Free Mage's Blood (The Moontide Quartet) by David Hair

Alaron, infected both by his father’s apathy towards religion and Ramon’s cynical views, had decided the Kore was nothing but a lie told by the magi – he’d certainly never seen an angel, and he felt nothing but his own sweat when he used the gnosis. It had never felt ‘divine’. He knew such thoughts were the sort of heresies that could get him expelled if voiced, so he kept them to himself and bowed his head dutifully as the call and response of the prayers echoed through the cathedral:
    ‘Blessed be the Magi, touched by Kore, the Light-bearers. May Holy Kore uphold their might.
    ‘Blessed be Holy Corineus, giver of the Light, wisdom of our Hearts; may his visage light our path to heaven.
    ‘Blessed be the Kore, the Holy Church, guardian of the True Faith, whose light illumines the darkness of the heathen.
    ‘Blessed be the Kirkegarde, Knights of the True Way; may the Amteh blades falter before their charge.
    ‘Cursed be Corinea, sister and betrayer of Corineus. May all women repent of their sinful ways.’
    He caught Gina Weber looking at him and wondered if Malevorn had been telling the truth about deflowering her. Probably lying; it wasn’t easy to get a girl alone … but then again, Malevorn could apparently do anything – and he was quite able to ruin a girl out of spite.
    Well, that seals it. I’m not interested in his leavings
.
    The old bishop wound up his address by announcing Governor Belonius Vult. With a father like Vann and a friend like Ramon, Alaron had always been encouraged to take a keen interest in local politics. Vult was well known to all: a pure-blood magus from an old family, politically appointed as a general during the Revolt, against the famous General Robler’s wishes, and then excluded from the legendary general’s primary staff. It had been Vult’s forces, guarding Robler’s rear, that had infamously surrendered without a fight at Lukhazan, precipitating the defeat of Noros. Some said Vult had betrayed the cause, sold out to the Rondians in an act of betrayal. There had been calls for his arrest. Others insisted the war was already lost, that Vult had saved lives and paved the way for peace, even at the cost of his own reputation. Statesman or Traitor? Grateful parents welcoming home their sons from the prison camps after the war gave him respect, but others, especially those who had lost sons in vain, were less forgiving.
    Vult had silken silver hair and an elegant beard. He possessed a catlike sleekness of movement and his voice was beguiling as he began, ‘People of Noros, the words I speak today are being read aloud in every town and village of this great empire, from Rondelmar, Argundy and Lantris to Verelon and Schlessen and all the way to Pontus. This is a historic address, for it concerns the coming Crusade.’
    A low rumble churned through the congregation, then everyone fell silent. Outside, Alaron could hear the rain, carried on a low,moaning wind. Vult’s voice echoed about the cathedral and was repeated outside.
    ‘These are the words of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Constant Sacrecour:
    ‘My Beloved People. You are my children and I your father, sent to you by our Father in Heaven Above. I am your emperor. I speak with the voice of Kore
.
    ‘Kore’s words are as stars to the navigator and they have steered our great empire these many years. For make no mistake, we are one nation. Though some may look upon the men of Rondelmar, Bricia, Argundy, Noros, Schlessen and elsewhere on the great lands of the empire and see differences, I your father see only similarities. We are one people, despite the differences of language and custom
.
    ‘For I have looked upon the Dark Continent and seen what we are not
.
    ‘We are not heathen. We are the children of Kore, the one true God
.
    ‘We are not dark-skinned as the gutter-born of the East. The whiteness of our skins marks the purity of our souls
.
    ‘We are not barbarians, who have as many wives as whim takes us,