Taita was surprised by this, but tried not to show it. He straightened and leant back against the cushions. 'You are gracious, Lord Aquer,' he said.
Aquer smiled again, then addressed the usher and the commander of the palace guards: 'We wish to be alone. Please leave us and do not return until you are summoned. Make certain that no stranger listens at the doors.'
The guards thumped the butts of their spears upon the floor, then filed out. The usher followed them, walking backwards with his whole body doubled over in a low bow.
As soon as they were gone and the great doors were closed Aquer spoke again: 'At our last meeting I did not formally introduce you to the noble Lord Ek-Tang.' Taita and the councillor exchanged a seated bow. Ek-Tang was a short, portly man of indeterminate age and Asiatic features. His eyes were coal black and inscrutable.
Lord Aquer went on: 'We have excellent reports from the surgeons of the Cloud Gardens. We have been told that the operation on Colonel Cambyses' eye was a complete success.'
'It was an amazing achievement,' Taita agreed, 'He has regained the full sight of the eye. Not only that, but the organ is completely natural in appearance. It cannot be differentiated from its twin in any way.'
'Our surgeons are the most advanced on earth, but their greatest achievement is yet to come,' Aquer told him.
Taita inclined his head in enquiry but remained silent.
'We shall return to that later,' said Aquer, with a mysterious air, evidently designed to intrigue Taita. Then, abruptly, he changed the subject. 'You will notice that Lord Caithor is not here,' he said.
'Indeed, my lord. I was surprised by his absence.'
'He was an old man, and wearied by the weight of years. Tragically he passed away in his sleep ten days ago. His end was peaceful and without suffering.'
'We should all be so fortunate,' said Taita, 'but I mourn his passing with you.'
'You are a man of compassion,' said Aquer, 'but the fact remains that there is now an empty seat on the Supreme Council. We have conferred
at length and prayed most earnestly for guidance from the one true goddess, whose name will soon be disclosed to you.'
Taita bowed in acknowledgement of this favour.
Aquer went on: 'We have reached the conclusion that one man is eminently suited for election to the Council in Lord Caithor's place.
That man is you, Taita of Gallala.'
Again Taita bowed, but this time he was truly speechless.
Aquer continued genially, 'It is the decree of the Supreme Council that you are to be ennobled, with the title Lord Taita.' Again Taita bowed. 'There is, however, one impediment to your election. It is customary for members of the Council to be whole and healthy. You, Lord Taita, through no fault of your own, have suffered a grievous injury that disqualifies you from this position. However, that need not be final.
Your protege, Colonel Cambyses, was sent to the Cloud Gardens for treatment but not on the merits of his case. Access to these extraordinary procedures is usually reserved for the most worthy members of our society.
It is difficult to place a value on the immense cost of the treatments. You will learn more of this later. Officers of low or intermediate military rank do not usually qualify. Cambyses was chosen to convince you of the possibilities that exist. Without this demonstration, you would certainly have been sceptical and would most likely have declined to participate.'
'What you say is indubitably true. However, I am glad for the sake of Meren Cambyses that he was chosen.'
'As are we all,' Aquer agreed unconvincingly. 'That is no longer relevant. What is, though, is that you have been examined by the surgeons and, as a nobleman and elected member of the Supreme Council, you are entitled to preferential treatment. The surgeons of the Cloud Gardens have been warned of your imminent arrival. Their preparations to receive you are well advanced, which accounts for the delay in informing you. It takes time to make such preparations, but now the seeds have been harvested. The surgeons await your arrival.
Are you prepared to take the opportunity that you are offered?'
Taita closed his eyes and pressed his fingertips into his eyelids while he thought. Our entire enterprise depends upon this, he reminded himself. There is no other way in which I can get within striking range of Eos. However, the board is laid out in the witch's favour. My chances of success are as thin as a silken thread. The end cannot be foreseen, but must be taken at hazard. The only certainty is that all is steeped in the poison of the witch, therefore it will be not only evil but surpassing perilous. He massaged his closed eyes as he wrestled with his conscience.
Am I justifying a baser motive? If I do this thing will it be for Pharaoh and Egypt, or for Taita the man and his own selfish desires? he asked of himself, with cruel self-appraisal. Then he replied, with equally cruel honesty, For both. It will be for the Truth against the Lie, but it will also be for myself and Fenn. I long to know what it is to be a full man. I long for the power to love her with a passion that threatens to consume my very soul.
He lowered his hands and opened his eyes. 'I am ready,' he said.
'It was wise of you to consider your reply so carefully, but I am pleased with your decision. You will be our honoured guest at our palace for this night. In the morning you will commence your journey up the mountain and into a new life.'
The storm was raging as they set out next morning. As they climbed the pathway the temperature fell remorselessly. Swathed in his leather cloak Taita followed the shape of Onka's horse, which was almost obliterated by the swirling snow and the shimmering clouds of ice crystals that were blown across the track. The journey seemed much longer than before, but at last they saw the entrance to the tunnel appear out of the blizzard. Even the trogs that guarded the tunnel crouched down against the wind and blinked at Taita as he passed, their eyelashes laden with ice. With relief he followed Onka into the tunnel and out of the tempest.
They passed through the mountain and emerged from the dank darkness and the guttering light of the torches into the warm sunshine.
They rode past the trogs outside the tunnel, and saw the splendour of the Cloud Gardens spread below them. Taita felt his spirits lift as they always did in the enchanted crater. They took the now familiar path through the forest and on the far side came out on the beach of the steaming azure lake. The crocodiles were lying on the sandbanks, sunning themselves. It was the first time Taita had seen them out of the water and he was astounded: there were even larger than he had thought. At the approach of the horses the crocodiles lifted themselves on bowed legs and waddled to the water's edge, then launched themselves into the lake, sliding gracefully below the surface.
When they rode into the stableyard servants and grooms were waiting to welcome them. The grooms took the horses and the major-domo conducted Taita to the rooms he had shared with Meren. Once again
fresh clothing was laid out for him, a wood fire burned in the hearth and large jugs of hot water stood ready.
'I hope you will find everything convenient and to your liking, revered Magus. Of course, if there is anything you lack, you have only to ring.'
He gestured towards the bell pull that hung beside the door. 'Dr Hannah has invited you to dine with her in her private quarters this evening.' The major-domo moved backwards towards the door, bowing deeply at every second pace. 'I will come to take you to her at the setting of the sun.'
Once Taita had bathed he lay down to rest, but he was unable to sleep. Again he was imbued with restless excitement and an undirected sense of anticipation. As before, he realized the sensation came not from within himself but an exterior source. He tried to compose himself, but with little success. When the major-domo came for him, Taita was dressed in a fresh tunic and waiting for him.