Gods of the Sword (Harbinger of Doom — Volume 6) by Glenn G. Thater

Author:Glenn G. Thater [Thater, Glenn G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, Norse Myths
Publisher: Glenn G. Thater
Published: 2014-07-29T00:00:00+00:00

***

The meeting soon ended. Tenzivel asked several of the councilors to remain to speak further with him. The rest left. With the door again locked and guarded, Tenzivel faced Harringgold, Pipkorn, Spugnoir, Malvegil, and Mardack. Captain Korvalan loomed over Tenzivel's shoulder.

Mardack couldn't wait for Tenzivel to say his piece. “That was well played by all,” said Mardack as he looked from Pipkorn to Spugnoir. “Until Pipkorn sat down and gave me the floor, I hadn't even noticed anything.”

“His disguise was impressive,” said Pipkorn. “I didn't see it at first myself. Master Spugnoir flashed me a signal.””

“I studied transformational magic at great length many years ago,” said Spugnoir. “Compared to a true master of that art, Philistine is an amateur.””

“What are you talking about?” said Tenzivel.

“Par Trask was the Vizier in disguise,” said Mardack.

“What?” said Tenzivel, Malvegil, and Harringgold in near unison.

“We had that snake in our grasp and you let him go free?” said Malvegil. “And after hearing our plans, no less? Why? What were you thinking?””

“They staged it,” said Tenzivel. “You put on a performance for him, didn't you?”

“We did,” said Pipkorn smiling.

“Explain what you mean?” said Malvegil.

“Gatwind is our man,” said Spugnoir.

“What?” said Harringgold. “So his position—”

“He only pretended to oppose us,” said Spugnoir.

“The vote was rigged,” said Pipkorn. “The speeches, the opinions — all rigged. Every wizard in the room was in on it. Except for the Vizier.”

“We knew the League might try to infiltrate us,” said Mardack. “We had this contingency plan set up in advance, just in case. Gatwind played his part masterfully.”

“So Trask is dead?” said Harringgold.

“Almost certainly,” said Spugnoir. “The nature of the magic.”

“By my count, the vote would have been twenty-four in favor of attack, but for our little performance,” said Mardack.

“So we won the vote?” said Harringgold. “That means—”

“That we go to war,” said Malvegil, a broad smile on his face.

“Well done,” said Tenzivel, his characteristic slur in his voice. “Well done. Like the old saying goes, nothing in Lomion is as it appears.”” Tenzivel held out his mug toward Mardack. “Take it.”

Mardack eyed the mug suspiciously and then took it.

“Drink,” said Tenzivel.

“Thank you, your majesty, but I prefer not to imbibe at this time.”

“Shut up and drink it,” said Tenzivel. “Now.”

Mardack looked to the others but they all seemed as confused as he did by the king's demand. He looked into the mug, sniffed it, and no doubt wondered if that was what Tenzivel had been drinking all along, or something else.

“It's not poison,” said the king. “Take a sip.”

Mardack relented and sipped from the cup. “It's not mead,” said Mardack. He took another sip. “It's honey water.”” He looked to the others. “Honey water. There is no alcohol in it.”

“And there never has been,” said Tenzivel, his voice clear and strong.

“You gave up the drink?” said Malvegil.

“I never took it up in the first place. It's always been honey water or some such. All these years.”

“You had us all fooled,” said Pipkorn. “You're a better actor than Gatwind.”

“Had I

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