Otherwise by John Crowley Read Free Book Online Page A

straight.”
    Learned Redhand smiled. “Arbiter, there is doubtless much to be won. Little Black’s reign has been long and dishonorable. The Red Protectorate suffered much from Black Harrah’s ministry; I think they surely wish revenge. No. Not a matter of principle. The reverse.”
    “And they come then beforehand to have their hands washed at our fountain. Why should we be muddied by their revenge?”
    Learned paused, looking into a pale, slate-colored agate he wore on one finger. The expert at circumlocution must first have his matter clear to himself: but when it was clear, he found no pretty way to say it. “Arbiter: Red Senlin means to be King. Many of the great support him in this. Even to war with the Queen. They wish their enterprise sanctioned by the Grays.”
    “And if we cannot sanction it? They must not ask for arbitration, Learned, unless they mean to abide by it.”
    “That’s the hardest thing.” He turned and turned the stone on his forefinger. “I needn’t preach to you that the strong chain of oaths seems barely a thread in these bad times. But I feel sure that if the Grays decide against Red Senlin, the Reds… will lose adherents, yes. Will lose credence in the eyes of the Folk. Will give pretexts even to the Just, who grow strong lately. But will proceed, anyway.”
    Too old in judgment to be indignant, Mariadn considered, her eyes closed. “And will perhaps then be beaten by the Queen, and all hanged, and their sin made plain.”
    “Perhaps. But I think not. Black Harrah is dead. And the Great Protector Redhand and all his adherents are with Red Senlin.”
    “Dindred possesses them,” the Arbiter said quietly. “Pride is their master, and what Strength can be called against him?”
    “Arbiter,” said Learned Redhand, more urgently, “the question of succession is surely doubtful. It could be settled reasonably two ways; surely there is much in law to be said for the Senlin claim. But consider further the Order we owe. I think Red Senlin, without our help, has even chances of doing this thing. With a Gray word behind him, the thing is nearly certain. If he has our judgment and wins, we are the stronger for it. If without our judgment, then our judgment will have little power hence.”
    “The power of our judgment is in its Righteousness.”
    “Yes. Of old. And we must take care for that power. It is threatened. The Just speak Leviathan’s name in the villages this year again. If the Protectorate act in disregard of us, then… then oaths far older than the Protectorate’s to Little Black’s kin are weakened, and begin to pass away.”
    The Arbiter Mariadn covered her old eyes with the long fingers of one hand. Only her finely lined mouth was visible; her voice held Learned Redhand like the gentlest of vices. “Learned. I am old. I see few visitors. Perhaps I can’t any longer grasp the world’s complexities: no, not these new heresies, I hate and fear them, so I am not qualified to speak. I must lean on you, on your worldliness, which I partly fear too… Only swear to me now, Learned, on all the ancient holy things there are, that what you advise you advise out of love and care for our Order. For our Order only.”
    “I do so swear,” Learned said without hesitation. Mariadn breathed a little sigh, rose and took up her cane. She started slowly back toward the black-hung doorway into Inviolable.
    “So,” she said, not looking back. “It shall be as you advise, if I can sway others. And perhaps, after all, it’s… only a little sin. Perhaps.”
    Learned Redhand sat a long time after she had gone, in the gathering evening, watching black leaves fall and float in the restless pool of the fountain. He should be in his carriage, taking news of his success to the Harbor: but it was success he suddenly felt little desire to announce.
    Strange, he thought; she and he had talked so much of the new, oath-breaking way of the world, and yet when he swore to her, she accepted it