306 Jarrod got a chair and installed himself opposite Greylock "Well," he said, "it seems that we'll have to adopt Ragnor's methods "

"Such as7 ' Greylock's voice was wary

"I spent a lot of time with him over the years and he would have seen two, major ways to deal with this, in- timidation or old-fashioned horse-trading "

"I don't approve of intimidation," Greylock said primly

"Then we trade "

"But I haven't got anything to negotiate with," Grey- lock complained

"You would if you were Archmage "

"Yes, but

Jarrod held up a hand "Hear me out Sumner has two major weaknesses He's ambitious and he's a sn.o.b He detests Talisman, we know that He thinks that the country is beneath him and, what's worse, Talisman knows it So, wouldn't it be a mercy for both parties if he moved from there9" Jarrod rocked m the chair, eyes narrowed, and then a thin smile crept up "Ragnor was Mage of Arundel as well as Archmage," he said, "but there's ample precedent for the two posts being held by different people If you offered Sumner Arundel, not only would it get him out of Talisman, but he would be close at hand where you could keep an eye on him "

"What makes you think he would take st9 He's aim- ing for Archmage," Greylock said dubiously

"That's where the sn.o.bbery comes in The man's al- ways l.u.s.ted after a secular t.i.tle He wants to be part of the aristocracy So, if we could persuade Arabella to grant him a Holding, on the condition that he became Mage of Arundel, I think he'd agree "

"You've grown up to be a devious young man, Jar- rod Courtak," Greylock said, but there was an approv- 307.

ing note in his voice "D'you think that Arabella could be persuaded9"

"Ragnor was a father and more to her I think she would want to see his last wish fulfilled "

"You may be right So who becomes Chief Warlock, you1"

"Oh I don't thmk so Dean Handrom would do very well, don't you think^ Besides, with you here and me in Fortress Talisman, who would keep Naxama under control9"

"Quite right So, you become Mage of Paladme, which is a perfectly natural progression, and the ap- pointment of the new Dean of the Collegium would be in m> hands "

"Precisely Confirmation by acclaim "

"Very neat, ' Greylock conceded

"It's probably a good thing that Naxama isn't here I m sure that she would make a strong bid for the Mageship I wouldn't put it past her to throw her lot in with Sumner if he promised it to her "

Greylock's eyes met Jarrod's They were troubled "I wouldn't like to think so after all these years, but you might well be right " He shook his head sadly "It's at times like this that I feel my age I have no stomach for these kinds of plottings "

"Why don't you leave it all to me, sir9 It's best that you stay above the fray anyway "

"Think you can do it9"

"I can certainly try My wife intends to ask for an audience with Arabella We'll just try to move it up to this afternoon If I can convince the Queen, the rest will fall into place "

Greylock thought for a bit, rubbing his forehead with his thumb as if he had a headache He looked up after a while "Very well," he said

308 When Jarrod returned to their rooms, he found Mar- ianna pacing and agitated.

"What's the matter?" he asked, doffing his cloak.

Mananna came to a halt and turned to face him. "It's Joscelyn," she said. "He's missing."

"What do you mean, missing?"

"I went to the Collegium while you were with Grey- lock. I wanted to pay my respects to the Dean and find out how Joscelyn was doing. Handrom said 1 was the one who should be telling him. He never came back after the wedding and Handrom. a.s.sumed he was at home. Whatever are we going to do, Jarrod?" Her eyes were wide and her hands were twisting together.

Jarrod went over and enfolded her in a hug. "I'll send a bunglebird to Stronta and have the Outpost organize a search. I think you should send one to Gwyndryth and have them do the same, just in case he's in the area. I'd go looking myself, but we can't leave until after the fu- neral and besides, I don't know where to look. Now, you must stay calm. He's a big boy and he knows how to look after himself."

"He's only fifteen," she reminded him.

"We weren't much older when we went looking for the unicorns, and we survived."

"What would make him do such a thing?" she de- manded.

"At that age, who knows? Perhaps he was unhappy at the idea of your getting married again. There's no point playing guessing games. Let's go and send off the bunglebirds and then we have to get ready for our au- dience with the Queen. Greylock has requested that it be moved up to this afternoon. Now get your cloak and we'll go over to the cote."

The rest of the day pa.s.sed quickly. The audience went well, and Marianna, pleased by their reception, seemed to put her worries behind her. They dined separately 309.

that night, Marianna in the Great Hall and Jarrod at the Collegium. By the time he got back, she was already asleep. He climbed in beside her, but he found it diffi- cult to relax. The residual excitement of the high-level dealings was compounded by Marianna's nearness and worries about the boy. Sleep claimed him eventually and, in the morning, he was doubly rewarded, first by a sleepy but affectionate wife and later by the unani- mous confirmation of Greylock as the next Archmage of Strand.

chaptCR 26

^*4ueen Naxania regarded her image in the looking gla.s.s with disfavor. The spots in the polished tin exac- erbated her disgruntled mood. Arabella should have seen to it that she was better housed. Her suite had the same number of rooms as the one given to Varodias, she had checked on that, but the Emperor's quarters had been newly refurbished whereas the area a.s.signed to her was, to put it mildly, dingy. She turned her head and peered sideways, catching a glimpse of her tiring woman, who was fussing at her robe with a small sponge. She concentrated on her own image. There was an undeniable softening of the jawline and, despite the candlelight and the unreliability of the spotted tin, def- inite crease marks around her eye.

She s.n.a.t.c.hed up her hairbrush and began to pull it through her long black hair. No grey yet, thank the G.o.ds. Her pale skin, fine eyes and her hair gave her allure. She was still beautiful, but she had looked better.

It had been a bad year all around, she concluded. First the rebellion, then turning forty and now Darius. Had he deserted her because she was getting older? He, who should have minded her aging least of all? Men, she thought sourly, were all alike. All they were interested in was young flesh, the new conquest. Darius, to his credit, had proposed marriage, but he must have known that it was impossible. Typically male, making it seem as if the woman were at fault.

311.

"Please hold still, ma'am," the tiring woman said in professionally meek voice. "I cannot get these wrinkles out if you keep moving around."

"A perdition on your wrinkles!" Naxania screamed, swinging around. "Out! Out of my sight. Out, out, out!"

The tiring woman's eyes grew satisfyingly round and she began to back from the presence. Naxania flung the hairbrush at her to hasten her progress- She watched the door close and felt better. She lifted the hem of the purple robe so that it would clear the herbs strewn across the floor and went and retrieved the brush. She squared her shoulders. Every important male on Strand was at Celador. She had her throne and she still had her looks. Perhaps she could cull a proper husband at this funeral. She returned to the looking gla.s.s and re- sumed her brushing.

Her late arrival at the Arundelian capital had back- fired. Instead of her controlling the election, events had pa.s.sed her by. They had not even the grace to wait for her. She slanted her head in the other direction. Grey- lock, as Archmage, was no bad thing for Paladine's prestige, but Courtak as Mage of Paladine as well as Duke of Abercom was a potential disaster for the Crown. If she was barred from the Mageship because she sat on the throne, should not a Mage be barred from being a major va.s.sal? It was unfair. If she had been a man, they would have waited and listened to her arguments. She shook her head and her hair swung, gleaming in the candlelight. She scowled at her reflec- tion. Charming, she told the glowering eyes, remember that you have to be charming. She tired out a smile and even she knew that it lacked warmth.

I am a Queen, she told her image. I do not have to make an acceptable face for any man. The House of Strongsword is second to none on Strand. She patted a stray strand of hair into place and then pinched her

312 cheeks to bring color to them. Not bad, she thought.

You look closer to thirty than forty. She rang the small hand bell for her attendants and prepared to descend into the subdued festivities that preceded dinner.

She swept down the stairs toward the servants' hall that, because of the number of guests, was now the royal withdrawing room. Two ladies-in-waiting and three pages hurried to keep up with her. The hall was a sea of dark blues, blacks and purples, but, as the Cham- berlain announced her, the crowd parted to allow her through. The women curtsied and the men bowed as she made her way to the relatively quiet enclave of roy- alty at the head of the room. She kissed Arabella on both cheeks, acknowledged her husband's bow, touched palms with the Emperor Varodias and gave the Thane of Talisman a bob of the head. Greylock greeted her warmly and Sumner, whom she still thought of as Chief Warlock of Talisman, was effusive. Her smile to Cour- tak and his Arundelian wife was cool. She turned as the Prince Consort approached.

Saxton, she thought, was a comely man and he had shown a considerable knowledge of Paladine. She brightened under his attention and found herself dis- cussing agricultural policy with unwonted verve. She was sorry when he pa.s.sed her on to the Thane, whose conversation was all of his family. She took the oppor- tunity to regale herself with a drink from a pa.s.sing tray.

Wearying of the Thane, she excused herself, went in search of another gla.s.s and found herself face-to-face with Varodias.