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true. I followed her out and around the corner to a small sitting room, where she left me with Vialle, who
was seated in an uncomfortable-looking high-backed chair of dark wood and leather, held together with
cast iron studs. If she'd wanted muscle, she'd have sent for Gerard. If she'd wanted a mind full of history
and political connivance, Llewella would be here. So I was guessing it involved magic, since I was the
authority in residence.
But I was wrong.
"I'd like to speak to you," she said, "concerning a small state of war in which we, seem about to
become engage.
CHAPTER 8
After a pleasant time with a pretty lady, a series of stimulating hallway conversations, and a relaxing
dinner with family and friends, it seemed almost fitting that it be time for something different and
distracting. The idea of a small war seemed, at least, better than a big one, though I did not say that to
Vialle. A moment's careful thought, and I shaped the query:
"What's going on?"
"Dalt's men are dug in near the western edge of Arden," she said. "Julian's are strung out facing them.
Benedict has taken Julian additional men and weapons. He says he can execute a flanking movement that
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will take Dalt's line apart. But I told him not to."
"I don't understand. Why not?"
"Men will die," she said.
"That's the way it is in war. Sometimes you have no choice."
"But we do have a choice, of sorts," she said, "one that I don't understand. And I do want to
understand it before I give an order that will result in numerous of deaths."
"What is the choice?" I asked.
"I came here to respond to a Trump message from Julian," she said. "He had just spoken with Dalt
under a flag of truce. Dalt told him that his objective was not, at this time, the destruction of Amber. He
pointed out that he could conduct an expensive attack, though, in terms of our manpower and equipment.
He said he'd rather save himself and us the expense, however. What he really wants is for us to turn two
prisoners over to him-Rinaldo and Jasra."
"Huh?" I said. "Even if we wanted to, we can't give him Luke. He's not here."
"That is what Julian told him. He seemed very surprised. For some reason, he believed we had
Rinaldo in custody."
"Well, we're not obliged to provide the man with an education. I gather he's bean something of a
pain for years. I think Benedict has the right answer for him."
"I did not call you in for advice," she said.
"Sorry," I told her. "It's just that I don't like seeing someone trying to pull a stunt like this and actually
believing he has a chance of success."
"He has no chance of success," Vialle stated. "But if we kill him now, we learn nothing. I would like
to find out what is behind this."
"Have Benedict bring him in. I have spells that will open him up."
She shook her head.
"Too risky," she explained. "Once bullets start flying, there's the chance one might find him. Then we
lose even though we win."
"I don't understand what it is that you want of me."
"He asked Julian to get in touch with us and relay his demand. He's promised to hold the truce until
we give him some sort of official answer. Julian says he has the impression that Dalt would settle for
either one of them."
"I don't want to give him Jasra either."
"Neither do I. What I do want very badly is to know what is going on. There would be small point in
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releasing Jasra and asking her, since this is a recent development. I want to know whether you have
means of getting in touch with Rinaldo. I want to talk to him."
"Well, uh . . . yes," I said. "I have a Trump for him."
"Use it."
I got it out. I regarded it. I moved my mind into that special area of alertness and calling. The picture
changed came alive. . . .
It was twilight, and Luke stood near a campfire. H had on his green outfit, a light brown cloak about
his shoulders clasped with that Phoenix pin.
"Merle," he said. "I can move the troops pretty fast.. When do you want to hit the place and-"
"Put it on hold," I interrupted. "This is something different. "
"What?"
"Dalt's at the gates; and Vialle wants to talk to you before we take him apart."
"Dalt? There? Amber?"
"Yes, yes, and yes. He says he'll go and play someplace else if we give him the two things he wants
most in the world: you and your mother."
"That's crazy."
"Yeah. We think so, too. Will you talk to the queen about it?"
"Sure. Bring me thr-" He hesitated and looked into my eyes.
I smiled.
He extended his hand. I reached forward and took it. Suddenly, he was there. He looked about,
saw Vialle. Immediately, he unclasped his sword belt and passed it to me. He approached her, dropped
to his right knee, and lowered his head.
"Your Majesty," he said. "I've come."
She reached forward and touched him.
"Raise your head," she said.
He did, and her sensitive fingers slid over the plane and arches of his face.
"Strength," she said, "and sorrow. . . . So you're Rinaldo. You've brought us some grief."
"It works both ways, Your Majesty."
"Yes, of course," she replied. "Wrongs done and wrongs avenged have a way of spilling over on the
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innocent. How far will it go this time?"
"This thing with Dalt?" he asked.
"No. This thing with you."
"Oh," he said. "It's over. I've done with it. No more bombs or ambushes. I've already told Merlin
that."
"You've known him for several years?"
"Yes. "
"You've become friends?"
"He's one of the reasons I'm calling it off."
"You must trust him, to come here. I respect that," she said. "Take this."
She removed a ring she wore upon her right forefinger. The band was of gold, the stone a milky
green; the prongs of its setting caught it in a fashion to suggest some mantic spider guarding dreamland
treasures against the daybreak world.
"Your Majesty. . . ."
"Wear it;" she said.
"I will," he replied, slipping it upon the little finger of his left hand. "Thank you. "
"Rise. I want you to know exactly what has occurred."
He got to his feet, and she began telling him what she had told me, concerning Dalt's arrival, his
forces' disposition, his demands, while I stood stunned at the implications of what she had done. She had
just placed Luke under her protection. Everyone in Amber knew that ring. I wondered what Random
would think. I realized then that there would not be a hearing. Poor Bill. I believe he was really looking [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]