The Orb And The Spectre (Book 2) by Martin Ash

Author:Martin Ash
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Outside Publishing
Published: 2014-04-07T23:00:00+00:00

V

Leth felt half mad when he left his chamber and made for Pader Luminis's apartment high in the White Eaglet's Tower. Grey Venger had been escorted to his guest apartment, expressing tiredness. Leth wished to speak with him again very soon, but first he needed to talk to a sane man, someone he trusted.

"It does not undermine the Deist Edict, if that’s what you fear," said Pader when he had heard all. "At the heart of the Edict is the self-evident truth that we do not know the gods or their wishes. I have heard nothing so far to convince me that the True Sept knows otherwise."

"But their prophecies are coming true."

"Prophecies? They have always claimed oracular knowledge, secrets ancient and profound, but apart from the rumour of the Child they have revealed nothing until now, when the facts are assembled for all to see."

"But they know of the coming of the Child, and that the Child is born of a god. That is prophetic."

"But we need not necessarily infer contact with or knowledge of the gods," said Pader. "Let us say that, a millennium ago, a man or woman attempting to study the mysteries of Enchantment, dreamed a dream. That person might have been entranced, drugged, soused, half-mad, or simply foolish. He dreamed that a god spoke directly to him and imparted a message for humanity. Transported, the dreamer woke, did not know he had slumbered, believed the dream was real and rushed to tell his fellows the wondrous news. Most disbelieved him, laughed in his face, called him mad. But a few wondered otherwise. The few told their friends. Before he knew it the dreamer, perhaps now outcast from his own society, had followers in some number. One or two among these wrote down the dreamer’s words and broadcast them as far afield as they might. Years passed, the dreamer became famous, and eventually died. But his words remained, as did his followers and the children of his followers. More words were added to the dreamer's original words; perhaps a few unscrupulous men inserted phrases of their own, seeking in them a way to personal fame, influence and wealth. Perhaps phrases were added in a genuine attempt to clarify or better understand the original, or to include knowledge or beliefs drawn from other sources. It matters little in essence. The words were powerful, the descendants of the dreamer determined to spread them and gather more followers. The generations succeeded one another. . . a religion had been born, taken seed and spread its roots and branches. But at no time had contact been made with a god."

"All on the dream of a drunkard," mused Leth sombrely.

"Or the sincere and genuine effort of an individual seeking to make sense of Mystery. We do not automatically infer malice at the outset, rather that in our desperation to explain Mystery any one of us may be drawn to unreliable conclusions. Like you, Leth, my goal is Knowledge and Truth. But Mystery confronts us at every pass and is perhaps the natural state.

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