Part 19 (1/2)
Bragi went downstairs slowly. Ahring would need time. His bodyguard accompanied him. The man was jumpy. A lot of hard men would glare at them from the floor, and debate there sometimes involved the crash of swords.
Pandemonium. At least seventy of the eighty-one members, in cl.u.s.ters, were arguing, speculating, gesturing. Ragnarson didn't ask for silence.
Word of his arrival gradually spread. The delegates slowly a.s.sumed their seats.
By then Ahring's troops had begun to fill the shadows along the walls.
”Gentlemen,” Ragnarson said, ”I've asked you here to decide the fate of the State.
It will be a fateful decision. You'll make it before you leave this hall. Gentlemen, the Queen is dead.”
The uproar could have been that of the world's record tavern brawl. Fights broke out. But legislative sessions were always tempestuous. The delegates hadn't yet learned to do things in a polite, parliamentary manner.
The uproar crested again when the members became aware that the army had sealed them in. Ragnarson waited them out.
”When you're ready to stop fooling around, let's talk.” They resumed their seats.
”Gentlemen, Her Majesty pa.s.sed on about forty hours ago. I was there. Doctor Wachtel attended her, but couldn't save her.” His emotion made itself felt. No one would accuse him of not feeling the loss. ”Every attempt was made to prevent it. We even brought in a wizard, an expert in the life-magicks. He said she's been doomed since the birth of her daughter. The breath of s.h.i.+nsan touched her then. The poison caught up.”
His listeners began murmuring.
”Wait! I want to talk about this woman. Some of you did everything you could to make her life miserable, to make her task impossible. She forgave you every time. And gave her life, in the end, to make Ravelin a fit place to live. She's dead now. And the rest of us have come to the crossroads. If you think this's a chance to start something, I'm telling you now. I won't forgive. I am the army. I serve the Crown. I defend the Crown. Till someone wears it, I'll punish rebellion mercilessly. If I have to, I'll make Ravelin's trees bend with a stinking harvest.
”Now, the business at hand.”
Prataxis hustled his way in burdened with writing materials. He had run. Good.
Ahring and Blackfang would be sealing the city perimeter against unauthorized departures.
”My secretary will record all votes. He'll publish them when we make the public announcement.”
He grinned. That would give him an extra ten votes from fence-sitters. He should be able to aim a majority any direction.”Our options are limited. There's no heir. The scholars of h.e.l.lin Daimiel have suggested we dispense with the monarchy entirely, fas.h.i.+oning a republic like some towns in the Bedelian League. Personally, I don't relish risking the national welfare on a social experiment.
”We could imitate other League towns and elect a Tyrant for a limited term. That would make transition smooth and swift, but the disadvantages are obvious.
”Third, we could maintain the monarchy by finding a Ring among the ruling Houses of other states. It's the course I prefer. But it'll take a while.
”Whichever, we need a Regent till a new head of state takes power.
”All right. The session is open for arguments from the floor. Mind your manners.
You'll all get a say. Mr. Prataxis, handle the Chair.”
Someone shouted, ”You forgot a possibility. We could elect one of our own people Ring.”
”Hear hear,” the Nordmen minority chanted.
”Silence!” Prataxis bellowed. Ragnarson was startled by his volume.
”Let me speak to that, Derel.”
”The Marshall has the floor.”
”'Hear hear' you shout, you Nordmen. But you can't all be Ring. Look around. You see anybody you want telling you what to do?”
The point told. Each had, probably, considered himself the logical candidate.
Ravelin's n.o.bles were never short on self-appreciation.
”Okay. Derel?”
”The commons delegate from Delhagen.” '
”Sirs, I think the Barons missed the point of the suggestion. I meant the Marshall.”
That precipitated another barroom round. Ragnarson himself denied any interest.
His denial was honest. He knew what trying to break this rebellious bronc of a kingdom had done to Fiana.
He understood the delegate's motives. There was a special relations.h.i.+p between between himself and Delhagen and Sedlmayr, the city there. They operated almost as an autonomous republic federated with Ravelin, under a special charter he had urged on Fiana. In return the commons there had remained steadfastly Royalist during the civil war. Sedlmayr, with the similarly chartered ”Sieges” of Breidenbach and Fahrig, were nicknamed ”The Marshall's Lap Dogs.”
Ragnarson smiled gently. The man had made the suggestion so he could gradually back down. Relieved, some opponent would propose the Marshall as Regent instead.
And that task he would accept. He had, in reality, been Regent since Fiana's seclusion. He could handle it. And a Regent could always get out.
Once, years ago, Haroun had tried to tempt him with a kings.h.i.+p. The notion had been more attractive then. But he had seen only the comforts visible from the remote perspective.
The moment gone, he fell asleep in his chair. It would be a long session. Nothing important would get said for hours.Raveliners were a stubborn lot. The arguing lasted four days. Weariness and hunger finally forced a compromise. The Thing named Ragnarson Regent by a fat majority- after every alternate avenue had been pursued to a dead end.
Ragnarson left the hall physically better than when he had entered. He had made a vacation of it, getting involved only when delegates threatened to brawl.
Vorgreberg anxiously awaited the session's end, sure the news would be bad.
When it came out Kildragon and Altenkirk were on hand. Vorgreberg was secure.
Loyal troops were poised at the kingdom's heart, ready to smash rebellion anywhere.
FOURTEEN: Lady of Mystery
”Show him in,” Ragnarson told Prataxis. He rose, extended his hand. ”Colonel.
Sorry I took so long with the Thing.”
”I understand,” Oryon replied. ”Congratulations.”
”Save it for a year. Probably be sorry I took the job. I wanted to talk about Balfour. My people came up with something.”