Zoran Chronicles Volume 1 A Dragon in Our Town (42 page)

            
“Sure thing. You do look gorgeous, my love. Besides the slower we go the more
time I can spend with you and not those stuffy men and their politicking.” Both laughed
along with Jarka and Karel.

            
The hours passed with more bickering and arguing among the barons. By late
afternoon, two motions finally were agreed to be put to a vote. One suggested that they
retain one vote per planet and that those with multiple houses had to come to their own
voting consensus. If they could not agree or it was a tie in other words, then that planet’s
vote would not count. The other motion was to allow partial votes. If a planet had two
Circles and thus two voting barons, then each one’s vote would be a half vote. If one had
four, then each vote would be a quarter vote. Either way, Zoran realized, there would
only be sixteen actual full votes being counted.

            
At long last, the two motions came up for voting. The partial vote motion lost,
primarily because of the complicated bookkeeping that would be needed to count votes.
Thus, from now on, those planets with multiple Circles and thus barons would have only
one vote and they would have to agree on it or their planet’s vote would not be tallied.
This sat well with Zoran’s enemies. It was perhaps the best concession that Baron
Kazimir could obtain, under the circumstances. Still, with the Adapazan vote now no
longer counting, since the two would likely never agree, the balance of power shifted to
Baron Milan’s side, by one vote, ignoring the Neutrals, of course. They would still have
to be carefully courted to obtain enough key votes, but that was one vote easier now.

            
That evening, Baron Alvaro and Baroness Anita came to fetch Zoran and Zdenka
to take them to the ballet, along with Karel and Jarka. Zdenka kept an eye on Anita to
see how well she managed walking on these terrifically high heels. She was amazed at
how graceful Anita actually was, though she said nothing. The ballet was spectacular.
None of the four had ever seen anything like it. Men and women dancers did indeed
walk, prance, and twirl around on their tips of their toes. The music was enchanting and
all four truly appreciated the performance. Zoran and Zdenka began to realize just how
much was truly deficient back on Adapazan. Arts were so lacking!

            
“We have to bring culture and civilization to Adapazan!” Zdenka exclaimed to
Zoran, when they were finally back in their room.

            
“Absolutely. Music, dance, ballet — I never knew that these existed before! Our
planet must be completely backwards, in the sticks!”

            
“No,” Jarka intervened, “Kazimir has been doing nothing but conquering and
subjugating our people. Once he is gone, we can then bring Adapazan out of its dark
ages.”

            
The rest of the week’s meetings were down right boring and mundane. It held
little of consequence for Zoran’s group. However, Baroness Anita, encouraged by the
enthusiasm of Zoran and Zdenka, took them to other cultural events in the evenings.
She took them to a play the next night. A return trip to the ballet followed that and then
a choral performance. However, the last night of their stay was the formal dance and
once again everyone had to be there. Nothing could keep the four from the dance floor
now!

            
After the dance, Barons Milan and Viktor dropped by Zoran’s room. “Word with
you nephew,” he began. Zoran offered them a seat and they all gathered around the two
older men.

            
“Okay, mission accomplished. However, now come Kazimir’s countermoves.
We’ve sent out spies to Dorum and to his other allied planets in hopes of getting some
advanced knowledge of their next move.”

            
“So it is not done yet?” Zdenka reacted a bit unnerved.

            
“Not by a long shot. He has two targets now: Zoran and Lida. If he can somehow
have Lida killed, he can name a new heir. However, with your recognition, he has much
larger worries, which we feel takes the pressure off of Lida. Our money is on their
attempting to somehow take you out, Zoran. If you die, then by our own rules, your
Circle is up for grabs. That is, it must have a Duska. If you are eliminated, he will try to
install someone else, such as Baron Bogdan’s son Strom, for example. Only then will he
be highly likely to come after Lida with his full might.”

            
“Yes, but surely they won’t mount an all-out assault on us? It took him a whole
couple of years to build up and make his attack on Sholov Province. Either way he goes,
there are three more provinces between his lands and Brn,” Zoran pointed out.

            
Baron Viktor replied, “We’ve considered this. Yes, overland directly — yes, it may
well take him several years and at a terrible cost, considering our promised armies and
your use of dragons. It is my best guess that he has weighed that cost and found it
prohibitive. He is not a complete fool. The best advice that I can give you is to stay alert
for other actions. Perhaps a Shadow Walk of an army directly to the gates of Brn.
Perhaps a number of assassins. His objective is not necessarily the capture of your Circle
but rather your death, Zoran. Please stay alive. All depends upon your outliving Kazimir.
He knows this too.”

            
“Yes, he knows that we know this,” Milan picked up the discussion. “Hence, we
are going to arrange to make him believe that we are planning an assassination of him.
He has spies in our lands as well, as do his allies. We intend to make sure that they learn
of some assassination plots against his life. Don’t worry; we are not about to really
assassinate Kazimir, but he doesn’t know that. Our objective is to make him paranoid
about attempts on his life, directing much of his energies off of you, Zoran. We’re trying
our best to indirectly aid you.”

            
“Bottom line,” he finished up, “is stay alert to all manner of unusual ways that
they could get to you. We don’t believe that it will be an overland assault, marching
through three other provinces to get to you. That’s what we are saying. And for heaven’s
sake, if anything does come up, let us know immediately. We will help you in any way
possible.”

            
“Thanks uncles. We really appreciate all that you are doing for us and for my twin
sisters,” Zoran admitted freely. “Someday, perhaps I can repay you.” Both men smiled,
indeed both knew that day would come. They were politicians, after all, powerful ones at
that. The men shook hands and left.

            
No sooner had they gone than another knock on their door startled them. Zoran
opened it to find Baron Alvaro standing there. “Baron Archmage Zoran, Baroness
Archmage Zdenka. My wife and I would like to give you some parting presents — a small
token of our friendship. You see, just because we are Neutral does not mean that we are
your enemies. On the contrary, we just do not want to get involved in interplanetary
conflicts. If you will come with me and bring along Archmage Karel and Mage Jarka,
Baroness Anita is waiting for us. Oh yes, you should also bring along your General of
Security as well.” He had a twinkle in his eye.

            
Dutifully, the small group followed the Baron down many corridors and finally
out into the large courtyard where Anita was waiting for them. “Ah, so good to see you
once more, Baroness Zdenka. Alvaro and I wanted to give you some parting gifts to
remember us by, and we do so hope that you will come and visit us as soon as you can,
though we know right now you face many problems at home. From me to you and your
beautiful companion, I have three of the latest fashion dresses like the one you wore and
three matching pairs of the new heels as well.” Both women were pleased, though
Zdenka still had not gotten used to walking in the heels. They thanked her profusely.

            
“Archmage Karel, here are six of the finest hawks on Alta. We’ve heard that you
are a master falconer, a small token of our new found friendship.” Karel examined the
birds in their cages and was very nearly speechless. No one had ever given him such a
royal present before. He shook Alvaro’s hand vigorously.

            
“General Lavos, please accept this crate of the finest bastard swords on Alta. We
both know that such will be most useful for you as you build up your protective forces
for the young baron here.” Now it was Janos’ turn to be impressed, and he gave him a
hearty thank you.

            
“Finally, baron, Alta is horse country. We produce some of the finest mounts in
the Federation, though others may dispute our claim. Please accept my donation of six
fine mounts. Two are stallions and the rest are mares so that you may breed them, if
desired.”

            
“Thank you, Baron Alvaro, thank you. Indeed, you may not believe this, but until
now, I didn’t even own a horse! These will be very timely and valuable to us. Thank you
for your incredible hospitality. I never expected such kindness. If there is anything I can
do for you, let me know.” As soon as he said this, he realized that he had been totally
setup! This was precisely what the baron had desired.

            
“Well, there is one small matter. I have asked Brother Jiri to build us a new Circle
of Ascension here on Alta. He has agreed to do so. However, he is not sure how soon he
can get to us. If it is not too much trouble, why just give him a nudge that we will really
appreciate it as soon as he can build it for us. See, a simple matter. I’m sure that most all
of the barons had asked him to build another one for them as well. I suspect that he’ll
want to build those for your allies first, so when that is done, we would love to be next in
line. And please, come back for a visit any time that you can. Alta has much to offer you.
Friends?” he offered his hand.

            
“Sure, friends,” Zoran shook his hand. “I’ll chat with Brother Jiri. I suspect that
he has already made some promises to others, but if he hasn’t, I will put in a good word
for you. Truly, I speak for Zdenka as well; we both have been very impressed with Alta
and with you and your wife. We look forward to coming for a visit, once the home front
is stable. Thank you again for your gracious gifts.”

            
Back in their room, Jarka commented, “Okay, I now know the precise routes that
we traveled here and can duplicate them anytime. Say, that’s pretty magnanimous of
them to give us all such presents.”

            
“Well, he wanted Zoran to attempt to move his request for a new Circle ahead of
whatever he may have worked out with Brother Jiri. Small price to pay if anything
comes of it. Pure political move,” General Janos replied.

            
“Well, at least we have made one new baron friend,” Zoran commented. “I am
beginning to suspect those that are Neutral are merely neutral in interplanetary
conflicts, not necessarily neutral in good versus evil tyranny. That is something that I
did not know before.”

            
“You will need to study the six Neutrals thoroughly, Zoran,” Karel declared,
“before you can make an honest overall appraisal.”

Chapter 20 Spring’s Problems

By the 1
^st
of April, Brn was a hive of activity. Already, Aldrick had brokered the move of
about a hundred more gold dragons from Voss. Each of the ten warlord provinces now
had around ten dragons to protect them. The smaller provinces had fewer, such as
Orlovia, as well as the bitterly cold province of Tratky. Larger ones had a few more. In
each, one dragon was appointed the leader and maintained communication with that
warlord’s Mage. Aldrick secretly maintained contact with all these dragon leaders.
Unknown to Zoran, at this time, Aldrick was also acquiring some gold dragons for
several other planets, Gladno and Valtr among them.

            
The physical shipment of the emergency grain shipments for Tratky was handled
by Duke Stefan. Neither Baron Viktor nor Milan wanted to risk Zoran handling the
shipment because of rising fears that Baron Kazimir would seize this opportunity to kill
Zoran. Indeed, their spies had already begun reporting troop buildups on all of the
enemy planets.

            
Brother Jiri and Priestess Anezka had not returned from Alta with Zoran.
Instead, he went to Gladno with Baron Milan. His objective: build a new Circle of
Ascension for him. He hoped to begin construction of Baron Viktor’s new Circle towards
the end of the year.

            
Archmage Zdenka now had her hands full. Saturday was the spring Picking time
once again. All week before Saturday, she was a nervous wreck, according to Zoran.
“Have I got the check lists ready, Zoran? How many should I pick? Archmage Nadia
suggested that I take only four, but what if there are many good candidates? How am I
going to choose them, really Zoran? I know the questions that she used, but what if there
are a lot that pass the test? Am I really going to be able to train them, do you think?
What am I forgetting?”