Central Square, where he says great revelations will be made known and wondrous
miracles come to pass.”
Jaskillion was on his feet, his face tense with alarm. “What else has happened?”
he snapped. “Have there been signs of dragons in the sky?” Kelessbayne was not
among the few who knew the true nature of the Lumian vessels.
“Not in Pergassos. But Groork speaks of awesome happenings in the Meracasine—of
the whole Kroaxian army renouncing the ways of war, abandoning its weapons in
the desert, and returning hither to spread a new, nonviolent faith of universal
brotherhood.”
Frennelech groaned inwardly. It could only mean that the Lumians had chosen to
back Eskenderom and were carrying out his plan to pass Groork off as a
miracle-worker. “Is the army at the city also?” he asked weakly.
Kelessbayne shook his head. “It is still an eighth-bright’s march from the
gates, if Groork speaks truly.”
“Was Groork present at these events that took place in the Meracasine?”
“Such is his assertion.”
“Then how came he to the city so far ahead of any soldiers?”
“He claims that to prepare the way he was borne ahead by shining angels who ride
in creatures that fly beyond the sky.”
That was as conclusive as anything could be—the Lumians had brought Groork to
Pergassos. There could no longer be any doubt but that they were in league with
Eskenderom. “Is the King still away?” he asked Jaskillion.
“He is,” Jaskillion replied. Eskenderom was at Gornod, talking to the Lumians
again; Jaskillion wouldn’t mention the place in Kelessbayne’s presence.
Frennelech thought desperately. With Groork’s arrival at Pergassos an eighth of
a bright ahead of the army, and Eskenderom still away, was it possible that the
Lumians could have miscalculated somewhere in their timing? If so, perhaps
Frennelech could do something yet to make their victory a little more costly.
From what he had seen of the Lumians’ powers he could probably do nothing to
change the final outcome if they had made up their minds . . . but, if he was
going down anyway, he would go down fighting.
“Collect as many of the Palace Guard as you can scrape together and send them
immediately to the Central Square,” he instructed Jaskillion. “Also, have my
carriage brought to the side entrance and inform the guard commander that he
will be under direct orders from me.” He went back into his inner chamber to don
his outdoor cloak.
“What is thy design?” Jaskillion called after him.
“I have a suspicion that Groork’s behind-the-scenes miracle-makers might not be
as prepared at this moment as they ought to be,” Frennelech’s voice replied. “If
that should indeed turn out to be the case, I fear for him that this performance
may well prove to be his last.”
The crowd filled the Central Square of Pergassos and had started to overflow
into the surrounding streets as word spread around the city and onlookers
continued to arrive. Trading in the market had virtually ceased as stallholders
covered their wares and closed down, either to protect their stock or to give
undivided attention to what was happening. At the focus of it all, the
Enlightener, who had mounted the steps of the platform and speaker’s rostrum
built in the center of the square, was holding a tablet of ice above his head
and sounding forth in a voice that rang with fervor and conviction. “I have
climbed the mountain and seen the angels. I have flown in the skies and seen
persecutors turned into baptizers. I have seen armies crumble at His command,
for now it has been written, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’ ”
“Hear the Word that the Enlightener bringeth,” one of the followers cried.
“Hail to the Enlightener!”
“We shall not kill!”
“Let he who disobeys be cast into the slave pits,” another shouted.
“No!” the Enlightener’s voice boomed around the square. “I say to thee that
henceforth no robeing shall be a slave, one to another, for the Lifemaker’s
commandment is written, Thou art thy neighbor’s equal.’ Thou shalt not bow thy
head nor bend thy knee before any that would proclaim thy inferiority to his
worth, or demand the fruits of thy labors as thy duty to his station.”