“Most ingenious, Count Tretar. We commend you.”
“Thank you, My Liege.” The count bowed deeply.
“But this will take time.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“And what are we to do about these wretched Gegs? Shutting the machine down, cutting off our water!”
“Captain Sang-drax—an excellent officer, by the way, I draw Your Imperial Majesty’s attention to him—has brought us a Geg prisoner.”
“So we heard.” The emperor held the pomander to his nose, as though the stench had somehow managed to seep into his half of the palace. “We fail to see why. We have a pair for the royal zoo, don’t we?”
“Your Imperial Majesty is in good humor this day,” Tretar said, adding the laugh he knew was expected.
“We aren’t,” Agah’ran stated petulantly. “Nothing is going right. But we assume that this Geg is of some importance to you?”
“As a hostage, My Liege. I suggest that we offer the Gegs an ultimatum; they either start the Kicksey-winsey or what is left of this Geg female will be returned to them in several small boxes.”
“And what is one Geg more or less, Tretar? They breed like rats. I fail to see—”
“Begging Your Radiance’s pardon, but the Gegs are quite a close-knit race. They have a rather quaint belief that what happens to one Geg happens to all. I think this threat should be sufficient inducement for them to do our bidding.”
“If you think so, Count, then such will be our command.”
“Thank you, My Liege. And now, as Your Radiance appears fatigued—”
“We are, Tretar. We admit it. The pressures of state, dear count, the pressures of state… However, one thought occurs to us.”
“Yes, O Exalted One?”
“How do we return the boy to Volkaran without rousing the humans’ suspicions? And what’s to keep King Stephen from simply doing away with him quietly if we do send him back?” Agah’ran shook his head, wearied himself greatly with the effort. “We see too many difficulties—”
“Rest assured, O Exalted One, I have taken all this into consideration.”
“Truly?”
“Yes, My Liege.”
“And what is your intent, Count?”
The count glanced at the slaves and the valet. He leaned down, whispered into His Radiant Majesty’s perfumed ear.
Agah’ran stared, confounded, at his minister, for a moment. Then a slow smile spread over the lips that were touched with ground coral. The emperor was aware of his minister’s
intelligence, just as his minister was aware that his emperor— despite appearances—was no fool.
“We approve, Count. You will make the arrangements?”
“Consider them made, Your Imperial Majesty.”
“What will you tell the boy? He will be eager to leave.”
The count smiled. “I must admit, My Liege, it was the boy who suggested the plan.”
“The cunning little devil. Are all human children like this, Tretar?”
“I should not think so, O Exalted One, or the humans would have long ago defeated us.”
“Yes, well, this one bears watching. Keep your eye on him, Tretar. We should love to hear further details, but some other time.” Agah’ran passed his hand weakly over his brow. “The headache grows severe.”
“Your Radiance suffers much for his people,” said Tretar, with a low bow.
“We know, Tretar. We know.” Agah’ran heaved a pain-filled sigh. “And they do not appreciate it.”
“On the contrary, they adore you, My Liege. Attend to His Majesty,” Tretar ordered, snapping his fingers.
The valet de chambre leapt to action. Slaves came running from all directions, bearing cold compresses, hot towels, warm wine, chilled water.
“Carry us to our bedchamber,” said Agah’ran faintly.
The valet took over, marshaling the complicated procedure.
Count Tretar waited until he had seen the emperor lifted from the couch, placed among silken pillows on a gilded litter, and carried in a procession, moving at a coral grub’s pace (so as not to disturb the royal equilibrium) toward the bedchamber. Near the door, Agah’ran made a feeble gesture.
Tretar, who had been watching closely, was instantly attentive.
“Yes, My Liege?”
“The boy has someone with him. A human freak, whose skin has turned blue.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Majesty,” answered Tretar, not thinking it necessary to explain. “So we have been informed.”
“What of him?”