The Mage in the Iron Mask - Brian Thomsen [62]
"Agreed, sire," the captain of the Hawks conceded, "it's just that I fear the danger that you place yourself in whenever you lay with her."
"I know, Rickman," the High Blade agreed, "but it excites me, and there is very little else that does anymore."
* * * * *
In the Apartment in the Tower of the Wyvern that the High Blade shared with his Wife:
In the spare hours since dinner, the First Princess once again sought the counsel of her half sister and Mischa was more than willing to lend her assistance and advice.
"Dear sister," Mischa cooed, the formality of titles ignored in favor of disarming familiarity, "what can I do for you?"
"It's not for me, Mischa," the First Princess corrected, "it is for our cause, and the will of Szass Tam."
"Of course, First Princess," the half sister replied.
"I will need your help in procuring the necessary means to enchant my husband. As always we must be discreet. He is very suspicious and not easily distracted."
"I will enlist the greatest of our wizards to the cause," Mischa replied, adding "Discreetly, of course."
"Everything must be prepared so that the spell may be consummated within these walls or else the Cloaks will surely detect it, and we will be doomed to failure."
"Might I recommend a distraction," Mischa suggested, "to occupy them elsewhere?"
"Fabulous idea," the Tharchioness replied, licking her lips and stroking her forehead tattoos with her exotically lacquered nails. "I know the perfect dupe. How about my roly-poly ambassador."
"A marvelous idea, sister."
"Once my husband's guard has been lowered, I will be able to conceive his child. If the High Blade is still willing to do my bidding afterward, so much the better. If not, he can be disposed of."
"And like his father before him, he can be replaced on the throne of Mulmaster by his own son," Mischa extrapolated.
"My son," the Tharchioness repeated, "the first of a long line of Thayan High Blades."
"Long may Szass Tam rule."
"Yes," the Tharchioness agreed, adding silently, "and myself as well."
* * * * *
In the office of the Thayan ambassador to Mulmaster:
The Thayan Ambassador wept at his desk.
"Why me?" he cried out loud. "I entered the foreign service to stay out of danger. I even picked Mulmaster because, through the First Princess's marriage, I was sure we would never be at war."
The note from the First Princess had been vague:
Worm,
The inefficiencies of yourself and your predecessor have caused us great discomfort.
Fear not. I have a plan by which you may redeem yourself, either through its success, or your martyrdom.
Long may Szass Tam rule.
This is your last chance.
–The Tharchioness
The wormlike civil servant picked up the official note from the Tharchioness and read it one more time. As he did, it burst into flames, singing his fingers.
The worm licked his burnt fingertips like a monkey who had tried to catch a flame.
Whatever the Tharchioness wanted him to do, he knew it wouldn't be easy, and he didn't like the mention of martyrdom. The sinking pit in his stomach soon sent chills throughout his body. Save for the trembling, he stayed petrified in place, waiting for further instructions from his princess.
* * * * *
In the Bed Chamber of the High Blade and First Princess of Mulmaster and Thay, respectively:
The High Blade had begun to snore, signaling that he had entered a deep sleep.
Quietly and carefully, so as not to disturb her heinous husband, the Tharchioness stole from their luxurious bed, pausing only momentarily to wrap herself in a silken quilted robe to protect her body, still moist with perspiration, from the late night Mulmaster chill.
Listening for any change in the rhythmic rumbles of her husband's exhalations that would signal his awakening, she quietly tiptoed to her boudoir vanity