Part 46 (2/2)
Olivderval smiled- ”Naturally. We all have our own network of traders and I question mine closely, but, in
256 addition, I have found some Umbrians who are more than willing to supply information for ready cash.” She flashed a look around the table. ”Umbrians are easy to snare,” she said contemptuously. ”They're too greedy to look ahead and, once committed to treason, too afraid of betrayal to back out.”
”And wh at did you tell your maid to tell the Um- brians?” Marwin asked.
”That the Council was too bogged down in the de- tails of building roads through Songuard to think about much of anything else.”
”Well, that's the truth,” Rully of the Narboresa put in sardonically. ”That's what we're here for, isn't it?”
Olivderval looked at Leonida and then at Calliost, hoping that one of them would take the initiative. Both knew her thinking on the matter, but they both avoided her eyes. She took a breath.
”Only partly.” she said. ”That is why we have taken such precautions about this meeting and why no word of what is decided here can seep out, even to members of your families.” She stopped and pushed her chair back as quietly as she could. She levered her bulk up and walked softly to the doors. She opened them quickly and stepped out into the pa.s.sageway. At the end of the corridor, two of Festin Manyas' servants were deep in conversation. There was no one else in sight. She turned an reentered the withdrawing room.
”I apologize for the melodrama,” she said lightly, ”but, from now on, one cannot be too careful. The future of the State depends on it.”
She felt as well as heard the skeptical silence and re- took her place with deliberation. She sensed the antag- onism of the men. They had yielded to her hard work and experience long ago and treated her as an equal, but they still did not like it when she took it upon her- self to formulate policy for them. Too bad, she thought; 257.
if we waited for them we'd be a province of the Empire- She smiled up and down the table, inviting them to see the humor in her fears, despising herself for the gesture as she performed it.
”My caution may seem overdone to some of you, but the reality is that we must prepare ourselves for war with the Empire.”
”Oh come now, Olivderval,” Torrant expostulated.
”Your imagination has taken control of your usually admirable practicality. The Empire has no need to ex- pand. It has vast new territories that it can't possibly populate and they have absolutely no reason to fear us.”
”You are being logical, Torrant,” Leonida said dryly, ”and also obtuse. We have already heard about the un- rest in the Empire and we now know that Varodias con- siders us important enough”-there was a wealth of sarcasm in the ”important”-”to spy on members of this Council. I recommend, gentlemen, that you look to your households. If this Quern person has seen fit to spend gold on the servants, you may wager that he has made similar efforts elsewhere.” The level brown eyes scanned the faces around the table. ”It would, of course, be far more productive to have one of us in his em- ploy.” She let the statement linger accusingly in the air.
”Fear is not Varodias' prod,” Olivderval resumed, ”or at least not direct fear of us; fear of his own people maybe. Envy is the spur. We do not grow, we do not spin, we do not manufacture, but we prosper. Success inspires resentment and it fosters greed.”
”Beautifully said, dear lady.” Asphar of Urcel's gen- teel voice dropped languidly into the debate. ”Now, you know that I admire you beyond measure, but I also know you pa.s.sing well. For you to have risen to such poetic heights means that you are about to propose
258 something deucedly expensive.” He smiled across the table at her and sprawled back carelessly in his chair.
And I know you, Olivderval thought, a dandy with a mind of honed steel and a grudge-bearing ability that the G.o.ds would envy. She replicated his smile, though with difficulty. When they were both children-he was fourteen, she twelve-he had beaten her dog because, when they had both called it, the dog had gone to her and not to him. She had been a mere girl then with an older brother to fight her battles for her, but he had died and she was Oligarch now.
”Oh aye,” she said pleasantly, proud of her control, ”it will cost, but less I think than would the wholesale disruption of world trade, or having our houses fired and Isphardis put to the sword.” Her voice was light, to the extent that it natural depth allowed. It was not he way she had intended to approach the subject, but she was reacting to Asphar. d.a.m.n the man' Why did she have to spend her life reacting to him?
”And what is your suggestion?” Marwin asked cau- tiously.
Olivderval took in a breath and made herself relax.
”We shall have to arm and train a militia.” She held up a hand as babble broke forth.
”I know, I know,” she said. ”We have never resorted to arms, but times have changed.”
”Changed?” came the clotted voice ofCalliost. ”We have avoided arms in times of war, what possible reason could we have to resort to them in times of peace?”
”Thank you, Calliost,” Olivderval said slowly. ”To begin with, we shall have to have a force to protect our roadbuilders in Songuard. Their government is new and relatively powerless and, to compound the problem, what sway they hold is in the north whereas we shall begin our operations in the south. I put it you that the sight of all that activity will prove too much for the 259.
southern clans. We shall need armed men to protect our workers, our mules and our equipment.”
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