"I pointed out that Sir Kreim was otherwise mistaken: that Aillas even now energetically worked to curb the highland barons, and would soon rebuff the Ska."
Aillas gave a sour chuckle. "Why did you not also promise that I would reverse the course of the rivers and cause the sun to rise in the west?"
Sir Tristano shrugged. "You have not previously so much as hinted of these ambitions."
"All in good time," said Aillas. "First I have fleas of my own to scratch. But tell me more of King Gax and the sinister Sir Kreim."
"Kreim is somewhat older than myself, with a purple mouth and a black beard. He is surly and suspicious, and almost certainly a creature of the Ska.
"I mentioned other events of the last year and King Gax had known none of them. The old rascal seems well aware of Kreim's ambitions, and apparently from sheer mischief kept turning to him and crying out: ‘Kreim, fancy that!' And: ‘Kreim, these are the men we must count on if ever we are to escape the toils of the Ska!' And: ‘Kreim, were I once again young, I would do as Aillas does!'
"Finally King Gax sent Sir Kreim away on one pretext or another. Sir Kreim went reluctantly, looking back over his shoulder all the way. King Gax then told me: ‘As you see, my life and my reign together are dwindling into oblivion.'
"Here King Gax looked all around, as if to assure himself against eavesdroppers. ‘I have made many mistakes in my life. There is one last mistake I wish not to make.'
"And that is"
"Gax only waved a finger at me. ‘You are a subtle young man, despite your easy mask. Can you not guess?'
"I can guess of a dozen mistakes you might make. You hope to avoid dying before your time, and so perhaps you walk a narrow line."
"That is one of the right guesses. I am dying, but only in the sense that every man of my age is dying. The Ska are patient; they will wait. But I must be prudent, because I fear poison or a knife in the dark, and it would be a cold death here in Jehaundel, with no son to avenge my murder.'
"Let me ask this, from simple curiosity. How do the laws of North Ulfland regulate the succession of kings?"
"By the ordinary lines of descent, if I die and am dead, which means Kreim. But see this circlet on my head? Were you fool enough to accept it, I could transfer the kingship to you at this moment, and then, like mine, your life would be in pawn to the Ska and you would wonder at every mouthful of food."
"Keep your kingship," I told him. "My ambitions fly much lower."
"At thus moment Sir Kreim returned, and I took my leave of King Gax."
Aillas went to look out the window, across the harbour where the wind blew up white-caps. "How do you judge his health?"
"For a man of seventy, he seems sound, though his eyes are not so keen as before. His mind is agile and his voice is steady."
"And after you left Xounges?"
"I had a most curious adventure involving an evil green pearl, which I joyfully relinquished to a robber, then proceeded across Dahaut to Avallon."
"I had an audience with King Audry in his palace. He is pompous and foolish and vain, but he shows a sense of humor, which is a trifle ponderous; still it exists.
"I warned him that spies infested his household, and he laughed in my face. Since he had no secrets of any kind, Casmir wasted his money, which suited Audry perfectly well. There is nothing much more to tell, except that Audry is willing that you should marry his pregnant daughter Thaubin."
"This I am not ready for."
A footman entered and muttered into Aillas' ear. Aillas screwed up his face and turned to Tristano. "Wait for me in the yard; for this business I am committed to privacy."
Tristano departed and a moment later Yane came into the room, so quietly that the air seemed not to stir behind him.
Aillas jumped to his feet. "Once more you are back and once more I can breathe again!"
"You over-estimate the danger," said Yane.
"If you were taken, you would sing a different song."
"No doubt. Sing I would, loudly and quickly, and hope to avoid Casmir's persuasions. There are few men I fear. He is one of them."
Aillas again went to look out the window. "He must have other spies beside yourself."
"He does indeed, and one of them is a traitor among your close advisors. Casmir almost named me his name, then thought better of it. But this man sits in a high place."
Aillas pondered. "I wonder how close and how high."
"Very high and very close."
Aillas shook his head pensively. "I find it hard to believe."
"You confer often with your ministers?"
"Every week, at least."
"These ministers are the same, from week to week?"
"There is no great change."
"What are their names?"
"They are six, all lords of the realm: Maloof. Pirmence. Foirry. Sion-Tansifer. Langlark. Witherwood. None could gain by Casmir's victory."
"Which have cause for resentment?"
Aillas shrugged. "Perhaps I am reckoned too young or too reckless or too headstrong. The South Ulfland expedition is not everywhere popular."
"Which of the six is the most zealous?"
"Probably Maloof, who is Chancellor of the Exchequer. All are apt to their work. Langlark at times seems listless, but I have reason to exempt him from suspicion."
"What reason is this?"
"I have tried to put the event out of my mind—now, it seems, wrongly. In Blaloc, as you know, shipyards build fishing boats and coastal traders. Recently a certain Duke Geronius of Armorica contracted for the construction of four heavy war-galleasses, of a class which could easily give us trouble on a calm day. Upon inquiry I discovered that Duke Geronius of Armorica is non-existent. He is Casmir, trying to create a navy on the sly. As soon as the ships are launched and Casmir has paid over his gold, I will send a force and burn them to the waterline, and there will be a great gnashing of teeth in Haidion Palace."
"So then?"
"During a conference, with four ministers present, I mentioned rumors of ship-building at Port Posedel in Blaloc. I mentioned that I had asked a merchant dealing in glass bottles, now on his way to Port Posedel, to look into the matter.
"The merchant never returned. I made inquiries at his factory and discovered that he had been murdered in Blaloc."
Yane nodded in slow rumination. "And the ministers who listened to your remarks?"
"Maloof, Sion-Tansifer, Pirmence and Foirry. Langlark and Witherwood were not present."
"The incident would seem significant."
"Exactly so. But enough for now. I am off to Watershade with Tristano and Shimrod, where, if you will believe it, there is a vexing problem to be solved. With Shimrod's help, the problem may dissolve and we will have a few days of simple peace. Would you care to join the company?"
Yane excused himself. "I must go to my place Skave, and make sure of kegs for the new wine. What troubles the placid ways of Watershade?"
"The druids. They have settled the island Inisfadhe, where they put a fine fright into Glyneth, and I must set things to rights."
"Send Shimrod out to throw a gloom on them, or, better, transform them all into crayfish."
Aillas looked over his shoulder as if to make sure that Shimrod was not within earshot. "Shimrod already wonders at my sudden invitation. When dealing with druids, magic is a comforting convenience. I will let Glyneth tell her story; she can twist Shimrod around her finger, and any other man she chooses to wheedle."
"Including a certain Aillas, so I have noticed."
"Yes. A certain Aillas very much so."