Ten Little Wizards: A Lord Darcy Novel by Michael Kurland, Randall Garrett Read Free Book Online Page B

mind you. And that is surprising; seldom does anything happen of this magnitude about which we don’t pick up at least a ripple. But it is quite possible. King Casimir has made some injudicious decisions in the past. And then there is always the distinct possibility that this is an operation of the Serka that the king knows nothing about.”
    “You mean we might be facing a ‘will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest’ sort of syndrome, eh?” Archbishop Maximilian asked.
    “Exactly, Your Grace,” Lord Peter agreed. “It could well be that some Serka official has decided on his own that what his King really wants is the death of His Majesty, although he doesn’t mention it.”
    “The question is, what are we to do about it?” Duke Richard asked. “My lord marquis, you are in charge of His Majesty’s security. What precautions do you intend to take?”
    “I think Lord Darcy and I will have to sit down and discuss possibilities, along with Coronel Lord Waybusch, who is in charge of Castle security,” Marquis Sherrinford said. “It is a delicate question, Your Highness. We will have the delegations of over a hundred trade guilds, a few hundred various organizations, and some sixty sovereign and not-so-sovereign states arriving over the next week for the coronation. Including the heir apparent to the throne of His Most Slavonic Majesty, as well as the Polish foreign minister. Of course His Majesty’s safety must be held of first importance.”
    “None of these people will get to see His Majesty except under carefully controlled conditions,” Duke Richard said. “Sir Darryl, can we get some sensitives to stand at the doors to the throne room as these people come through? Grab them if they show murderous intent? Would murderous intent be detectable?”
    The Wizard Laureate of England thought for a minute. “It’s not that simple,” he said. “Something can be done, but it won’t be that clear-cut unless we’re very lucky. You see—”
    There was a loud knock at the door, startling the five men in the room. Reality knocks , Lord Darcy thought. And we are not yet ready for reality .
    “Excuse me, my lords,” Marquis Sherrinford said. “They wouldn’t have allowed anyone to knock unless it were very important. I’d better see what it is.”
    “Yes, yes,” the Archbishop said. “Go ahead.”
    Marquis Sherrinford opened the door a crack and peered around it. “Yes?”
    “Beg pardon, Your Lordship,” came a gruff voice from beyond. “But Coronel Lord Waybusch has sent me for Lord Darcy. He’s to come at once. Is His Lordship in here?”
    “Yes, I’m here, Serjeant Martin,” Lord Darcy called, recognizing the Norman-French accent of the Coronel’s aide. “What is it?”
    Serjeant Martin stepped into the room and stood stiffly at attention. “Beg pardon, my lord,” he said. “But it is murder. A foul murder, and also an impossible one.”
    Lord Darcy stood up. “Where?” he asked. “And who was killed?”
    “In the bakery shop of Goodman Bonpierre in Between the Walls, my lord. Master Sorcerer Raimun DePlessis.”
    “DePlessis?” Sir Darryl rose to his feet involuntarily, as though about to do something. Then, realizing it was too late, he sat back down. “Well, well,” he said. “A lovely man. How strange.”
    “What’s that?” The Archbishop of Paris looked startled. “What about Master DePlessis?”
    “He was the victim, Your Grace,” Serjeant Martin said. “Stabbed through the heart with no weapon in sight, and no way in or out of the building.”
    “Incredible,” the Archbishop said, crossing himself. “I had dinner with him last night. A fine healer. A brilliant theoretician.”
    “I’m on my way,” Lord Darcy said. “Send someone for Master Sean O Lochlainn, and have him meet us there.”
    “It has already been done, my lord,” Serjeant Martin said.

CHAPTER FIVE
    The construction of Castle Cristobel was a process that had been ongoing since the thirteenth