Storm Warning - Mercedes Lackey [186]
Karal sat back for a moment, and pictured the physical model that the engineers had constructed, a large basin filled with water, the bottom covered with a contour map of Valdemar and most of the surrounding area. He thought about the experiments that Master Levy had been making, dropping large stones into the basin over “Evendim” and “Dhorisha Plains” and watching the wave-patterns, seeing how those patterns interacted.
And when the waves reached the edge of the basin, the experiment was over, because they reflectedfrom the edge and made new and different patterns that had nothing to do with the ones he was studying.
“I see it,” he replied, “but—”
“But it was what Ma‘ar’s enemy did that was interesting—and more importantly, appropriate,” An’desha interrupted. “Instead of making a flat shieldwall he literally created a breakwater, exactly what Master Norten has been talking about; something that not only stops the waves, but absorbs their force. Ma‘ar studied it and knew how to recreate it, but he considered it a waste of his time and resources.” He paused. “Because he knew how to recreate this, so do I. What’s more, I also know how to recreate his ’shieldwall.’ If we combined both—we can absorb the waves coming at us, and we can reflect the rest back at the Empire!”
Firesong sucked in his breath, and Karal sat back on his heels.
“I don’t know if we ought to do that,” Karal said at last, troubled by the implications. “Does the Empire deserve that?”
Firesong shot him an incredulous look. “You say that after what they’ve done to you?” he exclaimed.
But Karal shook his head. “They didn’t do anything. There are two, perhaps three people who are responsible; Celandine, who got what he deserved, this Grand Duke Tremane, whoever he is, and possibly the Emperor. They, the whole of the Empire, is very large, and composed mostly of people who aren’t even aware of the existence of Karse.” He sighed. “Firesong, don’t make the mistake that we of Karse did for so long with Valdemar. Don’t make the Empire into a vast conspiracy of faceless enemies who are all personally responsible for what the leaders do and do not do. There are thousands of perfectly innocent people in the Empire, who do not deserve to have their chickens turns into child-eating monsters just because a few ruthless people caused us harm.”
Firesong shrugged, but Karal could tell by the troubled look in his eyes that he had listened to what Karal had said.
“And don’t make another mistake,” he continued. “Don’t assume that because a leader ordered something be done, that he had any idea what the consequences were going to be. Unless you have someone like a Herald or Solaris, who has a—” he grinned wanly, for he sensed Altra padding in the door just at that moment, “—a rather insistent and altogether meddling four-legged conscience always at his side, leaders are just people, and they frequently forget to think before they act.”
:Indeed,: Altra said sardonically. :A very nice speech. Meddling, am I?:
He only reached out and scratched Altra’s ears, a caress that the Firecat “submitted to” quite readily.
“That’s all very well, but we still need to do something about the next wave coming in, don’t we?” An’desha replied pragmatically. “Once I can think properly again, we need to get all the mages together. I can explain this once, and get the questions over with.”
“Should I bring over Master Levy and Master Norten as well?” Karal asked, assuming that it would be his task to find everyone and notify them that their presence was needed.
An’desha considered that for a moment. “I believe so,” he said finally. “They can find the key points where we can place our defenses to do the most good; I think their formulas will be useful there.”
Karal was struck, suddenly, by the fact that An’desha sounded different somehow; it was nothing very obvious, and