Cormyr_ a novel - Ed Greenwood [71]
The joke was as weak as its teller, but Vangerdahast laughed in relief. A flash, at least, of Azoun's true spirit meant the king hadn't given up on life just yet.
But the king was looking oddly green about the eyes, and his head had fallen back on the pillow again. "So, gods-blasted… tired," he gasped, his voice trailing away. A breath later he was asleep, eyes closed, head turned to one side.
"He needs to sleep, doesn't he?" the wizard asked the priests who were hastily gathering around the king's head, feeling at his hands and brow and neck.
One of them, a short man whose face was almost hidden by a bristling mustache, looked up. "Of course," he snapped. "Who can heal in peace with this going on?" He indicated the long line of waiting, chattering nobles with an angry wave of his hand.
Another turned from Azoun to say, "In general terms, I agree. Yet from time to time, 'tis probably best if the king speaks with folk, as he did with you. The converse forces him to use his wits, especially if matters new to him, or which he's not considered in some time, are raised."
"Nonsense!" The first priest snarled. "He's not fallen on his head or been smitten with a mace! It's rest he needs, not a lot of chatter! I-"
"Your understanding of the king's condition is hardly-"
"I dispute what both of ye say! We of-"
Vangerdahast's hand went to his pocket belt, but instead of pulling out the whistle, he instead pulled out a milky flashstone. He held the magical stone up, and it issued a sharp, brilliant strobe of light, startling more than one holy man into a fall and shocking them all into silence.
The source of the blinding burst of radiance stood with his hands on his hips and looked grimly at them all. "If the king wakes and wants to talk to you or any of these nobles, let him. If he wants them to leave his side, see that they do. If any noble tries to rouse the king or complains about having to wait for his awakening, throw him out."
One of the priests blinked. "Throw a noble of the realm out of this chamber? Lord wizard, that's hardly-"
Vangerdahast held up an imperious hand. "I know. That's why these good Knights of the Purple Dragon around us here will enforce my command and bring chamberpots and pillows to any nobles who want to spend the night defending their precious place in line." He turned slowly, to catch the eyes of the men-at-arms, and collected many nods of grim satisfaction and a few open grins.
"If any noble has a formal complaint to make or tries to countermand my orders, refer him-personally-to me." He turned back to the priests and added darkly, "They should settle any matters pertaining to titular or property succession with their kindred first."
He looked slowly at each of the priests in turn, meeting their gazes, and asked, "Is there anything unclear in what I've just said? Does anyone find the slightest room for misunderstanding or speculation as to my will? Speak if so!"
Silence was his only reply. The Royal Magician smiled coldly and said to one of the guards, "Thanorbert, send pages down the line of nobles to repeat the orders I've given and send men enough after them to see that they aren't manhandled. A noble who lays an unfriendly finger on any page is to be thrown to the ground, lashed on the behind just once with a swordbelt-but make it a good blow-and thrown out, losing his place in line. All right?"
"More than all right, lord," the Purple Dragon veteran said from behind him. "It shall-enthusiastically-be done just as you have said."
"Good," the Royal Magician said and strode out of the hall without looking back. He passed through the Hornbow Bower, one of a number of small sitting rooms that littered the palace, marked by potted plants and ornate screens. He did not speak to the cooks and servants assembling there to prepare food for the war wizards, men-at-arms, and priests attending the king.