Triumph of the Darksword - Margaret Weis [154]
Jerking his hands back, Garald rebuffed him. “I will remain chained as long as my people are chained!” he cried furiously.
“Your Grace,” interposed Father Saryon, speaking in a low, firm voice, “I ask you to remember that you are the leader of your people, now that your father is dead. The people have put their trust in you and—as their leader in exile—you must keep their best interests in mind. You cannot give way to hatred. That will accomplish nothing except breed more hatred and bring us back to this—” The catalyst gestured with his misshapen hand to the ruins around them.
Prince Garald struggled within himself. Standing beside him, Saryon could feel the strong body tremble and see the proud lips quiver as the Prince fought to conquer his pride, his rage, and his pain.
“I realize I don’t know much about politics, Your Grace,” Saryon added. “But I speak to you as a man who has suffered much and seen others suffer. I want this suffering to end. Remember, too, that I act—by your request—in the capacity of your advisor I am, I know, a poor substitute for that wise man who commended me to you with his dying breath, but I believe Cardinal Radisovik would have offered this same counsel.”
Garald bowed his head, the tears coursing unchecked and unheeded down his cheeks. He bit his lip, either unable or unwilling to answer. Major Boris, watching him anxiously, spoke again to Joram and it was obvious from the tone of the Major’s voice that he was earnest and sincere in what he said.
Joram, listening, nodded and translated. “The Major reiterates to you his pledge that our people are not slaves. You are being taken to relocation camps where you can adapt to the new worlds in which you will be living. Eventually, when it is deemed wise, you will be free to go where you choose, live where you will in whatever manner that you see fit. There is only one restriction, of course—that you do not return to this world. This is solely for your own good. The violent nature of the frequent storms sweeping the land make it virtually impossible for anyone to live here.”
At this statement, Saryon thought he saw Gwendolyn smile sadly and press nearer her husband. Joram’s arm around her tightened as he continued speaking, his steady, unwavering gaze never leaving Garald’s face.
“Although your powers in magic appear gone now, because there is no longer a concentration of magic within this world, the wise rulers of the worlds Beyond know that, in time, Life will return to you. Since the magic has been dispersed once again throughout the universe, it is believed that your powers will conceivably grow as strong as they were in ancient times. Our people could be a tremendous asset for the worlds Beyond.”
“We could also be tremendously dangerous,” Garald muttered darkly.
Major Boris answered, emphasizing his words with a pronounced movement of his hand.
“The Major admits that this is true,” Joram said. “He knows that it is the nature of some men to abuse power and attempt to use it for their own selfish interests. Such a man was Menju the Sorcerer. But he also knows that it is the nature of others to sacrifice themselves for the good of the people and to do what they can to make the world—all worlds—a better place.”
It seemed Saryon would have spoken here, but Joram, with a glance, shook his head and continued.
“The Major has received word that the other magicians who were in the plot with Menju have not been deterred by the death of their leader or the fact that he meant—all along—to betray them as well. They have fled to secret locations and are planning to continue their fight, using the new strength that they will acquire now that the magic is back in the universe.
“James Boris does not say, but I will add,” Joram remarked quietly, “that these evil magi are our responsibility in a way, since it was we who cast them out of our society. The magi out there will, of course, consider you and all like you a threat and will do what they can to destroy you. The rulers of the worlds Beyond hope that our people will help find and defeat them.”