Part 9 (1/2)
T*”When your service here is completed, the doll will be given to you as a memento. I also require such items from any of your representatives, such as the clever Legate Damastes & Cimabue, who will attend my court.”
”I cannot provide such items,” replied Tenedos, ”and again must protest the lack of trust you show in a properly accredited representative of the court of Numantia.”
”Your protest is heard and rejected.”
”Then I have no other choice than to withdraw my credentials.”
”If that is what you must do, then do what you must,” Fergana said, amused.
”The Rule of Ten will be most displeased.”
”No doubt,” Fergana said. ”But it is avery long way back through Sulem Pa.s.s, through Urey, and down the Latane River to your capital. By the time word reaches the Rule of Ten, iIit ever does, and they decide to take whatever course of action necessary to protect the rather imagined interests of one man...
well, a great deal of time will have pa.s.sed, and in that time many things will most likely have occurred.”
Landgrave Malebranche smiled, and I could well imagine what he was thinking: With the Numantian envoy, who of course in his view spoke only for Dara and Nicias, discredited, there could well be opportunity to make a pact with Kallio's new prime minister, Chardin Sher. Which no doubt was exactly why the landgrave was present in Sayana.
I glanced at my men: Bikaner's face was set in stubborn refusal, as was Horseman Svalbard's.
Tenedos looked at me, and his lips were pressed together angrily.
I saw one of the court's animals-a strangely striped antelope-wander past, and an idea came me.
Supposedly magicians can transfer their thoughts one to another, without the necessity of speech. I've heard of, but never seen, such a marvel, even though I doubt it not. Nor do I believe very highly in omens or people somehow sensing a dear one in dire straits many miles away.
But in that instant I stared hard at Laish Tenedos, willing my idea to go out, to enter his brain, to sweep across the few feet between us like an invisible wave. I allowed myself to nod... just a bit. Tenedos blinked, and his expression became bland once more. His eyebrow lifted, questioningly.
Again, I chanced a tiny nod.
Tenedos turned back to Achim Fergana.
”I... see,” he said, slowly. ”This is a very new, very shocking idea.”
”But one that must be obeyed.”
”May I have a day to consider it?”
Irshad started to say something, but Fergana's glance silenced him. ”I do not mean to insult, but there is no way this edict can be gotten around, by trickery or any other way. You must provide a bit of hair, at the very least. Most are willing to give a drop of blood and saliva as well, to a.s.sure me of their loyalty.
”But I shall not require all such items from outlanders.
”Very well. This time tomorrow, you are to present yourselves here, to me. No. Make it two days distant. That will give my artisans a chance to make the dolls, and you may have the pleasure of seeing them.
”At that time, you must either clip a bit of hair from each of your heads to be inserted into the figures, or else forever depart my court, the city of Sayana, and the Kingdom of Kait, as a declared enemy of this country.
'Is that completely understood?”
Tenedos looked at me, and he appeared slightly worried. I was not. Either my idea could be accomplished in seconds, or not at all.
His lips firmed.
”I agree.”
”Very well,” Achim Fergana said. ”In forty-eight hours, we shall meet once more. You have leave to go.”
EIGHT.
The DeceiversAs soon as we'd returned to the compound, Tenedos took me to his quarters, said a few quick words at each corner of the room to ensure there were no magical listeners present, and said, ”I a.s.sume you were not wriggling your eyebrows from an itch, Damastes.”
”I was not. Perhaps I've a solution to our, er, embarra.s.sment.”
'Tell me. I would far rather find a way around this quandary than be forced to confront it directly.” He smiled wryly. ”What a strange predicament I am in. If my theory is correct, and the Rule of Ten wishes something to happen to me, I'm afraid the minor disaster of being rejected at Achim Fergana's court would hardly be enough to send in the heavy regiments. It would, however, be enough to ruin my reputation in Nicias. I can hear the jests now-a highly trained seer, a great magician of Numantia, foxed in his first state a.s.signment by a barbarian with dolls. Well, Ido not propose to fail,” and steel was in his voice. ”So what is your plan, my friend?”
”A question first, sir? When we first entered the city, and you turned the guards' spearheads into gold, you held something hidden in your hand-held like this, am I correct?”
Tenedos nodded. ”Good eyes, my friend. I held a small golden amulet that's been given certain powers to trans.m.u.te base metal, although of course the amount of magical energy required for the task makes it prohibitively expensive, or else the lowliest peasant's geegaws would be golden, and the metal would lose all value.
”I a.s.sume, when you were a boy, the sleight-of-hand artists who attempted to deceive at the local bazaars hated you on sight.”
”Nosir. I never let on when I spotted how they did something. I told a friend once how a conjurer did a trick, and he got angry, and said he would rather not know where the scarves or doves are hidden. So I never did again. But I thought you were quite good-the only reason I could see what was in your hand was I was behind and to the side. If I'd been in front, like the Kara' were... I would have seen nothing.”
”Still, I had best spent more time exercising my fingers,” Tenedos said. ”No one likes to be found out.
So you think my legerdemain might provide a solution?”
I explained what I had in mind. A smile slowly grew across Tenedos's face.
”Indeed. That sounds a definite plan. I like it I think it could well work, because I shall be performing in front of another magician, and no one is easier to fool than the man who himself wears a mask.
”Yes. However, I had best begin practicing. We will also need to involve your troop guide in our little conspiracy.”
Two days later, we returned to Achim Fergana's court This time, there were but the three of us. We arrived a little earlier than the hour set, and spent the time moving among the people of the court. There was quite a crowd that day-no doubt the thought of seeing the humiliation, one way or another, of the loathed Numantians guaranteed a crowd.
Tenedos was the perfect diplomat, speaking to a man here, a woman there, introducing himself as he went, pausing for a sweetmeat from one of the pa.s.sing servitors, patting one of the court animals as it pa.s.sed, Troop Guide Bikaner behind him like a proper retainer, and then there came a shouting of sol-
diers' voices, and Achim Baber Fergana stalked into the room. Behind him wasJask Irshad.
Without preamble, he walked to the throne, and waited until all finished bowing, in our case, or prostrating themselves, as the Kaiti were required.
”Resident-General Tenedos,” his voice boomed, ”you heard my orders two days gone. Are you now prepared to obey them, or are you defying my edict and our customs?”
”I still resent the implication I, or any of my retinue, would consider harming Your Majesty,” Tenedos said. ”However, in the interests of national amity, I am prepared to agree.” He walked forward, and took from a pouch at his belt three tiny golden boxes. He opened them.