Unicorn Saga - The Unicorn Peace Part 57

"Well met again, cousin," she said. "We do not see your wife among us. We trust that she is not indis- posed?"

The Emperor, in contrast to the rest of the guests, was dressed in dark grey. The piping on the jacket and 313.

trousers was black as was the lace at throat and wrists.

He wore black gloves.

"Our thanks for your concern," he returned. "The truth is that the Empress Zhane no longer travels." He produced a small, apologetic smile. "She has the dropsy.

She had a great regard for the late Archmage and would have come if she could have. Her Wisewomen would not countenance it." His hands rose in a helpless ges- ture.

"Ah yes," Naxania said, "we may be monarchs, but it is the Wisewomen who are the true tyrants. Be sure to convey my deep regard for her and my wishes for a speedy recovery."

"You are most gracious. Lady." He paused and looked quickly around the area before looking back at her. "We are not the only one unaccompanied," he said.

"It is a shame that a woman as lovely as you has yet to find the joys of matrimony." He bowed slightly and moved on, leaving Naxania fuming.

How dare he, she thought. Marriage, as he very well knew, was a dynastic matter and it was for her, as ruler, to decide who and when she should marry. She re- garded the company as she tamed her rising temper.

Greylock, wearing the chain of the Archmages, was deep in conversation with Sumner. As she watched, they were joined by Courtak and the Gwyndryth girl. She had put on weight and was wearing a vulgar amount of jewelry.

Hard to believe that she was Darius' daughter.

Arabella and Prince Saxton were chatting with Var- odias, and Naxania caught sight of a dapper, slim man hovering at the Emperor's shoulder. Quern. What was his first name? No matter, he was unimportant, indeed he had no right to be at this end of the hall. Attendants should know their place. Her eyes narrowed. Varodias was, if anything, an even greater stickler for the con- ventions than she was. If Quern was so closely in atten-

314 dance, he must have considerable standing with the Em- peror. When she had last seen him, he had been Phal- astra of Estragoth's secretary. Evidently a man worth watching. She advanced on the group.

"We were just speaking of the difference that dear Ragnor's death will make," Arabella said. "People tend to forget that he ruled Arundel when I was a girl. I relied on his advice right up to the end."

"He was certainly a force for unity," Naxania re- plied.

"Let us hope," Varodias interposed, "that his spirit will continue to watch over us." He turned to Naxania.

"You are to be congratulated, by the way, for your prompt suppression of the rebellion."

She smiled, thinking that it was less than polite of the Emperor to bring the subject up. "It had no popular support," she said, "and the traitors' heads now adorn our battlements. We hear that things are not so settled in your own realm," she added maliciously.

Varodias rubbed his gloved hands together briefly.

The smile he produced matched hers for lack of warmth.

"We are fortunate that our subjects love us. There have been some local disturbances aimed at one or two land- owners, but we have been spared the kinds of uprisings that you have suffered. You were fortunate," he added, "to have had the services of the Lord Observer." He deliberately used the t.i.tle by which Darius had been known when in Umbria.

He turned his head as Malum materialized again and whispered something. The corners of the Emperor's thin lips twitched upward. That disagreeable little man, Naxania thought, is telling him about Darius' defec- tion.

"We understand," she said, resuming the conversa- tion, "that a good deal of the animosity was aimed at your Church. An unfortunate time, perhaps, to have

THE UNICORN PEACE t 315

lost your Mother Supreme." She was gratified at the way that both pairs of eyes fastened on her.

"A great loss," Varodias agreed noncommittally.

"Arnulpha, however, was one of those women who are better at telling other people how to run their lives than in ordering their own. We can but hope that our newly elected Mother Supreme shows more self-discipline."

"And how very considerate of her," Arabella cut in quickly, "to come all this way for Ragnor's funeral, especially when she must have so much to do in her new position. We find it most heartening. Relations be- tween the Church of the Mother and the Discipline have not always been of the best. Should you see her before we do, please convey our grat.i.tude."

"Indeed, yes," Naxania murmured. "It is gratifying that, even in death, the Archmage can provide unity."

Varodias smiled frostily and turned away as the little group broke up. Naxania looked down the hall and spotted Darius talking with his daughter. She was tempted to go over and join them. What she missed most, she realized suddenly, was the opportunity to talk with him. He was a comfortable lover, but that aspect was relatively easy to replace. The truth v/as that she had no one else she trusted as well, who would not take advantage, who was unfailingly, sometimes annoyingly, fair and entirely discreet. She hesitated for a tiny mo- ment before deciding against it. To approach him would be a sign of weakness.

As Naxania turned away, Marianna left her father and went in search of her husband. Her place was swiftly taken by Malum of Quern. He had heard of the General's return to his estates and was curious.

"Good evening, General," he said in Common, re- membering that Darius preferred not to use the Formal Mode.

"Plain Holdmaster now, friend Quern," Darius re-

316 turned pleasantly. "I am once more a gentleman of lei- sure."

"I must confess that I was surprised that Queen Nax- ania allowed you to leave. A military leader of your skill and experience is hard to replace."

"Paladine is peaceful now. The Queen has no oppo- nents worthy of the name."

"Ah, but the State is never secure," Malum observed.

"Ambition sleeps, but it never dies."

"Maybe not in Umbria," Darius replied, "but that is because you have retained your martial ways. Your Elector-Scientists' idea of progress is to fabricate ever more dangerous weapons. You pillage the ground for coal to drive you engines. You subjugate your people and force them to work in manufacturies. If you truly want a peaceful and contented country, you will have to change."

Malum smiled sardonically. "Become more like the Magical Kingdoms, no doubt?"

Darius shrugged gently.

"Quaint, rural," Malum continued, "trapped in tra- dition like insects in amber; dependent for power on unreliable Magicians. That is not exactly an inspiring vision for the future, Lord Holdmaster."

"Well, maybe I am a romantic, or perhaps just an old fossil, but I like our ways. Oaths of fealty are re- spected, the weather is beneficent, village Magicians work for the common good, the air is sweet and the people, by and large, contented. Not a bad prescrip- tion to my way of thinking. I have spent my life as a warrior, but I am happy to lay down my sword and tend my fields. Let us pray that our visions of the fu- ture never clash."

"Selah to that, my lord," Malum said politely.

Naxania was casting about for someone to talk to 317.

when the Oligarch Olivderval materialized at her elbow in a rustle of silk.

"Give you good evening. Oligarch," she said.

"Your Majesty's obedient servant," Olivderval re- plied. She made an attempt at a curtsy. "Your Majesty must forgive an old woman of considerable bulk," she said with a friendly grin at her own failings, "but I cannot sink as far in the curtsy as once I could."

Naxania permitted herself to be disarmed. "It is for- given," she said. "And what may we do for you?"

"Majesty," Olivderval said in mock umbrage. "How could you a.s.sume that I had a request?" Her deep- chested laugh both underlined and undermined her point, and it set the Queen to laughing.

"You are a wicked woman," Naxania said, "and you always have business on your mind. We are gathered for a sad occasion, but we doubt not that you will profit from the occasion."

"Ragnor always enjoyed a good laugh and while he would have loved the pomp, I do not think he would have wanted long faces," Olivderval replied bluntly.

"Your Majesty was looking sad and distracted and I but sought to lighten your mood." She looked up at the Queen and her eyes twinkled. "However," she added, "the late Archmage was a practical man and I am sure he would not have objected if I . . ." She saw the look on Naxania's face and put a hand out in de- nial. "Nay, nay. Majesty, I seek no boon. I would sim- ply remind you of the treaty obligations that now obtain between Isphardel and Paladine," Her tone was soothing.

Naxania was instantly wary. "To what end, Oli- garch?" she inquired.