King of Foxes (20 page)

The Princess wore a lounging robe of a nearly diaph-anous silk, with a sleeveless overjacket of the same material. It was of a pale blue, which accented her vivid eyes.

She was still a striking woman, thought Tal as he heard her demand, “Approach, Squire.”

Tal moved to stand before her, and she patted the divan, saying, “Sit.”

He did as instructed. Despite being in her forties, she showed only a slight dusting of grey in her otherwise dark hair. She had a thin face, but her eyes were wide and expressive, and her neck and shoulders—shown to good advantage by the clothing she had chosen—were elegant.

Tal took it all in with a glance, the full bosom and long legs and, despite the fact that she had given birth to two children at an early age, her small waist.

Kaspar had given Tal all the information on the Princess he possessed, which was extensive: she was the sister of the Duke of Miskalon, at one time had been all but thrown at Kaspar as a possible duchess, had married a man she basically despised, and was all that kept Salmater from being overrun or controlled by one of its neighbors.

Her son, Serge, was as big a fool as his father, and her daughter, Anastasia, was a simpering, spoiled brat. Svetlana’s passions included politics, hunting, and men. Tal had noticed all the palace guards in the Princess’s retinue were uniformly young, handsome, and tall.

“I trust you don’t mind the informality, Squire.”

Tal smiled, a polite and unrevealing expression. “Not at all, Highness. I am at your service.”

The Princess laughed. “Hardly. Kaspar would never _______________

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send a fool with a message that is one rude word shy of a declaration of war. What does he
really
want?”

Tal realized the seductive setting was designed to throw him off-balance and distract him. He had no doubt he stood a fair chance of the Princess dragging him off to bed in the next room. He could read a woman’s moods as well as the next man, indeed better than most, and he knew she found him attractive. She was also the true ruler of this nation and used to indulging her every whim—women who rule through weak husbands, Tal had discovered reading his history, had decided advantages in their personal choices. As she was an attractive enough woman by any measure, he would be more than willing to indulge her in any fashion she desired before he killed her. Given the curves of her slender body, he would certainly enjoy it.

“I make no presumptions about my master’s desires, Princess,” Tal answered. “He stated his brief clearly in his message to you and the Prince.”

“Well, then, Squire,” said the Princess, leaning forward to pour two goblets of wine, and opening up the top of her gown enough to give Tal a clear view of her very attractive body, “let’s play a game, shall we?”

“Ma’am?”

“Let’s pretend we’re both seers, and we are able to read Duke Kaspar’s mind.” She handed him a goblet.

“Now, you go first.”

Tal laughed. “Highness, I would be doing my master a disservice if I attributed to him motives or desires beyond the message he sent.”

“I’ve known Kaspar since before I came to this throne, Tal—I may call you Tal, may I?” He nodded. “I’ve known him since we were children, though I am only a few years older.” She sipped her wine. “I know him for the double-

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dealing, lying, murderous bastard he is, and love him anyway.” She smiled, and Tal found her even more attractive.

“He’s one of my favorite enemies and lovers—that was before I married Janosh, of course. Besides, we’re playing a game, aren’t we?”

Tal considered. He quickly arrived at something that would not compromise his position, yet might help him resolve this little impasse. The sight of the Princess by candlelight was beginning to captivate him. He smiled,

“Yes, it’s just a game, Princess.”

“Call me Svetlana when we’re alone, Tal.”

She leaned forward. “Now, what does Kaspar really want?”

“I can only guess, but I think he means to ensure you don’t end up aiding other enemies. The mapping expedition was clearly designed to find a clear route through to Olasko Gateway, and that’s of great concern to the Duke.”

“Understandable,” said the Princess, dipping her finger in Tal’s wine, then playfully outlining his lips with the finger.

Tal felt himself growing warm, and would have merely attributed it to the wine and the Princess’s seductive play, except that his training at Sorcerer’s Isle told him that something else was going on. He sipped his wine, applying his tutored palate to the task, and after a long sip identified a strange and ever-so-slightly bitter quality in the finish of the wine that was not supposed to be there.

He wasn’t certain what had been added to the wine, but he suspected a particular powder made from a certain tree bark. It was sold throughout both the Kingdom of the Isles and in Roldem as a curative for older men whose ardor was flagging. At his age it was unnecessary, but it certainly did seem to be working.

He put the goblet aside. “I think what my lord Duke _______________

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really wants is to find one of his borders secure, so he can turn his mind to other things. He has ambitions—”

“As well we know,” said Svetlana, moving even closer as she started tracing Tal’s jawline with her finger.

“—ambitions that require he not fear for the safety of Olasko on multiple fronts.

“He sees your husband as a tool of Miskalon or Roskalon, or perhaps even the Isles, and would like to find an absolute way to end that threat.”

She kissed him, then moved back slightly, and whispered, “We must find another way to reassure our beloved Kaspar, but we will never swear fealty. Perhaps you could attend a meeting with my husband’s Cabinet tomorrow, and we shall ponder things a little while longer.”

Tal whispered back, “I am at your service.”

Smiling, she pulled him forward as she lay back on the divan, and said, “Yes, you are.”

__

As morning drew near, the Princess said, “Time to go.”

Tal dressed. As he pulled his boots on, he said, “I thank Her Highness for her hospitality.”

Svetlana laughed, a genuinely amused, warm sound. “I thank the Squire for his enthusiasm.”

“That was easy enough, m’lady.” He leaned over and kissed her. “The drug in the wine was unnecessary.”

She feigned a pout. “At my age one worries.”

“With your beauty, you needn’t.”

She rose up, ignoring her nakedness. Embracing him, she said, “You have no idea how difficult it has been. Since our two children were conceived, our last over a decade ago, my husband . . . let’s say he prefers the company of others.”

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Tal shrugged. “His loss.”

“And it’s so difficult sometimes to convince a young man of the court that . . . well, they fear the Prince’s wrath.” Her voice turning bitter, she added, “When they should expect his thanks and relief.”

“I might fear him, save I expect to be departing tomorrow, perhaps with a declaration of war following me.”

She escorted him to the door of her apartment. Kissing him deeply, she said, “All is not lost. You’re a wonderful boy, and I admire you, but I shall not bend my stance for your protection. However, I will tell you that war is a last resort, and I see no joy in it. I will expect you to make a persuasive brief to the Cabinet this afternoon, Tal. Give me something to work with and we can prevent it.” Lowering her eyes, she said, “Either way, I expect we shall talk about this alone, later tonight?”

“My pleasure, Highness,” said Tal before kissing her once more, then leaving the apartment.

If the palace guards were surprised to see a visiting envoy leaving the Princess’s private apartments at dawn, they did a masterful job of disguising the fact. They held their positions with eyes forward as Tal returned to his own quarters.

He entered the room and found Amafi asleep in a chair, feet out before him, next to a table covered in vials and jars. As the door closed with a faint click of the latch, Amafi came awake.

“Magnificence,” said Amafi. He stood and pointed to the table. “It is done.”

Tal looked at Amafi in surprise. “After you left,”

Amafi said, “I took the liberty of completely inspecting these premises. Salmater observes the formalities of diplomacy. There are no secret listening posts or peepholes, of that I’m certain.”

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Tal nodded, then looked at the clutter and said,

“Which one?”

Amafi picked up a tiny blue vial, and said “This is the one.”

“No one is suspicious?”

“I paused at three apothecaries, buying different ingredients at each, telling the guards I could not find that which I needed for your health. They were bored and distracted by the time I had wasted the entire morning in several shops seeking more gifts for Lady Natalia.” He pointed to another table in the corner, where several ob-jets d’art, items of personal jewelry, and bottles of rare perfume rested.

“Natalia will be most amused,” said Tal.

“How was your night, Magnificence?”

“Pleasant enough,” said Tal. “It’s a shame, in a way.

She thinks me a young fool and will try to play me to her advantage while I am sent back to Kaspar with a clever little request from her husband. It’s a ploy to buy time.

“It’s a shame we can’t find out who she sends messages to and identify the true architect of this plot against Olasko.”

“You might if you could find a source of information inside the palace. Minister Odeski seems a man of ambition.”

Tal grinned. “My assessment as well. But all this cannot play out in one night. We must get back to Olasko before the unfortunate events that are to take place transpire.” He motioned to all apothecary items on the table. “Make sure everything is destroyed.”

“Of course, Magnificence. I will drop a vial into different garderobes throughout the palace. No one will be sifting through the middens, I am certain.”

The waste from the palace would be hauled away by _______________

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wagons and perhaps dumped outside the city or spread out in the midden fields to dry and later be used for fertilizer on local farms. Either way, should a farmer find a tiny blue glass bottle in his fertilizer, he would have no idea where it came from.

“Very well, that should do it.”

“What then today, Magnificence?”

“Today I rest until called before the Prince’s Privy Council, at which time I can sit and watch the Princess run the nation. It should be entertaining, if predictable.”

He moved to the door to his bedroom. “Wake me at an hour after noon, and have some food ready. I expect to be in with the council all afternoon. Then another banquet.”

“Then the Princess?” asked Amafi.

“Then the Princess, assuming a handsome young palace guard doesn’t take her fancy during supper.”

“Not to worry, Magnificence.”

“The Princess seems a woman of fickle appetites, and you seem sure of yourself.”

“I know women, Magnificence, or at least as well as any man might. You are a novelty, and from what I heard before taking your service, well regarded by the ladies.

And even if he’s a very handsome young guard, he will be here next week, and you will not.”

Tal smiled. “You are probably right.” He took the blue vial and put it in his belt pouch, then entered his bedroom and closed the door. As he fell into bed, he could hear Amafi clearing up the accumulated items and was sound asleep by the time Amafi left to get rid of the evidence.

__

The meeting was proceeding exactly as Tal had anticipated. The Cabinet appeared unconvinced of Duke Kas-

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par’s resolve, and Tal had on several occasions to inform them that he had been given no latitude to negotiate.

First Minister Odeski tried more than once to beg more time of Tal, and each time Tal gave the same answer: any reply to Kaspar that wasn’t full acquiescence would be seen as defiance. Salmater would come to heel or be crushed. Tal managed to convey this choice in as diplomatic a fashion as possible, but he gave no hint of leeway.

As the meeting dragged on, Tal realized the truth of Kaspar’s observation. Princess Svetlana let Prince Janosh prattle on at length, but whenever it became time to move to the next item of discussion, it was the Princess who made that decision.

Tal used his training to stay calm and appear unconcerned, for he had his own orders, and no matter what the outcome—including a complete capitulation—his one task was clear: Princess Svetlana must die.

Finally the Prince said, “We shall prepare a response to Duke Kaspar’s demand, and I must tell you, young sir, it will not be to his liking. Not in any way! Then we shall see you off on the morning tide. I bid you good evening!”

He rose, and all those in the chamber rose as well. The Prince left, and as she followed her husband, Princess Svetlana smiled at Tal in such a way that he knew she would send him an invitation after supper.

When the Prince and his wife had departed, First Minister Odeski said, “Squire, a moment of your time, please?”

Tal bowed. “I’m at your service, Minister.”

“Walk with me a ways,” said the older man. When they were out of earshot of the other ministers, Odeski said, “We have something of a mess here, don’t we?”

“If by we, you mean Salmater, sir, then yes, you do.”

“War profits no one, and Kaspar’s demands seem to _______________

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me to be a rather extreme response to a relatively minor offense.”

“Mapping expeditions disguised as smugglers, in Olasko’s sovereign territory, in anticipation of military action is hardly ‘minor,’ Minister.”

“You’re from the Kingdom, Squire, so perhaps you’re ignorant of our history here in the east, but we spar, feign, threaten, and generally play rough with one another as a matter of course. I’ve been in the Prince’s court and his father’s before him for thirty years, and I’ve seen half a dozen border clashes with Olasko, an equal number with Miskalon, two naval conflicts with Roskalon, one with Roldem, another with the Isles, and the disputed lands are a constant battleground any time one of the local rulers gets ambitious.