“It is not,” Azoun said feelingly, “a process I care to repeat.”
“Nor will it be,” the Lord High Wizard responded. “Now that we know the process, we can craft a spell to duplicate its effects in manifestation. And as much as I want to take credit for the process, it is almost entirely the work of Dimswart and Alaphondar, our devoted sages. I’m afraid I was caught up in other things.”
“No,” said Tanalasta with a solemn smile. “You were too busy scheming and dreaming up plots against the crown.”
“And successfully, I might add,” said Cat.
“Don’t blame our good wizard too much, child,” said the king. “When I was a lad, one of the lessons he taught me was that things are not always what they seem, and that the most evil people can put on a good face if they are after something. While this blood process he’s so gleeful about was going on, I was as weak as a kitten. So I gave Vangerdabast orders to keep everyone in the dark and let him spin out all the dark intrigues he could think of, so long as he didn’t bring all-out war to Suzail or bring the palace down around our ears.”
“Separating the wolves from the sheep,” Giogi said brightly, “or the wheat from the chaff, or the mill from the floss… or whatever.”
“Aye,” said the king. “The power of the Cormaerils, the Bleths, and the others whose acts were treasonable is now broken. Their lands are seized, their titles are stripped from them, and some will be exiled. I’ll not be slaying more folk than have already died, however. That’s one lesson I’ve learned from Vangerdahast and his forebears. The realm is stronger than any one man, and it’s always best not to bleed away the best of its stock in wasteful executions.”
“I’ve made it known,” Vangerdahast added silkily, “that any interpretation of this clemency as a weakness of the monarch would be a mistake… almost certainly a fatal mistake.”
“However, letting the threat of execution hang over a man seems quite a useful tactic,” Azoun agreed. “Those who supported the traitors but were not immediately involved in the plot have either recanted or are heading for Sembia, Westgate, or Waterdeep with all the haste they can muster.”
“And those who recanted or denied their allegiance to the conspiracy know they are being watched,” Cat put in. “Knowing that, they are going to be on their best behavior trying to prove their loyalty like the youngest and most enthusiastic of knights for the next few years.”
“And they will not be the only ones,” Vangerdahast added slyly. “I made it a point to personally thank the families who sat on their hedges, blowing neither hot nor cold, as the realm almost pitched into the abyss around them. Particularly the supposedly loyal Huntsilvers, Crownsilvers, and Truesilvers. I’m sure they’ll spend the next few years trying fervently to prove their loyalty to the crown as well.”
“And what of those who passed your little test?” asked the crown princess, her eyes darting to meet those of the old wizard. “Those who risked life and limb when they were convinced Lord Vangerdahast was a traitor?” She lowered her gaze to the floor and added, “As I did.”
One of Vangerdahast’s large and hairy-backed hands closed over hers. “Lady Highness,” he said gently, “how could you have thought otherwise?” The wizard rose and struck an actor’s pose. “After all, I learned how to act from the best tavern dancers in Suzail! My performance, I’ll have you know, was peerless… simply peerless!”
Tanalasta tried not to laugh, then snorted helplessly, and then roared. Vangerdahast blinked at her, affecting an air of innocence, and Azoun’s rich mirth rolled out to join them.
When at last she could speak again, Tanalasta asked, “Seriously, Father, what about those who remained true, like Marliir and Giogi?”
“And Vangerdahast’s mob of agents, including the Harper Emthrara, and that turret salesman-” the king snapped his fingers-“Rhauligan. A royal writ, absolving them from any charges, should do the trick. Particularly for the Harper and the merchant.”
“And there are absences to be accounted for and holes to fill,” continued the king. “For instance, with the passing of loyal Thomdor, I need a new military commander in Arabel. It strikes me that any candidate for such a post should be brave, loyal, and come from a local Arabellan family, so that the city will never go into rebellion again. Young Marliir, are you up to the task?”
“I?” asked Marliir, dumbfounded. “I-I-” He slid from his seat, dropping dazedly to one knee. “Are you sure, Sire?”
“We’ll save the ceremony for later, in front of the full court,” said Azoun with a smile, leaning froward to clap the young man on the shoulder, “but you’ll be a good Warden of the Eastern Marches. It’s good to see someone care so deeply about Cormyr. Moreover, your naming to that title will send a message to a number of people about their own place within my kingdom. And as for you, Lord Giogi “
“Please, Sire,” said the Wyvernspur lord, raising a restraining hand, “I’m quite content with my life in Immersea. I desire neither a military post nor a rank.”
“Good to hear it, for I was going to offer neither,” said the king heartily. “Bhereu’s place at High Horn needs to go to someone with fighting blood. Perhaps that Bishop of the Black Blades, Gwennath. Don’t take offense, young Wyvernspur, but I don’t think even the most capable courtiers could survive you for long-or rather, your unique method of crashing head-on into problems and wrestling them into submission without ever understanding them!”
There was a general round of chuckles. Giogi reddened and ducked his head.
“By the gods, I wish half my nobles were as much fun as you provide,” Azoun murmured, then straightened himself and boomed, “Nay, Wyvernspur, into your hands I give the Cormaeril lands, in toto, which should quintuple your income as well as your responsibilities. I hope you are up to it.”
“He’ll have a little help, Sire,” said Cat, taking her husband’s hand. Giogi opened his mouth and then closed it again without saying anything. He tried the process over again, several times, and then helplessly poked Cat with a finger.
She looked down at him fondly and said, “Your Majesty, Lord Wyvernspur is so honored that he’s speechless-for the moment.”
There were chuckles all around once more. Azoun raised his glass in salute to his dumbstruck noble and added, “I look forward to playing chess with you again in the near future, too.”
Even Giogi managed a chuckle-a rueful one-this time.
“I have one question,” said Tanalasta, curling her feet up under her where she sat. “Once you knew you were going to live, did anyone else know about it?”
“Well, I had to tell your mother,” said Azoun. “It wouldn’t do to have her find out that I was alive through court gossips.”
“And I sent word to Alusair,” added Vangerdahast, “through my war wizards, so she’d not worry-and wouldn’t come galloping home to defend the throne against the forty or so nobles who were already riding with her!”
“So what you’re telling me,” Tanalasta said to the wizard, her tone firm and her voice level, “is that I was the only one of the immediate royal family who did not know my own father was alive, and expected to remain so-and I wouldn’t have to take the throne at all.”
“Well, you might have told Aunadar, and, well…” said the wizard, before trailing off into silence. That silence suddenly held sway over the entire room. The crown princess leaned forward.
“Another of your little lessons, eh, mage?” Tanalasta pressed.
Vangerdahast cleared his throat. “Your Highness, as much as I respect your abilities, I have a duty to the crown, and as such must protect it as best as I can, whatever the personal cost.”
“And I can’t be the shy, dutiful daughter forever,” said the princess quietly. She sighed and then lifted her chin and added, “I cannot afford the luxury of being a royal wallflower. I’ve decided I must develop my own self, my own strengths, and my own goals.”