Part 16 (1/2)

His instincts, so well honed at home, were unanch.o.r.ed here.

There was a rapping at the door and the head of his bodyservant appeared around it.

”The Lord Malum craves admittance, sir.”

”Show him in and fetch us wine,” the Elector com- manded.

Malum, when he entered, was attired in fresh clothes, but his wet hair attested to the fact that he had changed quickly and had come directly to report to his master.

The Elector sat up with difficulty.

”Come in, come in; fetch up a chair. I've ordered wine. When did you get in?”

”Barely an hour ago, my lord,” Malum replied, smoothing down the sides of his head self-consciously.

”And how did you find Quern after two years of ab- sence?”

”Better than I had feared and not quite as prosperous as I had hoped.”

”Good seneschals are hard to find,” Eslragoth com- miserated.

Conversation was suspended as the servant brought the wine in and poured it. Once the man had withdrawn the Elector said, ”I know that you will present a written report, but I'd like to hear how things are at home in your bwn words. Don't worry if you digress, you never know what will turn out to be important.”

Malum permitted himself a smile. ”It's amazing how time spent abroad alters one's perspective,” he said.

”The comfort of rediscovered familiarity is overwhelm- ing, but certain things show themselves in a new light.”

”Go on,” Estragoth said.

”Well, the trip back along the Causeway was un- eventful, but it's getting more expensive to cross bor- ders. It cost us three imperials to get into Songuard and twelve to get out again. Angom itself was unchanged,

86 quieter than usual because it's summer, but I was sur- prised by my reaction to the place. As you know, I came late to the capital, but when I went back this time I felt as if 1 was going home.” Malum's face was softened by reminiscence.

”I'm sure that it was all very touching,” Estragoth said dryly, ”but how were things at Court? How was the Emperor?”

Malum collected himself. ”The Emperor,” he said briskly, ”was well-as far as I could judge. I saw him at a distance at a morning robing,”

”You did not have a personal audience?” Estragoth was sharp.

”No, sir. I requested one and explained that I had a message, a personal message, from you. I was told to make a report to the Chamberlain. I did so, but I took the liberty of omitting those parts that I deemed for the Emperor's eyes only. That part of the message I put in a letter and paid a gent'eman-of-the-bedchamber to de- liver it into His Majesty's hand.”

”I see,” the Elector said weariiy- ”And do you really think that it got to the Emperor unopened?”

”As a matter of fact I do,” Malum replied compla- cently. 'The transaction took place at the robing and I saw the packet delivered.”

Estragoth smiled. ”I underestimated you, young man.

You are to be complimented. Nevertheless, it disturbs me that Varodias would not grant you an audience.”

”I don't think that His Majesty was aware of my re- quest. I believe that it was denied at a lower level. The Court seemed to be on edge. I mean more than usually so. There have been a number of, ah, differences of opinion between landowners. The Electors tend to side with their va.s.sals and that has increased the friction between the Electorates.”

Estragoth produced a paper-thin chuckle.

THE UNICORN PEACE t 87