a two-way street or need I walk on it as its sole purveyor?”
The Count waved his glass at her, its contents spilling over and onto the floor before he regained control. “You know as well as anybody my reputation for a certain, ah, strangeness. I confess that at one point it was entirely perpetuated without any real sincerity on my part. I used it for years as a façade to build things behind the scenes, and it worked well.”
Too well, thought Crymson as the Count’s free hand fluttered about like a sparrow caught in the kitchen.
He tipped the decanter at her, but she shook her head. “The thing is, once I realized what I had become, I found myself unwilling to let the charade fall apart. Being strange, it turns out, is infinitely enjoyable. And, as a consequence of being strange, combined with my position in our society, I began to catch the eyes of other strange people in similar and sometimes higher positions.”
Crymson ignored his searching eyes, choosing to watch his hands as he said, “I say that to say this: at one of these strange people’s meetings some time ago, I was approached by one of the more rather, ah, reclusive inhabitants. After kindly introducing himself to me, we became engaged in a talk of politics within the borders of our little country.”
He seemed to be waiting for a response, so she said, “Go on.”
The Count beckoned her closer, as if to share a secret, though the room was empty, Tolver out of sight. “For a long time, really since the advent of King Olen’s coronation thirty years ago, Prolifia has grown increasingly isolated, and up to this point, it has worked well. I know you probably do not pay much attention to the economy, but you should know that we are very resource oriented – everything we need, we have. Farmers by the score and metal enough to last us the next three centuries and more, but our livelihood has and always will be trade. We lack only one thing: fighting men, an obvious fact, considering the amount of mercenaries we are forced to employ.”
“I’m a Priestess, not a hermit, Count.” She smiled, sure he’d notice her patronizing tone if she continued. Just get to the point, you narcissistic prick.
“Yes, well, I am going somewhere with this, if you will allow me a second.” He poured another drink.
“This part isn’t common knowledge: the mercenaries are bleeding us dry, monetarily speaking, and this recluse – the one I spoke of earlier – isn’t going to tolerate it any longer. Something, and I’m not sure what it is yet, to be quite honest, is going to happen soon, and I’m offering you a pivotal role in whatever it turns out to be. Normally, I’d be hesitant to do so, but this group I’m with, well, they have enough money and power to make this happen, and time is a factor.”
Crymson emptied a finger of the Kreshian brandy into her glass, and then, after a second’s thought, another. “I’m listening.”
The Count leaned forward in his chair. “This is a chance for you to gain everything. I can’t go into detail right now, but this recluse is one of the country’s most powerful people, and I assure you, he graciously awards those who please him. In our last conversation, he asked for a trustworthy person in the Cao Fen. I admit, I laughed at him, for there is no such thing as a trustworthy traitor, but . . .”
“But?”
“But then I thought of you. Do you know why?” the Count asked.
“Not a clue.” This can’t be good.
The Count reclined on his cushion. “Do you appreciate that I know your past? I know from where you came, and you know what? I don’t think you’re loyal to the Cao Fen at all. I think they’re just convenient; they allow you to get what you want out of life, so you use them.”
Crymson opened her mouth to object, but the Count leaned forward again, his face serious. “I’m not asking you to be a hero, Crymson, at least not a people’s hero, to be admired and beloved. Those are just make-believe, and we all know that underneath, they’re no more heroic than the rest of us. What I’m asking you to be is beyond that, to be the kind of hero that may die hated.”
“You still haven’t made mention of what you want from me.” Crymson affected a relaxed pose, reclining her head.
“Nothing