The Phoenix Guards (28 page)

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Authors: Steven Brust

BOOK: The Phoenix Guards
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“Just this,” she said. “You have explained that we will ask to see Lord Adron.”
“Exactly right,” said Pel.
“But, I had thought that we had just learned, from the conversation which Khaavren and Aerich heard, that he was in Dragaera City, which, you observe, we left some weeks ago.”
“Well,” said Khaavren, “that is true.”
“Then he won’t be there.”
“Well, that is right, too.”
“But that, you perceive, is what I am wondering about: why should we ask for him, knowing, as we do, that he is not there?”
“Because,” said Pel, “it is his home, and therefore, if we are visiting it, it is only proper to ask for him.”
“And yet, if he isn’t home?”
“Then,” said Khaavren, “we shall ask to wait for him.”
“But then, it may be a long wait.”
“In fact,” said Khaavren, “we are hoping it will be.”
“Oh, we are?”
“We are depending upon it.”
“But then, I fail to comprehend.”
“I assure you,” said Khaavren, “I think none the less of your intelligence for that.”
“That is good,” said Tazendra. “And yet, I wonder what we will do, while we are waiting for him?”
“Well, what have we come here to do?”
“I don’t know,” said Tazendra. “I only know that we must find the baroness Kaluma.”
“Who is where?” persisted Khaavren.
“The gods! I think she is at Redface, or we have wasted many weeks of traveling.”
“Well, then, while we are awaiting Lord Adron, we shall be searching for Kathana e’Marish’Chala.”
“Oh,” said Tazendra, her eyes growing wide with wonder. “Now I comprehend.”
“Then,” said Pel, “you must find something else to wonder about.”
“Oh, I will,” said Tazendra. “You may rest easy on that score. Only, there is no hurry, is there?”
“No,” said Pel, “I think you may take your time.”
“That’s good,” said Tazendra.
“Here we are,” said Khaavren, as they came around the last bend in the road and found the west gate was standing with both doors open, creating a break in the wall large enough to admit three coaches side by side without touching in the least. They saluted the guards and rode into the central
courtyard, where their horses were taken by servants, after which our friends were admitted into a comfortable antechamber of the Castle Main, where they gave their names and asked to speak with Lord Adron, if it was convenient to him to do so.
The servant bowed and asked them to wait while he inquired. After he had gone, Tazendra said, “Well, about what do you think he has gone to inquire?”
“No doubt,” said Khaavren, “he has gone to inquire as to what to do about those who wish to see his master while his master is not at home. We must, then, beg to be allowed to wait for him.”
“Very well,” said Tazendra. “And while waiting, we will take the opportunity to search for
her.
”
“Exactly,” said Uttrik, with an expression of relish on his features.
“My dear Uttrik,” said Aerich.
“Well?”
“However this falls out, we will be guests in Lord Adron’s home, and the Baroness is another guest.”
“Well, and?”
“And I trust you will observe etiquette with regard to guests.”
“And yet, she is a criminal, and, moreover, she killed my father.”
“She is a guest,” repeated Aerich laconically.
“Well, and if I should take it into my head to confront her with her actions, and cause her to take responsibility for their consequences?”
“Then we must cross swords.”
“My dear Lyorn—”
“I will regret it intensely, I assure you.”
“But it seems—”
“Your pardon, gentlemen,” said Khaavren, “but allow me to suggest that we refrain from launching that boat until the ground is wet.”
“I agree with Khaavren entirely,” said Pel.
“Very well,” said Aerich.
“As you will have it,” said Uttrik.
Another servant appeared at this time; only, instead of a Teckla, this was an Issola gentleman, who wore green and white robes showing that he was performing his office for Lord Adron. He said, “I am Custrin, at your service. Am I to understand that you do us the honor of requesting an interview with my master, the Prince?”
The five friends rose as one (Mica, as became a lackey, had remained standing), and bowed. Khaavren said, “You have understood us exactly. Only, as we do not wish to disturb him, and as, moreover, our errand is not urgent, we are prepared to wait until a convenient moment, whether it be to-day, to-morrow, or several weeks in the future; you perceive, my dear sir, that we are ready to be amiable.”
“All the better, then, that the Prince is prepared to receive you at once.”
“What?” said Khaavren, astonished. “He is here? That is, he is willing to see us now?”
“At this very moment, if that should please you. Or, if you prefer, and as the Prince is anxious that you should spend at least some little time with him, you may use our guest rooms to refresh yourselves from your journey first, however it please you.”
“No, no,” said Khaavren, endeavoring to hide his confusion. “That is, we should be honored to see Lord Adron at this very moment, if he is not inconveniencing himself.”
“Not at all, I assure you. He returned only yester-day from a long journey, and has rested, but not yet resumed his daily habits, so that the time is admirably suited for an interview.”
“Well, then, we are at your service, my lord.”
The Issola then led them from the antechamber into a well-lit hall, at the end of which was a high-ceilinged chamber furnished with paintings of various nobles of the e’Kieron line, as well as an ornate table that filled a great part of the room, and was supplied with high-backed chairs, no less ornate than the table, as well as a few stuffed chairs pushed into corners. There was a fire going in the black marble fireplace, which fire reflected against the dark wainscoting. At the far end of the room, one hand upon a chair and the other on his hip, was the Duke of Eastmanswatch, etc. etc., Lord Adron e’Kieron.
Adron was just then reaching the height of his powers, but had not yet reached the height of his fame. That is, he had already distinguished himself at the Battle of Twelve Pines, and several times during the Elde Island War, but the Rolling Rock Wars, where he constructed and led the Breath of Fire Battalion, had not yet occurred. Moreover, his studies of sorcery had reached the limits of current knowledge, and he was even then beginning to make use of the infamous blue stones which would allow him, five hundred years later, to harness the power that destroyed the Empire and replaced Dragaera City with the Lesser Sea of Flux. We should add that his eyes were blue and cold, his hair, a very light brown, was worn tied back in a knot like a Lyorn’s which showed off his sharp noble’s point, and he had the “Dragon chin” to such a degree that it was said, in later years, “His chin was so strong it smashed the Empire to pieces.”
Notwithstanding all of this, he bowed politely to the companions and requested that they be seated at the table. He then caused a servant to appear with chilled wine, which he poured and tasted first. “Well, my lords, to what do I owe the honor of the visit with which you have graced my poor house?”
“Your Highness,” said Khaavren, who had used the interval to try to clear up some of the confusion in his mind, “we are here, well, we have come to pay our respects to you.”
“To pay your respects?” said Adron. “How singular. And in whose name do you do so?”
“On behalf of Captain G’aereth,” said Khaavren, or, rather, said Khaavren’s mouth, for it seemed to be supplying the words which his mind appeared unable to discover.
“Captain G’aereth?” said Adron, frowning. “Well, I know him.”
“And he knows you, Your Highness,” said Khaavren.
“And,” added Pel truthfully, “he has the greatest respect for you.”
“But, well, is there something he wants from me?”
“Not at all,” said Khaavren, who could think of nothing the Captain might want. “He merely desired us to pay you a thousand compliments, and to then be on our way.”
Uttrik shifted uncomfortably, but, like the others, was content to allow Khaavren to do the talking.
“And yet,” said Adron, “that cannot be why you have taken this journey so far from the city. Come, speak the truth, the Emperor has sent you here, has he not?”
“The Emperor!” said Khaavren.
“Well?”
“Your Highness, I assure you I have no idea what the Emperor could wish for us to do.”
“But then, you are of the Guard, and I have been given to understand that His Majesty is wroth with me.”
“And so you think—?”
“That you have come to arrest me, have you not? Well, I assure you that I shall accompany you happily; and will be only too glad to plead my case before the court.”
“I give you my word, Your Highness—”
“Oh, you need have no fear; you may have my parole. Only allow me a few moments to gather my belongings for the journey. Shall I fetch my sword to surrender it to you?”
“Your Highness,” said Aerich, coming to Khaavren’s rescue. “I am a Lyorn; consequently, I cannot lie.”
“I am aware of that, sir.”
“Well, I tell you plainly that the mission we were entrusted with has nothing whatsoever to do with you.”
“How? It does not?”
“I have said so, my lord.”
“But then, what mission could you have?”
This distraction by Aerich had been sufficient to give Khaavren time to recover from his embarrassment, and it occurred to him to solve the problem by telling Adron the truth, or, at any rate, part of it. “Your Highness, the Captain, working in the interests of the Emperor, has become curious to know the actual state of affairs around Pepperfield.”
“Then, you are here—”
“To investigate that area,” said Pel. “That is all.”
“Well, is this the truth?”
“Entirely, my lord,” said Pel.
Adron studied the countenances of the five gentlemen before him, and said, “Very well, then I give you welcome. And, moreover, I should have realized it, since I made such haste on my return here that it is unlikely I could have been overtaken by anyone. In fact, my lords, I have killed three horses getting here; you may have noticed them on the road.”
“We did, indeed, see such a horse, Your Highness,” said Khaavren.
“Well, and as my disgrace (for such, I fear, it is) only occurred shortly before my departure, then should His Majesty wish to arrest me, well, I think that you could not be those entrusted with the mission, nor even know about it.”
“Your Highness,” said Khaavren, “I am relieved to see that you understand this.”
“And then, in your mission to this far outpost of our Empire, you have thought to stop here merely for courtesy?” As he said this, he fixed Khaavren with a look both sharp and earnest, such that Khaavren felt himself unable to lie.
“Well,” said Khaavren, “not entirely.”
“How, there is, in fact, another reason?”
“Yes, exactly, another reason.”
“But this does not,” added Pel, “reduce in any measure the sincerity of the courtesy we offer Your Highness.”
“I understand that, but, as to the second reason?”
“Oh, the second reason,” said Khaavren, looking about for help.
“It is to inform Your Highness of a certain circumstance,” said Pel evenly.
“Ah, there is something I ought to know, then?”
“Yes, exactly,” said Pel. “And, as we were nearby, well, we wished to inform Your Highness of it.”
“I assure you, I am most grateful,” said Adron. “And the circumstance?”
“Oh, as to the circumstance—”
“Yes?”
“Well, this gentleman, Khaavren of Castle Rock, will communicate it to Your Highness.”
“Ah,” said Adron. Turning to Khaavren, he said, “Well, then, my lord?”
“Yes,” said Khaavren. “I will tell Your Highness of the entire affair.”
“I await you most eagerly.”
Khaavren licked his lips, and, as if his ideas rested there, he imbibed the very inspiration he needed. “Your Highness, we have come to tell you that some impostor is using your device.”
“How, my device? What is this?”
“It is true, Your Highness,” said Aerich. “We were set upon by brigands, who believed they were acting under your orders.”
“Impossible,” said Adron.
“Not the least in the world.”
“But, who would do such a thing?”

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