Secret of the Dragon by Margaret Weis

Author:Margaret Weis
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, Epic, Fiction
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2011-02-10T05:45:42.664236+00:00

After the service, the Priest-General summoned Raegar to meet with him in his office. Raegar waited a short time for Xydis to conclude a previous appointment, then he was ushered inside.

Xydis gestured to a chair. Raegar had barely seated himself when Xydis said, with his customary abruptness, “We must do something about Acronis. The Empress informed him of the threat posed by the ogres, how they intend to attack Sinaria. I sent a request that due to the emergency, he hand over command of his triremes and his private army to me, as the law of Aelon requires in time of crisis.”

“And he refused,” said Raegar.

“Not only did he refuse, he had the unmitigated gall to tell me that his men would refuse to serve under my command! I told him they would be under your command. He said that his men had even less respect for you than they did for me.”

Raegar flushed in anger. “Tell the Empress he flouts the law. Have him arrested.”

“I cannot,” said Xydis. “I will need his army in this battle. His soldiers are better trained, better equipped than ours. If I had his wealth, the men would fight for me.”

He made an impatient gesture. “Acronis sails off on voyages fraught with danger, yet never fails to return unscathed. Sometimes I wonder what Aelon is thinking.”

“I don’t see that we would gain much if Acronis died,” said Raegar. “His estate would go to his daughter and, from what I hear, she is as obdurate as her father.”

Xydis was amused. “Unlike you barbarians, women cannot inherit property in Oran. And since Acronis has no male heirs, the estate would come to the crown. And from the crown, to the Church.”

Raegar was angry at the insult. He let it go, however, as he let go a thousand others. He considered Xydis’s words and wondered, suddenly, if the man was hinting at something.

“Acronis does not need to sail the ocean to find danger,” Raegar said, feeling his way forward tentatively. “He could easily fall victim to a thief or run afoul of one of the city’s gangs.”

“We are working hard to find a way to rid our city of such criminal elements,” said Xydis mildly. Then he added, “But, yes, the Legate falling victim to a murderous gang would be a shame. We should pray to Aelon to keep him safe.”

Xydis paused, then added, “Especially tonight. The Legate and that cousin of yours, Skylan, and the ogre, Keeper, have been invited to the Palace for the celebration of the opening of the Para Dix games. He will be returning to his villa well after darkness falls. . . .”

“Let us pray,” said Raegar, with a smile.

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