The Last Whisper of the Gods by Berardinelli James

Author:Berardinelli, James [Berardinelli, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-11-01T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY: SORIAL’S ABSENCE

It was early in Planting but the heat and humidity were worse than they should have been at the height of Summer. Every indication was that this year would be worse than the last, which in turn had been hotter than the year before.

Warburm faced Carannan across the desk in the latter’s study. It was getting to the time of the year when the duke would move into the cellar during his working hours. There, buried beneath the earth, it remained comfortable during even the most unbearable of weather. Here, both men were sweating profusely.

“I wish we had the luxury of waiting, but we dinna. With the heat gettin’ worse, there ain’t no telling how much longer this city will be habitable. People can dig cellars and live underground, but without crops to sell at market and grain to feed hungry mouths... Plus, there be a danger that wells could start dryin’ up. Vantok be runnin’ out of time. We done borrowed some by switching the farming seasons but it won’t be long before the Winters are like Summers used to be and the other three seasons’ll be worse. Already, people be migrating north and more traders and merchants ain’t coming this far south. This be as much an attack as if an army was marching on us.” Warburm used a stained handkerchief to mop his brow. It was an unusually long speech for the fat man, whose preference was for grunts and short sentences.

“Until Sorial makes his whereabouts known, there’s not a lot we can do except wait,” said Carannan. It had been a half-season since Alicia’s eventful Maturity Day. Since the dramatic events of that day, Sorial hadn’t been seen.

“I done have to admit, I never expected him to react like this. I’ve known the lad all his life and vanishing ain’t his style.”

“No one knows his whereabouts. Not my daughter. Not his mother. Not any of his friends in my militia. I’d be surprised if he’s still in Vantok.”

“Oh, he be here,” said Warburm. “I’d bet my inn on that. Sorial ain’t never been away from Vantok and ain’t no one outside the city seen him. Ferguson ain’t the least bit worried. Claims to have ‘reliable information.’ A source or something. For someone as resourceful as Sorial, avoiding detection in Vantok wouldn’t be too hard - unless, of course, we was to put him on the official ‘wanted’ list. The greed that comes with a reward, even a modest one, would encourage someone to give him up.”

“Not something we want to do.” Carannan had been the strongest opponent of punitive tactics. They wanted to seduce Sorial not threaten him.

“No,” agreed Warburm. “Unless it be a last resort.”

“We have some time. Even if he agrees, he couldn’t leave until Harvest. A journey south in this heat would be rough on him and his escort.”

“A journey south in any season will be rough, but that be a risk we got to take. There ain’t much choice in the matter.

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