Castle Of Wizardry

by Eddings, David

  Anheg winced.

  ‘I really can’t understand you, my friend,’ King Rhodar said to Anheg. ‘You’ve given yourself the finest education in the north. You’ve studied art and poetry and history and philosophy, but on this one subject you’re as blind as an illiterate peasant. What disturbs you so much about the idea of a woman with authority?’

  ‘It’s – it’s unnatural,’ Anheg blurted. ‘Women were not meant to rule. The whole idea violates the order of things.’

  ‘I’m not certain that we’re getting anywhere with this,’ Polgara observed. ‘If you gentlemen will excuse us, her Majesty and I still have preparations to make.’ She rose and led Ce’Nedra from the council chamber.

  ‘He’s very excitable, isn’t he?’ Ce’Nedra said as the two of them passed through the corridors of Iron-grip’s Citadel toward Lady Polgara’s apartments.

  ‘He tends to be overdramatic at times,’ Polgara replied. ‘These outbursts of his aren’t always genuine. Sometimes he behaves the way he does because he thinks people expect it of him.’ She frowned slightly. ‘He’s right about one thing, though. Islena’s not qualified to rule. I think we’ll have to have a talk with her – and with the other ladies as well.’ She opened the door to her apartment, and the two of them went inside.

  Most of the damage that had resulted from Polgara’s vast rage had been repaired, and there remained only a few scorchmarks on the stone walls to testify to the violence of her fury. She seated herself at a table and turned again to the letter which had arrived that morning from Queen Porenn in Drasnia. ‘I think it’s rather obvious that we’re not going to be able to catch up with my father and the others now,’ she observed somewhat regretfully, ‘but at least there’s one thing we won’t have to worry about any more.’

  ‘Which one is that?’ Ce’Nedra asked, seating herself across the table from Polgara.

  ‘There’d been some question about my father’s recovery from that collapse he suffered last winter, but from what Porenn says, he’s completely back to normal – although that’s not an unmixed blessing.’ She laid Porenn’s letter aside. ‘I think the time’s come for us to have a little talk, Ce’Nedra. You’ve done a great deal of maneuvering and manipulating in the past few weeks. Now I want to know exactly what’s behind it all. Precisely why have you seen fit to ram your new status down everybody’s throat?’

  Ce’Nedra flushed. ‘I am the Rivan Queen after all, Lady Polgara,’ she replied stiffly.

  ‘Don’t be absurd. You’re wearing a fictional crown because Rhodar decided to let you wear it, and because he’s convinced Anheg and Brand and Cho-Hag that you’re not going to do any damage. Now what’s behind all this?’ Polgara’s look was very direct, and Ce’Nedra squirmed uncomfortably.

  ‘We have to bring in the Arends and my father’s legions,’ she said as if that explained it.

  ‘That’s fairly obvious.’

  ‘But the Alorn Kings wouldn’t be able to do it.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because a committee can’t win people’s hearts.’ It was out in the open now, and Ce’Nedra rushed on. ‘Garion could have done it. The entire West would have risen at the call of the Rivan King, but Garion isn’t here, so somebody else has to do it. I’ve studied history, Lady Polgara. No army led by a committee has ever succeeded. The success of an army depends on the spirit of the soldiers, and the soldiers have to have one leader – someone who fires their imagination.’

  ‘And you’ve elected yourself?’

  ‘It doesn’t have to be anybody brilliant or anything – not really. It’s just got to be somebody visible – and unusual.’

  ‘And you think that a woman’s going to be unusual enough and visible enough to raise an army – and incidentally to pose enough of a threat to attract the undivided attention of Taur Urgas and ’Zakath, the Mallorean Emperor?’

  ‘Well, it’s never been done before.’ Ce’Nedra felt a little defensive about it.

  ‘A lot of things have never been done before, Ce’Nedra. That’s not necessarily the best recommendation – and what convinced you that I wasn’t qualified?’

  Ce’Nedra swallowed hard. ‘You were so angry,’ she faltered, ‘and I wasn’t sure how long you were going to stay angry. Somebody had to take charge immediately. Besides—’ she hesitated.

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘My father doesn’t like you,’ Ce’Nedra blurted. ‘He’d never order his legions to follow you. I’m the only one who has a chance to convince him that he ought to join us. I’m sorry, Lady Polgara. I don’t mean to offend you.’

  Polgara, however, waved that aside. Her face was thoughtful as she considered Ce’Nedra’s arguments. ‘It would seem that you have given the matter some thought,’ she concluded. ‘All right, Ce’Nedra, we’ll try it your way – for now. Just don’t do anything exotic. Now I think we’d better have a talk with the ladies.’

  The conference that took place in Polgara’s apartments that afternoon concerned matters of state. She waited quietly until the little group had all gathered, and then she spoke to them rather gravely. ‘Ladies,’ she began, ‘in a very short time the Alorns and others will be taking the field on an expedition of some importance.’

  ‘You mean war, Pol?’ Queen Layla asked in a sinking voice.

  ‘We’re going to try to avoid that if it’s at all possible,’ Polgara replied. ‘At any rate, the departure of your husband and the Alorn Kings will leave affairs at home in your hands – and the same holds true for each of you. I wanted to go over a few things with all of you before we left.’ She turned to Queen Islena, who was splendidly gowned in red velvet. ‘Your husband is somewhat less than enthusiastic about any arrangements that will leave you in charge of Cherek, Islena.’

  Islena sniffed. ‘Anheg can be tiresome at times.’

  ‘Try not to agitate him. Drop a hint or two that you’ll allow yourself to be guided by advisers he trusts. It will set his mind at rest a bit.’ Polgara looked around at them. ‘The campaign is not likely to take us so far away that you won’t be able to stay in touch with us – not at first, anyway. If anything serious comes up, communicate with your husbands immediately. Deal with the day-to-day matters yourselves. I also think you should all stay in close contact with each other, once your husbands have left – and also with Porenn in Boktor and Mayaserana in Vo Mimbre. You all have your strengths and your weaknesses, but if you’re not afraid to seek advice from each other, everything will be all right.’

  ‘Possibly we should arrange for some kind of network for communications,’ Queen Layla mused thoughtfully. ‘Relays of horses, messengers, fast ships – that sort of thing. The Tolnedrans have done that for centuries.’

  ‘I’m sure you’ll be able to arrange it, Layla.’ Polgara smiled at her. ‘The one thing you all must remember is to pay close attention to anything Porenn tells you. I know she’s very young and a bit shy about putting herself forward, but Drasnian intelligence will report directly to her, and she’ll be aware of things long before any of the rest of you are. And I want you all to keep a particularly close watch on the Tolnedrans. They like to take advantage of periods of turmoil. Absolutely do not sign anything offered to you by a Tolnedran – no matter how attractive it looks. I trust Ran Borune about as much as I’d trust a fox in a henhouse – no offense intended, Ce’Nedra.’

  ‘I know my father too, Lady Polgara,’ Princess Ce’Nedra replied with a smile.

  ‘Please, ladies,’ Polgara told them finally, ‘no adventures while I’m gone. Just try to keep things running smoothly, and don’t be afraid to consult with one another. You’ll also want to keep in touch with Xantha. The Dryads have access to a great deal of information about what’s going on in the south. If any real emergency arises, get word to me immediately.’

  ‘Will you want me to keep the little boy?’ Merel asked. ‘I’ll be at Val Alorn with Islena, so he’ll be safe with me. My girls are very fond of him, and he seems happy with us.’

  Polgara though
t about it for a moment. ‘No,’ she decided finally. ‘Errand’s going to have to go with me. Aside from Garion, he’s the only person in the world who can touch the Orb. The Angaraks may realize that and try to take him.’

  ‘I’ll care for him,’ Taiba offered in her rich voice. ‘He knows me, and we’re comfortable with each other. It will give me something to do.’

  ‘Surely you’re not planning to go along on the campaign, Taiba,’ Queen Layla objected.

  Taiba shrugged. ‘Why not?’ she replied. ‘I don’t have a house to keep or a kingdom to oversee. There are other reasons, too.’

  They all understood. What existed between Taiba and Relg was so profound that it seemed somehow outside the sphere of normal human attachment, and the Ulgo’s absence had caused the strange woman something rather close to physical pain. It was now obvious that she intended to follow him – even into battle if necessary.

  Ariana, the blond Mimbrate girl who had accompanied Lelldorin of Wildantor to Riva, cleared her throat in preparation to raising a matter of some delicacy. ‘The lives of women are circumscribed by proprieties,’ she noted. ‘Though battle doth rage about her and rude war turneth all to confusion, a lady must not be unattended in the midst of an army lest her reputation suffer. Lady Adara and I have of late held some conversation concerning this and have concluded that we must accompany Princess Ce’Nedra as her companions. We would do this out of duty even were we not impelled by love.’

  ‘Very nicely put, Ariana,’ Adara murmured without any hint of a smile.

  ‘Oh dear.’ Queen Layla sighed. ‘Now I have two more to worry about.’

  ‘I think that covers everything, then,’ Polgara said. ‘Running a kingdom isn’t all that much different from running a house, and you’ve all had experience at that. Don’t change any major policies, and don’t sign any treaties. Aside from that, just let yourselves be guided by common sense. I think we can join the gentlemen now. It’s getting on toward suppertime, and men tend to grow restless if they aren’t fed regularly.’

  A few days later, Barak returned to Riva, accompanied by a lean-faced Drasnian nobleman. The two of them immediately went to the council chamber to report to the kings. Princess Ce’Nedra considered following them into the conference, but decided against it. Her presence might inhibit the discussion, and she had another way to find out what was going on. She retired quickly to her rooms and touched her fingertips to the amulet at her throat.

  ‘– going fairly well,’ she heard Barak’s voice say after she had finally located the conversation she wished to hear. ‘The fleet’s ready to move out of Val Alorn, and Queen Porenn’s got the Drasnian pikemen gathering just south of Boktor. The mobilization’s very nearly complete. I think we’ve got some problems, though. Count Kharel here has just returned from Thull Mardu. All the reports out of northern Cthol Murgos have been channeled to him, so he can give us a fairly clear assessment of the situation there.’

  King Rhodar cleared his throat. ‘Kharel’s a very senior member of the intelligence service,’ he said by way of introduction. ‘I’ve always found his reports to be extremely accurate.’

  ‘Your Majesty is too kind,’ an unfamiliar voice responded.

  ‘Have the southern Murgos begun their march north?’ King Anheg asked.

  ‘It goes a bit farther than that, your Majesty,’ Kharel replied. ‘All reports I have indicate that the march is nearly completed. There are somewhat in excess of four million of them encamped in the vicinity of Rak Goska.’

  ‘What?’ Anheg exclaimed.

  ‘It appears that Taur Urgas began the march sometime last fall,’ the Drasnian told him.

  ‘In the winter?’

  ‘It seems so, your Majesty.’

  ‘I imagine that cost him a few of his men,’ King Cho-Hag said.

  ‘A hundred thousand or so, your Majesty,’ Kharel answered, ‘but human life doesn’t mean that much to Taur Urgas.’

  ‘This changes everything, Rhodar,’ Anheg said tersely. ‘Our advantage has always been the time that march was going to take. We’ve lost it now.’

  ‘Unfortunately there’s more, your Majesty,’ Kharel continued. ‘The western Malloreans have begun to arrive at Thull Zelik. Their numbers aren’t really that significant yet, but they’re ferrying in several thousand a day.’

  ‘We’ve got to cut that off as quickly as we can,’ Anheg growled. ‘Rhodar, can you get your engineers to the eastern escarpment within a month? I’m going to have to portage a fleet across to the headwaters of the River Mardu. We’ve got to get ships into the Sea of the East as soon as possible. If we don’t head off ’Zakath, his Malloreans will swarm us under.’

  ‘I’ll send word to Porenn immediately,’ Rhodar agreed.

  ‘One wonders if the noble count has any good news,’ the Earl of Seline suggested dryly.

  ‘There is some possibility of division in the enemy ranks, my Lord,’ Kharel replied. ‘Taur Urgas is behaving as if he considers himself the only possible choice as overgeneral of the Angarak armies; at the moment, he’s got the advantage of numbers on his side. That may change if the Malloreans manage to land a big enough army. There are rumors that ’Zakath would like to dispute the leadership of Taur Urgas, but he’s reluctant to try it in the face of four million Murgos.’

  ‘Let’s try to keep it that way,’ Rhodar said. ‘Taur Urgas is insane, and crazy men make mistakes. I’ve heard about ’Zakath, and I’d rather not face him in the field.’

  King Cho-Hag spoke wryly. ‘Even as it stands without the Malloreans, we’re going to be taking the field at about a two to one disadvantage – and that’s assuming that we can persuade the Arends and Tolnedrans to join us.’

  ‘It’s a rotten way to start a war, Rhodar,’ Anheg complained.

  ‘We’ll just have to adjust our tactics,’ Rhodar replied. ‘We’ve got to avoid a pitched battle as long as possible to save as many men as we can.’

  ‘I thought we weren’t even considering a battle,’ Barak objected, ‘and Belgarath said that all he wants is a diversion.’

  ‘The situation’s changed, Barak,’ King Rhodar declared. ‘We hadn’t counted on the southern Murgos or the Malloreans being in place this soon. We’re going to have to do something a bit more significant than stage a few hit-and-run attacks. The Angaraks have enough men now to be able to ignore minor raids and skirmishes. If we don’t make a major thrust – and very soon – they’ll spread out all over the eastern half of the continent.’

  ‘Belgarath doesn’t like it when you change plans on him,’ Anheg reminded Rhodar.

  ‘Belgarath isn’t here, and he doesn’t know what’s going on. If we don’t act rather decisively, he and Belgarion and Kheldar haven’t a hope of getting through.’

  ‘You’re talking about a war we can’t win, Rhodar,’ Anheg said bluntly.

  ‘I know,’ King Rhodar admitted.

  There was a long silence. ‘So that’s the way it is, then,’ Brand said finally.

  ‘I’m afraid so,’ Rhodar told them somberly. ‘There has to be a diversion, or Belgarion and his sword will never get to the meeting with Torak. That’s the only thing that really matters, and we’ll all have to lay down our lives if necessary to make it happen.’

  ‘You’re going to get us all killed, Rhodar,’ Anheg said bluntly, ‘and all our armies with us.’

  ‘If that’s what it takes, Anheg,’ Rhodar answered grimly.

  ‘If Belgarion doesn’t get to Torak, our lives don’t mean anything, anyway. Even if we all have to die to get him there, it’s still worth it.’

  Ce’Nedra’s fingertips slid numbly from her amulet as she fell back in her chair. Suddenly she began to weep. ‘I won’t do it,’ she sobbed. ‘I can’t.’ She saw before her a multitude – an army of widows and orphans all staring accusingly at her, and she shrank from their eyes. If she perpetrated this horror, the rest of her life would be spent in an agony of self-loathing. Still weeping, she stumbled to her feet, fully intending to rush
to the council chamber and declare that she would have nothing further to do with this futile war. But then she stopped as the image of Garion’s face rose in her mind – that serious face with the unruly hair she always wanted to straighten. He depended on her. If she shrank from this, the Angaraks would be free to hunt him down. His very life – and with it the future of the world – was in her hands. She had no choice but to continue. If only she did not know that the campaign was doomed! It was the knowledge of the disaster that awaited them that made it all so terrible.

  Knowing that it was useless, she began to tug at the chain that held the amulet about her neck. Had it not been for the amulet, she would have remained blissfully ignorant of what lay ahead. Still sobbing, she yanked frantically at the chain, ignoring the sting as it cut into the soft skin of her neck. ‘I hate you!’ she blurted irrationally at the silver amulet with its crowned tree.

  But it was useless. The medallion would remain chained about her neck for the rest of her life. Ashen-faced, Ce’Nedra let her hands drop. Even if she were able to remove the amulet, what good would it do? She already knew and she must conceal the knowledge in her heart. If the faintest hint of what she knew showed in her face or her voice, she would fail – and Garion would suffer for her failure. She must steel herself and face the world as if certain of victory.

  And so it was that the Rivan Queen drew herself erect and bravely lifted her chin – even though her heart lay like lead in her breast.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Barak’s new ship was larger by half than most of the other Cherek warboats in the fleet, but she moved before the spring breeze like a gull skimming low over the water. Fleecy white clouds ran across the blue sky, and the surface of the Sea of the Winds sparkled in the sunlight as the great ship heeled over and cut cleanly through the waves. Low on the horizon before them rose the green shoreline of the hook of Arendia. They were two days out from Riva, and the Cherek fleet spread out behind them in a vast crowd of sails, carrying the gray-cloaked Rivans to join the armies of King Fulrach of Sendaria.