said a laughing Yakim. ?And I could answer any question put to me by the Yatol Council. Do you doubt that they chose correctly? ?
Merwan Ma blanched.
"It is not an accusation, my young friend," said Yakim. ?It is merely a re-assurance to you that you will know.
Your predecessor voiced similar con-cerns... so I have heard," the Chezru Chieftain quickly added, for how could he have firsthand knowledge of what Merwan Ma's predecessor might or might not have said?
"Even so, God-Voice" the obviously nervous Merwan Ma continued. ?Once the child is found - "Then your duties are clear and with many recorded precedents," Yakim Douan interrupted. ?And those duties are minimal, do not doubt. You will watch over the child and see that he is well cared for through the early years of his life. Not so difficult a job, I would say."
"But what of his training? Who will tutor the new God-Voice in the ways ofYatol?"
Yakim Douan was laughing before Merwan ever finished. ?He will tutor you, if you so desire! Do you not understand? The child will be born with full consciousness, and full understanding of all that is Yatol.
"Do you doubt?" the Chezru Chieftain asked into Merwan Ma s scrunched-up face. ?Of course you do!" Yakim added to alleviate the tension before it could ever really begin. ?Because you have not witnessed the miracle of Transcendence. I have, firsthand! I remember those early days well, and I needed no tutoring. I needed nothing, just the climb to Consciousness, and by that time, I understood everything about our beloved Chezru, both good and bad, better than any of those around me. Fear not, my young friend. Your time of indenture in the house of the Chezru Chieftain is to end in scarcely more than a decade, it would seem."
If those words were of any comfort at all to Merwan Ma, he didn't show it; in fact, his expression revealed just the opposite.
"You know this to be true," Yakim prompted.
"As with your anticipated death, it is not a subject I am comfortable dis-cussing, God-Voice."
"Ah," Yakim answered with a great laugh, and again he patted the young attendant's arm. ?You are to serve me, and then to see the next God-Voice to Consciousness, and then you are freed of all responsibility to the Chezru. That is the way it has always been, and the way it must continue to be."
"All that I love - "That does not preclude you from joining Chezru more formally," Yakim went on. ?In truth, I would be sorely disappointed if you do not pursue your calling to piety. You will make a fine Yatol, my friend, and as such, will prove a valuable asset to the next Chezru Chieftain. Why, I have already penned a long letter to my successor and to the Yatol Council expressing my beliefs in your potential."
That seemed to calm Merwan Ma considerably, and he blushed with em-barrassment and lowered his eyes.
Just the effect Yakim Douan had hoped for. He truly liked the young man, and would indeed miss him when he came to Consciousness in the next incarnation. But on this point of ritual, Yakim had to hold fast. He couldn't take the chance of keeping one as bright as Merwan Ma around for too long.
Familiarity might bring danger.
Merwan Ma made his way through the great columned hallways of the airy palace. The whole of the place was made of stone, mostly marble, pink and white and the subtle pale yellow of Cosinnida marble from the south. The many columns, ridged and decorated, were of the type that came from the northwest, from the foothills of the Belt-and-Buckle near the border-land of Behren and To-gai. This stone was the brightest white of all, but streaked with red veins throughout, so much so that it appeared to Merwan Ma as if red vines grew all along the columns. He could almost envision large grapes hanging from the vine, ready to pluck and savor.
Merwan Ma's sandals were leather, and not hard-soled, but his footfalls echoed along the vast chambers of the palace, where every ceiling was deli-cately arched to catch the sound and roll it about. The young attendant often lost himself on walks such as this, wandering the great ways past the inspiring tapestries and the amazing mosaics tiled on the great floors. On such jaunts, he felt alone in the vast universe, and yet at one with it, as well.
He needed that now, that comfort that he was part of something