Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [64]
If its any comfort to you, said Fitz. Of all the gods Ive met, youre one of the prettiest. Mirasos face being that of the Brotherhoods queen had thrown him for a couple of minutes, but Fitz Kreiner wasnt the kind of man to be shaken by something like this for too long.
So now you know, replied Miraso, as friendly as ever. So what? Im a god for a couple of hours a week. Whats it to you?
I guess I just need to know why, said Fitz. Why lead a group who want to hack your bosss head off and wave it around on a pole? Is this some kind of power play on your part?
Dont be stupid, replied Miraso. The Brotherhood were Silvers idea, Silvers creation. Im just responsible for the day to day running of the project, including the occasional masquerade like this evening. Like so many things I do, its a task Silver hasnt got time to waste on, but which needs doing all the same.
But why? asked Fitz, slumping on the stairs, his boots dragging on a lower step. Whats the point of it all?
Opposition needs to be seen to be expressed, said Miraso, sitting on a step a few down from Fitz. People need to feel that there is an alternative to Silver, and by giving it to them we avoid the inconvenience of a real opposition forming. Its a winwin situation. The public get to see that there is opposition out there, but at the same time see how much of a better bet Silver is. And those who do genuinely oppose Silver are dragged into the Brotherhoods sphere of influence, where we can direct their action in harmless directions.
Apart from that suicide run the night we got here, said Fitz. That seemed less than harmless to the people who took part. Are you happy with sending people to their deaths?
Miraso shrugged. Looking up at Fitz from the lower step, she seemed almost innocent.
They want to be martyrs, they get to be martyrs, she said. As I said, everyone wins. And things run as they should do.
Yeah, said Fitz, pulling himself to his feet. A real sweet deal all round. Good night.
Fitz was almost out of her sight when Miraso called to him, a note of warning in her voice.
The Brotherhood are dead men walking, Fitz, Miraso said. Dont do what they do, dont go where they go, or youll end up the same.
Fitz didnt reply. He walked away, heading for his room, too emotionally and physically tired to think about anything any more. As soon as he lay down on that uncomfortable bed he was fast asleep.
Silver had found the Doctor. Anji wasnt sure quite what this signified in terms of Silvers offer, how it affected her feelings about the situation. Surely the potential return of the Doctor should have reminded Anji of her loyalty to him? It prevented her from fooling herself into thinking that the Doctor wouldnt return, that giving Silver the secrets of the TARDIS wouldnt make any difference.
But of course the Doctor would return, deep down she had never really doubted that. He was a survivor.
Anji sat at the table in the darkened hall, candlelight flickering. She stared into the shadows, thinking of the Doctor, how closely he guarded the secrets of the TARDIS. She owed it to him not to betray that trust; after all, he had saved her life numerous times. Normally, nothing could swing the balance against that loyalty.
But then there was Silver, who had also done much for Anji. He had delivered the Doctors whereabouts, he could still be instrumental in retrieving the Doctor himself. Silver was nothing if not transparent he made promises, he acted on them. There was no reason for him to lie, nothing to stop him from achieving whatever he wished. Silver was simply too powerful to waste time on lies and broken promises. Words were followed by actions, what he wished for came to pass. And he had used that power to find the Doctor, at great expense to himself.
All that effort to retrieve