loose within my household, imparting information of my plans to the king. Where's the message?"
Immerez swallowed.
"Well, man, what is it?"
"The message… it—it got away."
"The message got away? What did it do? Sprout legs and run?"
"Yes, my lord. I mean, no, my lord."
Mirwell rubbed his grizzled eyebrows with his thumb and forefinger. "Explain."
"We chased Coblebay for days, and even more after we injured him. The day we thought we finally had him, he eluded us yet again. He rode like a demon, as if his horse had wings. Unnatural, if you take my meaning. He should've died days earlier. He rode off the trail and into the woods. We lost all trace of him, as if he'd disappeared completely."
"How do you know he's dead?"
"We found him eventually, on the Selium Road."
"So where's the message?" The governor's voice was tinged with impatience.
"With the horse." Before the governor could bark another question, Immerez explained, "Someone took the horse. That fool Thursgad thought Coblebay's ghost still directed it, but we caught up with the rider, cloaked in a Greenie greatcoat, and very much of the flesh. This Rider did vanish ."
"Greenie tricks, eh? I've heard they have uncanny abilities, but they are close-mouthed about it. Zachary keeps that woman by this throne. You know the one."
"Mapstone?"
"That's the one. Mapstone." He snarled her name. "He keeps her by his side and she looks at me like she can see right into my soul. I heard of Greenie magic when I was a boy and always knew to keep my mind clear around her, and my words honest. No sense in taking a chance, and I'm glad I haven't. Only a Greenie could disappear like that. What do you plan now?"
Immerez released a long breath, as if relieved by the governor's apparent understanding. "My men and the Gray One continue to track this new Greenie. I request additional help. I thought it would prove advantageous if we include a couple of Prince Amilton's people in the chase. After all, it is for him we are treading such a dangerous path."
"A couple of Amilton's folk, eh? Which ones did you have in mind?"
"His Weapons."
Mirwell chortled. "How very shrewd of you, Captain. We'll make our would-be king feel a little vulnerable without them, eh? And how very appropriate. They are already traitors to the realm, so by necessity they will be careful. By all means, broaden the search."
"What if the prince should protest?"
"Does he have any choice? Without our help, he won't be able to claim the crown as his." The fire popped, and the captain blinked. Mirwell ran his fingers through his beard where four white streaks cut through the gray like claw-marks. "You must stop that Greenie, Captain. We must prevent that message from getting through. If it does, our plans could fall to ruin, and the reprisal would be harsh indeed. We mustn't alert Zachary to his impending assassination. Find out also who the spy is, if one exists, by whatever means necessary."
"Yes, my lord." Immerez started to bow, but Mirwell stopped him with a gesture.
"And Immerez, if you fail, I shall carve out your other eye from its socket myself, and display it in a jar on my mantel until it withers away."
Immerez's cheeks blanched. He knew it was no casual threat. He completed the bow and turned smartly on his heel, leaving the library in brisk even steps.
Mirwell chuckled. Immerez was generally a competent man, but a threat wouldn't hurt. It was no secret the governor could have housed a museum of body parts taken from those who had displeased him.
The letter from Dean Geyer crinkled as he unfolded it for another read through. His idiot of a son had lost a sword-fight with some merchant girl and had retaliated by involving the Selium Mirwells. It seemed his cousins had things under control. The girl in question was suspended from school for the fight, causing her to run away. Mirwell, never fond of merchants, grinned. Maybe his boy held some promise after all. But governing a great province, a
Immerez swallowed.
"Well, man, what is it?"
"The message… it—it got away."
"The message got away? What did it do? Sprout legs and run?"
"Yes, my lord. I mean, no, my lord."
Mirwell rubbed his grizzled eyebrows with his thumb and forefinger. "Explain."
"We chased Coblebay for days, and even more after we injured him. The day we thought we finally had him, he eluded us yet again. He rode like a demon, as if his horse had wings. Unnatural, if you take my meaning. He should've died days earlier. He rode off the trail and into the woods. We lost all trace of him, as if he'd disappeared completely."
"How do you know he's dead?"
"We found him eventually, on the Selium Road."
"So where's the message?" The governor's voice was tinged with impatience.
"With the horse." Before the governor could bark another question, Immerez explained, "Someone took the horse. That fool Thursgad thought Coblebay's ghost still directed it, but we caught up with the rider, cloaked in a Greenie greatcoat, and very much of the flesh. This Rider did vanish ."
"Greenie tricks, eh? I've heard they have uncanny abilities, but they are close-mouthed about it. Zachary keeps that woman by this throne. You know the one."
"Mapstone?"
"That's the one. Mapstone." He snarled her name. "He keeps her by his side and she looks at me like she can see right into my soul. I heard of Greenie magic when I was a boy and always knew to keep my mind clear around her, and my words honest. No sense in taking a chance, and I'm glad I haven't. Only a Greenie could disappear like that. What do you plan now?"
Immerez released a long breath, as if relieved by the governor's apparent understanding. "My men and the Gray One continue to track this new Greenie. I request additional help. I thought it would prove advantageous if we include a couple of Prince Amilton's people in the chase. After all, it is for him we are treading such a dangerous path."
"A couple of Amilton's folk, eh? Which ones did you have in mind?"
"His Weapons."
Mirwell chortled. "How very shrewd of you, Captain. We'll make our would-be king feel a little vulnerable without them, eh? And how very appropriate. They are already traitors to the realm, so by necessity they will be careful. By all means, broaden the search."
"What if the prince should protest?"
"Does he have any choice? Without our help, he won't be able to claim the crown as his." The fire popped, and the captain blinked. Mirwell ran his fingers through his beard where four white streaks cut through the gray like claw-marks. "You must stop that Greenie, Captain. We must prevent that message from getting through. If it does, our plans could fall to ruin, and the reprisal would be harsh indeed. We mustn't alert Zachary to his impending assassination. Find out also who the spy is, if one exists, by whatever means necessary."
"Yes, my lord." Immerez started to bow, but Mirwell stopped him with a gesture.
"And Immerez, if you fail, I shall carve out your other eye from its socket myself, and display it in a jar on my mantel until it withers away."
Immerez's cheeks blanched. He knew it was no casual threat. He completed the bow and turned smartly on his heel, leaving the library in brisk even steps.
Mirwell chuckled. Immerez was generally a competent man, but a threat wouldn't hurt. It was no secret the governor could have housed a museum of body parts taken from those who had displeased him.
The letter from Dean Geyer crinkled as he unfolded it for another read through. His idiot of a son had lost a sword-fight with some merchant girl and had retaliated by involving the Selium Mirwells. It seemed his cousins had things under control. The girl in question was suspended from school for the fight, causing her to run away. Mirwell, never fond of merchants, grinned. Maybe his boy held some promise after all. But governing a great province, a
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