Cormyr_ a novel - Ed Greenwood [103]
"Well," Tessara said, leaning forward to speak in low, urgent tones, "you may all laugh about wild rumors, but I was told by a friend I trust well that Lady Laspeera of the war wizards-second in rank of them all, after Vangerdahast himself-has disappeared. Some in the palace are saying she may have been entombed alive in the palace vaults when the Purple Dragons sealed them, at the command of the princess."
"That may just be true," Turlstars said thoughtfully, but Darvae made a rude sound of disagreement.
"I doubt soldiers as busy as they are right now could find the time to seal off all the ways a wizard might find to get out of a cellar," Darvae pronounced.
"Busy?" Rhauligan pounced.
The cloth merchant grinned wryly. "They're saying down the Promenade that there's a private war going on between Purple Dragons loyal to Tanalasta and those cleaving to the old wizard, Vangerdahast. Most of the court officials, like the sages Dimswart and Alaphondar, are supporting the wizard, but one wing of the palace is supposed to be awash in blood… entire hallways choked with armor-clad corpses."
"Some folk have vivid imaginations," Tessara murmured. "I heard that Alaphondar the sage was slain defending the queen from assassins, and the queen lies on her deathbed mere feet from her husband."
"But that's Just it!" protested Onszibar. "What do we know to help us sort out the fancy from what's actually going on in the palace? What do we really know?"
Gormon Turlstars nodded, saying heavily, "On the way here I heard two nobles discussing where to hide. They think someone is stabbing all the nobles who dare to go to see Tanalasta and leaving them to die in the palace or to crawl out!"
Darvae nodded. "I heard that, too. It seems one made it as far as the royal gardens yesterday before collapsing."
"I can crown all," Rhauligan said grandly, holding up a hand for attention. "A guard in the palace who's been stationed close to the dying king says that the priests have been defeated by whatever ails him, and that they plan to keep our Azoun on the throne by using dark magic to make him undead!"
Turlstars snorted. "Even if you believed the priests could agree with each other to do that, do you think the people would stand for it?"
"Would they accept a regency where Vangerdahast rules, after marrying Queen Filfaeril?" Tessara asked. "I've heard that rumor several times."
"Yes, yes," Turlstars said disgustedly. "And the Purple Dragons, the war wizards, and the nobles are all planning to seize the throne. Red Wizards and Zhentarim have been seen openly walking the Promenade-"
"Well, they have!" Rhauligan said sharply. "I myself saw a man I know to be a Zhent mageling! I've heard that a man walking north of the court, near the royal gardens, was seen to change shape! If that isn't the work of a wizard…"
Tessara sighed. "So the realm is falling apart as we watch, and loyal Vangerdahast is to blame, either because he's causing it-"
"Or he's not stopping it," Turlstars agreed heavily.
Dauneth had been sitting silent behind his tankard, listening with growing horror… and then, slowly, a rising anger. How cynical these folk were-all of them! Did the king's life mean nothing? Did they believe no word spoken by anyone of the court? He saw again Azoun laughing in his saddle, arms spread wide, and heard a voice saying angrily, "From where I come from, the word 'loyal' is not an empty joke. The crown is worth upholding, worth fighting for. It is what makes us better than the money-grubbing Sembians or the savages of Tunland. Have a care for your words, for I will fight to see that King Azoun's name remains unsullied!"
The young noble blinked. They were all staring at him. He had half risen from his seat. It seemed that the angry voice had been his own.
"Ah," he said in some confusion, noting that even Glarasteer Rhauligan was gaping at him, and sat down again. "What I mean to say is that Lord Vangerdahast is older than the mountains. Why would he be a traitor? It sounds to me like he's just trying to keep the court running until the