Part 23 (1/2)
”True enough!” Lord Coulten said merrily, and they proceeded through the gilded doors.
DESPITE LORD COULTEN'S a.s.surances, that day's session of the Hall of Magnates was no less dull than before. Yet Rafferdy found that having a companion at one's side made the affair easier to bear.
Disdain, when it is shared, can form a sort of entertainment, and each sigh or groan they emitted, each barely stifled yawn or s.h.i.+fting of the b.u.t.tocks upon the bench, became an expression of amus.e.m.e.nt, together forming an ongoing dialogue upon the proceedings. There was no need to exchange words when a low snort served as the most eloquent dissertation upon some old lord's backwards wig or another's propensity for examining the finger that had just explored the interior of his ear.
The High Speaker once again gave a discourse on legislative procedure. Several obscure acts were proposed, debated, and subsequently drowned in a chorus of nays. Throughout it all, Lord Farrolbrook sat on the front bench in the most placid manner, his hands upon his knees, his gaze upon whomever was speaking.
At last the proceedings drew toward a close. The High Speaker called for any last business to be presented. One of the Stouts on the far right of the Hall rose to his feet. He was a man who did credit to the name of his political party, being prodigious in dimension from side to side though not from top to bottom. He wore an overlarge wig and his cheeks were as red and wrinkled as last year's apples. credit to the name of his political party, being prodigious in dimension from side to side though not from top to bottom. He wore an overlarge wig and his cheeks were as red and wrinkled as last year's apples.
”The Hall recognizes Lord Bastellon,” the High Speaker p.r.o.nounced with a wave of his gavel.
The portly lord gripped the edges of his coat and, instead of speaking immediately, embarked upon an enthusiastic clearing of his throat. Lord Coulten let out a sigh that said, I thought we were going to escape it this time I thought we were going to escape it this time, while Rafferdy gave a small cough meaning, Prepare yourself for the air to become thick and odious Prepare yourself for the air to become thick and odious.
Every session since the opening of a.s.sembly, when the High Speaker made his call for final business, the leader of the Stouts had risen to address the Hall. Each time Lord Bastellon had called for debate to be opened on the matter of King Rothard's writ of succession. And each time the Hall had voted against the proposal, with the nays being spoken quickly and loudly by the Magisters and a majority of the lords following suit. So rebuked, the Stouts would leave the Hall in a group, red-faced and fuming.
When at last his lengthy expectoration was concluded, Lord Bastellon once again spoke of the king's desire that a.s.sembly vote upon the matter of his writ of succession-though, despite his efforts at clearing his throat, his words came out with as much phlegm as force.
”The Hall of Citizens has already taken up the matter, and we must do the same,” he concluded. ”Therefore I call again for debate to be opened on the subject of His Majesty's writ of succession!”
Rafferdy waited for the resounding chorus of nays, preparing to speak along with them. Not that it was his particular wish to defy the king; rather, he simply did not want to vote for anything that would give the Stouts further opportunity to drone on. However, before anyone could speak otherwise, a clear voice rang out.
”Hear, hear! I second the motion.”
A low murmur rushed through the hall like a wind. The speaker was none other than Lord Farrolbrook. The pale-haired lord had risen to his feet. Lord Bastellon gaped at him in open astonishment. lord had risen to his feet. Lord Bastellon gaped at him in open astonishment.
The High Speaker banged his gavel against the podium. ”The proposal has been seconded. A vote must now be taken on the issue. Shall debate be opened on the matter of the writ of succession of His Majesty, King Rothard? All in favor speak yea!”
This time all of the Magisters stood, speaking their yeas yeas in loud voices. Many of the lords in the Hall exchanged baffled looks, but a number of them shrugged and stood as well to join the affirmative. Next to Rafferdy, Lord Coulten jumped to his feet and shouted in loud voices. Many of the lords in the Hall exchanged baffled looks, but a number of them shrugged and stood as well to join the affirmative. Next to Rafferdy, Lord Coulten jumped to his feet and shouted yea yea, as did several of the young men around them. As he tended to follow Lord Coulten's lead, Rafferdy stood and called out a tentative yea yea himself. Lord Coulten grinned at him. himself. Lord Coulten grinned at him.
Now the High Speaker called for the nays, and these were few and uttered in rather confused tones. There was no question; the yeas had it by a great majority. All took to their seats again.
”Debate is now opened!” the High Speaker called out.
Lord Bastellon's astonishment had been replaced by a pleased look. He gripped his coat, striding back and forth as he performed further labors upon the phlegm in his throat. ”My good and wise lords, I am pleased. It is past time we grant His Great and Blessed Majesty the due that he deserves and discuss the important matter of-”
”But why discuss it?” a voice rang out, interrupting Bastellon.
Again, all stared at the speaker; again, it was Lord Farrolbrook.
”Since the matter is of such great importance, let us not cause further delay by debating it this way or that,” the pale-haired lord said. ”Instead, let us see it resolved at once. I call for an end to debate.”
All of the Magisters leaped up behind him. The motion was quickly seconded. The High Speaker struck his gavel and called for a vote. Bastellon sputtered, trying to speak, but he was able to produce no words, only spittle. The Magisters called out their yeas, as did many around the Hall, including Lord Coulten. Once again the motion was carried.
”But this is madness!” Lord Bastellon at last managed to cry out. ”I will not stand down before I have any chance to speak on the matter.” out. ”I will not stand down before I have any chance to speak on the matter.”
The High Speaker pounded the podium with his gavel, though he looked as if he would just as readily pound Bastellon's head if needed.
”The motion has carried. Debate on the matter is ended. You will depart the floor, sir!”
Bastellon looked ready to argue, but then the Grand Usher was there at his elbow, a pair of ushers with him, and there was nothing for it; he had to depart. He shook off their hands and stamped to the right to join the other Stouts, who were all stewing in their wigs.
The High Speaker called for a vote on the issue: should the Hall of Magnates ratify and affirm King Rothard's existing writ of succession as the will and law of Altania?
The Stouts leaped out to shout their yeas; these were more than matched by the nays cried out by the Magisters on the left. The middle of the Hall largely joined in the nays, though Lord Coulten did not stand and speak, and so Rafferdy abstained as well. Once again, there was no question about the outcome. The High Speaker's gavel came down, dealing a final, fatal blow to the measure. The proposal had failed.
With this final business so concluded, the day's session was closed. The Stouts rose and marched out of the hall in a group, their faces no longer red but as gray as their wigs. The Magisters departed in a more slow and stately fas.h.i.+on, Lord Farrolbrook at their fore.
”Well, that was a grand entertainment!” Lord Coulten proclaimed as they departed the Hall.
”I suppose I cannot find fault with any measure that keeps the Stouts from speaking,” Rafferdy allowed. ”All the same, I am not sure I comprehend what you found so delightful in the affair.”
Lord Coulten's blue eyes were alight. ”Don't you see? The Stouts have wanted to debate the king's writ. Well, now they've had their chance.”
”Not much of a chance.”
”That's the point. By closing off the debate and calling for a vote, Lord Farrolbrook dealt them a grave blow.”
Rafferdy shook his head. ”Can it never be voted on again?”
”It can, of course-only not this session. The matter will have to wait for the next session of a.s.sembly before it can be brought up again. I'm sure the Stouts will have learned their lesson by then. They aren't that that dull. They won't allow the matter to go to debate if they are not confident it has some chance of pa.s.sing should a vote be called. However, it worked this time, and as a result we won't have to listen to them speak any further on the issue for months. It was, in sum, a clever plan.” dull. They won't allow the matter to go to debate if they are not confident it has some chance of pa.s.sing should a vote be called. However, it worked this time, and as a result we won't have to listen to them speak any further on the issue for months. It was, in sum, a clever plan.”
”Which means it could not possibly have been conceived by Lord Farrolbrook,” Rafferdy said.
”I imagine not!” Lord Coulten agreed. ”I can only believe someone else was the author of this play, yet Farrolbrook performed his part very well, which I am sure is his purpose.”
They pa.s.sed through the gilded doors into the loggia. A little way off, a group of lords-mostly Magisters, given the House rings on their hands-gathered around Lord Farrolbrook. They were congratulating the fair-haired man, who wore a pleased expression.
”Yes, it is precisely his purpose, I think,” Rafferdy said. ”They put forth a posturer as their leader so that others underestimate them-and then promptly fall into their traps. Certainly Lord Bastellon did.”
Lord Coulten let out a laugh. ”G.o.d above, I never thought of it that way, but I'm sure you must be right. I say, you're quite good at politics, Rafferdy. I imagine you'll be giving speeches before the Hall and laying your own snares before the session is out.”
Now it was Rafferdy who laughed. ”I can a.s.sure you no such thing will happen. His His purpose may be to gain the attention of others, but mine is just the opposite. It is my hope that I will depart this body soon, and that no one so much as notices when I go.” purpose may be to gain the attention of others, but mine is just the opposite. It is my hope that I will depart this body soon, and that no one so much as notices when I go.”
”Well, then, you've already failed, Rafferdy, for I I will certainly notice your absence.” will certainly notice your absence.”
Rafferdy nodded, but only distractedly. He continued to watch Lord Farrolbrook from afar. For some reason, he found the fair-haired lord an object of fascination. His mannered gestures, his insipid expression, his overruffled robe-they were all so ridiculous. Did he truly believe that others admired him? Though Rafferdy supposed that some people did, and he recalled all the times Lady Marsdel's nephew, Mr. Harclint, had expounded upon the many talents allegedly possessed by Lord Farrolbrook, from painting to science to magick. Even as Rafferdy thought this, Farrolbrook made a fluttering motion with his hand, and crimson sparked on his finger. Lord Farrolbrook from afar. For some reason, he found the fair-haired lord an object of fascination. His mannered gestures, his insipid expression, his overruffled robe-they were all so ridiculous. Did he truly believe that others admired him? Though Rafferdy supposed that some people did, and he recalled all the times Lady Marsdel's nephew, Mr. Harclint, had expounded upon the many talents allegedly possessed by Lord Farrolbrook, from painting to science to magick. Even as Rafferdy thought this, Farrolbrook made a fluttering motion with his hand, and crimson sparked on his finger.
”But can he really be a magician?” Rafferdy said, only realizing he had spoken the words aloud once they were uttered. He looked at Lord Coulten. ”That is, I have heard that Farrolbrook has demonstrated magick in public on several occasions.”
”Oh, of course he's a magician,” Lord Coulten said. ”Just as I am a great musician because I tell everyone how much I adore music, how my thoughts are always consumed with music, and how there is nothing in the world so important or worthy of study as music.”
Rafferdy raised an eyebrow. ”I take it you can't play a note?”
”Not a one! As for magick-I've never seen him do anything that would require an enchantment. They say he called down lightning once, but anyone with a kite and a key and a bit of luck can manage that that trick.” trick.”
These words pleased Rafferdy, though he wasn't certain why. What did he care if Lord Farrolbrook was a magician or not?