"Perhaps," Naitachal said evenly. "What I came to discuss is rather important, and involves the future relations of our two kingdoms. I am a patient being, willing to adapt to whatever schedule the King requires of me. But I have traveled quite a distance to be here. In Althea, King Reynard would have wasted no time to accommodate a representative of your land.
While I do see the importance of keeping accurate books, we usually assign such a task to servants and underlings."
He paused, waiting to see Pikhalas' reaction. His expression was as blank and unreadable as a death mask. Naitachal continued. "May I respectfully ask when the King's schedule might allow my vital meet- ing with him?"
Pikhalas was quiet for a long time, and finally his expression changed as the mask dropped. Now he glared at Naitachal with unconcealed contempt.
When he spoke, his voice held a world of disdain. "We have an expression in Suinomen, which would seem appropriate now. Loosely translated to your barbaric tongue, it says, 'Guests should remember that they are guests.' If you are a patient man, Ambassador, show us by your actions, and not your empty words. I will dis- cuss this with the King. Tomorrow I might be able to arrange something, but I promise nothing. If this is in- sufficient to your rather trying demands, I suggest that you take to the road, and return to that home from which you came."
Pikhalas turned brusquely, and tossed a final saluta- tion over his shoulder, as Naitachal stared at him.
"Good day, Ambassador."
He stamped off to whatever "important business"
Paavo had interrupted, his stiff gait and posture telling the world how annoyed he was at having to deal with the Dark Elf.
Naitachal gazed after him, suppressing the urge to work the tiny magic needed to make him trip and fall on his nose.
When he had left, the boot thumping fading into the distance, Naitachal stood. Summoning as much serenity as he could, which wasn't much but enough to mask his own hot feelings, he left the dining hall with a little more composure and a lot less noise than Pikha- las.
If I'm cautious, perhaps I can do a bit of investiga- tive work in places they would rather not see me, before they declare such sites off limits. It seems to be all I can do.
Demon-dogs! Even Alaire is accomplishing more than I!
Chapter Alaire set out to find Prince Kainemonen, pausing to change into something simple but clean. Something black, that wouldn't blind him or give him a head- ache. I doubt he'll be feeling his very best today. The clothes he chose were more appropriate for night- crawling, and he could only pray they wouldn't be giving Kai any ideas about another round of tavern- hopping. An upper servant or lesser noble might wear the black hose, tunic and small cape, in another land.
His alertness had slipped once or twice the previous evening, when he was out with Kai, but after hearing about Naitachal's visitor his senses were keyed to a high pitch. And although it might seem logical to sus- pect the Crown Prince -- who, after all, had dr Naitachal's companion off, leaving him alone -- in his gut he knew that Kai wasn't responsible for the attack, or even knew anything abo There simply wasn't a devious bone in Kai's body.
Foolish, perhaps, but not devious.
He puzzled over how much to tell Kai about his own life. Most of his background was secret in Sumo- men and Althea, for benefit of his disguise. If I'm going to get through to him I've probably got to level with him completely -- well, almost. I'll have to do it without mentioning my Bardic Gift. To let him I'm as well-born as he is as well may open some doors.
Or alienate him completely.
It was a chance he had to take. Satisfied he had struck the proper balance in his attire, so he wouldn't look like a degraded peon or a well-appointed noble, the land Kai appeared to dislike the most, he began looking randomly through the halls for a servant to take him to Kai.
In retrospect, he decided it was a good idea after all not to mention the tavern fight to Naitachal, although the elf must certainly have seen the signs all over him.
And that's all it was, at The Dead Dragon Inn. A sim- ple fight, in a rough part of town. It had nothing to do with the attempt on Naitachal's life. So, no need to tell him anything about it. If he thought I was going to be walking into trouble, he wouldn't be suggesting an alli- ance with Kai.
While Naitachal saw that ingratiating himself with the lad would provide practical information for their mission, Alaire wanted it to be more than that. Kai needs a real friend here. One day the Watch might not come in time to break up whatever fight he's in. If nothing else, he needs people along to save whoever he's fighting! One day he may kill someone, quite by acciden Alaire frowned as something else occurred to him.
What if that's what someone wants?
It was easy to see a conspiracy behind every one of the closed doors he passed, in this early stage of the game. The reality of it was he was no closer to the real conspiracy than he was last night -- unless Sir Jehan was at the middle of it.
He found Paavo dusting shelves in one of the grand hallways. When he turned and saw Alaire, his distaste was evident.