blaming everything on the Nisibisi- and not saying why the Nisibisi would wage
magical war in Sanctuary. The Wrigglies say it’s the awakening of Ils Thousand
Eyes. And the mages don’t say much of anything because half of them’re dead and
the rest hiding. The local doomsayers’re making fortunes.
“But our Prince Kittycat, bless his empty, little head, had an idea. He marches
out on his balcony and proclaims that Vashanka is angry because Sanctuary does
not show proper respect to his consort and her child and that he has blasted his
own name off the pantheon rather than be associated with the town. Then Kittycat
proclaims a tax on every tavern-a copper a tot-and says he’s going to make an
offering to Vashanka. Sanctuary will apologize by ringing a new bell!”
Walegrin empathized with Sanctuary’s naive, blundering young governor. Actually
his idea wasn’t bad; much better than involving the mageguild or setting the
Wrigglies against the outnumbered Rankans. That was Kittycat’s problem; his
ideas weren’t half bad, but he wasn’t even half the man it would take to have
people listen to them without laughing.
A new idea grew in Walegrin’s thoughts. The Prince had turned to Balustrus,
metal-master, to cast the bell for Vashanka. Now he, Walegrin, would approach
Balustrus to make Enlibar steel-for the Prince, perhaps, but not Vashanka. A
pattern of fortune might emerge-might be stronger than the S’danzo curse. He
imagined himself with the Prince; the two of them together might make one
irresistable force.
“Did you see this bell of the metal-master’s? Is it worthy?” he asked Thrusher.