The Pinnacle Of Empire (Book 6) (24 page)

“I hate that you have to rely on the wizard.”

“Memlatec has been like a father to me, Tottiana. He hid me as a child from my murderous aunt. It’s because of Memlatec I’m who I am.”

“You’re the most powerful man alive, my husband. You don’t need a wizard to ensure your success.”

“There are things at work that are beyond armies and men.”

“You’re thinking of the dragons of old. They’re gone now, creatures of the past. In modern times, we rely on armies, not elves, dwarves, and dragons.”

“Don’t be too sure of that. Remember that monster that attacked us at Mendenow.”

“It must have been a freak of nature.”

Saxthor pushed back from Tottiana’s embrace and looked into her face. “You saw the thing. It wasn’t just a freak of nature. Memlatec said it was the creation of a vicious wizard.”

Tottiana laughed a feeble laugh. “Well, what do you expect him to say? He’s a wizard himself. Okay, have it your way, sir. Another war it is.”

“I must leave now to meet with Boktorian and Memlatec. Check on Engwan; I left him at the archery field earlier. He was doing very well. He’ll be a little warrior one of these days if he ever gets away from Helgamyr.

“Tittletot, do remain with the empress and lighten her mood. She needs a jester right now.”

“Me? But Your Highness needs my advice and support. I shall accompany you to see the chatra and wizard in conference.”

Saxthor gave Tittletot a stern look, then glanced at Tottiana, who smiled.

“Oh very well,” Tittletot said, giving a slight kick to a chair leg. “I’m not of any importance. I can see that…I’m just a toy for your amusement.”

Saxthor started to pat Tittletot’s head, but he squirmed out from under his hand. “Now, Tittletot, you’re a much loved and appreciated member of our family. We do listen to your advice and suggestions. Just right now the empress needs your special skills more than I need political advice.”

“I’m quite all right, Saxthor,” Tottiana said.

“Nonsense, you’re quite upset and I don’t want to have to worry about you while I’m engaged in this war analysis. Tittletot, you stay here and amuse Tottiana or I shall have you trussed up and fed to the zoo animals.” Saxthor cast Tottiana a grin.

Tittletot scrunched his face at Saxthor. He jerked out his dagger and thrust it into the air left and right, “Charge!” He raced around the room, stabbing at the pillows. Tottiana broke out laughing.

“Okay, she laughed even if it was at me.” Tittletot then started for the door with Saxthor.

Saxthor spun around on his heels, put fisted hands on his hips, and glared at Tittletot. The jester’s ears slumped and he shuffled behind the nearest chair looking back at Saxthor. Tottiana was laughing all the while.

“What’s going on here?” Belnik asked, entering the room with a tea tray. “Tittletot, are you annoying His Majesty again?” He turned to Saxthor. “Highness, I tell you again you must have this little beast flogged without mercy or we shall never have a moment’s peace.” Both Saxthor and Tottiana broke out laughing at Belnik’s facial express of bewilderment. “What’s so funny?”

“You two,” Saxthor said. He pointed his menacing finger at Tittletot, then turned and left the room.

Belnik set the tray down on the table in front of the empress’ divan where she now sat down.

Tittletot came out from behind the chair, inspecting the treats. “What you got there?” Tittletot asked. His head craned to see everything.

“I suppose you must have tea as well,” Belnik said. “Somehow, you’re related to Bodrin. Lucky for you, I brought an extra cup for Saxthor, or you’d have to drink out of your hat.”

“You two behave,” Tottiana said. She sat up and poured the tea. “I have a small request to ask of you two. Could you move that armoire from that corner over here against this wall? It seems to dominate the room there. Here it wouldn’t be in direct line of sight and so its affect softened.”

Belnik and Tittletot looked at the enormous mahogany armoire looming down over the room then slowly turned to look askance at each other, brows raised.

“You want us to move that thing?” Belnik asked.

“Yes, well… if you could,” Tottiana said off hand. She continued to prepare the tea when she noted the hesitation in Belnik’s voice. “Of course, I could call upon the servants, but I thought you two might move it without our little party being disturbed by a flock of servants invading to move that little chest.”

“That thing is as big as my last house,” Tittletot mumbled.

“You’ll not be any help,” Belnik snapped.

“I’m sorry I suggested it,” Tottiana said. She handed a teacup and saucer to Belnik. “I thought a strong man and a strong tittletot could manage to move the little thing, but don’t trouble yourselves. I shall summon the servants. Ring the bell-pull, Belnik.”

“Never mind that, Majesty,” Tittletot said. “I’m sure this great lump of a man can assist me in moving the thing somehow. Don’t call for the servants.”

“Oh, now I’m a lump, am I? Well if you’re counting on my help, it’s not politically correct to call me names, you rotund worm.”

“Rotund worm, is it?”

“You two stop it,” Tottiana said, having handed Tittletot his tea and settled back on the divan with her cup. Tottiana watched her two guests take nervous sips from the corner of her eye. “Never mind the armoire.”

Belnik put down his cup and saucer carefully on the tray. He looked at Tittletot, who saw Belnik’s stare, gulped his tea, and put his cup and saucer on the table.

“Not on the table,” Belnik said. “If there’s tea on the bottom where you slobbered it, it’ll stain a ring on that rare, flame-burl mahogany.”

“Excuse me,” Tittletot said. He moved the cup and saucer to the tray. Tottiana watched and chuckled.

Belnik rose and started toward the armoire then looked back at Tittletot. “You were going to
try
to be of
some
help, weren’t you? Or was that just a token comment you’d hoped wouldn’t be called upon?”

The two went to the armoire, sizing it up and down. Belnik’s right elbow propped in his left hand as he rubbed his chin with his right hand, trying to assess how they should proceed.

Tittletot looked up at Belnik then grinned at Tottiana. “The big man can’t figure out how to move this thing.”

“Oh, shut up, you little trouble maker,” Belnik blurted out.

“Belnik,” Tottiana said. “It’s not like you to lose your temper and be so disrespectful.”

Tittletot grinned up at Belnik.

Turning red, Belnik glared at Tittletot. “My apologies, Majesty.” Belnik leaned his shoulders against the side of the great piece of furniture that dwarfed him and propped his feet firmly on the floor. He took a deep breath then strained with all his might, pushing against the cupboard until sweat beads formed and ran down his face, past his clinched teeth. The cupboard remained unmoved.

“Belnik, don’t hurt yourself,” Tottiana said, rushing to him. “I’ll summon the servants.”

Unfazed, Belnik wheezed and tried again turning red with his effort. The armoire stood as if nailed to the floor. Belnik slid down the side of the armoire, huffing and puffing to catch his breath.

“Now don’t hurt yourself Belnik,” Tittletot said, repeating Tottiana’s earlier warning. Belnik was fuming.

“I was foolish to ask you two to move that heavy thing stuffed to capacity with my old gowns. I’ll get the servants to move it later. It was just a thought. Think no more of it,” Tottiana insisted.

“I know we can move this thing, Majesty. If this little butterball would help, we can move it.” Belnik again glared at Tittletot, who had stood, watching Belnik’s heroic effort. Not waiting for Tittletot, Belnik now slammed his hefty self against the chest, throwing his entire, determined effort into moving the unmovable. The big man took several deep breaths straining repeatedly against the armoire until Tottiana rose again, demanding he stop. Belnik deflated, his breath escaping through his humiliation. Too weak to stand, he finally slid down the chest again, slumping in a defeated heap on the floor.

“Tittletot, help Belnik up,” Tottiana said. “You shouldn’t have let him try that alone.”

“Don’t trouble yourself, Tittletot. I can get up without your help since you couldn’t exhaust yourself to help me move this monstrous piece of furniture.” Belnik struggled to get up. He thrust away Tittletot’s cautiously offered hand and pushed himself up the side of the armoire. He cast a mean frown at Tittletot, straightened his robes, and slowly stumbled out the door, a defeated man, to summon servants.

Tottiana turned back to the divan, but from the corner of her eye just managed to catch Tittletot mumble a spell. Instantly the armoire slid silently across the floor at Tittletot’s arm’s direction to the position Tottiana had requested. Tottiana looked at Tittletot, who was beaming.

“You should be ashamed of yourself, humiliating poor Belnik like that,” Tottiana said, but she couldn’t restrain her smile. “You tittletots are a mischievous lot.”

“He’s too arrogant and condescending toward me,” Tittletot defended himself.

“He’s really a wonderful friend to us all. I do wish you two would be kinder toward each other.”

Slumped and shuffling his feet, Belnik reentered the room with half a dozen servants following. Saying nothing, he pointed to where the armoire had been and gasped. Then his head jerked around the room, stopping in a stare at the armoire standing resolutely in its new position. A second for the situation to clear in his head and Belnik glared at Tittletot.

“How’d you do that?”

“Did you want us to move the armoire?” a servant asked from behind Belnik.

“No… thank you, gentlemen. I’m sorry to have interrupted your work. You may return to your appointed tasks,” red-faced, Belnik’s controlled voice was strained. He turned his murderous stare on Tittletot.

Tittletot began humming to himself and looking down, tapping some unseen dust spec around on the parquet floor. When the servants closed the door, Belnik, with grinding teeth, made a dash for his tormentor with arms outstretched, poised to seize the little elf. Tittletot rushed behind the divan just in time and Tottiana stood up between them.

“I must kill that monster, I must. Honor demands I slaughter the beast or die trying,” Belnik blurted out. He didn’t take his eyes off Tittletot, who was crouching behind the divan with eyes peeking over the top.

Tottiana held up her hand restraining Belnik. She glanced at Tittletot whose huge ears flopped as he glanced up at the empress like a chastised child. He grinned and winked.

“Now, Belnik, he didn’t mean to humiliate you. You two shake hands and be friends.”

“I’m not shaking his hand,” Belnik said. “I should beat him without mercy, at the very least.”

“I’m not letting him get hold of me in his malicious mood,” Tittletot said. He moved further out of Belnik’s reach.

“You two are impossible,” Tottiana said. She then chuckled. “Belnik, you should’ve seen your face when you came back in and saw the armoire.” She broke out laughing.

“That’s all right,” Belnik said, moving to the door. “Go ahead, laugh at me. I’m just a fool. He’s supposed to be the jester, but you go ahead and laugh at me.”

“I’m not laughing at you, Belnik, but your face was so funny. I never saw such shock.” Tottiana put her hand over her mouth to cover her muffled laughing.

Belnik closed the door behind him.

“You really should be ashamed of humiliating poor Belnik like that, Tittletot. Don’t you do that again. Belnik is more devoted to this family than anyone. I wouldn’t have his feelings hurt for the world.”

“Oh, very well, I’ll go make it up with the big lug if you insist. He’s really not a bad sort,” the elf said. His head nodded. Tottiana rushed to hug him. He squirmed out of her clutches and scrambled out the door, closing it quietly behind him.

*

“She still laughing?” Belnik asked outside the door.

“Yeah, she’s forgotten all about this war stress. Mission accomplished. That should make Saxthor happy,” Tittletot said looking up at Belnik.

“Good.” Belnik patted Tittletot’s shoulder.

“You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?” Tittletot asked. “You were most convincing.”

“No, I’m fine, though I might have overdone it.”

“I’ll make you an elfin potion for your sore muscles.”

“Thank you, you elf types are so clever with that sort of thing. Let’s go to the kitchen and get something to eat. All that drama and tea made me hungry.”

“Sounds good,” Tittletot responded and the two friends ambled off down the hall, recounting the diversion, chuckling with each element revisited.

*

In Saxthor’s private audience with Boktorian and Memlatec, the three looked over the continental maps.

“We should have included the war minister,” Saxthor said. “Have you heard anything of a Senoshesvasian mobilization, Boktorian?”

“Nothing, Majesty, but I’ll have every informant questioned at once. After that incident with the sea serpent, everyone is on alert. We came close to war then. We must be careful of this lest we alarm the populace and create panic. It could be just a rumor.”