue eyes were those of a terrified child.

'It's natural to fear death, my friend,' Herra said gently. 'And pain. Most people do. It's a healthy, normal reaction.

Your fear is greater than most because you haven't lived many lives yet. Your soul doesn’t know it to be the truth that you will be born again - and again, until you find the Path of Wisdom.'

'Do you - do you really believe that? Do you remember your other lives?'

'Not remember, exactly. But I sense sometimes that I’ve been in a place before, and I
know
the truth of the lessons my lives have taught me in a way I can't explain.' She reached out and patted his arm in a comforting, motherly way.

He sighed and sagged on his stool suddenly. 'Yes. I know you're right, however hard it is.' He looked at her with still-frightened eyes and swallowed hard. 'So be it. I'l try to help you. But I'm weak. I can't guarantee to . . . Well, may the God aid me to serve him as I should!' There was relief in his voice, as wel as fear.