‘Except that you both would rid the world of phagors.’
‘So would most men if they had the courage to act. Phagors and fathers.’
They regarded each other. ‘We had better not get to the subject of courage,’ said JandolAnganol, and walked away.
He plunged into a group where men in grand ornamental charfruls and exotic hairpieces were conversing with King Sayren Stund, interrupting them without apology. Sayren Stund looked flustered, but reluctantly asked his audience to leave him. A space was cleared about the two kings. Immediately, a lackey came forward with a silver tray, to present glasses of iced wine. JandolAnganol turned. Only half deliberately, he knocked the tray from the man’s hand.
‘Tut-tut-tut,’ said Sayren Stund. ‘No matter, it was an accident, I saw that. Plenty more wine. And more ice, as a matter of fact, delivered now by a lady captain, Immya Muntras. We must accustom ourselves to such innovations.’
‘Brother king, never mind the niceties of conversation. You are sheltering here in your palace a man who was my chancellor, of whom I rid myself, a man I think my enemy, since he went over to the Sibornalese cause, by name SartoriIrvrash. What does he want here? Has he brought you some secret message from my ex-queen, as I fear?’
The King of Oldorando looked about apprehensively.
‘The man you mention arrived here only twenty minutes ago, along with gentry of good character, such as Alam Esomberr. I agreed to give him shelter. He has a lady with him. I assure you they are not to be guests under this roof.’
‘She is Sibornalese. I dismissed that man. I conclude that he cannot be here to do me any favours. Where will they lodge?’
‘Dear brother, I hardly think that is business of mine or yours. The dusk-moth must keep to the dusk, as we say.’
‘Where will he stay? Are you protecting him? Be frank with me.’
Sayren Stund had been sitting on a high chair. He rose with dignity and said, ‘It grows heated in here. Let us take a walk in the garden before we become overheated.’ He gestured to his wife to remain behind.
They progressed through the room amid a corridor of bows. Only the runt Yuli followed. The gardens were lit by flambeaux set in niches. Since almost as little air circulated as in the palace, the torches burned with a steady flame. A sulphurous smell hung about the neatly trimmed avenues.
‘I do not wish to vex you, Brother Sayren,’ JandolAnganol said. ‘But you understand that I have unknown enemies here. I perceived just by the look of SartoriIrvrash, by his expression, that he is now my enemy, come to make trouble for me. Do you deny that?’
Sayren Stund had taken better control of himself. He was corpulent and he wheezed as he walked. He said coolly, ‘You appreciate that the common people of Oldorando, or Embruddock, as some like to say, affecting the old mode, regard men of your country — this is not a prejudice I share, you understand — as barbarians. I cannot educate them out of the illusion, not even by stressing the religion we have in common.’
‘How does this answer my question?’
‘Dear, I’m out of breath. I think I have an allergy. May I ask you if you keep that fuggie following at heel simply to offend me and my queen?’ He indicated Yuli with a contemptuous gesture.
It was the turn of JandolAnganol to be at a loss.
‘He’s no more than — a pet hound. He follows me everywhere.’
‘It’s an insult to bring that creature into this court. It should be housed on Whistler Island with the rest of your animals.’
‘I tell you, it’s just a favourite hound. It sleeps outside my bedchamber door at night and will bark if there’s danger.’
Sayren Stund stopped walking, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed intently into a bush.
‘We should not quarrel, we both have our difficulties, I in Kace, you at home in Matrassyl, if the reports that reach me are to be trusted. But you cannot bring that creature into my court — the force of the opinion of the court is against it, whatever I personally may say.’
‘Why did you not say this when I arrived, two days ago?’
A heavy sigh from the Oldorandan king. ‘You have had two days’ grace. Think of it like that. The Holy C’Sarr arrives shortly, as you know. The honour of receiving him means much, but is a grave responsibility. He will not tolerate the sight of a phagor. You are too difficult for us, Jandol. Since you have exhausted your purpose here, why do you not return to your capital tomorrow, with your troupe of animals?’
‘Am I that unwelcome? You invited me to stay for the C’Sarr’s visit. What poison has SartoriIrvrash poured in your ear?’
‘The occasion when the Holy C’Sarr is present must pass off peacefully. Perhaps the alliance with powerful Pannoval is more important to me than to you, since my kingdom is nearer. Frankly, fuggies and fuggy-lovers are not popular in this part of the world. If you have no purpose here, then I suggest we give you godspeed tomorrow.’
‘If I have a purpose?’
Sayren Stund cleared his throat. ‘What purpose? We are both religious men, Jandol. Let us go and pray and be scourged together now, and part as friends and allies in the morning. Isn’t that best? Then your visit can be sweetly remembered. I will give you a boat with which you can sail rapidly down the Valvoral and be home in no time. Can you smell the flowering zaldal? Beautiful, isn’t it?’
‘I see.’ JandolAnganol folded his arms. ‘Very well, then, if that is as deep as your friendship and your religion go — we shall quit your presence on the morrow.’
‘We shall sorrow to see you leave us. So will our queen and daughter.’
‘I comply with your request, and poorly I think of it. In return, answer my question. Where is SartoriIrvrash?’
The King of Oldorando showed sudden spirit. ‘You have no right to think poorly of my request. Do you imagine my daughter would be dead today if you had not been espoused to her? It was a political killing — she had no personal enemies, poor girl. Then you come to my court with your filthy fuggies and expect to be made welcome.’
‘Sayren, I say truly, I grieve for the death of Simoda Tal. If I found the murderer, I would know how to deal with him. Do not increase my sorrow by laying that evil at my door.’
Sayren Stund ventured to rest his hand upon the arm of his brother king.
‘Do not worry yourself about — the man you mention, your ex-chancellor. We have given him a room in one of the monastic hostels which lie behind this palace and the Dom. You will not have to meet with him. And we will not part foes. That would not do.’ He blew his nose. ‘Just be sure you leave Oldorando tomorrow.’
They made each other a bow. JandolAnganol went slowly up to his quarters in a wing of the palace, Yuli following behind.
Indifferent tapestries hung on the walls here, the board floor was filthy. He knocked on his infantry major’s door. No answer came. On inspiration, he went along to Fard Fantil’s door and knocked. The Royal Armourer called to him to enter. The hunchback sat on his bed, polishing his boots; he jumped to his feet when he saw who entered. A phagor guard stood silent by the window, spear in hand.
JandolAnganol lost no time in coming to the point.
‘You’re the very man I want. This is your native city and you know local customs as I don’t. We leave here tomorrow — yes, it’s unexpected, but there’s no choice. We sail to Matrassyl.’
‘Trouble, sire?’
‘Trouble.’
‘He’s tricky, is the king.’
‘I want to take SartoriIrvrash with me, prisoner. He’s here, in the city. I want you to find him, overpower him, smuggle him into these quarters. We can’t cut his throat — it would cause too much of a scandal. Get him here, unseen.’