Part 9 (2/2)
as I can defeat her enemies and if I can hold on to her affections, I should be all right.” His mouth twisted into a wry smile. ”Neither of them is getting any easier. The men keep getting younger.”
Like the Marquis of Bethel, Otorin thought. ”You have one enormous advantage over them,” he said briskly. ”You have no ambition to sit 'on the throne.
That may be less compelling in the bedchamber, but when it comes to the army, it's of paramount impor- tance.”
”Let's get back to the siege,” Darius said. ”What about Rostand and Southey?”
”What about them?”
”Don't tell me that you haven't heard of them.”
”Both of them are earls, both have very large hold- ings on the coast. Both engage in trade, both are very wealthy.”
”And both of them are in league with Abercorn,”
Darius finished.
Otorin smiled. ”Their names have come up.”
”Well, you don't expect them to sit around and do nothing, do you?”
”Oh, I rather imagine that they will allow the Duke the honor of rescuing his son, don't you? My informa- tion is that they would not be too upset if Abercorn were taken out of the game. All three have ambitions and there is only one throne.”
”Let's hope that you're right.”
”It's my job to be right about things like that and Arabella's gold has been judiciously spent to make sure that I am.”
”We'll be riding out the day after tomorrow,” Darius said. ”Can you be ready by then?”
”I'll be ready just as soon as I send a bunglebird off to Celador. I have a squire of my own these days to do the packing.”
52 ”Fair enough. We'll be starting at first light.”
Otorin groaned. ”As the General commands.” He gave a mocking half-bow.
”Any other suggestions?”
”I'd put the word around that you are requisitioning every wagon and draft horse. I'd give the Royal Ar- morer an order for half a dozen ball.u.s.ters. Make sure that the troops here engage in some highly visible ma- neuvers outside the walls.”
”I see. You want all this to get back to the Duke.”
”And to the Earls.”
”You're a devious man, Lissen.”
”One of us has to be,” Otorin said, and grinned.
”Oh, and you might send a Royal Messenger to either Southey or Rostan, it doesn't matter which.”
”Bearing what message?”
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