Part 27 (1/2)
”They're resourceful. I think it's best not to feel too safe, or underestimate what they might do.”
”Oh, not at all, Your Majesty. Still, without the Loremasters, I wonder who they have who can stand toe-to-toe against wizard magic.”
”We saw creatures of some kind on the army's left flank,” said Gerin. ”Maybe they're just soldiers of a different species, but something tells me there's more to them than that.”
”I guess we'll find out once the real fighting starts.”
Gerin wondered what was happening back in Almaris. What kind of trouble were the n.o.bles causing for Terl Enkelares because of his absence? His Minister of the Realm was a strong man, not easily intimidated, yet Gerin still worried about Sedifren Houday and those who followed his aunt's father. They thirsted to oust him from the throne with such ferocity that at times it astounded him to think of them as Khedes.h.i.+ans. They seemed more like enemies of the realm rather than the n.o.bles sworn to obey the king and uphold the kingdom's laws and customs.
Terl will handle them, he thought. He's well aware of what he's up against, and if need be he can throw the lot in the dungeon and wait for my return, if it makes life easier for him. I certainly won't object, and to Shayphim with any n.o.bles who try to bully him. The thought of Sedifren Houday and his haughty daughter Omara rotting in a rank, dark dungeon cell brought him far more pleasure than it should have.
”What are you grinning at?” asked Balan.
”Nothing.”
”That wasn't nothing, Your Majesty. I know my grins, and there was a woman involved in there somewhere. Nyene's taken a fancy to you. Maybe you and she could...you know...in the name of improving relations between our two countries. She looks to be the type who might teach you a thing or two. Or even three.”
Gerin let out a deep laugh. The G.o.ds bless you, Balan. You do always know how to brighten my mood.
”You get points for guessing right about a woman, but you lose the same number, and then some, for being completely wrong about the situation. I was imagining my lovely aunt Omara shackled in a cell below Vesparin's Hill.”
”Ah, yes, I can see where that would have you grinning like Luro the Cat. Still, I like my idea better. You can't do anything about your aunt at the moment. Nyene, however...” He made a curvy gesture with his hands.
”Yes, Balan, I get the point. I think I'd be worried about cutting myself on one of her knives. She's probably got five or six hidden in that hair of hers alone.”
”I'm sure you have spells that can ferret out her hidden weapons. Though, to be honest, if you have to resort to searching every nook and cranny on that b.l.o.o.d.y incredible body of hers with magic rather than doing it the old-fas.h.i.+oned way, then I'm afraid there's no hope for you. Your increasingly lengthy bachelorhood will just go on and on until the end of time.”
”You do realize you're talking to your king, don't you?”
”Of course, Your Majesty. But seeing as it's my duty to protect you, I feel it necessary to tell you the unvarnished truth.”
”I do seem to recall that a certain captain's bachelorhood is almost as long as mine...” As soon as he said it, he realized he might have made a mistake. Balan's feelings for his sister, and their desire to marry, might make his comment sound hurtful, which was not his intent.
Balandrick, however, showed no sign that the comment bothered him. ”But the entire kingdom isn't waiting for me to marry.”
”Please. They're not waiting for me, either.”
”The many bets that have been placed in the Tirthaig alone would beg to contradict you.”
”You're joking! No one's placed bets on when I'm going to marry!”
”Well, it's not just when you're going to marry, Your Highness. There are also bets on who, whether you bed her first or not, how pretty she'll be-a subjective notion, I know-whether she'll-”
Gerin threw an apple at Balan, which the captain caught deftly in his right hand.
”So what did you bet?” asked Gerin.
”Your Highness, that would be cheating! You might alter your plans for eternal bachelorhood in order to help fatten the purse of your das.h.i.+ng and charming captain if you were made privy to such secret and important information.”
”The fact that you're pus.h.i.+ng me toward Nyene's knife-laden arms wouldn't have anything to do with your predictions, would it?”
”Not at all. At least that I'm willing to admit.”
”So what other kind of betting goes on in the palace right beneath my nose, and how come I'm never invited to partic.i.p.ate?”
Balandrick gave him a look of mock exasperation. ”Your Highness, be reasonable. Since you're the topic of most of the betting, it's hardly fitting to have you partic.i.p.ate. Goes back to what I was saying about you tipping the scales, only this time it would be in your favor. Besides, you have the kingdom's treasury for a purse.”
”It's not about the coin, Balan. It's about winning.”
”Point taken, Your Highness.”
”I want in on any bets you have about Claressa and her soon-to-be-born child. Offspring. Sp.a.w.n. Whatever it is you call the product of a woman like Claressa when she gives birth.”
Balan tapped his chin with his forefinger. ”I might be able to get you in on a few things. On the side, you understand. And no one can know. You'd be bad for business. No one would bet against the king.”
The mention of his sister made Gerin wonder how Therain and his new bride Laysa were getting along with Claressa in Tolthean. He envied them that they didn't have to shoulder the cares and burdens that fell to him as king. They're probably having a grand time, lounging about, sailing, hunting. Therain, you lucky b.a.s.t.a.r.d.
”Shayphim take me, I could murder Gerin for running off and leaving me with this mess,” muttered Therain as he waited for Terl Enkelares to arrive in the council room. He picked up the parchment from the table and read it again, then threw it down in disgust. b.l.o.o.d.y dogs, that's what they are! I should have the lot of them arrested for...I don't know, indefensible meddlesomeness. I'm sure we can come up with an appropriate charge with a little thought.
A servant ushered the Minister of the Realm into the room. ”The message I received said you had an urgent matter to discuss with me, my lord.”
Therain slid the parchment toward him. ”Please sit, and read this. Try not to gag with the absurdity of it.”
Enkelares took the parchment, hooked his spectacles behind his ears, and began to read. Therain was not surprised to see the older man's brow furrow deeply. ”I'm not sure what to make of this, my lord.”
”I know exactly what to make of it. That son of a b.i.t.c.h Baron Houday is angling to prop his idiot grandson Marell on the throne. It won't happen-I'll see my d.a.m.ned cousin executed for treason first-but I need to know if they have any legal recourse in the a.s.sembly of Lords. He seems determined to cause me no end of grief. I want to cut him off at the knees before this gets out of hand.”
Enkelares read the parchment again, then placed it on the table. Therain had read it so many times he'd practically memorized it. Just thinking about it made the blood pound in his skull. The audacity of it all!
Ten powerful n.o.bles had signed the parchment, a missive that noted Gerin's unexplained absence from the realm during a time of war. It demanded that an a.s.sembly of Lords be convened so the Minister of the Realm and the acting regent-Therain-could be questioned as to the king's present whereabouts.
...If a satisfactory answer cannot be provided, it will be the unfortunate but necessary duty of the a.s.sembly to demand that the Regent be appointed King, or, if the Regent is unwilling or unable to a.s.sume this authority, that another member of the Royal Family be named King...
The missive went on to state that this appointed king would remain in power only until such time as Gerin returned to a.s.sume his powers-but only after he made a satisfactory accounting of his absence to the a.s.sembly.
One of the ten who signed the parchment was Sedifren Houday. Therain was certain he was the man behind the entire scheme.
”You see what they're going to try, don't you?” said Therain. He tried to remain calm, but he was practically shouting at poor Enkelares. ”They'll arrange it so that no matter what Gerin says, his 'account' of his whereabouts won't be satisfactory to them, so they can leave their little puppet on the throne!” He thumped his fist on the table; the parchment jumped and fluttered across the surface a few inches from where the minister had placed it, like a bird learning to fly.
”Do I have to listen to them?” Therain continued. ”Is there anything they can do to compel the a.s.sembly, or am I free to ignore this rubbish?”
Enkelares rubbed his hands together, as he usually did when pondering an important question. ”You could become the interim king, as they state in the letter. That would leave them no better off than they are now.”
”I wondered why that was in the letter when I first read it, then I realized that I'm the brother of the king and next in the line of succession, so they have to allow that. I can be dense sometimes, but I'll get the point eventually.”
”My lord? I don't understand. If you do that, you'll stop them before this grows out of hand, as you put it.”