Thraxas and the Ice Dragon - By Martin Scott Page 0,26
the impression that Merlione isn't that close to her brother, or her father, and may not be as interested in the wedding as she should be. I wonder if that might be influencing her reluctance to leave the house, though insisting your life is in danger just to avoid a wedding does seem like taking things to extremes.
Merlione doesn't seem to have any other close friends, even though Elath has plentiful supply of Baron's daughters, who should be suitable companions. But she's a serious young woman, studious maybe. Not the type to spend her time shopping and gossiping. As I take my leave I'm not sure what to make of the whole affair. I have some sympathy for Merlione, who seems like an isolated figure, but whether or not there's any truth in her suspicions, I can't tell.
Outside it's started to rain. The water flows neatly down the gutters in the paved roads around the Barons' houses, but further into town, where the roads are not so well constructed, the earth is beginning to cut up. Many of the buildings are poorly maintained. It wouldn't surprise me if slates fell off the roofs all the time. I walk past the town hall, another not-very-impressive, grey stone construction, and take a look at the water clock in the main square, beside the statue of St Quatinius. The clock was designed, so Makri informs me, by Arichdamis. Water flows through underground pipes and makes it work. I've no idea how.
By now Elath is filling up with people, many of them exotic by local standards. That's partly because of the tournament, and partly because of the approach of war. There's an odd atmosphere. A mixture of anticipation and fear. I recognise the emotion. I've seen it before. People feel reckless, wanting to have some enjoyment in what might be the last weeks of their lives. One or two Elves have appeared, having either risked an early voyage from the Southern Isles, or come overland from neighbouring lands. Sorcerers, mercenaries, soldiers, generals and ambassadors are all arriving in Elath. The King's Guard has increased their patrols, looking for suspicious characters. It strikes me that I'm here in the company of undoubtedly the most suspicious character in the entire country, namely Makri. If she wasn't employed by Lisutaris she'd have been run out of town already, and probably me as well.
Chapter Twelve
I'm looking forward to a few ales and a pie from the larder when I get back to Arichdamis's house. Unfortunately I find the house in uproar, or as much uproar as can be created by one elderly mathematician, two servants and an agitated part-Orc swordswoman, all of whom are engaged in near-incomprehensible babble as I enter the hallway. I have to shout to make myself heard.
"Makri? Shouldn't you be at a meeting with Lisutaris?"
Makri whirls round. "Lisutaris can't go!"
"Why not?"
"Too much thazis. She can't move."
This isn't a huge surprise. I've seen Lisutaris unable to move after too much thazis. Notably, a couple of years ago when I was trapped in a Sorcerer's mansion in Thamlin with a maddened crowd outside baying for blood. On that occasion it took a hefty slap to bring her round. I expect something similar will produce results now. Makri leads me to where Lisutaris is lying in the gardens, her head resting comfortably on a small hillock, a peaceful smile on her face. Beside her is a pile of ash. I take her by the shoulder and shake her.
"Lisutaris. Important meeting. Barons and Sorcerers. You have to get up."
She doesn't stir. I shake her harder.
"It's no good," cries Makri. "She made a new spell for making Arichdamis's thazis more powerful and she's overdone it. What are we going to do?"
Horses hooves clatter along the road, coming to a halt outside Arichdamis house.
"That must be messengers from Lasat, wondering where Lisutaris is," says Makri.
I notice that Makri's hand has drifted towards her sword. "Killing the messengers won't help. They'd just send more."
It's time for swift action. I drag Lisutaris to her feet and thrust her into the arms of Arichdamis and a servant.
"Walk her round the garden. Makri, come with me." I march back though the house and open the front door to find two messengers on the doorstep.
"Lasat Axe of Gold begs to know when Lisutaris, Mistress of the Sky, plans to arrive at the meeting."
I regard them coolly. "Lasat Axe of Gold must have made a mistake. Lisutaris reconvened the meeting here."