Maggiore, reaching for one of the books on the table, ‘you’re reading the philosophies of Plato. I’m particularly fond of the cave simile.’ He glanced around and chuckled at his joke, flicking the pages. Then he leant in as close as he could again, continuing to turn the pages loudly as he spoke.
‘Katina,’ he whispered urgently, ‘all is not as it seems. Your Obbligare Doppio, forgive me for asking this, but I must know. It’s to do with Tallow, is it not?’
Katina drew in her breath sharply. Why, Elder Maggiore was breaking one of the greatest taboos in Bond Rider society by simply asking. But, just as Bonding Dante had felt right to her, so did answering him feel correct. She gave the barest of nods. Elder Maggiore blew out his breath. He placed a hand over hers. ‘My daughter.’ Katina knew he was not simply acknowledging their Rider relationship, whereby all Elders adopted the role of parent to those in Settlement, but their shared blood ties as well. ‘All may not yet be lost.’
Over the next few minutes, Elder Maggiore conducted a strange double conversation. One was held sotto voce, in hasty whispers, with Katina’s and his heads pressed together. The other was spoken at a volume loud enough to satisfy the eavesdroppers that Elder Maggiore believed were privy to their conversation.
‘Katina, what I’m about to tell you is sacred to the Elders. If it was discovered I was sharing this with you, well, I know my end would not be far away.’ He flicked a smile at her. ‘You know there’s a prophecy, sì? Do you know much about it?’
Katina shook her head.
‘While the prophecy states that the Estrattore will create a child in order to restore balance, it doesn’t say exactly how that balance will be achieved. It does, however, make it very clear that she must have free will. That she must make her own choice – not one that’s imposed. If she’s not able to do this, then chaos will ensue and the world as we know it will end.’
‘But I thought the Elders,’ whispered Katina, ‘they want to force her –’
‘Not all of us.’ He frowned and gathered his thoughts. ‘There’s been a terrible disagreement among us, Katina. Oh, we present a united face to all you Riders, but within our ranks there’s great discord. Elders Nicolotti and Pisano, along with a couple of the others, they want to encourage Tallow towards a particular choice. They feel that the term “choice” is flexible, that it’s in the Riders’ best interests to pursue a particular line. They also argue that the prophecy states the “end of the world as we know it” – not its imminent destruction.’
He rose and walked around for a moment, holding the book he’d first picked up in his hand, discussing Plato in a loud voice. Katina watched him, bemused as to how he could switch from one topic to another until she realised he was not talking about the book he was holding. She glanced at the pile on the table. There was no work by Plato sitting among them, though she was familiar with his writings. Elder Maggiore continued, discussing the philosopher’s book, The Republic, an imagined ideal state where one class ruled and all others fell into an ordered hierarchy, where certain professions were excluded and others embraced. He was not babbling. He was telling her something.
He sat back down quickly. ‘The Elders would create a new world order?’ she asked.
‘Sì. A closed one, here, within the Limen. One where Bond Riders rule.’
Katina gasped and hid it with a cough.
‘What about the Estrattore?’
Elder Maggiore stared at her gravely. ‘It’s because of the Estrattore that they seek do to this. To protect us from their intentions.’ She recoiled in disbelief. This time, he took her hand in his. ‘Katina, do you know why they brought Tallow into the world?’
Katina shook her head.
He squeezed her hands tightly. ‘We believe Tallow was created to do one thing and one thing only. She’s to destroy the pledge stones.’
Katina pulled away from Elder Maggiore’s grip and retreated to the back of the bed. She was speechless.
He watched her for a moment and then continued conversing for the benefit of other ears.
‘Why didn’t you tell us? You had us searching for the baby all that time and you knew …’ she hissed.
‘What would you have done?’
‘Back then?’
He nodded.
‘Killed her.’ Horrified by the truth of her response, Katina drew up her knees and hugged them