Alstacia's 9th Commentary on Raindrinker

 

40th  White Day – the Bitterchill– YK 2047 Transcripts of a Conversation between Irrinzil the Xethan and Olmstead Goldendream agent of the Golden Tower[1].

Irrinzil -               I wustz callt to dse Courdt of mine fryndt dse Gannyl (Transcriber's Note – "I was called to the court of my friend the Kannyl", I introduce the passage with my best depiction of the Instructor's patois' but only for the sake of verisimilitude, I will translate what follows into more legible Kliali.)    But I did not go to see him. They said that I must go to be interviewed by an agent of the Gold Tower.  I was excited by this because I had wondered at the purpose of the Gold Tower for many years after my long search to see it.  I went to one of the little chapel rooms of the Kannyl's house, which house it seems has an endless number of rooms that I have not yet seen.  This room was small and had a strong fire in the grate and only two big chairs set so two would face each other.  When I came in I was surprised, I found a man sitting with his back to the door.  The Man stood, he was a Kliali through and through, his hair was short and trimmed close and his little beard was also carefully trimmed and his eyes were gold and green and darting and clever.  He smiled and saluted in a strange way – it was very effete and casual, it made me feel familiar with him, we were at rest right away.  He said I should sit and his voice was warm and deep and calm.  I sat and he began speaking. 

Olmsted -           I have read your books.

Irr. -       But have no books szir, I cannot wirite nor read eizther.

Olms. - Nevertheless master Irrinzil, there are books of your stories and I have read them.  I know from them that you are confused about many aspects of the Empire, but that you bear it and its head no malice.

Irr. -       Indteed I loave thze Empire.  I didt not know itd hazd a headt or else I would have trietd to visitd itd.

Olms. -  The Head of the state is the Kannyltine, there would be a state without him, but it would be a corpse.

Irr. -       Aha!  Whatd is a headt thzen withzout a bpody?

Olms. -  The head's purpose is to direct the body, without a body there is no need for a head.  It amuses me to play this game with you but I think that you are attempting to divert me.  You have no need to divert me, as I have said I have read your books – your stories and I judge no malice for the Kannyltine within them.  Indeed if I did detect any hostility for the Kannyltine within your works or your behavior today it would matter to me not at all because you are not a greatblood, not even Klliali.  My concern and the purpose of the Tower of Gold is to inspect the cousins of the Kannyltine – the other Greatblood Lords for signs of sedition.  You understand - rebellion.  You and I are not Greatbloods and are therefore of no concern to the Tower.

Irr.-       I hafve no ill intentzionsz!

Olms. -  Everyone has ill intentions, sometimes those intentions are turned toward the greatest authority.  Again, I do not care and do not judge you condemn you or suspect you.  I have requested this audience because I am curious about your patron's ambitions.  Saris is a powerful lord. They say he’s the richest of all the Greatbloods.  That may be so.  I’m very curious - what does he say about the Kannyltine?

Irr. -       Nothzing to me I'm szure.  I occupy a narrow placze in hisz life.

Olms. -  I think you may have more information than you realize.  They say that the Storytellers of the Xeth remember everything that they see.

Irr. -       And everythzing we are toldt.

Olms. -  So what have you been told?  What are Kannyl Saris’ ambitions? 

Irr. -       Akgain I muszt insziszt I know none of thzem. 

Olms. -  You are concealing something or else you would be asking questions rather than making statements.  I have read your stories I know how you operate.

Irr. -       Well!  I ahm shzocked by whatd is happeningk.  I dton'td know to szpeak againszt Lord Sarisz andt I dton'td know thzat I wouldt say if I knew anythzing.

Olms. -  I see, you aren't used to being  questioned. You ask questions. 

Irr. -       Yesz.

Olms. -  Ask me a question.

Irr. -       Whatd isz thze Tdower of Goldt?  Whatd dtoes itd mean?

Olms. -   The man coughs as if to hid laughter.  A fair question, I know you sought us out in the past.  It is of no consequence if you learn our history we are not secretive though we seek no notoriety.  Some centuries past the Kannyls of Copperring took recourse to their house sages, the coven of the Url King.  This they did in defiance of the Kannyltine it was their wish to overthrow him and replace the office with one of their own.  This was learned and in retribution the Kannyltine took all the gold of the Lords of Copperring and built a tower in which he entombed them all.  He replaced the seditious lords with his own loyalists and let the tower stand forever after.  Some time later an agency was commissioned to seek out and suppress any such sedition.  It was named for the tower of gold and the Golden Tower serves as a tomb for overly ambitious lords.  Are you satisfied now?

Irr. -       I musdt be I thzink; dto you have more tdo szay?

Olms. -  I am not here to entomb Saris, I am not here to ask you to do so.  I am here because Saris is very rich, his power could come to exceed his grasp.  Times are dangerous.  You know the Kannyltine has no heir?

Irr. -       Dto you wish an answer? Itd isz well known bpy everyone. 

Olms. -  Known y everyone.  What it means is the matter of speculation.  Whatever you say, to officials such as myself – this is transcribed and given to your keepers.  Kannyl Windheart will learn of this conversation correct? 

Irr. -       Nods assent

Olms. -  What will happen is still in the hands of the Kannyltine, he will name an heir and it will not be Saris Windheart.  Will your Kannyl accept this?  Will Saris wish to grasp more than his power can contain?  I am not here to ask you anything, I am here to put questions in your mind and to pass a message to your Patron.  Do you understand?

Irr. -       I thzink thzatd I dto.

Olms. -  Don't worry, we won't speak again.  If you wish, I’ll arrange a visit for you, to the Tower of Gold.  Perhaps you’d like to see it.

Irr. -       I amm nodt szo szure.

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[1] This is a record of a conversation between my old mentor and an agent of the Tower of Gold.  I was a student of the old Xeth-Athethan storyteller long before I recorded this conversation.  It was determined that a scribe of official status be present for the conversation and I was chosen.  At the time I was more taken by the old man’s accent and attempted (and failed) to illustrate it in my transcriptions.  At the time of the recording the conversation’s meaning was clear to me, I experienced then, but not so sagacious that I truly grasped the direction the empire would take.  My mentor Irrinzil’s own employer was Saris, the Kannyl Windheart, at that time among the most consequential Kannyls of the west.