by Steven Brust
“My dear Lyorn—”
“I will regret it intensely, I assure you.”
“But it seems—”
“Your pardon, gentlemen,” said Khaavren, “but allow me to suggest that we refrain from launching that boat until the ground is wet.”
“I agree with Khaavren entirely,” said Pel.
“Very well,” said Aerich.
“As you will have it,” said Uttrik.
Another servant appeared at this time; only, instead of a Teckla, this was an Issola gentleman, who wore green and white robes showing that he was performing his office for Lord Adron. He said, “I am Custrin, at your service. Am I to understand that you do us the honor of requesting an interview with my master, the Prince?”
The five friends rose as one (Mica, as became a lackey, had remained standing), and bowed. Khaavren said, “You have understood us exactly. Only, as we do not wish to disturb him, and as, moreover, our errand is not urgent, we are prepared to wait until a convenient moment, whether it be to-day, to-morrow, or several weeks in the future; you perceive, my dear sir, that we are ready to be amiable.”
“All the better, then, that the Prince is prepared to receive you at once.”
“What?” said Khaavren, astonished. “He is here? That is, he is willing to see us now?”
“At this very moment, if that should please you. Or, if you prefer, and as the Prince is anxious that you should spend at least some little time with him, you may use our guest rooms to refresh yourselves from your journey first, however it please you.”
“No, no,” said Khaavren, endeavoring to hide his confusion. “That is, we should be honored to see Lord Adron at this very moment, if he is not inconveniencing himself.”
“Not at all, I assure you. He returned only yester-day from a long journey, and has rested, but not yet resumed his daily habits, so that the time is admirably suited for an interview.”
“Well, then, we are at your service, my lord.”
The Issola then led them from the antechamber into a well-lit hall, at the end of which was a high-ceilinged chamber furnished with paintings of various nobles of the e’Kieron line, as well as an ornate table that filled a great part of the room, and was supplied with high-backed chairs, no less ornate than the table, as well as a few stuffed chairs pushed into corners. There was a fire going in the black marble fireplace, which fire reflected against the dark wainscoting. At the far end of the room, one hand upon a chair and the other on his hip, was the Duke of Eastmanswatch, etc. etc., Lord Adron e’Kieron.
Adron was just then reaching the height of his powers, but had not yet reached the height of his fame. That is, he had already distinguished himself at the Battle of Twelve Pines, and several times during the Elde Island War, but the Rolling Rock Wars, where he constructed and led the Breath of Fire Battalion, had not yet occurred. Moreover, his studies of sorcery had reached the limits of current knowledge, and he was even then beginning to make use of the infamous blue stones which would allow him, five hundred years later, to harness the power that destroyed the Empire and replaced Dragaera City with the Lesser Sea of Flux. We should add that his eyes were blue and cold, his hair, a very light brown, was worn tied back in a knot like a Lyorn’s which showed off his sharp noble’s point, and he had the “Dragon chin” to such a degree that it was said, in later years, “His chin was so strong it smashed the Empire to pieces.”
Notwithstanding all of this, he bowed politely to the companions and requested that they be seated at the table. He then caused a servant to appear with chilled wine, which he poured and tasted first. “Well, my lords, to what do I owe the honor of the visit with which you have graced my poor house?”
“Your Highness,” said Khaavren, who had used the interval to try to clear up some of the confusion in his mind, “we are here, well, we have come to pay our respects to you.”
“To pay your respects?” said Adron. “How singular. And in whose name do you do so?”
“On behalf of Captain G’aereth,” said Khaavren, or, rather, said Khaavren’s mouth, for it seemed to be supplying the words which his mind appeared unable to discover.
“Captain G’aereth?” said Adron, frowning. “Well, I know him.”
“And he knows you, Your Highness,” said Khaavren.
“And,” added Pel truthfully, “he has the greatest respect for you.”
“But, well, is there something he wants from me?”
“Not at all,” said Khaavren, who could think of nothing the Captain might want. “He merely desired us to pay you a thousand compliments, and to then be on our way.”
Uttrik shifted uncomfortably, but, like the others, was content to allow Khaavren to do the talking.
“And yet,” said Adron, “that cannot be why you have taken this journey so far from the city. Come, speak the truth, the Emperor has sent you here, has he not?”
“The Emperor!” said Khaavren.
“Well?”
“Your Highness, I assure you I have no idea what the Emperor could wish for us to do.”
“But then, you are of the Guard, and I have been given to understand that His Majesty is wroth with me.”
“And so you think—?”
“That you have come to arrest me, have you not? Well, I assure you that I shall accompany you happily; and will be only too glad to plead my case before the court.”
“I give you my word, Your Highness—”
“Oh, you need have no fear; you may have my parole. Only allow me a few moments to gather my belongings for the journey. Shall I fetch my sword to surrender it to you?”
“Your Highness,” said Aerich, coming to Khaavren’s rescue. “I am a Lyorn; consequently, I cannot lie.”
“I am aware of that, sir.”
“Well, I tell you plainly that the mission we were entrusted with has nothing whatsoever to do with you.”
“How? It does not?”
“I have said so, my lord.”
“But then, what mission could you have?”
This distraction by Aerich had been sufficient to give Khaavren time to recover from his embarrassment, and it occurred to him to solve the problem by telling Adron the truth, or, at any rate, part of it. “Your Highness, the Captain, working in the interests of the Emperor, has become curious to know the actual state of affairs around Pepperfield.”
“Then, you are here—”
“To investigate that area,” said Pel. “That is all.”
“Well, is this the truth?”
“Entirely, my lord,” said Pel.
Adron studied the countenances of the five gentlemen before him, and said, “Very well, then I give you welcome. And, moreover, I should have realized it, since I made such haste on my return here that it is unlikely I could have been overtaken by anyone. In fact, my lords, I have killed three horses getting here; you may have noticed them on the road.”
“We did, indeed, see such a horse, Your Highness,” said Khaavren.
“Well, and as my disgrace (for such, I fear, it is) only occurred shortly before my departure, then should His Majesty wish to arrest me, well, I think that you could not be those entrusted with the mission, nor even know about it.”
“Your Highness,” said Khaavren, “I am relieved to see that you understand this.”
“And then, in your mission to this far outpost of our Empire, you have thought to stop here merely for courtesy?” As he said this, he fixed Khaavren with a look both sharp and earnest, such that Khaavren felt himself unable to lie.
“Well,” said Khaavren, “not entirely.”
“How, there is, in fact, another reason?”
“Yes, exactly, another reason.”
“But this does not,” added Pel, “reduce in any measure the sincerity of the courtesy we offer Your Highness.”
“I understand that, but, as to the second reason?”
“Oh, the second reason,” said Khaavren, looking about for help.
“It is to inform Your Highness of
a certain circumstance,” said Pel evenly.
“Ah, there is something I ought to know, then?”
“Yes, exactly,” said Pel. “And, as we were nearby, well, we wished to inform Your Highness of it.”
“I assure you, I am most grateful,” said Adron. “And the circumstance?”
“Oh, as to the circumstance—”
“Yes?”
“Well, this gentleman, Khaavren of Castle Rock, will communicate it to Your Highness.”
“Ah,” said Adron. Turning to Khaavren, he said, “Well, then, my lord?”
“Yes,” said Khaavren. “I will tell Your Highness of the entire affair.”
“I await you most eagerly.”
Khaavren licked his lips, and, as if his ideas rested there, he imbibed the very inspiration he needed. “Your Highness, we have come to tell you that some impostor is using your device.”
“How, my device? What is this?”
“It is true, Your Highness,” said Aerich. “We were set upon by brigands, who believed they were acting under your orders.”
“Impossible,” said Adron.
“Not the least in the world.”
“But, who would do such a thing?”
“Oh, as to that,” said Khaavren, “we have no idea.”
“But, the means?”
“Oh, as to the means, that is simple enough.”
“Well, then, tell me.”
“Assuredly, Your Highness,” said Aerich, coolly. “But will Your Highness allow me to put a question?”
“If it will help to make matters clear.”
“I believe it will.”
“Then you may ask your question.”
“Very well, tell me this, then: has Your Highness your seal?”
“My seal?”
“Yes. Your personal seal.”
“Of course.”
“My I be so bold as to ask Your Highness to allow me to see it?”
“What? You wish to see it?”
“If it would not inconvenience Your Highness.”
“Not at all.”
“Then, if Your Highness pleases—”
“Very well, if you will but wait a moment, I will bring it.”
“What? Your Highness doesn’t carry it about?”
“Ordinarily I do, but as I have just returned from a journey, well, it is still in the pack I brought with me, for, you perceive, I never allow it away from my person.”
“And Your Highness does right.”
“Well then, I will return with the seal.”
“We will await Your Highness.”
Adron left the room, a puzzled look upon his features. When his footsteps could no longer be heard, Khaavren gave an audible sigh. Tazendra said, “And yet, I had thought that he would not be here.”
“Well,” said Uttrik, “so did we all. I must say, Khaavren, that was skillfully played.”
Khaavren did not answer, so overcome was he by the difficulty of what he had just encountered. Pel said, “But then, what are we to tell him when he returns without the seal?”
Aerich shrugged. “You may as well ask, what are we to do if he returns with the seal?”
“Bah,” said Pel. “It is impossible.”
“Well, and is it possible for him to be here?”
“And yet, we know that yesterday, someone else had the seal. So, what then?”
Khaavren sighed. “For my part, I renounce all of these intrigues. If he should have the seal, and there is more explaining to do, why, the rest of you may have your share of it.”
“Yet, I say the thing is impossible,” said Pel.
Aerich shrugged.
Uttrik said, “Whether he finds it or not, we still have the same problem; that is, how are we to find Kathana e’Marish’Chala.”
“Indeed,” said Aerich. “It is unlikely, if we should ask Lord Adron, that he will tell us.”
“And yet,” said Pel, “we must contrive a way to find her.”
“And moreover,” said Tazendra, “what are we to do when we are in her presence at last?”
“Oh, as to that,” said Uttrik, “my part is clear, I assure you.”
“Well, mine is not,” said Khaavren. “In fact, it seems that with every moment, I find matters are more complex than I had thought.”
“That delights me,” said Tazendra.
“How, it delights you?”
“Yes. I had thought I was alone.”
“Oh, but you aren’t, I assure you. I wish to know, for example, who is it who wishes us stopped, and moreover, why?”
“Yes, why,” echoed Tazendra. “For, if we do not know what we are doing, then it follows no one else does either; and, if no one knows what we are going to do, well then, why is someone so determined to prevent us from doing it?”
“You have stated the problem admirably,” said Khaavren.
“It is undeniable,” murmured Uttrik, “that this Dzurlord reasons like a Discreet.”
“Well, then,” said Pel, “perhaps I may suggest some of the answer.”
“How, you?” said Khaavren. “Do you pretend that you, all this time, have known our enemy, and yet said nothing about it?”
“Not at all,” said Pel coolly. “I have not known, and I still do not know. And yet, it may be that, now that I think of it, I can make a suggestion or two.”
“Well, then?” said Khaavren. “I am most anxious to hear these famous suggestions.”
“The cycle has turned,” observed Pel. “And this was caused by the Baroness Kaluma.”
“That is right,” said Khaavren, to whom Pel had made this observation before.
“Well then, she is the hub about which turn the politics of the moment.”
“Stay,” said Tazendra. “I like that phrase: the politics of the moment. It is clever; I say so.”
“Well, and I’m glad you think so.”
“But go on, then. The politics of the moment—Blood, but that is a fine phrase—revolve around Kathana e’Marish’Chala.”
“That is right. Therefore, those with an interest in such things are striving to manipulate her, in some direction or another. That is, either to see her arrested, or to see her go free, or to see her go free until exactly the right moment for her downfall.”
“But then,” said Khaavren, “who are these people? For I am convinced that among them, we will find the enemy.”
“No doubt you are right, Khaavren, and the reason is this: we have come along, all on our own, without any thought of any of the cabals, and have begun acting in our own interests. Anyone who sits at the table will by necessity look askance at those who pretend to walk in, unannounced, and declare that a new game is now being played. What of the plans they have been formulating for months? What of their schemes for power or favor? They do not know us, they fear we will upset everything, so they will try to stop us.”
Aerich said, “Pel, I think you are entirely correct.”
“But then,” said Khaavren, “who are these players?”
“Cracks in the Orb,” said Pel. “Who are they not? There is, first of all, our host, who wishes for his line, that is, the line of Kieron, to assume command of the Pepperfields.”
“Well, and?”
“There is the Warlord, Lytra, who wishes the Pepperfields to be given to the line of Lanya.”
“Yes, I understand that; go on.”
“Then, well, do you not have a friend who is a lady of the House of the Phoenix?”
“And, if I do?”
“Well, she has a brother who has interests in these matters, and though I do not know what these interests are, no doubt they play a part.”
“Well, go on, then.”
“We must not forget the Athyra, Seodra.”
“Who?”
“A wizard who was chief advisor to the last Emperor, who must, in order to maintain her position at court, which she likes more than a little, contrive to make herself indispensable to His Majesty.”
“Very well.”
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br /> “There is also Gyorg Lavode, who will do whatever he can to advance the cause of the Lavodes.”
“Pel, my head is spinning. What do you think, Tazendra?”
“Oh, I stopped listening some time ago; it is all far too confusing.”
“Well, I think you are right. And you, Uttrik?”
“None of this concerns me.”
“On the contrary,” said Pel, “it all concerns you.”
“Well, that may be, but, nevertheless, I want no part in these matters. When I have found and killed the lady who killed my father—”
“Yes, then?” said Pel.
“Well, then we shall see.”
“Ah,” said Pel.
“Well,” said Khaavren, “what is your opinion, Aerich?”
“My opinion? My opinion is that it has taken our host a great deal of time to find his seal.”
“The Horse!” said Khaavren. “You are right. I wonder—”
“My lords,” said Mica, who had, unnoticed by anyone, taken a position by the door. “I hear footsteps.”
“A model servant,” murmured Aerich.
Mica hurried back from the door, and so was standing mutely next to the fireplace when the door opened before Lord Adron, who had, in addition to a strange expression on his face, a small object in his hand; which object, we should say, greatly resembled a seal.
“Your Highness—” began Khaavren, whose mouth had already begun the task of working its way out of the embarrassment of its master.
But Adron shook his head and said, “This is a most peculiar thing.”
Khaavren stopped and said, “It is, your Highness?”
“Yes. I render my apologies for having deserted you for so long, but the events of the past few moments are surprising.”
“Surprising?” ventured Pel.
“Surprising indeed,” said Adron. “I should even say, startling.”
“Well, and of what do these events consist?” said Aerich. “If, that is, Your Highness would do us the honor of telling us.”
“Well, I will, for, had it not been for you, I might have thought nothing of the incident.”
“We are all listening, Your Highness,” said Pel politely.
“Here it is, then. I went directly to my chambers, in order to take the seal from my pouch, for the purpose of showing it to you gentlemen. I did this, you perceive, on the assumption that you had some matter of importance to communicate to me, and that this matter involves the seal which is used to identify my official dispatches.”