Thraxas and the Ice Dragon - By Martin Scott Page 0,13

Captain sneers. "Didn't hold out for long, did you?"

I don't bother replying. The Samsarinans may be able to muster a large army, but they don't have a great reputation for warfare, no matter how smart the King's guards look. I make my way to Kublinos's mansion. Servants keep an eye on me as I take the side stairs up to the attic. So far I haven't been invited into Kublinos's state room, or his courtyard shrine, or his main dining room. Nonetheless, after my visit to the mineral baths, I'm feeling more like my old self. I had to do a fair bit of pushing and jostling to get myself a bit of room among the farmers and merchants, but once I'd done that, I had an excellent soak. Arichdamis wasn't a bad companion, for a mathematician. Apparently he designs war machines - siege devices and so on - which explains why he's employed by the King. As an old campaigner myself, I'm sympathetic to anyone who can tell a few good stories about campaigns he's been involved in, which Arichdamis could.

While soaking in the hot water I did my best to pick up information about the sword-fighting tournament. If Makri won't enter, I can still bet on the other fighters. I anticipate a prosperous betting campaign, if I can just raise some money to get started. I'm musing on where exactly I might raise a stake when there's a sharp knock at my door and Lisutaris enters, looking angry. Ignoring all rules of decorum, she plants herself on the bed and starts complaining.

"Life is hell," she begins, and goes on from there. The Sorceress spent the morning in a meeting with King Gardos, his Barons and his Sorcerers. By her account, her reception was frosty. "Lasat looked at me like I was something washed up on the beach. Which I was, I suppose. He'd heard I was missing - some Sorcerer got a message to him, I don't know who - and he'd already started to take control of the Guild. Charius the Wise was there and he hates me just as much as Lasat. Damn these Samsarinan Sorcerers. The Barons are no better. The story has got around that an Orcish Sorcerer sneaked into Turai without me detecting her, and now people are whispering I'm not up to the job."

"What about the King? Is he against you?"

"Gardos is young. He's only been on the throne for a few months. I don't think he's really established himself yet. I can't see him standing up to the Barons and Sorcerers on my behalf. Besides, he's not what you'd call intelligent."

"Isn't he?"

"Of course not. If he had any sense he wouldn't be carrying on with this ludicrous anti-thazis policy."

Lisutaris drums her fingers on the side of the bed. "Damn this place," she mutters. She glares at me crossly. "Weren't you meant to be finding some thazis? You're my Chief Adviser. Is it really beyond you to - "

"I found some."

"What? Where is it? Give me it!"

I admit I don't actually have any on me. "But I do know a user, and I'm certain he'd share with you. A man called Arichdamis. Mathematician to the King."

"Arichdamis? He's here?"

"You've heard of him?"

"Of course," says Lisutaris. "He's one of the most famous scientists and mathematicians in the world. Are you sure he has thazis?"

"Yes. And he was keen to meet you."

"Then let's go." Lisutaris stands up.

"Aren't you meant to be dining with Kublinos?"

"Kublinos can wait."

Nothing will satisfy Lisutaris but that we set off right away. She summons a servant to take a note to Makri - currently practising with her weapons outside - telling her to meet us there, and we depart. Outside the sky is still grey but the temperature has risen a degree or two. Further east, the snows will soon be melting. The storms in the great ocean to the south will be calming down. It's almost the season for war.

"Makri will want to meet Arichdamis," says Lisutaris. "He's written quite a few important scientific treatises."

"No doubt she's read them all," I respond, gloomily. "And will bore me to death with a long lecture abut some interminably dull subject no one in their right mind would care about."

Lisutaris carries herself regally as we pass by the guards and soldiers outside. If she's feeling browbeaten by the local Barons, no one could tell from the way she freezes out a Sorcerer who tries to check me for spells. "The Chief Adviser to