Part 6 (2/2)

”Why now, I wonder?”

”Because there's another rebellion brewing and Nax- ania wants a distraction,” Tokamo blurted.-

”A rebellion, Tok? Are you sure?” Jarrod was star- tled.

”I caught hints of it on my last trip. I put it down to tavern talk at the time, but now I'm not so certain.”

”I think you ought to tell us about this, young man,”

Greylock said.

Tokamo was clearly uncomfortable in the limelight, but he girded himself. ”I can't be sure, sir, but people have been commenting on the number of armed retain- 37.

ers the Duke ofAbercorn keeps. The general opinion is that he is aiming for the throne.”

”But that's absurd,” Jarrod remonstrated. ”He sided with the Crown during the Lindisfarn rebellion and that turned the tide.”

”Yes I know,” Tokamo said apologetically. ”I'm only reporting what I've heard. The talk is that there has always been bad blood between the House of Strongs- word and the Dukes of Abercorn and that Duke Para- min wants the throne for himself. They say that he backed the Queen before because her troops were too strong. Well, that was just after the war and the Royal Army was a lot stronger than it is today. There are rumors of secret alliances between Abercorn and the Earls ofRostan and Southey.”

”I have heard nothing of this,” Greylock said. ”and I have very reliable sources.”

”With respect. Excellence,” Tokamo replied, looking intensely uncomfortable, ”your sources are all at Court.

I've been all through the country in the past few years and, if I'm not wearing my gown, I look more like a fat, jolly trader than a Magician. People tend to talk freely in front of me, especially after a few pints of ale.”

”I wish that you had confided in me before,” Grey- lock said, ”but you have done well, very well indeed.

So, Naxania feels threatened and her paramour thinks that the Discipline should do something dramatic. Very interesting.”

”With all due respect, sir. Lord Darius did make a very valid point. People are taking us for granted these days. In light of the present difficulties with the parti- tion treaty, he felt it was time that the Discipline reas- serted itself.”

Greylock was silent for a long time and Jarrod was afraid that he had slipped away. Then he noticed that

38 the right hand was drumming quietly against the arm of the chair. The Mage roused himself.

”I haven't performed any Magic since I returned from the Place of Power and neither has Ragnor, come to think of it. Gwyndryth is right, people forget. I think that we should remind them, don't you?”

Greylock's eyes were glinting, but Jarrod couldn't be sure if it was humor, enthusiasm or the firelight.

”I haven't performed any serious Magic for a long time,” Jarrod said, excitement in his voice.

”No you don't,” Greylock countered. ”You've done quite enough as it is. There's no need to create more envy.”

Jarrod winced inwardly at the implied criticism, but managed to keep a bland face. ”Have you any sugges- tions, sir?” he asked.

”Something fairly spectacular and in the public inter- esi;,” Greylock replied.

”A grand exhibition demonstrating oui' skills,”

Tokamo suggested.

”We could always do away with the Upper Cause- way” came, with humor, from Jarrod.

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