Off Armageddon Reef (64 page)

Prince Hektor of Corisande watched with carefully hidden anxiety as Borys Bahrmyn, the Archbishop of Corisande, strode past the throne room guards and paced gravely down the runner of carpet towards his throne. The guards watched him pass with carefully expressionless faces, although the stiff set of their spines showed how little they cared for their instructions, then closed the throne room doors behind him…from the other side.

The ragged ends of a late-winter thunderstorm had cleared earlier in the day, and sunlight through the stained glass windows threw flowing patterns across the floor. The gems on the archbishop's formal priest's cap sparkled whenever he stepped through one of those pools of light, and his expression was solemn.

Bahrmyn reached the foot of the dais and bowed his head gravely. Then he straightened, and Hektor inclined his own head in a gesture of respect.

“I must admit, Your Eminence,” he said, “that I was a bit startled, and more than a little apprehensive, when I received your message.”

“I apologize for that, Your Highness,” Bahrmyn said. “Only the most pressing circumstances would have led me to request an audience on such short notice.”

“I realize that. Which explains my apprehension,” Hektor replied, showing his teeth in a slightly tight smile, although “request” was a pale choice of verb. The archbishop's message had been a none too thinly veiled peremptory demand for an immediate—and completely private—meeting.

Had he been anyone else, Hektor would have told him, none too politely, what he could do with his “request.” Since he was who he was, however, the prince had had no choice but to comply. Which explained his guardsmen's unhappiness.

And his own.

“The world knows that you are your own first councillor, Your Highness.” Bahrmyn produced a small smile of his own. “Were you not, I would undoubtedly have made whoever served you in that capacity…apprehensive instead of yourself.”

“An excellent point, Your Eminence. Perhaps I should consider changing my arrangements.”

Bahrmyn chuckled dutifully, and Hektor drew a deep breath.

“Nonetheless, Your Eminence, you did request the audience, and you're here now. So, how may the League of Corisande assist Mother Church?”

“Actually, Your Highness,” Bahrmyn said slowly, “I'm not really here in Mother Church's name this morning.” Hektor's eyes widened in surprise, and the archbishop shrugged slightly. “I
am
here on behalf of Chancellor Trynair, but not in his capacity as Vicar Zahmsyn.”

Hektor's widened eyes narrowed in sudden speculation as he recognized Bahrmyn's distinction. As Chancellor, Trynair might speak officially for the Council of Vicars, or for the Knights of the Temple Lands; as Vicar Zahmsyn, he could speak only for the Church. Which put an abruptly different face on Bahrmyn's “request” for a completely private audience.

“I see,” he said, after a moment. “In that case, how may be League serve the Chancellor?”

“In point of fact, Your Highness, I'm here to discuss how the Chancellor can be of assistance to
you
.”

“Indeed?” Hektor kept his voice and expression alike under careful control, but it was hard.

“Your Highness,” Bahrmyn said, “I've been instructed to speak very frankly, without the normal diplomatic circumlocutions. With your permission, that's precisely what I intend to do.”

He raised his eyebrows, and Hektor nodded.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Bahrmyn bent his head once more, then cleared his throat.

“Your Highness, all the world knows that you and Prince Nahrmahn have, for some years now, found yourselves increasingly at odds with Haarahld of Charis. Mother Church, of course, must always be grieved when those she's anointed as secular rulers view one another with enmity. Nonetheless, Chancellor Trynair recognizes, as one charged with heavy secular responsibilities of his own in the Temple Lands, that even reasonable men may sometimes find themselves on opposite sides of irreconcilable differences. When that happens, it may result in open war. Other times, it may result in an ongoing, festering wound which poisons all about it.”

The archbishop had Hektor's undivided attention. The prince made himself sit calmly in his throne, listening only attentively, but if Bahrmyn was headed where he
appeared
to be headed…

“Although both Corisande and Charis are far from the Temple Lands, the fact that between your lands—and, of course, Emerald—your ships carry so much of the world's cargoes means that any quarrel between you affects everyone who depends upon that shipping. The Knights of the Temple Lands are no different from any other rulers in that respect, and they've watched with increasing alarm as the hostility between you and Haarahld has deepened.

“Until recently, however, they've embraced a policy of neutrality in this particular dispute. That seemed the most reasonable course for them to pursue. But in recent months, the Knights of the Temple Lands have become aware of what they believe represents a dangerous shift in policy on Charis' part. Since the ecclesiastical courts decided against Haarahld's protégé, Breygart, in the matter of the Hanth succession, he appears to have resolved to settle the quarrel between you—and, no doubt, to ‘avenge himself' for the part he seems to feel you played in the succession dispute—by force of arms.”

Hektor managed not to blink. Despite his own concerns over the reports from Maysahn and Makferzahn, he rather doubted, as he'd told Earl Coris, that Haarahld had any intention of attacking Emerald or Corisande anytime soon. If nothing else, fear of the Church's possible reaction would have to hold him in check.

“Under most circumstances, I suppose,” Bahrmyn continued, “any quarrel, even a war, fought this far from the Temple Lands might not appear to be of great consequence to the Knights of the Temple Lands. Given, however, Haarahld's obvious resentment of Mother Church's decision against him, and the fact that he's clearly contemplating a war of conquest against his neighbors, and the fact that should he succeed in defeating you and Nahrmahn, he would acquire near dictatorial control of so much of the world's seagoing trade, they simply can't view his clear intentions with equanimity. Indeed, they believe Haarahld's ambition poses a clear threat to that peaceable state of relations Mother Church is charged to maintain between all lands.

“Mother Church herself may not, of course, take sides in a purely secular conflict, unless one side should be proven to be in violation of God's law or plan. No one would suggest those circumstances apply at this time. But in their capacities as rulers, the Knights of the Temple Lands would be derelict in the discharge of their responsibilities to their own lands and subjects if they allowed such aggression to prosper.

“Therefore, Chancellor Trynair has charged me to inform you that the Knights of the Temple Lands have decided the time to restrain Charisian aggression has come. They are prepared to assist you and Prince Nahrmahn against Haarahld's overweening ambitions.”

Bahrmyn paused, and it was Hektor's turn to clear his throat.

“Obviously, Your Eminence,” he said, “I must welcome this evidence of the Chancellor's support. I do, I assure you. However, gratifying though it is, I fear the Knights of the Temple Lands are far away. And even were they not, they possess but little naval strength.”

“Of themselves, that's certainly true, Your Highness,” Bahrmyn agreed. “However, you aren't the only prince to whom the Chancellor has communicated his concerns over Charis. It's become obvious to him that Charis' ultimate ambition is to secure control of all the world's maritime trade for its own selfish profit. Accordingly, the interests of other lands, beyond Corisande and Emerald, are equally, if less immediately, threatened. In the Chancellor's view, it would be only just for those other lands to bear their fair share of the burden of defeating that ambition.”

“I see.”

Hektor could scarcely believe what he was hearing, and he cautioned himself to go slowly. This totally unanticipated offer went far beyond anything he'd ever dared allow himself to hope for, and the temptation to seize it instantly was overwhelming. But he had no idea what had prompted Trynair to send Bahrmyn to him, nor did he see where the Chancellor's own ultimate objectives might lie. On the other hand…

“May I know which ‘other lands' the Chancellor has in mind, Your Eminence?”

“Of course, Your Highness. I'm instructed to tell you that the Chancellor has been in contact with King Rahnyld of Dohlar. He's also suggested to King Gorjah of Tarot that he might, perhaps, positively consider any initiatives your ambassador might extend. And it's also my understanding that Archbishop Zherohm has been charged to deliver a message to Queen Sharleyan, as well, urging her to support your efforts in this matter.”

Despite all he could do, Hektor's jaw dropped slightly. Probably the only person in the entire world who hated him more than Haaralhd of Charis did was Sharleyan of Chisholm, yet even she would be unable to defy a “suggestion” from Trynair to support him. Which only made the Chancellor's offer even more breathtaking. An alliance of virtually
every
other maritime power against Charis? With the backing of the Temple Lands and their enormous wealth? And, whatever fiction Trynair might choose to maintain, the implicit support of the Church itself?

“Your Eminence, I'm…I'm stunned,” he said, with total honesty. “I had no idea the Chancellor was so well informed on affairs so far from the Temple Lands. Nor did I realize how clearly he saw the ambitions of Charis. Obviously, if he feels this strongly about it, I would be eternally grateful for any assistance he or the Knights of the Temple Lands might be able to provide.”

“Then should I inform the Chancellor you accept his offer?”

“Of course you should, Your Eminence!”

“I'm sure he'll be overjoyed to hear that, Your Highness.” Bahrmyn smiled broadly. “And he's instructed me to tell you, should you accept his offer of assistance, that the messengers of the Temple will be at your disposal for coordinating with your new allies.”

“Please tell him I am deeply, deeply grateful for all he's so generously offered,” Hektor said sincerely.

“I will,” Bahrmyn said. “And now, Your Highness, I'm sure you have a great deal to attend to, and with your permission, I'll leave you to it.”