Treachery of Kings Read Free Page B

Besides, the Prince owes you his life. He cannot have forgotten the Count Onjine affair.
    “Princes have short memories, my dear. They seldom last through the day.”
    She wanted to move close to him, then, touch him, show her affection, but of course she didn't dare. Not with someone like VanDork around. She wouldn't be the first Newlie to share a very close, very intimate union with a human, but it wasn't something one paraded about. Not if one wished to avoid the neighbors’ scorn and keep to the letter of the law.
    “The Count is a horrid, despicable man,” Letitia said, under her breath. “He cares not a whit for you, nor anyone else unless they serve his needs. How do people like that gain high position, Finn? It's frightening to know such a brute is so close to the Prince himself.”
    “That is exactly how they do it,” he whispered, well aware that sound carries very well in a corridor of stone. “A ruler is ever on the watch for men with the qualities of a Count VanDork. Men with a sly demeanor, men who practice dishonor and deceit. Men who are desperate, men who are defilers, men who are debased.”
    “Heavens, Finn. How could a Prince begin to trust a man with such disgusting traits as that?”
    “They are the only ones he
can
trust, Letitia. For these are the qualities he knows so well in himself.”
    Letitia shuddered and drew in a breath. “I hope this doesn't take long. I feel I need to get home and take a bath.”
    “If I can be of any help in that matter, I hope you won't hesitate to call.”
    “You'll be the first,” she said, “be certain of that.” “Do I have to listen to this?” Julia muttered, fromunder Finn's cloak. “Can't you two contain yourselves a while?”
    “What you can do,” Finn said, “is be thankful I don't toss you in a tub and watch you rust to death. Don't think it hasn't crossed my mind a number of times.”
    Finn stopped at a hollow in the wall, drew Julia out of his cloak, and set her down.
    “Now. You'll stay quietly here. Don't move, don't speak to anyone at all. Don't do anything, sit perfectly still.”
    “It's a blessing to have your trust,” said Julia Jessica Slagg. “My kindest regards to the Prince.”
    “The Prince,” Finn said, “has less regard for you. Be grateful you're not going inside. …”
    T WO LARGE PIKEMEN STOOD STRAIGHT AND TALL outside the high, arched entry to the Prince's Great Hall. As the Count VanDork approached, each pounded the butt of his weapon loudly on the floor.
    Noise in excess, Finn thought, seemed essential to the royal process. Princes liked the sound of boots, pikes, cannon going off and the like. They gained some pleasure from the roar of large crowds.
    Finn had been in the Prince's exalted presence before, but not with Letitia Louise. And, she would surely not be there now, if the Prince's neatly flourished scroll hadn't set her name there as well. It was a matter that had delighted Letitia, and caused Finn to lose a night's sleep.
    Nothing his sovereign did could put Finn at ease. The Prince was, as Finn had told Letitia, a mirror of his minions, only much more shrewd and devious than the lot.
    A quick glance about the hall told Finn that the Prince had gathered a veritable herd of toadies, grovelers and spongers of every sort for this auspicious day. Each, of course, gentlemen and ladies, noble and commoner alike,was dressed in drab shades of dun, ash, umber and toast. Dull, somber and sad was the fashion in the presence of Aghen Aghenfleck the Fourth.
    Finn had chosen an undistinguished brown for himself—somewhere in the liverish range—and a soot-colored gown for Letitia Louise. He was most relieved to see they both blended nicely into the dreary crowd.
    A H, THERE HE IS, THERE'S A COOD FELLOW,” THE Prince shouted, bounding from his great carven chair. “Bless you, old friend, you've come to me at last!”
    “I am, as ever, overwhelmed to be in your presence, sire,” Finn said, bowing halfway to the