The Floodgate - Elaine Cunningham [117]
The colors shifted into a rainbow, which slowly spread out like a tapestry of light.
Woven upon it in threads of magic was the image of a massive force gathering at the foothills of the mountains.
The chanting died away, engulfed by the horrified gasps that swept the room.
"Halruaa is about to be invaded!" one of the wizards blurted.
"Not so." Matteo stepped forward and pointed to the shimmering tapestry.
"This peak is Jhiridial, in the eastern wall. Note the sun: It rises behind the mountains."
"Lady Mystra," Zalathorm swore softly, understanding Matteo's point. "Those troops are not on the far side of the mountain wall! They stand upon Halruaa herself!"
Matteo nodded. "The invasion has already begun."
Chapter Twenty-Two
Fury washed through Procopio's blood like molten steel. He stood before the king in what should have been the defining moment of his life. Thanks to that accursed Matteo, all his plans and dreams were slipping through his fingers like water!
Yet he might still salvage something of this. "Your Majesty, I will lead a skyship fleet into the Nath to repel the Crinti, then meet your army at the eastern wall."
Zalathorm nodded. "Good. If the Crinti are as numerous as Matteo fears, they could move in from behind and pin our forces."
Procopio shot a look at the troublesome jordain. "I request that Matteo accompany me. While he was in my service, we devised many strategies for just such an invasion."
It was a subtle way of taking for himself a bit of the credit for Matteo's early warning. Better still, it hinted that he had divined a threat that Zalathorm had missed. It wasn't quite what he'd hoped for, but he would work with it.
"You are obviously well prepared," Zalathorm noted, gazing at Procopio with eyes that saw far too much. "I will lead the attack on the approaching Mulhorandi army. The rest of you, summon whatever forces you command, and follow."
Good, thought Procopio. Two battles. Zalathorm will win one, and I, the other.
Matteo was not yet finished. "Your Majesty, there is another threat. I hesitate to speak of it in open council."
"This is no time for delicacy!" snapped Zalathorm. "As you yourself have observed, the safety of Halruaa comes before all other considerations. Speak!"
With obvious reluctance, Matteo told of Kiva's intrusion into the queen's chambers, of the many clockwork creatures she took with her. "I fear these creatures are nearby. The magic required to transport such large items any distance is immense. Kiva employed a spell of diffusion, a powerful battle spell that can scatter an army by sending its members to several nearby places."
Zalathorm's eyes narrowed. "You heard this spell? How did you happen to be in the queen's chambers when this occurred?"
"I was not. This device was."
He showed the king the magic mouth bottle, then pulled the cork. Procopio suppressed a snort of laughter when he recognized the carved visage of one of the northland's great wizards. It was said that the Old Sage cast a long shadow, but all the way to Halruaa?
The echo of Kiva's elven soprano filled the room with magic-rich chant, and Procopio forgot everything else. When the spell was complete, Matteo replaced the cork.
The king's face was grim. "Very well. The city must be fortified and secured.
The battle wizard Lhamadas will command the city militia."
"There is yet another threat," Matteo said in a heartsick voice. "One within the palace itself."
He pulled the cork again. The voice of Queen Beatrix answered Kiva's questions. The entire Council of Elders heard Kiva commending Beatrix for a job well done.
For many moments, profound silence ruled the council chamber. "If I could have spared you this, sire," Matteo said softly, "I would have done it."
The king met his gaze. "You did your duty, jordain. I will do mine."
Procopio stepped forward to seize the moment, and, Mystra willing, the throne itself. "Your Majesty, none can deny that Beatrix is guilty of high treason.
By law, the sentence is death, to be carried out immediately."
For the first time,