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all wars and battles fought since the dawn of time. And whose name
should be found as high admiral of the Ergothian fleet, but one Guldur Ul
Vissen? A name strangely similar to your own, wouldn't you agree? Since
your princess saw fit to come here in disguise, it does not tax belief to
think you may have also." The speaker clasped his hands behind his back.
"What have you to say, Master Ulvissen?"
Ulvissen regarded the Speaker of the Stars with utter coolness. "Your
Highness is mistaken," he said firmly. "A similarity of names proves
nothing. Vissen is a common name in Ergoth."
"Do you agree, Lady?"
Teralind flinched. "Yes. What is the point? I've told you why I
pretended to be someone else. But my seneschal is who he claims to be."
Sithel tucked the parchment into his sash. "As an imperial princess,
please go with my best wishes and every hope of safety, but do not bring
your 'seneschal' to Silvanost again. Do you understand?" The harsh tone
was unusual for the speaker. "Those who despoil my country and kill my
subjects are not welcome in my city or my house. Please let this be known
when you arrive in Daltigoth, Lady."
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With that, the speaker turned on his heel and walked away. Nirakina.
Followed. Tamanier bowed and did likewise. Sithas, wide-eyed, went last.
In the rotunda outside the humans' quarters, Sithel turned to his wife
with a broad smile on his face. He shook a fist at the ceiling.
"At last!" he said fiercely. "I've given that contentious woman her
own back!" He turned to Tamanier. "You have been of great service to me.
You shall be rewarded."
Tamanier blinked and bowed. "I seek only to serve Your Highness
and Lady Nirakina," he said.
"So you shall." Sithel pondered for a moment, stroking his pointed
chin. "I wish to appoint you chamberlain of the court. The management of
daily court life shall fall to you. You will be known as Lord Ambrodel,
and your clan shall have the right to inherit the title." The speaker folded
his arms and asked, "What say you to that, Lord Ambrodel?"
Tamanier gaped like a startled child. At last he collected himself and
dropped to one knee. "I thank you, Highness," he said humbly. "I will
serve you to the end of my days!"
"I think my days will end before yours," Sithel said wryly. "But you
can serve my son after."
Laughing, the royal family and their new chamberlain left the
rotunda. Sithas put a hand on Tamanier Ambrodel's arm.
"A word, my new lord," Sithas said in a confidential whisper, pulling
him aside.
"Yes?" said Tamanier discreetly.
"Let us go to a more private location."
They left the palace. Outside, the air was sweet with flowers and the
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marble walks were covered with blossoms fallen from the trees. Sithas
said nothing until they were some distance from any observers.
"You know someone in the palace has been giving information to the
Ergothians," Sithas said conspiratorially, looking eastward to the fine
houses of the nobility. "I would appreciate it if you would help me find out
who the traitor is."
"I'll do what I can, noble prince," said Tamanier earnestly.
"Good. As chamberlain, you'll have access to every part of the palace.
I want you to use your authority to root out the spy and reveal him to me."
Sithas paused and looked straight at Tamanier. "But be wise. I don't want
the wrong person accused. And I don't want the culprit alerted."
"Do you have any suspects?" asked Tamanier.
"Officially, no. Personally, yes," Sithas said grimly. "I suspect my
own wife, Lady Hermathya."
"Your wife!" Tamanier was so shocked he could hardly believe what
he had heard.
"Surely, noble prince, your wife loves you. She would not betray you
to the humans!"
Sithas rubbed his hands slowly together. "I only have suspicions. All I
can say about Hermathya's motives is that she so loves attention and the
cheers of the people, that she spends huge amounts of money to keep their
favor. I do not give her coins to scatter in the streets, yet she never seems
to lack for money."
Shocked, yet pitying the prince at the same time, Tamanier asked,
"Do you suspect anyone else?"
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"Yes, and perhaps he is the stronger candidate. His name is
Vedvedsica. He is a sorcerer and a priest, he claims, of Gilean the Gray
Voyager. My father sometimes uses his clairvoyant skills, but Vedvedsica
is a greedy conniver who would do anything for gold or power."
"The emperor of Ergoth has plenty of gold," Tamanier said sagely.
They talked for several minutes more. Tamanier vowed to detect the
traitor, and Sithas listened approvingly, nodded, then walked away. The
newly created chamberlain was left in the east garden, surrounded by
fallen petals and singing birds.
* * * * *
The farmers were apprehensive when they first saw the column of
armed warriors ride by, but when they realized who the Wildrunners were,
they came to greet these newcomers. Along the way, Kith-Kanan sent
troopers to help one farmer to fell a tree, another to free an ox from a
boggy ditch, and a third to mend a fence. Word of these kindnesses spread
ahead of the Wildrunners' march and increased the number of enthusiastic
elves Silvanesti and Kagonesti who came out to greet Kith-Kanan and his
troops.
For the next few days, the way of the march was lined with grateful
farmers and their families, bearing gifts of new nectar, smoked meat, and
fruit. Wreaths of flowers were hung around the Wildrunners' necks.
Kith-Kanan's mount Kijo was draped with a garland of white roses. At one
point, the prince ordered his pipers to play a lively tune, and the
Wildrunners passed through the countryside in a swirl of music, flowers,
and smiling settlers. It was more like a festival than a military expedition.
Some of the more veteran warriors were astonished.
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Now, ten days from Silvanost, sitting around the blazing campfire,
warriors asked Kith-Kanan why he was making such a show of helping the
farmers and herders they met.
"Well," he explained, stirring his soup with a wooden spoon, "if this
militia idea is to succeed, the people must see us as their friends and not
just their protectors. You see, our ranks will be filled by the same farmers,
woodcutters, and herders we help along the way. They will be the troops,
and all of you will be their leaders."
"Is it true we're to take in humans and dwarves in the ranks?" asked a
captain with some distaste.
"It is," said Kith-Kanan.
"Can we rely on such fighters? I mean, we all know humans can fight,
and the dwarves are stout fellows, but will they obey orders to attack and
slay fellow humans or dwarves if those orders come from an elf?" asked
one of the older sergeants.
"They will, or they'll be expelled from the militia and lose its
protection," Kith-Kamm responded. "You ask if humans will serve us by
fighting humans. Some will, some won't. We'll be fighting elves, too, I
expect. I've heard tales of robber bands made up of humans, Kagonesti, [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] - zanotowane.pl
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