Authors: Steven Brust
Brokedown Palace (4 page)
“We’ll try it at least.”
“Very well, László. I’ll attend to it.”
“What next?”
Rezs
scribbled some notes, then set the paper aside and found another.
scribbled some notes, then set the paper aside and found another.“The Northmen,” he said finally.
“Ah, yes. Are there new developments?”
“More of the same. The reavers seem to be gathering. I think it likely they’ll test us before the year fails, unless they dispense with testing and invade outright.”
“You think they might, Rezs
?”
?”“It is possible, Your Majesty.”
“All of our problems seem to come from the north, don’t they?”
Rezs
didn’t answer, apparently interpreting this as a remark to kill time while trying to think of a solution.
He knows me too well,
thought the King, then he smiled at himself. After a bit, he said, “I don’t have any ideas. But since we’re bringing troops up
there anyway, we could certainly bring a few more and maybe frighten them off.”
didn’t answer, apparently interpreting this as a remark to kill time while trying to think of a solution.He knows me too well,
thought the King, then he smiled at himself. After a bit, he said, “I don’t have any ideas. But since we’re bringing troops up
there anyway, we could certainly bring a few more and maybe frighten them off.”
Rezs
cleared his throat. László knew enough to interpret this as the I-have-another-suggestion throat clear, as opposed to the that-may-not-be-the-best-idea throat clear, or the remember-I’m-here-waiting-for-you-to-notice-me throat clear, or the I-have-something-in-my-throat throat clear.
cleared his throat. László knew enough to interpret this as the I-have-another-suggestion throat clear, as opposed to the that-may-not-be-the-best-idea throat clear, or the remember-I’m-here-waiting-for-you-to-notice-me throat clear, or the I-have-something-in-my-throat throat clear.“Well?” he said. “What is it?”
“The Northmen invaded last about a hundred and fifty years ago,” he said. “They caused a great deal of damage.”
“I know that,” said the King. “What of it?”
“About seventy-five years before that, they threatened, during the reign of King János the Third.”
“And?”
“They caused no harm, that time.”
“I see,” said László. “Well?”
“The King was a very wise man, Your Majesty. He brought his army to the pass by the North River where the Grimwall meets the Mountains of Faerie, which is the only path from the north into Fenario.”
“Get on with it, Rezs
.”
.”The latter blinked at the young King’s impatience, and continued in his own leisurely fashion.
“When they entered, he harassed them but never actually fought them. They tend not to know our land very well, so he was able to guide them along the western edge of the Wandering Forest by pretending that he was ready for full-scale battle at any time. The Northmen are fond of such things, being confident that they can win in any battle.”
“Hmmmph! I’m not sure they’re wrong, either. Go on.”
Rezs
paused to remove a silk handkerchief from his sleeve and wipe the corners of his mouth where saliva had been collecting.
László controlled an urge to look away. The advisor continued, “He led them south until they were near the Southern Marshes, which took months of careful planning and maneuvering. When the Northmen were practically at our southern border, he sent a raiding party against the southern marauders. Of course, he disguised this raiding party as Northerners. And he left a clear trail back to the Northmen.”
paused to remove a silk handkerchief from his sleeve and wipe the corners of his mouth where saliva had been collecting.László controlled an urge to look away. The advisor continued, “He led them south until they were near the Southern Marshes, which took months of careful planning and maneuvering. When the Northmen were practically at our southern border, he sent a raiding party against the southern marauders. Of course, he disguised this raiding party as Northerners. And he left a clear trail back to the Northmen.”
László’s eyes widened, then he laughed. “Yes!” he said. “And the marauders, of course, charged in and did to the Northmen what we couldn’t do ourselves! Wonderful! Can Marshal Henrik do the same trick, do you think?”
“I believe he can, László,” said the advisor.
László shook his head, still laughing. “Excellent! Have the order written up, and I’ll sign it.”
Rezs
nodded and made some notes. Then he found another scrap of parchment and said, “There is a dragon.”
nodded and made some notes. Then he found another scrap of parchment and said, “There is a dragon.”“Indeed?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Well,” he said. “Well, well, and well. We haven’t had a dragon in Fenario in close to twenty years. I’ve been wondering when it would happen.”
Rezs
remained silent.
remained silent.“I assume it’s to the west, near the border.” Rezs
nodded. “Has it done any damage?” asked the King.
nodded. “Has it done any damage?” asked the King.The minister consulted the parchment. “It’s frightened a few peasants and a few merchants, but nothing more than that.”
László nodded. “Do you think it has something to do with the Northmen, or is it just coincidence?”
Rezs
considered this, then said, “I think it’s coincidence, Your Majesty. If the Northmen could control a dragon, they would either use it to greater effect or leave it hidden.”
considered this, then said, “I think it’s coincidence, Your Majesty. If the Northmen could control a dragon, they would either use it to greater effect or leave it hidden.”Other books
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Analog SFF, September 2010 by Dell Magazine Authors