Enemy Lines II_ Rebel Stand - Aaron Allston [27]
The shaper bowed in gratitude. “It is growing worse, Warmaster. I fear for your arm. All my shaper’s arts are not saving it.”
“So I am doomed to become one of the Shamed Ones.” Tsavong Lah leaned forward on his chair, staring off into the distance, into the future, paying the shaper no more mind. “No, that will never happen. When my arm is at its worst, but before I am truly among the Shamed, I will offer myself in sacrifice, or throw myself against the enemy and die appropriately. My only concern now is to support a new warmaster who can lead the Yuuzhan Vong ably and well.” He cupped his chin in his good hand and considered. “I think Gukandar Huath will serve best, don’t you?”
It was a ploy, one that Tsavong Lah would have considered appropriately cruel had he merely been offering it for his own amusement, but it had a purpose. Gukandar Huath was a fine warrior and war leader, but was well known for the support he offered the priests of Yun-Yammka and Yun-Harla, and for his barely disguised indifference to the Creator god, Yun-Yuuzhan. If, in fact, Ghithra Dal was part of some conspiracy with Yun-Yuuzhan’s priests, he would be forced now to offer—
“If I may, Warmaster, I said that the shaper’s craft was inadequate to the task … not that you were doomed,” Ghithra Dal said. “You may have one other avenue left to you—and it is an avenue of attack, not an avenue of retreat.”
Tsavong Lah considered the shaper as if he’d just been reminded that he was still there. He did not allow any hope to creep into his expression or tone. “Speak, my servant.”
Ghithra Dal lowered his tone as if to thwart eavesdroppers. “The shaper’s arts cannot help you, I am certain, because the one force in the universe more powerful than those arts afflicts you. The will, the anger of the gods is what you suffer.”
“No, Ghithra Dal. I bring victory to the twin gods, and they know that soon I will have a twin sacrifice for them. Their priests tell me of the gods’ pleasure with my successes.”
“Their priests, yes. Their priests rejoice, and the priests of Yun-Yammka anticipate your father’s victories in the Pyria system, so that they may occupy the rich world there. But though they are the gods whose names are most upon the lips of our warriors and great leaders, they are not the only gods.”
Tsavong Lah settled back in his chair and allowed some doubt to become evident in his voice. “Of course they are not. We have many gods. But what could I have done to offend any of them? I have offered no defiance to them, no curses.”
“You have—I suspect you have—neglected some. Offering sacrifices not quite in proportion to their greatness. The twin gods, blessed and mighty may their names be, give us success, and you celebrate success. But another gave you life, and you do not seem to celebrate that life.”
“Yun-Yuuzhan? But his myriad eyes do not focus upon us so closely. So the priests say.”
“So some of the priests say. And if they are wrong, if following their opinions has angered Yun-Yuuzhan, you might continue to follow their advice until it truly does doom you.”
“Some of the priests. Do you know any who preach a different discipline?”
“I do. He is young, perhaps not known to you. His name is Takhaff Uul.”
“I know of him.” Tsavong Lah looked at the join of his arm and considered it for a long moment. “I will speak with him. You are dismissed.”
“But I must remain to see the effects of my latest treatment.”
“You have just said that the shaper’s arts are not relevant here. Your latest treatment will fail. So there is no reason for you to stay and monitor that failure.” Tsavong Lah gestured toward the exit from the chamber.
With another bow, Ghithra Dal withdrew. The portal stretched open to permit his departure. Before it had closed again, when Ghithra Dal could still hear, Tsavong Lah thundered,