taking him past _______________
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shops and houses, through large squares with majestic fountains, and up the hill toward the palace. The city rested upon a series of hills, so that at times they saw the ground fall away as they crossed soaring bridges. Several times Tal looked down to see small rivers running toward the sea. “This city is wonderful,” he said to Amafi in the King’s Tongue.
“Assuredly, Magnificence,” said his valet. “It is said that when the first King of the Isles built his fortress, he picked the highest peak here, and a series of wooden bridges protected his band of men—who were little more than pirates, it is said. Over the years the city has grown up from the docks and down from the palace, so that now you have this maze of streets and bridges.”
As they crossed the second to last bridge on their way to the palace, Tal looked down and saw houses built into the very hillsides, it seemed, with clever cantilevered supports below and narrow flights of stairs leading up to the streets above them. Below them, the River Rillanon raced toward the sea over a series of small cataracts, hemmed in on both sides by mighty granite walls.
As they neared the palace, Tal said, “I wonder if those who live here get used to this beauty.”
“Undoubtedly, Magnificence. It is the nature of man to become oblivious to that which is around him daily,”
Amafi commented. “It is something a good assassin understands. The trick to not being discovered until it is too late is to become part of the expected surroundings.
Stealth is more the art of blending in with the background than sneaking through dark shadows.”
“You’re probably right,” said Tal.
“Of course I’m right, Magnificence, for were I not, I would by now be long dead.”
They were speaking the King’s Tongue, which seemed _______________
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appropriate to their setting, but Tal realized he could be overheard. Switching to the Quegan tongue, he said,
“There are some things you must do.”
“I live to obey, Magnificence.”
“When I do not need you at my side, I wish you to hang back, to keep a short distance away. I want you to be my second set of eyes, my second pair of ears. Watch who watches me, listen for any words about my lord Kaspar or myself.” He waved his hand to indicate everyone else around them. “As far as anyone else is concerned, you do not speak the King’s Tongue. We will converse only in Quegan.”
“As you instruct, Magnificence.”
The carriages rolled across the last bridge to the palace, and by the time the door opened, Tal could see the Duke’s carriage and several of those that had followed immediately behind were already gone, having been returned to the royal carriage house. Tal stood mute.
If the palace appeared splendid from the docks, up close it was almost unbelievable. An ancient stone keep had risen upon this hilltop centuries ago, but since then wings and new buildings had been added, until it had become a sprawling creation of corridors and galleries, gardens and fountains. The courtyard itself was three times larger than the palace at Roldem. But what set this palace apart was its façade. Every inch had been covered with matching stone, a white granite flecked with gold and silver. In the rosy glow of the setting sun it was a thing of glittering pinks and dazzling orange punctuated by indigo shadows. Every window was of arched, clear glass, and high in the towers brilliant pennants flew. Flowers grew everywhere on trellises or in window boxes.
A servant approached. “Squire Hawkins?”
“Yes?” Tal replied.
_______________
KING OF FOXES
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The servant motioned, and a royal page appeared, a boy of no more than thirteen years of age. “Show the squire and his man to their quarters,” the servant instructed.
Tal knew his luggage would be brought later. He set off, his eyes upon the back of the boy who led them up the broad steps to the
KING OF FOXES
91
shops and houses, through large squares with majestic fountains, and up the hill toward the palace. The city rested upon a series of hills, so that at times they saw the ground fall away as they crossed soaring bridges. Several times Tal looked down to see small rivers running toward the sea. “This city is wonderful,” he said to Amafi in the King’s Tongue.
“Assuredly, Magnificence,” said his valet. “It is said that when the first King of the Isles built his fortress, he picked the highest peak here, and a series of wooden bridges protected his band of men—who were little more than pirates, it is said. Over the years the city has grown up from the docks and down from the palace, so that now you have this maze of streets and bridges.”
As they crossed the second to last bridge on their way to the palace, Tal looked down and saw houses built into the very hillsides, it seemed, with clever cantilevered supports below and narrow flights of stairs leading up to the streets above them. Below them, the River Rillanon raced toward the sea over a series of small cataracts, hemmed in on both sides by mighty granite walls.
As they neared the palace, Tal said, “I wonder if those who live here get used to this beauty.”
“Undoubtedly, Magnificence. It is the nature of man to become oblivious to that which is around him daily,”
Amafi commented. “It is something a good assassin understands. The trick to not being discovered until it is too late is to become part of the expected surroundings.
Stealth is more the art of blending in with the background than sneaking through dark shadows.”
“You’re probably right,” said Tal.
“Of course I’m right, Magnificence, for were I not, I would by now be long dead.”
They were speaking the King’s Tongue, which seemed _______________
92
RAYMOND E. FEIST
appropriate to their setting, but Tal realized he could be overheard. Switching to the Quegan tongue, he said,
“There are some things you must do.”
“I live to obey, Magnificence.”
“When I do not need you at my side, I wish you to hang back, to keep a short distance away. I want you to be my second set of eyes, my second pair of ears. Watch who watches me, listen for any words about my lord Kaspar or myself.” He waved his hand to indicate everyone else around them. “As far as anyone else is concerned, you do not speak the King’s Tongue. We will converse only in Quegan.”
“As you instruct, Magnificence.”
The carriages rolled across the last bridge to the palace, and by the time the door opened, Tal could see the Duke’s carriage and several of those that had followed immediately behind were already gone, having been returned to the royal carriage house. Tal stood mute.
If the palace appeared splendid from the docks, up close it was almost unbelievable. An ancient stone keep had risen upon this hilltop centuries ago, but since then wings and new buildings had been added, until it had become a sprawling creation of corridors and galleries, gardens and fountains. The courtyard itself was three times larger than the palace at Roldem. But what set this palace apart was its façade. Every inch had been covered with matching stone, a white granite flecked with gold and silver. In the rosy glow of the setting sun it was a thing of glittering pinks and dazzling orange punctuated by indigo shadows. Every window was of arched, clear glass, and high in the towers brilliant pennants flew. Flowers grew everywhere on trellises or in window boxes.
A servant approached. “Squire Hawkins?”
“Yes?” Tal replied.
_______________
KING OF FOXES
93
The servant motioned, and a royal page appeared, a boy of no more than thirteen years of age. “Show the squire and his man to their quarters,” the servant instructed.
Tal knew his luggage would be brought later. He set off, his eyes upon the back of the boy who led them up the broad steps to the
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