I’m too powerful to be involved.”
“They know you well, Yeel. They know of your worries about interfering with us. They know you feel guilty about your huge influence on our history. They know you are terrified of using your great powers in our affairs. It’s just another one of their tactics for keeping you away from their path to domination. You’re the only one strong enough to protect us from them, Yeel.”
“I’m glad to know the deeds I found in my augment are not perfectly rendered. But the fact remains. I’m too powerful to help your people without bending everything in directions that it wouldn’t go.”
“Yeel. Listen to me. We all change the course of history. I change the course of history. And we all interact with the world. We all change things. We mold them to our will. There’s nothing wrong with that. Some of us have more influence over events than others. But it’s a continuum. You are on one end, and my king is perhaps near that side, maybe Vot. And the lowliest peasant farmer is on the other. But none of us should step away from our roles in the universe. And besides, the Meridalae are out there, and they’re not afraid to use their power. If you step away and do nothing, they’ll rule us for centuries.”
Yeel started to pace.
“There is some merit in what you say. I need to think on this a while. I need to ponder, to question. Re-examine my place in the universe. I see now I’ve allowed myself to be manipulated by the Meridalae. They do indeed know Vot and me very well.”
***
Yeel had no further contact with Jymoor for a full day. She found him again in the library at Maristaple, browsing through ancient tomes.
“There you are! I’ve been looking for you.”
“I was visiting Vot.”
“Oh,” Jymoor replied sharply. “Of course. I should have known.”
“It wasn’t a social call,” Yeel clarified. “I…we had to take care of a very unfortunate matter. There was a spy of the Meridalae among her warriors. Actually one of her own, turned traitor for the offer of power.”
“Really? That’s terrible. After everything she did for them. Legrach told me many stories about how she helped the Ascarans, released them from slavery—”
“Actually, it was Legrach who was the spy.”
Jymoor blinked.
“I knew it!” spouted Jymoor. “I knew there was something wrong with him. He tried to get me killed! I told you about that! Why, if you listened to me, even a bit, instead of leering over Vot all the time, it could have saved us a huge amount of trouble.”
“In light of this new evidence, I do believe he may have tried to kill you. Or at least, he would have allowed you to die. I admit I didn’t remember all the details of your complaint, but you mentioned suspicion of him earlier. I owe you an apology for not taking you more seriously.”
“I’ll say you do. You don’t know how good you have it. I’m a valuable woman, a good scout, a fighter, a thinker. I can’t believe you’ve turned back to Vot after I saved you. Why, you were ready to give up! It’s a miracle you found out at all.”
The volume of her voice is rising. Yet I haven’t given any indication that I can’t hear her.
“Well, actually, he tried to kill me. Luckily, Vot had given me…that is, Vot was watching…um, she had placed some eyes for…security, yes, security reasons, and she saw the attempt in progress. I was narrowly unscathed.”
“Vot spies on you?”
“Well, she simply, um, she just does it to show she cares. I mean she cares about Ascara-home. Yes, she just does it because she cares about Ascara-home.”
Jymoor made a strange noise and stalked out.
Oh no. I’ve done something wrong…or have I? It’s so hard to tell. And I didn’t get a chance to tell her that Seer Yune is a spy as well.
Chapter 14: A Plan
Jymoor emerged from the roveportal at Maristaple. Her face was grim. Yeel came along behind, letting her guide him to Aruscetar. They entered the king’s castle, which sat on a hill overlooking Maristaple. The outer gates of the huge castle were open, so they simply walked in among a few other citizens with business at the castle. Dozens of soldiers watched from the towers and walls above.
I doubt any army could break in there, she thought. But I suppose any fortress can only last so long in a siege situation. Once food and