The rose-clad man reined in. His eyes looked almost sleepy, and he had a lofty, superior expression on his face. Im afraid the ambassadors been detained, old boy, he replied in a cultured, almost deliberately insulting tone. His voice was oddly familiar. He sends you his very best, though.
Kanzad struggled to regain his composure. What is it exactly thats delaying the ambassador? he asked bluntly. Itagne turned his head slightly. Id say it was the chains, wouldnt you, Atana? he asked the young Atan woman who appeared to be in charge of the detachment. Its deucedly hard to run with chains on.
It could be the chains, Itagne-ambassador, the girl agreed. Of course, the bars of his cell might be getting in his way too. The young woman was full-figured, and her eyes were bold as she looked at the Tamul official.
Whats going on here? Kanzad demanded.
The Atana and I have become very close friends since my arrival, Kanzad, Itagne smiled, but gentlemen shouldnt really talk about that sort of thing, should they? You are a gentleman, arent you, Kanzad?
I wasnt talking about that. Kanzads teeth were clenched. What have you done with the ambassador?
There have been a few changes at the embassy, old boy and in your own offices as well. I really hope you dont mind, but I had to commandeer your building. We dont have a dungeon at the embassydistressing oversight there, I suppose. Anyway, Ambassador Taubel, along with all your grubby little policemen, are presently locked safely away in your dungeon. My compliments on it, incidentally. Its really very nice.
By whose authority have you imprisoned the ambassador? Youre only an undersecretary.
Appearances can be deceiving, cant they? Actually, my brother placed me in charge here in Cynestra. My authority is absolute.
Your brother?
Didnt the similarity between Oscagnes name and mine set off any bells in your brain, old boy? I knew you fellows at Interior were sort of limited, but I didnt think you were that dense. Shall we cut directly on through to the significant part of this discussion, Kanzad? Its beastly hot out here in the sun. My brothers authorized me to take charge here. I have the full support and cooperation of the Atan garrison, dont I, Atana? He smiled at the golden giantess standing beside his horse.
Oh, my, yes, Itagne. She rolled her eyes. Well do almost anything for you.
There you have it, then, Kanzad, Itagne said. Ive uncovered the fact that you and Taubel are part of a treasonous conspiracy, so Ive removed you from authority. I have all these lovely muscles to back me up, so theres really not a blasted thing you can do about it, is there?
You have no authority over me, Itagne.
How tiresome, Itagne sighed. Cynestras currently under martial law, Kanzad. That means that I have authority over everybody. The Atans control the streets. I know you share my confidence in them. He looked critically at the policemans stubborn face. You just dont understand at all, do you, old boy? He smiled fondly at the giantess. Atana, dear, what would you do if I asked you to delete this tiresome wretch?
Id kill him, Itagne. She shrugged, reaching for her sword. Did you want me to split him up the middle, or just cut off his head?
Charming girl, Itagne murmured. Let me think about it for a while, Atana. Kanzads a fairly high-ranking official, so there may be some formalities involved. He turned back to the now pasty-faced policeman. Im sure you see how things stand, dear boy, he said. Oh, I suppose you should sort of consider yourself under arrest.
On what charge?
Im a foreign-service man, Kanzad, so Im not really up on all these legal terms. I suppose High Treason will have to do. Thats the crime they arrested Interior Minister Kolata for, anyway, and I used it again when I had Taubel picked up. Its an impressive sort of charge, and Im sure that a man of your standing would be insulted if I had you arrested for loitering or spitting in the street. Atana, love, do be a dear and have this criminal taken back to Cynestra and thrown in his own dungeon.
At once, Itagne-ambassador, she replied.
Darling child, he murmured.
You favor your brother, your Excellency, Vanion said to the smiling Itagne, not only in physical appearance, but also in temperament.
How is the old rascal?
He was well, the last time we saw him. Vanion frowned. It might have been helpful if hed told us that he was sending you here, though.
Thats my brother for you. Sometimes I think he tries to keep secrets from himself.
Exactly what happened here, your Excellency? Sparhawk asked him.
You would be Sir Sparhawk, Itagne guessed. Your nose is really famous, you know.
Thank you, Kalten said modestly.
Itagne looked puzzled.
I broke it for him, your Excellencywhen we were children. I knew it was a good idea when I did it. He wears it like a badge. Im a little disappointed in the fact that hes never once considered thanking me for the service I did him.
Itagne smiled. As youve probably gathered, gentlemen, Oscagne sent me to Cynestra to look into the rather peculiar situation here. The chain of command in the outer corners of the Empires always been a little cloudy. The Foreign Office takes the position that the Elene kingdoms of the west, as well as Valesia, Arjuna and Cynesga, are essentially foreign nations subservient to Tamul proper. This would make the ambassadors to those kingdoms the ultimate authority. Interior has always maintained that those kingdoms are integral parts of metropolitan Tamuli, and that puts them in charge. Oscagne and Kolata have been quibbling about it for years now. Ambassador Taubels a political hack, and his stunning ability to reach a working accommodation with Interior sort of surprised my brother. Thats why he pulled me out of the universitywhere I was quite happily putting down rootsand sent me here in the guise of an undersecretary to investigate. He laughed. Ill make sure that he regrets it as much this time as he did both other times.
That one escaped me, Im afraid, Sparhawk conceded.
This is the third time Oscagnes wrenched me out of private life to put out fires for him. I dont really like being wrenched, so I think Ill teach him a lesson this time. Maybe if I replace him as Foreign Minister for a while hell get the pointif I ever decide to let him have his office back again.
Are you really that good, Itagne? Sephrenia asked him.
Oh, good God, yes, dear lady. Im at least twice as good as Oscagneand he knows it. Thats why my appointments are always temporary. Where was I? Oh, yes. I came to Cynestra, set up a functional apparatus, and found out in fairly short order that Taubel and Kanzad were eating from the same plate. Then I intercepted the instructions Matherion sent to Taubel after the disturbances there. I decided not to trouble him with the distressing news, so I went to the Atan garrison and personally took care of advising our towering friends that the Ministry of the Interior was no longer relevant. They were quite pleased about it, actually. The Atans dislike policemen intensely for some reason. I think it has to do with their national character. I was about ready to move on Kanzad and Taubel when one of my spies brought me word of your impending arrival, so I decided to wait until you got here before I upended things. I must say, Sparhawk, you really upset the people in the local office of the Interior Ministry.
Oh?
They were running through the halls screaming, Sparhawk is coming! Sparhawk is coming!
He has that effect on people sometimes, Flute told him. She looked around at the others. This is the one, she told them. We can leave here now.
Itagne looked baffled.
In a moment, Sephrenia said to her sister. Itagne, how did Interior find out that we were coming?
He shrugged. I didnt really look into that too deeply. There are all sorts of disgusting people who work for the Interior Ministry. One of them probably flogged four or five horses to death to bring the news.
Quite impossible, she said. No one could have gotten here ahead of us by normal means. Could the news have been brought by a Styric?
There arent any Styrics in Cynesga, dear lady. The hatred between Cynesgans and Styrics predates history.
Yes, I know. I think you may be wrong, though. Im almost positive that at least one Styric passed through Cynestra just before the people at Interior went into their panic.
How did you arrive at that conclusion, little mother? Vanion asked her.
Theres a Styric working with our enemies, she replied. He was in that shadow Sparhawk dissolved back in Edam. Whoever was inside was screaming in Styric, at any rate. She frowned. I still dont understand how he got here before we did, though. He might be a renegade of some kind who has dealings with the Elder Gods. Weve never really understood the full extent of their power.
Could it be an Elder God himself? Bevier asked apprehensively.
No, Flute said flatly. We imprisoned them all when we overthrew themin much the same way we imprisoned Azash. The Elder Gods dont move around.
I seem to be missing about half of this conversation, Itagne observed. Arent some introductions in order at this point?
Sorry, your Excellency, Vanion apologized. We werent really trying to be mysterious. The lady is obviously Styric. May I present Sephrenia, high priestess of the Goddess Aphrael?
The Child Goddess?
You know of her? Sephrenia asked him.
Some of my Styric colleagues at the university mentioned her to me. They didnt really seem to approve of her. They evidently feel that shes flightyand a little frivolous.
Flighty? Flute objected. Frivolous?
Dont take it personally, Sparhawk told her.
But it is personal, Sparhawk. Theyve insulted me. When you get back to Matherion, I want you to go to the university and issue a challenge to those impious wretches. I want blood, Sparhawk, Blood!
Human sacrifice, Divine One? he asked mildly. Isnt that a little out of character?
Well... She hesitated. Couldnt you spank them anyway?
Itagne was staring at them.
Disappointing, isnt it? Talen murmured.
To say that Oscagnes brother was shaken would be a profound understatement. He kept staring at Flute with bulging eyes as they rode eastward from Cynestra.
Oh, do stop that, Itagne, she told him. Im not going to sprout another head or turn into a gorgon.
He shuddered and passed one hand across his face. I should probably tell you that I dont believe in you, he said. Im not trying to be offensive, mind. Its just that Im a confirmed skeptic in religious matters.
Ill bet I can change your mind, she suggested with an impish little smile.
Stop that, Sephrenia told her.
Hes a self-confessed agnostic, Sephrenia. That makes him fair game. Besides, I like him. Ive never had a Tamul worshiper before, and I think I want one. Itagne will do just fine.
No.
I didnt ask you to buy him for me, Sephrenia. Ill coax him out of the bushes all by myself, so youre not in any way involved. Its really none of your business, dear sister, so keep your nose out of it.