IN FAVOR: Wardens Grunth and Raspnex, Delegates Ishist, Moon Baiter, Raim, Tho-ik-Esh, Proconsul Thrugg, Tik Tok, Twist, and Countess Ymmi.
OPPOSED: Warden Lith’rian, Delegates Fial’rian, Furkar, and Shup-Uth.
ABSTAINED: Delegate Wirax.
MOTION CARRIED
Item 5: The matter of Zark.
MOVED by Delegate Furkar, SECONDED by Delegate Shup
BE IT RESOLVED that civil order having broken down throughout Zark, use of sorcery to establish Prince Krandaraz of Arakkaran as caliph is permissible.
IN FAVOR: Delegates Furkar and Shup-Uth.
OPPOSED: Wardens Grunth, Lith’rian, and Raspnex, Delegates Fial’rian, Countess Ymmi, Ishist, Moon Baiter, Raim, Ishist, Shup-Uth, Tho-ik-Esh, Proconsul Thrugg, and Tik-Tok.
MOTION DEFEATED
MOVED by Delegate Raim, SECONDED by Delegate Countess Ymmi:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Warden of the East is authorized and directed to deliver the emerald sash of Arakkaran, presently held as a trophy of war in Thume, to Prince Krandaraz ak’Azak in recognition that he has the best claim to succeed his father as sultan of that city, and to secure release of the said prince from captivity in Dreag; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the said Warden of the East is charged to be especially vigilant in prohibiting any further political use of sorcery whatsoever within Zark.
IN FAVOR: Wardens Grunth, Lith’rian, and Raspnex, Delegates Fial’rian, Countess Ymmi, Ishist, Moon Baiter, Raim, Tho-ik-Esh, Proconsul Thrugg, Tilt Tok, Twist, and Wirax.
OPPOSED: Delegates Furkar and Shup-Uth.
MOTION CARRIED
Item 6: The matter of Dragon Reach.
Delegate Shup-Uth having moved that the territory hitherto known as Dragon Reach be renamed North Sysanasso and the motion having failed for lack of a seconder, the said Delegate asked that her views be recorded in the minutes.
Delegate Countess Ymmi having moved that the territory hitherto known as Dragon Reach be recognized as an extension of the Impire and the motion having failed for lack of a seconder, the said Delegate asked that her views be recorded in the minutes.
MOVED by Delegate Countess Ymmi, SECONDED by Delegate Twist:
BE IT RESOLVED that ownership of the land of Dragon Reach is a matter of mundane politics and therefore lies outside the responsibility of this meeting.
IN FAVOR: Wardens Grunth and Raspnex, Delegates Moon Baiter, Raim, Countess Ymmi, Twist, and Wirax.
OPPOSED: Warden Lith’rian, Delegates Fial’rian, Furkar, Tho-ik-Esh, Proconsul Thrugg, Tik Tok, Twist, and Wirax.
MOTION DEFEATED
At this point the SECRETARY, Warlock Lith’rian, advised the meeting that he had previously taken steps to remove the indigenous fauna of the area from the grasp of both sides in the recent dispute, that the said fauna should be returning shortly, and that anyone who thought he could take over Dragon Reach unopposed was going to receive a very nasty surprise indeed.
This item was TABLED without further discussion.
Item 7: Delegation of committees to draft the New Protocol.
After extensive discussion, this item was TABLED until the next meeting.
Item 8: Allocation of responsibilities between Wardens and the Council of Sorcery.
After extensive discussion, this item was TABLED until the next meeting.
Item 9: Definition of votarism and permissible loyalties.
After extensive discussion, this item was TABLED until the next meeting.
At midnight, the Chairman declared the Meeting ADJOURNED.
EPILOGUE
The return of the legendary Faun Sorcerer was greeted in Hub with intense excitement. The gossips soon whispered that he had worked an even greater miracle on Emshandar V than he had on his grandfather, for it was only now that the new imperor began to justify the hopes he had raised before his accession. He took command of the realm with an unprecedented series of edicts and decrees that won the admiration of even his most stubborn opponents in the Senate. Famine and civil war were averted. By the time winter approached, the new millennium was being hailed as a time of hope and renewal. The healing had begun.
Lacking the caliph, Zark collapsed back into a melee of independent sultanates. The Impire recognized Guwushian independence, the Dwanishian army was demobilized, severe storms in the Spring Sea kept the jotnar away.
The epochal document known as the New Protocol was eventually drafted and accepted. All of the Four signed it, even Warlock Lith’rian, who detested it, and all twelve Delegates to the Council of Sorcery. A whole new system of occult law was established, designating occult power itself as a weapon, and its abuse a crime. Skeptics mocked, but all the sorcerers of Pandemia were determined never to be votarized again, and their leaders could draw on Thume’s thousand years of experience in regulating sorcery. In practice the new system worked better than almost anyone had dared to hope.
One morning the following spring, in the middle of a private working breakfast with the Head of the Bureau of Internal Statistics—more commonly known as the secret police—the imperor unveiled an inspiration that had come to him in the bathtub.
“An exclusive new order of chivalry!” he said. “To be called The Companions of the White Impress. Its emblem will be an Imperial Crown in opal, outlined in diamonds. Membership will be restricted to that handful of men and women who escaped with us from Hub to the ferryboat on the night of our accession.”
“Brilliant!” Lord Umpily murmured, brandishing a carving knife like a saber. “Some more roast swan, your Majesty?”
“No more for me, thank you. You go ahead. My wife and daughter will be included, of course, plus Warlock Raspnex, Sorceress Jarga, and King Rap. And yourself, needless to say.” Lord Umpily beamed around a mouthful of swan. He was very happy in his new duties, as they required him to find out everything about everyone. “Do try the truffles in raspberry and olive oil sauce, Sire. An elvish recipe. Countess Eigaze certainly deserves membership, but what of her husband?” Shandie pouted. “I think not. He disgraced himself at Yewdark!”
“Ah! Another cup of chocolate? Some lobster preserve? Centurion Hardgraa, whom you banished for life to the Mosweeps?”
“Certainly not!”
“Mm.” The fat man chewed busily for a moment. “Queen Inos and Prince Gath, then? They were certainly your companions during much of the adventures that followed, but never on White Impress.”
Shandie crumbled a fragment of roll to nothing. “I should include them, of course.” He frowned uneasily.
Umpily gestured vaguely with a loaded fork. “Then what about the daughter? Is it blasphemous to offer a mundane honor to a God? Would it be sacrilegious not to?”
Shandie bit his lip.
“And Sir Acopulo, Sire?”
Conversation stopped completely while they thought about Sir Acopulo. A letter purporting to be from him had turned up at Winterfest, explaining that he had entered the cloister and would henceforth dedicate his life to certain unspecified labors of love. The news had not been entirely unexpected, for he had always been a devout man, if not quite the sanctimonious prude that Ylo had called him.
“You still believe that letter was genuine?”
“The handwriting was his, if a trifle shaky. Won’t you try this Guwushian blue cheese?”
“Uh! No, please! I had rather you moved it farther away. Have you had any success in locating a monastery called the Refuge of Constant Service?”
“None whatsoever,” Umpily admitted regretfully. “And what of that other handful of men, the former sequential set? Of the five, two were present on White Impress, as I understand. Senator Sagorn?”
Shandie growled a military expression under his breath. He had let Warlock Rap talk him into appointing the renowned sage to the Senate. Alas, with advancing age, his word of power diluted, and lacking the advantages given him by the ancient spell, he was not the man he had once been. He had rapidly established a reputation as the most boring and longwinded speaker in an assembly notorious for loquacity.
“And Master Thinal,” Umpily murmured. “I am told he is showing great promise in his new position?”
“He is.” Shandie did not elaborate. He tried to keep the Bureau of Internal Statistics from meddling in affairs of other government departments—rarely with much success. “The other three never set foot on the ferryboat.”
“They are not available anyway, Sire. The jotunn warrior was executed by the elves. Minstrel Jalon has remained in Ilrane, painting and collecting songs. Although his talents are much reduced from what they were, he is reported to be content.” Umpily had incredible sources of information.
“The other one, the lover? Andor? Was that his name?”
“Indeed. He frequently claims to be a baronet. He returned to Hub briefly, but has since departed.”
Shandie raised an eyebrow. Umpily smirked.
“His somewhat clumsy advances offended a certain young lady. He departed the city in haste a few weeks ago, hotly pursued by her four brothers, all of whom are celebrated duelists. I could probably track him down for you, if that is your wish.”
The imperor sighed. “I have always depended on you for frank and honest advice, old friend.”
The fat man dabbed at his mouth with a serviette, possibly to conceal a blush. “Then to be honest, Sire, I feel the venture may be ill-advised. What of Signifer Ylo? Why reopen wounds that still ache? Furthermore . . . this is in strictest confidence, of course . . . I have reason to believe that neither Warlock Raspnex nor Sorcerer Jarga will be available for very much longer.”