Sword of the Gods - Bruce R. Cordell [111]
The dwarf’s mouth crooked in amusement, and he shook his head. “Undryl Yannathar started us down this path when he left the Church in Exile, that’s true. But he’s been out of the picture for a long time. He died, and we, his agents, took up the path Undryl set us on, though I think we went much farther down it than he ever guessed we could. And we’re about to reach our destination! We will—”
“Who’s we?” Demascus interrupted. It sounded as if the dwarf was working himself into some sort of fanatical sermon.
“We have formed a new group. We’ve broken away even from the Church in Exile. We are the Church of All Tomorrows.”
Demascus tried again, “And who makes up the Church of All Tomorrows?”
“Me, for one. Many others, though I don’t know their real names. But all of us are celebrants who wish to pledge themselves to a new understanding. Oghma had the right idea, but failed to go far enough. If you’re the god of knowledge, why restrict yourself to what’s already happened—why not peer into the future too, and access all knowledge? That is true power, and that is what our new faith offers!”
Because the future is uncertain and can never be known with certainty, Demascus wanted to say. To trust the future is to trust a changeable lie.
“And I know why you, Demascus, were drawn to us,” continued Landrew. “Why you’ve decided to foreswear Oghma, and join us.”
“Really?”
“I know something of your Veil of Wrath and Knowledge. It is an instrument of Fate. And to be so accurate, it must peer over the lip of now, and into the valley of what may be. Just as we propose to do!”
Demascus blinked. That was the second time Landrew had referenced his scarf, with a touch more familiarity than he should have possessed.
Time to move things along. Demascus asked, “Why come all the way across the Sea of Fallen Stars to move your new faith forward into this, what, ‘new phase?’ If all you required was a site still leaking residual magic, surely some hilltop or gravesite closer to Procampur would have worked as well?”
Landrew shrugged and said, “It was what Kalkan decreed. He was entrusted with finding the most suitable site, and Akanûl is where he chose.”
Demascus started at that name. He said, “Kalkan. I don’t think I know that name …”
The dwarf said, “Kalkan is new to the Church of All Tomorrows, but he possesses a remarkable ability to predict upcoming events. It’s almost like he can see the future, as if he has already become what the rest of us desire to be. Plus, the Voice of Tomorrow vouched for him.”
The dwarf waited, apparently to see if Demascus would ask who the Voice of Tomorrow was. Demascus kept his face studiously neutral and merely nodded for the dwarf to continue.
“So Kalkan was entrusted to prepare a place for the ceremony of transfiguration and joining. We will shrive ourselves from Oghma’s tutelage and move on to a god who offers so much more! We will pledge ourselves to the Voice of Tomorrow. And the time is nearly upon us. We are in Akanûl at the appointed time. Tomorrow we go to the appointed place, and have only to bring … suitable sacrifice.”
A degree of the animation went out of Landrew’s voice as he said the last, and he looked confused.
“What?”
“Kalkan said the only sacrifice that would do to launch us into the new realm of foreknowledge would be the offering of a powerful acolyte of Oghma to the god who will become our Binder of Tomorrow. I was planning on using Tarsis.”
“Ah. Had I known …”
Then the dwarf grinned and said, “But I suppose Brenwin will do!”
Demascus restrained himself from striking the priest. He said, “If you say so. So you know the way to the site?”
“I’m an acolyte of knowledge; of course I do. I have a map!” The dwarf reached into the fold of his robe and produced a piece of parchment.
“Show me,” Demascus commanded. The dwarf bent his head to the map. In that instant Demascus swept Exorcessum from his back. The runesword sheared through the dwarf’s neck, and Landrew’s head came off.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
AIRSPUR
THE YEAR OF THE FINAL STAND (1475 DR)