Part 46 (1/2)

The two women were a contrast in styles. Olivderval, eldest of the Maricii, still wore summer silks in vivid hues and her jewelry outshone anything that the men wore. Leonida, widow of the Oligarch Dromahl, was tall and slim where Olivderval was short and stocky.

She wore the deep purple of her widowhood, the combs 253.

that held her upswept white hair in place were of ame- thyst and a long braid of gold hung unpendanted around her neck. The only ring she wore was a broad, plain wedding band. She looked frail and simple in that company, but she had taken over the family businesses on her husband's death some fifteen years before and had doubled the profits within three years. No one at the table had bested her in a deal, though all, save Olivderval, had tried.

”And now to our business,” Festin Manyas said from his chair at the head of the table. ”I should like to call upon friend Olivderval of the Maricii to bring us up to date on the latest intelligence from abroad.” He was a spare, fussy man, slightly younger than the others, and would not have been chairman had they not been in his house.

”Thank you, Festin, and may I compliment you on your admirable hospitality.” She smiled down the table at him among murmurs of a.s.sent. ”As you know,” she proceeded briskly, ”the first installment of money has been paid to the Discipline according to the terms of our secret compact. There is a working group of the Weatherwards on Harbor Island examining conditions in the skies and I am told reliably that special emphasis is being placed on that aspect of the training of the Apprentice Magicians at the Collegium. Needless to say, they will have to produce a great many new Weather- wards in the years to come. I have no doubt, however, that they will be able to improve our conditions consid- erably, even, let us hope, in the rainy season. I think that it is worth our while to be patient.

”Our relations with the Magical Kingdoms and with Talisman continue to be good, although the unrest in Paladine this past summer produced a slight downturn in flax and the cereal trade. Wool and leather, however, were unaffected. Indeed the number of fleeces increased.

254 From all reports, Queen Naxania is firmly in control again, though she is not markedly popular. In short, there is no reason to suppose that next year's profits should not be up to, or beyond, last year's. The same holds true for both Arundel and Talisman. So much for the good news.”

Olivderval paused and drank some water. She glanced at her colleagues and was pleased to see that no one was taking notes.

”Conditions in the Empire,” she resumed, ”are far from smooth. The general unrest is continuing. The preachings of Simian the Hermit have affected the man- ufacturing towns and the production, particularly of cloth and metalware, is down substantially. That, com- bined with an indifferent harvest in most Electorates, has led to an increase in imports, notably of grain, and a decrease in exports. It is my judgment that, within a year, Umbria will become a debtor nation.”

There was a brief silence, broken by Marwin, whose increasing weight and wispy hair gave him the look of an oversized baby.

”If Varodias spent less money on his army, he might be able to pay his bills.”

”Scant chance of that while there's rebellion abroad,”

the Oligarch Larridan replied.

”I would think that it is too early to label it rebellion, but the question is, are we going to extend him credit?”

The observation and question were couched in Leoni- da's cultivated tones.

How does a reed that thin produce such a rich sound?

Olivderval wondered. She waited for someone to an- swer. When none did, ”I think we must,” she said. ”We do not want to give him an excuse to turn on us, not yet.”

”Not yet?'The query came from Calliost.

Olivderval smiled across the table at him. He was tall, 255.

still slim in robes that disguised his paunch, and his thick, grey hair made him look younger than he was.

Olivderval and he had had an affair when both were young. It had petered out gracefully and she was still fond of him.

”It will come, my dear Calliost, it will come,” she said regretfully. ”n.o.body loves a creditor, as we are all well aware, but Varodias has deeper troubles and is be- ginning to look abroad for a diversion, something to take the people's mind off their domestic problems. We are the obvious target.”

”When you say that the Emperor is already begin- ning to look at us with envy, are you just being logical or do you have some proof?” The question came from Torrant.

”Oh, I have proof,” Olivderval said pleasantly. ”Now that the Elector of Estragoth has retired to his estates, his place has been taken by his former secretary, one Malum of Quern, with one difference. Young Malum is also Varodias' spymaster. Young Quern, whose ac- quaintance I made at Stronta, has sought, quite suc- cessfully I am happy to say, to suborn my tiring woman-and I am sure that he has other sources in Belengar.”

”And why are you happy to say that your tiring woman has been enlisted as an Umbrian spy?” Festin asked.

”Because she is a loyal soul,” Olivderval replied sweetly, ”and she came straight to me.” She shrugged and raised her hands. ”I, of course, told her exactly what I wanted Lord Malum to hear. I shall continue to do so.”

”And have you taken steps to acquire reliable infor- mation from Umbria?” Leonida inquired.