"Quite substantial for a thing of smoke," Bishop Egbert said as Silvas showed him to a large room in the keep of the Seven Towers. The monks of Egbert's cathedral chapter had been shown to a large room on the ground floor, supplanting part of the staff for the duration of their stay. The Glade was rather more accommodating than most castles. The soldiers, servants, and guests weren't forced to make do with whatever space they could find in the great hall or other areas.
"It's not often that I get to share hospitality with outsiders," Silvas said, forgoing the more obvious replies. "It is quite old, especially for England. When Auroreus built this place, Rome was still the seat of empire as well as of the Church."
"I have heard rumors, but remarkably I have found nothing in any of the annals that come to my attention," the bishop said. "It seems that not even the wordiest of brothers has seen fit to mention the rumors for posterity."
"Not a situation of my doing, I assure you," Silvas said. "While I do not seek to spread the fame of the Seven Towers, neither do I conspire to hide its existence." He gestured around the bedroom. "If you have need of anything, a ring of the bell will bring a servant. And through there"-he pointed to a doorway at the rear of the room-"you will find the rest of the accommodations. Someone will be along with a tray, wine and a few odds and ends, to help you refresh yourself after the journey. Dinner will be a half hour or so, I believe."
"Thank you. I have no doubt that I shall find all that I need."
"Will you be able to find your way to the great hall without difficulty?"
"But of course," Egbert said, smiling.
"There is a lot we need to discuss, Your Excellency, but, if possible, perhaps we may postpone that until after dinner."
"God willing," Bishop Egbert said.
"And able," Silvas added. Bishop Egbert nodded. Alone, he found no call to dispute the wizard's qualification. Silvas bowed and left the bishop to return to his own suite of rooms. Carillia was dressing.
"I hope everything is prepared properly," she said. "It is a good thing that Bay was able to warn us that we would have company."
"He left as soon as Bishop Egbert accepted my invitation. I wasn't sure of his acceptance, or I would have mentioned the possibility before I left."
"You were in little shape for that kind of planning when you left, my heart. You feel better now?"
"As you can see," he replied. "The passage of a few hours today has done more good than the eighteen hours of sleep that preceded them."
"How many will there be for dinner?"
"The bishop and his dozen monks. Brother Paul from the village. And two from the castle, Sir Eustace and Fitz-Matthew."
Carillia nodded. "Bay had the count right, then. I wasn't sure but that it might have changed after he left you."
"Bay be wrong on a simple fact?" Silvas laughed. "That would be a first. Are you sure you don't mind playing hostess this evening, my love?"
"Would that I had the chance more often, my heart," she replied. "It is so rare that we do any entertaining."
"It's rare that anyone is willing to chance the horrors of a sorcerer's lair." Silvas laughed again. "I have decided to hide nothing from any of our churchmen. I wouldn't insult the bishop so, or rob him of any information he needs to be effective in the coming fight. None of the secrets of the Seven Towers need be concealed from them."
"I note that you do not include Sir Eustace or his steward in that," Carillia said.
"Prudence seems to indicate otherwise," Silvas said. "Eustace already holds enough anger for three men. I wouldn't give him any additional load to bear. He might not be able to withstand it." In his own mind Silvas was less charitable to the knight, but he saw no need to share his darker impressions with Carillia. "Once Sir Eustace and Master Henry depart, we can do some serious planning with the men of the Church."
"You think we will have time for civility and careful planning?" Carillia asked.
"That isn't for us to say." His voice showed a trace of sadness. "So far the Blue Rose has chosen to attack in the middle of the night, when evil is at its strongest. If the pattern holds, we should have time for talk at least. I can give the bishop all of the information I have."
"Will you be strong enough for a Council tonight?" Carillia asked.
"I have to be," Silvas said flatly. "And that may be the signal the Blue Rose awaits. They may attack during our Council again."
"Then we must be armed as best we can before," Carillia said.
– |The great hall was bright with lights. Dozens of candles burned smokelessly on high stands. There were torches in sconces and blazing fires in both hearths. Despite the season the room was not overheated, though. Evenings in the mountain valley of the Seven Towers were rarely extreme. And a gentle flow of air found its way through the great hall, clearing away the smoke produced by torches and fireplaces without guttering the candles.
The tables had been rearranged… and some had been removed. There was no trace of the special arrangements made for Bosc's porcine kind or Braf's lupine warriors. And only human servants and guards were in evidence. The tables had been set with silver. Loaves of bread, bunches of green onions, radishes, and bowls of fruit had been arranged for the diners. There was plenty of wine and ale. Even on short notice Silvas's staff had prepared a dinner that he would be proud of.
By the time Silvas and Carillia entered the great hall, most of their guests were already present. Sir Eustace and Henry Fitz-Matthew had been in the great hall since coming to the castle. They were off by one of the kegs of ale. To Silvas's eye, they had been partaking rather freely of the brew. Sir Eustace looked around the great hall, a deep scowl plain on his face before he spotted Silvas and Carillia. Fitz-Matthew looked fearful, as if he wished he were almost anywhere else on Earth.
Brother Paul and one of the cathedral monks were missing. They've gone to get the bishop, Silvas guessed easily. The rest of the monks had apparently come into the great hall within the past few minutes. None had taken a seat yet. A few had wine. Others seemed to be debating whether or not they should indulge before the bishop arrived.
"There is such a feeling of power about these churchmen," Carillia whispered.
"I would guess that they have all been selected by Bishop Egbert for their abilities," Silvas whispered back. He patted the hand that Carillia had on his arm. "The bishop himself appears quite formidable."
"I would expect that," Carillia replied. Silvas nodded and they walked across the room, not quite toward their places at the head table, but not directly toward either group of guests.
Sir Eustace made a half turn, not completely turning his back on his host but coming close. Fitz-Matthew kept his eyes on his master, giving Silvas only one quick, nervous glance. The churchmen were quite attentive, though. Silvas saw open curiosity in some of them, a more genteel veil of politeness in others.
"The bishop will be with us quite soon," one of the older monks said, taking a couple of steps toward Silvas and Carillia before he spoke.
"I hope you find the wine satisfactory," Carillia said, gesturing at the goblet the monk was holding.
"This is my lady, Carillia," Silvas said.
"Honored, my lady," the monk said. "I am Brother Andrew. And, yes, the wine is excellent." As if to prove the point, he raised his goblet in toast and took a long drink. "Quite excellent."
Bishop Egbert came in then, with Brother Paul and the twelfth monk from St. Ives. Silvas went to greet the bishop and to introduce him to Carillia. Then he led the way to the table. Sir Eustace and Fitz-Matthew came away from the ale keg as soon as the bishop entered.
For this occasion the tables remaining in the great hall had been brought together and arranged in a common T formation, although the "lower" table wasn't physically lower. Breaking from usual custom, Carillia sat at Silvas's left, giving the place of honor at the right to the bishop. Sir Eustace was at Carillia's other side. Brother Paul and Henry Fitz-Matthew had the first places at the long "lower" table, and the monks from St. Ives filled the rest of the places.
As soon as everyone started to sit, servants came in with the first courses of hot food.
"If you would offer the blessing, Your Excellency?" Silvas asked the bishop as the servants left to get more trays. Silvas wondered if the request would surprise the prelate-as it obviously did Brother Paul and a few of the monks from St. Ives.
"With great pleasure," Egbert said. His grin was warm, knowing. And his blessing was blessedly short. He made the sign of the cross, which was echoed by everyone at the table, save for Silvas and Carillia. Most of the guests took note of that, and Silvas saw a clear cross section of attitudes. Only the bishop and the vicar seemed to show no reaction at all.
The only guests who showed any discomfort at dining in the magical castle of a wizard who disdained the forms of the Church were the two men from the castle of Mecq. The knight wore his customary anger, little modified in front of the bishop. Fitz-Matthew's face was a study in barely suppressed fear. He had reacted to Silvas with fear since first coming inside the Seven Towers.
The meal itself might have taken place at almost any major castle-except that the food tasted better, the table service was that of a king or emperor, and the room was much cleaner, free of the common smells of animals and moldy straw. If Sir Eustace or his steward took any comparisons to their own home, they were not apparent. But even those two men did not slight the food. Though they started slowly, they were soon eating as heartily as any of the monks, whose appetites seemed to belie their gaunt looks.
Bishop Egbert guided the conversation. He and his monks were all talkative enough, given to passing along the gossip that had come their way. News of the outside world was rare in Mecq. Even Sir Eustace managed to occasionally repress his anger long enough to ask a civil question. No mention was made of the Blue Rose or of Mecq's problems-not during the meal.
"A splendid repast," the bishop said when everyone appeared to be sated. His grin had grown wider through the meal. "My brothers and I all offer our deepest thanks." He allowed the grin to dissolve. "May God grant that it see us through the trials that lie ahead of us."
"I don't know which I wish more," Silvas said. "I dread the arrival of this great battle, but at the same time I wish to have it behind me, however it may end."
"An understandable dilemma," the bishop assured him. "You are quite certain that the Blue Rose is behind the troubles here?"
"Positive. Their signature on some of the illnesses I treated was unmistakable. And we have had later confirmation of that." He hesitated, glanced quickly at Sir Eustace and then back to the bishop.
Bishop Egbert nodded. "There is time enough for that later. About immediate measures?"
"There have been two direct assaults," Silvas said. Sir Eustace raised an eyebrow at that. Brother Paul focused his attention more closely on the wizard. "The first was strictly on the Seven Towers. It was the second that included Mecq. And as the second was stronger, more determined, than the first, so I believe that the third will be stronger and more determined than the second. The next battle, when it comes, may well decide the issue." He paused before he added, "For Mecq, perhaps for everyone."
"Have you any idea what form this attack may take?" Sir Eustace asked.
Silvas shrugged. "It's impossible to be certain yet. There may be a more mundane element, a human army, in addition to the weapons that were evidenced before."
"I have too few men to deal with an army," Eustace said quickly. "If I arm everyone in my castle who can handle a weapon, I could hardly turn back the merest outriders of an army."
"You have the advantage of height, and there will be no time for a siege," Silvas said. "The issue will be decided in a day or a night."
"And you do not stand alone," Bishop Egbert said.
"I will defend my land and people to the last," the knight said after a long silence. He stared directly at Silvas.
"There was never any doubt of that," Silvas replied quietly. It was not the time to willfully antagonize the thane further.
Eustace nodded curtly, then pushed back from the table. "It's time I return to my family," he said. "Night is fast upon us and I have work yet to do." Fitz-Matthew quickly got to his feet as well. Silvas and the others rose more slowly.
"Remember, Sir Eustace," Egbert said, "if our Unseen Lord sees us safely through this night, I will celebrate Mass at dawn in the church here."
Eustace nodded, then bowed more formally to the prelate and left, with his steward at his heels. After they were gone, Bishop Egbert sighed as he sat again.
"Sir Eustace is a difficult man," Silvas said. This time Brother Paul didn't feel compelled to offer any defense. Nor did the bishop say anything on the subject.
"If your brothers would care to continue here, the rest of us might retire to a cozier room to continue our talk," Silvas said. "Some things are best said between close walls."
Silvas, Carillia, Bishop Egbert, and Brother Paul left together. Silvas lead the way to a more intimate room just off the great hall. Koshka came in with a tray of goblets and two bottles of the spicy Alpine wine that Silvas had grown so fond of.
"I conceal nothing of pertinence from you," Silvas said when he saw the bishop staring openly at Koshka. Brother Paul also stared, but he was sitting a little off to the side, where his gaping was less obvious. "Seeing one of Koshka's kin is partial explanation for the look of fear that Sir Eustace's steward wears so firmly."
"I have never seen your like before," the bishop said, addressing himself directly to Koshka. "Would you mind coming closer?"
Koshka looked to Silvas, and when the wizard nodded, Koshka bobbed his head and stepped right up to the bishop.
"Extraordinary," Eustace said after a close perusal of Koshka's head. "Excuse my ignorance, please, but do you speak?"
"Yes, Your Excellency," Koshka said in neutral tones.
"I have a couple of dozen of his folk here, and others who would look as strange to you," Silvas said. "They are as human as you or I, no matter how they appear. They come from a place that is so far away that the distance is unfathomable… yet they come from a place that is, in some ways, no farther than the great hall is from us here."
The bishop looked from Koshka to Silvas and back.
"You may go now, Koshka," Silvas said. "Thank you."
Koshka bobbed his head and left the room quickly.
"He is a most excellent servant," Silvas said. "His people, and the others, are all good at their jobs and loyal beyond measure."
"Then you are indeed fortunate," Egbert said. His voice displayed no tremors at the encounter.
"I believe so," Silvas agreed. "Now, perhaps I had best tell you all I know of the situation here." He proceeded to do just that, speaking first of the vow he had made to the Unseen Lord so long before, of the purpose behind his lifelong peregrination. When he finally reached the immediate matters, Silvas didn't even hold back the tales of his meetings after the previous Council and after the battles, the murky stranger who appeared to be their Unseen Lord, and the things he had told Silvas. Carillia listened as intently as the two churchmen when Silvas got to those parts, since he had never mentioned them to her.
"If the Blue Rose gives us time tonight," Silvas finally said, "I will summon a Council of my advisers in the spirit. I would be honored to have you and the vicar join us. I would welcome your advice."
Bishop Egbert leaned back. Being an adept of the Greater Mysteries of the White Brotherhood, he had a vague idea of what the wizard was proposing. It will be something beyond the scope of conclave but similar, he told himself. He closed his eyes to pray and to meditate on the wisdom and propriety of accepting. I need to do whatever I may to save this village and thwart the Blue Rose, he decided. And I would not willingly miss this opportunity.
"I accept your offer most eagerly," he said when he opened his eyes. He turned to Brother Paul. "I do not say this in command, brother. I urge you to accept, though I must also caution you that what you will experience goes far beyond the Lesser Mysteries. It may test your faith sorely."
Brother Paul bowed his head. "In that case, Excellency, how could I possibly refuse?"
"I will come for you in sleep," Silvas said. "There are certain precautions that I must take before any Council, and more so under the present circumstances. We can find a bed for you here as well, Vicar."
Brother Paul hesitated. "If it does not interfere with your magic, Lord Wizard, I belong where my parishioners can find me instantly at need, in the manse of St. Katrinka's."
"It will not hinder the Council, as long as I know where to find you."
"It is your place," Egbert told Brother Paul. "Go in peace, my son."
– |"A good man," Silvas said after the friar left. "Much better than I would have expected in a place such as Mecq."
"I believe you are right," Egbert said, looking at the door through which the vicar had departed. "When this is over, he will bear examination. He may be fit for more than the Lesser Mysteries."
"That is, of course, your domain," Silvas said. "But I do know that he hasn't flinched at anything he has seen or experienced since I came here."
Egbert sipped at his wine and looked at Carillia. "You have an aura of power around you as well," the bishop told her. "Yet you have been mostly silent this evening."
"It is not my place, Excellency," Carillia said.
The bishop tilted his head to the side. "That is, of course, between the two of you," he said in conscious imitation of Silvas's earlier words. He transferred his attention to the wizard.
"And that horse of yours. There is more to him than his great size."
"You are very discerning," Silvas said. A smile couldn't be helped. But did you discern just how much more there is to him? he wondered. There was real curiosity behind that. Silvas had never come across anyone who could guess at Bay's true intelligence or his other gifts, like speech.
"We are a community," Silvas said. "I may be a wizard, but I could not function fully without the support of my advisers."
Egbert raised an eyebrow at the word advisers, but before he could ask about it, there was a knock at the door.
"Come in, Bosc," Silvas called. Turning back to the bishop, he explained, "I recognized the sound of his knock."
Bosc entered but stopped just inside the door. "The-" He stopped, then started again immediately. "Will there be anything special for us tonight, lord?"
"It's all right, Bosc," Silvas said. "Yes, there will be a Council, if no attack comes first. You will tell Bay?"
Bosc bobbed his head.
"You're not the one who was here before," Egbert said. It was no question. "You have the aura of power as well."
"I but serve my lords." Bosc looked uncomfortable at the bishop's scrutiny.
"I'm sure you do," the bishop said. Bosc bobbed his head again and hurried out of the room.
"What other wonders await me tonight?" Egbert asked.
"I think that any additional wonders will be a surprise to me as well as to you, Excellency. It's about time to begin to think of the night and the Council. If there is anything you need for your own preparations?"
"Nothing special, thank you," Egbert said. "I have my faith. I have my crucifix and my rosary. I need nothing else."
Silvas inclined his head. "I will come for you when the time is right."