Magician (40 page)

Pug had not thought it possible to
consider Duke Borric poorly dressed, for he had always worn the
finest clothing in Crydee, as had his children. But among the finery
in evidence around the room, Borric looked like a raven amid a flock
of peacocks. Here a pearl-studded doublet, there a
gold-thread-embroidered tunic—each noble seemed to be outdoing
the next. Every lady wore the costliest silks and brocades, but only
slightly outshone the men.

They halted before the throne, and
Caldric announced the Duke. The King smiled, and Pug was struck by a
faint resemblance to Arutha, though the King’s manner was more
relaxed. He leaned forward on his throne and said, “Welcome to
our city, cousin. It is good to see Crydee in this hall after so many
years.”

Borric stepped forward and knelt before
Rodric the Fourth, King of the Kingdom of the Isles. “I am
gladdened to see Your Majesty well.”

A brief shadow passed over the
monarch’s face, then he smiled again “Present to us your
companions.”

The Duke presented his son, and the
King said, “Well, it is true that one of the conDoin line
carries the blood of our mother’s kin besides ourself.”
Arutha bowed and backed away. Kulgan was next as one of the Duke’s
advisers. Meecham, who had no rank in the Duke’s court, had
stayed in his room. The King said something polite, and Pug was
introduced. “Squire Pug of Crydee, Your Majesty, Master of
Forest Deep, and member of my court.”

The King clapped his hands together and
laughed “The boy who kills trolls. How wonderful. Travelers
have carried the tale from the far shores of Crydee, and we would
hear it spoken by the author of the brave deed. We must meet later so
that you may tell us of this marvel.”

Pug bowed awkwardly, feeling a thousand
eyes upon him. There had been times before when he had wished the
troll story had not been spread, but never so much as now.

He backed away, and the King said,
“Tonight we will hold a ball to honor the arrival of our cousin
Borric.”

He stood, arranging his purple robes
around him, and pulled his golden chain of office over his head. A
page placed the chain on a purple velvet cushion. The King then
lifted his golden crown from his black-tressed head and handed it to
another page.

The crowd bowed as he stepped down from
his throne. “Come, cousin,” he said to Borric, “let
us retire to my private balcony, where we can speak without all the
rigors of office. I grow weary of the pomp.”

Borric nodded and fell in next to the
King, motioning Pug and the others to wait. Duke Caldric announced
that the day’s audience was at an end, and that those with
petitions for the King should return the next day.

Slowly the crowd moved out the two
great doors at the end of the hall, while Arutha, Kulgan, and Pug
stood by. Caldric approached and said, “I will show you to a
room where you may wait. It would be well for you to stay close,
should His Majesty call for your attendance.”

A steward of the court took them
through a small door near the one the King had escorted Borric
through. They entered a large, comfortable room with a long table in
the center laden with fruit, cheese, bread, and wine. At the table
were many chairs, and around the edge of the room were several
divans, with plump cushions piled upon them.

Arutha crossed over to large glass
doors and peered through them. “I can see Father and the King
sitting on the royal balcony.”

Kulgan and Pug joined him and looked to
where Arutha indicated. The two men were at a table, overlooking the
city and the sea beyond. The King was speaking with expansive
gestures, and Borric nodded as he listened.

Pug said, “I had not expected
that His Majesty would look like you, Your Highness.”

Arutha replied with a wry smile, “It
is not so surprising when you consider that, as my father was cousin
to his father, so my mother was cousin to his mother.”

Kulgan put his hand on Pug’s
shoulder. “Many of the noble families have more than one tie
between them, Pug. Cousins who are four and five times removed will
marry for reasons of politics and bring the families closer again. I
doubt there is one noble family in the East that can’t claim
some relationship to the crown, though it may be distant and follow
along a twisted route.”

They returned to the table, and Pug
nibbled at a piece of cheese. “The King seems in good humor,”
he said, cautiously approaching the subject all had on their minds.

Kulgan looked pleased at the
circumspect manner of the boy’s comment, for after leaving
Salador, Borric had cautioned them all regarding Duke Kerus’s
remarks. He had ended his admonition with the old adage, “In
the halls of power, there are no secrets, and even the deaf can
hear.”

Arutha said, “Our monarch is a
man of moods; let us hope he stays in a good one after he hears
Father’s tidings.”

The afternoon slowly passed as they
awaited word from the Duke. When the shadows outside had grown long,
Borric suddenly appeared at a door. He crossed over to stand before
them, a troubled expression on his face. “His Majesty spent
most of the afternoon explaining his plans for the rebirth of the
Kingdom.”

Arutha said, “Did you tell him of
the Tsurani?”

The Duke nodded. “He listened and
then calmly informed me that he would consider the matter. We will
speak again in a day or so was all he said.”

Kulgan said, “At least he seemed
in good humor.”

Borric regarded his old adviser. “I
fear too good. I expected some sign of alarm. I do not ride across
the Kingdom for minor cause, but he seemed unmoved by what I had to
tell him.”

Kulgan looked worried “We are
overlong on this journey as it is. Let us hope that His Majesty will
not take long in deciding upon a course of action.”

Borric sat heavily in a chair and
reached for a glass of wine. “Let us hope.”

Pug walked through the door to the
King’s private quarters, his mouth dry with anticipation. He
was to have his interview with King Rodric in a few minutes, and he
was unsettled to be alone with the ruler of the Kingdom. Each time he
had been close to other powerful nobles, he had hidden in the shadow
of the Duke or his son, coming forward to tell briefly what he knew
of the Tsurani, then able to disappear quickly back into the
background. Now he was to be the only guest of the most powerful man
north of the Empire of Great Kesh.

A house steward showed him through the
door to the King’s private balcony Several servants stood
around the edge of the large open veranda, and the King occupied the
lone table, a carved marble affair under a large canopy.

The day was clear. Spring was coming
early, as winter had before it, and there was a hint of warmth in the
gusting air. Below the balcony, past the hedges and stone walls that
marked its edge, Pug could see the city of Rillanon and the sea
beyond. The colorful rooftops shone brightly in the midday sun, as
the last snows had melted completely over the last four days. Ships
sailed in and out of the harbor, and the streets teemed with
citizens. The faint cries of merchants and hawkers, shouting over the
noise of the streets, floated up to become a soft buzzing where the
King took his midday meal.

As Pug approached the table, a servant
pulled out a chair. The King turned and said, “Ah! Squire Pug,
please take a seat.” Pug began a bow, and the King said,
“Enough. I don’t stand on formality when I dine with a
friend.”

Pug hesitated, then said, “Your
Majesty honors me,” as he sat.

Rodric waved the comment way. “I
remember what it is to be a boy in the company of men. When I was but
a little older than you, I took the crown. Until then I was only my
father’s son.” His eyes got a distant look for a moment.
“The Prince, it’s true, but still only a boy. My opinion
counted for nothing, and I never seemed to satisfy my father’s
expectations, in hunting, riding, sailing, or swordplay. I took many
a hiding from my tutors, Caldric among them. That all changed when I
became King, but I still remember what it was like.” He turned
toward Pug, and the distant expression vanished as he smiled. “And
I do wish us to be friends.” He glanced away and again his
expression turned distant. “One can’t have too many
friends, now, can one? And since I’m the King, there are so
many who claim to be my friend, but aren’t.” He was
silent a moment, then again came out of his revery. “What do
you think of my city?”

Pug said, “I have never seen
anything like it, Majesty. It’s wonderful.”

Rodric looked out across the vista
before them. “Yes, it is, isn’t it?” He waved a
hand, and a servant poured wine into crystal goblets. Pug sipped at
his; he still hadn’t developed a taste for wine, but found this
very good, light and fruity with a hint of spices. Rodric said, “I
have tried very hard to make Rillanon a wonderful place for those who
live here. I would have the day come when all the cities of the
Kingdom are as fine as this, where everywhere the eye travels, there
is beauty. It would take a hundred lifetimes to do that, so I can
only set the pattern, building an example for those who follow to
imitate. But where I find brick, I leave marble. And those who see it
will know it for what it is— my legacy.”

The King seemed to ramble a bit, and
Pug wasn’t sure of all that he was saying as he continued to
talk about buildings and gardens and removing ugliness from view.
Abruptly the King changed topics. “Tell me how you killed the
trolls.”

Pug told him, and the King seemed to
hang on every word. When the boy had finished, the King said, “That
is a wonderful tale. It is better than the versions that have reached
the court, for while it is not half so heroic, it is twice as
impressive for being true. You have a stout heart, Squire Pug.”

Pug said, “Thank you, Majesty.”

Rodric said, “In your tale you
mentioned the Princess Carline.”

“Yes, Majesty?”

“I have not seen her since she
was a baby in her mother’s arms. What sort of woman has she
become?”

Pug found the shift in topic
surprising, but said, “She has become a beautiful woman,
Majesty, much like her mother. She is bright and quick, if given to a
little temper.”

The King nodded. “Her mother was
a beautiful woman. If the daughter is half as lovely, she is lovely
indeed. Can she reason?”

Pug looked confused. “Majesty?”

“Has she a good head for reason,
logic? Can she argue?”

Pug nodded vigorously. “Yes, Your
Majesty. The Princess is very good at that.”

The King rubbed his hands together.
“Good. I must have Borric send her for a visit. Most of these
eastern ladies are vapid, without substance. I was hoping Borric gave
the girl an education. I would like to meet a young woman who knew
logic and philosophy, and could argue and declaim.”

Pug suddenly realized what the King had
meant by arguing wasn’t what he had thought. He decided it best
not to mention the discrepancy.

The King continued. “My ministers
dun me to seek a wife and give the Kingdom an heir. I have been busy,
and frankly, have found little to interest me in the court ladies—oh,
they’re fine for a moonlight walk and other things. But as the
mother of my heirs? I hardly think so. But I should become serious in
my search for a queen. Perhaps the only conDoin daughter would be the
logical place to start.”

Pug began to mention another conDoin
daughter, then stifled the impulse, remembering the tension between
the King and Anita’s father. Besides, the girl was only seven.

The King shifted topics again. “For
four days cousin Borric has regaled me with tales of these aliens,
these Tsurani. What do you think of all this business?”

Pug looked startled. He had not thought
the King might ask him for an opinion on anything, let alone a matter
as important as the security of the Kingdom. He thought for a long
moment, trying to frame his answer as best he could, then said, “From
everything I have seen and heard, Your Majesty, I think these Tsurani
people not only are planning to invade, but are already here.”

The King raised an eyebrow. “Oh?
I would like to hear your reasoning.”

Pug considered his words carefully. “If
there have been as many sightings as we are aware of, Majesty,
considering the stealth these people are employing, wouldn’t it
be logical that there are many more occurrences of their coming and
going than we know of?”

The King nodded. “A good
proposition. Continue.”

“Then might it also not be true
that once the snows have fallen, we are less likely to find signs of
them, as they are holding to remote areas?”

Rodric nodded and Pug continued. “If
they are as warlike as the Duke and the others have said them to be,
I think they have mapped out the West to find a good place to bring
their soldiers in during the winter so they can launch their
offensive this spring.”

The King slapped the table with his
hand. “A good exercise in logic, Pug.” Motioning for the
servants to bring food, he said, “Now, let us eat.”

Food of an amazing variety and amount
for just the two of them was produced, and Pug picked small amounts
of many things, so as not to appear indifferent to the King’s
generosity Rodric asked him a few questions as they dined, and Pug
answered as well as he could.

As Pug was finishing his meal, the King
put his elbow on the table and stroked his beardless chin. He stared
out into space for a long time, and Pug began to feel self-conscious,
not knowing the proper courtesy toward a king who is lost in thought.
He elected to sit quietly.

After a time Rodric came out of his
revery. There was a troubled note in his voice as he looked at Pug
and said, “Why do these people come to plague us now? There is
so much to be done. I can’t have war disrupting my plans.”
He stood and paced around the balcony for a while, leaving Pug
standing, for he had risen when the King had. Rodric turned to Pug.
“I must send for Duke Guy. He will advise me. He has a good
head for such things.”