Helliconia Summer - Brian W. Aldiss [463]
JandolAnganol shook his head. He took Milua Tal by the shoulders and began to coax her away from the conflagration.
‘We can do nothing. Slaying a phagor or two will solve nothing. We will wait for morning. In Esomberr’s cynicism there is some truth.’
‘Cynicism?’ asked Esomberr quietly. ‘Are not your brutes merely imitating what you did to the Myrdolators? Is there no cynicism in your taking advantage of that? Your brutes have crowned you King of Oldorando.’
Written in the king’s face was something Esomberr could not bear to see. ‘If the entire court is wiped out, then what is there for me but to stay, to do my duty, to see that the succession is legally continued in Milua Tal’s name? Will I find joy in that task, Esomberr?’
‘You will go with the circumstances, I expect. As I would. What’s joy?’
They walked on, the princess shambling and needing support.
At length the king said, ‘Otherwise there will be anarchy – or Pannoval will step in. Whether it calls for rejoicing or weeping, it seems that we do indeed have a chance to make our two kingdoms one, strong against enemies.’
‘Always enemies!’ wailed Milua Tal to her failed god.
JandolAnganol turned to Esomberr, his expression one of blank disbelief. ‘The C’Sarr himself will have perished. The C’Sarr …’
‘Failing divine intervention, yes. But one piece of better news for you. King Sayren Stund may not go down in history as its wisest monarch, but he experienced a generous impulse before he perished. He was probably prompted by your new queen’s mother. His majesty could not quite stomach hanging his new son-in-law’s son, and had him released an hour or so ago. Perhaps as a sort of wedding gift …’
‘He released Robayday?’ His frown left him momentarily.
Another section of the palace collapsed. The tall wooden columns burned like candles. More and more of the inhabitants of Oldorando crept forth silently to stare at the blaze, knowing they would never look on such a night again. Many, in their superstitious hearts, saw this as the long-prophesied end of the world.
‘I saw the lad go free. Wild as ever. Wilder. An arrow from a bow would be a fair comparison.’
A groan escaped JandolAnganol’s lips. ‘Poor boy, why did he not come to me? I hoped that at last he had lost his hatred of me …’
‘By now he’s probably in the queue to kiss the wounds of the dead SartoriIrvrash – an unhygienic form of amusement if ever I saw one.’
‘Why did Rob not come to me … ?’
There was no answer, but JandolAnganol could guess it: he had been hidden in the pavilion with Milua Tal. It would take many a tenner before the consequences of this day’s work were fully borne out, and he would have to live them through.
As if echoing his thoughts, Alam Esomberr said, ‘And may I enquire what you intend to do with your famous Phagorian Guard, who have committed this atrocity?’
The king threw him a hard glance and continued to walk away from the blaze.
‘Perhaps you will tell me how mankind is ever to solve its phagor problem,’ he said.
Envoi
The soldiery from the Good Hope and the Union landed on the Borlienese coast and marched westwards on Gravabagalinien under the leadership of Io Pasharatid.
As the force progressed, Pasharatid gleaned news of the turmoil about to overwhelm Matrassyl. The conscience of the people had been slowly roused as they digested the news of the massacre of the Myrdolators; the king would be unwelcome when he returned.
In Pasharatid’s harneys a scheme burned with such conviction that it already seemed actual. He would take the queen of queens; Gravabagalinien would fall to him, and she also. Matrassyl would willingly accept her as queen. He would rule as consort; politically he was not ambitious, not greatly. His past, its evasions, disappointments, disgraces, would be over. One minor military engagement, and all he desired would be his.
His advance scouts reported