Sethra Lavode (Viscount of Adrilankha) Read Free Page B

and the Teckla not falling into line.”
    “It seems as if Your Highness is doing my planning for me.”
    “Not in the least, Your Majesty. I’m attempting to explain—”
    “Never mind, Highness. Go on.”
    “Yes, Your Majesty. I wish only to observe that, should my negotiations within my own House be successful, it may have the effect, by itself, of very nearly bringing the entire Council of Princes to Your Majesty’s support.”
    Zerika remained silent, and the Orb, slowing down a trifle in response to this contemplation, took on a dark green shade as she considered, as well as flickering slightly when she consulted it for some detail on Tiwall’s history or family. To be sure, this Hawklord was no one’s fool, and he was, as Hawks always are, well informed. But how honest was he, within the lies he was telling that were meant to be seen through?
    “Very well,” said Zerika after a moment. “What might the Empire grant your House that could help you to convince them that I am the true Empress, representing their interests as well as everyone else’s within the vast Empire that we once had and, with the Favor, will again?”
    “Tolerably little, Majesty.”
    “We shall see.”
    “An estate.”
    “That is easy enough; there are many estates.”
    “A particular estate, Majesty.”
    “Then that is different. Who owns it now?”
    “No one. That is to say, the Empire.”
    “So much the better. Is it valuable?”
    “I will not deny to Your Majesty that it is.”
    “What is its value?”
    “Nowhere else that I know of are iron ore, oil, and coal all to be found in the same, narrow region of a few small mountains and valleys. There are refining operations near-by where, before the disaster, kerosene was produced, and there is no shortage of waterways.”
    “And you say, these counties are not owned?”
    “Not one of them. A few had a baron or two ruling part of them before the Disaster, but since then not even a younger son of any of them remain.”
    “How many counties are we speaking of?”
    “Five.”
    “How much in area?”
    “Perhaps twelve hundred square miles.”
    “That is not so much. Where are these counties, exactly?”
    “Just south of the Collier Hills.”
    “Ah, ah!”
    “Your Majesty knows them?”
    “Nearly. I have just promised three of them to a certain Dragonlord who gave me some assistance against the Pretender. I had no idea they were so valuable.”
    “You have promised them? Ah, that is too bad!”
    “Is there nothing else that will do?”
    “I fear not, Your Majesty,” said the Hawk, bowing deeply. “If I may be excused—”
    “Your Highness may not,” said Zerika coldly.
    Tiwall bowed again, and waited in the perfect attitude of the courtier.
    The Empress was discovering, as Morrolan had, that to govern others requires one to spend more time in consideration than one is used to—either that, or one must inevitably become a careless administrator, and history says nothing good about careless administrators. Therefore, Zerika considered, and, after considering, she said, “Very well, you may have your five counties.”
    The Hawklord bowed. “I believe I will be able to bring Your Majesty good news within a month.”
    “I depend upon it.”
    “Oh,” he said, suddenly looking worried. “I hope Your Majestydid not interpret my words as a guarantee for any House other than my own.”
    “I hope,” replied the Empress, “that Your Highness did not interpret my words as a guarantee of five counties to be given to your House.”
    “And yet—I understand, Your Majesty.”
    “That is good, Highness. It is important to understand one another.”
    Tiwall bowed to acknowledge this observation Her Majesty did him the honor to share, and inquired, “Will there be anything else?”
    “No. You may go.”
    “Your Majesty will hear from me soon.”
    When he was gone, Zerika returned to her work, comparing certain figures on paper to some of the models and drumming her