Triumph of the Darksword - Margaret Weis [33]
“Almighty Almin,” he prayed, acutely aware that several miles away his words were being echoed by Bishop Vanya, “look down upon our contest this day and bless it. May we who fight this battle be judged worthy by You and granted victory, for we fight to find glory in Your eyes and to chastise a foe who has broken Your Commandments and brought turmoil and strife to our peaceful land.”
There followed a redress of the grievances of Sharakan against Merilon (vice versa at the opposite end of the Field), in case the Almin had forgotten the acts of aggression, attempts at enslavery, and other heinous crimes committed by the foe.
“Grant us victory this day, Almin,” continued Radisovik earnestly, “and we of Sharakan promise that we will improve the conditions of the peasants living beneath the iron yoke of the greedy nobles of Merilon.”
(“We of Merilon promise that we will destroy the evil Sorcerers who now hold the people of Sharakan in thrall.)
“We of Sharakan will destroy the magical dome that surrounds Merilon, opening it to your blessed light and air.”
(“We of Merilon will bring enlightenment and culture to the people of Sharakan, encasing their city in a magical dome.”)
“We of Sharakan will depose the evil man who rules Merilon.”
(“We of Merilon will depose the evil man who rules Sharakan.”)
“—overthrow his Bishop, proclaimed a heretic by the Church.”
(“—overthrow his Cardinal, proclaimed a heretic by the Church.”)
“… and bring peace to the world of Thimhallan in Your Name. Amen.”
(“… and bring peace to the world of Thimhallan in Your Name. Amen.”)
At this point in the ceremony, many of the spectators began to arrive, their fantastic flying carriages glittering in the air overhead. Cardinal Radisovik, concluding his prayer, had the strangest, fleeting impression of the Almin arriving, too, sitting somewhere up above them, drinking a glass of wine and munching on a chicken leg. The vision was startling, and Radisovik hurriedly banished it, inwardly begging the Almin’s forgiveness for the sacrilege.
Prince Garald nudged his catalyst, engrossed apparently in watching the arrival of the guests and forgetting that the Ceremony was not complete. Flushing, Cardinal Radisovik granted Life to his liege lord. Each of the catalysts in attendance did the same to their own lords. Most of the magi assembled were Albanara. There were, however, two members of the Sif-Hanar, one member of the Kan-Hanar, and a Sorcerer—the blacksmith, who was now leader of his people. Bowing their heads, each man reverently accepted Life from his catalyst and, at another signal from Prince Garald, the magi in turn used their Life to activate the Gameboard.
The gigantic slab of granite began to glow with a blue light. Slowly, the magi raised their hands and the Gameboard began to rise from the ground. Higher and higher it rose under the guidance of the magi until it hovered four feet above the earth. Prince Garald made a commanding gesture, and the magi ceased their spells. The Board remained floating in the air at a level convenient for play; its plain, featureless surface sparkling in the sunlight.
Then Prince Garald, who up until this time had not participated in the magic, laid his hands upon the Board and began to chant a ritual ancient as the rock itself. This was the Activation. At his command, tiny magical figures—scaled-down miniatures of the real people and animals participating in the battle—took their places upon the Gameboard at the same time as their real life counterparts were taking their places upon the Field of Glory.
First appeared the War Masters and their catalysts, taking up positions on the Gameboard that now began to divide itself into hexes to render the movement of pieces easier. Occasionally asking for advice from those near him but more often acting on his own, Prince Garald arranged the tiny, living pieces on his Board—instructing a War Master to move several hexes to the north, for example, or calling back one who had inadvertently drifted over into enemy territory.