The Dragon of Despair (85 page)

“My lord,” Melina began seriously, “I have learned of that which hints at a plot to undermine you, perhaps through me. Most certainly Apheros’s government is in danger.”

Toriovico dropped her hand and lowered himself into a chair.

“What?”

“My lord, a man who had been spying upon those same Hawk Havenese who brought Citrine to us came to me hoping to sell information. I agreed to listen and he told me that one of Apheros’s Three was seen meeting with these foreigners.”

“Which one?” Toriovico asked.

“Xarxius.”

“My sweet,” the Healed One replied, his tone a trace condescending, “Xarxius is responsible for our trade with other nations. It is part of his usual duties to deal with foreigners.”

“Then why did Xarxius go to his meeting disguised? My lord, I fear something more than trade was under discussion. I would like you to support me in having Xarxius brought for questioning.”

The Healed One looked very grave, and for a moment Melina actually thought Toriovico would refuse her. She chided herself for spending so much time away from him—this was the one bond she should never risk weakening. Then, to her relief, the Healed One nodded.

“Very well, if Apheros agrees. Remember, his advisors are not mine to choose.”

“But they are yours to dismiss,” Melina said, “if they act in a fashion of which you do not approve. True?”

“True,” Toriovico replied. “Will you go to Apheros next?”

“In your company, my lord. I would never overstep my place.”

“Then I must shower and otherwise prepare myself,” Toriovico said. “It is barely permissible that I call upon my dearest wife in this state.”

Toriovico rose and Melina crossed to him, rising up on her toes to kiss him on one cheek.

“I will request a meeting with Apheros,” she said.

“Very good,” Toriovico replied.

He sketched a bow and left with flattering speed.

Melina smiled and glanced over at her notes. A pause to clip the Dragon’s Claws, then back to her true work. She smiled, hearing the rush of flames light her imagination.

DISBELIEF MINGLED WITH HORRIFIED SHOCK
flooded Toriovico’s heart as he listened to Melina’s words. Xarxius discovered? Melina’s spy web so thorough? More than ever, he resolved that this Consolor who insisted at playing queen would not rule his land in his stead.

However, his hands were tied. If he took action against Melina now she could claim he was insane. Those who followed her would support her most outrageous claims—especially with such evidence as his apparent paranoia regarding his own wife to support them. He didn’t doubt that Tipi, among others, would supply ample evidence. Toriovico needed more information, proof that would sing out no matter how many of the higher-ranking members of the Primes Melina held in thrall. She could not hold them all, of that he was certain.

With new insight, Toriovico praised the enormously cumbersome government the First Healed One had designed. It might have been originally intended to slow the New Kelvinese’s ability to become a power that could challenge the Founders, but had their land possessed a simple monarchy as did Hawk Haven or even an oligarchy like that which reigned in Waterland, New Kelvin would already have been doomed by this unanticipated threat.

Or perhaps the threat of a single powerful, charismatic leader had not been unanticipated by the First Healed One. Wasn’t that what had led to the fragmentation of the Gildcrest colony across the White Water? Who knew what history the Old Country possessed that would have given the First Healed One warning?

UNSURPRISINGLY, THE DRAGON SPEAKER
“just happened” to have a few meetings he could reschedule to make time for the Healed One and his Consolor. In the five years of his reign, Torio had never requested such an interruption to the Dragon Speaker’s schedule, so it was not unreasonable that the Dragon Speaker would hurry to honor his request now. However, with his fresh awareness of the extent of Melina’s influence, Toriovico found Apheros’s haste to cooperate rather sinister.

When Torio and Melina arrived in the Dragon Speaker’s private office, Xarxius was there before them. He and Apheros were calmly discussing the projected wool harvest, but halted politely as soon as the Healed One and his Consolor came through the door.

As formal greetings were exchanged, Toriovico couldn’t help but notice how Apheros’s gaze, animated and direct when they had entered the room, was now grown still and calm. The Dragon Speaker did not stare at Melina, but his gaze strayed to her periodically, as a dancer uncertain of his steps might look toward the choreographer for guidance.

“How may I be of service to my rulers?” the Dragon Speaker inquired when the greeting ritual had ended.

Melina, in the company of two she believed puppets and one she suspected was an enemy, spoke with more bluntness than tact.

“Apheros, I want Xarxius to explain why he was seen at the Hawk Haven embassy.”

Xarxius replied directly to her, although in proper form he should have spoken to Apheros. As a member of the Three, one of Xarxius’s rights was to answer to the Dragon Speaker and to no one else—though the Dragon Speaker was required to answer for his Three if the Healed One so demanded.

Toriovico silently cursed Xarxius’s lack of caution. Xarxius should observe the forms lest he give away too much of what he knew about Melina’s influence in the court.

The Dragon’s Claw’s words showed a caution his manner of address did not, so perhaps he realized his error.

“I went there to negotiate trade,” Xarxius replied. “Such is my responsibility.”

His tone was just a trace condescending as if to say “But a foreigner like you couldn’t be expected to know that.”

Toriovico saw that Melina heard Xarxius’s scorn and that it stung, but she did not react.

“Trade?” she said. “Apheros, I want Xarxius to explain why he went to discuss trade with Lady Elise Archer and Derian Carter. They are no great merchants such as would deserve his attention.”

Xarxius again replied directly to Melina, bypassing Apheros.

“They have the ear of King Tedric,” he said, his scorn even more evident, “and of the king’s heirs. In the not too distant future, they will be important. A wise government should cultivate such potential allies now rather than later.”

The Dragon’s Claw’s tone added, “As you would know if you knew anything,” and Melina shifted restively.

Her next question was addressed directly to Xarxius.

“Tell me, then, why you disguised yourself to go to this meeting if the circumstances were so direct and without reproach. Why did you change litters so that the bearers who carried you to the embassy would not know your identity?”

Xarxius replied, “Since your marriage to our great and glorious Healed One, O Consolor, there has been much anger among some segments of our population—many of whom believe that a foreigner should not be permitted such privileges. Since you have remained almost completely sequestered here in the Earth Spires that anger has been taken out on representatives of your natal country. I did not wish to be seen going to the Hawk Haven embassy for that reason.”

“Because you feared for your safety?” Melina sneered.

“Let us say that was so,” Xarxius agreed.

Toriovico observed Apheros stirring and looking less than happy during this last exchange. After a moment, he realized why.

Xarxius is doing it on purpose!
he thought with barely hidden glee.
He is trying to make Apheros angry that his privileges are being infringed upon—that Melina is ignoring his importance. Politics are Apheros’s dance, the force at the core of his heart, and Xarxius hopes to use those instincts to break Melina’s hold upon him.

Barely daring to breathe lest he somehow interfere with Xarxius’s design, Toriovico listened as Melina snapped out her next question.

“So, fearful for your safety lest the populace see you performing your duties, you went to the Hawk Haven embassy in disguise and using various litters. What business did these two striplings wish to discuss with you?”

Apheros frowned.

“Lady Archer and Counselor Derian,” he reproved with a dry cough.

Melina stiffened, then nodded. She turned to Apheros and Toriovico felt his heart sink.

“Of course, Dragon Speaker,” Melina replied with silky respect. “I forgot. I have known Elise Archer since she was an infant. She was even engaged to my son, Jet. It is difficult to remember that such infants grow into young baronesses.”

Apheros’s smile had once again become fatuous and agreeable.

“As long as you understand, Consolor,” he said in the fond tones of a teacher reproving a favored pupil, “that we must always be respectful of our neighbors, no matter how we think of them in private.”

“Yes, Dragon Speaker.”

Very carefully, Melina directed her next question to Apheros.

“Dragon Speaker, I wonder what business these foreign emissaries, favorites of their monarch and his heirs, had with your Dragon’s Claw.”

Apheros glowered at Xarxius, and Toriovico saw the unspoken sorrow in Xarxius’s hound-dog eyes. He, too, knew his attempt had failed.

“In addition to matters of trade,” Xarxius said, “they wished me to inquire as to the return of Lady Archer’s ward, Citrine Shield.”

“And what did you tell them?”

“I said I would make inquiries.”

“Ah.”

The single syllable was potent with emotion but gave away no information. Clearly, Melina had realized how her own anger had endangered her. Whether or not she also realized how Xarxius had deliberately triggered that anger, Toriovico could not tell.

“Apheros,” she said after a long pause, “is it right that Xarxius should be trading in human flesh?”

“No,” the Dragon Speaker replied sternly, “not if that human is a citizen of Hawk Haven. It has long been our law to trade only in what our trade partners agree is legal.”

“So in agreeing to make inquiries, Xarxius has overstepped his prerogatives?”

“It is as you say, Consolor.”

Xarxius didn’t protest. Toriovico knew that Xarxius had made his effort. They both knew that what came next would have nothing to do with law or rights. It would have everything to do with what Melina desired. She only had to find the correct veneer of legality for her wishes so that Apheros would not question his agreement with her.

Melina was about to speak again when Xarxius said in a rather dreamy tone of voice.

“They also inquired after two members of their party who have been missing for many days now. One is Lord Kestrel, son and heir of the duchess who rules the western reaches across the White Water River. The other posed as a New Kelvinese guide called Jalarios, but in reality this man was the former Dragon’s Eye, Grateful Peace. I made inquires after these men, but they are nowhere to be found.”

Toriovico swore in astonished surprise, though his reasons were doubtless quite different from what an observer might deduce. Xarxius had clearly taken this opportunity to pass on information Toriovico must have. Grateful Peace here in New Kelvin, but Xarxius had been unable to locate him? What might that mean? Where might the former Dragon’s Eye be?

Melina hardly glanced at Xarxius and Toriovico knew this must be because she too had something to conceal. Surely it would be reasonable for her to express some indignation at the return of a confirmed traitor. Instead, with glacial calm she turned her attention once more to Apheros.

“More trading in human lives,” she said indignantly. “Does the Dragon Speaker keep one who violates the law in his service? I should think not!”

“I think not,” Apheros echoed sternly.

Torio couldn’t help but notice how, now that Melina had found another excuse to attack Xarxius, the question of treasonous plotting against the Dragon Speaker had suddenly vanished. She was far too clever to use anything that might show to her own detriment if other opportunities presented themselves.

Apheros tugged at a bell-pull and two guards entered.

“Take Xarxius away. I have found him in violation of the law and of his duties. This is a matter to take before the Primes.”

Melina interjected quickly, “Surely you must do some further investigation before troubling the Primes.”

“Indeed,” Apheros snapped, his voice decisive. “Xarxius is to be restricted to his personal quarters with no visitors and no servants. His food is to be…”

Toriovico listened as routine security precautions were outlined to the startled guards. His gaze rested on Xarxius with what he hoped was an expression of mild interest, and he saw the other man’s slight smile.

Torio inclined his head, a marginal bow of acknowledgment.

I understand,
the Healed One thought, wishing he could say more.
Grateful Peace and Edlin Norwood are Melina’s prisoners or you would have located them already. As her enemies, they may be my friends. In any case, they are too valuable to be left in her hands. Peace alone is a mine of information, information Melina must not have.

When the guards departed with Xarxius, Melina began issuing orders—always phrased as suggestions, but orders nonetheless—as to how the case against Xarxius should be constructed. Taking his lead from Apheros, Toriovico spoke when spoken to and listened for cues in Melina’s own words as to how and in what manner he should reply.