Magician (92 page)

Milamber nodded. “Now I
understand the language lessons and the clothes. But tell me, Laurie.
Are you willing to spy for the Tsurani in exchange for your freedom?”
There was no disapproval in his voice, it was a simple question.

Laurie flushed. “I am not going
as a spy. I am going as a guide. I am to take Kasumi to Rillanon, for
an audience with the King.”

“Why?” Milamber was
surprised.

Kasumi interrupted. “I go to meet
the King and bring him an offer of peace.”

Milamber raised an argument. “How
can you possibly expect to end the war with the War Party still in
control of the High Council?”

“There is one thing in our
favor,” responded Kamatsu. “This war has lasted for nine
years, and the end is nowhere in sight. Great One, I don’t
presume to instruct you, but if I may explain some things?”

Milamber nodded that he should continue
Kamatsu sipped his drink and went on. “Since the end of the war
with the Thuril Confederation, the War Party has been pressed to
maintain its dominance over the High Council. Each border clash with
Thuril brought the call for a renewal of the conflict. Between the
fighting on the border, and the constant attempts by the Thün to
break through the passes in the north and regain their former
southern range, the War Party managed barely to maintain a majority.
A coalition led by the Blue Wheel Party was on the verge of
dislodging them ten years ago, when the Assembly discovered the rift
into your former homeland. The call for war rang out in the council
as soon as the rich metals of your homeland were known to exist. All
the progress we had made over the years was lost in that instant.

“So we began at once to counter
this madness. The metals being mined on your former world are, from
what Laurie has told us, the leavings of abandoned mines, not
considered worth the bother by those you call dwarves. There is
nothing in this for Tsuranuanni but an excuse to raise the War Banner
again and shed blood.

“You know our history. You know
how difficult it is for us to settle our differences in a peaceful
manner. I have been a soldier and know the glories of war. I also
know its waste Laurie has convinced me that my suspicions about those
who live in the Kingdom were correct. You are not a very warlike
people, in spite of your nobles and their armies You would have been
willing to trade.”

Milamber interrupted. “This is
all true. But I am not sure that it has any bearing on things as they
stand now. My former nation had not fought a major war in nearly
fifty years, except for skirmishes with the goblins of the north and
along the Keshian border. But now the battle drums sound in the West.
The Armies of the Kingdom have been blooded. The nation has been
invaded without cause. They would not, I think, be willing simply to
stop and forgive. There would be demands for retribution, or at least
reparation Would the High Council be willing to surrender the honor
of Tsuranuanni and make restitution for the wrong done at the hands
of its soldiers?”

The Shinzawai lord looked troubled.
“The council would not, I am sure. But the Emperor would.”

“The Emperor?” Milamber
said, surprised “What has he to do with this?”

“Ichindar, may heaven bless him,
feels the war is bleeding the Empire of its resources. When we
campaigned against the Thuril, we learned that some frontiers are
simply too vast and far from the Empire to control, save at costs far
greater than the victories are worth. The Light of Heaven understands
that nowhere could there be a frontier as vast or far as that we have
found on Midkemia. He is taking a hand in the Game of the Council. It
is perhaps the greatest game ever played in the history of
Tsuranuanni. The Light of Heaven is willing to command the Warlord to
peace, to have him removed from office if need be. But he will not
take the risk of so great a break with tradition unless he is
guaranteed the willingness of King Rodric to come to terms. He must
go before the High Council with peace a fait accompli; otherwise he
risks too much.

“Regicide has been committed only
once in the history of the Empire, Great One. The High Council hailed
the killer and named him Emperor. He was the son of the man he slew.
His father had tried to order taxes imposed upon the temples, the
last time an Emperor played in the Game of the Council. We can be a
hard people, Great One, even with ourselves, and never has an Emperor
sought to do what Ichmdar seeks, what others, many others, will see
as laying down the honor of the Empire, an unthinkable act.

“But if he can deliver peace to
the council, then it will clearly show the gods give their blessing
to such an undertaking, and none will dare challenge him.”

“You risk much, Lord of the
Shinzawai.”

“I love my nation and the Empire,
Great One. I would willingly die in the field for her, and I risked
that often when I was younger, during the Thunl campaigns. I would
also risk my life, my sons, the honor of my house, family, and clan
to bring the Empire to sanity. As would the Emperor. We are a patient
people. This plan is years in preparation. The Blue Wheel Party has
long been secretly allied with the Party for Peace. We withdrew in
the third year of the war to embarrass the Warlord and set the stage
for Kasumi’s training for the coming journey. Over a year was
spent in traveling to various lords within the Blue Wheel and Peace
parties, ensuring cooperation, that every member would play his part
in the Game of the Council, before you and Laurie were brought here
to be his tutors.

“We are Tsurani, and the Light of
Heaven would not allow an overture to be made until he had a ready
messenger. We have made Kasumi that messenger, seeking to give him
the best possible chance of reaching your former King safely. It must
be this way, for should any outside our faction learn of the attempt
if it fails, many heads, including my own, would fall, the price of
losing the game If you take Laurie away, Kasumi has little chance of
reaching your former King, and the peace effort will be postponed
until we can find another trustworthy guide, a delay almost certain
to last one or two more years. The situation is now critical. The
Blue Wheel Party is again part of the Alliance for War, after years
of negotiation with the War Party, and thousands of men are being
sent to fight so that Kasumi may slip through Kingdom lines into your
former homeland. The time will soon be ripe. You must consider what
even another year of war would mean. With the conquest of your former
homeland, the Warlord could become invulnerable to any move we may
make.”

Milamber considered, then to Kasumi
said, “How soon?”

Kasumi said, “Soon, Great One, a
matter of weeks. The Warlord has spies everywhere and has some hint
of our plans. He has little trust of the Blue Wheel’s sudden
shift in the council, but he cannot refuse the aid. He feels the need
to strike a great victory. He plans the major spring offensive
against the forces of Lords Borric and Brucal, the Kingdom’s
main strength. It will be timed to occur just before the Imperial
Festival, orchestrated so he can announce the victory at the Imperial
Games, for his own personal glory.”

Kamatsu said, “It is much like an
end-game gambit in shah, Great One.

“A smashing victory will gain the
Warlord all he needs to take control of the High Council, but we risk
this to play for our final move. The front will be in confusion as
preparations are being made for the offensive Kasumi and Laurie will
have their best opportunity to slip through the lines. Should King
Rodric agree, then the Light of Heaven can appear in the High Council
with an announcement of peace, and all that the Warlord’s power
and influence is based upon will crumble In terms of shah, we expose
our last piece to capture so that our Emperor may checkmate a
Warlord.”

Milamber was thoughtful for a time. “I
think you have embarked on a bold plan, Lord of the Shinzawai. I will
honor my pledge to say nothing Laurie may continue here.” He
looked at Laurie. “May the gods of our forefathers protect you
and bring you success. I pray this war may end soon.” He stood
up. “If you don’t mind, I will take my leave. I would
have my wife and child home now.”

Kasumi rose and bowed. “I should
like to say one thing more, Great One.”

Milamber indicated he should proceed.
“Years ago, when you asked for Katala for your wife, and I told
you the request would be refused, I also told you there was a reason.
It was our plan you would also return to your homeworld I trust you
understand that now. We are a hard people, Great One, but not cruel.”

“It was apparent as soon as the
plan was revealed.” He looked at Laurie. “For what I am
now, this is my homeland, but there is still a part of me unchanged
within, and for that reason I envy you your homecoming. You will be
well remembered, old friend.”

So saying, Milamber left the room.
Outside the great house he found Katala waiting in a garden, watching
their son at play. She came to him and they embraced, savoring sweet
reunion. After a long moment he said, “Come, beloved, let us
take our son home.”

L
ongbow
wept in silence.

Alone in a glade near the edge of the
elven forests, the Huntmaster of Crydee stood over three fallen
elves. Their lifeless bodies lay sprawled upon the ground with arms
and legs bent at impossible angles, their fair faces covered in
blood. Martin knew what death meant to the elves, where one or two
children to a family in a century was the norm. One face he knew
well, Algavins, Galain’s companion since boyhood, less than
thirty years of age, still a child by the elven folk’s measure.

Footsteps from behind caused Martin to
wipe away the tears and resume his usually impassive expression From
behind he heard Garret say, “There’s another bunch down
the trail, Huntmaster. The Tsurani went through this part of the
forest like a bad wind.”

Martin nodded, then set out without
comment Garret followed. For all his youth, Garret was Longbow’s
best tracker, and they both moved lightly along the trail toward
Elvandar.

After traveling for hours, they crossed
the river west of a Tsurani enclave, and when they were safely into
the elven forests, a voice hailed them from the trees. “Well
met, Martin Longbow.”

Martin and Garret halted and waited as
three elves appeared from among the trees, seemingly forming out of
the air Galain and his two companions approached the Huntmaster and
Garret. Martin inclined his head slightly back toward the river, and
Galain nodded. It was all the communication they needed to exchange
the fact both knew of Algavins’s death, along with the others.
Garret noticed the exchange, though he was far from conversant with
the subtleties of elvish ways.

“Tomas? Calin?” asked
Martin.

“In council with the Queen. Do
you bring news?”

“Messages from Prince Arutha. Are
you bound for council?”

Galain smiled the elvish half-smile
that indicated ironic humor. “It has fallen to us to guard the
way. We must remain for a time. We will come as soon as the dwarves
cross the river. They are due anytime now.”

The comment was not lost on Martin as
he bade them good-bye and continued toward Elvandar. Approaching the
clearing surrounding the elvish tree-city, he wondered at the
exclusion of Galain and the other young elves from council. They were
all constant companions of Tomas since he came to take up permanent
residency in Elvandar. Martin had not been there since just before
the siege of Crydee, but in those years he had spoken to some of the
Natalese Rangers who ran messages from the Duke to Elvandar to
Crydee. On several occasions he had spent hours talking with Long
Leon and Grimsworth of Natal. While close-mouthed when not among
their own kind, they were less guarded with Longbow, for in the
Huntmaster of Crydee they sensed a kindred spirit. He was the only
man not a Ranger of Natal who could enter Elvandar unbidden. The two
Natalese Rangers had indicated great changes in the Elf Queen’s
court, and Martin felt a strange sort of silent disquiet.

As they approached Elvandar in an easy,
loping run, Garret said, “Huntmaster, will they not send
someone to fetch the fallen?”

Martin stopped and leaned upon his bow.
“Garret, it is not their way. They will let the forest reclaim
them, for they believe their true spirits are now abiding in the
Blessed Isles.” He thought a moment, then said, “Among my
trackers, you are perhaps the best I’ve known.” The still
young man blushed at the compliment, but Longbow said, “No
flattery, but simply fact I mention it because you are the one most
likely to replace me should anything happen.”

Garret’s usual hangdog expression
gave way to one of close attention to what Martin was saying. Martin
continued, “If something should occur that takes me from this
life, I would hope that someone would continue to keep Elvandar and
the human world from drifting apart.”

Garret nodded. “I think I
understand.”

“You must, for it would be a sad
thing for the two races to grow away from one another.” He
spoke softly. “About their beliefs you must learn as you can,
but a few things you should know, especially in this time of war. Do
you remember how it is claimed that certain priests can recall the
dead, if they are no more than an hour departed?”

Garret said, “I have heard the
story, but I have never met anyone who claims to have seen it done,
or even claims to know someone who has seen it.”

“It is true. Father Tully says
so, and he’s not the sort to be less than forthright on matters
of faith.” Martin looked down at the soil. “There is a
story: an important priest—of which order I do not know—found
himself grown away from the gods and caught up in the human world. He
cast off his fine robes and golden ornaments and donned the simple
homespun of an itinerant monk. He wandered the wilderness, seeking
humility. Time and chance brought him to Elvandar, where he came upon
a newly fallen elf, dead by accident but a few minutes before the
priest arrived. He began to recall the elf from death, for he was a
priest of great powers, and sought to share his abilities with all in
need. He was halted by the elf’s wife, and when he asked her
why, she said, ‘It is not our way. He is now in a far better
place, and should you recall him, he will not return but against his
will and to our sorrow. That is why we will not speak his name, lest
he hear longing in our voices and return to comfort us at cost of his
own.’ From what I know, no elf has ever been recalled from
death.