wit!' said Sarazin. 'Nay, master. There's no horse within.'
Startled by this intelligence, Sarazin panicked into the barn. He found his noble steed within and led it outside. Glambrax was still on the roof.
'What do you think this is?' demanded Sarazin. 'That?' said Glambrax. 'That is a pony, unless I'm mistaken.'
'It's my horse!' said Sarazin. 'Get down from there so I can kick you.'
'Oho!' said Glambrax. 'A tyrant, is it? Will it kick me for not finding cat when it sends me for dog? Will it boot me for not bringing water when it asks after wine? That is no horse you have there. That is but a pony, ill-fed, ill- bred, ill- broken, aye, and dying of the glanders unless I'm mistaken.'
You claim your mother a witch but I think her more likely a lawyer,' said Sarazin in disgust. 'Either that, or you were fathered by a passing solicitor. Come down here this instant!'
So saying, Sarazin pointed at the mud at his feet. Without a moment's hesitation Glambrax jumped. Landing feet together on the precise spot indicated. Sending mud flying in all directions. One of those directions was Sarazin's.
Then Sarazin finally realised, with dismay, that he had acquired the worst kind of servant imaginable: that is, one who will do exactly what he is told.
You and me,' said Sarazin, breathing heavily, 'are going to have to go a long way together. So don't give me any trouble or I'll throttle you.' Yes, master,' said Glambrax, meekly. Then grinned. Then giggled.
Until Sarazin, provoked beyond endurance, kicked him to obtain his silence.
Shortly, with Glambrax saddled up behind him, Sarazin was on his way again. Hoping he could somehow find his way to Shin and to King Lyra's palace. Hoping his long- suffering pony could make the distance before it collapsed and died. He had stolen the horse for this journey; he now made a vow that, next time he played horse thief, he would get himself something more worth the stealing. Where are we making for?' said Glambrax.
'Shin' said Sarazin. 'That's somewhere to the east, I think.'
Whether it is or isn't,' said Glambrax, 'you'll never find it this way. East is a vague direction, is it not? Vague as a quarter of the sky. An unknown city is but a lightless star in that quarter.'
'I don't need your pessimism,' said Sarazin, who found Glambrax's comments uncomfortably accurate.
'I talk not pessimism but sense,' said Glambrax. Head north till you pick up the Velvet River, then follow the river upstream to Shin. Shin is by the river, is it not? So that way we can't get lost, can we?'
This advice was so sound that Sarazin was sure there must be something seriously wrong with it. But, in the end, he turned his horse to the north, thinking it worth a try.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Place: Shin, capital of Chenameg. Stands on southern bank of Velvet River. Eastern end of North Road lies directly across river; a ferry runs between city and road. Most notable features: King Lyra's palace (known as the Great House); associated Great Hall; Phoenix Temple; four lumber yards; sawmill; ferry house. Population: 2,467 on the day of Sarazin's arrival in the autumn of Alliance 4325.
When Sarazin reached Shin, Thodric Jarl was there waiting for him. By then, Sarazin had worked up the most marvel- lous story about his heroic defiance of the terrorists who had kidnapped him, and his escape from the same. Glam- brax corroborated the tale, which was well received by almost everyone in the city. Only Lod had his doubts.
'I don't believe such dog-snot nonsense,' said Lod, when Sarazin was admitted to the dung-smelling jail where his friend was incarcerated, awaiting trial on charges of being a wastrel. 'But it's true,' protested Sarazin, 'all true.'
'No,' said Lod, bitterly, 'it's but part of a ploy to free yourself from Selzirk. Why did you do it? Do you hate me? Or what?'
'I don't understand!' said Sarazin, dismayed. You called, I came. You petitioned Farfalla, you-'
'Dolt!' said Lod. Tvfo trial in Chenameg can start until every witness sought by the defence is on hand. Hence my petition. By demanding a witness forever unavailable I delayed my trial forever, my conviction forever, my execution forever. I made myself immortal! Till you damned me to trial then death.'
With that said, Lod began to weep. Helplessly. As tears ran down his jail-grimed face, Sarazin, dismayed, said: 'But I – how was I – I mean…'
You stupid sod,' said Lod. You stupid stupid sod. If you don't know the law, why not ask a lawyer? You suck- face fool! You've killed me!'
Sarazin's first thought was to flee from Shin to save Lod's life. So he sought an audience with King Lyra at which he said:
'My lord, it is not meet that I should dally here in Shin. Now that I have escaped the terrorists, duty compels me to Selzirk. There must I enlist with the army, for such is my doom, as all who know the Constitution of the Harvest Plains know well.'
'Nonsense, boy,' said King Lyra. You must stay for Lod's trial, for he wants you as a witness. We've scheduled it for after the Phoenix Festival.' The Phoenix Festival?' said Sarazin. Ten days of song, dance, feasting and poetry,' said King
Lyra. 'It starts on Midwinter's Day. We have hunting, too. Excellent hunting.'
'If it's going to be so long before the trial starts,' said Sarazin, 'surely I could go to Selzirk now then return after Midwinter's Day.'
'Oh no,' said King Lyra, shaking his head. 'Lod's lawyers will want you on hand from now till then to help prepare your testimony. No, I forbid it. You must stay here.'
'But,' said Sarazin, 'what if those in Selzirk think me lingering here in deliberate dereliction of my military duty?'
Your brother Celadon is here as military attache to the embassy your countrymen maintain in our fair city. Ill send him home with tidings of your fate. Thus Selzirk will know you are held here by my decree, not by your own choice.' 'May I speak with the ambassador himself?' said Sarazin.
'Impossible,' said King Lyra, 'for the ambassador is dead of a fever. Relax, young man, relax. No harm will come to you from this adventure.'
'I fear,' said Sarazin, trying one last move, 'that the terrorists who plucked me from Selzirk will seize me here in Shin. I was lucky to escape from them the first time. I doubt I'd manage it twice.'
'I've thought of that already,' said King Lyra. 'By my command, Thodric Jarl remains in Shin as your body- guard. With thirty of the finest fighters of Selzirk's Watch to guard you he'll keep you safe enough.'
Well! Sean Sarazin had certainly tried. On realising his presence doomed Lod to defeat and death, he'd done his level best to quit Shin. But King Lyra had made that impossible. So what could he do but make the best of a bad thing?
He resolved to get on with the business which had really inspired him to come to Shin in the first place. To seduce Amantha (and marry her), to kill Tarkal (and perhaps King Lyra as well) and set himself up as king of Chenameg.
He would strike at Lod's trial, after midwinter. The trial would bring all Chenameg's dignitaries together, so Sarazin could capture all in a coup. King Lyra had but two dozen men of arms serving under him, and those were of dubious quality. Since Sarazin commanded (or thought he commanded) the loyalty of Thodric Jarl and the men of the Watch, the weight of numbers appeared to be on his side already. He would also, of course, have the advantage of surprise.
King Sarazin. It had such a nice ring to it that he could hardly wait. King Sarazin? Perhaps he should use his new name and style himself King Watashi. That sounded even better!
CHAPTER TWENTY With literacy hath no trivia its termination For print preserves all paltriness forever; With literacy can no man recall his paradiso Or conjure forth the glories with his tongue. Thus Talaman said of the librarians: 'Kill them, lest they mute us.' Quite rightly.
– Arez Stone, 'With Literacy'
'He's coarse,' said Hanny, peering at Sarazin through one of the spyholes cut in her fan. 'He's incredibly
