The Death of Promises by David Dalglish

Author:David Dalglish [Dalglish, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781452893198
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2010-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

17

The village elders gathered, though elder was a misleading term. Many were young and fiery of temper, though the presence of the angel host did much to still their tongues. Qurrah watched them assemble into the great auditorium at the very rear of the castle, seldom used but recently cleaned to accommodate the meeting. He stayed at the door, not allowed to enter.

“Strange that I would be denied entrance,” Qurrah said to Kevin Maryll, who stood beside him, greeting the various men as they came to take their seat. More than sixty attended, each representing the village they came from. The procession had slowed to a trickle, but still Kevin waited in case more might arrive.

“Your reputation is well known,” Kevin said, glancing at him. “But tell me, which village do you represent? Oh, that is right, you live in Ker now. The angels have no sway over you.”

“Observing is not the same as speaking, or casting a vote,” Qurrah said, already disliking the man.

“Not true,” Kevin said. “Your very presence would change things. You’re a reminder of a different time, and a threat that no longer exists. We can’t be lost in the past. Now’s the future, and it’s that future I must protect.”

He fixed his tunic, which was made of some of the finest material Qurrah had ever seen, then adjusted the short cape around his neck.

“What do you hope to accomplish?” Qurrah asked him as he straightened his hair. “Do you think the angels will suddenly change their minds and bow to this rabble you’ve assembled?”

“You’re just like your brother,” Kevin said, licking his fingers and making a second attempt at his hair. “You hold these winged men in far too high regard. They’re fallible, and more importantly, they must follow laws and customs just like us. They know this. They believe themselves to represent everything good and just. They say they always know the truth when they hear it. And you know what?”

He flashed Qurrah a smile.

“I think they’re right.”

Kevin stepped into the auditorium, and from within two angels on guard pushed the iron doors shut. Qurrah shook his head, wishing he could have met Kevin many years ago, when ripping the tongue out of a living man might not have put such a weight on his conscience. Being barred from listening to the complaints of the people was ridiculous. Worse, Kevin had somehow finagled it so that Harruq was banned as well. ‘Just the people and the angels,’ Kevin had claimed, though Qurrah sensed the weaseling desires behind it.

Still, sneaking into a meeting he’d been banned from was far, far less a burden on Qurrah’s conscience than tongue mutilation. Turning about, he hurried to a nearby door, which led to a closet used by servants. Within were various stored tools, plus a great stack of clean linens. More importantly, the closet shared a wall with the auditorium. Sitting down beside that wall, he put his fingers against the stone and began to cast a spell. A thin tendril of shadow stretched out from his palm, then began to twirl.

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