Conqueror’s Moon Read Free Page B

too. Drinking down the last of his watered wine in a single pull, he arose from the table. “This cramped room is depressing. Come. Let’s go into the solar. I’ll look at the scenery while you exert your magic.”
    They left the inner chamber and stood near the solar’s huge leaded-crystal window, a marvelous thing made of hundreds of polished small panes, each one perfectly transparent. It was Duke Tanaby Vanguard’s particular pride, facing westward so as to give an expansive view of Demon Seat and the lesser peaks in the Dextral Range, silhouetted now against a glaring sunset sky that struck jewel-bright reflections from the collection of silver wine ewers, gilt flasks of ardent spirits, and glass cordial bottles set out by the window for the council attendees.
    Stergos cupped both hands over his eyes and stood still, ranging outward. He had been shaved bald for his ordination a moon ago on his thirtieth birthday, and now his head had sprouted fine golden fuzz that gave him a childlike air, even in his imposing crimson robes. Slight of body and round-faced, he had always seemed younger than Conrig, although five years separated them. The two brothers were devoted to one another, in spite of the differences in their temperament.
    At length the doctor lowered his hands. “It can’t be that knave Deveron riding the wind. It’s another—a mind far more adept—but God knows who it is. It seems that all of the noble guests down in the great hall have done just as Duke Tanabybade them. None of their retinues include alchymists, windvoices, or other folk of talent, and Vra-Doman Carmorton and the rest of the duke’s own magickers are temporarily exiled to the town. Their scrying powers are meager, and they’re much too far away to see into the castle. As far as I can tell, the only practitioners in all of Vanguard are the young intelligencer Deveron and myself. And yet I’m positive that someone oversees us!” Stergos smote his brow in vexation. “Ah, if only I were not newly frocked, I might serve you more competently, Con. But overseeing is so much more difficult than windspeech—”
    “Never mind, Brother. All will be well.” The prince paused, turning away to stare at the spectacular vista outside the window. “It may be that I know who could be watching. If I’m right, she has no evil intent.”
    The doctor’s face stiffened in dismay. “Of course! I didn’t think of her. God’s Breath! If only there were another way for us to—”
    “You must not even hint at such a thing, Gossy,” Conrig chided him. “If we gain at last what we have sought for so long, it will be because of her help.”
    Vra-Stergos only shook his head, not daring to say more for fear of offending his brother by casting aspersions upon the co-author of the great new scheme. The accursed woman might even be listening from a far distance as well as watching! Such a feat was alleged to be impossible, but who could tell with Mosslanders? The devilspawn were said to be part Salka, and might very well share the monsters’ inhumanly strong talent.
    “Everything is ready for the meeting,” Conrig said. “I have the wafers secure in my purse, and no one has meddled with the wine.”
    Stergos’s eyes flickered. “Is there no way I can dissuade you from using them?”
    “I respect your misgivings, but you know there was no alternative. Go now and wait with our Heart Companions in the tower. I’ll join you as soon as the council is over and tell you everything. Take the hidden stairs.”
    “May Saint Zeth guide you.” Stergos touched the golden gammadion amulet of his order hanging at his breast and returned to the inner chamber.
    Conrig waited for several minutes and then followed. The latch that opened the concealed passageway was in the curtain wall next to the necessarium, beneath a stone shelf holding a lavabo, a crock of scented softsoap, and fine linen handtowels. He pressed a knob and a low doorway swung open. After