The Flames of Deception - A Horizon of Storms: Book 1 (65 page)

“
Well, I don’t like him
either
,” Thadius sniffed. “He had very
little
respect for you,
your highness.”

She smiled. “I am used to speaking with people
like him Thadius. He would not be the first man who talked down to
me like I am a child. Aside from a little pomposity and some
natural curiosity, he did not seem
that
unaccommodating.”

Matthias shook his head. “No, perhaps not. But there are some
very good actors in this world, princess, and I fear he may be one
skilled at manipulating anyone who crosses his path.” He smiled.
“But you did brilliantly.”

She nodded. “Now we have a little more time,
perhaps you could enlighten us to what he is supposed to
have
done?
”

Matthias took a breath. “Everything I have heard comes from
my people and half of it does not bear repeating.”

“
And
the other half?” Luccius interjected. Matthias gave him a wary
look.

“
Well there is one thing that is
abundantly
clear. He is
uncomfortable with your position by my side,” Josephine
commented.

“
I
could feel his distrust towards you, Matthias,” Luccius
added.

“
I did not realise you could read
minds
as well as talk to
trees and horses!” Thadius jibed.

“
You
don’t need to be a mind reader to see what’s as plain as the nose
on your face,” Luccius rebutted.

“
You
did not exactly help the situation,” the princess said to
Matthias.

“
What did I do?” Matthias asked, surprised.

“
You were somewhat
blunt
.”

Matthias shook his head. “Perhaps I
was
a little cold
towards him. But I felt the need to cast a strong figure in his
presence.”

“
Well you certainly showed that you don’t
approve
of him,” she
said.

“
He would be wary of
anything
to do with Mahalia, whatever attitude I
projected to him. Given the nature of his relationship with my
people I would expect nothing else. Unfortunately, that distrust
has extended itself on to Olindia. They didn’t like wizards
even
before
Balzan decided to seek refuge with them. Now with his
influence they would welcome the
plague
with more warmth. There hasn’t been a
Mahalian ambassador here for years.” He sighed. “I just hope the
regent is a little more open minded.”

Josephine nodded. “I am hopeful he will be. I have
met him before, though as I said I was but a child at the time. He
always struck me as kindly and I believe my father has maintained a
rapport with the man these past years. Which is no small
feat
given how the
country revolted and killed their own king, before they set up
their so-called republic.” She smiled at Matthias. “So if he will
not listen to
you
,
Matthias, then I am
sure
he will listen to me.”

“
Let
us hope you are right,” Matthias replied. “Or we will have come a
long way for nothing.”

The
mid-morning skies grew cloudy as they waited for Balzan to return.
After a half – hour, a lamplighter- a young man dressed in a plain
linen shirt and baggy trousers- entered the room and lit the
ensconced oil lanterns built into the walls, casting out the gloom
that had crept its way into the chambers as they continued to wait.
Shortly afterwards a maid brought in a tray filled with a variety
of drinks for them and placed it on the table in the middle of the
ring of purple - cushioned chairs they sat in. Josephine sipped at
a delicate rose wine and Luccius filled his carafe with a sweeter
white vintage. Thadius gulped back a red wine and then proceeded to
cough and splutter as he swallowed, muttering about there being too
many spices for his taste.

“
Do
you think he is doing this on purpose?” Luccius asked, fidgeting in
his chair as another half - hour passed.

“
Anything’s possible,” Matthias replied from the opposite
chair, tapping his fingers on the top of his staff. “But if he is,
then he is making us very comfortable whilst he does so.” He stood
up and moved to the window. “It looks like it may rain,” he
commented. “That will not help matters.”

“
I don’t even see why we have to
be
here any longer!”
Thadius exclaimed. “We came to stop the dragon, not
chat
with the
regent
. The beast is out there waiting for us!”

“
I wish it was that easy Thadius,” Matthias
replied. “But if Josephine were to try and repair the shield from
the city, it would be from a position where she couldn’t
even
see
the dragon. If we can gain access to the battlements we
will be in a much better position. As much as I would like to, we
can’t just
barge
on to the crenulations. Balzan would throw us off the edge!
Besides, we couldn’t even get
into
the city without an armed guard escorting us every
step of the way. How would you propose we sneak out of the
fortress?” He pointed to the door. “I would place good money on
there being a guard outside this room as we
wait.”

Thadius sighed and nodded. “I see your point. I
just
dislike
waiting! After
all
the hardships we have undertaken to get here! We
are trying to save these ungrateful people!”

“
In fairness, they don’t even realise there is
anything to be saved
from
,” Josephine commented. “But nevertheless, it does
seem that I may not have been convincing enough in stressing to
Balzan how time was of the essence.” She shook her head
glumly.

At
that point, as if on cue, the door to the chamber creaked open
again and Balzan walked into the room. He bowed his
head.

“
Princess, I must apologise for the delay. The regent is
indisposed at present.”

“
Did you tell him how
important
it is I speak with him?” Josephine
asked angrily.

“
I did. He has advised me that he will send for you
as soon as he
possibly
can. In the meantime, he has asked me to sit with you and
make you feel welcome.” He sat down and began pouring himself some
of the wine. “I must admit princess, that I am somewhat concerned
at your hesitation to speak with me. Is it that you feel I would be
incapable of relaying your news to the regent? Or is it that you do
not
trust
me?” His eyes flicked to Matthias as he sipped his
drink.

Josephine smiled. “Protector, it is not a matter
of trust. It is a matter of principle. I have travelled a very long
way to discuss matters with the sovereign power of this country.
With the greatest of respect, you are
not
that person.”

Balzan nodded. “I am the second in command of this realm.
When the regent is busy, as he very often is, I act as his
mouthpiece in all matters,” the man replied.

Josephine looked amusedly at the man. “That may be so, but I
need his eyes and ears.”

Balzan sat back and considered her words a moment, failing to
suppress a smile as he finished the wine in his glass.

“
You
play the game well, your highness. Your eloquence, it seems,
matches your famous beauty.”

She
smiled. “It has always been a disappointment to me that people felt
more compelled to spread word of the colour of my eyes and the
style of my hair more than the strength of my
convictions.”

Balzan nodded. “A mark of the world we live in, my dear,
where men so often wield power. A woman is much better to be seen
than heard, so they say.”

“
Speaking of such matters,” Matthias interjected,
“
whilst
we are waiting, I am interested to know how exactly you
came to find yourself in a position of such
power?”

Balzan laughed to himself. “I’d have thought the
council would have made you aware of their thoughts relating to my
departure already, if they sent you here to meet with me,” he said.
Then, when Matthias did not answer, his eyes narrowed. “What
level
are
you?” he asked, the curiosity plain in his
voice.

“
I
am a member of the eighth tier,” Matthias said after a pause, with
as little emotion as he could manage.

Balzan’s eyes flickered with surprise. “And you have been
assigned to escort royalty?” he asked.

“
My assignments are
none
of
your
concern, Protector,” Matthias said.

The man looked at Matthias for a moment longer,
then stood and moved to the table, where he refilled his glass with
some of the spiced wine. “Perhaps not. It depends on your point
of
view
, I suppose. To answer your question, Matthias Greenwald,
it is simply a matter of good fortune that upon my exile from
Mahalia I found many friends in Olindia willing to trust my
judgement.” He eased his aged frame back into his
seat.

“
And
why would a country like Olindia, who hates wizards as much as they
profess to, trust the judgement of a traitor found to be selling
secrets?” Matthias pressed, his voice animated.

“
Matthias
,” Josephine interrupted, “That is not an
appropriate manner to address the protector,” she scolded. “And not
the time to discuss such things!”

Balzan raised a hand. “Your highness,
please
,” he said. “It
is
alright. I expected a level of acerbity during this
meeting, when I learned of a wizard’s presence. You are aware that
Mahalia has never had a good relationship with Olindia. They have
made many enemies in this world. It is only their grasp of the
earth power that keeps them at the centre of events. I offered to
help Olindia resist Mahalian interference in exchange for a place
to call home. It has been a relationship that has served us
both
well.”

Josephine nodded. “My father has spoken on more than one
occasion about his jealousy as to the freedom your land enjoys from
Mahalian interference.”

“
And yet, here a wizards sits, by your side,
counselling
you?”

Josephine smiled. “A long story, which is for the regent’s
ears alone, I am afraid.”

Balzan sat back and tapped his fingers on the
chair. “I see there is to be no budging you on that point. No doubt
that is a result of Matthias’s advice not to tell me things for
fear I will use them to my
own
advantage?” Josephine remained calm and said
nothing. The man sighed. “That you would trust the advice of
Mahalia over the relationship forged between your father and the
regent is deeply saddening to me,” he said. “Would the regent
really have a man in his employ who is capable of such deception or
mistrust?”

“
If it suits his
needs
,” Matthias interjected
aggressively.

“
You speak as if you come from a position of
moral
superiority
, Matthias,” the protector said distastefully. “When I know
for certain
many
of your masters are as corrupt as those creatures that live
to the south of Aralia’s borders.”

Matthias sat forward in his chair. “I will concede
that our people aren’t
perfect
, protector,” Matthias began.

“
They aren’t
my
people anymore,” Balzan cut in sharply.

Matthias nodded. “Very well.
My
people,” Matthias corrected. “We have
not always made the best decisions. That is one fact to which I
will
unashamedly
admit. But from what I know, because of
your
actions,
hundreds
of people were killed.
Innocent
people.” He shook
his head. “How can you claim the moral high ground here? How do
you
sleep
at night knowing what you did?”

“
That is
enough!
” Josephine snapped and glared at Matthias. “We
are not
here
for this!” Matthias blushed at her fiery look and after a
moment nodded. Josephine turned back to Balzan. “I must apologise
for my escort,” she said calmly. “It is not my intention to ambush
you within your own home.”