Chapter 7

A minute or two passed in silence. The water pipes thrummed as Apollo showered in the bathroom at the back of the house. Moon at last stood up from his place on the bed and moving to the table, began to gather various items into a valise, apparently preparing himself for the visit to Phaonica.

Vaysh meanwhile examined his gleaming violet nails, his mind churning. After all the upheaval the city had undergone in the past year with the arrival of Cal and the transpiring Ascension, he did not particularly welcome the notion of Moon coming to the palace and presenting his particular surprise, a red-headed son. Still, with hostling and son determined to go, and with the reason for their going being clear, the journey and meeting seemed inevitable. The best he could do, Vaysh reasoned, was to mediate the inevitable explosion.

"So tell me," he said finally, projecting the words with his mind for Moon's benefit, "how much do you know about the situation in Phaonica?"

Moon turned, closing the valise, which he now set on the table. "Not as much as I used to," he returned. "Years ago Thiede would give me news, whenever we would be in touch. I knew I'd never be able to visit, but at least that let know some of what was going on in the world."

"What sort of detail did he offer?" Vaysh wondered.

Moon shrugged. "Enough. He came to me for advice."

This surprised Vaysh. "Advice? On what?"

"Various matters -- the Hegemony, relations at court, policies."

"Policy advice? Who knew Thiede had a secret advisor!" The more Vaysh talked to this strangely sage albino, the more his mind tossed with thoughts of the disruption his arrival would bring, not only to individuals but to concepts of who Thiede was and how he had functioned in life while still in the flesh. Vaysh's mind had other speculations as well. "I wonder that he didn't bring you here to be part of the government right out in the open."

"Oh, no -- do I look like a politician?" Moon asked, obviously with rhetorical intent. "I'm not exactly suited to it -- especially the part with making speeches." When Vaysh didn't so much as smile at the joke, the albino stepped forward. "I can joke about it."

Vaysh once more glanced down at his perfect nails. "I see that." He looked up and studied Moon's face. Silently he considered what the har would look like if he had normal coloring but somehow he couldn't, it seemed so much a part of him. Finally he returned to the issue at hand. "But that aside, couldn't he have brought you here to be some sort of advisor? His private advisor? I think he could have. He could have done anything he wanted. Why didn't he?"

The look Moon gave him was peculiar. He seemed about to offer a response but then the door opened. Apollo had returned, all in silk, a long pale orange scarf dangling from his shoulders. "That is the reason," Moon replied silently. "On this, Thiede and I agreed. Our son could never come to Immanion."

Ten minutes later, Moon's son was walking bolding through the streets of Immanion, leading them towards the towers of Phaonica, albeit in disguise. Although his bright yellow robes and striking height attracted marked interest from passerby, the scarves about his head and face provided adequate anonymity to prevent any panic or particular suspicion.

"Not quite Thiede's style, going incognito," Vaysh thought.

"No," Moon replied, making Vaysh realize he'd left his mind unguarded. "Thiede never strove to conceal his person -- only his personal history."

To this Vaysh did not reply. Sealing his mind, he thought to himself, "And just when we thought we had deciphered most of his mysteries, here you come along."

A few minutes later, Apollo still walking ahead, parting crowds, Vaysh decided to pick up the conversation once more, this time consciously. "So, tell me, Moon, Apollo looking as he does, so much like his father... Does it unnerve you?"

Moon kept on walking but shook his head. "No, not really. He's always taken after his father, right from the pearl." Two merchants cross their path carrying a large, elaborate carpet and they paused, keeping their eyes on Apollo, who had continued on. "It was fascinating to watch him grow -- and for Thiede to see him." The carpet passed and they continued on. "The first time he saw Apollo after his Feybraiah, when he was finally har -- Thiede was so amazed."

"I find myself amazed that he didn't rush him immediately to Phaonica!"

"What do you mean?"

"So he could declare his heir, obviously."

Moon stopped in his tracks and stared at Vaysh hard. "No, Vaysh. He and I agreed that Apollo was not meant for temporal power or responsibility. After Thiede saw him that first time, he and I actually agreed that I would head out far afield, where no Gelaming would ever find us."

Half-way through this explanation, Moon shifted and headed back into the crowd. "Back to your original question, however, over the years I have found my son's appearance very comforting. Whenever he is with me, I can always know that part of Thiede is with me. It doesn't 'unnerve' me in the least -- especially as I can see the differences. He doesn't look exactly like his father, after all."

"Doesn't he?" Apollo was picking up the pace even as the crowds thickened. This was the main market of the city and the area was full of late afternoon dealmaking. Vaysh kept his eye on the orange headscarf. "He looks like a twin to me, although I supposed maybe you mean the way he carries himself. He's not like Thiede in that at all. He doesn't overpower you the way Thiede did. You can look at Apollo."

"Ah, at least now you can," Moon remarked. "Remember you have not seen all of my son. When he wants to, he is quite powerful."

"I don't doubt it," said Vaysh. "That's what the hara up there are going to be afraid of." He gestured to the bulk of Phaonica, now looming up just ahead.

"Afraid?" Moon asked, moving his valise to the other hand and after catching his son's eye, gesturing for him to drop back. "Do you really think they'll be afraid?"

Apollo joined them. "What are you two worrying about?"

Vaysh sighed dramatically. "I'm trying to warn your hostling of the greeting you'll be receiving inside -- fear, fury, shock."

"We'll try not to scare them too badly," Apollo joked.

Moon's scowled. "That's not funny. Truly, I don't want this to get out of hand. I am hoping you will assist us with introductions and make it possible for us to present ourselves appropriately."

Vaysh nodded his head in acknowledgement. "That is what had planned, Tiahaara. You will be visiting the palace as my guests and as such will be taken to my quarters. As soon as I can arrange it, I will bring three high-ranking hara to speak with you."

"I hope their names are Pellaz, Caeru and Calanthe." Apollo's eyes were upon the towers looming ahead.

"They are," Vaysh agreed, moving forward once again, Apollo following.

Moon remained still. "Afterward, we will go to the Sanctum?"

"It depends on what the Triad says," Vaysh replied, stopping.

"No, it depends on what Thiede says." Moon still had not moved.

"We shall see." Vaysh turned his back and kept walking.