Liavek 2

by Will Shetterly

  "Well?"

  Elmutt tried to swallow, but his dry tongue became stuck in his throat. He attempted a badly executed bow of deep respect and wobbled back to a standing position. His lame leg was killing him.

  The girl's eyes became hooded as a sneer crossed her mouth. "You are pitiful."

  "Yes, Your Magnificence," croaked Elmutt.

  She pushed with her feet, causing the stool before her throne to move in the direction of the stairs. "Sit there."

  As best he could, Elmutt scurried up the stairs and sat on the stool, looking up at the girl. With the weight off it, the pain in his leg eased. "My thanks, Your Magnificence."

  She sighed as though she were terribly bored. "Well, get on with it."

  Attempting and failing at yet another swallow, Elmutt closed his eyes. "With what, Your Magnificence?" He opened his eyes to see that hers had, at last, acquired some expression: that of surprise.

  "You do not know why you are here?"

  "No, Your Magnificence."

  She leaned her head against the throne's backrest, her dark-eyed gaze again upon him. After completing her study she pointed. "Those are not your usual clothes."

  "No, Your Magnificence."

  She nodded once. "What do you do, Elmutt of Liavek?"

  "I...I am but a picker of garbage, Your Magnificence."

  "Explain."

  "I search through the things others discard, looking for things that I can clean and repair. I then take these things and sell them."

  The Levar nodded. "I envy you." She closed her eyes, hence she failed to note Elmutt's raised brow and hanging jaw. "Geth Dys says that you have a rare power. A power to make fortunes."

  "I seem to, Your—"

  "I would have you make mine, garbage picker. What must be done?"

  Elmutt's expression turned to one of horror. "No, Your Magnificence!" He knelt before her, his hands clasped before him. "I beg you not to have me do this! I beg you!" She simply stared at him with those unblinking eyes. He lowered his hands a bit and moistened his lips. "Your Magnificence, I have very little control over my power. I do not know either its strength or its limits. I could cause horrible harm. It is not my mind that controls the kind of fortune one receives, but my heart. I am discovering that I do not know my heart and the monsters that lurk there. Please spare me this."

  She glanced to her left. "Geth Dys explained all of this." She suddenly looked back at him. "What do you think of me?"

  "I?"

  "There is no one else in my court chamber, picker. Tell me, and if you lie I will have your tongue torn out."

  All Elmutt could think of was the perfection, regularity, and infinite nature of his luck. What does a garbage picker think about his world's ruler? "Your Magnificence, I have never thought of you before. This chamber is in a different world."

  "I am mad, picker. You have heard that in your world, haven't you? She is insane!" She rolled her eyes and made smacking sounds with her lips. She stopped her performance, again fixing Elmutt with her stare. "What do you think of that? What do you think—what do you believe—when you hear them say I am mad?"

  Elmutt shook his head. "I do not know. How can I judge such a thing? I am—"

  He felt her frighteningly strong grasp close over his clasped hands. "What do you believe, picker? In your most secret heart, what do you believe?"

  He watched her hand on his for a second and looked up into her eyes. "I believe...I believe that you are very unhappy."

  She held his hands more tightly. He thought he detected the glisten of tears in her eyes. "Do you hate me, picker? Do you wish me any harm?"

  "No, Your Magnificence. No, but I cannot be certain. How can one be certain of such a thing?"

  She released his hands and again leaned back in her throne, her eyes looking up. "There is a very stupid corporal of my Guard who once told me that a soldier always looks forward to change. Whatever the change might be, it has to be an improvement." She looked back down at the garbage picker. "To him it was a joke. To me it is not. What should I do?"

  Elmutt closed his eyes, bowed his head and searched the dark corners of his heart for any little hate or resentment that might be hiding there for the girl. He could find nothing. He did find, however. the pain of his own life reflected in the Levar's face. He couldn't imagine why a Levar should find life to be the same burden that a garbage picker carried, but in truth this is what he believed about the girl. At least, that is what he believed he believed. He opened his eyes and struggled up off of his knees.

  "You simply need to ask, Your Magnificence. Ask me for your fortune."

  "What will be my fortune tomorrow, Elmutt? What will be tomorrow for me?"

  The strange heat shot through Elmutt's breast. He looked wanly at the Levar. "Tomorrow, Your Magnificence, will be what my heart wished for you." He held his hands out to his sides. "But I have no idea what that will be." He held his hands together in front of him. "I am sort of new at this."

  She made a hardly audible snap with her fingers. Immediately the huge doors to the chamber opened. "Picker," she snapped.

  "Yes, Your Magnificence?"

  "Until I find out what tomorrow will be for me, you will remain in the palace under guard." She waved her hand in dismissal. Elmutt bowed deeply, his hand to his forehead. When he stood he felt a presence behind him. He turned and facing him were four rather large soldiers of the Levar's Guard. As they marched out of the chamber, Elmutt gimped along as best he could in the center of their formation, convinced that his eyes had seen sunlight for the last time.

  •

  As dungeons go, Elmutt's guarded apartment in the palace overlooking Fountain Court was luxurious. It was certainly superior to Ghaster's cellar, and the roast pig with all of its trimmings that he had consumed that evening was the best meal he could ever remember eating. In fact, Obone's suit did not appear to take the possibility of gluttony into account. As the hour approached midnight, Elmutt still sat with his trousers unbuttoned and his jacket open as he watched the night. His surroundings were too dear to waste on sleep.

  A thousand times he had searched his heart and had finally convinced himself that, if not good, the fortune he had made for the girl would at least cause her no harm. He began to imagine the possibilities, given that the fortune did turn out well for the Levar, especially if the girl kept asking for her futures one day at a time. In such a case he would always be needed at the palace. He had just congratulated himself on coming a long way from Dung Alley when he heard a tiny voice.

  "The food and appointments are adequate, Elmutt, but why the armed minions outside your door, why?"

  Elmutt looked to his right and saw Tavi, still in his purple outfit, reclining upon a golden cushion, gnawing on a grape. "I knew something would come to spoil it for me, you little beast. Crawl back beneath your rock."

  "Why did the Levar want to see you?"

  Elmutt looked back at the darkening square. Units of the Scarlet Guard, protectors of the Red Temple, were formally changing posts amidst shouted orders and drum beats. "She asked me to make her fortune."

  The creature laughed. "Ho, and what kind of crawling thing rules Liavek now? Tazli the Tarantula? The Lobster of Liavek? It must have been very special, it must."

  "You do not understand, Tavi. The Levar asked for a fortune limited to tomorrow. We will have to wait to see what happens."

  "Elmutt, what did you wish upon the mad brat?"

  The picker felt the heat come to his face. The Levar was unhappy, not mad. And she was a young girl as well as his ruler, not a brat. He frowned as his feelings for the girl became apparent. What then had he wished for her? He slowly shook his head. "I do not know."

  "With the reptiles hidden in your heart, pitiful one, I think we can depend on deliciously horrific results." The troll paused, continuing with a much quieter voice. "Geth Dys wouldn't have had you come here otherwise."

  Elmutt sat up. "He advises the Levar. Obviously he hoped to do Her Magnificence a go
od deed."

  The troll cackled. "In truth, Elmutt, you are fit for nothing more complicated than picking garbage."

  Elmutt stood, buttoned his trousers, and faced Tavi. "Explain yourself!"

  The creature reached for another grape. "It is so burdensome to peel one's own grapes." A mock sigh of despair, then Tavi leered at Elmutt. "Geth Dys is a White priest. You know something of their faith: that business with the endless births and rebirths. That is their public face. What you obviously don't know is their secret. I overheard Geth Dys when he planted it in you back in Ghaster's cellar. The Whites seek the destruction of reality. That is their secret mission; what they believe to be the path to ultimate freedom. Why do you think the priest had you make the Levar's fortune?"

  "To destroy...Her Magnificence is but a part of reality. Even if I did my worst to her, it would only be a part of reality."

  The troll shrugged as he popped the peeled grape into his mouth. "Darken the corner where you are." After swallowing the fruit, the creature observed, "As religions go, the Whites seem to have the opportunity for more fun."

  "If you consider destruction fun."

  "I do, I do!"

  Elmutt again looked from the window at the night shrouded court. On the other side of the fountain, the White Temple loomed like a nightmare. If you destroy enough pieces of reality, reality itself will eventually be destroyed. He closed and rubbed his eyes. Does the White priest count upon my secret heart to destroy the Levar? Am I indeed engaged in a contract killing?

  The new guard posted, the scarlet soldiers of the Red Temple stood motionless at their stations. If this is true, thought the picker, then the deed is already done. It is past midnight. This is tomorrow.

  His creature asleep upon the cushion, Elmutt continued watching the square. Hours later the Scarlet Guard changed posts once more. Before they changed posts again, the morning sun was behind the White Temple, touching the waters high atop the court's fountain.

  Outside the doors of the apartment there was a sharp voice issuing commands, measured footsteps moving away. Elmutt faced the door, his throat again dry. Tavi was missing from his cushion.

  The door opened, revealing another scarlet and black clad servant. The fellow bowed and announced, "Master Elmutt, I present Her Magnificence, the Levar." The servant stepped aside as Elmutt doubled over into a deep bow, his gaze fixed on the carpet.

  "Leave us." He heard the door close and again the Levar's voice. "Stand, Elmutt."

  The picker straightened to see the girl. He almost didn't recognize her. Her face was soft, radiant, her mouth in a pretty smile. She wore a bright yellow gown and tiny pink flowers in her hair. Her dark eyes sparkled. A mock frown crossed her face. "Would you keep your Levar standing, garbage picker?"

  Speechless, Elmutt again bowed. Without rising from his bow, he stumbled over to a chair and faced it toward the girl. "Please," he croaked.

  She laughed and seated herself in the chair as the picker moved to stand in front of her, still bowing. "I ordered you to stand, picker. Why do you disobey me?"

  Elmutt came out of his bow, the color drained from his face. "Your Magnificence, I..."

  She waved him into silence. She sat staring at him for a moment, then she spoke. "Did you hear how the servant addressed you?"

  Elmutt shook his head. "No, Your Mag—"

  "Master Elmutt. That is what he called you. Master. I have made you a vavasor to show my appreciation for the fortune that you made me. What lands do you hold? I would make your title hereditary with lands."

  "I am but a garbage picker, Your Magnificence."

  "Where do you live?"

  "Dung Alley, Your Magnificence."

  The Levar frowned and rubbed her chin. "That will never do: the Vavasor of Dung Alley. That will never do. I will speak with the City General and have the alley renamed. If it is an alley, it would be too narrow to call a street." She nodded. "Fortune Way. That will be its name, and you are Elmutt, Vavasor of Fortune Way." She sat back, smiling. "Well?"

  "I am, er, very honored, Your Magnificence." He put from his mind for the moment the disagreeable reaction of the alley toughs he knew who had unknowingly become his vassals. "Magnificence, what was the fortune I made for you, if... if I may be so bold as to ask."

  The Levar looked puzzled for a moment, her gaze toward the window. She looked at her new vavasor as the puzzlement left her face. "Happiness. This day I am happy. Nothing more." Again she looked puzzled. "In words it sounds like such a small thing, happiness. However, it is more than all the wizards of Liavek could do for me." She placed her hand over her heart. "In here it is the fortune of fortunes, Elmutt." Tears came to her eyes. "The fortune of fortunes," she whispered.

  Elmutt watched as the Levar laughed and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Perhaps, thought the Vavasor of Fortune Way, perhaps there is more to my secret heart than Tavi's reptiles. Perhaps I am not quite the loathsome creature Geth Dys counted upon me being.

  "Again, my fortune, Elmutt. What will you make for my fortune tomorrow?"

  Elmutt felt the glow in his heart and smiled confidently as he bowed toward the Levar. "It is done, Your Magnificence."

  She stood as the door opened. "You will remain here with me in the palace, Elmutt. I cannot afford to let you get too far away from me."

  "Yes, Your Magnificence. Thank you."

  She left the apartment and Elmutt stood, a strange pride in his gut. I am not, he told himself, a complete monster. There is some good in me.

  The door remained open and in stepped Geth Dys. Elmutt caught himself beginning a bow, reminding himself just in time that he too was a vavasor. He grinned at the White priest. "Good morning, Geth Dys."

  The priest cracked the slightest of smiles. "Yes, it does seem to be an unusually good morning for a number of persons in the palace."

  Elmutt felt a different kind of heat in his heart. "Geth Dys, where is the destruction you would have had me inflict upon that little girl?"

  The priest looked surprised for an instant. He nodded as his face resumed its usual expression. "Of course, you have a troll. It never crossed my mind. I misread that." He reached out and closed the door to Elmutt's apartment. Turning back, the priest seated himself in the chair recently vacated by the Levar. Geth Dys nodded again. "I admit I misread you, too, Elmutt."

  "Then my creature spoke the truth when he told me what you would have had me do? Destroy my corner of existence."

  "It was an honest mistake. It is a cruel thing that a fortune maker cannot make his own fortune. Existence has always been your enemy. And you react to cruelty magnificently."

  "That is something I would ask you, Geth Dys. Why can't I make my own fortune?"

  "The laws of magic make it impossible to work magic on one's vessel of luck. A fortune maker is the vessel of his own luck. Hence, you cannot work your magic upon yourself. Unfortunate."

  Elmutt pointed at the priest. "What did you mean by what you said: my reaction to cruelty? Why did you think I would be such a certain agent of destruction?"

  The priest raised his brows. "After what I saw you do to the woman, I thought—"

  "Cankera?" Elmutt dismissed the evidence with a wave of his hand. "I hated the hag. Everyone hates someone. But you, Geth Dys, counted on me to hate the world and everything in it. Why?"

  Geth Dys read Elmutt's eyes for a moment, the hint of a smile on his lips. "I was referring to the wizard's granddaughter, Almantia. What I saw you do to her."

  Elmutt felt desperate life draining from his veins. "Almantia?"

  The priest placed his elbows on the chair's armrests and touched his fingertips together. "I was one of Yolik's wedding guests, except that there was no wedding. It seems that the ship-owner, Brice, values Almantia's beauty above her other qualities. "

  "What do you mean?"

  "You know my meaning."

  Elmutt remembered: ...the feel of her hand upon his arm, the sight of her face glowing with joy and anticipation.

  "Oh,
Elmutt, I am so happy. What do you think will happen? Will I always be this happy?"

  A strange heat shot through his heart....

  "What. .." Elmutt could hardly breathe. "Geth Dys, tell me, I beg you. What happened?"

  "It seems that shortly before the ceremony was to take place, the bride-to-be conversed over Yolik's gate with a shabby, unhappy-looking gutter rat. Shortly afterward, Almantia's beauty began to fade. Her posture became stooped, her body twisted. Her face became narrow, her eyes receded into wrinkled sockets, her nose became hooked, and she acquired quite the most astounding dose of black-headed warts it has ever been my privilege to witness."

  Elmutt covered his face with his hands. "No. Please, no."

  "You see, Elmutt, I read the mind of that gutter rat as he stood there at the gate. The woman he did that to was the woman he loved more than life itself. And a spell of such power! Yolik himself could do nothing." Geth Dys leaned forward and stabbed at his chest with his thumb. "I could do nothing. It had to have been more than a mere magician's spell. It had to be the work of a fortune maker." The priest lowered his hand and leaned back in the chair. "I went after you and caught up just before you made the fortunes of the hag and her mate on Dung Alley. As I said, my mistake was an honest one. From the available evidence, how could I have concluded that your heart contained anything other than destruction?"

  Elmutt shook his head. "Almantia? What has happened to her? Where is she? Does she...is she still..."

  "To the best of my knowledge she is alive. Yolik had her sent deep into the Silverspine seeking the Bhandafs and a reversal of what he imagines to be her spell."

  "The east..." Elmutt thought back. In the Two-Copper Bazaar the day before, Tavi vanishing in fright for no apparent reason, the litter-chair with its eight bearers. The drawn window curtains...

  The curtain drew back further, revealing the twisted, warted face of a hideous crone. She held up a gnarled hand and motioned in Elmutt's direction. Her mouth opened but what she said could not be heard.