Cormyr_ a novel - Ed Greenwood [161]
Lady Threnka gave the king a small smile and adjusted her pinch-nosed glasses to regard Pryntaler with cold condescension. "You would have us believe that this creature has been sitting unaffected for hundred of years, just so that you might state that the borders of our lands-"
"What other explanation do you have, my lady?" said Jorunhast. "If it had not been left here by some previous Sembians, the alternative is that some present-day Sembians put it there. Then the question becomes who and why. Is this what you are saying?"
As he spoke, the spidery Sembian grabbed Lady Threnka's arm and spoke softly and sharply in her ear. Her demeanor tightened as he spoke, transforming from haughty and superior to tense and worried.
She ignored the wizard's words and spoke to Pryntaler. "I see your point, Your Majesty. Perhaps we should adjourn for a short caucus, Kodlos, to discuss the merits of setting the official borders between our nations."
Kodlos made a puzzled noise. "My lady, we had just gotten started rather tardily-"
"And we will start again once we consider this." She rose to her feet. "Come. You will forgive us this leave, Your Majesty."
Pryntaler smiled and managed a small half-bow. "Always, your ladyship."
The five representatives and their aides made a quick retreat. Pryntaler turned to his wizard. "How long do you think it will take?"
"It depends," said Jorunhast, "On whether they come back to accept the Thunder Gap as our mutual border, or just head back for Ordulin right here and now."
"She called me 'Your Majesty,'" Pryntaler said.
"Twice," replied Jorunhast, nodding. "Though it looked as if she were gargling slugs as she said it."
"And you noticed Jollitha Par?" said the king.
"Aye," said the wizard, "and if you choose not to behead him right here and now, I guarantee he'll get a special magical visit later, and none will mistake the message or the messenger."
"Behead him?" thundered Pryntaler, smiling broadly. "The old spider has accomplished in one fell swoop what we've been trying to do for the past three days. I may give him a medal!"
Chapter 25: Lies, Spies, and
Assassins
Year of the Gauntlet
(1369 DR)
"We're almost ready, you know… almost. Just a few more little details, and then we'll have to move very swiftly indeed." Ondrin Dracohorn glanced around the chamber once more and added apologetically, "One can't be too careful, you know. The war wizards have spies everywhere, and who knows just whom they're working for?"
The other noble, one of the middle-aged Dauntinghorns, curled his lips. "Vangerdahast, of course."
Ondrin's watery blue eyes blinked up at him. "Well, some of them, of course, but I've reason to believe that a lot of them are working for other masters… noble masters. Trust me in this, my spies are everywhere, too."
His nose almost twitched with excitement. "As to why I counsel haste, have you heard what happened to Ohlmer Cormaeril and Sorgar Illance? Both old family patriarchs were found dead in their beds, and on the very same morning!"
The other noble nodded knowingly. "Just a little housecleaning for those two families. I'm always surprised those serpents didn't father thrice as many daughters as they did, to sell them into slavery-'guaranteed gently born noble bluebloods,' and all that."
Ondrin's eyes lit up. "Now, there's a chance for a handsome profit! Why didn't I think of that? I'll have to hire myself some lasses to breed with."
The older, taller noble shook his head. "No. No, you've got to free Cormyr first! And by the time you're finished accomplishing that high and splendid calling-and how many rich merchants can say they did that, toppling kings and setting new ones on thrones, eh?-other nobles'll have their broods well on the way. In a dozen years or so, after all the expense of rearing them and training them, you'll be ready to sell and find the market glutted."
"I suppose." Ondrin sighed, visibly crestfallen, and then said with a rush, "But I almost forgot to tell you! I've heard that the same men slew both old Ohlmer and the head of House Illance!