Vlad Taltos - 05 Phoenix by Steven Brust

Author:Steven Brust [Brust, Steven]
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Vlad Taltos
ISBN: 9780441662258
Publisher: Ace Books
Published: 1990-10-31T08:00:00+00:00

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the narrow forehead and peaked crown, and his movements were

smooth and slow, and seemed practiced. No, he didn't really look like

an Issola, but about as close as a Jhereg can come. His office had four

comfortable-looking chairs and a view of the courtyard. Each chair

had its own round, three-legged table on which the guest could set his

drink, made from the bar at the far end of the room. All very nice and

non-threatening, it was.

He motioned me to a seat. "Baronet Taltos," he said. "A pleasure.

Drink? I have some Fenarian wine."

Issola. "That would be nice," I said. I saw the bottle and realized he

meant brandy. "Clear and clean," I said. The chair was as soft as it

looked. Not very good for getting out of in a hurry. I wondered if that

was deliberate, tf I had designed the room, it would have been.

He poured me a drink, and the same thing for himself. I wondered if

he really cared for it, at least served the right way, or if he was being

polite. I'd probably never know. It was Tuzviz, probably the most

commonly available Fenarian brandy; good if not remarkable. At least

I could tell there were peaches in its ancestry.

When we were both sitting and enjoying the fire on our tongues he

said, "How may I serve you, Baronet?"

"The Empire has mistakenly arrested my wife while clearing out some

Eastern rabble from South Adrilankha. I'd like to see about obtaining

her release."

He nodded sympathetically. "I see. Most unfortunate. Her name?"

"The Lady Cawti. Taltos of course. She's the Countess of, let me see ...

Lostguard Cleft, I think."

"Yes. Bide a moment, enjoy the wine. I'll see what I can do."

"Very well."

He left the room. I got up and stared out the window. Off to the side I

could just make out the vast hall of the lorich Wing, beneath which

were the dungeons. It was completely walled in, dark and solemn,

with their banner flying above it and Dragonlords in the gold cloaks of

the Phoenix Guards walking along the walls. No, on reflection, it

would have been damn hard to break her out.

Directly below me was a rock garden in blue and white, and strips of

neatly manicured lawn dotted with stunted trees. Directly in front of

me, on a tall, lone flagpole, flew the banner of the House, stylized

Jhereg, sinister, wings spread, claws outstretched, black on a field of

grey. It filled me with no emotion whatsoever.

Presently Soffta returned and sat down behind his desk again. He was

looking very grave indeed. "It seems," he said, "that someone has

already intervened on behalf of the Lady Cawti, and she refused

release. Do you know anything about this?"

"Mmmm," I said. "What would it take to procure her release in spite

of her refusal?"

"Why, I'm not sure, Lord Taltos. Such a refusal is almost unheard-of,

and forcing a release, well, I imagine an order of the Empress would

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do it."

"No doubt, no doubt," I said. I stood up and strolled back over to the

window, looked out of it.

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