Free War in Heaven by David Zindell Page B

master — "
    "Are you speaking of Danlo wi Soli Ringess?" the Sonderval demanded.
    "I am."
    The Sonderval, who would lead the pilots to Sheydveg and thence most likely to war, shook his head, then told her, "I'm loath to lose such a fine pilot to what will probably be a futile mission. Danlo and Hanuman were once deep friends, this is true, but they also parted enemies. What kind of ambassador do you think he'd really make?"
    "One who won't be fooled by Hanuman's deceits or lies," Lord Sung said.
    "But we don't even know if Danlo would wish to make such a mission," the Sonderval said.
    At this, almost every lord and master in the hall turned to look at Danlo, who gripped his flute and drew in a deep breath. Just as he was about to tell the lords that he would serve the New Order in any way he could, Lord Nikolos smiled at him and said, "I had thought to send Danlo back to Tannahill as ambassador. He's already won Harrah Ivi en li Ede's confidence — this Holy Ivi has already changed the doctrines of the Old Church because of him. Who better to send on such a mission?"
    "But Lord Nikolos," Morena Sung said, "surely that is the point? The greatest part of our mission to Tannahill is already accomplished. Thanks to Danlo. Wouldn't his talents be better used elsewhere?"
    "And his greatest talent," the Sonderval said, "is as a pilot. I'll need all my pilots if war comes and we fall against the Ringists."
    At this mention of war, Danlo continued to hold his breath, and he felt his heart beating like a drum at the centre of his chest.
    "To send Danlo to Sheydveg would be cruel," Lord Nikolos said to the Sonderval. "Have you forgotten his vow of ahimsa? How can one sworn to peace go to war?"
    Never to kill. Danlo thought. Never to harm any living being.
    "If I thought about it at all," the Sonderval said, staring at Danlo, "I had supposed his duty to the Order would overcome his commitment to some private and unworkable ideal."
    Lord Nikolos slowly shook his head, then turned slightly so that his words carried more forcefully. "We mustn't forget that Danlo's vow preceded the vows he made when he entered the Order. At the time, no one foresaw that such a vow might ever pose a conflict. I don't believe we should ask him to abjure this vow simply because the circumstances have changed."
    Danlo looked down at his hands which had once held the bloody head of a dying friend named Thomas Ivieehl, and he thought, But I would never abandon ahimsa.
    "Even to send Danlo to Neverness on a mission of peace might prove problematic," Lord Nikolos continued. "If this embassy fails and war falls upon the Civilized Worlds, bad chance might pose him terrible conflicts. The waves of war might overcome him and sweep him away."
    "But killing always poses conflicts, and war might sweep any of us away," the Sonderval countered. "Who among us can escape his own fate?"
    "And who can make another's journey towards his own fate?" Lord Nikolos asked. "I won't make Danlo journey to Sheydveg."
    At this news, Danlo sighed and looked at Lord Nikolos eye to eye.
    "I believe," Lord Nikolos said, "that it would best suit Danlo to be sent back to Tannahill. But it would best suit the Order for him to be one of our ambassadors to Neverness."
    Now Danlo held his flute tightly in his hands and held his breath in his lungs. Lord Nikolos' gaze was cold but not unkind, and it seemed that he was searching Danlo's face for some sign of what the future might unfold.
    "It's unusual for the Lord of the Order to leave such a decision to a pilot," Lord Nikolos said. "But this is an unusual situation."
    All the lords in the hall looked at Danlo. Bardo smiled at him, and a part of his great strength seemed to flow out of his soft brown eyes and into Danlo.
    "I would ask you to choose between the ambassadorships to Tannahill or Neverness," Lord Nikolos said to Danlo. "If you need more time to — "
    "No," Danlo suddenly said, letting go his breath. "I will choose now."
    He closed his