Tigana by Guy Kay (novel24 txt) 📕

honour earned saving the life of the King. How marvellously clever of you, d’Eymon!’

She had miscalculated. For the first time he smiled, a narrow, mirthless expression. ‘Is that what this is about?’ he asked softly.

She bit back a swift denial. It was not inconvenient for him to think so, she realized.

‘Among other things,’ she admitted, as if grudgingly. ‘I want to know why you have been favouring him for the Asoli posting. I had been meaning to talk to you about this.’

‘I thought as much,’ he said, a measure of his usual complacency returning. ‘I have also been keeping track of some—not all, I have no doubt—of the gifts Scelto has been receiving in your name these past weeks. That was a splendid necklace yesterday, by the way. Did Neso’s money pay for it? In an attempt to have you win me over to his side?’

He was immensely well-informed, and he was shrewd. She had always known these things. It was never wise to underestimate the Chancellor.

‘It helped pay for it,’ she said briefly. ‘You haven’t answered my question. Why do you favour him? You must know what sort of man he is.’

‘Of course I know,’ d’Eymon replied impatiently. ‘Why do you think I want him out of here? I want him posted to Asoli because I don’t trust him at court. I want him away from the King and in a place where he can be killed without undue inconvenience. I trust that answers your question?’

She swallowed. Never, ever underestimate him, she told herself again. ‘It does,’ she said. ‘Killed by whom?’

‘That should be obvious. It will be put about that the Asolini did it themselves. I expect it will not take Neso long to give them cause.’

‘Of course. And then?’

‘And then the King will investigate and find that Neso was guilty of gross corruption, which we need not doubt he will be. We execute some man or other for the murder but the King declares his firm renunciation of Neso’s methods and greed. He appoints a new Taxing Master and promises fairer measures in the future. I think that should quiet affairs in north Asoli for a time.’

‘Good,’ said Dianora, trying to ignore the casual indifference of that some man or other. ‘And very tidy. I have only one thing to add: the new officer will be Rhamanus.’ She was taking another risk, she knew. When it came down to bedrock, she was a captive and a concubine, and he was the Chancellor of Ygrath and of the Western Palm. On the other hand, there were other ways to measure the balance here, and she fought to focus on those.

D’Eymon looked coolly down at her. She kept her gaze on his, her eyes wide and disingenuous.

‘It has long amused me,’ he said at length, ‘that you so favoured the man who captured you. One would think you hadn’t minded, that you wanted to come.’

Perilously, uncannily near to the mark, but she could see he was baiting her, not serious in his thrust. She forced herself to relax, and smiled. ‘How could I mind being here? I’d never have had a chance at pleasant meetings such as this. And in any case’—she let her tone change—‘I do favour him, yes. On behalf of the people of this peninsula I do. And you know that that will always be my concern, Chancellor. He is a decent man. There are not many such Ygrathens, I’m afraid.’

He was silent a moment. Then: ‘There are more than you think.’ But before she could manage to interpret either his words or the surprising voice in which they were spoken, he added, ‘I seriously thought of having you poisoned last night. Either that, or suggesting you be freed and made a citizen of Ygrath.’

‘What extremes, my dear!’ She could feel herself growing cold though. ‘Didn’t you teach us all that balance is everything?’

‘I did,’ he said soberly, not rising to her bait. He never did. ‘Have you any idea what you’ve done to the equilibrium at this court?’

‘What,’ she said with real asperity, ‘would you have preferred me to do yesterday?’

‘That is not at all the point. Obviously.’ There was a rare spot of colour in his cheeks. When he resumed, though, it was in his usual tones. ‘I was thinking of Rhamanus for Asoli myself. It shall be as you suggest. In the meantime, I very nearly forgot to mention that the King has sent for you. I intercepted the message before it reached the saishan. He will be waiting in the library.’

She shot to her feet, as agitated as he must have known she would be. ‘How long ago?’ she asked quickly.

‘Not very. Why? You don’t seem to mind being late. There are anemones in the garden, you could tell him that.’

‘I could tell him some other things as well, d’Eymon.’ Anger almost choked her. She fought for control.

‘And so could I. And so, I suppose, could Solores. We seldom do, do we? The balance, as you have just pointed out, is everything. That is why I should still be very careful, Dianora, despite what happened yesterday. The balance is all. Do not forget it.’

She tried to think of a response, a last word, but failed. Her mind was whirling. He had spoken of killing her, of freeing her, had agreed with her choice for Asoli, and then threatened her again. All in a span of minutes! And all the while the King had been waiting for her, and d’Eymon had known.

She turned, abruptly and dismally conscious of her nondescript robe and the fact that she had no time to go back up to the saishan and change. She could feel herself flushing with anger and anxiety.

Scelto had evidently overheard the Chancellor’s last remarks. His eyes above the broken nose were vividly concerned and apologetic, though with d’Eymon intercepting the message there was nothing he could have done.

She stopped by the palace doors and looked back. The Chancellor stood alone in the garden