The pillars of creation

CHAPTER 51

je

Pacing was all she could do. Her insides were a painful knot of worry over Sebastian. He had lost consciousness on the long ride back to the encampment. Sister Perdita said that he was in danger of losing his life. Je

Emperor Jagang was also in grave condition after having lost so much blood and then having to endure the long hard ride back with the tattered remnants of the elite cavalry, but he'd refused to delay his return for any reason, even his own well-being. He never thought of himself, only of getting back to his army. Both men were at last now secure in the confines of the emperor's tents, being attended to by Sisters of the Light. Je

The emperor had been made worse by the sight of the army. He'd been fit to kill anyone who gave him an excuse. Je

The light web had ignited close to the center of the encampment, Even this many hours after the event, the place was still mass confusion.

Many units had scattered, preparing for the possibility of an imminent attack. Others, it was suspected, had simply run for the hills. In the area where the light web had ignited there was nothing but a vast depression of blackened ground. In the ensuing chaos, no one had been able to determine how many men had been killed. It was next to impossible, with so many either killed or scattered, to get an accurate count of units, much less individuals, but there was no argument that the devastation was staggering.

Je

As staggering a blow as it was, it was not fatal to the great beast of the Imperial Order army. The encampment was immense, and precisely because it was so vast, much of it had survived. According to the emperor, it was only a matter of time before they replaced the dead with fresh troops, and then he would unleash his men to seek vengeance on the people of the New World.

Je

Despite Emperor Jagang's conviction that their forces would soon recover, there were difficult times ahead for them. Much of the food had been destroyed, along with vast amounts of equipment and weapons. Every tent in the entire encampment had been at least knocked down. It was a cold night and many men would be exposed to the elements. Fortunately, even though the emperor's tent had been flattened, men had been able to erect it again for the injured emperor and Sebastian.

Je

Tears ran down Je

In agonizing worry, she halted in her pacing and leaned on a table she had not seen the last time she had been in the tent. When the tent had fallen, it had been hastily erected, and this table, probably from the emperor's private quarters, apparently hadn't been replaced in its proper location. There was a small bookcase at the rear of the top.

Looking for something that might divert her mind from the ache of anxiety while she waited for word of Sebastian, Je

Je

Je

"You are a very special guest, and we have been instructed to accord you every privilege, but these are His Excellency's most prized works. He is a man of great learning. He collects books. As a guest, I think you should respect his wishes that no one but he touch them."

"Of course. I didn't know. I'm sorry." Je

"These are in the tongue of the emperor's homeland."

"Really?" Je

"I don't know the language very well, but… let me see if I might be able to tell." In the dim light, the Sister squinted at the book for a time, her lips moving silently as she worked at the translation, before finally sliding the volume back in place.

"It says, The Pillars of Creation."

"The Pillars of Creation… What can you tell me about such a book?"

The woman shrugged. "There,'s a place in the Old World called by that name. I would guess the book must be about that."

Before Je

Je

Sister Perdita's gaze shifted to the Sister who had just replaced the book. "Sister, you are needed by the others. Please go help them."

"But His Excellency told me to guard-"

"His Excellency is the one who needs the help. The healing is not going well. Go and help the Sisters."

At that, the woman nodded and rushed off to the back.

"Why isn't the healing going well?" Je

"A healing that is started and then interrupted, as Emperor Jagang's was, creates unique problems-especially since the Sister who started it is dead. Each person brings unique ability to the task, so to go in later and try to unravel exactly how it was started, much less build on it, makes the healing much more difficult and delicate." She offered a small smile. "But we're confident that His Excellency will be fine. It's just a matter of some concentrated work by the Sisters of the Light. I imagine they will be at it most of the night. By morning, I'm sure everything will be under control and the emperor will be as strong as ever."

Je

Sister Perdita appraised her with a cool, unreadable look. "I would say that depends on you."

"On me? What do you mean? What do I have to do with healing him?"

"Everything."

"But, what is it you could possibly need from me? — You have but to ask. I'll do anything. Please, you must save Sebastian."

The Sister pursed her lips as she clasped her hands. "His recovery hinges on your commitment to eliminating Richard Rahl."

Je

"I said commitment, not words. I need more than mere words."

Je

Sister Perdita smiled that terrible smile of hers. "Well then, if that's true, then Sebastian should have nothing to worry about."

"Please, Sister, just tell me what it is you want."

"I want Richard Rahl dead."

"Then we share the same goal. If anything, I'd venture that I feel more strongly about it than you ever could."

One of the Sister's eyebrows lifted. "Really. Emperor Jagang said that the Sister who was trying to heal him, up in the palace, was killed by wizard's fire."

"That's right."

"And did you see the man who did it?"

Je

"First Wizard Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander," the Sister said in a venomous hiss.

"Yes," Je

Sister Perdita glared. "Wizard Zorander is Richard Rahl's grandfather.»

Je

"Yet here was a wizard doing all this damage, nearly killing Emperor Jagang, and you-who claim to be so committed-failed to kill him."