believe in such nonsense for long enough to repeat it? Forty crowns bought four thousand flagons of beer for the brigade on duty. That’s four flagons per man for the whole day!”
Plesenta was amused, Ewilra flushed with embarrassment. Hektor ploughed on, determined to hammer home the point.
“Kesepton is absolutely correct, things have reached a scandalous point. The legions have always been given just enough to keep body and soul together. It’s been a scandal, but it never attracted much attention here because our hungry men are in Kenor, five hundred miles away. The men have put up with it, dragons and horses have gone hungry. But now the funds are coming a full three months late. The legions in Kenor are actually starving this month.”
High Priestess Ewilra responded with considerable passion in her voice. “We have had a difficult season, there have been outbreaks of banditry all over the Blue Hills. Bandits that the legions have been slow to act against! Seek no further than your own indolence in this matter!”
The generals glared at her with rigid eyes. They spluttered in indignation: “Indolence!”
Flavia of the Novitiate sighed inwardly. This was going to be a difficult session of the committee. And they had yet to hear the bad news from the distinguished visitor.
Flavia noted that Besita was being unusually quiet. Normally Besita would have been at the forefront of the attack on the legions. But today Besita had her eyes on the door. Waiting for the arrival of their mysterious guest.
Flavia was well aware of the importance of this visitor, who doubtless brought them more bad news from the depths of the continent.
The door opened. Lessis of Valmes, wearing a plain grey sari, entered the room accompanied by Viuris of the Office of Insight, who also wore plain grey without adornment.
“Greetings, Lessis, on behalf of everyone here may I welcome you to our council,” said Besita.
Flavia looked up again in surprise. Besita was rarely heard to praise the expenses of the Offices of Insight. Indeed, she was one of those who often bewailed the entire practice of the offices in their secretive war with the enemy, behind the scenes, out of public view.
“Thank you, Besita,” said Lessis in a quiet voice, which nonetheless was clearly heard by everyone present.
Flavia felt again that extraordinary sense of presence or immanent power that enveloped Lessis like an invisible aura. This quite ordinary-looking woman, who dressed in the simplest costume and, it was said, owned nothing of her own whatsoever, was one of the three greatest adepts in the Empire of the Rose. A Great Witch beyond the rest, with high rank within the Temple hierarchy of Cunfshon itself.
Once more she puts us under her spell
, thought Flavia as Lessis charmed them, exerting her spell of attraction with practiced ease. Appearing in her simple grey sari, her head covered, she seemed as if she were no more than a perfectly ordinary, poor woman of middle age.
“Greetings to you all.” Her eyes glittered, reflected in Flavia’s. “I won’t waste time with formalities—we know each other do we not?”
Oh, Flavia knew the witch well—too well.
“I have a great deal to tell you, and therefore I’ll get on with it right away.”
Lessis took her seat. She moved, as always, with an easy compact grace. Flavia could imagine her as a dancer, or a gymnast. Flavia imagined the woman was deadly with a knife as well.
Lessis continued speaking.
“It has been a year or more since I was last here, too long I’m afraid. Always do I love to return to the white Queen of the Bright Sea.” She paused, and seemed to contemplate something most distasteful before continuing.
“But once again I am here, and I bring the most appalling news.”
Ewilra seemed to shudder. Always, always, the Grey Sisters brought bad news. Everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
Ewilra could not hold it back.
“As usual, when the Sisters of your office
Plesenta was amused, Ewilra flushed with embarrassment. Hektor ploughed on, determined to hammer home the point.
“Kesepton is absolutely correct, things have reached a scandalous point. The legions have always been given just enough to keep body and soul together. It’s been a scandal, but it never attracted much attention here because our hungry men are in Kenor, five hundred miles away. The men have put up with it, dragons and horses have gone hungry. But now the funds are coming a full three months late. The legions in Kenor are actually starving this month.”
High Priestess Ewilra responded with considerable passion in her voice. “We have had a difficult season, there have been outbreaks of banditry all over the Blue Hills. Bandits that the legions have been slow to act against! Seek no further than your own indolence in this matter!”
The generals glared at her with rigid eyes. They spluttered in indignation: “Indolence!”
Flavia of the Novitiate sighed inwardly. This was going to be a difficult session of the committee. And they had yet to hear the bad news from the distinguished visitor.
Flavia noted that Besita was being unusually quiet. Normally Besita would have been at the forefront of the attack on the legions. But today Besita had her eyes on the door. Waiting for the arrival of their mysterious guest.
Flavia was well aware of the importance of this visitor, who doubtless brought them more bad news from the depths of the continent.
The door opened. Lessis of Valmes, wearing a plain grey sari, entered the room accompanied by Viuris of the Office of Insight, who also wore plain grey without adornment.
“Greetings, Lessis, on behalf of everyone here may I welcome you to our council,” said Besita.
Flavia looked up again in surprise. Besita was rarely heard to praise the expenses of the Offices of Insight. Indeed, she was one of those who often bewailed the entire practice of the offices in their secretive war with the enemy, behind the scenes, out of public view.
“Thank you, Besita,” said Lessis in a quiet voice, which nonetheless was clearly heard by everyone present.
Flavia felt again that extraordinary sense of presence or immanent power that enveloped Lessis like an invisible aura. This quite ordinary-looking woman, who dressed in the simplest costume and, it was said, owned nothing of her own whatsoever, was one of the three greatest adepts in the Empire of the Rose. A Great Witch beyond the rest, with high rank within the Temple hierarchy of Cunfshon itself.
Once more she puts us under her spell
, thought Flavia as Lessis charmed them, exerting her spell of attraction with practiced ease. Appearing in her simple grey sari, her head covered, she seemed as if she were no more than a perfectly ordinary, poor woman of middle age.
“Greetings to you all.” Her eyes glittered, reflected in Flavia’s. “I won’t waste time with formalities—we know each other do we not?”
Oh, Flavia knew the witch well—too well.
“I have a great deal to tell you, and therefore I’ll get on with it right away.”
Lessis took her seat. She moved, as always, with an easy compact grace. Flavia could imagine her as a dancer, or a gymnast. Flavia imagined the woman was deadly with a knife as well.
Lessis continued speaking.
“It has been a year or more since I was last here, too long I’m afraid. Always do I love to return to the white Queen of the Bright Sea.” She paused, and seemed to contemplate something most distasteful before continuing.
“But once again I am here, and I bring the most appalling news.”
Ewilra seemed to shudder. Always, always, the Grey Sisters brought bad news. Everyone shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
Ewilra could not hold it back.
“As usual, when the Sisters of your office
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