Part 61 (2/2)

”Then we certainly shan't tell Arabella,” Marianna said, unabashed. ”Honest ignorance is what we have to project. My son appeared suddenly and joined the cor- tege saying that they wanted to pay homage to Ragnor.

Josceyin is obviously under the influence of this strange unicorn. We didn't know that they were coming and we don't know where they went.” She looked at him.

”Well, it's the truth,” she said.

Jarrod made no reply and she went took him by the arms and shook him slightly. ”Listen to me. Gwyndryth could lose all influence at Court because of this. If Var- odias insists, we are going to be made scapegoats even though we have done nothing wrong. They can't do much to you, you're a Mage, but they can cripple Gwyndryth. Our only hope is to be bewildered, but helpful. If we are seen as part of a possible solution, we may be spared. Just follow my lead.”

Jarrod disengaged her hands gently and looked down 339.

at her. ”No, my dear,” he said firmly. ”This is more important than Gwyndryth. The unicorn was essentially correct in many of the things that he said about Varo- dias, but that is beside the point. What we have to do is to make sure that this does not get blown up into an international incident. Unicorns come within the Dis- cipline's purview and this is our problem. Joscelyn may be your, er, our son, but he is an Apprentice Magician.

You will follow my lead in this. Is that quite clear?”

Marianna looked up into his eyes and whatever she saw there quenched the spark of rebellion in her own.

”Very well,” she said with a little shake of the head.

”But if you put Gwyndryth in jeopardy, you shall an- swer to me,” she added before turning away to com- plete her preparations for the audience.

They were ushered into the withdrawing room by a gentleman-of-the-bedchamber who smirked at them as they pa.s.sed. Bad news travels quickly, Jarrod thought.

Arabella was ensconced in an ornate chair, looking grim. Another, unoccupied, stood close by.

”I am so sorry, Your Majesty,” Marianna said, un- bidden, as she rose from a deep curtsy, ”that this should have occurred on this day of all days.”

Arabella waved her into silence.

”We need hardly tell you,” she said, ”that the Em- peror is exceeding angry. He has been attacked and in- sulted in front of a gathering of every personage of note on Strand. We have asked you here because you know more about unicorns than anyone else and, some way or another, we must get to the bottom of this.” She looked at Jarrod. ”You can converse with the unicorn Nastrus, can you not?”

”Yes, ma'am, and I have done so. He has told me that a number of younger unicorns have decided to come to Strand. It seems that they are running out of s.p.a.ce and grazing in their current home,”

340 ”And what of the challenge to the Emperor?” Ara- bella asked.

”Nastrus was at a loss to explain. This other unicorn refused to acknowledge his authority and would tell him nothing.”

”And what of the young man? Did your unicorn know him?”

Marianna looked at Jarrod and he nodded. She faced the Queen again. ”He is my son. Majesty,” she said quietly. ”Unbeknownst to us he ran away after our wedding and went in search of a unicorn. Today was the first time that I save seen him since Stronta.”

”I see,” Arabella said. She looked back to Jarrod.

”Did you send him on a quest?” she asked.

”No, ma'am. It may be that our marriage triggered thoughts of emulation in his mind. He is at an impres- sionable age.”

”What can you tell us,” Arabella began, but was in- terrupted by the opening of the doors.

”His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor Varodias,” the usher announced.

Arabella rose and Jarrod and Marianna turned. The one bowed, the other genuflected to the floor. They held their positions as the Emperor stalked across the room, the heels of his boots clacking on the floorboards. He nodded to Arabella and took his seat. He regarded Jar- rod and Marianna with undisguised hostility as they rose to face him.

”So,” he said, his high, light voice cold, ”the author- ities on unicorns. Tell us, is it possible that the boy was speaking for the animal, or was he put up to it by those who wish the Empire ill?”

”It is possible, Your Imperial Majesty, for humans to understand the thoughts of unicorns. It is, as far as we know, extremely rare and the ability to converse with one unicorn does not mean that we can talk to others.

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