Book 2 - An Ill Fate Marshalling Read Free Page B

Lord Hsung accepted our proposal. Subject to approval from his superiors."
    A soft ripple swept round the table.
    „Completely?" Sir Gjerdrum demanded. His scowl became one of incredulity. Mundwiller sucked at his pipe and shook his head, refusing to grant belief.
    „To the letter. Without significant reservations. Without much dickering. Prataxis says he barely looked at our offer. He didn't consult his legion commanders. The decision had been made. He knew his answer before Derel got there."
    „I don't like it," Eanredson grumbled. „It's too dramatic a turnaround." Mundwiller nodded and puffed. Several others nodded, too.
    „That's what I'm thinking. That's why you're here. I see two possibilities. One is that there's a trap in it. The other is that something happened in Shinsan during the winter. Prataxis didn't speculate. He'll be back next week. We'll get the whole story then."
    He surveyed his audience. No one wanted to comment. Odd. They were an opinionated, contentious bunch. He shrugged. „They've given us the runaround so long. De manding impossible tariffs and arguing over every word of any agreement, but suddenly they're wide open. Gjerdrum? You have a guess why?"
    Eanredson flashed his scowl, his adopted expression of the day. „Maybe Hsung's legions are up to strength again. Maybe he wants the Gap open so he can run spies through." Ragnarson said, „Mist? You shook your head." „That's not it."
    Varthlokkur gave her a venomous look that startled Ragnarson. She caught it, too. „Well?" the King asked.
    „It doesn't make sense that way. They have the Power. They don't have to send spies." That was not entirely true, Ragnarson knew it, and she knew he knew. She amended the remark. „They can see whatever they want to see unless Varthlokkur or I shield it." She exchanged glances with the wizard, who now seemed satisfied. „If they wanted an agent physically present they would send him in over the smugglers' trails."
    Something had passed between sorcerer and sorceress and Ragnarson was aware of that fact only, not what. Puzzled, he chose to let an explanation wait. „Maybe. But if you kill that reason what do you do for one that makes sense?" He glanced around. Dantice and Trebilcock looked away.
    Ragnarson was uneasy. There were undercurrents here. Mist, Varthlokkur, Dantice, and Trebilcock were his most knowledgeable advisers in matters concerning the Dread Empire. They seemed unusually disinclined to advise. They looked like people with their fingers on a pulse both shifty and strange, unwilling to commit themselves to an opinion.
    „I'm not sure." Mist's gaze flicked to Aral Dantice. Though Dantice had no official standing he was a sort of minister of commerce by virtue of his friendships with the Crown and members of the business community. „Some thing is happening in Shinsan. But they're hiding it."
    Varthlokkur nearly smiled.
    Bragi leaned forward, cupped his chin in his right hand, stared into infinity. „Why do I get the feeling that you do know but that you don't want to tell me? It doesn't cost anything to guess."
    The woman stared at her knitting. The wizard stared at her. She said, „There might have been a coup. I don't feel Ko Feng anymore." Her tone became cautious. „I did have a few contacts with old-time supporters last summer. Some thing was in the wind, but they refused to be pinned down."
    Trebilcock snorted. „Tervola, no doubt! Wizards always refuse to be pinned down. Sire, Ko Feng was stripped of titles, honors, and immortality late last autumn. They practically accused him of treason because he didn't finish us at Palmisano. He was replaced by a man named Kuo Wen-chin, who had been commander of the Third Corps of the Middle Army. Everybody who'd had anything to do with the Pracchia or Feng got transferred to safe and obscure postings with the Northern and Eastern Armies. Ko Feng vanished. Kuo Wen-chin and his bunch are all younger Tervola and Aspirators who had no part