[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
the mark of Valdis and taken to the authorities. Five pieces of silver was
quite an incentive to the ingenious citizens of Rorn. Tavalisk cared little
about these practices; the more knights expelled, genuine or otherwise, the
more angry Valdis would be.
"No, Your Eminence, they have stopped them from entering the city, but
expulsion has not begun yet."
"What of Toolay?"
"Toolay teeters on the brink."
"Toolay was ever a gutless city. Is there news of Camlee?"
"Camlee will be slow to act, Your Eminence. They may not take action at all;
they live in the shadow of
Valdis."
"I do not think Valdis casts as long a shadow as it once did, Gamil."
"You are right, Your Eminence. Valdis is not as powerful as it once was, but
we would be unwise to underestimate it."
"Gamil, I make it my business never to underestimate anyone. I need no lessons
in strategy from you."
Tavalisk's thoughts kept returning to Marod's prophecy. What role the knights
had to play in its fulfillment was unclear, but now more than ever it seemed
that to expel them was the right thing to do.
Three dangerous men had their eyes on the territory and wealth of others: the
duke of Bren was desperate for extra land; his population had grown twofold
over the last decade, and his people needed farmland and pastures. He thought
that by making Bren larger, he could name it a kingdom. Annis and
Highwall, not to mention Ness and the Four Kingdoms, watched the duke's
expansion with growing unease.
Not that the Four Kingdoms would have to worry much longer. They would soon be
firmly allied with
Bren. Baralis had seen to that. He was the second man, the son of a farmer
from Leis¬ . Desire for power had made him king's chancellor, ambition made him
want more. Sorcery and intrigue were his weapons-Tavalisk was only just
beginning to guess at his strategies.
And lastly there was Tyren, head of the Knights of Valdis. Greed was his main
vice. He was a shrewd profiteer, tying up trade routes in the north while
managing to win the friendship of powerful people.
Cities in the colder climes were easily fooled by a fleeting show of piety.
Tyren's tactics had proven less successful in the south. He'd tried to gain a
foothold in valuable commodities like silk and spices only to find himself
rebuffed. The merchants of Rorn and Marls were wary of the knights. They'd
heard all the rumors of corruption and intrigue, which the archbishop had so
conscientiously propagated.
The Known Lands were becoming dangerously unstable. There was trouble ahead,
and trade and ambition were at its core. Or money and power, if one were to
name the motives plainly. Tavalisk smiled sweetly. "Ah, Gamil, there is
nothing more exciting than the thrill of intrigue."
"Your Eminence's tactical skills are greatly admired."
"Indeed they are, Gamil. Who knows, the coming months may spread their fame
even further." The archbishop was beginning to feel rather cheerful. He was
looking forward to pitting his wits against the men of the north. He would
prove more than a match for them!
"Any news about our knight?"
"He left Toolay some days back, Your Eminence. He and the boy have mounts now.
They are still heading north."
"After he arrives in Ness, I would have him followed more carefully. Bevlin
lurks not far from Ness. If our knight visits him I want to know about it."
Page 234
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"As Your Eminence wishes."
They arrived at the archbishop's chambers. Tavalisk opened the door but
prevented Gamil from following him in. "You are excused now, Gamil."
"But Your Eminence there are more matters to discuss."
"Bore me with them another day, Gamil. I am about to eat and I intend to do so
alone. If you want to make yourself useful, go back to the chapel. I think I
left my gloves there." Tavalisk watched as his aide began to walk the long
distance back to the chapel. Once he was out of sight, he pulled his gloves
from beneath his belt and closed and locked the door.
Tawl had been giving a great deal of thought to the archbishop of Rorn of
late. Why would such a powerful man have bothered to imprison and torture him?
He was a knight, that was true. But why him?
There were many other knights in Rorn: ones who monitored incoming ships for
illegal trade, a few who acted as envoys and couriers, and some just passing
through. So why choose to jail him? He had not been involved in any political
intrigues, he was no spy, so why had he been followed? Tawl sighed deeply. And
why was he still being followed?
He had noticed many times since leaving Rorn that he was being watched. He and
the boy would ride through a village, and no matter how small, Tawl felt there
was always someone amongst the villagers who was making note of their passing.
In Toolay he had the distinct impression he had been followed once he'd
arrived in the city.
"Tell me," he asked the boy, "what do you know about the archbishop of Rorn?"
"He's a slippery one and that's the truth." The boy wiped his nose in way of
illustration. "Course he's well liked in the city. Everyone says that Rorn has
never been richer since he came to office."
"What did he do before becoming archbishop?"
"That's a bit of a mystery by all accounts. Apparently he didn't go the normal
route, you know, priesting and the like. He just sort of popped up overnight
and took power. I don't know too much about it. After all, it happened before
my time." The boy steered his pony around a group of rocks; his riding was
improving. "I can tell you that he is rich beyond belief. Me and my friend
slipped into his house once, near the place you delivered the first of those
letters, d'you remember?" Tawl nodded.
"Well, we were doing a bit of staking out ... I wasn't always a 'pocket; I
used to work for a man who robbed houses. I'd go in first and make sure they
had stuff worth robbing. Anyway, I slipped into this place, nice building,
nothing that special. Once I was inside I couldn't believe my eyes: rooms
packed with gold, silver, diamonds, and emeralds. Treasure, too-paintings,
carved boxes, jewelry, tapestries, anything you could think of, piled to the
rafters. It was one big warehouse full of loot."
"There's no need to tell you I was pretty excited. I sneaked out and gave my
friend the nod. He was all set to do the robbing when a man arrives carried in
one of those fancy litters. As soon as he stepped out into the street we could
see it was the archbishop, there's no mistaking his chubby profile. Well, he
let himself into the very place we were about to rob."
"As soon as my man realized whose place it was he backed off the job. No one
wants to mess around with the archbishop."
"So you think all the loot belonged to him?"
"I don't think it belonged to the litter carrier!" Nabber grinned knowingly.
"Of course it was the archbishop's booty. He's been skimming the cream from
Rorn since before I was bom."
"Surely he has little need for money in the future. An archbishop is appointed
for life." Tawl was trying to remember his history lessons.
"That's never stopped the people from getting rid of anyone they don't like.
The people of Rorn are well known for their violent streak. They've run
Page 235
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]