everything in a new light. If the reports of decisive Waskorian successes
against Kleippur’s forces were accurate—as the invasion of Carthogia was
intended in part to test—the invasion would be completed swiftly and
devastatingly, and Kleippur would cease to be a problem. Then Eskenderom would
have to make his move against the other Alliance nations just as quickly and
with total surprise, while his advantage was overwhelming—before the Lumians
could restore a balance by arming Eskenderom’s rivals in like fashion, as was
doubtless their longer-term intent. For a long time, however, Eskenderom had
been growing increasingly impatient over the traditional division of the powers
of state between its secular and ecclesiastical authorities; if the King were
now to find himself commanding powers potent enough to build an empire that
would stretch to the ends of the world, Frennelech was under no illusion that
his better nature would lead him to share such powers graciously with the clergy
to serve the founding of a universal Church as well.
As Eskenderom would already have concluded, the prospect of such a dramatic
decline of clerical power would put Frennelech squarely among his potential
opposition—the kind of opposition, moreover, that Eskenderom would doubtless
prefer to do without while he was dealing with the Alliance nations. The most
probable explanation for Eskenderom’s taking such a secretive interest in a
laughable pipsqueak like Groork, therefore, and dispatching the loyal captain
Horazzorgio to retrieve Groork from Xerxeon, was that Eskenderom intended
replacing Frennelech with a tame puppet appointed by the Crown as its obedient
caretaker of all matters spiritual. As far as Frennelech’s sources had been able
to ascertain, Horazzorgio still hadn’t returned although he was long overdue by
even the most conservative estimates. That was worrisome because it suggested
that perhaps even more might be going on than Frennelech knew about.
Frennelech knew that Eskenderom frequently visited Gornod, the desolate spot in
the mountains east of Pergassos where the Lumian flying vehicles landed, to meet
treacherously with the Lumians behind Frennelech’s back, even when Eskenderom’s
servants assured him that the King was somewhere else. He also knew from his own
private rendezvouses with the Lumians in the dense forests to the west of
Pergassos that Eskenderom was trying to enlist the aid of Lumian magic to
present Groork to the Kroaxian population as a genuine miracle-worker and
revealer of Divine Will—because the Lumians had admitted it. True, the Lumians
had steadfastly denied that they had agreed to any such request, but how could
Frennelech rely on the words of those who had already betrayed Kleippur’s trust?
Their only interest seemed to be their obsessive desire to tame the forests, and
they would reward with wealth, power, and protection any robeing in a position
of authority or influence who was prepared to cooperate with them in achieving
that end. Eskenderom commanded the Kroaxian army, but Frennelech controlled the
minds of the Kroaxian people. Which process would deliver a greater quantity of
willing robeing labor to the Lumians— force or persuasion? Both Eskenderom and
Frennelech were pressing their cases to the Lumians, and no doubt both were
hearing reassuring responses. But ultimately, which would the Lumians elect to
go with?
He gathered the sheets of foil together and locked them in a concealed
compartment in his desk, then stood up and walked through into the outer chamber
where his secretary, Archdeacon Jaskillion, was copying columns of numbers into
an enormous, plate-bound ledger. “Over eight twelves of dozens of six-crowns
received in penitents’ dues and eternity prepayments last bright, and less than
two dozen twelve-brights’ remission of Reduction Furnace time paid out,”
Jaskillion said, sitting back and looking up. “Gross margin up a twelfth and a
half. The Lifemaker should be well pleased.”
“Then let the Lifemaker’s business be kept private to the Lifemaker, lest
Eskenderom should commence levying a tax on it,” Frennelech advised.
Jaskillion looked shocked. “But to tax the sacred revenues would be tantamount
to disputing the Lifemaker’s judgment of His needs and interfering in the
prosecution of His works,” he protested. “What sacrilege would the King be
committing thus!”
“Then it is our holy duty to avoid exposing him to the temptation,” Frennelech
said.
The archdeacon studied Frennelech’s face for a few seconds. “But thou didst not