A Handful of Men: The Complete Series
Page 156
Masefield, Tomorrow
POSTSCRIPT
Minutes
of a joint meeting of
The Wardens
and
The Council of Sorcery
held at Hub,
Longday, 2999
The meeting was called to order at noon. The Warden of the Day, having taken the Chair pro tempore and having called for nominations for Chairman and no other nominations having been received, the said WARLOCK KING RAP was elected CHAIRMAN by acclamation. The Chairman requested that the meeting elect WARLOCK LITH’RIAN as SECRETARY and this was unanimously approved.
* * *
THE CHAIRMAN REMARKED THAT with the mundane population of many areas presently enduring severe hardship of famine, disease, and civil disorder, the advantages of employing sorcery as a force for good had never been more obvious or necessary;
THAT divine intervention having released all votaries of the late Sorcerer Zinixo, the unique opportunity to craft a new order of occult affairs must not be wasted;
AND THAT until the new protocol had been drafted and ratified, he hoped the Wardens and the new Council of Sorcery would work together in harmony to resolve all problems before they could become troublesome.
THE SECRETARY then distributed a draft agenda. On MOTION by Witch Grunth, the Agenda was unanimously adopted.
* * *
Item 1: The matter of Thume.
MOVED by Delegate Raim, SECONDED by Delegate Countess Ymmi:
BE IT RESOLVED that the sorcerers of Thume, having agreed that they will not appoint a replacement Keeper, are hereby authorized, for an interim period of one year, to expel intruders, provided they employ no unnecessary force; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Protocol Committee shall consider Thume’s distinctive vulnerability and devise legal protection for it on a permanent basis.
IN FAVOR: Wardens Grunth, Lith’rian, and Raspnex, Delegates Fial’rian, Ishist, Moon Baiter, Raim, Shup-Uth, Tho-ik-Esh, Proconsul Thrugg, Tik Tok, Twist, Countess Ymmi, and Wirax.
OPPOSED: Delegate Furkar.
MOTION CARRIED
* * *
Item 2: The matter of Nordland.
MOVED by Delegate Countess Ymmi, SECONDED by Delegate Ishist:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Warden of the East is hereby authorized and instructed to deputize a force of not more than twelve sorcerers to constrain the Nordland fleet within its own territorial waters by means of such weather as he may deem appropriate for the duration of the present fighting season; the Warden of the North having waived his prerogative in this instance, without prejudice.
IN FAVOR: Wardens Grunth and Lith’rian, Delegates Fial’rian, Ishist, Moon Baiter, Raim, Tho-ik-Esh, Proconsul Thrugg, Tik Tok, Countess Ymmi, and Wirax.
OPPOSED: Delegates Furkar and Shup-Uth.
ABSTAINED: Warden Raspnex, Delegate Twist.
MOTION CARRIED
* * *
Item 3: The matter of the Impire.
MOVED by Delegate Countess Ymmi, SECONDED by Warlock Lith’rian:
BE IT RESOLVED that in areas of civil unrest, use of sorcery to assist the military in restoring law and order is permissible, provided always that the minimum necessary force is used; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this edict shall be proclaimed at the conclusion of this meeting.
IN FAVOR: Wardens Grunth, Lith’rian, and Raspnex, Delegates Fial’rian, Ishist, Moon Baiter, Raim, Tho-ik-Esh, Proconsul Thrugg, Tik Tok, Countess Ymmi, and Wirax.
OPPOSED: Delegates Furkar, Shup-Uth, and Twist.
MOTION CARRIED
* * *
Item 4: The matter of Dwanish.
MOVED by Warden Raspnex, SECONDED by Delegate Countess Ymmi:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Warden of the North is hereby authorized and instructed to negotiate immediate withdrawal of Dwanishian forces within national borders, or to impose such withdrawal by force.
IN FAVOR: Wardens Grunth and Raspnex, Delegates Ishist, Moon Baiter, Raim, Tho-ik-Esh, Proconsul Thrugg, Tik Tok, Twist, and Countess Ymmi.
OPPOSED: Warden Lith’rian, Delegates Fial’rian, Furkar, and Shup-Uth.
ABSTAINED: Delegate Wirax.
MOTION CARRIED
* * *
Item 5: The matter of Zark.
MOVED by Delegate Furkar, SECONDED by Delegate Shup-Uth:
BE IT RESOLVED that civil order having broken down throughout Zark, use of sorcery to establish Prince Krandaraz of Arakkaran as caliph is permissible.
IN FAVOR: Delegates Furkar and Shup-Uth.
OPPOSED: Wardens Grunth, Lith’rian, and Raspnex, Delegates Fial’rian, Countess Ymmi, Ishist, Moon Baiter, Raim, Tho-ik-Esh, Proconsul Thrugg, Tik Tok, Twist, and Wirax.
MOTION DEFEATED
* * *
MOVED by Delegate Raim, SECONDED by Delegate Countess Ymmi:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Warden of the East is authorized and directed to deliver the emerald sash of Arakkaran, presently held as a trophy of war in Thume, to Prince Krandaraz ak’Azak in recognition that he has the best claim to succeed his father as sultan of that city, and to secure release of the said prince from captivity in Dreag; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the said Warden of the East is charged to be especially vigilant in prohibiting any further political use of sorcery whatsoever within Zark.
IN FAVOR: Wardens Grunth, Lith’rian, and Raspnex, Delegates Fial’rian, Countess Ymmi, Ishist, Moon Baiter, Raim, Tho-ik-Esh, Proconsul Thrugg, Tik Tok, Twist, and Wirax.
OPPOSED: Delegates Furkar and Shup-Uth.
MOTION CARRIED
* * *
Item 6: The matter of Dragon Reach.
Delegate Shup-Uth having moved that the territory hitherto known as Dragon Reach be renamed North Sysanasso and the motion having failed for lack of a seconder, the said Delegate asked that her views be recorded in the minutes.
Delegate Countess Ymmi having moved that the territory hitherto known as Dragon Reach be recognized as an extension of the Impire and the motion having failed for lack of a seconder, the said Delegate asked that her views be recorded in the minutes.
MOVED by Delegate Countess Ymmi, SECONDED by Delegate Twist:
BE IT RESOLVED that ownership of the land of Dragon Reach is a matter of mundane politics and therefore lies outside the responsibility of this meeting.
IN FAVOR: Wardens Grunth and Raspnex, Delegates Moon Baiter, Raim, Countess Ymmi, Twist, and Wirax.
OPPOSED: Warden Lith’rian, Delegates Fial’rian, Furkar, Ishist, Shup-Uth, Tho-ik-Esh, Proconsul Thrugg, and Tik Tok.
MOTION DEFEATED
* * *
At this point the SECRETARY, Warlock Lith’rian, advised the meeting that he had previously taken steps to remove the indigenous fauna of the area from the grasp of both sides in the recent dispute, that the said fauna should be returning shortly, and that anyone who thought he could take over Dragon Reach unopposed was going to receive a very nasty surprise indeed. This item was TABLED without further discussion.
* * *
Item 7: Delegation of committees to draft the New Protocol.
After extensive discussion, this item was TABLED until the next meeting.
* * *
Item 8: Allocation of responsibilities between Wardens and the Council of Sorcery.
After extensive discussion, this item was TABLED until the next meeting.
* * *
Item 9: Definition of votarism and permissible loyalties.
After extensive discussion, this item was TABLED until the next meeting.
* * *
At midnight, the Chairman declared the Meeting ADJOURNED.
EPILOGUE
The return of the legendary Faun Sorcerer was greeted in Hub with intense excitement. The gossips soon whispered that he had worked an even greater miracle on Emshandar V than he had on his grandfather, for it was only now that the new imperor began to justify the hopes he had raised before his accession. He took command of the realm with an unprecedented s
eries of edicts and decrees that won the admiration of even his most stubborn opponents in the Senate. Famine and civil war were averted. By the time winter approached, the new millennium was being hailed as a time of hope and renewal. The healing had begun.
Lacking the caliph, Zark collapsed back into a melee of independent sultanates. The Impire recognized Guwushian independence, the Dwanishian army was demobilized, severe storms in the Spring Sea kept the jotnar away.
The epochal document known as the New Protocol was eventually drafted and accepted. All of the Four signed it, even Warlock Lith’rian, who detested it, and all twelve Delegates to the Council of Sorcery.*
A whole new system of occult law was established, designating occult power itself as a weapon, and its abuse a crime. Skeptics mocked, but all the sorcerers of Pandemia were determined never to be votarized again, and their leaders could draw on Thume’s thousand years of experience in regulating sorcery. In practice the new system worked better than almost anyone had dared to hope.
One morning the following spring, in the middle of a private working breakfast with the Head of the Bureau of Internal Statistics — more commonly known as the secret police — the imperor unveiled an inspiration that had come to him in the bathtub.
“An exclusive new order of chivalry!” he said. “To be called The Companions of the White Impress. Its emblem will be an Imperial Crown in opal, outlined in diamonds. Membership will be restricted to that handful of men and women who escaped with us from Hub to the ferryboat on the night of our accession.”
“Brilliant!” Lord Umpily murmured, brandishing a carving knife like a saber. “Some more roast swan, your Majesty?”
“No more for me, thank you. You go ahead. My wife and daughter will be included, of course, plus Warlock Raspnex, Sorceress Jarga, and King Rap. And yourself, needless to say.”
Lord Umpily beamed around a mouthful of swan. He was very happy in his new duties, as they required him to find out everything about everyone. “Do try the truffles in raspberry and olive oil sauce. Sire. An elvish recipe. Countess Eigaze certainly deserves membership, but what of her husband?”
Shandie pouted. “I think not. He disgraced himself at Yewdark!”
“Ah! Another cup of chocolate? Some lobster preserve? Centurion Hardgraa, whom you banished for life to the Mosweeps?”
“Certainly not!”
“Mm.” The fat man chewed busily for a moment. “Queen Inos and Prince Gath, then? They were certainly your companions during much of the adventures that followed, but never on White Impress.”
Shandie crumbled a fragment of roll to nothing. “I should include them, of course.” He frowned uneasily.
Umpily gestured vaguely with a loaded fork. “Then what about the daughter? Is it blasphemous to offer a mundane honor to a God? Would it be sacrilegious not to?”
Shandie bit his lip.
“And Sir Acopulo, Sire?”
Conversation stopped completely while they thought about Sir Acopulo. A letter purporting to be from him had turned up at Winterfest, explaining that he had entered the cloister and would henceforth dedicate his life to certain unspecified labors of love. The news had not been entirely unexpected, for he had always been a devout man, if not quite the sanctimonious prude that Ylo had called him.
“You still believe that letter was genuine?”
“The handwriting was his, if a trifle shaky. Won’t you try this Guwushian blue cheese?”
“Uh! No, please! I had rather you moved it farther away. Have you had any success in locating a monastery called the Refuge of Constant Service?”
“None whatsoever,” Umpily admitted regretfully. “And what of that other handful of men, the former sequential set? Of the five, two were present on White Impress, as I understand. Senator Sagorn?”
Shandie growled a military expression under his breath. He had let Warlock Rap talk him into appointing the renowned sage to the Senate. Alas, with advancing age, his word of power diluted, and lacking the advantages given him by the ancient spell, he was not the man he had once been. He had rapidly established a reputation as the most boring and long-winded speaker in an assembly notorious for loquacity.
“And Master Thinal,” Umpily murmured. “I am told he is showing great promise in his new position?”
“He is.” Shandie did not elaborate. He tried to keep the Bureau of Internal Statistics from meddling in affairs of other government departments — rarely with much success. “The other three never set foot on the ferryboat.”
“They are not available anyway. Sire. The jotunn warrior was executed by the elves. Minstrel Jalon has remained in Ilrane, painting and collecting songs. Although his talents are much reduced from what they were, he is reported to be content.” Umpily had incredible sources of information.
“The other one, the lover? Andor? Was that his name?”
“Indeed. He frequently claims to be a baronet. He returned to Hub briefly, but has since departed.”
Shandie raised an eyebrow. Umpily smirked.
“His somewhat clumsy advances offended a certain young lady. He departed the city in haste a few weeks ago, hotly pursued by her four brothers, all of whom are celebrated duelists. I could probably track him down for you, if that is your wish.”
The imperor sighed. “I have always depended on you for frank and honest advice, old friend.”
The fat man dabbed at his mouth with a serviette, possibly to conceal a blush. “Then to be honest. Sire, I feel the venture may be ill-advised. What of Signifer Ylo? Why reopen wounds that still ache? Furthermore… this is in strictest confidence, of course… I have reason to believe that neither Warlock Raspnex nor Sorcerer Jarga will be available for very much longer.”
“Why not?” Shandie demanded sharply.
“Just rumor,” Umpily said smugly. “I do recommend these savory eels in ginger.”
Recognizing that there were some secrets even the imperor could not be trusted with, Shandie changed the subject, and the Order of the Companions of the White Impress was never heard of again.
* * *
Umpily’s prediction was fulfilled, though. A few weeks later, a new warlock of the north was elected to fill a sudden vacancy. Sorceress Jarga disappeared at about the same time. Shortly thereafter, a God of Lost Causes was added to the lists.
* * *
Prince Gathmor, having visited the Nintor Moot in the summer and been dubbed duke of Kinvale on his fifteenth birthday by the imperor, discovered he was the young lion of Krasnegar, worshipped by imp and jotunn alike. He also discovered the problem of girls and the advantages of prescience in solving it. It was at about that time that his mother began pulling out gray hairs; she prayed frequently to the God of Rescues.
Eshiala was delivered of a fine baby daughter, proclaimed throughout the Impire as Princess Ylla.
The imperor wooed his wife tirelessly, but it was many months after the coronation and Ylla’s birth that she accepted him again as her husband. Thereafter they lived a long and happy life together, and were later blessed with a third daughter.
Prince Emthoro eventually recovered from his ordeal as surrogate imperor, and Duchess Ashia from hers as surrogate impress. The tribulation they had shared had forged a bond between them. The aged duke of Hileen having died, Ashia thereupon married the prince. She later bore him several handsome children, surprising nobody more than him.
* * *
On the very night of Princess Ylla’s birth, ancient Mistress Ukka died at Yewdark. By then spring was returning. Trees were budding around the abandoned mansion, crocuses flowered unseen, and the shoots of daffodils sprouted already amid the weeds.
Ukka died as she had lived much of her life — alone and yet convinced that she was not alone. In her last hours she chattered busily to the invisible Voices that only she could hear; she laughed as if their messages were amusing. A spark from her final candle, perhaps, or spontaneous combustion amid the heaps of litter in the cellars… something fired the great house s
oon after she died, and it burned to the ground. The Voices were heard no more — if indeed they had ever been heard.
Some years later, the imperor had a more modern edifice constructed on the site and donated it to his wife as a summer home. They spent many happy days at Yewdark with her children, and Princess Ylla resided there often after her marriage.
* * *
Rap served two years as warlock and then resigned his throne. Over all protests, he returned to his beloved Krasnegar. By that time the little kingdom had acquired several magic portals and lost its isolation forever. He became an elder statesman, consulted by secular and occult authorities from all over Pandemia. Many a deadlock in the Council of Sorcery was broken when King Rap’s opinion was made known.
The years passed. Prosperity returned to Pandemia. More than anyone else, Thinal deserved credit for restoring Imperial finances. He was acknowledged to be the most brilliant Minister of Inland Revenue the Impire had ever known. He served three times as consul and died a senator.**
Lord Umpily refused all public honors. At his death he left an extensive library of memoirs. The imperor promptly ordered them destroyed, and supervised that destruction in person.
Emshandar V himself outlived all of them except his daughters, dying in 3063, full of years and widely mourned. He had ruled with compassion and imagination, delivering peace and justice and prosperity. The impire he bequeathed to his successors was a far different realm from the one he had inherited, for his reign coincided with the transformation that sociologists later termed the Sorcerous Revolution, when the powers released by the new protocol so dramatically improved the quality of life in Pandemia. The old man never applied his own name to the basic document, but by then everyone else knew it as Emshandar’s Protocol and history gave him the credit for it, calling him Emshandar the Great.