Thraxas and the Ice Dragon - By Martin Scott Page 0,76

would be simply to allow Lasat and Lisutaris to do as they please."

"I don't follow you."

"Give them permission to support their fighters in any way they can. Use whatever sorcery they want. Lisutaris can support Makri and Lasat can support Elupus. Let the best sorcerer and fighter win. After all, we've been wondering how to choose a War Leader. Why not let them fight it out?"

Baron Mabados starts to object, but the young King chooses this moment to speak. "I like this! That's what we should do. Lasat and Lisutaris can use their sorcery to support their fighters, and whoever wins I'll support as War Leader."

The King is smiling, obviously taken with the idea. That's enough to convince his Barons. Even the Ambassadors don't seem to object. But from the way Lasat and Charius are looking pleased with themselves, I can tell we're being outmanoeuvred.

"One moment," I say. "Lisutaris will have no problem facing Lasat, but what about the rest of the Samsarinan Sorcerers Guild? It's hardly fair if they all join in against her."

"I'm sure that won't happen," says the King. "Lasat, will that happen?"

"Certainly not, Sire. You have my word that none but I shall use my power."

"Are we meant to believe that?" I look round for support. None is forthcoming. Apparently the King and his Barons actually believe the Samsarinan Sorcerers will play fair. Or they're pretending to believe it, more likely.

"How do you feel about this, Mistress of the Sky?" asks the King.

Lisutaris knows as well as I do that there's no chance of a fair contest, but she's in a difficult position. The King trusts his sorcerers, so it will look bad for her to accuse them of being a bunch of cheats. It will look worse if she refuses the challenge. "That is acceptable to me," she says.

"Splendid," says King Gardos. "It should be an entertaining contest."

The meeting breaks up into a great gaggle of excited talk.

"So it's us against the whole Samsarinan Sorcerers Guild," says Lisutaris, as we head for the exit.

"This isn't fair," I say. "We shouldn't have accepted."

"We didn't seem to have a choice. Charius backed us into a corner. Maybe he's not as stupid as I've always thought."

"Makri," I say. "Try and win the fight before too many spells hit me. They're really painful."

"The Samsarinans will target all of us," says Lisutaris. "It's going to be difficult."

We leave the King's Meeting House, following a stream of Barons, Sorcerers, Ambassadors, Generals, servants and officials, all heading for the tournament fields. The cloudy sky above is dark red, reflecting the glowing bonfires. The air is thick with the aroma of roasting oxen, and noisy with minstrel music and drinking songs. When we reach the edge of the tournament field Lisutaris once again supplies me with the deflecting spell.

"Try actually deflecting some this time," she suggests. "Instead of just letting them bounce off you." She checks my spell-protection charm, and Makri's too. At this moment Lasat will be doing the same for Elupus.

"I wish I could just fight him fairly," says Makri. "I'd beat him."

She would. Makri's recent performances in the arena have been superb. I'd tell her that if she wasn't already big-headed enough about her fighting technique.

"Thraxas, can I have a word?"

I look round. It's Baroness Demelzos, accompanied by a servant, who hangs back, out of earshot.

"Baroness. I don't have much time."

"I know. But the wedding is meant to be tomorrow and Merlione is still refusing to leave the house."

"I think that's quite sensible."

"You can't imagine the trouble it's causing. My husband says he's lost patience. And my son just can't understand why she won't come to the wedding. Are you any nearer to finding out what's been going on?"

"Yes."

"You are?" The Baroness looks surprised.

"I have a good idea of what's behind it all. I don't have any proof yet. If I can, I'll visit you tomorrow, in the morning. Maybe I'll have something for you then."

Demelzos looks momentarily hopeful. "Well at least that's something." She frowns. "Thraxas, from the way your female companions are staring at me, I'm guessing they know about our past."

"I mentioned it to them."

"That was hardly gallant."

"I've never been accused of gallantry."

"How did they react?"

"They laughed."

The Baroness looks offended. "They laughed? That's quite insulting."

"They weren't laughing at you, they were laughing at me. They don't think I'm the sort of man who has affairs with women who go on to be Baronesses."

Demelzos looks over at Lisutaris and Makri, who are indeed staring at us, without bothering