claiming the crown, young Henry. It’ll stay that way until the King names his heir.’
‘If you remember, Lord Chadwick, my ancestor, Martin, King Lyam’s brother, renounced the throne for our line.’
The Duke waved it away. ‘Western honour. I forgot. It’s very quaint and charming.’ He leaned forward. ‘Just be ready. If anything happens to the King, your father will have a dozen knives seeking his throat at first chance, and you’ll be next. Any other brothers?’
‘Two.’
‘Well, they would be on that list after you.’ Leaning back, Chadwick said, ‘You’re a conDoin, boy. Since we left that damned island to conquer half the north of Triagia, a conDoin has sat the throne in Rillanon. Some better than others, granted, but always that bloodline. There are some who would see it end with Gregory.’
‘That’s treason,’ said Ty.
‘Not if the King doesn’t name an heir. Then it’s up to the Congress of Lords and that means it goes to the highest bidder.’ He paused. ‘Or the man with the biggest army. Bah!’ He dismissed the conversation as meaningless. ‘This is the Isles. We’re always looking for a way to gain advantage over our neighbours. My family’s been at odds with Rodez for over two centuries, and for the life of me I can’t tell you why.’ He grinned. ‘Still, we pester one another when we can. But Roldem …’ He shook his head. ‘Lore says we of the Isles and Roldem were once a single people. Heaven knows the languages are enough alike that it takes little effort for one to learn the other. I know that our noble families have intermarried so often we might as well just call ourselves cousins. But we’re the difficult cousins, and they’re the refined ones. We build armies; they build universities.’ He pointed to his own back. ‘Had the cane myself a few times as a student there. You?’ he asked Hal.
Hal nodded.
He looked at Ty, who shook his head. ‘You missed a lot then, lad. You don’t appreciate learning until you’re away from it for a while. That school there, it’s a wonderful place. My two elder boys went there and my little ones will go when they’re old enough.’ He leaned back and again rubbed his chin. ‘Roldem,’ he said softly.
‘What should we do, Your Grace?’ asked Hal. ‘The King and Queen sent their daughter to safety. We are supposed to see her to Rillanon.’
‘Then see her there you shall,’ said the Duke. He picked up a little bell and rang it. When no one answered he rang it again, harder. After a moment, he bellowed, ‘Makepeace!’
An old servant appeared and said, ‘Your grace?’
‘Send word to the harbour that my ship is to be ready to sail on the morning tide to Rillanon. And tell my wife to stop fussing over those girls.’ He glanced at the two young men and grinned. ‘We only had sons, so she aches for a daughter to dress in fine clothing and all that paint women wear.’ Turning back to the old servant, he said, ‘And ask her to see to supper. We’re entertaining royalty tonight!’
He stood up, as did the two young men. ‘I don’t envy you, either of you,’ he said softly after the servant left. ‘Fate has set you on a path that will I think have many traps and dangers. I was called to the capital in any event so I’ll just leave a few days early. The Congress is gathering as there is much to discuss. Kesh is suing for peace and we must ask about that nonsense.’ He thought for a moment, then added, ‘Yes, let the King decide what’s to be done with the lovely princess and then you two can get back to doing whatever it was you were doing before this fiasco began.’
Hal and Ty looked at one another.
‘Come!’ the Duke cried. ‘Let’s go to my favourite balcony where we can watch the sun set and drink brandy, and you can tell me about the Masters’ Court.’
Both young men were exhausted, but they knew it was likely to be a while before they could rest. As the Duke led them away, Ty whispered, ‘Maybe when we pass out face down at the table and they have to carry us out we’ll get some rest.’
‘As long as it’s on a full stomach, I’ll even sleep in this road-dirt.’
‘I heard that,’ said the Duke. ‘Bathe first, then brandy!
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Light exploded.
The blinding display was accompanied by a thunderous boom that caused both Amirantha and Sandreena to flinch and fall back a step. Magnus stood outlined in the brilliance of an oval of light that had formed before him, his hand in front of his face, shielding his eyes.
‘What is that?’ asked the warlock.
The white-haired magician turned and said, ‘It’s some sort of an energy matrix. I attempted to probe the Sven-ga’ri to see if it was in any way different to those I’ve seen in the Peaks of the Quor.’ He pointed to the blinding light. ‘This is unexpected.’
The two members of the ruling council of the Pantathians, Tak’ka and Dak’it, who had observed the magician’s examination of the alien beings called Sven-ga’ri, were also partially blinded by the light.
Magnus blinked as his vision struggled to return to normal. He turned to the two Pantathians and asked, ‘Have you seen anything like that before?’
‘Never,’ said Tak’ka. ‘The Sven-ga’ri use emotions to communicate; we believe they may in part be responsible for the changes in those of us who live here compared to those who do not.’
Magnus nodded. The story of these alien creatures was much the same as he had discovered in the Peaks of the Quor; ordered by their Dragon Lord masters to take care of these beings, the Pantathians like the Quor had diligently discharged that duty.
Magnus looked at the brilliant white oval. ‘I think I’ll need to examine this for a while. I have an idea what it might be.’ He turned to Amirantha and Sandreena. ‘I think it might be wise if you two returned to Sorcerer’s Isle and spoke with my father.’ He took out a Tsurani translocation orb and glanced around. After a moment he nodded to himself and began a spell, holding the device before him. It took a few minutes, but then he held out the orb to Amirantha. ‘I’ve programmed this to return here. Father is very powerful, but there are a few things he can’t do, such as reach a location he’s never seen before. I don’t need that to get home. Will you please tell him?’
‘Tell him what?’ asked Sandreena.
Magnus smiled and it was one of the few times either of them had seen him do that. ‘Why, tell him everything,’ he said with a chuckle. Then he said to Tak’ka, ‘Might I ask for a few things?’
‘What do you require?’ asked the elder of the two Pantathians. The subtleties of his race’s expressions were becoming known to Magnus and he smiled. ‘Tea if you have it please, water if not. And perhaps a cushion upon which I might sit. I suspect I will be here a while studying this construction.’
Amirantha, Warlock of the Saltumbria, took the Tsurani transport orb. ‘Will you share your suspicions? In case your father asks.’
Magnus shrugged. ‘These beings are as alien to us as any we have ever encountered. As far as I can see they are composed entirely of energy, albeit in a coherent form. Moreover, they seem to communicate on a profound level of emotions, which may be subtle enough to convey the most nuanced concepts, but for us are incomprehensible. Imagine, if you will, hearing a group of singers, a choir. Most of us might be able to hear the entirety as a lovely blend, perhaps much as we experience our proximity to the Sven-ga’ri as a feeling of calm and wellness. Some of us might be able to listen to one voice or another within the choir, somehow isolating it from the others. But I suspect, to hold to this analogy, the Sven-ga’ri are ten thousand voices and each of them holds the ability to listen to each voice as a choir, yet each alone, simultaneously.’
Amirantha said, ‘Interesting. But what about that oval of light?’
‘I think they are tired of our clumsy attempts to communicate, and are now trying something that may be as alien to them as it is to us. Energy to us is most clearly perceived as light, hence I think they are trying to provide us with a means to communicate.’
‘So, this is …?’
‘I think they are trying to teach me to read, given that I appear deaf to them.’
