Master and Fool by J. V. Jones Read Free Book Online Page B

their
move while the wedding bed is still warm."
    "They may
move into position before then, Your Eminence. It could take the Wall nearly
two weeks to bring its foot soldiers and siege engines through the passes. If
they were to wait until the wedding, the delay might prove crucial."
    Tavalisk dislodged
the wishbone on the duck. He always liked to pull both ends himself-that way he
was sure to receive all the luck. Oddly enough, this one snapped right down the
middle. "Can't be done, Gamil. You must send a fast messenger out to
represent the southern cities in the talks."
    "But, Your
Eminence, Annis and Highwall won't listen to us."
    "Of course
they will, Gamil. Who do you think is financing the damn war for them in the
first place? The northern cities might be strong and well-peopled, but they are
woefully short on cash. Why, Annis couldn't even finance a pleasant mountain
hike, let alone a full-blown siege." Tavalisk threw the offending pieces
of wishbone on the fire: something about their matching length and symmetry
sent shivers down his spine. "At the end of the day, Gamil, they will
listen to us because they have no choice."
    "What message
would Your Eminence have me convey?"
    "In no shape
or form should Annis or Highwall make a move against Bren-and that includes
taking up positionsuntil the marriage has been legally consummated."
    "May I be
permitted to know Your Eminence's reasons for this?"
    "Gamil, if I
were to throw you into a pond you would surely sink straight to the
bottom."
    "Why, Your
Eminence?"
    "Because
you're about as dense as a piece of lead!" Tavalisk snorted with good
humor. He always enjoyed pointing out how much cleverer he was than anyone
else. "Really, Gamil. Don't you see? If Annis and Highwall make any move
before the wedding is legally fixed, then there's a chance the whole thing
might fall through. Do you really think the good people of Bren are going to
cheer their favorite daughter down the aisle when an army, the size of which
has not been seen in over a century, is poised in the passes ready to
invade?" The archbishop finished his speech with a chorus of disappointed
tut-tutting.
    "But surely
if an army were in place, and the wedding was canceled, then all our problems
would be solved?"
    "The only
time our problems will be solved, Gamil, is when Tyren and the knighthood have
been sent crying back to Valdis, and when that demon Baralis lies cold in his
grave. Neither of which is likely to happen, I hasten to add, unless the whole
northern crisis comes firmly to a head." But ---2'
    "Say that
word once more, Gamil, and I swear I will have you excommunicated on the
spot!" The archbishop brandished the bare drumstick like a weapon.
"Think, man. Think. Just suppose the wedding didn't go ahead, where
would that leave us?" Tavalisk didn't wait for an answer. "It would
leave us with Kylock still ruling a third of the north, and very liable, with
the knights' help, to conquer more. Baralis would still be behind it all,
scheming and maneuvering, and Tyren--Borc rot his greasy little soul-would
eventually be set to gain control of the Church in the north The only thing the
wedding changes is the time scale. The marriage of Catherine and Kylock will
only serve to accelerate events that have already been set in motion."
    Gamil looked
suitably contrite. "I see Your Eminence's point."
    "There was
never any question that you wouldn't," said the archbishop, flashing his
aide a distinctly cool glance. "Now. What I need you to do, Gamil, is
scribe a persuasive letter to the duke of Highwall. Tell him that the south
still stands beside him, and more money is on the way, and so forth. Then
inform him, in no uncertain terms, that we will completely withdraw our
resources if he moves so much as a single soldier eastward before the marriage
is in place."
    "Very well,
Your Eminence. Is there anything more?"
    "Just one
more thing, Gamil. Would you mind going down to the market district and buying
me a fish?"
    "What sort