Hidden Empire - Kevin J. Anderson [160]
The jousters furiously fired their lances, tilting and slashing with their mirrors, rotating shields to prevent the lasers from blasting through the transparent patches. A flurry of beams crisscrossed the misty air. Nira was astonished that no spectators were killed by stray reflections.
"You will read about our jousting when you study the Saga of Seven Suns. I am no rememberer, but let me tell you a tale from our history."
Nira laughed. "Surely the Prime Designate of the Ildiran Empire can spin a story as well as anyone else?"
"It is about another Prime Designate from the past, so I am familiar with the poignancy and the political relevance." He looked at her, questioning. "You understand that before he becomes Mage-Imperator, a Prime Designate is required to have many offspring? These then become Designates on other colony worlds as well as noble leaders of the various kiths. Long ago, however, the firstborn son of a Mage-Imperator was incapable of siring children. When a Prime Designate has so many mates, it becomes apparent very quickly if he is sterile."
"That's terrible," Nira said.
Jora'h's vibrant gold hair flickered around his face. "If a Prime Designate were unable to bear a successor, then the future of our political rule would be in doubt. Rather than letting the other Designates intrigue and squabble over who should be the replacement heir, the sterile Prime Designate called a tournament of Ildiran jousting. All sons of the Mage-Imperator could compete to see who was best equipped to become leader of the Ildiran Empire."
"You used a...a game to decide a matter of dynastic importance?" Nira wasn't sure if he was joking or not.
Jora'h's smoky eyes gleamed in the light. "Ildiran jousting is no simple sport, Nira. It requires athletic ability, as well as speed of thought, strategy, learning how to cooperate with your enemies against a third foe."
In the arena below, Cir'gh scored another tremendous blast. He scorched a reptilian steed so badly that its rider bowed his crystal lance and raised his mirror-painted shield in surrender, backing out of the competition. The defeated knight returned to the side of the arena so that the two remaining jousters could battle out the championship.
Jora'h continued, "The sterile Designate wanted his jousting tournament to be a grand event, a spectacular pageant that would be remembered for centuries to come. Unfortunately, it ended in tragedy."
Nira was listening now, paying only slight heed to the laser battle going on below. "Why? What happened?"
"The sterile Designate's most beloved brother was in the match when a mirror-shield broke in half, and the fragments sent beams flying into the audience. It killed him, his opponent, and three spectators."
"How awful," Nira said.
"The Designate's successor, when finally chosen, ruled under a cloud of doubt for ninety years. The sterile Designate who should have become Mage-Imperator remained an adviser in the Prism Palace for the rest of his years and never chose to be castrated, as was his right."
Below, one-eyed Cir'gh finally defeated his opponent, and the other knight raised his shield, conceding. The crowd roared. Jora'h stood to applaud as the brilliant spotlights increased the illumination inside the arena, dazzling Nira.
"You have a strange but compellingly beautiful history, Jora'h," Nira said.
His face seemed to diffuse with warmth upon hearing her say that. "I hope you continue to think so, Nira, as you learn more about us."
72 ESTARRA
Father Idriss and Mother Alexa were surprised, then disappointed, when Beneto announced his intention to leave Theroc and devote himself to the backwater colony of Corvus Landing. They had anticipated much greater things for their second son, perhaps a primary position or a leadership role among the green priests.
But in the end, they bowed to the wishes of the worldforest. When Alexa finally realized that this was truly what her son wanted, she embraced