‘Yes, Father.’
90
Dardalion returned to the window, but he did not see the distant mountains, nor the storm clouds looming in the north. He saw again the cabin on the mountainside, the two frightened children, and the two men who had come to kill them. And he felt the weight of the weapon of death in his hands. He sighed. The cause of right? Only the Source knew.
He heard the sound of booming laughter from the winding stairs beyond his room, and felt the immense physical presence of Karnak even before the man crossed the threshold.
‘Gods, but it is good to see you, old lad!’ boomed Karnak, striding across the room and clasping a huge hand to Dardalion’s shoulder. The man’s smile was wide and genuine, and Dardalion returned it.
‘And you, my lord. I see your dress sense is as colourful as ever.’
‘Like it? The cloak is from Mashrapur, the shirt from a little weavery in Drenan.’
‘They suit you well.’
‘By Heaven you are a terrible liar, Dardalion. I expect your soul will burn in Hellfire. Now sit you down and let us talk of more important matters.’ The Drenai leader moved round the desk to take Dardalion’s chair, leaving the slender Abbot to sit opposite him. Karnak unbuckled his sword-belt, laying it on the floor beside him, then eased his great bulk into the seat. ‘Damned uncomfortable furniture,’ he said. ‘Now, where were we? Ah, yes! What can you tell me about the Ventrians?’
‘They will sail within the week, landing at Purdol, Erekban and the Earis estuary,’ answered Dardalion.
‘How many ships?’
‘More than four hundred.’
‘That many, eh? I don’t suppose you’d consider whipping up a storm to sink the bastards?’
‘Even if I could – which I can’t – I would refuse such a request.’
‘Of course,’ said Karnak, with a wide grin. ‘Love, peace, the Source, morality and so on. But there are some who could, yes?’
91
‘So it is said,’ agreed Dardalion, ‘among the Nadir and the Chiatze. But the Ventrians have their own wizards, sir, and I don’t doubt they’ll be making sacrifices and casting spells to ensure good weather.’
‘Never mind their problems,’ snapped Karnak. ‘Could you locate a demon conjurer for me?’
Now it was Dardalion who laughed. ‘You are a wonder, my lord. And I shall do you the kindness of treating that request as a jest.’
‘Which of course it wasn’t,’ said Karnak. ‘Still, you’ve made your point. Now, what of the Gothir?’
‘They have reached agreement with the Sathuli tribes, who will allow an invading force to pass unopposed to occupy the Sentran Plain once the Ventrians have landed. Around ten thousand men.’
‘I knew it!’ snapped Karnak, his irritation growing. ‘Which legions?’
‘The First, Second and Fifth. Plus two mercenary legions made up of Vagrian refugees.’
‘Wonderful. The Second and the Fifth are not a worry to me – our spies say they are mostly raw recruits with little discipline. But the First are the Emperor’s finest, and the Vagrians fight like pain-maddened tigers. Still, I have a week, you say. Much can happen in that time. We’ll see. Tell me of the Sathuli leader.’
For more than an hour Karnak questioned Dardalion until, satisfied at last, he rose to leave. Dardalion raised his hand. There is another matter to be discussed, my lord.’
There is?’
‘Yes. Waylander.’
Karnak’s face darkened. That is none of your affair, priest. I don’t want you spying on me.’
‘He is my friend, Karnak. And you have ordered his killing.’
These are affairs of state, Dardalion. Damn it all, man, he killed the King. There has been a price on his head for years.’
‘But that is not why you hired the Guild, my lord. I know the reason, and it is folly. Worse folly than you know.’
92
‘Is that so? Explain it to me.’
‘Two years ago, with the army treasury empty, and a rebellion on your hands, you received a donation from a merchant in Mashrapur, a man named Gamalian. One hundred thousand in gold. It saved you. Correct?’
‘What of it?’
‘The money came from Waylander. Just as this year’s donation of eighty thousand Raq from the merchant, Perlisis, came from Waylander. He has been supporting you for years. Without him you would have been finished.’