Authors: Steven Brust
Brokedown Palace (5 page)
“Hmmmm,” said the King. “We can’t really spare part of the army, can we?”
“Not very well. In any case, history has shown that armies are a poor means of fighting dragons.”
“Yes … well, I think I have an idea.”
“Your Majesty?”
“Never mind. I’ll take care of it. Anything more?”
Rezs
looked unhappy but didn’t insist. He carefully set the papers down, folded his hands, cleared his throat, and looked at the King.
looked unhappy but didn’t insist. He carefully set the papers down, folded his hands, cleared his throat, and looked at the King.László groaned. “Not again.”
“Your Majesty,” said Rezs
, “it is my duty. You are thirty-three years old. To be blunt, every day past forty should be counted as a blessing. I know, because I have given thanks to the Demon Goddess every day for the past twenty years.”
, “it is my duty. You are thirty-three years old. To be blunt, every day past forty should be counted as a blessing. I know, because I have given thanks to the Demon Goddess every day for the past twenty years.”“I know, I know.” László swallowed with difficulty and looked away.
Rezs
must have studied with the old King and Queen,
he thought.
And more than statesmanship. He is the only man I know who can almost bring tears of frustration to my eyes
.
Rezs
must have studied with the old King and Queen,he thought.
And more than statesmanship. He is the only man I know who can almost bring tears of frustration to my eyes
.
“Your Majesty, if Andor succeeds you to the throne, I shudder to think what will happen to the kingdom. And he is unmarried as well, for that matter, and hardly younger than you. Nor has Vilmos found a wife. That leaves the throne of Fenario going to some Baron or other who is probably descended from your grandfather’s eldest sister or something.”
“I know, Rezs
.”
.”“Your Majesty, I have a proposal here from the Count of Mordfal—an important county with the galena mines near the Grimtail Fissure and part of the defense against—”
László fought to keep his voice calm.
How can I explain to this old man what he is asking for?
“Rezs
,” he said finally, “I’ll be
blunt with you. Dalliance, as you are sometimes pleased to call it, is the only pleasure I have. I know it is unbecoming to complain, but by the Demon Goddess! My whole day, every day, is given to this damned kingdom. Show me a woman I’ll fall in love with or who won’t cause a civil war every time she catches me with a kitchen maid. If you do that, if she has a position that makes it a good match, I’ll marry her. I promise. But in the meantime—”
How can I explain to this old man what he is asking for?
“Rezs
,” he said finally, “I’ll beblunt with you. Dalliance, as you are sometimes pleased to call it, is the only pleasure I have. I know it is unbecoming to complain, but by the Demon Goddess! My whole day, every day, is given to this damned kingdom. Show me a woman I’ll fall in love with or who won’t cause a civil war every time she catches me with a kitchen maid. If you do that, if she has a position that makes it a good match, I’ll marry her. I promise. But in the meantime—”
“Will you consent to see her at least?”
“How old is she?”
“Fifteen.”
“At least you aren’t trying to palm any more children off on me.” László sighed.
What’s the use?
“Oh, very well. Whenever you want.”
What’s the use?
“Oh, very well. Whenever you want.”
Rezs
bowed his head. “Thank you, László. I will send for her at once.”
bowed his head. “Thank you, László. I will send for her at once.”“Hmmph. Now, is that all?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. That is all.”
“Good. If you need me, I’ll be in the courtyard, working off some of my excess passion in preparation for this charmer of yours.”
Rezs
bowed his head again as the King stood and left.
bowed his head again as the King stood and left.“GOOD DAY, YOUR MAJESTY,” SAID VIKTOR.
László snarled at him.
Viktor smiled. His teeth were even, and no trace of yellow marred them. His smile was more a baring of the teeth than anything else. “One of those moods, Your Majesty?” he said. “I suppose Rezs
the Righteous still wants you to get married, eh?”
the Righteous still wants you to get married, eh?”“Just shut up and fetch the practice swords, will you?”
“I have them here, Your Majesty.”
“Then give me one and hit at me with the other before I lose my
patience and use Állam.” He touched the hilt of the straight sabre that hung in the ruby-encrusted sheath at his side.
patience and use Állam.” He touched the hilt of the straight sabre that hung in the ruby-encrusted sheath at his side.
Viktor did as he was told, still smiling. Viktor was twenty-three years old, but still youthful. He seemed to bounce rather than walk; his long, straight dark hair doing its own bouncing above his shoulders, yet remaining perfectly arranged. His eyes were brown and full of light, his face had a square jaw rare in Fenario. He wore the bright red of the Palace Guard that he commanded, and his buttons always, always glittered. He had once joked that he was so strong, it would only take ten of him to defeat Vilmos in a contest of strength.
Still, he was well matched with King László. After their first few bouts, the King had learned, for the most part, how to avoid matching strength with Viktor. From then on it had been a contest of the captain’s speed against the King’s remarkable sense of timing.
Nor did they stop short of striking with the wooden swords, when an opening presented itself. They made the one concession to safety of not striking to the head save when wearing practice helms which neither liked. Other than that, the blows were as powerful as could be given with the light sticks. And, while a good
thwack
with such a weapon is unlikely to do more than sting, a thrust, which was also legitimate, could cause injury. So far, in the two years they had been partners, they had avoided such an injury. But not through lack of trying on either side.
thwack
with such a weapon is unlikely to do more than sting, a thrust, which was also legitimate, could cause injury. So far, in the two years they had been partners, they had avoided such an injury. But not through lack of trying on either side.
As they practiced, some of László’s anger worked itself off. Viktor sensed this and began talking. It was a sign of the condition of both men that, after three minutes of hard work, they could converse without gasping.
“So, Your Majesty,” said Viktor, “has he gotten you to agree to a wedding date yet?”
László snorted.
Viktor chuckled. “If that means no, I’ll tell you I met someone new in town yesterday.”
“What good does that do me?”
“She has a friend.”
“Ah, now! Keep talking, my captain, and perhaps I’ll make you a Count.”
Viktor saw what he thought was an opening and struck for the King’s side. László sidestepped neatly and brought his wooden sword up over Viktor’s and down for a satisfying thump on the shoulder. Viktor grimaced, acknowledged the touch, and waded back in.
“Being a Count, Your Majesty, interests me almost as much as being a married man interests you. But, as to this young lady—”
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