Cormyr_ a novel - Ed Greenwood [138]
"I deem it necessary." Gaspar's calm was glacial. "Rest assured, sir mage, that none of my thinking in this has been hasty. Yet, prepare: I have not yet enunciated my two more unusual conditions."
Vangerdahast almost smiled. The lad was uncanny in his maturity and cold-blooded poise but a young and excited boy underneath, nonetheless. "And these are?"
"You will intend all council meetings and have a vote. However-and this you will keep secret, revealing it to no one upon pain of death-your vote will always be cast as I, or another Cormaeril family representative acting in my stead, directs."
"In other words, House Cormaeril will have two votes," Vangerdahast said softly. "A public one and a private one."
"Indeed," the young noble replied. "The other condition must also remain secret, for obvious reasons, and also depends upon your ability to act convincingly. Although you must never betray this by your manner or words, you must place no credence in the counsel given by House Illance."
"Chief among the current enemies of House Cormaeril," Vangerdahast murmured. "Are there other conditions or details?"
Gaspar took up his glass again. "None. I take it you find these conditions somewhat more restrictive than you'd intended to place upon yourself?"
"A trifle," Vangerdahast admitted, "and yet they are not unreasoned, nor are they unworkable if the council acts with alacrity. May I in turn demand that no council member-including, I suppose, myself-have the power to delay votes by absence or protest, and that any efforts to delay decisions require at least a two-thirds majority?"
Gaspar frowned slightly, then said, "I think that provision is reasonable enough. You need a council that cannot bring the business of the realm to a halt out of spite or internal bickering."
Vangerdahast nodded. "I do."
"I agree to that, then," Gaspar replied. He sipped at his wine and added, "Of course, no mention of this meeting or our agreements must ever pass your lips, or-" He inclined his head meaningfully towards the wizards on the bench.
"I have been the essence of tact for some years, sir," Vangerdahast replied gravely, "and fully understand such things."
Gaspar smiled, looking very like a satisfied snake, and said, "You're now wondering just how you can evade these conditions, or whether you need the support of the Cormaerils at all, given this rather steep price for your title. Know, sir mage, that I have been very busy over the last few days-and, in other ways, for some time before that-in discreet inquiries among certain of my fellow nobles. Be advised that I have seen to it that the major houses I have mentioned-beyond, perhaps, the three royal houses, which will tend to prefer the crown princess on the throne to any sort of regency-will never support you unless you agree to my conditions. You can abandon all thought of formal rule. I predict that the crown princess will shortly banish you from the realm, for she has been soliciting support for such a decree from my house and others. Or you can be regent, but only under my terms."
"It certainly sounds as if you've fully prepared for this, ah, discussion," Vangerdahast said mildly. "I hope you won't be overly offended if I express my surprise that so young and hitherto nonprominent member of the Cormaerils should hold such power within his house. Can you really speak for your entire large and far-flung family?"
Gaspar gave the Royal Magician his serpent smile again and replied with a question of his own. "I presume you are acquainted with both Ohlmer Cormaeril and Sorgar Illance?"
Vangerdahast nodded. Ohlmer was an outwardly respectable patriarch of House Cormaeril, given to kidnappings within the realm for the purposes of slavery illicit smuggling dealings with pirates, and the mistreatment of young female slaves who came within his reach. Sorgar Illance was a cruel ex-adventurer, now balding and bitter as well as cynical