Helliconia Summer - Brian W. Aldiss [437]
‘In that case, his wish could have been premonitory,’ said JandolAnganol, with spirit. ‘You are not helpful this evening, Alam.’
‘Forgive me. My legs are in such shape that my head is also affected. I may be more effectual after I have bathed and dined. Meanwhile, I assure you that I am no friend of your somewhat gaseous ex-chancellor.’
‘Except that you both would rid the world of phagors.’
‘So would most men if they had the courage to act. Phagors and fathers.’
They regarded each other. ‘We had better not get to the subject of courage,’ said JandolAnganol, and walked away.
He plunged into a group where men in grand ornamental charfruls and exotic hairpieces were conversing with King Sayren Stund, interrupting them without apology. Sayren Stund looked flustered, but reluctantly asked his audience to leave him. A space was cleared about the two kings. Immediately, a lackey came forward with a silver tray, to present glasses of iced wine. JandolAnganol turned. Only half deliberately, he knocked the tray from the man’s hand.
‘Tut-tut-tut,’ said Sayren Stund. ‘No matter, it was an accident, I saw that. Plenty more wine. And more ice, as a matter of fact, delivered now by a lady captain, Immya Muntras. We must accustom ourselves to such innovations.’
‘Brother king, never mind the niceties of conversation. You are sheltering here in your palace a man who was my chancellor, of whom I rid myself, a man I think my enemy, since he went over to the Sibornalese cause, by name SartoriIrvrash. What does he want here? Has he brought you some secret message from my ex-queen, as I fear?’
The King of Oldorando looked about apprehensively.
‘The man you mention arrived here only twenty minutes ago, along with gentry of good character, such as Alam Esomberr. I agreed to give him shelter. He has a lady with him. I assure you they are not to be guests under this roof.’
‘She is Sibornalese. I dismissed that man. I conclude that he cannot be here to do me any favours. Where will they lodge?’
‘Dear brother, I hardly think that is business of mine or yours. The dusk-moth must keep to the dusk, as we say.’
‘Where will he stay? Are you protecting him? Be frank with me.’
Sayren Stund had been sitting on a high chair. He rose with dignity and said, ‘It grows heated in here. Let us take a walk in the garden before we become overheated.’ He gestured to his wife to remain behind.
They progressed through the room amid a corridor of bows. Only the runt Yuli followed. The gardens were lit by flambeaux set in niches. Since almost as little air circulated as in the palace, the torches burned with a steady flame. A sulphurous smell hung about the neatly trimmed avenues.
‘I do not wish to vex you, Brother Sayren,’ JandolAnganol said. ‘But you understand that I have unknown enemies here. I perceived just by the look of SartoriIrvrash, by his expression, that he is now my enemy, come to make trouble for me. Do you deny that?’
Sayren Stund had taken better control of himself. He was corpulent and he wheezed as he walked. He said coolly, ‘You appreciate that the common people of Oldorando, or Embruddock, as some like to say, affecting the old mode, regard men of your country – this is not a prejudice I share, you understand – as barbarians. I cannot educate them out of the illusion, not even by stressing the religion we have in common.’
‘How does this answer my question?’
‘Dear, I’m out of breath. I think I have an allergy. May I ask you if you keep that fuggie following at heel simply to offend me and my queen?’ He indicated Yuli with a contemptuous gesture.
It was the turn of JandolAnganol to be at a loss.
‘He’s no more than – a pet hound. He follows me everywhere.’
‘It’s an insult to bring that creature into this court. It should be housed on Whistler Island with the rest of your animals.’
‘I tell you, it’s just a favourite hound. It sleeps outside my bedchamber door at night and will bark if there’s danger.’
Sayren Stund stopped walking, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed