is concerned.’
‘I will pay scrupulous attention to all I hear concerning this. I will gather all the information currently available and hunt down every shred of rumour.’
‘Diligence will be rewarded in this matter, Urian. Failure...’ Malekith let the word hang in the air. There was no need whatsoever for him to spell out the penalties of failure in his service. ‘Concerning the matter of the twins, do nothing at the moment. This takes precedence.’
‘As you command, sire,’ said Urian.
Malekith placed his hands together and the mirror went dark. The audience was clearly over. Urian was glad. He wiped cold sweat from his brow and helped himself to some wine. He had his work cut out for him.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
‘It looks like they are preparing for a feast here,’ said Tyrion to Liselle. The morning sun shone down on the courtyard, illuminating the bustling activity all around them.
His cousin was dressed in another expensive gown of green Cathayan silk and watching the retainers hang more lanterns on the trees in the courtyard. Twigs of oak and wreaths of oak leaves were being placed over doorways. Trestle tables were being placed in the courtyard. Carved wooden statues of treemen guarded every entrance.
‘It will be the Feast of Deliverance soon. My grandfather is giving a ball to celebrate it, and the fact that you and your brother are among us.’
‘You are certainly doing it in style,’ he said. ‘Making a statement, I suppose.’
‘Yes and yes,’ said Liselle smiling.
The Feast was a celebration of the return of Aenarion’s children, Morelion and Yvraine from the heart of the Forest. They had been believed dead even by their father when in fact they had been under the protection of the Treeman Oakheart. He had saved them from the forces of Chaos and hidden them in the depths of the forest, thus preserving the life of the future Everqueen and her brother. Tyrion was descended from Morelion as was every other surviving child of the Blood of Aenarion save Malekith, the Witch King of Naggaroth. He could see that House Emeraldsea was reminding everyone of their connection with the Blood by ostentatiously giving this feast. If it turned out that he and Teclis were judged accursed it was a potentially very risky move.
‘It looks like it is going to be a very big party,’ said Tyrion. ‘When exactly will it be?’
‘In less than a week, on the night of the Rejoicing.’ That was the traditional night when balls and parties were given and offerings made in temples. ‘Although there may not be much to rejoice over this year.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Word is that Ulthuan is under attack. Outlying mansions have been ravaged by worshippers of the Dark Prince of Pleasure. A whole town was sacked by an army headed by a daemon.’ She sounded a little worried as she said it, but not as if she was taking it entirely seriously.
‘How do you know this?’
‘A messenger brought word to my mother last night. She was summoned to the palace. A ranger found bodies at a mansion in the mountains. It seems a mage survived the attack on Tor Annan and managed a Sending. Other places have been attacked. The Phoenix King called a council to discuss what happened and decide what to do about it.’
‘A town sacked by daemons – that sounds very serious. Perhaps he will have no time to attend parties.’
‘You obviously have not had much experience of life in Lothern, Prince Tyrion. The social round would go on if the world was ending. It is the life blood of this city. Anyway, I doubt Finubar is about to strap on a sword and go hunting daemons himself. That’s what he has people like Korhien for.’
Tyrion paused to think about what she had said. Cultists attacking outlying mansions. Towns destroyed by daemon-led armies. It all sounded very unlikely standing here in this bustling courtyard in the bright light of day. And yet he supposed that was how these things must always seem to those not directly involved in them. This was nothing to do with him. Of that he felt sure.
‘I hear you have been slipping out at nights,’ said Liselle. She smiled. ‘It did not take you long to find a secret lover.’
Tyrion smiled back. He should have known that his comings and goings would not be unobserved. There were other observers than guards watching over the mansion.
‘There is no secret lover,’ said Tyrion. ‘I merely wanted to see the city without an entourage of