Cormyr_ a novel - Ed Greenwood [93]
It was elven poetry. Poetry that Amedahast had taught him. She realized she was trembling, though the night was quite mild.
Amedahast wheeled and headed back to the castle, where the warm lights beckoned and cries of celebration filled the evening air. She stopped at the doorway to raise her hands briefly to her face. No tears. At least that was something.
Yet her face told the tale as she entered the hallway. She nearly collided with an older noblewoman, of House Merendil, if her studies with the treacherous young Azoun had been correct. Azoun had described the ruling matron as a vengeful, petty old woman, and Amedahast vaguely recalled a story that she had caught Azoun stealing apples as a lad.
Now she thought about that story again. Lady Merendil had three daughters. Azoun had probably been caught with more than apples in his hands.
Lady Merendil shot a sudden, questioning glance at Amedahast, then looked out into the garden and smiled. "Ah, the young prince strikes again."
Amedahast choked out her words, "Frankly, I don't care what the 'young prince' strikes. Or whom."
Lady Merendil laid a hand on Ainedahast's shoulder. "You are not the first to have fallen to his charms, my dear. Did he let you think so? I am afraid he is like all the other Obarskyrs. Once their passions get involved, their common decency vanishes."
Amedahast said nothing, and her ladyship steered her into a side alcove. She spoke in a low whisper. "I can see that you are hurt. You must understand that you are not the first in that respect. Azoun and his kind will continue to act in such a fashion until they are taught otherwise, much as a hound struck across the nose will think twice before stealing food from the pantry again."
"He just makes me so-" Amedahast searched for the proper word "-so angry. I trusted him." She began to feel the tears pool at the corners of her eyes, but she fought back the feeling of despair.
"Poor dear," said her ladyship. "I know of a way to set the balance right. Are you interested?"
Amedahast thought for a moment, then nodded. He used poetry she'd taught him for his cheap conquests!
"I know of a group of foreign merchants. Let us call them the Steel Lords," she said, smiling. "They have been hurt by some of King Anglond's taxes and want to reopen negotiations. These Steel Lords think the king needs a message sent to him. I think young Azoun needs a lesson taught to him as well. Perhaps we can kill two birds with one stone."
Amedahast said, "Kill? No, I-"
"Forgive me… a poor choice of words," said Lady Merendil, her smile becoming beatific. "We are no longer savages here in Cormyr. The plan would be to capture the young prince and simply hold him for a few days, then let him go when the Steel Lords have their concessions. A simple transaction. And if it becomes clear that his wenching brought him to this pass, I'm sure His Majesty will keep Azoun on a shorter leash in the future."
Amedahast was silent. Perhaps it would be good to throw a scare into him before he brought ruin on the good name of Obarskyr.
Merendil brought her face close to Amedahast's. "Is there a time when he is alone? A place where he has few guards or watchers?"
Aniedahast thought. There were no guards whenever they met in the garden. Which meant…
Which meant the young fool had planned this from the start. It was no random meeting a month ago. She was just a petty dalliance until the noble season began.
There is no coincidence. First Law of Baerauble, indeed!
"We get together in the garden," she blurted, "in back, at the gazebo. After his ride. Though I don't know if he will ever be back now."
Merendil smiled like the canary-consuming cat. "Excellent," she hissed.
"He won't be hurt at all?" Amedahast pleaded.
"Dear girl," said Lady Merendil, "where would the fun be in that?" And with that, she glided off to rejoin the party.
After a few minutes spent