The Emperor by John Norman

Author:John Norman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Distribution
Published: 2019-04-23T13:58:29+00:00

Chapter Fifty-One

“What is this you tell me!” cried Sidonicus, his great bulk leaning forward from the chair in his private audience chamber.

“Put aside your sweets,” said Ingeld. “It is bitter news I bring.”

“Impossible!” said Fulvius.

“I cannot believe it,” screamed Sidonicus. “Abrogastes! On Tenguthaxichai!”

“Yes,” said Ingeld. “I have seen him, I have touched him, I have embraced him, on Tenguthaxichai.”

“He lives?” said Sidonicus.

“Yes,” said Ingeld.

“Surely he was slain with his rebel son, Ortog, days ago, in Telnar, in the deepest basement of the house of Dardanis,” said Safarius.

“You should have remained there, to witness the executions,” said Sidonicus, “rather than squeamishly withdrawing, with your guards.”

“You said yourself,” protested Safarius, “you would have behaved similarly.”

“It would not have been seemly for a ministrant of Floon, let alone the exarch of Telnar, to witness so bloody a spectacle,” said Sidonicus.

“Nor for the primarius of the senate,” insisted Safarius.

“Nonsense,” said Sidonicus. “The two cases are in no way comparable. A ministrant is concerned with holy matters, matters pertaining to the koos. Being primarius of the senate is a secular post. It has nothing to do with the koos. It is concerned with mundane matters, matters political, profane, and such. You should have witnessed the executions, even seen to the matter.”

“I withdrew, with my guards,” said Safarius.

“You are sure of the matter?” Fulvius asked Ingeld. “That you encountered Abrogastes on Tenguthaxichai?”

“It is indisputable,” said Ingeld.

“You are fortunate you were not torn to pieces on Tenguthaxichai,” said Fulvius.

“Abrogastes does not associate me with what occurred in the house of Dardanis,” said Ingeld.

“Nor the exarch, I trust,” said Fulvius.

“No,” said Ingeld.

“Good,” breathed Sidonicus, leaning back in his chair, and reaching for a sweet.

“Who then would he see as having been involved in his detention and incarceration?” asked Fulvius.

“Otungs, of course,” said Sidonicus.

“And who then to his rescue?” asked Fulvius.

“It is obvious,” said Sidonicus.

“Who, your blessedness?” asked Fulvius.

“His own people,” said Sidonicus, “obviously Drisriaks.”

“Do we know that?” asked Fulvius.

“Who else could it be?” asked Sidonicus.

“I see,” said Fulvius.

“This can work out well for us,” said Sidonicus. “It can further enflame the ancient enmities, and hereditary hatreds, betwixt Drisriaks and Otungs.”

“That is not clear,” said Ingeld. “Abrogastes, on Tenguthaxichai, alleged he was absent, buying slaves.”

“I trust,” said Fulvius, “that you betrayed no skepticism or astonishment.”

“I am not a fool,” said Ingeld.

“I do not understand the silence of Abrogastes,” said Fulvius. “Obviously he escaped or was rescued.”

“The Far-Grasper is subtle,” said Safarius.

“It seems he does not act,” said Sidonicus.

“I trust he is not drawing together the cords of a net,” said Safarius.

“In any event,” said Ingeld, “our plans are much awry. I cannot now control the tribes. I cannot now launch them against Otungs. No invasion is imminent. My father’s plan is to seize the throne by guile, and not by expensive, perilous force. Viviana or Alacida is to produce a son of mixed blood, Drisriak and Telnarian, who, once the Otung is deposed, will be seen as emperor, in whose name a regent, myself or Hrothgar, will rule.”

“All this,” said Safarius, “will be sanctioned by the senate.

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