[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Inside he made for his desk, pausing to look back at Takara, "All right expert, so long as you're here I may as well abuse
your services. Suggestions?"
Takara sighed, "As much as I hate to say it, the best thing you can do is emphasize that this is a pleasure voyage. We're
headed to your home for an extended vacation."
The merchant grinned widely at that, "I suppose I could be persuaded to emphasize that."
"Somehow I didn't think you'd protest," Takara shot him a disgusted look. "Now pay attention. Beyond that say little to
nothing. The story of our finding Culebra need not be changed, save that it was I who initially recognized and woke him. Of
course he is part of the reason they sense magic on the ship& which makes me wonder why they're putting up such a fuss.
I wonder if perhaps they sense Nankyo after all. But no, they wouldn't follow protocol if that were case. They would be
storming the ship and demanding to know why we failed to mention we have Kundou royalty aboard."
Raiden grunted, "Which thankfully they don't. This would never have been a problem without Culebra." He slid his gaze
across the room to the prince in question, grinning. "Not, of course, that we're not happy to have your highness along."
"Indeed," Culebra's mouth quirked. "I am sorry for the inconvenience. Very sorry. But rest assured they'll not hear about
Nankyo from I."
A sharp rap interrupted their conversation, a second's warning before the door swung open to admit Kindan and two other
men - one who wore the garments of a government official, the other clearly a soldier.
The official immediately fastened his gaze on Takara, lingering on the slender body encased in teal robes. Slowly he brought
his eyes up to look the secretary in the face, "Lord Noumi. A pleasure to see you again, it's been far too long."
Takara twitched, though his face remained calm. "The pleasure is yours. I had no idea you would be handling this matter,
Duke Krasny. Matters of magical interference is the realm of Earl Zholty, is it not?" He squashed his desire to slide closer to
Raiden, as unsettled as always by the presence of the Duke. Krasny always reminded him of a hawk, even his red hair
fluttered about his head in a feathery manner, his face sharp, nose pointed. Eyes dark, unpleasant. Takara hated the man.
"The Earl is indisposed at this time, and when I heard you were aboard Lord Noumi& well, how could I not come?" He
turned to address the man seated at the table, "My apologies, your Highness. In my eagerness to greet my old friend, I
neglected my duties. Are you well, Prince Culebra?"
"As well as can be expected Duke, thank you." Culebra's voice was polite, level. "But do explain to me all the fuss. Surely
you would have expected high levels of magic on this ship?"
The duke's expression grew suddenly serious, "Yes, except that the levels are much higher than they should be. Of course
I'm sure it's simply an error that will be rapidly corrected," he smiled briefly. "I was quite astonished, Lord Noumi, to hear
you were on vacation. With& " his eyes strayed toward Raiden, whom he'd pointedly ignored until now.
"With me." Raiden said flatly. He ignored the warning touch of Kindan's hand on his shoulder. "And I dislike being treated
rudely aboard my own ship, Duke."
"Of course, forgive me," the Duke smiled nastily. "I am Duke Nikolai Krasny, Chief Advisor to his Majesty Zarya IX."
"Good for you," Kindan cut in. "But even a Chief Advisor should be aware that on a ship the rules change."
Krasny's eyelids drooped, as he stared lazily at the pair by the desk. "Of course," he murmured. "I did not mean to be rude.
As I said, I was over eager to see my Lord Noumi."
"State your business please. We have done nothing but what we dictated in the messages exchanged with you."
The duke nodded, "I have men searching this ship, a mere formality I assure you. If there is any problem, it is likely to be
here in this room." He turned his gaze on the secretary, "I would like to use a crystal, if you don't mind."
"I have no problems with that." Takara tensed as the advisor approached him, withdrawing from his voluminous black coat a
heavy, dark red crystal. The secretary accepted it as Krasny held it out. Gripping it tightly, the room waited in silence,
Kindan and Raiden watching in confusion. Seconds ticked by, then the crystal slowly began to glow, turning eventually into
a bright ball of light in Takara's hand. The secretary's eyes went wide, and he stared in shock at first the crystal, then the
duke. "What& "
file:///H|/NOVEL/New%20novel/1.htm[9/25/2009 10:22:25 AM]
AmaSour Fiction
The duke frowned, "It shouldn't be doing that. If the magic on you is merely residual it should only shimmer a bit& to glow
like that, and so brightly& but I was under the impression Lord Noumi, that amongst your people only the royal family
possessed magical ability."
"I have no magic," Takara shook his head. "None at all. As you say, only the royal family can use magic."
"Hmm& " Krasny frowned. "This is most strange. I had felt the magic on you the moment I entered the room& but I had
though perhaps I was just overreacting. When we visit your country it is impossible to differentiate when in the palace. That
place is a cesspool of magic, if you'll forgive me."
"Indeed." Takara said flatly.
"I am afraid that I must be certain you possess no magic before I can permit you to land, Lord Noumi. If you'll permit me& "
Takara sighed, "Is it really necessary? I assure you there must be some mistake."
"Never the less."
"What exactly is going on here?" Raiden's voice was hard.
The Duke spared him a glance, "Nothing you need worry about, but I must ask you both to not interfere. It's merely a test
we perform to ensure no unlicensed magic enters our country. None but the royalty and a few rare exceptions are permitted
within our borders if they're possessed of magical ability."
The secretary made a face, "It's all right. If I had any magical ability it would hurt, but I don't so really this is nothing more
than a waste of time."
"What!"
"That's enough," Takara snapped. "Just stand there and be quiet. Duke, if you please. I've had enough of this ridiculous
melodrama." He gripped the crystal tightly in his fist, closing his eyes as the Duke's hands settled around his own.
The Duke spoke a short spell, the word's harsh but somehow singsong. As he spoke Takara's breath caught, his face paling
slightly as he winced.
Raiden started to move at Takara's show of pain, but Kindan latched onto his arm and would not let him move. He glared at
the captain, huffing when Kindan only glared back. A sudden scream broke the staring contest and Raiden broke free of
Kindan's grasp and rushed to Takara's side.
The secretary was on the floor, gasping for breath, his face deathly pale. "What& I don't understand& "
The Duke began to speak, but as he did his face took on an unbecoming shade of green and he pressed the back of his
hand to his mouth, as if he were going to be ill. "That& you said& " he jerked his head around as the cabin door slammed
open to reveal a furious looking man.
"Storms take you! Krasny! I might have known it was you." Nankyokukai's eyes flashed bright blue in rage. "Get away from
my Secretary this instant and take your dragon damned spells with you!."
Krasny gaped, ignoring the sudden waves of illness in his shock. "By the Fire, what is a Stormland Prince doing here? And
why could I not sense you until now. Fires! You realize the trouble you are causing?"
"Not as much trouble as I'm going to cause if you don't explain to me this instant why you're abusing my Secretary. I had
hoped to keep my voyage as secret. As per usual, Duke," Nankyokukai spoke scathingly, "You manage to ruin everything."
The Duke sneered, "I'm not the one breaking political treaties, Prince."
"Pretend for one second that your stupid country has nothing to do with anything. I am on a mission for my father, nothing
more or less." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]