Helliconia Summer - Brian W. Aldiss [216]
Vry seized on his hesitation. She had recovered her nerve.
‘Listen, Dathka, let me explain the situation. We can help you, both of us. There are things in that corps book that Master Datnil did not dare reveal even to Shay Tal. They happened long ago, but the past is still with us, however we might wish it otherwise.’
‘If that were so, then you would accept me. So long I longed for you.’
Raynal Layan drew his robe round himself and said, mustering his wits, ‘Your quarrel is with me, not Vry. In the various corps books are records of Embruddock in past time. They prove that this was once a phagor city. Possibly the phagors built it – the record is broken. They certainly owned it, and the corps and the people in it. They kept people as slaves.’
Dathka stood regarding them darkly. All he said in his head was, We are all slaves – knowing it to be stupid.
‘If they owned Embruddock, who killed them? Who won it back? King Denniss?’
‘This happened after Denniss’s time. The secret book says little; it records history only incidentally. We understand that the phagors simply decided to quit.’
‘They were not defeated?’
Vry said, ‘You know how little we understand the brutes. Perhaps their air-octaves changed and they all marched away. But they must have been here in strength. If you ever studied the painting of Wutra in the old temple, you would know that. Wutra is a representation of a phagor king.’
Dathka rested the heel of his hand on his brow. ‘Wutra a phagor? It can’t be. You go too far. This damned learning – it can make white black. All such nonsense stems from the academy. I’d kill it. If I had the power I’d kill it.’
‘If you want power, I’ll side with you,’ said Raynil Layan.
‘I don’t want you on my side.’
‘Well, of course …’ He gestured frustratedly, tugged the twin points of his beard. ‘You see, we have a riddle to resolve. Because it seems that the phagors are returning. Perhaps they will reclaim their old city. That’s my guess.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘It’s simple. You must have heard the rumours. Oldorando’s alive with the rumours. There’s a great force of phagors approaching. Go and talk to the people passing outside the city. The trouble is, Tanth Ein and Faralin Ferd will not protect the city, being too involved with their private interests. They’re your enemies – not I. If a strong man killed the lieutenants and took over the city, he could save it. That’s just my suggestion.’
He watched Dathka scrupulously, seeing the play of emotions on his face. He smiled encouragingly, knowing he had talked his way out of being killed.
‘I’d help,’ he said. ‘I’m on your side.’
Vry said, ‘I’m on your side, too, Dathka.’
He shot her one of his darkly glittering looks. ‘You’d never be on my side. Not if I won all of Embruddock for you.’
Faralin Ferd and Tanth Ein were drinking together in the Two-Sided Tankard. Women, friends, and toadies were with them, enjoying the evening.
The Two-Sided Tankard was one of the few places where laughter could be heard nowadays. The tavern was part of a new administrative building which also housed the new mint. The building had been paid for mainly by rich merchants, some of whom were present with their wives. In the room were furnishings that until recently were unknown in Oldorando – oval tables, sofas, sideboards, rich woven rugs hanging on the walls.
Imported drink flowed, and a fair foreign youth played the hand harp.
The windows were being closed to keep out the chill night air and to shut out an odour of smoke from the alleyways. On the central table, an oil lamp burned. Food lay about, uneaten. One of the merchants was relating a long tale of murder, betrayal, and travel.
Faralin Ferd wore a jacket of suede, untied to reveal a woollen shirt underneath. He rested his elbows on the table, half-listening to the story while his gaze roved about the chamber.
Tanth Ein’s woman, Farayl Musk, padded quietly about, ostensibly to see that a slave was securing the