Pool of Radiance - James M. Ward [100]
"If that big oaf has the two ioun stones as you suggest, I can use them to complete the figure of power and control the Pool of Radiance and all that goes with it. As the legitimate First Councilman of Phlan and controller of the pool, I'll have authority and power over the living and the dead, humanoid and human alike!… And I'll be able to provide you with the precise environment you require to practice your art!
"Think of it!" Cadorna put on his best sales pitch. "You'll have first crack at any and all magical finds. That dagger I gave you and those spellbooks-they'll be only the beginning!" Cadorna drew up his hands like a young child seeing a present for the first time. "And… I'll be able to provide you with an unlimited supply of subjects for your experiments."
This last idea hadn't occurred to Gensor, and he beamed with genuine pleasure when Cadorna brought it up. "Yes! Truly outstanding. You do understand my needs, Councilman. But how do you expect to get the ioun stones, and how do you expect to defeat the Lord of the Ruins?" This was the part Gensor hadn't figured out yet, and he was looking for some of Cadorna's usual ingenuity to pull the whole thing off.
"The first part is simple… perfect, in fact." Cadorna strolled back to his desk, sat down, and motioned for Gensor to sit as well. "You haven't forgotten our old friend Yarash the sorcerer-the one whose magic pollutes the river?"
Gensor immediately knew the tack Cadorna's thoughts were taking. "What about him?" he asked eagerly.
"Well, there he is, an eccentric, obstinate wizard whose power and independence have been a thorn in the side of the Lord of the Ruins practically forever… I simply send word to the Lord of the Ruins that I've sent those three off on a death mission to deal with Yarash. Win or lose, the Lord of the Ruins is happy because he doesn't want Yarash alive any more than he wants the cleric, thief, and mage alive. You contact the sorcerer. Yarash, old fool that he is, won't care one whit about the ioun stones beyond their immediate monetary or exchange value. You can flatter him-tell him a partial truth-how we could think of no one else strong enough to defeat the mage woman…"
There was truth to that, Gensor thought, and he nodded and gestured for Cadorna to go on.
"Promise him a virtually unlimited supply of guinea pigs for his 'experiments.' "
"Same thing you promised me, eh?"
Cadorna flushed. "No! I didn't mean-"
Gensor waved a hand to silence him. "Merely a joke, Councilman. I understand the difference." While Gensor didn't trust Cadorna to tell the truth about the time of day, he knew the councilman was serious about providing an unfettered environment for his magic-at least, as long as it was convenient to do so. And once Gensor was powerful enough, he really wouldn't need Cadorna anymore…
"Uh, well, anyhow, as I was saying, I want you to enlist Yarash's aid. Meanwhile, I'll see that the three parties under discussion are arrested for something… maybe even the brawl last night." Cadorna sped ahead. "The council won't care about the details once I tell them that I propose to send the party upriver to find the source of its pollution and put a stop to it. Not even the First Councilman himself knows about Yarash. Can you believe it? But that won't stop me from telling the party something about the old wizard to pique their interest. Those three will bound off on this mission like lambs to slaughter when I tell them about the chance to stop the horrible devastation being done to the river… and when I mention that Yarash knew Denlor well…"
Gensor nodded in deference to Cadorna's insight, and Cadorna continued.
"If Yarash defeats them, I get the ioun stones. By the time they return- if they return, and I can't imagine how they'd manage it-I'll be First Councilman. I'll simply have the Black Watch arrest them at the city gates."
"On what grounds?"
"I don't know-treason, perhaps. It won't matter. No one will question my authority. Under completely legal auspices, the Black Watch guards will strip them of their weapons and magical