The Chalice of Death by Robert Silverberg Read Free Book Online

gripping him tightly.
    â€œI don’t know anything. Leave me alone.”
    â€œYou’d better start knowing,” Navarre said. He drew his blaster with his free hand. “I’ll give you five to tell me why you were following us, and if you don’t speak up I’ll burn you right here. One … two …”
    On the count of three Navarre suddenly felt hands go round his waist, other hands grabbing at his wrist to immobilize the blaster. He was pulled away from his prisoner and the blaster wrenched from his hand.
    â€œLet go of him, Earthman,” a rough voice said. “What’s going on here, anyway?”
    â€œThis man’s an assassin,” Navarre said. “He and a companion were sent here to kill me. Luckily my friend and I detected the plot, and—”
    â€œThat’s enough,” the burly Kariadi said. “You’d all better come with me.”
    Navarre turned and saw several other officers approaching. One bore the blaster-charred body of the dead assassin; the other two pinioned the figure of the furiously struggling Domrik Carso.
    â€œCome along, now,” the Kariadi said.

Chapter Four
    â€œA good beginning to our quest,” Carso said bitterly. “A noble start!”
    â€œQuiet,” Navarre told him. “I think someone’s coming to see us.”
    They were in a dungeon somewhere in the heart of Kariad City, having been taken there from the spaceport. The surviving assassin had been placed in another cell.
    But someone was coming. The door of the cell was opening, and a yellow beam of light began to crawl diagonally across the concrete floor.
    A slim figure entered the cell. Light glinted off a bald skull; the visitor was an Earthman, then.
    â€œHello. Which of you is Navarre?”
    â€œI am.”
    â€œI’m Helna Winstin, Earthman to the Court of Lord Marhaill, Oligocrat of Kariad. Sorry our men had to throw you down here in this cell, but they weren’t in any position to take chances.”
    â€œWe understand,” Navarre said. He was still staring without believing. “No one told me that on Kariad the Earthman to the Court was a woman .”
    Helna Winstin smiled. “The appointment was but recent. My father held the post until last month.”
    â€œAnd you succeeded him?”
    â€œAfter a brief struggle. Milord was much taken by a Lyrellan who had served as Astronomer Royal, but I’m happy to say he did not choose to break the tradition of an Earthman adviser.”
    Navarre stared at the slim female Earthman with sharp respect. Evidently there had been a fierce battle for power—a battle in which she had bested a Lyrellan. That was more than I managed to do , he thought.
    â€œCome,” she said. “The order for your release has been signed, and I find cells unpleasant. Shall we go to my rooms?”
    â€œI don’t see why not,” Navarre replied. He glanced at Carso, who looked utterly thunderstruck. “Come along, Domrik.”
    They were led through the corridor to a liftshaft and upward; it was evident to Navarre now that the dungeon had been in the depths of the royal palace itself.
    Helna Winstin’s rooms were warm and inviting looking; the decor was brighter than Navarre was accustomed to, but beneath the apartment’s obvious femininity lay a core of surprising toughness that seemed repeated in the girl herself.
    â€œNow then,” she said, making herself comfortable and motioning for the men to do the same. “What have you two done that brings you to Kariad with a pair of assassins on your trail?”
    â€œHas the man confessed?”
    â€œHe—ah—revealed all,” Helna Winstin said. “He told us he was sent here by one Kausim, a Lyrellan attached to the Joran court, with orders to make away with you, specifically, and your companion, too, if possible.”
    Navarre nodded. “I suspected as much. Can I see the