his feet. “You stupid native cur!” he shouted at Alain. “Why in Mir’s name did you bring that thing in here?”
Instantly the room fell silent, but for intakes of breath on every side. Ezratah resisted the impulse to put his head in his hands in despair. Alain, who understood the importance of this meeting, managed to look scared and angry at the same time, while the Duke scowled at Lev. Serge, of course, made everything worse by shouting, “How dare you! Take that back immediately.”
Then Paulus jumped up and said, “My lords and ladies! I propose a toast. To this beautiful hawk and the fine young chieftain who trained her, Alain Seagani.”
Thank Mir! A masterly move. No one was angry enough to refuse such a toast and to Ezratah’s relief, after a moments scowling, Lev joined in as if he were a good sport and his dim friend Neevus played along. Ezratah was even more relieved when a servant appeared just then with a message for Lev, forcing the mage to excuse himself. The man was a diplomatic incident on two legs.
But Ezratah couldn’t relax yet. Lev’s friend Neevus, lacking anyone else to talk to in Mirayan now Lev had been called away, turned, introduced himself, and said,
“So I believe you are the Mirayan they call the native’s friend, Lord Ezratah.”
To my face, thought Ezratah. I bet they call me something much worse behind my back.
Aloud he said, “I am he. Delighted to make your acquaintance, Lord Neevus.”
“So tell me, how many islands are there exactly in this lovely little archipelago? Have you visited them all?”
“Hardly. Some of them are only very small. But there are 204 islands. One of our own scientists counted up their total area as being almost as great as that of Miraya.”
“Really. So whoever controls the Archipelago would be as powerful as our dear Emperor.”
Ezratah shrugged. “Except that islands don’t really lend themselves to being one kingdom. Each island has quite a distinct culture. Even the Mirayan colonies on them have become quite distinct.”
Neevus gave Ezratah a long stare, his eyes curiously expressionless. Then he said,
“And here we are on Yarmar, which is so big. I had never thought of islands as being so big, but it must take days to cross. And with not one but six different tribes on it.”
“Well yes, although four of them have the same language - Seagani. And the Seagani speakers are very alike in religion and beliefs too. But they do tend to fight among themselves, which is why the ones on this part of Yarmar have been happy to recognise a Mirayan as their ruler. Of course, they fight much more with the Mori.”
Neevus stared again, before speaking.
“Ah the Mori, they are the forest dwellers, right? They have the whole of the western side of this island, don’t they? Which they insist of keeping as forest. And I hear they’re lead by this wonderfully, sinister-sounding woman, what do they call her - The Hooded Queen. But of course the most sinister of all are the Tari. Lord Lev says they are mighty mages, mightier even than he. I hadn’t thought to meet one and yet I gather the lovely Duchess is a Tari. And hasn’t she produced a lovely little girl. Hello darling.” He waved at Olga, who looked shy and stared at her plate. “Has she inherited her mother’s powers I wonder?”
He gave Ezratah another long stare.
“So is the Duchess really able manipulate actual matter and change it permanently. I can’t imagine how it is possible.”
“Yes, Tari can actually change the nature of matter,” replied Ezratah, finding it hard to meet Neevus’ eyes. “But the Duchess was the victim of a mindblast spell, so she is only a shadow of what a Tari mage should be.”
“I would love to study that. Do you think the Duke would let me speak with her about it?”
“I don’t think so,” snapped Ezratah, insulted on Jindabyne’s behalf. The man would never even consider making such a request of a Mirayan woman. “She may be a native woman, but the Duke is a true Mirayan.”
Neevus gave him another long stare. He didn’t seem offended. Indeed it was hard to tell if he had any emotions at all.
“And you yourself, I believe you have adopted their religion, Lord Ezratah,” he continued evenly. “Has it enhanced your powers? Oh!”
A servant lent over Neevus’ shoulder and whispered in his ear.
“Lord Ezratah, pray forgive me. I must leave our delightful conversation,” he said, as he got up and followed the servant away. Ezratah was disconcerted to find he wasn’t sure if Neevus’ “delightful conversation” remark was sarcasm or not. Usually he could read people better than that.
He was just beginning to relax again, when he felt a hand on his thigh and a voice whispered softly in his ear, “Darling Ezratah, won’t you meet me privately tomorrow morning?”
Since the wife of a Seagani Chieftain was sitting to that side of him, Ezratah froze in alarm. Then he turned, only to find that the She-Chief was deep in conversation with someone else.
The voice laughed, tickling his ear. “Oh ’Tah, did you think you’d made a conquest? How disappointing for you!”
He caught the scent of orange blossom. He knew that scent.
“Marigoth!” he hissed under his breath, slapping the hand off his thigh. “What are you doing here?”
The voice laughed in his ear again. He felt the pressure of a hand on his shoulder, but kept his eyes firmly on his plate. Looking would have done no good anyway. He knew she had made herself invisible. If only he could persuade her to leave before she unfolded whatever dreadful practical joke had brought her here.
“Don’t look so terrified,” Marigoth cooed, pressing her hand onto his shoulder. “I’m here to give a blessing to the betrothed couple. And as it happens I do need you to meet me at our beach tomorrow morning. I’ve got an important mission for you in Ishtak.”
“How can I? I’m in the middle of this!” he hissed out of the side of his mouth, hoping no one would notice that he was talking to thin air.
“Oh ’Tah. Fooling aside now. It’s really important that you come to Ishtak. If you won’t do it for me, do it for Yani.”
There was a note of something like worry in her voice.
“What do you mean Yani?” he hissed.
But the pressure of her hand on his shoulder was gone.
A few moments later a servant announced, “The Lady Marigoth Tari attends to congratulate the happy couple!” and the door opened.
Visible now, Marigoth swept in, looking wonderful as always, and bowed deeply to the betrothed couple and the delighted Seaganis. She’d grown up into a beautiful golden-haired woman, though small and delicate-boned for her race, and was magnificently dressed in Tari green. She glowed with power, and a hint of unearthly music filled the air. A nice touch - not as overdone as some of her illusions.
The Duke welcomed her formally. He had a personal grudge against Marigoth, but few people apart from Ezratah knew of it, and watching now, no one would have ever guessed it.
With charming courtesy, Marigoth declined the offer to join them at the feast. Instead, calling Paulus and Dianou out to stand before her, she blessed them in the name of the life spirit and wished them a long and prosperous marriage. As she spoke, a green vine appeared to grow out of the sleeves of the each of the betrothed couple. The vines bound their hands together before meeting in the middle and twining up and up till both stems joined as one and burst into a beautiful thornless red rose.
At this everyone clapped and cheered.
“How charming!” sneered a malicious voice, reminding listeners that Lord Lev had returned to the table.
“Yes,” Ezratah