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realized belatedly that she had contradicted her earlier statement that the
bandits were not Ergothians.  What I mean to say is?"
Ulvissen tapped urgently on her shoulder. Teralind turned and
snapped, "Stand back, sir! Do not interrupt me!" The seneschal instantly
retreated a pace and stood rigidly at attention.
Sithas exchanged a glance with his father, and murmurs arose in the
hall. Teralind s eyes darted around, for she knew she'd made a dangerous
admission. She tried to salvage the situation by saying,  There is not a
man, woman, or human child in the whole realm of Ansalon who does not
owe allegiance to His Imperial Majesty."
Sithel did not try to speak until the murmuring had subsided. In
precise, measured tones, he finally said, "Is it your intention to annex our
lands?"
Teralind pushed herself back in her chair and frowned. Beside her, the
frail form of Proctor Ulwen moved. He leaned forward slightly and began
to shake. Tremors racked his frail body, and Ulvissen moved swiftly to his
side. The seneschal snapped his fingers at the human contingent of
servants loitering by the grand doors.
"Highness, noble ambassadors, I beg your pardon, but the praetor is
seized with an attack," he announced in an anxious voice. "He must
withdraw."
Dunbarth spread his hands graciously. Sithel stood.  You have our
leave to withdraw," the speaker said.  Shall I send one of our healers to
the praetor's rooms?
Teralind s head lifted regally. "We have a doctor of our own, thank
you, noble speaker.
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The porters took hold of the rails attached to Ulwen's chair and
hoisted him up. The Ergothian delegation filed out behind him. When they
were gone, Dunbarth bowed and led his dwarves out. Sithel dismissed his
retainers and was finally alone with his son in the tower.
 Diplomacy is so tiring," the speaker said wearily. He stood and laid
his silver scepter across the throne. "Give me your arm, Sith. I believe I
need to rest for a while."
* * * * *
Tamanier Ambrodel walked beside Lady Nirakina through the palace.
They had just come from the guild hall of the stone workers, where Lady
Nirakina had viewed the plans for the new Market. It was an orderly,
beautifully designed place, but its site and purpose depressed her. "It's
simply wrong," she told Tamanier. "We are the firstborn race of the world
and favored by the gods. As such, it is only right we share our grace with
other people, not look upon them as lesser beings."
Tamanier nodded. "I heartily agree, Lady. When I lived in the
wilderness, I saw many kinds of people Silvanesti, Kagonesti, humans,
dwarves, gnomes, kender and no one lived better than his neighbor for
any reason but his own hard work. The land doesn't care if it's plowed by
human or elf. The rain falls the same on every farm."
They arrived at the door of Nirakina's private rooms. Before he left,
Tamanier informed her, "I went to see Miritelisina, as you requested."
"Is she well? she asked eagerly. "A priestess of such age and wisdom
should not be held in a common dungeon."
"She is well," Tamanier said, "though unrepentant. She still does not
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admit to her crime."
"I do not believe she committed a crime," Nirakina said with fervor.
"Miritelisina was moved by compassion. She only sought to warn the poor
refugees of the plan to move them. I'm certain she had no idea they'd riot
as they did.
Tamanier bowed. "I bear the holy lady no ill will. I tell you, though,
that she will not repent even to gain her freedom. Miritelisina believes
that by remaining in prison, she will inspire others who want to help the
refugees.
Nirakina gave the young courtier's arm a squeeze. "And what do you
think, Tam? Whose cause do you favor?"
"Do you really have to ask? A short time ago, I was one of the poor
wretches homeless, penniless, despised. They deserve the speaker's
protection.
"We'll have to see what we can do to win it," Nirakina replied
warmly.
She went into her rooms, and Tamanier walked away, his step light.
With the speaker's wife fighting for them, the homeless settlers would
soon feel the grace of Sithel's favor. And who knew, perhaps Miritelisina
would be freed to resume her good works for the poor.
He left the central tower of the palace and strolled the empty corridor
balcony of the east wing.
Suddenly he heard voices. Foreign voices. He'd lived among humans
long enough to know their speech.
" play at this silly game?" complained a woman's voice, tight with
emotion.
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"As long as necessary. It's the emperor's will," a man's strong voice
answered.
"The things I do for my father! I hope he appreciates it!"
"He's paying off your gambling debts, isn't he? said the man dryly.
Tamanier knew he shouldn't eavesdrop, but he was intrigued. He
stood very still. Since the humans were in the corridor below him, their
voices carried easily to him up the central atrium.
"I don't trust that Dunbarth," asserted the woman. "He switches sides
like a click beetle."
"He has no side but his own. Right now Thorbardin isn't ready for
war, so he hopes to play us off against the elves. He's clever, but I see
what he's doing."
"He annoys me. So does Prince Sithas. How he stares! They say elves
have second sight." The woman's voice rose. "You don't think he's reading
my mind, do you?"
"Calm yourself," said the man. "I don't think he can. But if it troubles
you, I'll speak to our friend about it."
Footsteps echoed on the balcony across the atrium from where
Tamanier stood. He tensed, ready to be discovered. The voices below
ceased their furtive talk.
Out of the afternoon shadows on the far side of the balcony Tamanier
spied the young priest of the Blue Phoenix, Kamin Oluvai. Tamanier was
surprised; why was the priest here? Kamin didn't see him, however, so
Tamanier withdrew from the balcony rail. The humans he'd heard were
certainly Lady Teralind and Ulvissen, but what did their strange
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conversation mean?
Court intrigue was foreign to him. Who was Teralind really? What
was she concealing? Who was the "friend" Ulvissen referred to? Could it
be the traitor of which Speaker Sithel had spoken that night at dinner?
Tamanier hurried away. He had to tell someone, and Sithas's room
was nearby. The courtier was already feeling slightly relieved; certainly
the prince would know what to do.
20
Day of Metamorphosis
The humans were breaking camp and getting ready to return to their
ship. They worked with haste, and it was clear to Kith-Kanan that they
wanted nothing more than to be away from such an accursed place. While
they worked, Voltorno went to the elf prince. He had his men pry the stake
out of the ground, then he grabbed Kith-Kanan's shackles and dragged him
to the edge of the clearing.
"You out there! Woman and boy! I have your friend here! If any more
of my men are so much as scratched, I'll make your royal friend suffer for [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]