When Ragnarson heard, he laughed. „There'll be some red faces in Throyes," he crowed. „I bet Hsung is having kittens."
Mist was less cheerful. „They'll twist this around. They'll claim El Murid started it. They'll launch their invasion. I think we've just heard about the last hurrah of the Invinci bles."
Ragnarson sobered. „Maybe so. Sad to say. The Disciple can't have much left."
Prataxis said, „Don't overlook the nationalist aspect.
People on the littoral aren't enchanted with El Murid or Megelin, but they'll follow anybody fighting a Throyen encroachment. They know the cost of yielding."
Bragi observed, „Wouldn't hurt my feelings if Hsung's stooges got bogged down there."
Next day Credence Abaca was the bearer of news. The wiry little Marena Dimura came to the office where Ragnarson was arguing finances with members of the Thing.
Irked by the obdurate committeemen, Ragnarson barked, „What is it, Credence?"
Abaca was direct. „Three men tried to kill me. In the park. I thought your tame witchdoctor might want the bodies. They're the same breed as tried to kill General Liakopulos."
Ragnarson cursed softly. Twenty minutes later he was part of the crowd standing round the bodies. For the first time in his reign he had provided himself with bodyguards.
„You're right, Credence. They are the same." He sent a message to Varthlokkur saying the bodies were on their way. He expected to learn nothing, but the effort had to be made.
„You dropped all three?"
„They weren't very fast," Abaca replied.
„Three of them," Bragi muttered. „Again. That's the Pracchia style, all right. A nine divided into three threes. Means there might be another try. Tell Sir Gjerdrum not to travel without guards till I tell him different."
„As you command, Sire." Abaca trotted toward the palace. Ragnarson soon followed, and joined Varthlokkur. As expected, the wizard learned nothing from the bodies.
„I'm still thinking Magden Norath," Varthlokkur said.
„Maybe Norath had students."
„Possible. Not probable. The man's character speaks against it. He was too secretive."
„This attack suggest anything?"
„Only that your list is valid."
„Who made it? Not Norath. He never came in contact with any of my officers."
„So he was hired."
Ragnarson's face hardened. „By who?"
The wizard started to say something, changed his mind. Ultimately, he observed, „We all have enemies. The more successful we are, the more numerous they become. Like throwing a stone in the air. It goes up and up and up. It slows down all the time. Finally, it comes to rest."
„And then it comes down."
„True. Sad but true."
„Is that an oracle?"
„No. Just a bad metaphor. I suggest you guard everyone on that list. Especially Gjerdrum. I'd guess he's next."
„It's done already. How about you?"
„I can take care of myself."
„Liakopulos probably thought so too. Never mind. You don't want a bodyguard, you don't get one. I have to cancel a Captures match because of this. And make myself unpop ular with extra duty assignments. Did you find Michael?"
Ragnarson was worried. Trebilcock had been gone longer before, but never at a time so critical. And his name had been on that list.
„Aral found a cold trail. A friend of his saw Michael in Delhagen a few days after the attack on Liakopulos."
„Strange."
„Everything is, these days."
„How long till Nepanthe's time?"
„Two weeks. Three."
„Nervous?"
„Of course." The wizard smiled weakly.
„Don't worry about it. She didn't have any trouble with Ethrian."
The wizard's shoulders tightened. „Don't mention that name."
Ragnarson did not like his tone. „There you go getting goofy again. What the hell is it with you and Ethrian?"
Varthlokkur looked like he was counting to ten. „Nepanthe has a bee in her bonnet about him lately. I don't know why, but she's decided he's still alive. She thinks we should be trying to find him."
„And you don't? Is he alive?"
„I don't know."
It might not make a lot of sense to anyone else, but Ethrian being alive might explain the wizard's bizarre behavior of late. Might there be some connection with the Deliverer, about whom he had refused to talk? „A couple of weeks ago you told me... ."
„I know." The wizard's lips were tight. He was control ling himself visibly. „This isn't the time to worry about it. We've got a baby to get born."
„I think you're hiding from something. You, of all people, ought to know how much good that does. Are you even going to bother to look? Or just stall and hope she forgets about it?"
„Ragnarson!..."
„You don't add up. You're making your own trouble. Forget it. I'll check back later and see if you've gotten an attack of the reasonables and bothered to see if you can find something."
„There's nothing to find."
Ragnarson walked away convinced there was something, and it must not be good. It might pay to try twisting Mist's arm a little. She'd at least have to suspect why Varthlokkur was so spooky.
That evening Ragnarson received a note written in his son Gundar's crabbed hand. It asked him to come to his brother Ainjar's birthday party, day after tomorrow.
Sherilee flashed through his mind. She would find a reason to be there. He returned the note saying he would try.
Next day one of Trebilcock's lieutenants burst into anoth er appropriations session. „Sire," he gasped. „Word from Captain Trebilcock."
Ragnarson sprang away from the table. The delegates watched with wide eyes. Wild rumors surrounded Trebil cock's disappearance. One suggested that the King him self had done away with his chief spy. „What? What is it?"
„A pigeon, Sire." The man still clutched a ragged bird. Michael's message dangled from his other hand.
„Pigeon? I didn't know we used them." He grabbed the message tissue.
„We don't have very many. Just for our farthest stations. They can fly farther in an hour than a rider can cover in a day."
„I doubt that." Ragnarson knew a little about carrier pigeons. „But only witchcraft is faster." He fumbled Mi chael's message twice before he read it.
„By damn! The wizard was right. Guard! Find Varthlokkur. Tell him to get the Unborn. Say it's an emer gency." He waited impatiently.
When Varthlokkur arrived he showed him Michael's message.
„What now?" Bragi asked.
„Now we wait. If you know any reliable deities, call them in."
Ragnarson chuckled. He was an uncommonly irreligious man. „If I knew any reliable gods," he said, „they'd be running Ravelin. I'd have them whipping thunderbolts on anyone who interfered around here. I'd keep one of them squatting in Hsung's bedchamber."
A nervous orderly tapped at the door. „Sire?"
„Come in."
„Message from Mr. Dantice, Sire. He said it's impor tant."
„Let me see it. Come on! The man don't bite."
The orderly sidled across the room, eying Varthlokkur carefully. A gesture would set him running. The wizard donned a pained expression. Thus it had been for centuries.