The Days of the Deer (21 page)

Molitzmós never wore the same garments twice, and they were always sumptuous. The clothes he was wearing shone like jewels in the sun as he walked with Bor in among the jasper
fountains.

‘Everything often becomes unclear to me,’ Molitzmós was saying. ‘I don’t feel I understand anything.’

In the Council, the representative of the Lords of the Sun had often stood out because of his keen intelligence. Not a session went by when Molitzmós failed to win the others’
admiration for his wise interventions, and it was Bor in particular who showed himself enchanted by the insight he evinced. So now the Supreme Astronomer found it hard to believe what he was
hearing.

‘How can someone like you be saying that?’

‘There are thoughts I would have preferred not to have, and yet they have come to me. Fears I would have liked to ignore, but found that impossible,’ said Molitzmós.

‘What are you referring to?’ asked the Astronomer.

‘I am referring to certain facts I learnt long ago, and which have come back to me now. In recent days it has been impossible for me not to recall the time when Magic was split by a feud
– so much so that it divided into two Brotherhoods. One of them, perhaps the more numerous, remained in the Ancient Lands. The other embarked on the long journey to the Fertile Lands.’
Molitzmós looked over at his companion. ‘But look who I am telling all this to! You must know every last detail of those events.’

‘That doesn’t matter; go on ... please, go on.’ Bor was beginning to be disturbed by the direction their conversation was taking. ‘Follow your train of thought, and say
what you have to say.’

‘If you insist,’ said Molitzmós, ‘although I already feel I have gone too far. As I was saying, after the split, the two Brotherhoods put an ocean between them. I was
told that those who came here did so across the strip of land which in those days united the two continents.’

‘So it was,’ Bor agreed. ‘Our ancestors reached the Fertile Lands from the far north, bringing with them an invaluable inheritance; and to do so they used the land bridge you
mentioned. Then—’

Bor fell silent.

‘Were you about to mention what happened to that strip of land?’ So Molitzmós also knew about that. ‘Tell me, is what they say about it true, or merely a legend? Is it
true that the Brotherhood who came to the Fertile Lands sent that bridge to the bottom of the Yentru Sea, in order to sever all links with their fellow Wizards on the other shore?’

‘It is completely true,’ replied Bor, sure by now that Molitzmós was aware of far more than was any of the other representatives. ‘The land bridge joining the two
continents was buried deep under the ocean by the Magic of the Fertile Lands; and it was said it would remain there for ever. But you were the one who was talking.’

‘So,’ Molitzmós continued, ‘Magic went in two opposing directions. And I think it was enmity rather than the sea that caused the great gulf between them. The cause of
their feud is plain to see from the names the two kinds of Magic adopted.’

‘The Enclosed Brotherhood and the Brotherhood of the Open Air,’ whispered Bor. ‘Both adopted their name with pride.’

‘As it was bound to be,’ replied Molitzmós. ‘The Enclosed Ones, as those who stayed in the Ancient Lands chose to call themselves, declared it was their duty and their
right to watch over Creation. They created and strengthened an empire of Wisdom. Its aim was to devote itself to the Creatures, but never to discuss anything with them, or to consult them when
important decisions had to be taken. Still less, to allow them to sit in judgement on their rule.’

Bor considered it his duty to clarify the statement that the representative of the Lords of the Sun had made.

‘It is true: the Enclosed Brotherhood proclaimed that their Magic should rule alone over the Creatures. They insisted that the gift of Wisdom was proof that they should be the masters.
Only the Wise have a natural, innate talent for selfless devotion. Therefore the Magic that possessed Wisdom would never misuse its power. They said that Wisdom makes the best rulers, because a
Wise man can only be content when he is being generous. But those of the Brotherhood of the Open Air saw things very differently.’ Bor paused to see Molitzmós’s reaction, then
went on: ‘This Brotherhood left the Ancient Lands with the hope of re-encountering here what they felt had been lost there: the true source of Magic. In their view, all that the Enclosed
Brotherhood considered natural, and called their “duty to watch over the Creatures”, was in fact no more than arrogance. The Brotherhood of the Open Air considered that Magic in the
Ancient Lands was straying from its origins, and so one day its light would die out. This conviction was what drove them to cross the sea and start again in the Fertile Lands, far from the walls in
which the others enclosed themselves. Out in the open air.’

‘Far from any walls . . . out in the open air. Only you can say so much in so few words!’ Molitzmós praised him. And Bor, who was not deaf to words of praise, thanked him with
a gratified smile.

‘We are talking of the distant past,’ the Astronomer reflected. ‘With the passage of time our differences were smoothed out. The enmity which split us no longer
exists.’

‘However that may be, some are still in the Ancient Lands, and others here. The land bridge between the two continents has never resurfaced. And as far as I can tell, contacts between them
and you are still few and far between.’ Molitzmós knew he was touching on a wound and tried to put things gently. ‘Would I be wrong in thinking that the differences have not
disappeared altogether? Do not the Enclosed Brotherhood and the Brotherhood of the Open Air still behave in different ways?’

The Supreme Astronomer tried very hard to conceal his unease.

‘It is obvious that the Magic of the Fertile Lands has never stifled the voice of the Creatures. On the contrary, we have drawn close to them and listened, as you can tell from this
Council itself! Did we not send for you all so that together we could take such a vital decision? But if you mean that in the Ancient Lands, Magic proceeds in the opposite manner, we have to admit
that this is possibly true.’ Bor took a deep breath before he went on. ‘But tell me, Molitzmós, how it is that we have reached this point? Explain what path led your thoughts
back from the Council to the ancient schism within Magic.’

As they walked past, Molitzmós reached out to stroke the jasper of the ornamental fountains. Sometimes he came to a halt, fascinated by the veins of colour in the stone.

‘I think it would be best to forget this conversation,’ he said.

‘Why should we do that?’ the Astronomer protested.

By now they had reached the central pond. Elek and Nakín were standing beside it, competing to see who could make more of the calls of the birds swimming on it.

‘It will do them good to play for a while,’ said Molitzmós as the two men moved on.

‘Indeed, but don’t you play the game of having forgotten what I asked you.’

There was no way out for Molitzmós. He had to finish what he had started.

‘As I said at the beginning: there are thoughts I should have preferred not to have, and fears I should have liked to ignore. There is no worse doubt than the one a person feels when
everyone else is in agreement about something: that kind of doubt leads to loneliness. That is why I am making so bold as to talk to you, to unburden my heart.’ The representative of the
Lords of the Sun spoke quickly, as if seeking to rid himself of something that was weighing down too heavily on him. ‘The Magic of the Fertile Lands, inheritor of the principles of the
Brotherhood of the Open Air, treats all the Creatures as if they were its brothers. It talks to them, consults them, even accepts their judgement. A few days ago, for example, the Husihuilke spoke
about the Earth Wizard so familiarly it was as if he were an old neighbour. That is how it has always been between you and us. Yet now, when the times demand the splendour of Wisdom, it is as
though Wisdom itself has gone to sleep. The best or the worst is about to happen to us. The best or the worst? There have been signs, but nobody in the Fertile Lands is able to interpret them.
Magic’s eyes are shrouded ... might this not be because it has mingled so much with mankind, the lukus, the birds .. .? I heard Zabralkán speak of confusing messages: what if on the
other hand it is Magic which has lost the ability to read them? This is the fear I would have preferred not to know of. I am afraid that part of the truth has remained within those walls of the
Ancient Lands. I am afraid that, in its desire to become a brother to all Creatures, Magic here has left them unprotected. You may be amazed that it is I who am questioning the Brotherhood I should
support. Someone like me, a simple Creature who, thanks to that Brotherhood’s beliefs, can talk to you as an equal. Believe me, I too am amazed. But if the survival of Life in the Fertile
Lands depends on Magic taking command over us, we would be very happy to see Magic wield its power. And we would accept the empire of Wisdom without demur. I shall never speak of this again.
Forgive me, and forget, I beg you, this impertinence of mine.’

Bor’s hair was standing on end, and with good reason. Molitzmós had just expressed exactly what he had often thought in the middle of the night. Whenever ideas of this sort came to
him, the Astronomer was robbed of sleep. Instead, he would wander the corridors of the House of the Stars, or climb to the topmost observatory, and stay there until day began to dawn. But neither
his pacing up and down nor the pattern of the stars could give an answer to the question that had kept him awake: what if the Brotherhood of the Open Air had taken a wrong turn? Only seven days
earlier, when Cucub and Dulkancellin had reached the House of the Stars, his doubts had resurfaced and troubled him again. How hard he had found it to give the Husihuilke warrior those long and
delicate explanations! Yet it was Zabralkán who had asked him to do so, and so he had been obliged to comply. It had annoyed him that a Supreme Astronomer, who ought to be devoting himself
to acquiring Wisdom, had to justify his decisions to a Husihuilke, born and trained for war. Now Molitzmós was saying the same thing in no uncertain terms. Bor was astonished at the daring
of the Lords of the Sun’s representative – he himself, despite his position, had never dared communicate his own thoughts to Zabralkán. If occasionally he had hinted at them, the
other man had responded with a silence that left no doubt about his attitude.

‘Do you think it will be hard to overlook my boldness?’

The Supreme Astronomer understood he would have to say whatever was necessary so that Molitzmós would not suspect he shared his fears. He was about to speak when Zabralkán suddenly
appeared, and saved him, for the moment at least.

‘I think Zabralkán is looking for you,’ said Molitzmós with an almost imperceptible smile.

‘So it seems.’

Zabralkán caught them up, and, after greeting the two men, addressed Bor directly.

‘Brother, we need to talk on our own for a moment.’

‘With your permission, I am going to continue my walk,’ said Molitzmós.

The Astronomers disappeared into the House of the Stars, while Molitzmós went back the way he had come.

On the way he passed the pond. Elek and Nakín had finished their game and were talking as they sat by the pond’s edge. Molitzmós thought how good they looked together. Elek,
pale-skinned and with his hair twisted halfway down his back, moved and behaved like an animal cub. Dark-skinned and tired-looking, Nakín seemed never to be fully awake.

Molitzmós stopped to look back at them from a distance. When he had observed them long enough, he continued on his way. He left behind the pond and wandered along the path between the
jasper fountains. After that he crossed the bridge over the canal that brought water to the House of the Stars. The sound of water beneath his feet reminded him how thirsty he was. He needed a
drink, but there was no slave near by to carry out his wish.

Molitzmós had been reluctant to travel to Beleram without his personal slaves. But however much he insisted, the messenger remained faithful to the instructions he had received from the
Supreme Astronomers: ‘Only bring the person we have sent you to fetch to the House of the Stars.’ All the messengers had received the same instruction. So what was that little man doing
with Dulkancellin? Who was he? To judge by his appearance and clothing, he must be a Zitzahay. But why was someone who was not part of the Council accompanying the representative of the
Husihuilkes? Molitzmós stepped aside to intercept them.

‘Greetings under this sun, brother Dulkancellin!’ Then he turned to Cucub. ‘And greetings to you, brother. Even though I do not know your name, or what you are
called.’

‘Brother is a good name,’ replied Cucub. ‘And may you receive many more greetings, Molitzmós of the Lords of the Sun!’

Dulkancellin was taken aback by his friend’s impudence. Molitzmós, who had no idea who this insolent fellow was, took care to hide his anger.

‘We are heading for the pond,’ said Dulkancellin, trying to change the conversation.

‘You’ll find Elek and Nakín from the Owl Clan there.’

They nodded to each other, then continued in opposite directions. Suddenly Molitzmós recalled something that made him stop and turn round.

‘Wait, Dulkancellin! I wanted to tell you that you should visit the jasper fountains. Look at them one by one! It’s not often one has the chance to see such beauty.’ He turned
once more to Cucub. ‘I will not recommend them to you, because I suppose you know them better than I do.’

‘You suppose correctly,’ replied the Zitzahay.

Once they were some way away from him, Cucub began to imitate Molitzmós’s way of walking.

‘Look how the Plumed One walks!’

‘How quickly you forget your worries!’ The Husihuilke was concerned that Molitzmós might turn back towards them. ‘And stop doing that; he might see you.’

‘I haven’t forgotten my worries,’ said Cucub. ‘And I still don’t like that Molitzmós.’

Nakín saw them coming and waved. She did not know who Dulkancellin’s companion was either, but Elek, who had often seen Cucub perform, quickly explained to her. Within a short space
of time they were all conversing easily, although since Cucub was present they tried to steer their conversation away from the Council’s deliberations.