Weis & Hickman Deathgate Cycle 05 The Hand of Chaos

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.The three were in the nursery, enjoying a brief and precious time together.Page 119ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlSuch moments were all too rare for the royal family, and the man who stood inthe doorway stopped to watch, a sad and regretful smile on his lips.Themoment would end.He, himself, would end it.But he paused to enjoy the extrafew seconds of unclouded happiness that he must snatch away.Perhaps Stephen felt the shadow of the cloud pass over him.The visitor hadmade no sound, but the king was aware of his presence.Trian king's magus andTrian alone had permission to open doors without knocking, without beingannounced.Stephen looked up, saw the wizard standing in the doorway.The king smiled at the sight and started to make some jest, but the expressionon Trian's face was more frightening than those Stephen had been making toentertain his tiny daughter.The king's smile faded and grew coid.Anne, whohad been fondly watching her husband and child play together, saw his browdarken, glanced over her shoulder in alarm.At the sight of Trian, the queenrose to her feet."What is it? What's wrong?"Trian cast a swift glance from beneath lowered lashes back into the hallway,made a slight gesture with his hand to indicate that people were in earshot."A messenger has arrived from Baron Fitzwarren, Your Majesty," the magus saidloudly."A minor skirmish with the elves at Kurinandistai, I believe, I amtruly sorry to draw Your Majesties away from more pleasant pursuits, but youboth know the baron."They both did indeed know the baron, having received a report from him onlythat morning stating that he hadn't seen an elf for weeks, complainingbitterly about the inaction which was bad for discipline and asking forpermission to go chasing elven dragonships."Fitzwarren is a hothead," said Stephen, taking his cue.He handed hisdaughter to the nursemaid, who had entered at a summons from Trian."One ofyour cousins, my Queen.A Ulyndian." This said with a sneer."He's a man who won't run away from a fight, which is more than I can say forthe men of Volkaran," answered Anne with spirit, though her face was pale.Trian gave the gentle and long-suffering sigh of one who would like toadminister a good caning to spoiled children, but who is not permitted to doso."If Your Majesties would both be so good as to hear the messenger'sreport.He is in my study.Fitzwarren has asked for a charm to protect againstfrostbite.I will prepare it, while Your Majesties interview the messenger.That will save time."A meeting in Trian's study.The king and queen exchanged unhappy glances.Annepressed her lips together tightly, placed chill fingers in her husband's hand.Stephen frowned, escorted his wife down the hallway.Trian's study was the only room in the castle where the three could meet inprivate, be certain that their conversation would not be overheard.The castlewas a breeding ground for intrigue and gossip.Half the servants were in thepay of one baron or another.The other half passed on their information forfree.Located in a light and airy turret room, the wizard's study was far removedfrom the noise and rowdiness of the boisterous castle life.Trian was fond ofrevels himself.His youthful good looks and charming manner ensured that,though unmarried, he rarely spent a night in bed alone, unless he wanted.Noone in the kingdom could dance with such grace, and many a noble would havegiven untold sums to know the magus's secret for imbibing large quantities ofwine and never showing the slightest ill effect.But though Trian might revel through the night, he was serious and intent onthe business of assisting to run the kingdom during the day.He wascompletely, totally, devotedly loyal to his king and queen, loved them both asfriends, respected them as his rulers.He knew their every secret and couldhave made his fortune ten times over by selling out one or the other.He wouldhave as soon jumped into the Maelstrom.And though he was twenty years youngerthan Stephen, Trian was councillor, adviser, minister, and mentor to the olderPage 120ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlman.Entering the wizard's study, king and queen discovered two people waiting forthem there.One a man they did not know, though he seemed vaguely familiar.The other a woman they knew by sight, and, at the sight of her, the cloud thathad covered them grew thicker and darker.The woman rose and made respectful reverence to Their Majesties.Stephen andAnne returned the bow with respect on their side, for though the woman and herfollowers had acknowledged the two as king and queen, the bond forged was anuneasy one.It is difficult ruling those who are far more powerful thanoneself and who could, with a whispered word, bring one's castle tumbling downabout one's ears."You know the Lady Iridal, I believe, Your Majesty," said Trian unnecessarily,gently endeavoring to set everyone at ease before he let loose the blast thatwould shatter their lives.Polite pleasantries were exchanged, everyone mouthing words learned by rote,none of them thinking about what they said.Thus "How nice to see you again"and "It's been far too long" and "Thank you for the sweet baby gift" died awayswiftly.Especially when the baby was mentioned.Anne turned deathly white andsank down in a chair.Iridal clasped her hands together tightly, looked down,unseeing, at her fingers.Stephen coughed, cleared his throat, and frowned atthe stranger in the room, trying to recall where he'd seen the man."Well, what is it, Trian?" the king demanded."Why have you summoned us here?I assume it has nothing to do with Fitzwarren," he added with heavy irony, hisgaze shifting to the Lady Iridal, for though she lived near the palace, sherarely ventured to visit, well aware that she brought back unwelcome andpainful memories to this couple, as they revived such memories in her."Will it please Your Majesty to take a seat?" asked Trian.No one in the roomcould sit down unless the king sat first.Stephen frowned, then threw himself into a chair."Get on with it.""Half a moment, if you please, Your Majesty," said Trian.He raised his hands,fluttered his fingers in the air, and imitated the sound of a piping of birds."There.Now we may speak safely."Anyone listening outside the door, outside the circle of the spell, wouldoverhear only what sounded like twittering bird calls.Those within thecompass of the spell itself could hear and understand each other perfectly.Trian cast a deprecating glance at the Lady Iridal.A mysteriarch, she rankedSeventh House, while Trian could attain no higher than Three.Iridal couldhave changed them all to singing birds, if she'd desired.Iridal smiled reassuringly."Very well done, Magicka," she said.Trian flushed in pleasure, not immune to praise for his art.He had seriousbusiness at hand, though, and moved to it swiftly.He laid a hand on the arm of the stranger, who had risen when his kingentered, then resumed his seat near the wizard's desk.Stephen had beenstaring at the stranger as if he knew him, but could not place from where."I see Your Majesty recognizes this man.He has changed much in appearance.Slavery does that.He is Peter Hamish of Pitrin's Exile, once royal footman.""By the ancestors! You're right!" stated Stephen, banging his hand on the armof the chair [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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