In Treachery Forged (The Law of Swords) Read Free

held a translucent, gold-flecked piece of quartz to represent their many gold mines. Rubick’s held a woodblock print of a wheat field in honor of their large farmlands. In Happaso’s chamber lay a single log of mahogany to represent the timber industry. Glorest was represented by a sword to honor the manufacturing sector, Leyland a chunk of polished granite for its stone mines, Stanget a large leather bound book for its world renowned library, and Largo a scale model of a trireme for its naval construction.
    One final tapestry, however, was concealed by a veil, and its chamber’s pedestal was covered by black veils instead of the usual clear glass. It represented the Borden Islands, whose still ongoing revolt nearly a century before – during the reign of Sword King Nargle IV – ultimately led to the decision for Svieda to enter the Sho’Curlas Alliance.
    On those few occasions when all or most of the Swords were present for a formal council, each Sword would ceremonially step forth from their province’s chamber to begin the meeting. That afternoon, however, only Arnach, Brode, Nattiel, and Maelgyn were able to represent their respective provinces for the meeting Hussack had demanded. The four present Swords disappeared to their respective chambers, emerging when court etiquette dictated and standing ceremonially in each doorway, while Hussack – as petitioner of the King – walked to the center of the court. This positioned Hussack between the three Sword Princes and their King.
    The room was, in fact, extraordinarily empty. Hussack was so frequent a visitor to the throne room – always with complaints – that, for expediencies’ sake, only a token guard was ever summoned, any more. Maelgyn, his cousins, and Troubuxet were soon joined by Maelgyn’s grim-faced father. They stood in front of the throne, heads bowed, awaiting Sword King Gilbereth’s entrance. Hussack and Mussack were also present, but they clearly had no intention of showing the proper respect to the throne.
    Finally, Gilbereth arrived. He wasn’t properly dressed for a meeting, wearing neither his royal regalia nor the dragonhide armor he typically wore even at informal meetings. He was partially protected from magic, nevertheless, by his two guards, each wearing large lodestone plates in their armor. Gilbereth took his seat on the throne, further protected by two massive pillars of lodestone on either side. Between the armed guards and the massive lodestones, the royalty of Svieda could be kept fairly safe from either conventional or magical attack. Even that seemed unnecessary, as the only two people in the room who weren’t entirely trusted had no record of magic talent and neither was armed.
    “Well?” Gilbereth demanded, not looking too happy to anyone. “I am not accustomed to being ‘summoned’ to my own throne room without warning. Certainly not by someone who is not even a member of my court.”
    “Ah,” Hussack said sardonically. “I see. Well, of course I did not intend to offend you, Your Majesty, but there is an issue we must discuss regarding young Maelgyn, here.”
    The king sighed. He had been dealing with these complaints – most of which were unjustified – since Hussack and his son had arrived in the Sviedan court. “And why the urgency? Couldn’t you wait until the hour the Royal Court of Svieda usually listens to complaints?”
    “Why, because of the seriousness of the matter,” Hussack explained, feigning surprise at the need for such a question. “It may result in a major shift in our mutual relations.”
    The younger Sword Princes looked at one another grimly. To them, the shift had already occurred.
    “And what is this... serious matter?” the king bristled, gritting his teeth.
    “A matter of protocol, your Majesty. You see, young Maelgyn fails to recognize his betters. My son wishes to take his place as the Sword Prince of Sopan Province, but Maelgyn refuses to surrender the position.”
    Silence