Cormyr_ a novel - Ed Greenwood [175]
"Both of those seem excellent proposals," the wizard agreed brightly. "Which do you prefer?"
"Stop playing with me, mage!" Aunadar snapped. "So, say we agree to your vote of heralds, and the council forms, and they vote you down on something-what then?"
"I accede to their wishes," Vangerdahast replied, "but continue to formulate policy for the realm. They are to act as reins on me and the princess under my tutelage, not as commanders over us. Moreover, voting us down does not make her an un-princess or oust me from my office as Royal Magician of the Realm."
Aunadar nodded slowly, stroking his chin. "I can see us coming to an agreement on this," he said slowly. "Tell me, what do you really think of such a council?"
"A good notion," the wizard said. "It's high time some of our nobles saw the decisions a ruler faces clearly, rather than through the bellyaching, self-serving blinkers most of them habitually wear."
"What?"
The wizard held up a hand. "Don't roar at me, young Bleth. You wanted plain speech, remember?" He waggled a finger. "Besides, I need to know your answer to a question."
"And that question is?" Aunadar Bleth snapped, still visibly angry.
"Our council and regency are installed, and both run more or less smoothly-let us say," The wizard leaned forward to fix Bleth with a searching gaze. "What happens if, after five years, Tanalasta is no more capable of taking up the reigns of power than she is now?"
"And who would judge such a thing?" Aunadar replied softly. "We both know that she'd never measure up-in your eyes-to what a monarch of Cormyr has to be."
"It's nice to know that you already know what we'll both think five winters hence," Vangerdahast said dryly. "No wonder every last noble in the realm thinks he knows exactly how to govern Cormyr."
Aunadar Bleth sighed and set down his glass. "You can never stop teaching the fools that the gods set all around you, can you?"
The wizard almost smiled. "It's one way to spend a life," he said mildly.
The young noble shook his head, sighed, and then said briskly, "In answer to your question, the council would see to it that the crown princess ascended the throne in any event, proclaiming the situation throughout the realm. I doubt even a Lord High Wizard could last long if every last hand in the kingdom was raised against him. No matter where you slept, there'd always be a forester or farmer or goodwife, skillet or something in hand, to smite you down."
Vangerdahast raised his brows but said nothing.
The young noble smiled triumphantly and added, "One more thing. I know that one of the Obarskyr family treasures is an item that protects the mind of its wearer from sorcerous influences. I want Tanalasta to wear that item, and I want it examined by a neutral wizard-one not from this realm-to be sure that it hasn't been tampered with. I want him to ascertain and tell all of the council the precise limitations of its powers, and I want enchantments that duplicate those powers placed upon items worn by all members of the council, including myself. I'm afraid that, as one of those arrogant young nobles you speak of, I can't find myself ever linking the word 'trust' and the word 'wizard.'" He gave Vangerdahast a saccharine smile and picked up the empty glass. "Something to drink?"
The wizard shook his head. "Everyone seems to be buying his poisons from Westgate these days, and they always make things too salty so they can water down the stuff, because folk are driven to drink more of it."
Aunadar's lips tightened. "I don't like your inference, mage."
"Whether you like or dislike what I do or say is immaterial, noble," Vangerdahast replied easily. "I am trying to govern a realm, not win fawning popularity contests among young noble boys."
"Yes," Aunadar said softly, "that's precisely what you're trying to do-govern a realm. And for the good of our realm, I am going to stop you. Wizards have twisted the lives of all in Cormyr long enough."
"Ah, that grandest of phrases: 'For the good of the realm.' It can cover everything from outright murder to