Hesther spread her arms wide.
'The Order of the Omniscient used to fear the medical man, the surgeon and the scientist. They used to burn them because their practices were not accepted. Presumably, the Chancellor would not take an infusion should she catch a cold, nor suffer the knife should she break a rib. All part of God's plan? Where do you draw the line. If the land is parched, is that part of God's plan? If it is cold, is that part of God's plan, to test our mettle?'
Hesther had the audience tittering much as Koroyan had done.
'It is no laughing matter. Presumably the Chancellor would not touch a vegetable that had been grown in an irrigated field. Nor would she ever set foot in a room warmed by a hypocaust. You understand my point. We are discussing method, not faith and heresy. The world moves on. The more we learn, the more we can do.
'I ask you a simple question. Is it heretical to save a life, water a field or warm a room, however it is done? Of course not. Hence the Ascendants are not heretics. However, they can be evil. We accept that, just as any man or woman born into the grace of the Omniscient can be evil. To condemn us for the tragedy that is Gorian Westfallen is as ridiculous as burning a mother because her son falls to thievery or murder.
'We do not know why the Chancellor, and through her the Order, is so determined to extinguish the potential for good that is the Ascendancy. We have ever offered ourselves to the Order as faithful servants, ready to use our abilities to strengthen the will of God, never to undermine it.
'We serve the Omniscient. We are His children, as is every one in this basilica. We could never, never seek to supplant Him, assume ourselves His equal or His superior. The very thought is abhorrent, sickening. Should that ever happen, I will light the fires myself.'
Hesther bowed to the judges and to the audience.
'I have said all I need to. You must decide.'
She sat down and Arducius put an arm around her shoulders.
'Short, sweet, simple and sure,' he said, aware that the atmosphere in the basilica had calmed. The conversation was measured, the debate lively and the citizens unsure on which side to fall. Arducius was surprised. 'You've moved the people.'
'Yes, but two of our judges are Koroyan loyals. Reason has little to do with this verdict, far more on what follows.'
Arducius felt his heart fall. Hesther was right, of course. He had harboured brief thoughts of pronouncements of innocence. He turned to speak to the benches.
'Remember, everyone, whatever the verdict, do not react. We all know that this is not the end. Guilty does not mean death, just as innocence does not mean acceptance. Humility and bearing. Remember who you are.'
On the dais, the judges were in close conference, their backs to the basilica. They were taking their time; shadows moved with the sun. Aurelius was tense, his movements agitated and angry. The Speakers were quite the opposite. Across the stage, the Chancellor sat in smug satisfaction, her Speakers talking with her, congratulating her on the job well done.
Arducius let his eyes wander over the audience. He met D'Allinnius's gaze and nodded his appreciation. The scientist barely acknowledged him. He fidgeted with the flask in his lap, his eyes flickering continually to the Chancellor. Beside him, Gesteris watched the judges speaking. His expression was carefully neutral. Marshal General Kastenas was less still. Her arms were folded and she was noting the positions of various people in the audience. Arducius wondered if she anticipated trouble or whether she was counting allies.
Aurelius turned back to the basilica. Instant quiet fell. Arducius's heart began to pound hard in his chest and heat rose in his face. He could barely control himself, trying to force cool energies over his lifelines. His words about not reacting seemed hollow suddenly. Up there, someone was about to pronounce whether he should live or die. Now there was an assumption of God-like powers. Arducius almost laughed but he caught the expression on Aurelius's face.
'A
verdict has been reached. On the count of heresy on the assumption of God-like bearing and powers, the Ascendants are found guilty. On the count of and allowing to be born and to be nurtured, etcetera, the Academy is found guilty. The charge against the Advocate shall be deferred until the Advocate can respond in person.'
The basilica filled with noise. Arducius let it wash over him. He felt no surprise at the verdict. The sound of wind filled his mind. Whether it was the rushing of blood in his veins or the morass of voices, some angry, some cheering, he couldn't tell. He heard music too, but from nowhere. He looked over at Aurelius. The Chancellor was standing in front of him. She was still not happy about something. The clamour in the audience swelled and subsided. Nothing of any focus penetrated Arducius's senses. The wind and music faded.
Arducius felt proud. Not a flicker on the Academy benches. No plea for mercy, no howls of protest. The Chancellor was looking at them again. She was smiling but this time there was no love or forgiveness.
'Speak your sentence, Senator Aurelius,' she said. 'The Advocate can wait.'
'First, I must ask if you, the accuser, are demanding that the sentence be that as set down in the statutes for the crime of heresy.' 'What else?' said Koroyan. 'Heretics burn.'
Further hush in the basilica. The drama of pronouncement. Arducius felt removed from it all.
'The sentence for heresy is death by burning on all counts, ashes to be scattered to the devils on the wind, a warning to the faithless,' said Aurelius. 'Subject to appeal, sentences to be carried out as dusk marks the sky, and in the order in which the charges were laid.'
The Chancellor lifted her chin, unable or unwilling to disguise the triumph.
'The evil shall forever fall before the Omniscient and I am the Chancellor of God.' 'However.'
Just one word but it fell on the audience, on the Ascendants and on the Chancellor like crystal glass on rock, shattering and covering everything. The Chancellor spun round, daring Aurelius to speak. His fellow judges, recently so satisfied, did likewise. Aurelius was happy to oblige.
'The burning of a heretic must take place while they still live, such that they can see the devils even while they speak their words of confession and contrition. So it is written in law and scripture. But there is a problem, isn't there? An Ascendant is impervious to flame. Their statements of confession would be lengthy indeed.'
The Chancellor's stare strangled any laughter at birth.
'Then we behead them before burning them,' she said,
‘I
see no problem.'
'But then you are not the presiding authority and I am.' Aurelius stood. 'Sit down, Chancellor, I am speaking.' 'This is ridiculous. You are creating—' 'Sit. Down.'
Aurelius was indeed a strong man. There were not many who would face down Felice Koroyan in full fury. He held her stare while she backed off, not so much as blinking. And all the while, hope began to beat in Arducius where there had been none.
'Good,' said Aurelius. 'There is only one legal punishment on the statutes for heresy. It cannot be carried out on the Ascendants. Hence, until there is a revision to the law, they cannot be executed for this crime.'
'Then revise the law,' grated Koroyan. Aurelius smiled in deliberate mimicry.
'A lengthy process, even if I were not otherwise engaged in the multifarious tasks of government and were desperate to make such a change. It is a matter that must first go before a full meeting of the Speakers of Scripture and Order Law, is it not? Requiring a statutory notice of amendment and agenda specifying thirty days' notice of the meeting. Unless I forget my teachings. I am an old man, after all.'
Aurelius pitched his voice low enough that not everyone in the basilica could possibly hear him.
'When you choose to enter my world, Chancellor, you need to do your homework more thoroughly. I have forgotten more of the administrative complexities of the Conquord and its faith than you will ever learn. You will never beat me in the basilica.'
Aurelius banged a gavel on the arm of his chair.
'The verdict stands but the sentence cannot currently be passed. As spokesman for the Advocate, it is my responsibility to make an interim judgement. This I have made. It is that the Ascendants and the Academy personnel be kept under house arrest in the Academy buildings until such times as their sentence can be carried out, appeals heard or the case is reviewed.'
The Chancellor was back on her feet. 'The final insult! You would keep these heretics in the halls of the Omniscient in the heart of the Conquord? Your incompetence and complicity will see you brought to justice yourself.'
The basilica erupted. Everyone was off their benches. Fists were raised, shouts were deafening. Palace guards came to ready and moved in. A line of soldiers ran across the front of the stage, spears levelled. Arducius saw Elise, Gesteris and D'Allinnius excuse themselves, move through the guards and exit quietly. Aurelius had kept his trump card very close to his chest. A wise man as well as a strong man.
More guards were mounting the stage to give Aurelius security and to guide the Ascendants to their extremely comfortable prison. A line of Advocacy guards stood across the Chancellor's path, stopping her reaching either of them, but Arducius could see her pointing and hear her enraged declamations. Aurelius cupped a hand and said something to her. Arducius didn't catch it. He looked to Ossacer who he knew would have been following the exchange and had far better hearing than he.
'What did he say?'
'He was just reminding the Chancellor that the Advocate is due home shortly.'
'Bet that pleased her.'
'I think she just threatened to kill him.'
'And
...?'
'Aurelius said he would add it to his full report on proceedings.' Arducius chuckled. 'Tough bastard.'
'Brave,' said Ossacer. 'And wonderful. Ardu, I'm so sorry I've put you all through this. It was not my intent.'
'You know, Ossie, it's just possible you've actually done us all a favour. Come on, let's go and get something to eat.'
Chapter Forty-One
859th cycle of God, 41st day of Genasrise
The palace complex was quiet. The riots had been brief and broken up with typically overwhelming force by legionaries, palace guards and mounted Gatherers under the command of Elise Kastenas. Trouble still rumbled on in the centre of the city but it was nothing the militia couldn't handle. The Victory Gates were closed, the public excluded until tomorrow and Senator Aurelius was happy with his day's work.
He walked to his rooms, chatting to an adviser and in the company of four Ascendancy guardsmen. Closing the door behind him, rattling the bolt across and hearing the guards stand at ease outside, Aurelius let himself relax. There was a fire in the grate, warming his reception room. Shutters were closed and lanterns gave the room a warm light.
Aurelius was too tired to sit and read. Having written the report of the trial throughout the afternoon and evening, he was fuzzy with detail. An infusion of strong herbs and a gentle incense burn would bring him the rest he required. His servants had already anticipated what he really wanted. He could smell the aroma of beech and orange. A steaming jug rested on a salver just outside his bedchamber. He filled a goblet, took a deep breath and a sip and pushed open the door.
His bed looked wonderfully inviting. It was only five hours until dawn and Felice Koroyan had promised hers would be the first face he saw on welcoming the new day. He had no doubt she would keep her word.
'The time for sleep is long past.'
Aurelius dropped his goblet and backed away into the reception room. At the same time, he heard swords clashing outside. His door shuddered under an impact and burst inwards. Armour of God soldiers ran in. Aurelius backed
away
towards his shuttered windows, fear constricting his throat.
'How did you get in here?'
'Don't be a fool, Aurelius,' said Koroyan, walking out into the lantern light, more soldiers crowding around her. 'The Chancellor of the Order has friends absolutely everywhere. And they are never more vocal than when the Advocate is away from the Hill.'
'You're here to kill me,' said Aurelius, cursing himself for his quivering voice.
'Very perceptive of you,' said Koroyan, still moving towards him. He came up against the wall. 'Small wonder the Advocate made you her deputy.'
'Don't do it. Don't make the mistake.' Aurelius clawed his mind for a way out. 'The trial is recorded. Nothing can be changed. Process will continue. Killing me will make no difference.'
There were men either side of Aurelius now and ringing the Chancellor three deep. Under their helmets, he saw blind zeal and knew he was lost. A steady drip caught his attention and he looked down to his right. The man closest to him had blood dripping from his gladius.