The Sapphire Rose by David Eddings

Author:David Eddings
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Epic, General
ISBN: 9780007375080
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
Published: 2010-06-23T23:00:00+00:00

The vast nave of the Basilica was filled to overflowing very early the following morning. The citizens of Chyrellos had begun timidly returning to what was left of their homes almost as soon as King Wargun’s army had rounded up the last of Martel’s mercenaries. The people of the Holy City were probably no more pious than other Elenes, but Patriarch Emban made a gesture of pure humanitarianism. He let word be spread through the city that the Church storehouses would be opened to the populace immediately after the thanksgiving services were concluded. Since there was no food to be had anywhere else in Chyrellos, the citizens responded. Emban reasoned that a congregation numbering in the thousands would impress upon his fellow Patriarchs the gravity of the situation and encourage them to take their duties seriously. Besides, Emban did feel a certain compassion for the truly hungry. His own bulk made him peculiarly sensitive to the pangs of hunger.

Patriarch Ortzel celebrated the rites of thanksgiving. Sparhawk noticed that the lean, harsh Churchman spoke in an altogether different tone when addressing a congregation. His voice was almost gentle, and he sometimes verged on actual compassion.

‘Six times,’ Talen whispered to Sparhawk as the Patriarch of Kadach led the throng in the final prayer.

‘What?’

‘He smiled six times during his sermon. I counted. A smile doesn’t look all that natural on his face, though. What did we decide to do about what Krager told us yesterday? I fell asleep.’

‘We noticed that. We’re going to have Krager repeat what he told us to the entire Hierocracy right after Colonel Delada reports the conversation between Martel and Annias.’

‘Will they believe him?’

‘I think so. Delada’s the unimpeachable witness. Krager’s merely providing confirmation and filling in details. Once they’ve been forced to accept Delada’s testimony, they won’t have much difficulty choking down what Krager has to say.’

‘Clever,’ Talen said admiringly. ‘Do you know something, Sparhawk? I’ve almost decided to give up the idea of becoming the emperor of thieves. I think I’ll enter the Church instead.’

‘God defend the faith,’ Sparhawk prayed.

‘I’m sure He will, my son,’ Talen smiled benignly.

As the celebration concluded and the choir broke into exalted song, pages moved through the ranks of the Patriarchs delivering the announcement that the Hierocracy would resume deliberations immediately. Six more of the missing ecclesiasts had been discovered in various places in the outer city, and two emerged from hiding places within the Basilica itself. The rest were still unaccounted for. As the Patriarchs of the Church solemnly filed out of the nave and into the corridor leading towards the audience chamber, Emban, who had stayed behind to speak with a number of people, scurried past Sparhawk and Talen, puffing and sweating. ‘Almost forgot something,’ he said as he passed them. ‘Dolmant’s got to order the Church storehouses opened. Otherwise, we’re liable to have a riot on our hands.’

‘Would I have to get as fat as he is if I want to run things in the Church?’ Talen whispered. ‘Fat

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