Betrayals (12 page)

“I think I’ll ask why the rest of the Advisors haven’t come with them,” Kambil mused aloud. “I’m certain it’s because the rest of the Advisors were under Zolind’s control and therefore don’t want us Seated, but I’d like to make sure. It would be a shame to do away with people we might be able to make use of instead.”

The others chuckled, understanding exactly what he meant. Once they were Seated and had taken up residence in the palace, Zolind’s most loyal supporters would be seen to one at a time until there were none of them left. And the empty seats would not be refilled, not until they decided on the replacements. Letting the Advisors themselves choose their own membership had brought a lot of deadwood to their ranks, so from now on Kambil and his Blending would take care of the matter.

“Gentles, I have the privilege to announce a number of members of the Advisory Board,” a servant appeared to say, looking properly impressed as he bowed them into the room. Kambil rose to his feet to bow in supposed respect, making Delin do the same as the others followed suit of their own volition. It would be necessary to remember to make Delin move around a bit more than usual, just to keep their visitors from becoming suspicious.

“Well, I see that what we were told is quite true,” the apparent leader of the twelve, Lord Velim Shoons, announced with the most hollow joviality Kambil had ever heard. “Our new Blending is still in their former residence rather than at the palace preparing for the Seating ceremony. We must discover the person or persons responsible for this affront to them, and have them properly punished.”

The men who had arrived with Lord Velim murmured their supposedly full agreement, doing no better with the charade than their spokesman. Velim was beyond middle years and rather stout, just as most of his fellows were, with thinning blond hair streaked with gray. Kambil had never met the man personally before, but observation from a distance had shown him to be one of those who reacted rather than thought. It was said that Zolind had allowed Velim his seat on the beard because the man was easy to manipulate, then had regretted the choice when Zolind’s political opponents found manipulating the man just as easy. “Lord Velim, this is a great honor,” Kambil said with another bow, seeing the fool’s chest swell over being recognized. “But I’m afraid I don’t understand. We were told returning to our residence was standard procedure, as arrangements had to be made for us at the palace. Wasn’t the truth?”

“Not entirely,” Velim said with the broad smile of a man who suddenly believes he’s found people he can control. “The five of you couldn’t be expected to know any better, of course, but no real harm’s been done. We’re here to escort you to the palace personally, while the servants pack your things. The coaches should be here at any moment, so if you would be so good as to ready yourselves …?” The man’s words actually ended in a half question, as though he’d already forgotten that he was supposed to be in control. Kambil exchanged happy glances with the others as they all assured the fool that they would be delighted to get ready to leave, and then they excused themselves in order return to their bedchambers. In actual fact they could have locked out the door that moment, but it would never do to the group of fools know their visit had been expected. Kambil sent Delin to his own bedchamber while he, Kambil went to get a coat, then he followed Delin to the latter’s room. What to do with the man so completely under his control had been a disturbing question in Kambil’s thoughts, the decision he’d come to wasn’t wholly satisfactory. Once at the palace they would each have their own wing, and Delin would have to be as active in his as the others were in their own. At least until the ceremony was over, that is, and they were seated.

“Delin, old fellow, I have some good news for you,” Kambil murmured as he faced the man standing empty-minded in the middle of the floor. “I’m going to bring part you back for a while, as a joke on all those fools down-stairs. You won’t remember everything and you won’t be entirely free of control, but a lot of you will still be back. What do you think of that, hey?”

“Kambil, what’s happening?” Delin said suddenly with confusion, one hand going to his head. “What are we doing here in my bedchamber?”

“We’re getting ready to be escorted to the palace,” Kambil replied, putting concerned worry into his voice. “Don’t you remember that we won the competitions, and now we’re to be Seated as the new Five? I agreed to wait for you out in the hall while you got your coat, but when you didn’t appear I came looking for you. You haven’t had another blackout spell, have you?”

“No, no, of course not,” Delin assured him hastily with a forced smile. “I’ve just been preoccupied lately, so I haven’t been paying the closest attention. Who did you say was here to escort us to the palace?”

“Twelve of the Advisors, led by Lord Velim Shoons,” Kambil supplied smoothly. “Don’t you remember how they marched into the sitting room downstairs, all but holding out their hands with their Advisor’s rings like talismans in front of them? Most of them are extremely nervous about being this close to us, but they came anyway because they believe their political positions depend on it.”

“And they’ll do anything necessary to maintain themselves in place,” Delin said, nodding even as he sneered. “But as long as they’re determined to see us Seated, we shouldn’t be too critical, should we? Well, let’s not keep them waiting.”

He walked to the wardrobe where his coat hung and took it out, looking as though he hadn’t a care in the world. Kambil, who felt his confusion and fright clearly, knew better, but certainly wasn’t about to comment. A confused and frightened Delin would be a cautious Delin, asking no questions that would betray his weakness. Kambil would keep very close tabs on him to be sure he remained cautious, but for the rest of the time Delin would again be on his own.

They walked downstairs together, where their three groupmates waited with three of the Advisors. The other nine had returned to their carriages to wait, they were informed, mostly to keep the new Five from feeling outnumbered. They all chuckled dutifully at the joke, then went out to climb into their own coaches. Velim and the other two Advisors chose to ride in their carriage rather than join them in the coaches, to make sure they didn’t “crowd” the Five. Kambil smiled and thanked them for their concern, making no mention of the fact that they’d lied through their teeth.

“Who did they think they were fooling?” Bron asked once he and Kambil and Delin were settled in one of the coaches. “They’re obviously terrified of us, and probably wish they were anywhere but here.”

“They have reason to be terrified of us,” Delin murmured with very obvious satisfaction, gazing out of the window at the nearest Advisor-filled carriage. “Most of them won’t survive our Seating by more than a few days. They were the ones who allowed their underlings to throw our lives away, putting us in a position where our own people would destroy us even if our opponents didn’t. One doesn’t forgive something like that, not until it’s been fully revenged.”

“Which it will be,” Kambil said, exchanging a glance with Bron. It was annoying to have to put up with Delin’s madness again, but it would only be for a short while. After that Delin would sit quietly in his apartments when he wasn’t needed for the Blending, and his servants would be adjusted to the point of seeing nothing odd in his behavior. Until then the man could simply be agreed with, which would avoid awkward confrontations.

With one Advisor-filled carriage leading the way and the other two following the coaches, they really did make a procession of their trip to the palace. The gate guards came to attention as the vehicles passed, making no effort to stop any of them. They’d obviously been warned in advance of the arrival, as had the palace staff. Dozens of them lined the approach to the main entrance, the rest undoubtedly lined up near the areas of their various duties. It would have been unwieldy having the hundreds of servants all waiting in the same place to greet their new superiors; dozens made the approach crowded enough, leaving barely enough room for the carriages and coaches.

They left the coaches to the applause of their audience, too much of which Kambil found to be either simply for form’s sake or actually hiding hostility. He hadn’t realized that that many palace workers would be displeased and disillusioned, but maybe the reaction was due to their predecessors. As soon as possible he would walk about and get to know some of the servants involved, and in that way would find out if there was anything which needed the attention of the Blending.

The group of Advisors escorted them to the area where the Five’s individual wings began, but not simply for form’s sake.

“Those servants will introduce themselves later,” Velim said with a vague wave meant to indicate the five separate groups of servants. “Before they show you around your new domains, though, we’d appreciate a few minutes of your time.”

“Of course,” Delin responded with distant superiority thinly covered by a charming smile. “In which of our wings would you prefer the meeting to be?”

“There’s a sitting room right here, meant to be used for purposes such as this,” Velim responded, indicating a doorway half a dozen steps short of the area of divergence. “We’ve arranged for tea and cakes to be provided, and if you desire anything else you need only ask for it.”

“If we desire anything else, we certainly shall,” Delin allowed regally, then led the way toward the sitting room. Kambil joined the others in following, happier now about having had to restore Delin. The man knew nothing about what they’d done since returning to the residence after the final competition, so whatever Velim wanted to “discuss” would come as a surprise to the man. Even though Kambil suspected he already knew what the Advisor had in mind….

The “sitting room” turned out to be a good deal larger than ordinary, more like a conference room with easy chairs and no table than like anything else. Five of the chairs stood together in a row facing all the rest, and Delin headed directly for the set of five. Kambil let him seat himself in the center chair before sitting down beside him, then they all took a moment to tell the servants how they liked their tea. After another moment the small army of servants had brought their tea and left, and Velim cleared his throat.

“As I said earlier, we apologize for the unconscionable delay in bringing you here,” he began, obviously trying not to sound tense and nervous. “To make up for the unintended slight, we’ve arranged for you to move directly into your various wings of the palace, and the Seating ceremony has been scheduled for tomorrow morning. Anyone of any importance will certainly be there, and two days after that we’ll hold the public ceremony.”

“Won’t the current Seated Five be annoyed at having to share their wings?” Delin asked after sipping his tea. “And I do hate to be indelicate, but it’s impossible to miss the fact that Advisor Zolind isn’t among you. Does he intend to repair his absence now by coming to the ceremony tomorrow, or will he be ‘regrettably detained’ the way he clearly was today?”

“There is—ah—sad news where Lord Zolind is concerned,” Velim replied after exchanging a glance with one of his brother Advisors. “Last night our good friend passed away, apparently from heart failure. His send-off cremation is tonight, which is why the Seating ceremony has been delayed until tomorrow.”

“That’s distressing news,” Kambil said as the others exclaimed in shock, only Delin’s surprise being real. “Advisor Zolind worked with us through most of the time of the competition, and we upheld our end of the bargain we made with him. I assume that your being here means you’re prepared to uphold his end for him?”

“Ah—we’ll have to discuss that agreement at another time,” Velim hedged, suddenly and momentarily panic-stricken. He obviously knew nothing about a bargain, and Kambil could see that he wanted it to remain like that. If it hadn’t been the perfect way to lever concessions from the Advisors, Kambil might have been willing to forget about the nonexistent bargain himself. As it was …

“You still haven’t answered my question about the outgoing Five,” Delin prompted, only partially recovered from the shock of learning about Zolind’s death. “You seem to have given us freedom of their wings, which, I’ve been told, only they can give. Are we likely to have to defend ourselves from them, or does the invitation come from them rather than from you?”

“Neither, actually,” Velim admitted after exchanging another glance with the same crony. “The fact is the previous Five have already left, apparently being anxious to begin some new plans of their own. They seemed to have expected to be able to leave as soon as the competitions were over, and decided not to change their intentions just because your group wasn’t immediately brought to the palace. They took only a very small amount of personal possessions with them, so don’t be afraid that they stripped their wings. I’m sure they’ll send for the rest of their possessions as soon as they’re settled elsewhere….”

“I dislike saying this, but I’m afraid I’m beginning to grow uneasy,” Kambil announced slowly when Velim’s voice trailed off. It was sight of Delin’s now obvious shock which had caused the ending of the Advisor’s maunderings, and Kambil had been waiting to take advantage of the moment.

“Surely you see why I would be uneasy,” Kambil continued, projecting disturbance as he looked from one uncomfortable Advisor to another. “First you tell us that Advisor Zolind is gone, and now you say that the previous Five are gone as well. I have no idea what’s happening here, but I’m afraid ‘uneasy’ was much too understated a choice of words. I hope everyone understands that we will defend ourselves if necessary?”

Many of the Advisors began to assure him immediately that that would not be necessary, including a brow-mopping Velim. The gist of the comments was that nothing was happening, nothing but a string of odd occurrences. Some of them even seemed to believe that, but most of them were frightened and worried. Kambil was delighted to see that, of course, but made sure not to let his expression reflect that delight.

“Well, I believe it’s time for us to go,” Velim said as he rose to his feet, the others quickly following his example. “Would you like us to escort you back out to the beginning of your respective wings?”