The Orb And The Spectre (Book 2) (14 page)

   "I am beginning to suspect he knows nothing more about the Legendary Child."

   Pader scratched his nose. "It’s possible. Or he may be waiting."

  
"For what?"

  
"Something more from you, perhaps. Or a sign from the Child itself."

   "He speaks of the King's Soul being sealed in a crucible within Enchantment," Leth mused, half to himself. "Is it possible that there is something in Enchantment that might aid us?"

   "We don’t lack for tales of Enchantment's marvels, but in the end what good do they do us? A lost soul within a crucible of adamant? Perhaps, but it’s beyond our reach."

   They parted and Leth continued on towards the royal apartments, wanting to spend some time with his children again.

*

   The day passed; Sir Cathbo departed Enchantment's Reach with his detachment of elite troops. Leth watched them go with some misgivings. Could they accomplish anything? Sir Cathbo's instructions were precise. His task to harry and hinder, make lightning strikes and vanish, in a manner similar to that of the
Karai to date. To anger Anzejarl was the goal, to use his own methods to goad him in the hope that he would make an uncharacteristic move. It was just possible that what could not be achieved by an army on the wide field of battle might be done by a smaller, mobile force which never struck in the same place twice.

   There was no chance of actually defeating the
Karai by this method; it was a testing time, nothing more. Leth needed to try Anzejarl's defenses and reactions, and gain first-hand intelligence as to the deployment and discipline of his troops. A small, highly mobile force should achieve that.

   Or were his men riding to their deaths? Leth felt the weight of their lives on his conscience. Was it Anzejarl who had goaded Leth into uncharacteristic action? Were his intelligence units already apprising him of the movements of Sir Cathbo's troops? Was he even now preparing to snare them?

   Leth paced his chamber, his head bowed, profound apprehension and nervous exultation warring within him. He felt now, with deepening certainty, that he was on the edge of something. Or beyond, in fact. He had stepped over, committed himself. It was as though he had until now been poised upon the battlements of one of the highest towers upon the great outer wall of Enchantment's Reach, and now the stone was no longer beneath his feet.

   Had he stepped over, or been propelled? He was unclear, but he knew he was not quite falling. He was suspended above the great forest, which was like a swelling sea so far, far below. He was borne upon the wind, with nothing beneath. At any moment he could plummet to certain death an infinite distance below, yet ever terrifyingly close; or he could somehow command the
wind, or himself as he rode it. Yoke the forces that had both propelled him from the Reach and now bore him up. Or be destroyed by them.

   Leth gave an anguished cry, pressing his hands to his temples.
"How? How? I am but one man!"

   He sank to his knees. "The gods toy with me! They seek my end!"

   He was slipping, then; the unseen wind no longer willing to bear him, the ground far below pulling him to it. He glanced back. Upon the grey battlements his enemies watched. The creased white face of Prince Anzejarl, jewel-eyed and expressionless, a mysterious red-headed beauty at his shoulder; Grey Venger, tensely exultant, a bony fist raised. And a short distance off, not so greatly separate from the others: the Lordh High Invigilate, Fectur.

   "No! No! You will not destroy me!" Leth saw his children, Galry and Jace further along the parapet. They were calling him. Issul stood a way behind them. Issul, Issul.
She had to be alive!

   Leth scrambled breathless to his feet, banishing the images of his foes from his mind, clinging only to the thought of his children and their mother. There was a knock upon the door. Leth quickly recovered himself, stood firm. "Enter."

   His head steward, Ardenmor, came in. "His Excellency the Lord High Invigilate instructs me to inform you that the assembly awaits you in the Hall of Wise Counsel, my lord."

   Leth frowned. "I have no meeting scheduled, with Fectur or anyone else."

   "That was his instruction to me, my lord. He did add that I should stress that your presence is eagerly awaited."

   "Who else attends with Fectur?"

   "I am not informed. I simply bear the message."

   Leth quickly left the chamber and went to his office. There he checked with his secretary, fearing for a moment that his memory had played him false or his staff had failed to keep him informed. But his first impressions were borne out: he had no meeting scheduled at this time.

   Curious, Leth made his way directly to the Hall of Wise Counsel. He entered through the main double door at the rear of the hall, rather than passing on to the side portal which was by custom the monarch's entrance and which led directly to the dais upon which the Seat of the Sovereign was set. As he passed through the doors he stopped short in shock.

   About forty persons occupied the Hall of Wise Counsel. They were dignitaries, members of the Crown's Advisory Committee, men - and some women - of very high station. The heads and deputies of all the recognized factions were among them, with the exception of the True Sept, indicating the extraordinary nature of this convention. Pader Luminis was noticeably absent. Around the walls were positioned a score of guards from the Security Cadre.

   All rose as the King came in, though they did so without hurry, almost casually, and their faces as they turned towards him were almost uniformly solemn, even stony.

   Leth's gut twisted, but he strode forward. "What is this?"

   Fectur rose and stepped forward. "Sire." He performed a deep bow, his eyes never leaving Leth's face, a chill, fulsome smile upon his lips. With one arm he gestured towards the Seat of the Sovereign.

   Leth hesitated, then moved past him and ascended the three steps to the dais and seated himself. He felt vulnerable and alone; no other person occupied the dais, as would have been proper. Even Fectur remained upon the floor. Leth scanned the faces arrayed before him. He saw and felt only coldness, with the exception of Doctor Melropius who looked tense and uncomfortable, and one or two senior knights.

   "This is highly irregular," he said, addressing all. "I was not informed of any assembly. Would you mind telling me what this is about?"

   "It is an assembly convoked under exceptional circumstances," replied Fectur, still standing.
"Convoked as a matter of urgency, in response to a matter of unusual concern. As you see, a majority of the Governing Council is present, as is the Crown Advisory Committee and senior representatives of the citizenry."

   "Well
please, enlighten me as to the reason. It seems that all are informed but the King."

   Fectur considered the marble mosaic in front of his feet for a few moments,
then looked up. "Considerable debate has passed between our members, severally and
in toto
, over the past days and nights. A single issue concerns us. I will be candid and to the point: we, the assembled, representing the government and people of Enchantment's Reach, are gravely troubled by the manner in which you, our King, have chosen to exercise your responsibilities in recent days. Our nation lies beneath a dark cloud of conflict, and we consider that you have not acted to its or our best advantage. Serious doubts have been raised as to your state of mind and ability to rule."

   The words slammed into Leth like a battering-ram. For a moment he felt himself pushed back in his chair as if by a mighty, unseen hand. His lungs had constricted, he clenched his fists upon the arms of his chair. An unspeakable rage surged within him, but at the same time it was checked by a raw, gut-churning fear. No words came for some moments. His blood pounded in his skull and he saw nothing but Fectur standing below him, bland, complacent and utterly sure of himself.

  
I know what this is, Fectur! Curse you, you will not succeed!

   He could scarcely believe they had gone so far.

   "There is nothing wrong with the state of my mind!" he finally stammered, and was aware of how inadequate those words were.

   Fectur clasped his hands before him and pushed forward his chin. "How I hope that may be so, Sire. But your conduct of
late. . .  well, you are under immense pressure. We all accept that. You require rest. Your own physician, Doctor Melropius, has expressed as much to me. He tells me, however, that you have ignored his advice and refused medication."

   Leth switched his glance to Melropius, who sat hunched in embarrassment, one hand to his brow. Leth imagined the scene: Fectur approaching
Melropius, brim full with solicitude for the King. And Melropius, innocent that he was, expressing his concern, never for a moment suspecting that his words would require him to stand witness against Leth.

   "Is that not so, Doctor?" Fectur enquired.

   Melropius flushed deeply and could not raise his eyes. "Th- that was my-- that is, I said as much to you, my lord. But I was not-"

   "Thank you, Doctor." Fectur grasped the lapels of his gown and placed his feet well-apart. "King Leth, I speak as the voice of all assembled. You have been found to be in dereliction of your duties. The unanimous decision of this Assembly is to declare you unfit to rule. I hereby list all faults, defaults and omissions of which you stand accused, and to which you will be required to answer. One: that you have--"

   Leth exploded, thrusting himself to his feet. "This is outrageous! Fectur, I have warned you already, you have overstepped yourself! Desist immediately, or you will pay dearly. I will have you flayed alive! All of you-- you are committing an act of treason!"

   "You are wrong, Sire," said Fectur smoothly. "Under the powers invested in me as Lord High Invigilate, Master of Security for the Realm, Deputy to the Crown and Protector of the Crown and the People, I have every right. My primary duty is twofold: to ensure that the stability of the nation is not threatened by any means, and to attend myself by all means at my disposal to the safety and welfare of the incumbent monarch and his or her immediate heirs. As we stand at this moment, I see the nation threatened on many fronts. I see also that your health is a cause of no little concern, that your judgement shows all indications of being severely impaired, that in short you are yourself a threat to our beloved nation and to yourself.
Sire, I have taken counsel and received support. I am temporarily relieving you of your right to rule and installing myself as Regent in your stead until such time as you are adjudged fit once more."

   Leth's jaw fell wide. He stared dumbly at Fectur, shocked beyond expression. Fectur blandly returned his stare. Leth's legs had turned warm and watery; he knew only that all was lost and that his hatred for Fectur radiated from the innermost core of every fibre of his being.

   "You have the right to reply, Sire. I will, if you will permit me this time, define the charges which have brought us to this lamentable decision."

   Fectur waited. Leth cast his eyes across the assembly. A variety of expressions met him: cold, wolfish, hostile, just a few showing sympathy and/or disquiet. He noted again the fact that the guards in the hall were all Fectur's men, and realized that he was trapped. With cunning and deceit Fectur had led him here, had in fact let
him pave the way to his own downfall. Leth could see now how he had engineered it. From the viewpoint of Leth's enemies and detractors he had allowed himself to occupy an indefensible position, a position they could, with full support, take advantage of. Fectur would have kept the heads of the factions informed of all Leth's major decisions; whispered in influential ears, encouraging misgivings, expertly sowing the seeds of doubt even in the minds of Leth's closest advisors. He had waited, secretly manipulating, secretly hoping, until the time came when he might make a decisive move. Leth fulminated silently and emptily to himself. Could he survive this? It would take quick and agile thinking, absolute command, and more. Much more.

   "Sire, will you permit me to continue?" asked Fectur, his voice a purr.

   Leth slowly, shakily, seated himself. "Proceed."

   "The charges are as follows. One: that you have weakened the position of the Crown and contributed to the instability of the Realm through your blind adherence to the Deist Edict. Two: that you have repeatedly failed to heed the advice and appeals of the members of your Council and Advisory Committee, and have furthermore acted against their recommendations, bringing danger and instability to the realm. Three: that you have demonstrated weakness and indecision in dealing with the encroachments of our common enemy, the
Karai, and have permitted them to enter the realm unopposed--."

   "Fectur, this is madness!" stormed Leth, unable to contain himself.

   "It is not I who am mad, my lord," replied Fectur smoothly. His eyes met Leth's with calm challenge. Complacent, he continued, "Four: that you have secretly consorted with a known criminal and terrorist, a man who but recently attempted to murder you, and who has sworn vengeance against both yourself and the State for the lawful executions of his sons; further that you have wilfully held secret all details of your dealings with this man. Five: that in instituting, against the will of the government, a Declaration of Emergency, you have effectively silenced all voices but your own, and therein held menace against democratic opinion."