Part 39 (1/2)

Varodias sat up sharply, his eyes wide. ”You intend to abandon us?” His tone was incredulous.

”Ah, my liege lord, I would not have you see it so. I 213.

am an old man and my late emba.s.sy has taken me from your side. There are younger men who have counseled you in my absence and it is time for me to make way for them.*' He smiled gently, sweetly. ”Have no fear, Sire,” he said as if to a boy, ”I shall be your devoted servant and loyal va.s.sal as long as there is breath in my body.”

Malum listened, his heart suddenly beating faster. It was not unexpected, but the Elector had given him no hint.

”We shall have to think on this, old friend,” Varo- dias said quietly. ” 'Tis true that you have served our house long and well, but we were not expecting this and we are loath to part with you.”

”I shall serve you unto death, if that is your will,”

Phalastra said simply, ”but if you would reward me, let me go.”

”We shall think on it. You must give us time,” Var- odias replied.

”Should you accede to my request. Sire,” Phalastra said, ”I would commend Malum of Quern to your at- tention. He has served me well. He is loyal, discreet, he has a good mind and I have trained him.”

”We shall think on these things. We shall think on them,” Varodias said with a touch of irritation. The falcon studiously groomed its wing feathers. ”Leave us now. We need to be alone.” The fingers nicked out in dismissal.

Both men bowed and retreated, backward, from the presence.

Once they were outside and the doors were closed, Phalastra nodded to the guards and started off down the corridor with Malum trailing him. When they were out of hearing, he stopped and let Malum catch up.

”I'm sorry, lad,” he said in the Common Mode, ”That must have come as something of a shock- Truth to tell,

214 t JOHN LEE

I had not intended to bring it up today, but, over the years, I have developed an instinct when it comes to the Emperor's moods. When he allowed himself to be con- vinced of the success of our mission, I seized the op- portunity. Let us go back to my apartments and discuss things.”

They ensconced themselves in the Elector's withdraw- ing room. The servants came and went and Malum sipped his wine silently, trying to put his thoughts in order. He had been counting on a spell here at Angom in the Elector's service to give him a better sense of where the next generation of power truly lay. An ap- pointment directly to the royal household would, of course be ideal, but what was he to do if Varodias did not act on the Elector's suggestion? Fond as he was of the old man, he wasn't prepared to go into retirement with him.

”I have spent so many years in these chambers that they feel as much home to me as my own castle,” Phal- astra said, breaking the silence. ”My older boy will probably want to redecorate them. It shouldn't worry me because I doubt that I shall ever see them again, but it does somehow.”

”Are you sure that the Emperor will let you go, my lord? He has depended on you for most of his life and it didn't seem to me that he relished the prospect of losing you.”

Phalastra smiled. ”Varodias hates change, somewhat strange in a man who prides himself on being a scien- tist, but true nevertheless. No, he doesn't like the idea, but he is an intensely pragmatic man. There will be no emotion involved in the decision despite the years we have spent together. If he refuses me, it will be because I am one of the very few, man or woman, that he trusts.

His Majesty does not confide in men, but he trusts me.

”What I did today was to remind him that it is past 215.

time that he found someone to replace me. Neither of my sons has a head for politics and most of the capable men at Court would as soon replace him as serve him.

Fear is the only thing that keeps them in their place.

That is why 1 recommended you. If he takes you on, re- member this: it is not rank that counts, but influence.

A man of modest t.i.tle with the position of His Imperial Majesty's secretary excites little envy, but that man has the Emperor's ear and determines who gets to see him and when.”

”But there is no such position,” Malum interjected.

”I took great care that there should not be,” Phal- astra said, ”but that is where I should like to see you.

Varodias is an exceedingly volatile man. He needs a steady hand behind him, someone with the knowledge of the broader canvas and the skill to manage things from the shadows.”

”You natter me, sir, but I fear that I am as ambitious as the next man,” Malum said with a flash of honesty.