Assault in the Wizard Degree by Michael Angel

Author:Michael Angel
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Banty Hen Publishing
Published: 2016-10-29T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

The words hung in the air between us, almost like an echo in the long, empty wooden hall.

How long have you and Angbor been counting on me to manipulate your sister into murdering Sir Caltrop?

The Wizard looked a trifle sheepish as he finally answered my question.

“To be completely honest, I had been rather hoping that you wouldn’t notice.”

“As we say on my world, ‘fat chance’. I take my work seriously, Galen. I came here to solve a crime, honestly and without deceit. I didn’t come here to be used as a poker chip in centaur politics.”

He frowned. “Praytell, what is a poker chip?”

“I…look, I’ll explain that later. But I think you know what I’m getting at.”

Galen slumped even more dejectedly against the column. “You are correct, of course. I felt that if I related my ideas on the ‘trial by combat’, you would have rejected them out of hand. As to how long these concepts were in their gestation phase…it was only since last evening.”

“When you spoke with your father, I’d guess.” The wizard bobbed his head in agreement. I rubbed my temple with one knuckle as I added, “Okay, that surprises me, but for the better. Sir Jorvath told me you two had been in contact since you renounced the kingship and returned to Andeluvia. So, I figured that you and your father had it planned out weeks or months in advance.”

“True, I have been in contact with Sir Jorvath. But I did not know of Sir Caltrop’s challenge until we arrived and I spoke with my father privately. When he explained how serious it was, I realized that a solution had to meet extremely specific criteria.”

“You mean the fact that Angbor couldn’t challenge Caltrop without risking the loss of the throne.”

“It’s a little more complex than that,” Galen said. He straightened up, put his hands behind his human torso, and arched his back in a stretch. “Consider this point, for example. My father could have simply ordered Sir Jorvath at any time to kill Caltrop. Even if Jorvath lost the fight, the throne would not be placed in any immediate additional risk.”

“True.” I chewed that idea over in my mind for a bit and didn’t like where it went. “But that would feel like…well, my own father would have called it ‘dirty pool’. Depending on who won, you might have House Jormond feuding with House Zakaris.”

“And that in turn would lead to civil war among the centaurs. Not a pleasant idea at all, I must say.”

“Which means that your father needed something that looked more ‘legitimate’. Well, we did go through a trial of sorts. With lots of supporting witnesses.” I stood up and began to pace as I worked it out in my head. “On top of that, he did actually rule in Caltrop’s favor. So, no one can accuse him of favoring his offspring over the accuser.”

“All correct. In conclusion, I should add that any stain on the House of Friesain – whether over the guilty verdict of sacrilege or the ire of House Zakaris – would fall on Rikka alone.

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