Jack Vance - Alastor 02 by Marune-Alastor 933

Author:Marune-Alastor 933
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-06-24T17:19:19+00:00

4 in her chambers.”

Efraim made an impatient gesture. “Take me there. I wish a word or two with her.”

“Force, do you order me to precede you?”

“Yes, lead the way.”

Agnois bowed. He swung smartly around, conducted Efraim out into the Great Hall, up the stairs, along a corridor into the Jaher Tower, and halted before a tall door studded with garnets. At Efraim’s signal he thrust the central garnet and the door swung wide. Agnois stood aside, and Efraim marched into the foyer of the Kraike’s private chambers. A maid appeared, and performed a quick, supple curtsey. “Your orders, Force?”

“I wish an immediate word with Her Presence.”

The maid hesitated; then taking fright at Efraim’s expression disappeared the way she had come. A minute passed, two minutes. Then Efraim pushed through the door despite a muffled exclamation from Agnois.

He stood in a long sitting room hung with red and green tapestry, furnished with gilt wood settees and tables. Through an opening to the side he sensed movement; he went on swift strides to the portal and so discovered the Kraike Singhalissa at a small cabinet built into the wall, into which at the sight of Efraim she thrust a small object and slammed the door shut. Swinging about she faced Efraim, eyes glowing in fury. “Your Force has forgotten the niceties of conduct.”

“All this to the side,” said Efraim, “I desire that you open the cabinet.”

Singhalissa’s face became hard and gaunt. “The cabinet contains only personal treasures.”

Efraim turned to Agnois. “Bring an axe, at once.”

Agnois bowed. Singhalissa made an inarticulate sound. Turning to the wall she tapped a concealed button. The door to the cabinet opened. Efraim spoke to Agnois. “Bring what you find to the table.”

Agnois, gingerly brought forth the contents of the cabinet: several leather portfolios and on top an ornate key of iron and silver, which Efraim took up. “What is this?”

“The key to the Privy Case.”

“And this other matter?”

“These are my private papers,” declared Singhalissa in a voice of metal. “My contracts of trisme, the birth documents of the Kang and the Lissolet.”

Efraim glanced through the portfolios. The first showed an intricate architectural plan. He glanced at Singhalissa who stared back coldly. Efraim signaled to Agnois. “Look through. these documents; return to Her Presence the effects she describes. All others, set aside.”

Singhalissa settled herself into a chair and sat stiffly. Agnois leaned his heavy back over the table, peering diffidently into the documents. He finished and pushed one group of papers aside. “These concern the personal affairs of the Kraike. The others more properly belong in the Privy Case.”

“Bring them along.” With the coldest of nods to Singhalissa, Efraim departed the chamber.

He found Matho Lorcas where he had left him, lounging in a massive leather-backed chair, examining a history of the wars between Scharrode and that realm known as Slaunt, fifty miles south. Lorcas put aside the volume and rose to his feet, “What did you learn?”

“About what I expected. The Kraike has no intention of accepting defeat - not quite so easily.

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