The Heart of the Mirage by Glenda Larke Read Free Book Online Page B

priestesses maintain that if any of the gods want to communicate, they do so through the Oracle. But if a god is divine and powerful, then why the need for an intermediary? If we are to believe the myths, in the past they spoke to people directly. So, do I believe in the connection to the divine? Probably not. I am more inclined to think none of it is true, or ever was true.’
    He remained silent, so I went on to the second part of his question. ‘Nowadays, people go to the Oracle because they want to know the future. They want advice on the outcome of their more momentous decisions: whether to invest money, invade a neighbouring country, marry into a certain family. From what I’ve heard, the advice is often couched in such obscure language it is ambiguous and therefore easily moulded afterwards to what happens. You know the sort of thing: “Marry that woman and a great commercial dynasty will be founded.” No one actually says whose dynasty. The more ambiguous it is, the greater the chances the prediction will come true.’
    He nodded. ‘Clever. But your prediction was not ambiguous. It clearly foretold your success and rewards.’
    I stirred uneasily. ‘Up until today I would have said it was all a temple scam. To make money out of the gullible. Now I’m not so sure…’
    ‘You’ve not become a believer, have you?’ His mockery mingled with amusement.
    ‘No,’ I snapped. Vortexdamn , I thought, why is it he always has the power to needle me? I took a deep breath. ‘Brand, they knew too much. About me, about my latest orders. How could they possibly have known?’
    ‘Without supernatural means? Could be any one of a dozen ways. Magister Rathrox told them. The Exaltarch told them. Someone else who knows told them. Perhaps they have spies in the palace. More to the point, why the whole rigmarole anyway?’
    ‘Why do you think?’ I asked.
    Being Brand, he considered thoughtfully before answering. ‘Someone wants you to go to Kardiastan, but is afraid you will refuse. This is a way to entice you by appealing to your sense of justice and your love ofa challenge. By predicting a rosy future if you go haring off to do the Exaltarch’s bidding.’ He chuckled. ‘Whoever it is, they don’t know you very well if they think you would be influenced by the muttering of a stone wall.’
    I thought about that. The Exaltarch might believe I needed an incentive…and he had direct access to the Meletian Priestesses. I shivered. Was my presence in Kardiastan so important the Exaltarch would ask the priestesses to fake a prediction from the Oracle? Terror flickered, more tangible this time. And, keeping pace, that pleasurable frisson of excitement.
    But there was a weakness in Brand’s argument. ‘I’m hardly likely to refuse a direct order from the Exaltarch,’ I pointed out. ‘Rathrox and Bator Korbus knew from the very beginning that I would go.’
    ‘Maybe they just want you to go willingly, believing you have a spectacular future ahead. Rathrox knows exactly how ambitious you are. He must guess you would like to fill his shoes if he ever retires.’
    I thought back to the meeting with the Exaltarch. To the feeling I’d had that I was missing something, that they weren’t telling me the whole truth. Bator Korbus had implied Rathrox was keen to send me, but that he, Korbus, was dubious. Perhaps that wasn’t quite the case. Oh, Korbus had been dubious of my abilities, true, but perhaps the Exaltarch was the one who wanted me in Kardiastan so badly he would stoop to anything to have me enthusiastic about it.
    I frowned again. It all seemed so unlikely.
    I felt a moment’s intense nostalgia for my father, the man I had called Pater; I still missed his advice. He’d possessed such a talent for seeing ramifications, for visualising consequences. And always, always, his firm reassurance had given me faith in my own judgement.
    ‘There were a number of messages for you today,’ Brand said, changing the subject.