The Darksteel Eye (The Mirrodin Cycle) by Jess Lebow

Author:Jess Lebow [Lebow, Jess]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2011-04-26T00:00:00+00:00

Pontifex entered the Synod chamber. Far below, Sodador and Tyrell paced the empty floor. Orland, by contrast, reclined on a padded lounger—a new addition to the council hall. The long, curved walls were silent. The packed crowd that had filled the viewing platforms, watching the previous proceeding, had not been invited to this meeting. Save for the four vedalken councilors, the room was empty.

“Lord Pontifex,” said Sodador, “we’ve been waiting for you for some time now.”

Pontifex leaned against the railing and looked down at the tiny vedalken below. The height made him feel bigger than life. How he wished he were really that large. He would reach out his boot and smash the others into jelly.

He shook himself from his reverie. “Yes, I’m sure you have.”

Orland stood up from his lounger. “Please,” he said, “come down and join us. We have much to discuss.”

Pontifex brushed aside the invitation with a wave of his hand. “I prefer to stand here, thank you.”

Tyrell tossed something to the floor in disgust. “Really Pontifex, your disrespect for this assembly—”

Orland put his hand on the councilor’s shoulder, silencing him. “Lord Pontifex has every right to stand where he wishes. We can accommodate his antics.”

Pontifex nodded his approval, though inside he bristled. He lifted himself into the most regal pose he could muster. Lord Pontifex had never committed an “antic” in his life.

“Fine, fine,” said Sodador, “but perhaps Pontifex would be so kind as to explain his actions to this council.”

Pontifex put his hand to his chest. “Whatever do you mean?”

“You know full well what I mean,” said Sodador. “You threatened a member of this council.”

Orland looked away.

“I did no such thing,” said Pontifex.

Sodador slammed his cane into the hard floor. “What sort of fools do you take us for, Pontifex?”

Pontifex chuckled. “Are there different sorts of fools? I was under the impression that there was only one, Sodador.”

“This may all be very amusing to you, Pontifex!” Tyrell shouted. The chamber amplified the sound, making it boom off the walls and echo through the hall. “But we take the rulership of the vedalken people very seriously.”

“As do I,” said Pontifex in a calm voice.

“I think not,” said Sodador. “You’ve always been focused on your own personal gain, impetuously ignoring the will and well-being of the vedalken people.”

“The will of the vedalken people?” replied Pontifex. “Since when have the vedalken people had a will? Might I remind you, councilors, that the vedalken empire is not—” Pontifex paused as if the words he was about to say tasted bad in his mouth—“ruled by the people.”

“Ah,” interjected Orland, “but it could be.”

“Yes?” Pontifex laughed. “Then why stop there? Why not just dissolve the government all together?”

“One step at a time, Lord Pontifex,” said Orland. “One step at a time.”

Though the vedalken lord could hear every word spoken inside the meeting hall, he was too far from the floor to see the look on Orland’s face. Pontifex felt certain that the newest councilor to the Synod was smiling from ear to ear.

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