Hawkwood and the Kings: The Collected Monarchies of God (Volume One) Read Online Free PDF Page B

wreck of the city's fall, the five Prelates of the Kingdoms were God's direct representatives on earth. Abeleyn's mouth twitched. It was rumoured that the High Pontiff, Macrobius IV, had wished to leave Aekir early on in the siege to preserve the Holy Person, but John Mogen and his Torunnans had convinced him otherwise, saying that for the Pontiff to flee the city would be to acknowledge defeat. It was said that Macrobius had had to be locked in a storeroom of his own palace to convince him.
    Abeleyn's mood soured. The west would need men like Mogen in the times to come. He had been worth half a dozen kings.
    As Abeleyn rose, a low stool was brought for him, and he sat at the Prelate's feet, for all the world like an apprentice at the foot of his master. Abeleyn swallowed anger and made his voice as even as silk.
    "We have spoken about this edict concerning the heretics and foreigners of the city, and we have agreed that it is necessary to root out the disloyal, the unbelieving, the treacherous..."
    The Prelate inclined his head, smiling graciously. With his large nose and keen eyes he looked like a liver-spotted eagle nodding on a perch.
    "...but, Father, I noticed you have included in the wording of the edict the cantrimers, the mindrhymers, the petty Dweomer-users of the kingdom - the folk who possess any kind of theurgical ability. Already my soldiers, under the leadership of your brothers, are rounding up these people. What for? Surely you cannot mean to consign them to the flames?"
    The Prelate continued to smile. "Oh, but I do, my son." Abeleyn's mouth became a scar in his face, as though a bitter fruit had been placed therein.
    "But that would mean hunting out every old wife who cures warts, every herbalist who spells his wares, every -"
    "Sorcery is sorcery, my son. All theurgy comes from the same source. The Evil One." The Prelate was like a saintly tutor humouring a dull-witted pupil. One of Abeleyn's bodyguards stirred angrily, but a glance from one of the Inceptines quelled him.
    "Father, in doing this you could send thousands to the pyre, even members of my own court. Golophin the Mage, one of my own advisers -"
    "God's work is never easy. We live in trialling times, as you should know better than anyone, my lord King," Abeleyn, interrupted twice in as many minutes, struggled to keep his voice from rising. He felt an urge to pick up the Prelate and dash his brains out against a convenient wall.
    He smiled in his turn. "But surely you must at least recognize the practical difficulties involved in fulfilling such an edict, especially at a time like this. The Torunnans are crying out for reinforcements to halt the Merduk push and hold the Searil line. I am not sure" - here Abeleyn's smile took on a particular sweetness - "I am not sure I can spare you the men to carry out your edict."
    The Prelate beamed back. "Your concern does you credit, my son. I know that the temporal cares of the moment lie heavy on your shoulders, but do not fear. God's will shall be done. I have asked for a contingent of the Knights Militant to be dispatched from the home of our order at Charibon. They will relieve you somewhat of the burden you bear. Your soldiers will be freed for service elsewhere, in the defence of the Ramusian kingdoms and the True Faith."
    Abeleyn went white, and at his look even the Prelate seemed to shrink.
    "I do what I can for the good of the kingdom, my lord King."
    "Indeed." The Prelate was playing for higher stakes than Abeleyn had thought. Whilst his own soldiers were off on the frontier helping the Torunnans, the Knights Militant - the military arm of the Church - would have free rein in Abrusio. His spies should have informed him of this before today, but it was notoriously difficult to eavesdrop on the doings of the Inceptines. They were as tightly knit as chainmail. Abeleyn beat down the simmering fury and chose his words with care.
    "Far be it for me, Father, to point out to you, one of the lords of the