The Last Ring-bearer - Kirill Yeskov [180]
Suddenly Eornis realized that the timid book mouse has simply voiced what the entire dozen of lesser clofoels were thinking. Not just them, either, as became clear the next second when the enraged clofoel of Might tossed his chair aside – for the clofoel of Tranquility was already coming around the table towards him, stepping softly as a tiger, hand on the hilt of his sword, and a smile fit to freeze the Eternal Fire on his lips.
"You've just mentioned rebellion, esteemed clofoel of Might… that's an interesting thought, isn't it, o radiant Lord?"
"Hey, you… both of you…" the Lord mumbled and shrank in his chair: the lesser clofoels already backed to the walls, and…
"Stop!!" The solution that occurred to the clofoel of the World was akin to a flash of lightning: all the pieces of the puzzle she had been trying in vain to assemble suddenly fell together in the only possible way. "I am speaking to you, clofoel of Might!"
He probably would not have listened to anyone else, but over the last few years' worth of intrigues she had always taken the Lady's side, and thus had some influence over him. "The radiant Lady did mention – in passing and half-jokingly – that the clofoel of Stars was not to preen before her Mirror. However, she had imposed no restrictions on the other clofoels' access to the crystal. Do you agree, esteemed clofoel of Might?"
"Yes, that's true…"
"See? It's settled, then: by the will of the Council I will ascend the Moon Tower. Of course, my magical capabilities can't even be compared to the talents of the esteemed clofoel of Stars, but I'm at least capable of comprehensively reporting the Mirror's condition to her."
The clofoel of Stars shook her head. "Do you have any idea, esteemed clofoel of the World, how dangerous it is to look in the Mirror to anyone not protected by my magical talents, as you've referred to them?"
"I have no intention of looking in the Mirror – my selflessness doesn't go that far," laughed Eornis. "As far as I know, the radiant Lady uses Lórien's human visitors for this purpose; they are mortal anyway, sooner or later. We happen to have one handy – that flying Troll. I hope he hasn't been liquidated yet, has he, esteemed clofoel of Tranquility?"
"No, not yet. We'll have to fix him up some, though: when the poor slob read his testimony, he totally fell apart – first tried to kill himself, then went catatonic."
"That's no obstacle to what we need to do. So it's agreed – you will turn the Troll over to me before noon?"
"Agreed. However, esteemed clofoel of the World… I'm a little concerned for your safety. A Troll is a Troll – a wild and unpredictable creature. The three of us will go to the Moon Tower together – you, me, and him. That'll be safer."
"I am so touched by your concern, esteemed clofoel of Tranquility."
"Not at all, esteemed clofoel of the World."
Chapter 66
The sun was already approaching its zenith when they have passed the guards of the clofoel of Might at the entrance to the Moon Tower. The narrow spiral staircase forced them to go single-file. The clofoel of Tranquility went first, easily taking every other step; of course, he was not afraid of the Troll following him and had not even handcuffed him, relying on a Web spell instead. Milady Eornis brought up the rear, going over the details of her plan for one last time. Yes, there's a chance of success, but it's really minuscule, and the worst part is that everything depends on a myriad of coincidences, rather than her own abilities. In any event, her long game with the clofoel of Tranquility had reached its end – only one of them will be coming out of this tower, with only chance determining which one…
The top chamber of the Moon