War in Heaven. David Zindell

into the centre of the room where Danlo sat. In the light falling down through the dome, Danlo’s deep blue eyes shimmered like the ocean.

      ‘There may be a way to descry the Fellowship’s path through the Fallaways,’ Hanuman said. ‘We must ask our scryers if they can see such a path. If so, then we might fall upon the Fellowship’s fleet by surprise and destroy them.’

      Now Hanuman faced Lord Pall, and their eyes danced over each other’s body and face. Although Danlo knew almost nothing of the cetics’ secret system of signs, he knew Hanuman well enough to read his fierce will in the sudden coldness of his gaze. And Lord Pall still possessed a will of his own; Danlo could see this as a twitching of his pink, albino’s eyes. As Lord Pall and Hanuman stared at each other, and fingers and eyelids fluttered, a great deal of silent communication flowed between them. But mostly, Danlo thought, even as he and Malaclypse Redring and Bertram Jaspari watched – and a hundred lords as well – these two powerful men engaged each other in a fierce contest of wills. In the end, Hanuman won. Lord Pall’s old shoulders shook with anger, and his old vocal cords quivered hoarsely as he addressed the Lords’ College in his own voice.

      ‘My lords,’ he said, ‘it would be best if we asked our ambassadors to leave us now so that we may confer among ourselves. Hanuman li Tosh has offered to guard the warrior-poet during the time of negotiations, and I think this would be best. Also, he has asked for a private meeting with Danlo wi Soli Ringess and is willing to provide accommodations for him in his cathedral. Of course this won’t interfere with the negotiations; the pilot will be free to journey to the academy daily to join Lord Bede in trying to stop this war that we all must dread. We’ve provided an apartment for Lord Bede – his old one in Upplyssa, as it happens. Bertram Jaspari is to remain within the academy’s walls as well. He’ll be allowed to send word of his safety to his fleet, if he so wishes.’

      All at once many men and women protested Lord Pall’s strange decision. Bertram Jaspari, too, added his voice to the dissenters. ‘Lord Pall,’ he said. ‘Malaclypse Redring and I have come to Neverness as a single embassy, and we must not be separated.’

      Lord Pall almost smiled, glad at last for the chance to exert the full power of his will. ‘No, it is just the opposite: you must be separated, for you can’t imagine what a danger the warrior-poet might be to you. As you’ve claimed, you are the Holy Ivi of the Cybernetic Universal Church, and as long as you are in Neverness, we of the Order mustn’t allow any harm to befall you.’

      With that he looked at Hanuman, who nodded his head at Jaroslav Bulba. Jaroslav then motioned for four of the golden-robed godlings standing near him to pick up the chair to which Malaclypse was bound. With much puffing and sighing, they each managed to get a grip on one of the chair’s four legs and heave it – and Malaclypse Redring – to the height of their shoulders.

      ‘I’d like to thank the lords for asking me into their College today,’ Hanuman said as he stood and bowed. Then he walked over to join his godlings at the centre of the room where Danlo still sat silently in his chair. ‘Are you coming, Danlo?’ Hanuman asked softly.