The Book of the Blessed

The Kingsboro

Anson was aware of brushing down his heavy slate blue cloak and straightening the brooch that clasped it, as he made his way to the private chambers of his brother, the King.

Anthony was there, and Anson said, “I would like a word with his Grace.”

When Anthony looked to Cedd, Cedd nodded, and then Lord Pembroke nodded to him and left, nodding to Anson as well, though not quite with the grace Anson knew he deserved.

“I request permission to travel north.”

“Toward Inglad,” Cedd said.

“Aye.”

“You do not need my permission,” said Cedd.

“I request it all the same.”

“Then it is granted.”

Anson wondered when Cedd thought he might kill him, or if he still planned to do so. He did not dare look at his brother lest his eyes give way to his thoughts.

“Morgellyn and Hilda are leaving today.”

“When should I leave?” Anson asked.

“When can you leave?”

Anson answered: “Also in the morning.”

“Then let nothing hold you here,” Cedd said, spreading out his hands.

Anson nodded, thumped his chest and clicking his heels together, turned to leave.

“Brother,” Cedd called to him.

The bronze haired man turned to the King.

“I hated your mother,” the King said, simply. “I hated her, and I hated you. She would have taken my place, and so I told myself you would too.”

“I have ever been loyal to you.”

“Yes,” Cedd said. “Yes, I see that. And I ought to trust you.”

“But you cannot.”

Cedd said, “That is to my discredit and not yours. Still,” his brow furrowed, “for years we never saw one another, and it is probably best if we resume that habit.”

“Aye,” Anson nodded, his face expressionless as he bowed low and turned to leave the room

“Then you should leave as soon as possible,” Thano said. He was out of his robe and in snug black trews and a fitted black shirt, a shard of silver in his left ear, and his green eyes glowed.

“Exactly,” Ash said. He made a gesture of warding over the door and waved his hand through the room before adding, “The King is in such a hurry to be rid of you for reasons I cannot guess. I do not imagine he has forgotten your father left you the most important part of the country next to Kingsboro, perhaps more important.”

“Ondres holds the sea and the mouth of the River Locryn,” Thano added. “It is the original capital. All the oppressed witches, all the oppressed people are fleeing there. It’s almost an alternate Westrial.”

“Or the perfect ground for a civil war,” Anson said.

Ash, who was sitting on the bed, looked up at Anson with a raised eyebrow.

“I am not starting a war,” Anson said, “I’m only noting how possible it would be, and hoping Cedd does not. That is why I spoke of heading north, and made no mention of going to the south.”

“Then let us not speak of it again,” Thano slid out of the windowseat, closing one of the shutters, “Not even with every wizardly ward we can raise.”

“We will not travel alone,” Ash said.

Thano and Anson both turned to him, for it was not clear to whom he had been speaking.

“Imogen,” Anson said. “We cannot leave her here.”

“No. And there is Pol.”

“Pol?”

“Whatever else he was before, he is still one of your closest friends.”

“You and I and Thano,” Anson said. “Wolf and Myrne, Pol as well. Imogen. Who else?”

“Whoever you see fit to take,” Ash said.

“But, I have a few people I must inform as well.”

Hyrum

House

That afternoon, Connleth Aragareth, Priest of the Second Grade approaching the Third, was bent over a vellum scroll with his lover, Derek Annakar looking over him while he chanted:

nabda 'ughniat Museke Heliki maeahum ,

aladhin yahmilun jabal hlykwn aleazim walmuqadis ,

wahawl nabeih albunafasijii wamudhbihah alshadid qawiu Mordion ,

walraqus ealaa 'aqdam latifat ,

w aladhin baed alaistihmam basharathum alnnaeimat fi Permessos

Now and again, Derek would correct him, but mostly he smiled, and Conn, in his Blue Robe continued to chant The Story of the Making of Things

'aw nabe alhassan 'aw Olmeios almuqadas ealaa qimat alhulikun

shakal raqasatihim jamila alraqasat alty tuthir alshahwat

watataharak bishakl mathirin. min alhalikun yanhidun muhjibat fi dabab

eamiq wayamshun khilal allayl yursilun sawtihim 'ajmal

tarnimat tarnimat zuyus walsayidat hira w Argive fi sandal min dhahab,

w aibnatu zius , 'athinaan ramadiat aleaynayn…

As he was continuing, Velon, the new Abbot Hyrum swept into the library and stood to the side, looking at Derek, but when Derek opened his mouth to stop Matteo, Hyrum shook his head and Matteo continued:

Belmarine, Olea, alldhan yuskiban alsiham ,

buasidun , hamil washakir jaya

'aghustus thaymis wa'ufrudit min aleuyun

alkhatifat w wahibi bitajihaan aldhahabii wadiun

aljamila litu wayabitus wakrunus min mushawirat multawiat

w 'iius w hilius aleazimat w satie silayn w Amana w Awgeulle aleazim

Vox lathana aleashirat almuqadasat lghyrhm

min alqatlaa aldhyn hum daymana

When he stopped, he looked up and saw that Derek was looking in the direction of Abbot Hyrum.

“Abbot.”

“You should go downstairs,” Hyrum said. Then, looking to Derek. “You both should go to the sanctuary. Someone is waiting for you.”

When they reached the sanctuary, Ohean was standing there, and all he said was”

“It is time. Ready yourself. We leave in the morning.”