The Invisible Hands - Part 1: Gambit by Ashling Andrew

Author:Ashling, Andrew [Ashling, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Amazon: B007VN92WG
Goodreads: 13606562
Publisher: Ormidon Publishing
Published: 2012-04-18T06:00:00+00:00

31 “Of course I am on the list,” an angry voice shouted. “I am on every

list.”

“General Demaxos is on the list, as expected,” another voice, this one petulant, replied, “but I don't seem to find your name.”

“There are several possible explanations for that. You've got the wrong list. You've got the right list but it is wrong. You're an analpha-bet. You're the most stupid man alive. Pick one.”

Parrimar Weckstall, summoning all his professional patience, let the verbal storm pass him by. Nothing could be deemed particularly unusual with the strange company the warlord chose to surround himself with. He thought back with some longing to the quiet, dignified days when the duchess-regent decided who entered the castle.

“If you could tell me your name again, Sir?”

“And what good would that do? You don't seem to be able to retain important information for longer than the blinking of an eye. But, as I'm in an extremely good mood today, I will oblige. Tollbir is the name.

You're a very tiresome fellow, you know.”

Murno Tollbir scratched his beard.

“Your first name?”

31 “Doctor. Doctor Tollbir. I'm the young man's physician.”

“The young man?”

“He means His Highness, the prince,” Lethoras intervened. “The doctor is on the list, and if he's not, he should be.”

Murno Tollbir looked at the unhappy steward.

“Tell you what. You apply your minuscule brain to try to solve this baffling conundrum, and meanwhile we go inside. That way only one out of the three of us will lose precious time.”

He blinked.

“I'm not certain a room has been prepared for you,” Parrimar said, not sure what to do.

“It's all right,” Lethoras tried to assuage him. “In a pinch he can share mine.”

“Move,” Murno said.

Reluctantly Parrimar Weckstall let the pair through and immediately began searching his list again.

“Nitwit,” he heard the doctor say to the general. “How these fools can hold on to semi-useful jobs will stay a mystery to me for all eternity.”

They entered the great hall, and were almost immediately approached by an older man.

“Excuse me, but did I hear you say you were the prince's doctor?”

Murno Tollbir stopped. He blinked at the man, but didn't reply.

“He's a rather famous doctor,” Lethoras volunteered.

“Rather? What do you mean, rather? Don't answer that.” Murno turned to the man. “What's the matter with you?”

31 “It's not me. I'm a friend of the Duchess Athildis. She's behaving,

eh — how shall I put this? — strangely as of late. Very strangely, and it worries me.”

“Is it urgent?” Lethoras asked. “We have an appointment to keep.”

“Fiddlesticks. The boy can wait,” Murno said.

Sir Threnn looked uncomprehendingly from one to the other.

“He means His Highness,” Lethoras answered his unspoken

question.

“Let's keep things in perspective. First there's patients. Then there's nothing. Then there's more nothing. Then there's me. Then…”

He made a dismissive gesture.

“Lead the way, my good man,” he concluded, extremely pleased with himself. “Lethoras, take care of our bags, will you?”

Woldemar of Shoreham knocked and opened the door.

“I found this old gentleman wandering in the corridors, My Lord.

He seemed to have lost his way.

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