Seer King - The Seer King Part 8

First, we sacrificed to Irisu and Panoan, G.o.d of Nicias, for our safe arrival. My men made further worship to Isa, and I added gifts of fresh fruit to Cimabue's monkey G.o.d, Vachan, and my family's hearth G.o.d, Tanis. Tenedos also held a private sacrifice-I was certain it was to Saionji the Destroyer, a G.o.d few wished to acknowledge, let alone bring themselves to her attention, except, perhaps, in the male aspect of the war G.o.d Isa.

After the ceremonies, Tenedos set his retainers to setting up a dispensary where the wounded from the ford battle could recuperate, then to preparing his own quarters.

The Kaiti servants, even though they certainly would report anything and everything to either Achim Fergana orJask Irshad, were well skilled, surprising in a land where men so prized their independence.

The household was run by a shiftyf,sort named Eluard, whom I felt most comfortable around, for the rogue would have so many petty fiddles going he would hardly want to upset the cart by reporting us to anyone, unless the rewards were greater than he was already reaping. Laish Tenedos also knew him for what he was, and put him on our payroll.

Tenedos took various magical tools from his gear and screened the mansion, searching for various items of sorcerous interest, as he described them. I wondered what he meant.

"Oh, let us say there could be several things a wise seer might leave in a house that will be occupied by those his master might be interested in. In one place I might lay a spell that would carry any words spoken within its range to another place, perhaps my master's palace. In another, I might leave a different rune. For instance, in the bedchamber to be occupied by my honorable opponent, I might leave a conjuration of susceptibility, so a properly seductive young woman or man might achieve influence. A more concrete spell could be cast on a door, so all who look at it see naught but a bare wall. But if I or my soldiery needed emergency entry, I would not be left outside the gates foolishly imploring, or forced to mount siege to settle the matter."

"Your world is a shadowed one," I said, probably foolishly.

Tenedos looked at me in considerable astonishment.

"What one is not?"

I had no answer, and he went on about his business. I asked him later if he had, in fact, found any spells such as he described.

'To talk is to give away," he said. "I shall not be specific, but I will tell you the mansion is now safe, but Jask Irshad has a considerable talent."

I was busy with my own tasks.

The mansion could have served as barracks for the entire Ureyan Lancers, with every sort of room imaginable, from great dance floor to audience chamber to stables to troop quarters. The house filled four sides of a square, with a garden and courtyard in its center.

I a.s.signed quarters for my men, and Captain Mellet's Khur-ram Light Infantry. In addition to the Numantian troops, I also had call on another native levies to keep the Residency secure, commanded by a mercenary Maisirian named Gyula Wollo. How he'd found his way to the Border States, and into the service of Achim Fergana, he did not say. I liked him little, and trusted him less.

Troop Guide Bikaner took one look at the scruffy, loutish Kaiti soldiers and suggested I dismiss them out of hand, since the least they could be was spies, and would certainly betray us at the earliest possible chance, and quite likely murder us as we slept.

I thought this not unlikely, but determined to try something first, although I did order Bikaner to detail a handful of men and make sure the doors to the Kaiti barracks could be bolted from our side. The rest of my plan would have to wait until later. I had to prepare for the meeting with Achim Baber Fergana.

My rooms were palatial, larger than those the domina commanding the Lycee of the Horse Soldier occupied, being a sitting room, a bathroom, a study and library, a dining room, and a bedroom so plushly laid out I might have entertained several harems without running out of s.p.a.ce. It was dizzying for a legate as young as myself.

To make sure I did not lose track of who I was, nor forget how momentary these splendors would be, I chose a servant from the ranks of the Lancers. I picked Lance Karjan, who was as little like a kowtowing lackey as could be imagined. I asked him if he liked the idea, and he grumbled, thought of spitting, decided there was no place convenient, and said it was "a duty." That would be the best I could expect.

Both of us set to, cleaning uniforms and weapons, just as all my lances and the infantry were doing. We would decide how we'd train to maintain our fighting edge later. Now it was time for square-bashing and gleaming regalia.

Achim Baber Fergana's castle loomed down over the city around it, rectangular, six stories, with the first story closed off*and used as a storeroom. Achim Fergana's dungeons ran down into the living rock below. There were crenellated square towers at each corner. Entry was made via a ramp to a gatehouse, and then on a raised causeway into the castle proper. Eminently defensible, of course, but what a pain to the poor butcher who must drag carca.s.ses up the ramp before Achim Fergana could feast.

Four Numantians rode to the audience with the achim: Resident-General Tenedos, myself, Troop Guide Bikaner, and one other soldier, Horseman Svalbard. He was chosen not only for the neatness of his turnout, but also for his stolidity and skills at hand-to-hand fighting. Captain Mellet and Lance-Major Wace had been left in command of the troops.

Tenedos wore ceremonial robes, white with the colors of Numantia worked into a frieze down the left side, and a sash in matching colors. He carried a short stick, not quite a staff, longer than a wand, made of ivory with elaborate carvings.

Bikaner and Svalbard wore full-dress uniform, with roached helmet, breastplate, greaves, and sheathed sword. Svalbard also carried a rolled leather case that contained the presents Tenedos had brought from Nicias for the achim.

I wore boots, chain armor under a linen tunic with a chest-blazon of the Numantian emblem, my sword, and a dagger sheathed opposite. Rather than a helmet, which I would have preferred, I wore a ceremonial pillbox hat, also in the blue of Numantia.

We were met inside the castle by two escorts and taken to Achim Fergana's audience chambers.

It was a very strange room. It began at the third level of the fortress, and stretched all the way to the roof of the castle. The ceiling wasn't solid, but elaborate spiderwebs of wrought iron supported multicolored gla.s.s, so the crowd below were constantly bathed in changing colors as the sun moved.

Cunningly wrought iron filled the huge room, providing benches, sculptures, dividers, and decoration.

But where we Numantians would leave the metal bare, craftsmen had painted their work to closely resemble real life. I thought a bush beside me was a torrent of brilliant color, quite alive, until I brushed against it and bruised myself.

The floor was one single level, and mosaics were worked into its stone. At the far end of the room was a low dais, just high enough to make the step uncomfortable, which was evidently deliberate on Achim Fergana's part. In the center of the dais was his throne, a seat large enough to seat three. Its back rose ten feet in the air, and swept out like a peac.o.c.k's display. But a peac.o.c.k would have been shamed by the colors of mis throne, which was set with every precious stone imaginable.

The walls of the chamber at ground level were irregular, with many nooks and crannies perfect to take a fellow into for a quiet conversation. I found out later that behind each of these convenient cubbies was a tiny room where one of Irshad's agents would be stationed, making careful note of any treasonous words.

The room was about half full of people. They were dressed in everything from the rags of the hillmen to colorful and ornate robes. Some men, regular members of the court, I was told, wore conical caps of leather intended to suggest war helmets. There was a scattering of women, all finely dressed. A few were wives or daughters of n.o.bility, but more were unattached women of the higher stations who, without a father or husband, were seeking a protector on whatever terms were offered.

It seemed as if every level of Kaiti society was present, and I found out that despotic though Achim Fergana was, one of the ways he held his throne was to open his court to any supplicant or even the curious, as all achims must. An armed culture like mis certainly encouraged the murderous and made the meek meeker, but it also kept people from putting on too many airs.

I noted one man standing near the throne, flanked by two retainers, who looked very much out of place. He wore an outfit I'd expect to see in the finest palaces of Nicias: a red silken tunic, black breeches Moused in high horseman's boots, with a black riding cloak held by a chain across his chest and a scarlet skullcap to match his tunic. His beard was blond, and close- *ly trimmed. Only his weapon fit in with the rude society he was party of: He carried no sword, but he did wear a ten-inch-long fighting knife, its sheath mounted horizontally just beside his belt buckle.

Above the main floor ran a gallery, but it was impossible to see if anyone occupied it, since movable wrought-iron screens blocked my vision. This level was for Achim Fergana's women, to listen to me words of their master and "learn greatness from his wisdom."

Above that was yet another gallery, this one with a very different purpose. Three sides were filled with archers, who held arrows ready-nocked, who changed places and relaxed their wariness every few minutes. Until I discovered this secret, I'd wondered why, in a land of treachery, the achim didn't seem to care if his retainers were armed. I wondered no longer. Just to make sure of the achim's safety, the fourth side, the one directly behind the throne, held a full complement ofjasks, ready to magically strike anyone who dreamed of endangering their master.

When I learned of these precautions, I wondered why any man would l.u.s.t after a throne if he must surround himself with so many safeguards. I puzzled for a while, then gave the matter up. Would that I had pursued the thought to its inevitable conclusion. There might be many millions still alive, and I might not be waiting to die on a desolate island.

But all that lay in the future.

I save the two greatest marvels for last The first: Wandering among these men and women were wild beasts, the creatures of the Border States. I saw a tiger, a small honey bear, a pair of antelope whose horns intertwined above them, two small jackals, and other creatures. Overhead flew or sat birds of Kait-owls, chickadees, hawks, sparrows. Near the roof sat, in dark majesty, a horned eagle. All behaved as if they were as rightfully members of this court as any animal who walked on two legs.

Now I was truly impressed by the magic of the Border States. Not only were these creatures peaceful, not savaging fi each other or their mortal enemies they walked among, but they were carefully controlled, since none of us stepped in ordure, nor did we smell the reek of the wild.

Of all the displays I've seen in the courts of kings, that still is one of the most impressive.

The second and final marvel was the man sitting on that great throne, Achim Baber Fergana.

He was a big man. In his youth, he would have been a frightening warrior, not only from his size and muscles, but also from his dark hair that, like his beard, was waxed, brought to a series of points with gems mounted on each tip.

He was perhaps in his middle fifties and had gone somewhat to seed-his belly threatened to overcome his lap, and his beringed fingers were chubby, as were his cheeks.

But he was still a dangerous man. If I'd faced him in the wrestling ring, my best tactic would have been to keep out of bis crushing embrace, and try for a back-heel knockdown. In armed battle, I imagined, he would prefer an ax or perhaps a double-handed sword. His tactics would be that of the woodsman, the hewer, rather than the delicacy of a fencer.

His voice rumbled out, a bearish tone quite fitting his appearance: "I seek speech with the n.o.bleman of Numantia."

Tenedos bowed, and started toward the throne. As he did so,Jask Irshad came from behind the throne and stood beside bis master.

"Bring your fellows, Seer," Fergana went on. "I desire to meet all new faces within my realm."

The three of us followed Tenedos. When he stopped, we stopped. When he bowed, thrice, we followed his lead.

"You may approach my throne and name yourself."

"I am Laish Tenedos, appointed resident-general to the great Kingdom of Kait, and amba.s.sador plenipotentiary to his Most Royal Highness, Achim Baber Fergana."

"Honorable sir, do you have papers so identifying yourself?'

"I do indeed___" and Tenedos produced a properly berib- f>boned and sealed parchment scroll and handed it to Achim Fergana, who untied its ribbon, opened it, pretended to study it, summoned his Most Honorable Aide and Most Puissant Sorcerer,Jask Irshad, and the ceremony went on. In the course of it, Tenedos gave the achim his presents.

He'd shown them to me before we left the compound, and I'd been most impressed. The case contained handmade knives, each one unique to one or another of the states of Numantia. So there was a thin-bladed fishing knife from Palmeras, a long, broad-bladed cattleman's knife from the state of Darfur, a brush-cutting blade of Cimabue that I can attest was also useful in brawls, and so forth. Each of them was made of polished ondanique steel, their hilts, grips, and guards of exotic woods and metals, with gems set into them.

It was evident that Achim Fergana liked them well, for I heard growls of pleasure, not of rage, from the bear. Then the ceremonies went on.

I shut off my ears, and pretended to be most attentive. I was somewhat surprised that a rough warrior like Achim Fergana truckled in such time-wasting, but guessed he felt it added legitimacy to his bandit's reign.

Eventually Irshad and Fergana decided Tenedos was no impostor, and was welcome at this court, so long as he held to the laws and customs of the fair country of Kait, and Achim Fergana was most interested in hearing the latest news from Numantia and its never-to-be-sufficiently-venerated leaders, and friends, the Rule of Ten.

I heard a very quiet snort at this last, and looked out of the corner of my eye to see who objected. It was the man with the red skullcap and dagger.

Evidently Fergana also had good hearing, because when the ceremony was over he motioned to the man.

"Landgrave Malebranche. Come forward, please."

The man obeyed.

"We are most honored," Fergana said, "to have two representatives of ancient and honorable courts with us. It is truly warming that Kait, which has been dubbed the Border States by the outside world, and we Kaiti, sometimes called no more than the Men of the Hills, as if we were wandering peasantry, have attracted such notice.

"Resident Tenedos, allow me to present the Resident from the country of Kallio, Landgrave Elias Malebranche."

I managed to hide my astonishment-surely Achim Fergana knew Kallio was but a state of Numantia, just as Nicias was. Before anyone could make anything of it, Malebranche bowed. "Perhaps, O Achim,"

he said, "because our two states differ in so many ways it's easy to think of us as being of different nationalities. But we are the same, which some are proud of, and others regret."

Tenedos turned slowly to the landgrave, a rank about equivalent to our count.

"I greet you in the nameof your proper rulers," he said, putting just the slightest emphasis on the last three words, "the Rule of Ten, and am sure we shall be the best of friends. But Landgrave, you said something that perplexes me. You say some regret being citizens of Numantia. Why would anyone be so foolish?"

"I spoke carelessly," Malebranche went on. "I did not mean that anyone regrets being Numantian, but there are those-of course I am not one-who feel Numantia is being, shall we say, led in a rather haphazard fashion these days."

Achim Fergana bellowed laughter.

"Ah, there shall be good times, I can tell, if two representatives of the same kingdom begin a catfight before they're even fully introduced. I predict great entertainment for myself and my court."

Tenedos allowed a smile to show, then vanish.

"I am pleased Your Majesty is amused, and I hope to gladden him in other, more important ways as part of my mission. However, do not think a small disagreement about semantics is a catfight. In the end, Numantians are brothers."

Fergana laughed even more loudly.

"Is that correct, Langrave Malebranche? Do all your folks hew together when times grow hard?"

*Malebranche's grimace might have been intended to show private mirth, but he made no answer. Nor did Fergana press him for one. Instead, he turned back to Tenedos.

"Interesting times, yes." He looked past the seer, at me. "You, young man. You are the one I have been curious to meet."

I'm afraid I goggled.

"You are the clever soldier who convinced the Wolf of Ghazi you were a magician, and made him yield his prey, are you not?"

This did not make me any the less mazed, but I managed to recover control of my face. Did this man ...

or rather the sorcery of hisjask... have all knowledge of the borders?

"I am that man, sir," I said.

"You have a quick wit," Fergana said. "I am curious to see how it shines in the future, and hope that you will have more opportunities to display it."

"Display it carefully," Irshad put in. "Some of us are not as easily amused as the achim."

I bowed. "Thank you for the compliment... and for the warning."

Both men looked hard at me, as if graving my features- and soul-into their minds. I started to step back, but held firm. After a moment, they both looked to Laish Tenedos.

"I am moved," Achim Fergana said, "to admit you to this court as an honored representative. All you need do is fulfill one final duty."

"You have but to ask."

Irshad gestured, and the entire dais, with the throne on it, slid back, until it was flush against the wall. I could have sworn the stone had been firmly cemented against the floor. I reminded myself that merely because the Men of the Hills had barbaric customs, they were not to be taken lightly, neither in their crafts nor in their thinking.

Where the dais had sat was a round iron plate, wonderfully painted as a wheel, with, it seemed, all the creatures and men of this world on it Irshad motioned once more, and the plate slid away, revealing a low pit.

"Step closer," Achim Fergana ordered. "All four of you."

Below us was a miniature of the first level of the chamber room we stood in. Not only were the details of the room exactly worked, but it was filled with dolls, each about a single hand high. I studied them, then looked about me, recognizing the courtiers who'd modeled for the mannequins. Each member of the court was represented in this shallow depression, his face most exactly carved of ivory, and costumes equally realistic.

There were far more dolls than people present that day. The other difference was that there were no dolls on the tiny dais to represent either Achim Baber Fergana or theJask Irshad.

Irshad stepped down into the pit and picked up one doll. It was an amazing replica of the Kallian, Landgrave Male-branche.

"This is not a child's conceit, Resident Tenedos," Fergana said.

"I have already sensed that, O Achim," Tenedos said. "Remember, my main craft is not that of diplomacy."

"Ah yes. I forgot. Each of these figurines contains at least a bit of hair from the man-or woman-it represents. I require anyone who chooses to attend my court to provide such matter."

"I must protest," Tenedos said. "That could give magical control of the person into your... or your sorcerers'... hands."

"It could," Fergana said. "But I am a man of honor, and would never take advantage of that, nor would I allow any of myjasks to commit such an offense."

"Then why do you require it?"

"Honor begets honor... and the reverse is true as well," Fergana said. "I am afraid there have been men come to my court who intended evil. But once they were confronted with this choice, with providingJask Irshad with the necessary items, they either fled, or else remained most honorable while they were in Sayana.