Sanctuary - Lynn Abbey [218]
“Arizak’s wife, Nadalya, wants the Savankh and the Necklace together for her son, to legitimize his expected rule. We’ve disagreed on this, but debate is a luxury Sanctuary can no longer afford. As his god wills, Arizak’s wound may not kill him for another five years, but if he’s got to root the Hand out from beneath the Promise of Heaven, he’s going to have to anoint a successor—or maybe two: Give the Irrune to the Young Dragon and he to them, but give the Savankh and Necklace to one of Nadalya’s city-bred sons.
“The Necklace is ours—I’ll tell you where it’s hidden. But the Savankh is out at Land’s End. Serripines won’t surrender a brass soldat if he thinks it’s going to the offspring of a Dark Horde chieftain—never mind that the Irrune suffered more from the Horde than he did. You’re going to have to handle him carefully. Try not to lie—but a little deception—”
“Games!” Cauvin erupted. “Galya’s right. The Hand’s got my brother, and you want to play froggin’ games with rich, old men. I’m not playing games any longer. I’ve got better things to do.”
“I’m giving you the keys to power in Sanctuary. What could be more important than that?”
“Killing my own snakes!” Cauvin shouted.
Beneath the loft, the mule stirred, and outside, the yard dog began to bark.
“Shhsh! You’ll wake the dead. What snakes?”
“Leorin.”
“Porking bastard!” the Torch shouted, lapsing into Imperial, though Cauvin was quite familiar with the insult. “Leorin’s a problem because you didn’t think ahead, didn’t plan your moves and everyone else’s too. You’ll resolve Leorin after you’ve taken care of larger issues. A resurgence of Dyareela bloodletting would be a catastrophe for Sanctuary. The city needs someone in the palace who commands respect. Get the Savankh! Get the Necklace of Harmony!”
“Get them yourself, pud. If Arizak’s sons are worth respecting, they’ll take care of the Hand without treasure and toys to bribe them. Frog all, Arizak did.”
“Frog all, Arizak got tribute for his trouble! He led the Irrune to Sanctuary because the city promised him—I promised him—the palace and enough treasure to choke his favorite stallion if he dislodged the Hand. If the Hand had offered more, he would have taken their offer. Pay attention, Cauvin—a man like Arizak does what he wants. It’s up to you to make him want what you want.”
“Arizak got tribute?”
“Three coronations for each rider. More for fathers and grandfathers. Much more to Arizak himself. And all of it paid for by the ‘rich, old men’ of Sanctuary—which is why, Cauvin, you’ve got to keep them happy, too. It’s not games, Cauvin, it’s life—diplomacy when it works, war when it fails. And if it fails this time, forget about Bec. Forget Leorin, too.”
“Shite.” He was almost persuaded, but no—“Maybe I can walk away from Leorin—for now. But not Bec. The Hand’s got my brother, and I don’t give a froggin’ ring on a froggin’ rat’s tail for what happens to Sanctuary until he’s safe. So you’d better help me figure out how to get him away from the Hand, ‘cause I’m not doing anything else first.”
“There is only one way. Get the Savankh and the Necklace.”
Cauvin began to pace in and out of the lamplight. “Where’s Soldt?”
“Soldt comes and goes. You’re the one who walked away from him. He could be anywhere by now … or sitting on the roof listening to every word we’ve said. It wouldn’t be—”
Cauvin wasn’t listening.
“Pay attention!” the Torch pounded his staff on the floor. “Saddle that horse and ride out to Land’s End. You can be back here with the Savankh by dawn.”
“You mean locked in a Serripines storeroom. Forget your games, pud—help me think of a way to rescue my brother or shut up.”
“You can win my games, pud. You say you know where the boy is; you’re lying. If you knew, that’s where you’d be. Seems to me, the only one who might know where Bec is, is that woman—”
Cauvin agreed. “Leorin knows. She’s still the key. If I can get to her—”
“You’ll regret it for the rest of what’s left of your life. When it comes to games, pud—that woman’s shown you how she plays. You weren’t there when she brought the Hand