The Seer King: Book One of the Seer King Trilogy by Chris Bunch

Author:Chris Bunch [Bunch, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781440553530
Publisher: F+W Media, Inc.
Published: 2012-09-01T06:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

CHARDIN SHER

Now I wanted my life to be calm, while I tried to work out this new and most vexing development. I had no idea what to do about Marán. I didn’t know if I was falling in love, still not sure what that feeling might be, but I knew I cared more for her than any woman I could remember.

I knew I should never see her again. I had bedded married women before, certainly, but it had been for a single night, a momentary fling, and somehow I realized this was not in either of our hearts. Was I prepared to assume the responsibilities of an affair? I knew my father would growl and remind me of our motto, and that its corollary was that we must also respect the vows of others. I was a Cimabuan, not a Nician, who have the reputation of always carrying their cocks low and ready, like a water witch’s wand, ready to stick them into anything that doesn’t move fast enough.

Practically, seeing Marán again was also absurd. If we did have an affair, and word reached her husband, he could ruin me with a single word or a note to one of his friends in the government.

I needed time to think. But Saionji, who I was starting to believe was intervening in Numantia’s affairs, did not grant my wish.

The day after Laish Tenedos’s speech, Domina Lehar told us the Great Conference on the Border States would be held in Nicias within two weeks. In fact, Chardin Sher, prime minister of Kallio, had already crossed the border into Dara with his retinue, and other state heads would be arriving shortly. But their importance was secondary, not only because they represented smaller states — Dara and Kallio were the two largest in Numantia — but because Kallio had always been Dara’s rival for the real power in the kingdom. This was especially true now, since Chardin Sher had taken the post of prime minister five years ago and had shown himself an independent-minded ruler of great strength, who only paid heed to the Rule of Ten when it suited him.

The Golden Helms were ordered to full readiness for the conference, to provide security and glitter. Two of the city’s other parade units, the Nineteenth Foot and the Second Heavy Cavalry, also had leaves canceled and all men ordered to stand by.

We would be spread most thinly, even so. The people of Nicias pride themselves on never being surprised by anything. But this appearance of Chardin Sher, the first time he had deigned to visit the capital, set the populace atremble. His route from the docks to the palace he’d been assigned by the Rule of Ten was laid out in the broadsides, and every window along the procession sold for a good price in silver. The streets would be jammed on that day with spectators. Nicias planned to give itself a holiday when the Kallian arrived.

“Is it not interesting,” Tenedos observed, “how the masses

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.