The Chosen

The homunculus echoed everything they said.

Carnelian found his eyes drawn to the finial on the staff it held. A limpid green jewel larger than his hand carved into the form of a man who wore upon his head a crescent like the blade of a silver sickle.

The ammonites straightened, silent, waiting, looking to the Grand Sapient.

'Salve edge, blue vapouring, soft white bind,' the homunculus said.

The ammonites opened boxes, unstoppered vials, pulled lengths of cloth and bent over Suth as if they were carpenters repairing furniture.

'Seraphic Aurum,' said the homunculus, 'it is your disregard for the Law that has imperilled this life.'

'I told him-' Vennel began.

The homunculus spoke over him. This matter will be examined fully.'

Aurum stood very still. 'Will he live?'

Carnelian held his breath. Vermel's mask inclined so that it was focused wholly on the homunculus' mouth.

'Perhaps,' it said after a pause. 'We shall bend our skills towards the healing. We must haste back to the Isle where we have the requisite resources.'

'It is customary for He-who-goes-before to seek formal ratification in the Clave before he should begin his duties,' said Vennel quickly.

'Does my Lord wish the Ruling Lord Suth dead?' said Jaspar over the homunculus' muttering.

'Custom is not Law,' it said.

Then I shall accompany the Ruling Lord on my way to court,' said Vennel. 'As you wish.'

Sapient Immortality's hands uncoiled free of his homunculus' neck.

Carnelian took a step forward. 'Sapience…'

The homunculus reached up to touch the retreating hands. They slipped back around its muttering throat. 'Proceed.'

Carnelian stared at the long mirror face, swallowed. 'Is there not a risk that my father will die unless you heal him now?'

'Do you presume to greater wisdom than the Wise?' the homunculus said severely.

Carnelian was unable to respond.

'Good, then we shall proceed to the Labyrinth.'

'I won't go with you,' said Carnelian, lapsing into Vulgate.

Aurum whisked round. 'Why will you not, my Lord?'

Carnelian closed his eyes to find composure. 'I wish to go to my own coomb, my Lord.'

'You would desert your father?'

Carnelian looked at the old Master. 'I would follow his command.'

'This command must have been given you some time ago. Much has changed since then, my Lord.' 'Nevertheless.'

This is outrageous. Immortality, you must stop this.'

The matter does not concern us,' said the homunculus.

Aurum's mask bore down on Carnelian but he refused even to flinch. The Master swung round on Jaspar. 'Since it seems Suth Carnelian's mind is made up perhaps my Lord would condescend to accompany him.'

Jaspar snorted. 'And why pray should one wish to do that?'

'Because you would find me grateful.'

Jaspar turned to Carnelian, saying loudly, The gratitude of House Aurum is a prize to be devoudy desired, neh? One's coomb is near your own, cousin, so there would be only a little inconvenience. Besides, we might even manage to amuse each other on the way.'

Carnelian was in no mood to be amused or to oblige either Master, but nor did he want to be left alone in this strange new world. He lifted his hand in agreement.

Jaspar held Carnelian back when he made to move towards his father. Carnelian shoved his arm away.

Jaspar flared his palms. 'You misunderstand, my Lord. Our way lies along a different road.'

'But I thought…' Carnelian's resolve crumbled. He had not expected to have to part from his father so soon.

Aurum turned towards Jaspar. 'My Lord, your father must come to the Labyrinth immediately to represent his faction.'

That will not be possible. The Lord Imago will take several days to prepare himself.' He waved a vague gesture. 'One will have to inform him of our… our mission, a household will have to be readied to accompany him.' He sighed. 'My Lord knows well what tedious arrangements one is required to make before planning even the briefest sojourn at court.'

'Make sure that he is there in three days,' said Aurum and turned away.

'My Lord Aurum?' said Carnelian.

The Master turned back.

'Will you send me word if my father improves, or if he were to.. .?'

Aurum's hand snapped agreement, and he strode away.

Carnelian knelt at his father's side. He glanced at the metal face and then found the hand and cursed his mask that stopped him kissing it. He stood back as the bier was lifted and mournfully watched it move away with the Grand Sapient, the Masters and the others.

'Alas,' said Jaspar beside him.

Carnelian turned to him, surprised. 'You share my pain to see them go?'

Jaspar laughed. 'On the contrary, it is a blessed relief. One was bemoaning the necessity of more walking. It is customary to send ahead to one's coomb for suitable transport and an escort of one's tyadra.' He pretended to look around him. 'As you can see, cousin, we shall have neither convenience.'

The Master's flippancy angered Carnelian. 'We will get nowhere unless we move on.'

Carnelian looked for his father and was dismayed to see him being carried into the silver house. A protest was on his tongue when the whole edifice lurched into movement and he noticed its skirting of wheels and realized it was a chariot. The thought of his father locked inside with the Sapient and the homunculus made him shudder.

'Will the Wise heal him, Jaspar?'

'Grand Sapient Immortality is guardian to all the lore of his Domain. Short of divine intervention there is no power in all the lands that can do more for the Ruling Lord Suth than he.'

Fearing hope would unman him, Carnelian said quickly, 'Which is our road?'

Jaspar pointed down an avenue running towards the lake.

Carnelian saw the silver chariot veering off to the right, disappearing into the forest of stone.

'Our road is the straighten' Jaspar sauntered off.

Carnelian watched the last silver panel of the chariot wink out and almost ran after it. He felt as trapped as the Quyans in their stone. Their dimple eyes saw through his flesh. They mobbed the road all the way down to the lake. He strode after the only companion he had left, his enemy, Jaspar.

'Curse the sun, it makes me sweat!' growled Jaspar.

Carnelian threw a fold of his robe over his head to stop his mask heating. A sun ray had split his head in two. He squinted past the ache. Ahead there was something like a burning barricade set across the road. He was sure that he could feel its waves of heat beating against him. Soon he saw that its flames were formed by a hillside of carved and gilded columns. The road divided to run round them and edging one fork there was a narrow rind of shadow.

They made for this shadow and stopped to rest, pressing their backs against the cool gilded stone. The air still burned Carnelian's lungs. His robe clung to him. He pinched some of the cloth to peel it off his skin and wafted it. Jaspar was panting.

Carnelian turned to the column he had been leaning against and saw that it was the shins of a narrow Lord. Hundreds more crowded up the slope. The carving was unlike the angels. It was sharp and fresh and the curving golden limbs seemed almost alive.

The Clave,' said Jaspar, looking at Carnelian. He drooped his head and flapped his hands at it like fans.

'Where the Great… meet?' said Carnelian.

They walked round rubbing against the cool legs of the golden crowd, keeping in their delicious shadow. They came to where a stair of snowy marble wound up between the giants.