Martin Scott - Thraxas and the Ice Dragon

The Assembly Hall is full of men in dark cloaks. Dignitaries here don't wear togas as they did in Turai. I find that odd. Not fully civilised. There are very few women, the only others apart from Lisutaris and Makri being two senior Sorcerers. There's a lot of milling around, and I notice the Simnian Ambassador deep in conversation with several Niojan diplomats. A delegation from the small nation of Juval has just arrived in Elath, and they've come straight to the Assembly Hall, still dressed in their riding clothes. Lisutaris and Kublinos are engaged in conversation with Barons Vosanos and Girimos. Makri, taking her duties as bodyguard seriously, stays close, silently watchful. I attempt to look like a Special Adviser, though I'm hoping no one asks me for advice, particularly as I'm distracted by the aroma of roasting venison.

«Is there going to be food?» I ask.

Lisutaris ignores me but Baron Girimos breaks off the conversation to sniff the air. «Yes! Venison! Excellent. You know, Thraxas, I've been to meetings here where there's been no food at all.»

«That's just not acceptable. You can't do important business on an empty stomach.»

«That's what I always say!» cries the Baron.

I like Baron Girimos. He's a man who cares about the important things in life. I can't say the same for Baron Vosanos, who's irritated at the interruption. Vosanos is a tall, lean man, who has a fancy fur collar on his cloak and a jewelled clasp at the neck, neither of which are quite in keeping with the seriousness of the occasion. I don't know that much about Vosanos, though he did fight in the Orc wars, so he can't be all bad. Baron Mabados approaches with his son Orgodas, who's due to marry Vosanos's daughter. They share a friendly greeting before Mabados turns to me, glares angrily, then asks me if it's true I've been interfering with his household by asking questions and making trouble. Not wanting to reflect badly on Lisutaris, I do my best to answer tactfully.

«I did have a few minor questions, Baron. Nothing of real importance.»

«There will be no more questions, minor or otherwise,» announces the Baron. «I'm not having an unwelcome outsider disturbing my family.»

I remain silent. That doesn't satisfy Mabados.

«Well?» he demands.

«Well what?»

«Are you going to give up this annoying investigation?»

«No.»

The Baron moves closer. «You Turanians amaze me. Here you are, a bedraggled refugee, a guest in our country, and what do you do? Start bothering important people with your impertinent questions. Really, Lisutaris, have you no control over this man?»

If it's an uncomfortable moment for Lisutaris, she doesn't let it show. «My Chief Adviser is experienced in investigation. If someone engages him for that reason, I see nothing wrong with it.»

«What does the death of a woman at the Record House have to do with him? The matter was already investigated.»

«It's possible that King's Steward Daringos may have overlooked a few details,» I say, still trying to be tactful.

«What details? It was an accident. And if there were any doubts, it would be for me to pursue the matter, not you. I'm presiding Baron in Elath and I'm ordering you to end this investigation.»

Baron Vosanos chooses this moment to get involved. «What sort of investigation? Sorcerous? I don't like the idea of foreign Sorcerers poking about, I must say.»

«I don't use sorcery,» I tell him. Which is almost true. These days magic is mostly beyond me. «I just ask questions.»

«Then how are your investigations ever successful? Surely criminals don't volunteer information?»

«I'm dogged. I keep asking.»

Baron Vosanos laughs. «I can't see you making much progress. Who thinks this girl's death was suspicious anyway? First I've heard of it.»

«Really? I thought it was well-know there were some suspicions. That's why Daringos was asked to investigate.»

«There were no suspicions,» says Baron Mabados.

«That's not what your daughter thinks,» I reply.

The atmosphere, already cold, drops to somewhere around frozen. Mentioning the Baron's daughter in public, in connection with an investigation, could be construed as a huge social blunder. But I'm fed up being tactful, and maybe it's time to shake things up.

«If you so much as talk to my daughter I'll run you out of town,» says Mabados.

«I already talked to her. And you're not running me out of anywhere.»

«Why, I'll» explodes Mabados, but he's unable to continue as the young King arrives at that moment, heralded by a fanfare of trumpets. Everyone bows respectfully. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Baron Mabados glaring at me with loathing. Perhaps he knows more than he's letting on.

King Gardos looks anything but confident as he surveys the assembly of senior figures in front of him. We're expecting him to bring us up to date on recent developments, but after a brief greeting, he hands over to General Hemistos to do it for him.

«Simnia's almost ready with their full army,» reports the General. «But I don't have such good news from elsewhere. Kamara has promised very little. The Niojan ambassadors tell us they're facing delays. Jon, Amara and Bandid have promised to send what they can but none of them have large armies. As for the League of City States, they've been cut off by Prince Amrag taking Turai and they're terrified to leave their borders.»

«What about the Far West?»

«Kastlin promises some archers but who knows how long it will take them to arrive? As for the Elves in the Southern Isles,» The General raises his hands. «A messenger eagle arrived today and the news wasn't good. They hope to be able to sail soon, but we can't count on them bringing anything like the number of warriors they did last time.»

This causes some disquiet. Everyone knows we need the Elves. We can't defeat the full forces of the East without them. The General turns to Lisutaris. «Mistress of the Sky, what's the situation with your Guild?»

«Every Sorcerer in the West will be here if I have to summon them with a transportation spell. If our army isn't going to be as strong as last time, we'll still have the most powerful Sorcerous force ever assembled.»

The dignitaries are temporarily heartened. Lasat Axe of Gold punctures the mood by reminding everyone that Orcish sorcery is also stronger than it used to be. «They still control dragons, and their means of countermanding our sorcery have grown stronger. Only last month, Mistress of the Sky, you found yourself bested by their leader, Deeziz the Unseen.»

«I was not bested,» says Lisutaris, cooly.

«Turai fell.»

«And I'm about to take it back. Which brings us to the next issue. It's time we selected a War Leader.»

Hemistos frowns. «Not everyone is here yet.»

«There are enough of us. We need a War Leader now and I put myself forward, as Head of the Sorcerers Guild.»

General Hemistos looks rather dubiously towards King Gardos, probably wondering if it's going to be awkward for a Samsarinan to support Lisutaris. It will be if Gardos wants the position himself. The first person to speak out is the leader of the Niojan delegation.

«We were on the point of proposing Bishop-General Ritari.»

Ritari is commander of the Niojan Eastern armies. I've no idea what sort of man he is, but it hardly matters. There's no chance of the West following a Niojan leader. No one much likes them, even if they do have a very high opinion of themselves.

«Shouldn't the position go to General Acarius?» asks a delegate from Juval. «He's our most experienced soldier.»

«He's also past sixty,» mutters one of the Niojans.

«I support Lisutaris,» says the leader of the ambassadors from Abelesi, a small state on the South Coast. «She has the most experience in warfare.»