[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

,Maybe charcoals, that you could erase," Prataxis sug- gested.
,Better would be an artist who could work from my descriptions."
The two were toying with an illustrated history of the Fall. Varthlokkur was
the last living participant. The major extant record of the epoch,The Wizards
of Ilkazar, con- sisted of impassioned anti-Empire propaganda. Whenever his
path crossed that of the sorcerer, conservator Prataxis teased forth memories
and committed them to paper. The Fall was western history's crucial crossroad.
Prataxis be- lieved the perpetuation of old lies to be a sin.
Ilkazar's last king had slain Varthlokkur's mother. Varthlokkur had crushed
the Empire in revenge.
,I can't capture the real feel of the man," the wizard grumbled. ,Wish I could
impress a thought directly onto the paper."
Page 58
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Ragnarson snorted like an old boar hog being wakened by a pig farmer. ,Why
not? I hear tell a good sorcerer can think pictures into one of those seeing
bowls. So think your memories of those old-time wizards and kings. Let an
artist draw what he sees." He sniffled, sneezed, searched for a handkerchief.
There had been another rainy day game of
Captures, a rematch with the Panthers, that had been long and savage and had
left him with a murderous cold. The Panthers had won, five-four, on a disputed
goal. The judges themselves were still arguing.
Varthlokkur and Prataxis exchanged looks. Derel said, ,Wouldn't it work?"
,Maybe," Varthlokkur grumped. He awarded the King a foul look. His was the ire
of a professional being taught to suck eggs by a layman.
The door opened. Dahl Haas stepped inside. From a rigid attention, he
announced, ,Sir Gjerdrum Eanredson, Your Majesty." A slight scowl crossed his
face. He was not pleased with his King's inelegant sprawl. ,Herd him in,
Dahl."
Sir Gjerdrum took the remaining chair. His handsome Wesson face looked
perplexed.
Ragnarson sat up. ,That's all, Dahl. Look around to see if we're getting any
unusual attention."
Haas withdrew, clearly piqued because he had not been invited to stay.
,What's up?" Eanredson asked.
Ragnarson began paring his nails with a small knife. Prataxis wrinkled his
nose. ,Some odd stuff" has been piling up. I figured it's time we did
something."
Eanredson ran a hand through his hair. The room was hot.
,It's this way. I spent a lot of time thinking. I decided you're the only ones
I really trust right now. So we powwow. We decide where we're going." He wiped
his knife on his trousers. ,Okay. Questions."
Baffled, Gjerdrum asked, ,What kind of problems? I thought we were in pretty
good shape." He paid little attention to politics.
,It's a long list, Gjerdrum. I clogged it all together into three groups, then
rated those by how many people they'd affect. So. First area. Mist, Aral
Dantice, and their cohorts, are probably plotting to get Mist her throne back.
If they make it, problem number two might disappear.
,That's Hammad al Nakir, where some strange things are going on. Mainly,
Hsung's machinations. Seems he's trying to round our flank by making a puppet
of the Peacock Throne.
,Third general problem. The succession. It doesn't look important right now.
I'm healthy. But somebody could stick a knife in me, like they did Liakopulos.
Then what? Civil war? Gjerdrum, if I croak tonight, what will the army do?"
,I don't know. That isn't something we've been worrying about. Support whoever
the Thing elects, I guess."
,What if that somebody was from the Estates? Somebody from the old school.
Page 59
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Would you put up with that? Would Credence? The Marena Dimura have to be taken
into account."
,I don't know about me. Credence would take to the woods. He'd fight."
Varthlokkur said, ,One of your sons would be the logical candidate, even
though it's not in the law."
,But I have three sons. And a grandson. Which should it be? My grandson is the
firstborn of my oldest, if you like that theory of succession. Gundar is the
oldest surviving son. But Fulk's mother was Queen when he was born. Elana was
just a soldier's wife. Ainjar don't count because he's the farthest away."
Prataxis observed, ,They're all under age. That means a regency."
,I know. Meaning more worries. Mainly, about trust. All my worries are about
trust. What about those Itaskians of Inger's? Are they a foreign fifth column?
Inger could be- come regent. How about Michael? What would he do? Then there's
Abaca. And the Estates. And Dantice, Mundwiller, and that crowd. And whoever
tried to kill Liakopulos, and dropped the list I found. There are people with
stakes we don't recognize. I want to set up guidelines for dealing with
everything. Then, even if I'm gone, there'll be a path to follow."
,We're going to be here a while," Eanredson said.
,So be it. Derel, you and I have been over this some. You've had time to
think."
,The problems are interrelated. If you solve one, the others will soften."
,I know. So let's pick an area and hammer away."
,The succession, then. Hsung's doings aren't pressing. They're a sideshow.
Shinsan is preoccupied elsewhere. He won't do anything but tinker. He'll have
to stay free to help Kuo if the Matayangan thing goes bad. And Mist will be
around a long time."
,There'll never be a better time, Derel. Shinsan is in big trouble. Once they
drop the hammer on Matayanga, Kuo is out of the woods. He can cover his ass. I
want to smack him while he's vulnerable."
Prataxis shrugged. ,You're King. But really, an estab- lished line of
succession, including a designated regent, would do more good."
,Gjerdrum?"
,I'd be more comfortable if I knew who'd take over. Hammad al Nakir? That's
Michael's area."
,What about Mist?" Ragnarson's mind was set. He was disappointed in his
people. They wouldn't see the impor- tance of weakening Shinsan. Not even
Derel, who so recent- ly had advised him to play Hsung's game.
,How would she change anything?" Gjerdrum asked. ,Sorry. The Chatelaine is
your friend. But there's no reason to believe that she could or would alter
Shinsan's historical imperatives."
,Historical imperatives? College boy. Varthlokkur?"
,I don't like Shinsan." The wizard examined his finger- tips. ,Lord Kuo is an
Page 60
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
enigma. His supporters are unknowns too. Mist we know."
Prataxis started to protest.
Varthlokkur snapped, ,Wait, will you? I think I'm speak- ing from a more
knowledgeable viewpoint."
Prataxis subsided. Ragnarson sat up straighter.
,When I couldn't find the man responsible for the attack on the General, I
started making daily divinations. I've been spending so much time at that that
my wife claims I'm neglecting her. I'm trying to do what I can while I can.
Her time is close. I won't be able to help much longer."
Prataxis said, ,Tell us why you're not worried about the succession."
,Did I say I wasn't? I don't think so."
,We don't expect you to neglect Nepanthe," Bragi inter- jected. ,You were
talking about divinations."
Varthlokkur unleashed one of his classic intimidating frowns. Any man in the
street would have fainted. Ragnarson just grinned, though his stomach did
flutter. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]