Emperor and Clown by Dave Duncan Read Free Book Online Page A

We believed that you were all dead-that the imps had killed
you.”
    “And
the faun, also, obviously.”
    “Yes.
May I offer some refreshment, Doctor? There is usually some fruit and-”
    He
raised a pale blur of a hand-her night vision had never been good, and now it
was terrible. “That is not necessary.”
    “So
how did you escape from Inisso’s chamber, Doctor? And how on earth did you
manage to bring Master Rap here, all the way from Krasnegar in so short a time?”
    Sagorn
chuckled dryly, an oddly nostalgic sound. “I did not bring him. He brought me.”
    Ah!
Sudden relief l “Then he is not only a seer, he is a sorcerer?”
    “Just
an adept, ma’am. He knows two words of power.”
    “His
own ... and you told him yours?” Pause. “Yes, I did.”
    “That
was extremely generous of you.”
    “It
seemed advisable at the time,” he murmured, and she wished she could make out
his expression. For a moment neither spoke-there was just so much to say!
Kadolan’s head was whirling as she became aware of all the possibilities.
    “You
are good friends, then, you and Master Rap?”
    “Fellow
travelers on a strange road. But I have come to appreciate Master Rap. Even for
a faun he is . . . `tenacious’ would be the politest term. He is steadfast and
honorable. I owe him much.”
    Detecting
curious undertones, Kadolan waited for more, but apparently there was not to be
more.
    “So
to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Doctor?” Formality was always the
safer path in emotional moments.
    He
threw back his head and guffawed. “Kade, you are a wonder! You do recall ...
but I suppose this is no time for reminiscences.”
    “Hardly,”
she murmured. “If the guards find you, you may have enough time to write your
entire life story.”
    “Or
no time at all?”
    “Exactly.”
    How
long ago had it been-thirty years? Longer ... she happily married in Kinvale,
her brother passing through on his travels with his mentor Sagorn. Good times,
but long ago, and she would not allow him to promote a passing encounter into a
friendship that had never been. Sagorn had been much older than she in those
days, and more a tutor than a friend to Holindarn. Keep it formal.
    “Well,
now,” he said. “The boy is now in jail, I understand.”
    “That
is true. He is lucky to be alive.”
    He
chuckled. “Then age must rescue youth. You and I must organize his escape
before the sultan changes his mind.”
    Had
there been an odd timbre to that remark also? Since her eyesight had started
failing, Kadolan had come to depend much more on nuances of tone than she ever
had in her youth. She felt a twinge of caution, as if some young swain at
Kinvale had overstated the value of his estates or boasted of his prospects in
the military. Her hunches in such matters were usually reliable. Men trusted
words more than women did, as a rule, and hence were less mindful of how they
were spoken.
    “But
of course!” she said eagerly. “How do you propose we go about it, though? The
sultan gave orders that he was to be most strictly guarded.”
    “Quite!
I have seen palaces in my time, but never one so like an armed camp. I do not
believe that a rescue is humanly possible ... mundanely possible!” Carefully
Kadolan said, “So?”
    “It
would seem that the God’s caution to Inos referred to the stableboy. Not Andor,
certainly. Nor, I suspect, the sultan.”
    “Is
Master Rap in love with my niece?”
    Another
of his dry chuckles . . . “Ha! He has fought his way past warlocks and
sorcerers and dragons, out of jails and castles, jungles and pirate ships,
through storm and shipwreck to reach her side. And I think in return he would
happily serve her as ostler for the rest of his days.”
    Kadolan
tried to swallow the nasty knot in her throat. Just as she had feared-a
stableboy! And a faun! The Gods had strange ideas sometimes. How could she have
known?
    “Then
we must do everything we can for him. Explain your plan, please.”
    “I
propose