Free The Shattered Goddess by Darrell Schweitzer Page B

The Guardian’s command, and I impart to you whatever I can, be it magical lore, history, writing, or good manners. In general I try to make a presentable human being out of you. Sometimes I fear it will be a long, hard, struggle. I’m too old for this sort of thing. That’s enough lessons for now.”
    * * * *
    “Traitor! Spy! Liar!” Hadel the Nagéan screamed one day. “The Guardianknows everything we have said. What did you do, write it all down and give him a transcript?”
    “No! You must believe me! I didn’t tell anyone!”
    The Nagéan rose from behind his desk. The boy stepped back at his approach. But there was no anger in the other’s face. It had drained out of him in an instant
    “I believe you,” Hadel said, embracing his student, trying to hold back tears.“I believe you, and because I do, I know you are in grave danger. I can educate you no longer. Somehow Kaemen knows everything we do, everything we think. I fear he spies on us by more than mortal means. If you told him nothing, how could he have known? This morning one of his men—no, his creatures—came to me. He mocked me. He repeated some of the things I have confided in you. Then he gave methis message.”
    The old man separated from the boy. He gave him a piece of paper which had been on his desk. The handwriting was a crude attempt at formal court calligraphy. The seal of The Guardian was on it. The text read:
    Hadel of Nagé, rightfully called The Rat—
    Vermin, you chatter too much. See to it that you never speak again.
    “He wants you to kill yourself,” saidGinna dumbly. “He is ordering you to die.”
    “He is ordering me to silence myself, which is not quite the same thing. But I’m not sure what there is to live for, except to fulfill the prophecy the black woman made in my vision and see the end come. The Dark Powers will smother Ai Hanlo before long.”
    “Is there anything we can do?”
    “There is nothing I can do, but I’m not sure aboutyou. Seek the lady of the grove and the fountain. I wish I could be more specific, but if I were, our enemy would find out I am sure he can hear us even now. You undertake the gravest risk being with me, listening to me. Don’t do anything to anger him. Try to stay alive. Now I must obey his command.”
    “No, please don’t. There must be some way.”
    “There is. Get out.”
    “What can Ido without you?”
    “Whatever is within you.” Hadel smiled briefly at the play on words. Wait till the egg hatches. Ultimately, my friend, you must rely on yourself alone. Now go.”
    Ginna wept as he left the room. He closed the door behind him and stood at the top of the flight of stairs which would take him down, out of the magician’s tower, into one of the countless courtyards. He couldnot bear to go. He sat down and pressed his ear to the door.
    For a long time he heard nothing. Then there was a grunt, the sound of papers and books falling from Hadel’s desk, and a pained gurgling.
    “Stop it!” He threw the door open and rushed into the room.
    Hadel, seated at his desk, looked up at him. Hastily he dropped something into a drawer and closed it He took a pen andpaper and scribbled a note. Ginna took it and read:
    With a long, thin, very sharp knife, I have reached down my throat and cut my vocal cords. Thus I obey the order of The Guardian.
    * * * *
    He dropped the note and stared at the Nagéan in horror.
    Hadel gurgled again, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and fainted, head down onto his desk.
    * * * *
    The days that followedwere grey. The sun refused to show itself. The sky never grew brighter than the color of steel. Chill winds blew out of the desert, bringing festering dark clouds with them.
    The Powers were gathering in Ai Hanlo. Ginna was sure of it He didn’t know if anyone else could see what he saw, but he could tell that people were afraid. All Amaedig would say was that she felt uneasy and the weatherwas bad. She would be better when it was. But he noticed that there