Cormyr_ a novel - Ed Greenwood [31]
In a back corner, Vangerdabast saw the grim, white-bearded face of Erdreth start to turn, beginning to ceaselessly scrutinize the gathering from a back corner. The Royal Magician smiled in approval. Erdreth was checking for all manner of magical devices and potential dangers. The priests, of course, took Vangerdahast's approving grin as a smile of welcome to them and made various gracious nods of superiority.
"Respectful greetings, your hallowed graces," Vangerdahast said loudly and pleasantly. "The Crown of Cormyr requires your services in an important matter involving the very safety of the state, of your persons, and of the health of every man, woman, and child in Suzail." That got their attention.
"There is a man in the chambers of Crown Princess Tanalasta," he went on, not giving them any time to interject any speeches about their willingness, loyalty, and the like, "who may bear a disease, or a poison, or even fell magic. A nobleman. He must be examined without delay, lest he spread a plague-or worse-throughout the palace. And what afflicts the palace touches the court, fair Suzail, and eventually all the realm. I need you to make that examination."
"Us?" The huntmaster demanded, waving the jack of wine without shame. "Why can't you-or your precious war wizards-do it?"
Vangerdahast spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "My skills are insufficient, and my presence has been for the moment judged undesirable by the princess." He fell silent, giving them the opportunity to ask the questions he knew they would.
"Forgive me if this verges on the indelicate," Manarech of Tymora said tentatively, "but am I to understand that we are being asked to force our way into the bedchambers of the princess? And interrupt her, perhaps, in the company of a man who may be her…?" He fell silent, making a meaningful circling gesture with his hand. No one present lacked the imagination to supply the word that had been omitted: lover.
"And just who is this man?" the high priest of Tyr asked, brows drawn together in a frown of consideration.
"The man is Aunadar Bleth," Vangerdahast told them, "and he may be the paramour of the princess, for all I know… or have bothered to ask." He made the last few words almost a rebuke, looking around the room as he uttered them so that no man could feel personally singled out and slighted. Gods, he thought inwardly, priests are as bad as wizards-a keg full of pride crammed into a tankard of wits, the lot of them! Including, no doubt, he reflected ruefully, this wizard as well.
"Is the matter as urgent as all that?" the songmaster of Milil asked pettishly. "Could it not be brought to the holy place of-ah, one of us-and dealt with in the usual manner?"
"The fate of the realm does hang in the balance," Vangerdahast told them gently. "And for once, that is no empty tale teller's phrase, but the bare truth."
He turned with slow, tragic grandeur to regard High Priest Manarech Eskwuin. "Do you not agree, holy lord? Was what you witnessed earlier not grave enough to threaten the peace of all Cormyr?"
The high priest of Tymora nodded, drawing himself up to his full height and flinging his arms wide dramatically to make the most of his moment. "It was indeed, and you did right to summon me then, as you do well to call on the holy skills of all of us now. Any time the king of any realm is laid low, and his senior blood nobles with him, is a time when the peace of that realm may well be said to be threatened."
"What?" A general confusion of shouted questions broke out, and Vangerdahast held up his hands for silence. Thankfully he did not have to use the silver whistle, for they quieted at once. Interest made them reach eagerly for his next words.
"Yesterday afternoon," he said gravely, "the