The Phoenix Guards Read online

  “But you have heard what he said, and the Orb showed no falsehood.”

  “Well, but perhaps your Excellency didn’t question him as thoroughly as she could have. Perhaps they sought a quarrel with Kurich for just the purpose of finding an excuse to kill him.”

  “Nevertheless, it is true that, if it was a fair fight, my poor brother would have not wished the lady to be held accountable as if it were murder.”

  “Bah,” said G’aereth once more. “Come, Excellency, ask about the cause of the quarrel, then we will know everything, and there will be no more doubts on any subject.”

  Lytra bit her lip, but at last she said, “Well, then, Cavalier Khaavren, what did Tazendra and Kurich quarrel about?”

  “Excellency, Tazendra happened to disturb Kurich while he was on duty guarding a private conversation between yourself and—”

  “That will do.”

  “How,” said G’aereth, “you do not wish him to complete his thought?”

  “We have our answer.”

  “And yet, I am curious.”

  “Oh, but it has no bearing—”

  “Well,” said Tortaalik, “if it comes to it, I am curious, too. Finish what you were saying, young man.”

  Khaavren bowed, took a deep breath, and said, “a private conversation between the lady Lytra and Garland’s master.”

  The Emperor frowned. “Garland’s master? That is to say, me?”

  “No, Sire.”

  “How, Garland had another master than me?”

  “Yes, Sire.”

  “Who?”

  “The lady Seodra.”

  “How, Seodra? My chief advisor?”

  “Yes, Sire.”

  “What do you tell me?”

  “That Garland obeyed the orders of Seodra.”

  “What orders?”

  Lytra said, “Sire—”

  “Hold your tongue, Lytra,” said the Emperor. “Sir Khaavren, I say again, what orders?”

  “Why, the same orders she gave Count Shaltre.”

  “She gave orders to Count Shaltre?”

  “Orders, or requests for help in her intrigues, Sire; I am not always aware of the differences.”

  Tortaalik stared at the Orb, but it was emitting a pure red glow of truth.

  “What sort of orders, then?”

  “Such as the order to allow my friends and myself to be killed by the Easterners, Sire.”

  “What Easterners?”

  “The ones who invaded Pepperfield.”

  “How, Easterners invaded Pepperfield?”

  “Yes, Sire, it is as I have had the honor to tell your Majesty.”

  “Impossible,” said Lytra, who was, this time, truly astounded.

  G’aereth shrugged. “The Orb cannot be fooled,” he said complacently.

  “But then,” said Tortaalik, “was there no one to stop the invasion?”

  “There was Lord Adron, Sire, who had brought with him an army with which to capture us, and then wished to fight the Easterners.”

  “Well, and it was well thought. Did he then, engage them?”

  “He was prevented, Sire.”

  “How, prevented? By whom?”

  “Lord Garland and Count Shaltre, who had been given power over him, and used it to keep him from engaging the Easterners.”

  “What power?”

  “I believe it was a piece of paper with Your Majesty’s seal.”

  “Ah, the Horse, that is true. They ordered him not to fight the Easterners?”

  “As I have had the honor to inform Your Majesty.”

  “But then, why?”

  “Because they wished to allow the Easterners to kill us.”

  “To kill you? For what reason?”

  “Because we were bringing Kathana e’Marish’Chala back with us, and this disrupted their plans.”

  “What plans?”

  “To see to it that the e’Kieron line was not given the estate of Pepperfields.”

  “Why should they care which line of Dragons is given the estate?”

  “Because they, that is, Seodra, had made bargains with certain Dragonlords.”

  “What sort of bargains?”

  “Ones that would allow her to remain in power as Your Majesty’s advisor, and would, moreover, embroil the Empire in a war over the diamond mines.”

  Tortaalik shook his head as if to clear it, and studied the Orb once more, but it continued to argue the truth of Khaavren’s words. At last he said, “So, then, Lord Adron did not attack the Easterners?”

  “He wished to, but, once he saw the orders from Your Majesty’s hands, he could not disobey.”

  Tortaalik wiped sweat off his forehead with the cuff of his golden robe. “So, then, Lord Adron withdrew?”

  “No, Sire.”

  “He did not? But, why?”

  “Because then, Sire, Aerich accused Shaltre of treason, which gave him grounds to challenge him, and he further accused Garland of the same.”

  “And that is when Shaltre attacked him?”

  “And when Garland ran off, yes, Sire.”

  “Well, and then Adron attacked the Easterners?”

  “Oh, by then it was unnecessary.”

  “How, unnecessary?”

  “We had concluded a peace agreement, saving only Your Majesty’s willingness to partake in it.”

  Tortaalik stared at this complacent young Tiassa who was announcing these amazing things as if he spoke of matters of no importance. “A peace agreement?”

  “Yes, Sire. With the Empire.”

  “Of what sort?”

  “That we would no longer raid their country for horses, that they would no longer invade, that we would allow them to grow peppers, and—”

  “Yes, and—?”

  “That they would deliver to us the county of Sandyhome.”

  “What? And they agreed to this?”

  “As I have the honor to inform your Majesty.”

  “But, who concluded this agreement?”

  “I had that honor, Sire.”

  “What? You negotiated this peace?”

  Khaavren bowed.

  “And for this, you were arrested?”

  “No, Sire, we were arrested to make sure we didn’t tell Your Majesty of what we had done, because that would have compromised Seodra to Your Majesty. She therefore caused Lanmarea to have us arrested and, moreover, to keep us silent.”

  “Which was why,” put in G’aereth, “the orders were that the prisoners could speak to no one, and why, had it not been for our good fortune, Pel’s cleverness, and Your Majesty’s willingness to hear the case, these brave souls would have died without ever being able to tell you of the peace they had concluded.”

  Tortaalik was, by this time, shaking. He said, “Well, is that all?”

  “Nearly,” said Khaavren.

  “What, there is more?”

  “Only this: Lord Garland never delivered the letter to Lord Adron from your Majesty, which is why he did not return with us. We found the letter in Garland’s pouch, which he left behind when he ran.”

  “Then, Lord Adron is coming?”

  “He asked us to beg his excuses for a short time, Sire, for he was just setting out for the city, as Your Majesty commanded, when he was informed of the birth of his first child.”

  “Ah, ah,” said the Emperor. “Well, that is worth a little delay.”

  Khaavren bowed. “I am glad Your Majesty thinks so.”

  The Emperor then turned to Lytra. “And you,” he said. “What have you to say to all of this?”

  Lytra had, during Khaavren’s speech, been growing more and more pale, until, by the end, she looked the way G’aereth had a few minutes before. But she said, “Sire, it is true that I have been involved with Seodra in attempting to win the Pepperfield estates for my line, but I assure your Majesty that I had no notion that she had gone so far. I will happily testify under the Orb, if you wish.”

  “That is exactly my desire,” said Tortaalik co
ldly. Lytra bowed.

  G’aereth said, “I beg leave to point out to Your Majesty that Her Excellency was instrumental in bringing these prisoners before Your Majesty, rather than allowing them to be killed unheard.”

  “Hmmm. That is true. Very well, Lytra, we will, for now, accept that you are innocent of treason.”

  “Thank you, Sire,” she said, giving G’aereth a look full of gratitude.

  “Well, then,” said the Emperor, “call in your friends.”

  Aerich, Tazendra, Pel, Uttrik, and Kathana were brought in, and Tortaalik said, “Well, my friends, you have been busy, haven’t you?”

  They bowed, not knowing what to say.

  “I caution you, however, concerning the matter of history.”

  “History, Sire?” said Pel.

  “Yes, indeed. I wish to be remembered as a great Emperor. Well, if you continue doing the sorts of things you’ve been doing, The Horse, no one will remember me at all.” He laughed. “Come now, here are your swords back; I had taken the precaution of having them brought in case they would be needed, and, in faith, I’m glad I did. Put them on, you look naked without them.”

  “Thank you, Sire,” they said, and hastened to do as he had asked. “In faith,” said Tazendra, strapping her greatsword over her back, “I felt naked without it.”

  “Sire,” said Kathana, “even me?”

  “Ah, yes. Well, in your case, Baroness, I have had to consider.”

  “I will be honored to hear the results of your Majesty’s considerations.”

  “This is it, then: you are pardoned, on the condition that you serve fifty-seven years in the Phoenix Guards; which should not be much of a hardship, as you seem to have some friends there.”

  “Your Majesty is wise as well as merciful,” said Kathana, bowing her face both from respect and because his Majesty’s decision had filled her with emotion.

  “Well, and the rest of you, as you have gathered, you are held innocent of all charges, and are free from this moment.”

  “Thank you, Sire,” they said with one voice.

  “And, as it is my wish that you should drink to my health, here,” dug around his pockets and found a purse, which he handed to Khaavren. “I give you these ten Imperials in the hopes that you will drink my health many times in the days to come, for I shall be drinking yours before the entire court.”

  He silenced their protestations of thanks with a gesture, and said, “That is all, that is all. But, apropos, keep your ears to the sky, and your eyes to the ground, as the Hawks say, for you will be hearing from me.”

  Once outside the chamber, Khaavren was at once asked to detail all that had transpired with his Majesty.

  “There is time for that later,” he said.

  “You mean,” said Tazendra, “when we have returned home?”

  “Yes, but I don’t mean to return home directly.”

  “Well, and why not?” said Uttrik.

  “Because, my friends, we are not yet finished.”

  “How, there is more to be done?” said Tazendra.

  “Indeed there is.”

  Uttrik laughed. “Let us be about it then; in faith, at this moment I should be willing to battle the Enchantress of Dzur Mountain.”

  “Well,” said Khaavren, “you may not be far from doing so. Come with me; I will explain as we walk.”

  “But,” said Tazendra, “to where are we walking?”

  “Why, through these doors, and up this stairway.”

  “Which leads?”

  “To another stairway.”

  “Well, and then?”

  “And then, down a pretty little hallway.”

  Tazendra shrugged, as if realizing that she was not to get an answer to her question, and should resign herself to waiting for it. When they arrived, Khaavren said, “Remember, all of you, that the countersign will be, ‘Crionofenarr.”’

  “Countersign?” said Tazendra.

  “Hush,” said Khaavren. “You will understand all soon enough.”

  Khaavren came to a door, and, desiring his friends to remain hidden for the moment, he clapped. The door was opened by a rather young chambermaid, who inquired what he could want.

  “To see your mistress.”

  “Well, and whom should I announce?”

  “A messenger.”

  “From?”

  “From a certain Jhereg, whose name I am unwilling to give, but with whom I am certain she is acquainted.”

  “Very well, I will deliver this message.”

  In less time than it takes to tell of it, the Athyra came to the door, and, judging by her countenance, her ire had been roused. Upon seeing Khaavren, who had placed his cloak out of sight beside the door, she said, “What sort of game is Fayaavik playing, to send a messenger to me, here?”

  At which Khaavren bowed, saying, “Fayaavik? Thanks, madam, that is all I wished to know.”

  He bowed again and made as if to leave, but Seodra called him back, saying, “Who are you?”

  “How, you don’t know me?”

  “Not the least in the world.”

  “You have had me threatened, beaten, nearly assassinated, and brought me within an inch of the Executioner’s Star, and yet you do not know my countenance?”

  Her eyes grew wide. “You are—”

  “Khaavren, madam.”

  Her eyes narrowed, and she looked like some sort of loathsome beast as she raised her hands as if she would cast a spell on the Tiassa, but at that moment, Aerich appeared next to him, while Tazendra, Pel, Uttrik, and Kathana took positions behind him.

  “Gently, madam,” said Khaavren, drawing his blade. “I should hate to have to taint my sword with your blood.”

  Seodra looked at the numbers ranged against her, and the grim expressions on their faces, and realized that her position was hopeless. Khaavren forced her back, and the companions entered her apartments. “Well,” he said. “We had thought to leave after having learned what we wished to learn, but it is clear that you cannot be trusted. No matter. This gentleman, the Cavalier Pel, is going to visit your friend Fayaavik with me, while these others will wait for you. When I have repeated to you the countersign, which these gentlemen already know, you will tell them, and they will courteously depart. Do you understand?”

  Seodra glared at him, but only said, “How will you give me the countersign if you are not here?”

  Khaavren pulled a small disk from his pocket. “Why, madam, I will use this charming device, which I took from Lord Garland’s pouch, and which, no doubt he used to ask you how to go about killing me. I am entirely certain that, if I try my utmost, it will direct my thoughts in your direction such that you will hear them. Cha! If it worked across half the continent, it will work across half the city, don’t you think?”

  Seodra gritted her teeth but said nothing. Accordingly, Khaavren took Pel and two of them left the Palace together. Pel said, “Khaavren, you are a great man, I tell you so. But tell me, how are you going to find Fayaavik? Do you know him?”

  Khaavren smiled ingeniously. “I will find him in the easiest possible manner; I will ask you.”

  “How, you pretend I know him?”

  “Perhaps. In any case, you know Jhereg who know him.”

  “You think so?”

  “Well, it is not for nothing that you have spent your turns of duty making friends with every Jhereg in town; you must know something.”

  Pel smiled, “Well, I think you are nearly correct.”

  In fact, it took Pel only a couple of tries before he found someone who was willing to direct them to Fayaavik, who lived, or, at any rate, worked out of a small room above a cabaret on Blind Street. Gold cloaks flashing, they had no trouble gaining admission to him.

  Fayaavik, on seeing the two Guardsmen, was courtesy personified, asking if there were any service he could perform for them.

  “Nothing, I hope,” said Khaavren pleasantly. “But we can perform one for you.”

  “For me? What have I done to d
eserve this honor?”

  “I hope nothing,” said Khaavren. “And, moreover, I hope you will continue to do nothing.”

  The Jhereg, who was no one’s dupe, said, “With respect to what?”

  “With respect to Seodra’s request that you cause to be assassinated his Highness Adron e’Kieron.”

  “What?” cried Fayaavik. “Do you pretend—”

  “Do not trouble yourself to deny it, Sir Jhereg,” said Khaavren. “For we have no interest in hearing your protestations. We have only this to say: If anything happens to his Highness, we will come for you; and if you escape the Justicers, I promise that you will not escape us.”

  This being said, they turned and left, stopping only long enough for Khaavren to make use of the disk in order to reach Seodra and to say to her the word, “Crionofenarr.” After she had repeated it to be certain she had it right, Khaavren and Pel turned toward home.

  Meanwhile, Aerich, Tazendra, Kathana, and Uttrik took their leave of Seodra, and found Mica patiently and confidently awaiting them. They took him back to their house on the Street of the Glass Cutters, where they met up with Khaavren and Pel, who were just arriving.

  Srahi had, to their surprise, kept the house in some semblance of order. They introduced the two Teckla, who looked at other with suspicion, whereupon they left them to work out whatever differences or similarities they might find in each other’s character, after arranging for a pallet for Mica and couches for Uttrik and Kathana, who they insisted be their guests.

  Early the next morning, our friends, that is, those four with whom we began our study, were awakened by a messenger who required their presence at the Dragon Wing, in the closet of Captain G’aereth. They arrived with a promptness that gave credit to their youthful powers of recuperation, and made their report. The Captain, after admitting them, made no mention whatsoever of their journey, except to say that, now that they were back, they ought to resume their duties at once.

  “Well,” said Aerich mildly. “You have, then, a duty for us?”

  “I do, and I expect it to be carried out at once, with dispatch and precision.”

  “We only await your orders, Captain,” said Pel.

  “Then I shall you give you the first of the orders I have received from his Majesty. Here it is.” And he put into Tazendra’s hand, for she happened to be closest, a written order. The Dzur read it, then read it a second time, and yet a third.