The Vacant Throne - Ed Greenwood [109]
The Lord of Loushoond nodded slowly. "So, then," he said softly, "here I stand, my wits free once more. Convince me."
The man who'd once been the Spellmaster of Silvertree regarded the baron thoughtfully for a moment, and then leaned forward in his seat and said in an eager rush, "Let there be a scheme hatched between us. It is a thing made possible because I recognize some of the magics that protect the Risen King, and know how to control those fields to compel the king to move and-in a crude, limited way, much as the Serpents were controlling you-act as I bid."
The baron frowned again, and took a grim step forward in the rubble. "And how is this something I would want to be part of, wizard?"
Ambelter spread his hands. "Bear in mind that this is a power best used very sparingly. It's my intent to use it only twice."
He rose from the seat and strolled across the chamber, his feet disturbing no rubble-and making no sound. Berias Loushoond watched him with narrowed eyes.
"Firstly," the sorcerer said, "I'd compel the king to blunder into a 'secret' Serpent ritual. When he appears, he'll doubtless be attacked by the attending clergy-whereupon agents urged on by my spells will lead a charge of well-armed courtiers to rescue their king."
"And-?" the baron growled, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"And a lot of Serpent-priests will be slaughtered," the Spellmaster continued with a smile, "the king will end up beholden to his rescuers, and as we both-through my magics-watch everything from a safe and concealed distance, our agents will have the chance to scour the bodies and the area for Serpent-magic."
"Perhaps even the Dwaer-Stone the priests are rumored to command," the baron murmured, giving the wizard a sidelong glance.
Ingryl Ambelter smiled, shrugged, and added, "Then follows my second compulsion of the king: I bring His Risen Majesty into a private meeting with ourselves, whereat you portray yourself as the only baron truly loyal to the River Throne, who has at great personal risk defied the spells of the Serpent-clergy to make alliance with an outlander wizard-who shall be myself, wearing a different face and name-to defend the rightful Risen King from the great evil of the Serpent. In other words, I use my compulsions only to win us the royal attention that you, at least, deserve… and have earned, many times over, were every man in Aglirta to have his just due."
Berias Loushoond nodded, a light kindling in his eyes, and said, "So we stand face-to-face with the Lord of all Aglirta, with our fortune left riding on our tongues. And what words shall we use then?"
"We tell the king that if he grants us titles-giving me some court standing, and making you a baron above the other barons-we'll whelm the army he so desperately needs and make war on the Serpent."
"And if he refuses?"
"I could compel him," Ingryl said slowly, "but I'd far rather the king acted freely, out of his own judgements and desires. I need to trust his trust."
"And so?"
"And so, if he refuses, we meet again and plan otherwise than we do here and now. Yet I do not think he will refuse."
He'll not refuse because you will compel him, the baron thought grimly, staring into the wizard's eyes. And if your spells let you hear my thoughts now-well enough: you know what I'm thinking. "And if he accepts?" he asked, rubbing his gauntleted hands slowly together.
"We whelm the force we've promised, using sellswords I have more than enough coin to call to our banner, in Sirlptar, in the Southerlands-and on the Isles, where there are many men who'd love to slaughter Aglirtan warriors and at the same time buy a promise of peace betwixt their watery realm and the River Throne. We take them into battle against barons-your