Eddings, David – Tamuli – 02 – The Shining Ones

Ambassador Taubel posted me here to greet you.’

‘His Excellency is too kind,’ Vanion murmured.

‘All the officials of the Empire have been instructed to

cooperate with you fully, Lord.. ?’

‘Vanion.’

Kanzad covered a momentary confusion. “I was led to believe

that a Sir Sparhawk would be in command of your party.’

‘Sparhawk’s been detained. He’ll be joining us later.’

‘Ah.’ Kanzad recovered. ‘i’m afraid there’ll be some slight

delay before you can enter the city, Lord Vanion.’

‘Oh?’

Kanzad smiled a thin, humorless smile. ‘King Jaluah’s feeling

neglected at the moment.’ He threw a quick look at the squad

of Cynesgans standing several paces behind him, then lowered

his voice to a confidential tone. ‘Frankly, Lord Vanion, the

Cynesgans and this pest-hole they call home are so unimportant

in the affairs of the Empire that no one really takes them seriously.

They’re terribly touchy about that. Some idiot at the

embassy neglected to pass on a routine communication from

Matherion, and now the king’s sulking in his palace. His sycophants

have filled the streets with crowds of demonstrators.

Ambassador Taubel’s trying to smooth things over without

resorting to the use of the Atan garrison, but things are a bit

strained in the streets of Cynestra just now. His Excellency suggests

that you and your companions wait here in Narset until

he sends word that it’s safe for you to proceed.’

‘As you think best,’ Vanion murmured politely.

Kanzad visibly relaxed. ‘First of all, let’s get in out of this

accursed sun.’ He turned and led them into the shabby village.

There were no more than a couple of dozen of the mud huts

surrounding a well located in the sun-baked central square.

Sparhawk idly wondered if the women of the village went to

the well in the first steely light of dawn as the women of Cippria

in Render had, and if they could possibly move with that same

fluid grace. Then, for no reason at all, he wondered how Lillias

was doing.

Aphrael leaned toward him from her sister’s horse. “Shame

on you, Sparhawk,’ she murmured.

‘You’ve met Lillias,’ he replied easily, ‘so you know that she’s

not the sort of woman you forget – no matter how much you

might want to.’

The only building of any substance in the village was the local

police station, an ominous stone structure with black iron bars

on the windows. Kanzad’s expression was smoothly apologetic.

its not very inviting, Lord Vanion,’ he said deprecatingly, ‘but

its the coolest place in this pig-sty.’

“Should we kill him now and get it over with?’ Bevier murmured

to Sparhawk in Styric.

‘Let’s hold off on that,’ Sparhawk replied. ‘We have to wait

for Aphrael’s friend – whoever he is – so let’s not precipitate

anything just yet.’

‘i’ve had some refreshments prepared,’ Kanzad said to

Vanion. ‘Why don’t we go inside? That sun is really growing

unbearable. ‘

The knights dismounted and followed the policeman into the

large, dusty office. There was a long table set against one wall,

a table laden with plates of sliced melon and figs and with flagons

that promised other refreshments. ‘The fruits and melons

here aren’t nearly as palatable as those you’d find in Matherion,’

Kanzad apologized, ‘but the local wines aren’t entirely undrinkable. ‘

‘Thanks all the same, Kanzad,’ Vanion declined, ‘but we

stopped for lunch no more than an hour ago. We’re all just fie.’

A momentary flicker of annoyance crossed the Tamul’s face. ‘i’ll

go make sure that your horses are being properly cared for, then,

and I’ll send a messenger to the embassy to advise Ambassador

Taubel of your arrival.’ He turned and went on out.

‘Could you arrange some privacy, dear?’ Vanion asked

Sephrenia in Styric.

‘Of course,’ she smiled. She quickly wove the spell and

released it.

“Someday you’ll have to teach me that one,’ he said.

‘And become redundant?’ she smiled. ‘Not on your life, my

love.’

‘We appear to have taken them by surprise,’ Bevier noted.

‘Kanzad doesn’t seem to have had much time to knock the rough

edges off those lies he told us.’

“I wouldn’t,’ Ulath said as Kalten reached for one of the wine

flagons. ‘One sip of that would probably stiffen you like a plank.’

Kalten regretfully pushed the flagon away. “I suppose you’re

right,’ he agreed.

‘We’re prisoners, then, aren’t we,’ Talen sighed. ‘That’s

depressing. I’ve been a thief all my life, and this is the first time

I’ve ever been arrested.’

‘The fact that these refreshments are probably poisoned

complicates things just a bit,’ Ulath growled. ‘Aside’ from that,

Kanzad’s been very helpful. He’s just put us inside the strongest

building in the village, and he rather carelessly forgot to take

our weapons. We can hold this place for as long as necessary.’

‘You’re a fraud, Ulath,’ Bevier laughed. ‘Tynian’s right. You

pretend to hate sieges, but you’re always the first one to suggest

forting up.’

‘A true friend wouldn’t mention that.”

“I can provide water if the worst comes to the worst,’

Sephrenia told them, ‘but let’s not precipitate anything just yet.’

She reached down and picked Flute up. ‘Have you had any

hints about the one we’re waiting for yet?’

Flute shook her head. ‘Nothing very specific so far. I think

he’s on his way, though.’

‘Good. This isn’t really a very pleasant place.

‘A thought, my Lords,’ Berit said. ‘Wouldn’t it be a good idea

to have Kanzad in here with us – just as a precaution? If someone

starts thinking about storming the building, that might make

them give it a few second thoughts.’

‘Good point,’ Ulath agreed.

Kanzad, however, did not return. The afternoon inched along,

and the knights grew increasingly restless. ‘He’s stalling, you

know,’ Kalten said finally. ‘Either he’s got reinforcements on

the way, or he’s hoping that we’ll get thirsty.’

‘We’ll just have to wait, Kalten,’ Flute told him. ‘The one

who’s going to be joining us is on his way.’

“It’s a race, then. We get to sit here making wagers on who

gets here first – our new traveling companion or Kanzad’s

reinforcements. ‘

‘You can look at it that way if you want to, I suppose.’

It was about two hours after their arrival in Narset when a large

party came along the road from Cynestra. The man in the lead

wore a rose-colored Tamul robe, and he was riding a spirited

black horse. The ones following him were Atans.

‘Whose side are the Atans on?’ Talen asked.

‘That depends on whether or not word from Matherion has

reached the local garrison telling them to ignore orders from the

Ministry of the Interior,’ Khalad replied.

Things could be even murkier than that,’ Vanion suggested.

‘Back in Matherion, there’s no love lost between the Foreign

Ministry and Interior. Kanzad was hinting at the fact that he

and Ambassador Taubel are very cozy.’

‘That might suggest that our enemies have managed to penetrate

Oscagne’s service,’ Bevier added with a slightly worried

frown.

‘We’ll find out in a minute,’ Berit said from where he had

been watching out the window. ‘Kanzad just came out from

behind the building.’

They all crowded around the windows to watch.

Kanzad’s welcoming smile crumbled from his face. ‘What are

you doing here, Itagne?’ he demanded of the Tamul on the black

horse. “I sent for Ambassador Taubel.’

The rose-clad man reined in. His eyes looked almost sleepy,

and he had a lofty, superior expression on his face. ‘i’m afraid

the ambassador’s been detained, old boy,’ he replied in a cultured,

almost deliberately insulting tone. His voice was oddly

familiar. ‘He sends you his very best, though.’

Kanzad struggled to regain his composure. ‘What is it exactly

that’s delaying the ambassador?’ he asked bluntly.

Itagne turned his head slightly. ‘i’d say it was the chains,

wouldn’t you, Atana?’ he asked the young Atan woman who

appeared to be in charge of the detachment. “It’s deucedly hard

to run with chains on.’

“It could be the chains, Itagne-ambassador,’ the girl agreed.

‘Of course, the bars of his cell might be getting in his way too.’

The young woman was full-figured, and her eyes were bold as

she looked at the Tamul official.

‘What’s going on here?’ Kanzad demanded.

‘The Atana and I have become very close friends since my

arrival, Kanzad,’ Itagne smiled, ‘but gentlemen shouldn’t really

talk about that sort of thing, should they? You are a gentleman,

aren’t you, Kanzad?’

“I wasn’t talking about that.’ Kanzad’s teeth were clenched.

‘What have you done with the ambassador?’

‘There have been a few changes at the embassy, old boy and

in your own offices as well. I really hope you don’t mind, but

I had to commandeer your building. We don’t have a dungeon at

the embassy – distressing oversight there, I suppose. Anyway,

Ambassador Taubel, along with all your grubby little policemen,

are presently locked safely away in your dungeon. My compliments

on it, incidentally. It’s really very nice.’

‘By whose authority have you imprisoned the ambassador?