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Else raised an eyebrow.
Renfrew said, "That's what I want to work out here." "I can but listen. I'm
without power." Renfrew sneered. "You're the damn warlord of the Patriarchy.
And, God knows why, the fair-haired, shining adopted son of the number-three
man in the Brotherhood of War, who was the secret pride and indulgence of his
illegitimate father. Who, with Osa Stile whispering in his ear, will probably
become your great patron in Brothen politics."
Else said, "You seem flustered. Who's Osa Stile?"
Renfrew glared. After a moment, he said, "You're so
damned stubborn, you're beginning to wear me down. Osa
Stile would be Principal Delari's catamite. The one who used
to sleep with Bishop Serifs." j
"Ah. The boy Armand. You've lost me again." ]
"You're gaming. I don't want to play. Listen. If Lothar Ege should somehow
slip through Sublime's fingers, the Grail Empire would be forever grateful."
"Gratitude has a short shelf life. Did it keep well Ifd never have left
home. And would be dead now. Fighting in the Grand Marsh will be extremely
cruel. Rumor has the ice moving in fast." He could not resist retelling his
imaginary history to the one man who was sure it was false.
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"Enough. You know what Johannes's word was worth.
You're a professional, methodical sort. You pay attention."
Else grunted a positive. j
"Johannes is gone but I'm not" |
"The people who interest you are in the smallest infirmary hut. There's also
several there who wouldn't interest you but whose disappearance would confuse
somebody trying to work out what happened."
Renfrew steepled his hands, fingertips to his lips^ briefly. "So if a band
of Praman commandos snatches everybody some night, the gaggle of Principates
you've got here might be mystified for a while."
"And the Grail Emperor would owe me in a big way." Renfrew nodded. "The
balance would tilt in your favor." "You'd want to time your move. Some
powerful men here have almost unrestricted access to the Night. While Imperial
forces don't seem to have anything going there."
Renfrew muttered, "Go teach your grandmother to suck eggs." "You might also
work on people who're making trouble for
Hansel's girls." That startled Renfrow. He eyed Else narrowly, trying to get a
handle on what lay behind that remark. Else suggested, "A diversion might be
useful, too." "Don't get overly enthusiastic about responding." "I won't.
Given a choice."
ELSE WAS CAUGHT NAPPING WHEN THE RAID DID COME. HE had given up anticipating
it Renfrow struck only after the camp was completely chaotic with preparations
to head north. At first it seemed to be a desperate Praman attempt to steal
food.
Renfrew's agents had done a good job of reconnoitering. Else tucked that
knowledge away for future reflection.
Three of the men captured with Lothar Ege could not handle the stress of
flight. They died before the raiders cleared the camp. Likewise, two of the
Praman nobles. Neither Special Office Brother from Runch survived. The raiders
made no effort to see that anyone but Lothar came through still breathing.
Else was pleased with himself. He had managed that quite smoothly.
He began to look ahead, counting me days till the army reached Brothe. He
had the regular courier carry a message to Anna Mozilla.
41. Back to the Dark Womb
S
vavar ran in an endless blur of mantis legs, only vaguely aware of terrified
animals and gaping peasants. Night fell, day came and went, night fell. Rivers
and mountains appeared ahead and fell behind. A week passed before hunger and
exhaustion overcame him. Only then did reason return.
He returned to his native form: Asgrimmur Grimmsson. Naked. Shivering in the
cold mat gripped modern Freisland year round. In his Svavar form he was not
much more man the
iHti riKAisiNy uh nib mum i fyy
Svavar that always was though his senses were heightened and his mind was
clearer and a little faster. And he understood that he was now vastly more
than Asgrimmur Grimmsson, pirate and plunderer. He was a new form of terror
entirely.
Freisland had changed. The new religion had turned the people into
whimpering old women. Naked and unarmed, he still had little trouble taking [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]