Читать книгу Witchsign - Den Patrick - Страница 15

There can only be true peace when the Scorched Republics give up their foolish notions of autonomy and join the glory of the Empire. Once we are united we will crush the city states of Shanisrond in the south. Until then, the Empire waits for war and all its chances for glory.

– From the field notes of Hierarch Khigir, Vigilant of the Imperial Synod.

The creature remained unflinching, unmoving beneath writhing fire. Steiner dared himself to look away. The newcomers were not alone; other girls and boys lined the edges of the square, ranging from ten to twenty years old. All were pale with tiredness and sullen-eyed. They wore quilted coats in mottled scarlet that reached their knees, while heavy boots and mittens completed the attire. Steiner guessed them to be novices, cargoes from previous years, other lives separated from their loved ones. Here was the living proof they would not be executed after all. The children hunkered in the doorways of buildings many storeys tall, others hid in shadows beneath brightly coloured awnings.

The soldiers filed into the square behind the new arrivals, blocking the archway beneath the gatehouse. There would be no frantic dash down the steps to Romola, no desperate begging to escape. The soldiers unslung their maces and held them close to their sides, hidden along the line of their cloaks. The dragon remained still, even as the fire continued to roil about it.

‘It’s a statue,’ said Steiner after a moment. He stepped forward and held his hands up. The fire at least was real, he could feel the warmth even at a distance of several feet.

‘This one has a brain,’ said Shirinov. He moved through the throng of children, leaning heavily on his walking stick as he went.

‘You are almost right about the statue,’ said Khigir, but was prevented from explaining further as Shirinov bellowed at the new arrivals to form three rows directly beneath the maddened gaze of the dragon.

‘There’s been some mistake,’ muttered Aurelian. ‘If you could just get word to my father he’ll see you’re handsomely rewarded.’ The blond-haired boy preened. ‘I don’t have witchsign, I can assure you.’ He was duly cuffed by Shirinov for not standing to attention.

‘For years you have been told that children with witchsign are cleansed.’ Shirinov let the last word hang in the air. That the far side of the square was crowded with children undermined the threat of any cleansing, whatever the term had implied.

‘You are not to be killed or cremated. You will in fact be quite safe. At first.’ Shirinov’s silver smile was, as ever, at odds with the words emanating from behind it. ‘You are to become the next generation of Vigilants in the service of the Solmindre Empire, new blood for the Synod.’

The novices at the far side automatically stood straighter at the mention of the Empire, a few standing to attention, almost snapping out salutes.

‘You can do this willingly, or you can serve the Empire in a less pleasing but infinitely longer fashion.’ Shirinov lifted his gaze to the dragon, regarding the massive form as if it were some great work of art. ‘There will be some of you who are reluctant to use your powers, and some of you,’ the Vigilant paused, clamping one hand on Steiner’s shoulder, ‘remain unknowing.’ Shirinov hobbled a few paces and thrust his face towards Maxim. ‘But there is witchsign upon you, within you, and we will draw it out. If you must be tainted with the arcane then you will use your powers in service to the Empire.’

‘I’m sure if you test me again you’ll see—’ Aurelian’s protest was cut short as Shirinov knocked him to the ground with a gesture from several feet away. The boy yelped and several children flinched on instinct. All stared, mouths slack with shock, faces frozen with disbelief that Shirinov could mete out punishment from afar.

‘You will demonstrate your abilities,’ continued Shirinov, ‘just as I have demonstrated mine.’ He paced along the row to where Aurelian had fallen. ‘You can demonstrate them willingly.’ He leaned low over the blond-haired boy, his silver mask falling into shadow. ‘Or under duress. The choice is yours. I suggest you make the most of it; you’ll have few choices available in the years ahead.’

‘You don’t have it, do you?’ said Maxim under his breath.

‘Have what?’ replied Steiner.

‘The witchsign. I can tell, I could sense it on everyone in the hold, but not you.’

‘Don’t say anything,’ growled Steiner. Shirinov was shouting at a rake-thin girl who looked ready to collapse.

Maxim frowned at Steiner again and muttered, ‘Tell them. They’ll let you go home.’

‘No, they won’t,’ replied Steiner. ‘Now that I’ve seen the island there’s no going back.’

‘Tell them,’ urged Maxim.

‘Tell us what?’ grunted Khigir. Whereas Shirinov had been visible and loud, Khigir remained silent, haunting the back of the crowd like a lost soul. Somehow Maxim had missed the Vigilant standing nearby, despite the many tongues of fire that danced around his boots and the hem of his coat. ‘Tell us what?’ repeated Khigir.

‘Nothing,’ replied Steiner, though he knew the ruse would be over shortly. They’d ask him to demonstrate witchsign in some form and nothing would happen. Then would come the consequences; what would happen to him? Would the Vigilants return to Cinderfell? Would they return for Kjellrunn?

Shirinov strode across the square until the two Vigilants stood shoulder to shoulder, looming over Steiner, who remained unbowed by the smiling and frowning faces that crowded his vision in silver and bronze.

‘Tell them what?’ shouted Shirinov so loud the child beside Steiner began snivelling.

‘Nothing. There’s nothing to tell. The boy misunderstood me is all.’

Shirinov turned to Maxim and levitated him with a gentle motion from an open palm. The children around them gasped and Maxim could only stare at the ground in sickened awe.

‘Tell. Them. What?’ repeated Shirinov.

‘Steiner doesn’t have witchsign! You chose him wrongly! He shouldn’t be here. Let him go home.’ Maxim had squeezed his eyes shut but none failed to notice the tears at the corners. He was seven feet from the ground and trembling with fear.

‘You think I don’t know how to conduct an Invigilation?’ seethed Shirinov.

‘He means no harm,’ said Steiner. ‘He’s just mistaken is all.’

‘Mistake? I do not make mistakes.’ The Vigilant crooked his fingers until they were claw-like, grasping at something unseen. Maxim began wailing, and held hands up to his face and curled into a ball.

‘That’s enough!’ shouted Steiner. Khigir remained silent, but edged away from Shirinov, who continued to tighten his arcane grip on Maxim.

‘It will be enough when I say it’s enough,’ replied the Vigilant. ‘Is it not like the grip of the Empire? Absolute in every way.’

‘I said that’s enough,’ bellowed Steiner. He pulled the sledgehammer free of the bag and swung it in a broad arc. Steiner felt the heat of all his anger, his frustration, his disappointment, all joined in the surging motion of the attack. The sledgehammer caught the Vigilant in the side of his chest, but not before Shirinov raised a hand to ward off the blow. Steiner felt the resistance, noticed the hammer slow before it took Shirinov from his feet, lifting him into the air. The hunched Vigilant staggered and collapsed amid the newcomers, who scattered to all corners of the square. The walking stick clattered on the flagstones as Maxim landed face down on the cobbles with a grunt. The boy did not move and a terrible hush settled over everyone, all eyes turning to Steiner, Shirinov, and the crumpled form of Maxim.

For a moment the only motion in the square was the flickering of flames. It seemed to Steiner that the dragon who stood above them was not wreathed in flames, but contained by them instead. Smaller flames continued to dance around Khigir’s feet and the frowning mask moved side to side in a slow shake.

‘Steiner. What have you done?’

The soldiers burst forward, raising their maces. Steiner stood his ground, grasping the hammer defiantly, but it was not the soldiers with their helms and red stars that concerned him. Shirinov dragged himself to his feet, hands pressed to his ribs. The silver mask lifted and the smile on its lips had never been crueller, a trickle of blood leaking from one corner.

‘I’m going to enjoy destroying you,’ said the Vigilant. He reached out again, a tender gesture at odds with the intended result. Steiner glanced down, rewarded with the sight of solid ground beneath his boots.

‘What is this?’ The Vigilant reached forth with both hands, fingers splayed, shaking with effort. Steiner felt the power brush against him, no more than a harsh breeze. He was unsure why he resisted Shirinov’s power but was grateful all the same. The Vigilant stumbled, as if buffeted by the wind. Shirinov took a moment to retrieve his walking stick before lifting his hand once more. This time the gesture was a command, not a summoning of power.

‘Take him,’ he said. The soldiers behind Steiner drew close and raised their maces. Steiner hefted the sledgehammer in response, knowing he’d be lucky to take just one of them before they beat him to the ground.

‘Stand down!’ The words were a thunderclap across the square and the soldiers fell back two steps and stood to attention. Steiner turned to find another Vigilant descending the steps of one the larger buildings. Other Vigilants followed in her wake, including one wearing a mask like a wolf’s face, but it was clear who was in charge. The many novices bowed their heads and Khigir and Shirinov stood to attention. A single word rushed around the square, an awed susurrus:

Felgenhauer.

The Vigilant wore a mask the colour of drab stone, all features angular, neither masculine nor feminine. The mouth was a displeased slash and the eyes that stared through the holes bore many questions.

‘What is going on here?’ said the Vigilant.

‘The boy struck me with the hammer,’ muttered Shirinov.

‘I wasn’t talking to you.’ There was a softness to the voice despite the anger. The person behind the angular mask was a woman. She was perhaps an inch or two taller than Steiner, with a long-limbed, rangy physique. ‘I asked you a question, boy.’

‘The Vigilant was crushing that boy to death.’ He pointed at Maxim, still splayed across the cobbles. ‘I tried to stop him.’

The woman crossed to the unmoving boy and removed a thick leather glove before feeling for a pulse. Her shoulders slumped and Steiner could hear her sigh even with the mask on.

‘Is he dead?’ asked Steiner, but the Vigilant didn’t answer. She stood slowly, collecting herself, then raised her voice.

‘I am Matriarch-Commissar Felgenhauer. While you are on this island you will obey my commands. You will anticipate my commands. You will comport yourselves in a manner befitting an Imperial Vigilant.’ She crossed a few steps to Shirinov and looked over his shoulder at the novices behind him.

‘From the lowliest newcomer, to the thorniest Ordinary or most hallowed Exarch.’ She leaned closer to Shirinov. ‘You will behave like servants of the Empire. Do you understand?’

All present in the square nodded except Shirinov.

‘Do you understand?’ said Felgenhauer, her voice quiet, but no less threatening for the lack of volume.

Shirinov bowed his head. ‘Of course, Matriarch-Commissar.’

Felgenhauer turned her attention back to Maxim.

‘And what exactly did this child do to threaten our continued existence?’ Maxim had never looked smaller as Felgenhauer stood over him. Steiner wanted to rush to the boy’s side and see if he still breathed.

‘He spoke out,’ mumbled Shirinov. ‘He accused me of being wrong.’

‘Wrong?’ said Felgenhauer ‘Wrong how, exactly?’

‘He said the hammer-wielder doesn’t have witchsign.’

‘Is it true?’ asked Felgenhauer, her voice loaded with indignation.

‘Of course it’s not true.’ Shirinov’s chin lifted and his hands clenched into fists. ‘I’ve conducted scores of Invigilations and never been wrong.’

Felgenhauer turned her back to him, her angular mask intimidating as the firelight gleamed and shone from its edges.

‘Do you have a name, boy?’

‘Steiner.’

Felgenhauer paused, as if her line of thought had been broken by that single word.

‘And where do you hail from, Steiner?’

‘Cinderfell,’ he replied. The Matriarch-Commissar took a moment to compose her next question, then cleared her throat instead. Steiner felt the intensity of her gaze and set his eyes straight ahead. The Matriarch-Commissar circled him, much as Shirinov had done in the school square.

‘The Solmindre Empire preach that witchsign is a taint, something to be feared, something to be despised.’ Her voice was loud enough to carry to every corner of the square and all the novices and students listened intently, wearing expressions of awe.

‘We do this so the people will gladly give over their children, we do this so people are glad to be rid of them. To be rid of you. In truth the Empire would be nothing without witchsign.’

She had circled behind Steiner now, yet he could feel the weight of her regard upon him, a tangible force upon his shoulders.

‘Witchsign is power, but all power comes at a cost, as you will find out in the days, months and years ahead. Those who wield the greatest power know little peace.’ She continued pacing, coming full circle until she faced Steiner and pressed her masked face close to his. ‘There is witchsign here!’

‘As I always said,’ replied Shirinov, wiping the blood from his mask with the back of a gloved hand.

‘This is so,’ added Khigir.

Steiner swallowed in a dry throat, then shook his head, confused.

Felgenhauer turned to the two Vigilants, and Steiner saw them for what they were: two old men, attired in frayed finery, dressed up with self-importance.

‘Put down the sledgehammer and remove your boots,’ said Felgenhauer without turning.

‘W-what?’ replied Steiner.

‘I said, “Put down the sledgehammer and remove your boots,”’ she bellowed.

‘I’m not deaf,’ mumbled Steiner.

‘You’re not stupid either,’ said the Matriarch-Commissar. ‘So don’t ever dream of speaking back to me again.’

Steiner relinquished the gifts Romola had given him just a few hours before. The sledgehammer made a dull scrape on the flagstones as he set it down. One boot followed another and the cold crept into the soles of his feet through the worn wool of his socks. Felgenhauer drew close and Steiner forced himself to look at the dragon, wreathed in terrible flames, anything to be spared the piercing eyes of the Matriarch-Commissar. She picked up one of the boots and spent a few seconds inspecting it as if it were a precious jewel or sacred relic.

‘Nice boots,’ she said quietly.

‘Thanks,’ mumbled Steiner on instinct. ‘My mother gave them to me,’ he added, without really knowing why.

Felgenhauer turned to Shirinov and shook her head.

‘You fool! Can you not tell the difference between witchsign and enchanted boots? How many years have you served, how many decades?’

‘Boots?’ replied Shirinov. ‘What enchanted boots?’

‘What?’ moaned Khigir.

‘I’ve more arcane power in my smallest finger than this boy does in his whole body,’ said Felgenhauer. ‘How could you make such a mistake?’

Khigir shook his head and Shirinov could only hold out placating hands.

‘This is most irregular.’

‘What am I supposed to do with a boy without witchsign?’ said the Matriarch-Commissar.

‘I’m a man really,’ said Steiner. ‘I turned eighteen last—’

‘Shut up,’ said Felgenhauer quietly.

‘How could I know the boy wore enchanted boots?’ replied Shirinov. ‘Peasants don’t possess such items. I’m sure he wasn’t wearing—’

‘Be quiet,’ said Felgenhauer.

Khigir stepped forward. ‘Only the very highest-ranking—’

‘I said be quiet!’ growled Felgenhauer.

Shirinov’s shoulder’s slumped and he clutched his walking stick with both hands. Khigir all but cowered behind him.

‘This is unprecedented,’ stated Felgenhauer. The other Vigilants conferred among themselves, the snarling wolf face turning to a Vigilant wearing a silver oval, blank of any feature including eyes. Steiner felt sure he was being watched despite the omission. There was a faint haze around the Vigilant, and motes of grit flared silver before burning up.

The Matriarch-Commissar turned to the Vigilant with the blank silver face.

‘Silverdust, take these soldiers and escort the boy to my office. Don’t take your eyes off him.’ Felgenhauer’s eyes glittered behind the angular mask.

‘What will happen to me?’ asked Steiner.

‘You raised a weapon against a member of the Holy Synod. Such crimes do not go unpunished, and on Vladibogdan the punishments are severe.’

The Vigilant called Silverdust drew close, raised one hand and gestured for Steiner to follow.