warlike came to rule Lyonesse! Let us suppose that this monarch, for reasons beyond conjecture, decided to attack Ulfland-well then! We are prepared for him and if he is sane he will be dissuaded.”
Casmir showed a wintry smile. “I grant a theoretical basis for this line of thought, but is it not, in practice, somewhat farfetched?”
“I certainly hope so,” said Aillas. “May I pour you more of this wine? It is produced on my own estate.”
“Thank you; it is very fine indeed. The wines of Troicinet are not as well known at Haidion as they should be.”
“That, of course, is a lack easy to overcome, and I shall see to it.”
Casmir thoughtfully lifted the goblet, swirled the wine and watched the golden ripples. “It is hard to recall the harsh old times when bad blood existed between our peoples.”
“All things change,” said Aillas.
“Exactly! Our treaty, signed in the heat of ruffled feelings, stipulated that Lyonesse should build no warships, on an outmoded presumption. Now that amity has returned-”
“Just so!” declared Aillas. “The present equilibrium has served us well! It is a balance which encourages peace across all the Elder Isles. This balance and this peace are vital to us and form the basis of our foreign policy.”
“Oh?” King Casmir frowned. “And how can you implement so broad a policy?”
“The principle is simple enough. We can allow neither Lyonesse nor Dahaut to gain ascendancy over the other, because then our own security would disappear. Should King Audry attack Lyonesse and by some miracle gain advantage, then we must join the war on the side of Lyonesse until the stasis returns; and vice versa.”
Casmir managed an easy laugh and, draining his goblet, set down the empty vessel with a thump. “I wish that my own goals could be so easily defined. Alas! They depend on such ineffable considerations as justice, the redressment of old wrongs, and the thrust of history.”
Aillas poured wine into Casmir’s goblet. “I do not envy you your maze of uncertainties. Still, you need be at no doubt in regard to Troicinet. Should either Lyonesse or Dahaut grow strong enough to menace the other, then we must throw our strength behind the weaker. In effect, you are protected by a strong navy without incurring any of the expense.”
King Casmir rose to his feet. He spoke somewhat curtly. “I am tired after the voyage, and I will now bid you good evening.”
Aillas, rising, said: “I hope that your rest will be comfortable.”
The two went to the drawing room where Queen Sollace sat with ladies of both courts. King Casmir went only to the doorway and bowed stiffly to the occupants of the room. Queen Sollace rose to her feet, bade the company goodnight and the two were escorted to their chambers by footmen bearing flamboys.
Aillas returned along the great gallery toward his parlour. From the shadows stepped a stout person in a plum-red cassock. “King Aillas! A moment of your time, if you please!”
Aillas stopped and surveyed the rubicund face of Father Umphred, as he now called himself. Aillas pretended no cordiality. “What do you want?”
Umphred chuckled. “I thought, first of all, to renew our old acquaintance.”
Aillas, from sheer distaste, moved back a step. Nothing daunted, Umphred spoke on. “As you may know, I have successfully brought the Holy Message to Lyonesse Town. King Casmir almost certainly will sponsor the construction of a noble cathedral, to glorify the name of God within the precincts of his happy city. If so much transpires, I may well wear the mitre.”
“This is nothing to me,” said Aillas. “In fact, I am surprised that you dare show your face in my presence.”
With a jovial smile and a flourish of the hand, Father Umphred erased every vestige of ill-feeling which might have existed between the two. “I bring to Troicinet the joyous message of the Gospels! Pagan pomp still holds sway in Troicinet, Dascinet and South Ulfland. Nightly I
Casmir showed a wintry smile. “I grant a theoretical basis for this line of thought, but is it not, in practice, somewhat farfetched?”
“I certainly hope so,” said Aillas. “May I pour you more of this wine? It is produced on my own estate.”
“Thank you; it is very fine indeed. The wines of Troicinet are not as well known at Haidion as they should be.”
“That, of course, is a lack easy to overcome, and I shall see to it.”
Casmir thoughtfully lifted the goblet, swirled the wine and watched the golden ripples. “It is hard to recall the harsh old times when bad blood existed between our peoples.”
“All things change,” said Aillas.
“Exactly! Our treaty, signed in the heat of ruffled feelings, stipulated that Lyonesse should build no warships, on an outmoded presumption. Now that amity has returned-”
“Just so!” declared Aillas. “The present equilibrium has served us well! It is a balance which encourages peace across all the Elder Isles. This balance and this peace are vital to us and form the basis of our foreign policy.”
“Oh?” King Casmir frowned. “And how can you implement so broad a policy?”
“The principle is simple enough. We can allow neither Lyonesse nor Dahaut to gain ascendancy over the other, because then our own security would disappear. Should King Audry attack Lyonesse and by some miracle gain advantage, then we must join the war on the side of Lyonesse until the stasis returns; and vice versa.”
Casmir managed an easy laugh and, draining his goblet, set down the empty vessel with a thump. “I wish that my own goals could be so easily defined. Alas! They depend on such ineffable considerations as justice, the redressment of old wrongs, and the thrust of history.”
Aillas poured wine into Casmir’s goblet. “I do not envy you your maze of uncertainties. Still, you need be at no doubt in regard to Troicinet. Should either Lyonesse or Dahaut grow strong enough to menace the other, then we must throw our strength behind the weaker. In effect, you are protected by a strong navy without incurring any of the expense.”
King Casmir rose to his feet. He spoke somewhat curtly. “I am tired after the voyage, and I will now bid you good evening.”
Aillas, rising, said: “I hope that your rest will be comfortable.”
The two went to the drawing room where Queen Sollace sat with ladies of both courts. King Casmir went only to the doorway and bowed stiffly to the occupants of the room. Queen Sollace rose to her feet, bade the company goodnight and the two were escorted to their chambers by footmen bearing flamboys.
Aillas returned along the great gallery toward his parlour. From the shadows stepped a stout person in a plum-red cassock. “King Aillas! A moment of your time, if you please!”
Aillas stopped and surveyed the rubicund face of Father Umphred, as he now called himself. Aillas pretended no cordiality. “What do you want?”
Umphred chuckled. “I thought, first of all, to renew our old acquaintance.”
Aillas, from sheer distaste, moved back a step. Nothing daunted, Umphred spoke on. “As you may know, I have successfully brought the Holy Message to Lyonesse Town. King Casmir almost certainly will sponsor the construction of a noble cathedral, to glorify the name of God within the precincts of his happy city. If so much transpires, I may well wear the mitre.”
“This is nothing to me,” said Aillas. “In fact, I am surprised that you dare show your face in my presence.”
With a jovial smile and a flourish of the hand, Father Umphred erased every vestige of ill-feeling which might have existed between the two. “I bring to Troicinet the joyous message of the Gospels! Pagan pomp still holds sway in Troicinet, Dascinet and South Ulfland. Nightly I
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