The Doom of Kings_ Legacy of Dhakaan - Don Bassingthwaite [170]
But enthusiasm got the better of the crowd. “Breland!” someone cried, and the Brelish ambassador twitched.
“Zilargo!”
“Northern Breland and then into Thrane!”
“Silence!” said Haruuc. He looked out over the court. “You think small! Are you hobgoblins or halflings? Breland, Thrane … what challenge would they be? Ancient blood demands an ancient enemy. As it was in the age of Dhakaan, goblins shall go into battle against elves!” He thrust the Rod of Kings out before him. “Let our blades fall on Valenar!”
For a moment, there was stunned silence in the throne room, then the court burst into a wave of cheers.
“Mothers of the dirge,” said Senen softly. “He’s going to do it. He’s going to start a war.”
Ekhaas’s ears rose high as she unraveled the lhesh’s scheme in her head. “No,” she said. “He’s going to stop one.”
Senen looked at her, but she just stared at Haruuc in amazement. It seemed that he glanced off to one side for an instant, off through the door that led from the dais, then smiled in triumph and raised his arms high above his head. The cheers of the crowd burst out anew.
CHAPTER
THIRTY
As soon as they were back in Khaar Mbar’ost, Vounn had taken Ashi’s arm, pulled her away from the crowd streaming into Haruuc’s throne room, and taken her up to her chambers. “Put a pack together,” she had said. “You’re going to the House Orien compound. Forget the games—I want you back to Sterngate with the first Orien coach on the road. If Haruuc is talking about war, I don’t want you here.”
A few weeks ago, she would have argued with the lady seneschal. No more. She could see the danger as clearly as Vounn. Running back to the safety of Karrlakton felt cowardly. Staying in Darguun felt stupid. “What about you?” she’d asked.
Vounn had shaken her head. “I’ve lived through war. Business goes on. Deneith will need a strong voice in Darguun now more than ever.”
They were almost finished packing when the door of Ashi’s chamber slammed open. Ashi spun, her hand going for her sword. Vounn turned, too, harsh words on her lips. “Aruget! I told you no one—”
But Aruget and Krakuul were still standing beyond the doorway, staring at the panting shifter who pushed past them. Geth pointed at Ashi. “Haruuc needs your dragonmark,” he wheezed. “Now!”
“What? Why?”
“I’ll tell you on the way. Come with me!”
Ashi looked to Vounn. Her mentor pressed her lips together, then shook her head. “It’s your choice.”
“Ashi, if you come with me right now we might able to stop a war,” said Geth.
The muscles of Ashi’s jaw tightened. “Finish packing for me,” she told Vounn. “House Orien won’t be running any coaches yet.” She looked to Geth. “Go!”
Their footsteps echoed in the empty corridors. Everyone who mattered was in the throne room or lurking in the antechamber. Servants were in their quarters. Guards were outside trying to control the celebrations of Rhukaan Draal. They went down the stairs two at a time. “Talk,” said Ashi. “What’s happening?”
“The rod is trying to make Haruuc into a king—an emperor. That’s why he’s been acting the way he has.” In brief words, he described his argument with the lhesh.
When he was finished, Ashi cursed. “We were so worried about Haruuc using the powers of the rod, we didn’t think about the rod using him!”
“Why should we have thought of it? Grandfather Rat, why did we worry at all? Haruuc had all the power he needed without the rod!”
A terrible scream came up the stairs. Ashi lifted her head. Geth put his head down and ran faster. He came to the bottom of the stairs and paused, looking between corridors that led right or straight ahead.
“Straight!” said Ashi.
“Right is shorter,” said a voice from above.
Ashi and Geth looked up. Aruget was hurrying down the stairs after them.
“What are you doing here?” Ashi demanded.
“Orders of the lhesh. Krakuul or I are supposed to be with you or Lady Vounn