Cormyr_ a novel - Ed Greenwood [74]
The Royal Magician shrugged. "For me to flee now would be to leave the realm unattended, surrendering the throne to anyone who wants it. We would thereby thrust the realm into chaos as every greedy hand grabs for the crown and inevitably battles other claimants. Moreover, if we all disappear, an observer can reach no other conclusion than that we have all gone into hiding-and a long and devastating hunt will begin." He shook his head and strode forward. "It would be Tethyr all over again.
"Nay, Highness," he continued, "our only hope lies in spreading the tale that more than one attack was made upon you in Eveningstar, and that the second succeeded, taking the lives of yourself and Lord Alaphondar here in a fireball or something else that left no bodies behind."
"While you remain behind to face the storm almost alone, in the greatest danger of all of us," Filfaeril said quietly, eyes troubled.
Vangerdahast smiled grimly and corrected her. "While I remain behind to enjoy the lion's share of the fun, watching the disloyal in our realm fall all over themselves and each other trying to take the Dragon Throne."
Something that was almost a smile rose to touch the queen's lips for just a moment, and she murmured, "I do almost envy you, my lord. I would dearly love to see some of the things that will unfold in fair Cormyr in the days ahead."
"So you accept, Your Majesty, that you must 'disappear' for a time?"
Filfaeril nodded slowly. "Know you both that my greatest desire is to remain with Azoun-in life and in death. Were the realm strong and a clear and rightful heir ready to take the crown, I would command you and all in the court, by your oaths, to make my husband's passing as painless as possible."
"It is a pity that you cannot take the throne yourself," said the wizard.
"It is a pity indeed," said the queen, "but only one born into the Obarskyr line may rule. I may wear a crown, but I cannot rule without my husband."
She rose and took two restless steps toward the fire. "The realm is not ready for smooth passage to the rule of an unchallenged heir… so I accede to your wise scheme, for crown and country, for king and Cormyr." She stared into the distance for a moment more, then turned to face Vangerdahast and Alaphondar. Next she took the slim everyday circlet of her rank from her head and held it out before her. The sapphires on its two brow spires flashed. "Do what you must do."
Vangerdahast bowed. "Lady Queen, my intent is to send you and the Sage Royal to Waterdeep, your shapes disguised by magic, to a household where certain loyal war wizards of the realm have already been installed to watch over you." The eyes of the Royal Magician and Lord Alaphondar met briefly, behind the queen's back, the sage nodded almost imperceptibly.
"If you lay your hand upon the bowl on yonder plinth and then put your crown in it, the circlet will sink into the metal and lie hidden, cloaked from all by the bowl's magic. Only your hand upon the bowl again can make it rise up and reappear."
Without hesitation, the queen did as he directed. When she turned around again, Alaphondar was gone. In his place stood the stooped, pox-marked figure of a stout, aged merchant in food-stained robes. The merchant bowed to her and grinned, displaying a smile that was missing rather more teeth than the Sage Royal had ever lost.
She smiled thinly. "And what am I to call you now, Alaphondar?"
"Ah, 'sluggard,' 'good-for-nothing husband,' and 'old fool' are all handy phrases," the old merchant told her, "but my name is Flammos Galdekund, and yours is Aglarra, my queen."
Filfaeril's eyebrows rose. "Won't the neighbors be a trifle surprised to see new inhabitants of whatever house or apartments you've chosen for us?"
"Nay, lady," Vangerdahast said. "Both Flammos and Aglarra really exist, and since their luggage has preceded them from the docks,