Part 28 (1/2)
”No doubt it would. Madam, but the Empire of Um- bria is abstaining,” the Elector said dryly. ”Now, if there is no further business, I thank you all for your patience
148 and hard work over the years. My last action as Presi- dent of this Commission is to call for a vote of disso- lution.” He was entirety gracious.
”Before you do that,” Otorin interposed, ”I should like to propose a vote of thanks to the Elector of Es- tragoth for the exemplary way in which he has handled these meetings. He has been an inspiration to us all.”
There was a chorus of ”Hear, hear” and then every- body applauded. The scribes joined in and there were tears in Malum's eyes as his master nodded his thanks with a tight little smile on his face.
Estragoth held up his hand. ”I thank you all. It has been an honor to serve with you. And, on that note, I declare the Commission for the Outland dissolved.” He pushed his chair back and stood.
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*alum took his time returning to the suit of apartments in which the Umbrian delegation had lived for so many years. He wanted time to think and he was in no rush to confront the Elector. He looked around the quadrangles as he walked through them. There was a slightly hazy quality to the light engendered by the still air and the smoke from cooking fires inside and outside the walls. It left a pleasant tang in the nostrils.
He realized that he was going to miss the place. He had spent more time at Stronta in recent years than in either Angom or Quem. In fact he had only spent a fortnight in Quern in the past two years and had found it depressingly provincial. Still, if old Estragotb retired, he would be dependent on its revenues unless he could find another place at Court. With the failure of the mis- sion here at Stronta, that now looked a lot less likely.
He climbed the stairs to the Elector's apartment feeling decidedly down in the mouth.
Phalastra of Estragoth, to Malum's surprise, was sit- ting quietly in his oversized, overstaffed chair, sipping at a gla.s.s of wine.
”Come in, young man,” he said in this thin, creaking voice. ”Join me in a gla.s.s.”
Malum put his papers and his writing utensils down on the sideboard and did as he was bidden.
”I think we can congratulate ourselves,” the Elector
150 t JOHN LEE
said as Malum came over to his chair. He raised his gla.s.s. Malum, startled, followed suit.
”You are pleased with the outcome, sir?” he asked, surprise evident.
”Well, it wasn't the total triumph that the Emperor demanded,” the old man conceded. ”In fact, I shall probably have some difficulty convincing Hiy Imperial Majesty of the wisdom of my point of view. The truth is that we achieved the territorial advantages that we sought.” He looked up at Malum. ”Get yourself a chair, young man, and sit you down.”
”Yes,” he continued after Malum had complied, ”I think that we can be proud of our effort.”
”But the Isphardis got their right of pa.s.sage through Songuard,” Malum objected gently.
”Yes, they did and just think what problems that's going to cause them,” Estragoth said with satisfaction.
”Add to that the fact that their lands are divided, their supply lines impossibly long, and our eventual annexa- tion of their new territory will be simple.”
”But they will have international support and guar- antees.”
”Bah.” Estragoth was dismissive. ”It is easy for the Kingdoms to pay lip service to that sort of thing, but can you really see them committing troops to the de- fense of the Isphardis?” His voice was rich in disdain.
”No, no, they'll let that bunch of peddlers fend for themselves. As for the Isphardis, they are incapable of forming an army for themselves. They're afraid to fight.
They may be able to pay the Songeans to fight for them, but the Songeans have no military tradition either.”
”The Isphardis have a great many s.h.i.+ps,” Malum pointed out. ”They could attack our south coast.” He was thinking of Quern.
”Wouldn't do them any good,” Estragoth returned 151.