The Right Hand of God by Russell Kirkpatrick Read Free Book Online

experience. He could have used his true power to push them over, but they did it themselves! It continued to amaze him just how suggestible these people were, and he was beginning to realise how his master might have come to his power. Had he merely tapped an innate weakness in everyone? 'The Fire is falling tonight!' he cried, enjoying himself immensely. 'Open yourselves to the flame! The Most High wants to burn within you!' There existed a kind of unspoken agreement between the crowd and himself: he agreed to perform, and they agreed to fall for him. Oh yes, and they were falling! Laughter welled up in his chest, and for a moment he checked it, but nothing he did tonight would offend or bring suspicion on him, so he let the laugh ring out. 'The joy is here tonight. Can you feel it?' he cried. As though joy was a commodity to be plucked out of the air. Simpletons!
    Time to get to work. He fashioned a strong Wordweave, then began to declaim. 'The Most High is doing a new thing,' he intoned. 1 am about to give you new orders. 'He says: "I am about to raise another group to do My will. Escaigne are My chosen instrument, and they shall bring Fire to this City, setting neighbours against each other.'" Escaigne is about to attack the Council of Faltha, and I want you to support them. 'They are the winnowers of the Most High, separating the chaff from the wheat and setting it alight. Hear the words of the Most High and obey them!' Hear my words and obey them! 'The proud City of Instruere will be brought low, and you are His instrument!'
    He lowered his voice, and the chorus of shouted agreement dropped away to a whisper. 'Even now the Master of All draws near to your walls.' The Undying Man is coming with his great army. 'Prepare to open the gates and let Him in no matter what your earthly leaders might say. When the time comes, you will betray Falth in the name of your religion.
    'Many of you will be required to suffer in His name. He will torment you and kill you, and you will regard it as an honour.
    'But, in the end, you will be victorious!' In the end, he will be victorious.'
    Now the prophecies begun. He continued to be amazed at how accurate some of them were, although he suspected many people susceptible to the Ecclesia were also susceptible to the Wordweave, and their very thoughts were shaped by his will. The idea that he was bending thousands of lives like reeds before a rod of iron drove him into a frenzy of excitement, and it was all he could do to restrain himself and listen to what was being spoken. Something about the Arrow of the Most High drawing near. Well, wasn't that what he'd just said.' He began to tremble and recognised the itch. He'd need to visit The Pinion tonight. Or perhaps Stella could provide him with some more entertainment. He might not be allowed to touch her - a command he would not break, would not think of breaking - but there were many other things he could do.
    He drifted through the rest of the meeting in a red haze, palmed off the many supplicants to his assistants, and headed back towards his rooms in an annexe of the Hall of Lore, rubbing his hands in anticipation.
    'Who is that?' whispered Petara. 'Is it one of the Council?' The Presiding Elder put a finger to his lips, indicating silence, a gesture wasted in the darkness. This one was indeed a puzzle.
    They had been observing him for a few days, a man who was a part of the Ecclesia, who actually ran one of the
    meetings, but who lived in the Hall of Lore, in rooms reserved for important visitors to the Council of Faltha. He obviously didn't want people to make the connection, because he was seen to use this path only when no one else was about.
    The leader of Escaigne's army whispered a command for absolute stillness. Now, of all times, they could not risk discovery and the loss of all they had worked for, not when they waited on the very cusp of their assault on Instruere. Though it might be interesting to capture this man and find out