The Vacant Throne - Ed Greenwood [111]
As the man turned away, the baron raised his eyes and said, "My thanks, Taurym. Have all within the walls roused, dressed for travel and ready to carry what they most value, and-but for the guards and kitchen staff-in the stables, ready to ride away on everything that can be mounted. Those who cannot stay in a saddle are to lead away the mules, or just set free and drive off every last beast… if I fall or give the order to fly."
The steward turned to go, and his master lifted a very steady hand that had a goblet in it, and added, "One more thing, Taurym. Once you've invited our guests to make their own way hence from the forecourt, see to it that the House Wizard is fully aware of the possible danger-and that, whatever his orders and wishes, his apprentices are awake and ready to fight and to flee."
Taurym had served the man some called the Crow of Cardassa-always well out of earshot of both the baron and his sword-sworn servants-for a long time, so he dared to tarry now and ask, "Lord, did you know these visitors were coming?"
The baron's smile was so thin that a man less familiar with him might have missed it entirely. "No, nor do I know who they are. Yet, let us say, I have my suspicions… and wonderments, too, one of them being why it has taken them this long to darken our doors."
Taurym regarded him in silence for the space of a long breath before murmuring, "Great Lord, it is a honor to serve you," and turning smoothly away.
Ithclammert Cardassa watched him go without moving a muscle-but the goblet that he put to his lips once his steward was gone trembled visibly ere he drained it.
20
Barons Bo1der
No knock fell upon the doors facing the Baron of Cardassa before they opened, without warning but also without violence, leaving him looking up from his papers at a silent line of masked and cloaked men.
"Welcome to Tathcaladorn," he said calmly, "travelers. Wine awaits you yonder, stands for your cloaks over there. May I have the pleasure of knowing who is enjoying the hospitality of Cardassa this night?"
The largest and most heavily armored men stepped forward into the room first, looking swiftly to the right, left, and upwards, marking where all the doors were. These would be the bodyguards, and they were eight in number.
Cardassa, who sat alone with his sword now scabbarded at his side, did not let a smile come to his lips. Well, if silent menace was the game, he could at least parry. He sat back to calmly study his next paper as the plate-armored bodyguards stalked forward, exchanged wary glances, and finally-having seen that the room was empty of all men but the one seated before them-nodded back over their shoulders at the others. They, in turn, stepped forward, drawing the doors closed behind them, swung down the ornamented latch-bars that would keep all but the strongest of men out, and turned to face the baron again.
Then they all doffed their masks in unison, revealing some faces with which Cardassa was not unfamiliar, and identified themselves tersely in turn: "Adeln." "Ornentar." "Tarlagar." "Mauveiron." "Caladash." "Talasorn."
Ithclammert Cardassa gave them a smile, and waved again at the wine.
"I mark also the warrior Narvim, once of Blackgult and more recently seen, I believe, in Castle Adeln. And beside him would be Marthith of Ornentar Castle." He looked along the line of warriors, received only silence and steady stares in return, and then turned to look directly at the oldest of his foes. "So your bodyguards lack tongues?"
"No," Baron Esculph Adeln replied smoothly, "but neither do they lack discipline-or discretion."
The Lord of Cardassa raised his eyebrows. "Really? Then I must needs conclude that their masters are sorely lacking in those traits. Is any matter of state so weighty that it can draw together two barons of the realm, another man who would be, and three wizards of name to take horse together in the night… and yet so dark