Sean Sarazin arrived in Voice with his sword, his dwarf, a stolen horse – and a lot of information. Lord Regan was resident in the city when Sarazin arrived, and soon the ruler of the Rice Empire was methodically pumping the young refugee. Sarazin told all. Well, almost all.
He breathed not a word of the instruments of enchant- ment which had been stolen from him, but he told the rest of his tale to the full. Lord Regan knew most of it already, having received regular reports from Thodric Jarl, Epelthin Elkin and other spies. But the latest events were new to him.
'So,' said Lord Regan, when Sarazin was finished. 'Morgan Hearst is to be ruler of the Harvest Plains.'
'By now he will be,' said Sean Sarazin. The very night I fled he was to be consecrated as one of the Favoured Blood. Doubtless today he lords it over Selzirk, and plans conquest. After all, he has the death-stone.'
'Which you say he had sworn to take south to the Confederation of Wizards.'
'Elkor Alish had sworn an identical oath,' said Sarazin, 'yet yielded to temptation. I do not think Hearst a greater man. After all, he has already delayed long in the Harvest Plains. Besides, I think my mother has ensnared him in a love-web.'
'So,' said Lord Regan, 'lust and ambition will make Hearst the master of the Harvest Plains. Doubtless his thoughts will soon turn to conquest. When that happens,
I cannot stand against him. Not if he is armed with the death-stone.'
Then Lord Regan explained that he already had a refuge prepared against a day of trouble.
'It is a place in the Ashun Mountains. There I can flee if my world comes to an end. You could go there now, if you chose. Or you could go to Chenameg.' 'Chenameg?' said Sarazin, startled.
'Yes,' said Lord Regan, briskly. 'I have long sponsored a little
… a little trouble in Chenameg. Men fight there against the tyranny of Tarkal of Shin. One of those who stands in opposition to Tarkal is Lod.' 'Lod!' said Sarazin, in amazement. 'So Lod lives!'
'Why does that surprise you?' said Lord Regan. 'Have you ever heard that he was dead? No? Then what did you hear of Lod?'
'That he escaped from Shin when Tarkal sought to execute him,' said Sarazin. Tarkal, rightly thinking himself unsafe, then left Shin himself and set off for the Harvest Plains. Lod harried Tarkal's retreat. Then Tarkal joined up with an army led by my brother Celadon. Together, those two defeated Lod's forces. I know nothing of Lod's fate after that.'
'He came to me,' said Lord Regan. 'He came to me with the remnants of his forces. I gave him what he needed – armour, weapons, military advisers. I saw him established in the hills in the south of Chenameg. Since then, he has ever been a thorn in Tarkal's side.' 'And you would have me join him?' said Sarazin.
'You do as you will,' said Lord Regan. You can go into refuge in the Ashun Mountains or join Lod in Chenameg. But you cannot stay here. Not when Morgan Hearst rules in Selzirk. For, if Hearst learnt that I was sheltering you, he would think my ambition was to set you on the throne of the Harvest Plains.'
Lord Regan paused, then, laying his hand on Sarazin's shoulder, he said: 'It is, of course. It always was. For, as I have told you before, I have long thought of you as my son. But I judge that this is not the moment to try the move.'
There were times in the past when Sean Sarazin had hated Lord Regan. Who had lied to him. Used him. Tricked him. Manipulated him. Fooled him. But, now that he was face to face with the man, Sarazin could not doubt his sincerity. Lord Regan did care for him! Lord Regan did think of him as a son!
And, one day, Lord Regan would put him on the throne of the Harvest Plains. Not just to serve his own ends – but because he truly valued Sean Sarazin. How could Sarazin return such love? He knew how. He knew what would please Lord Regan. So he said:
'My lord, you have given me a choice of flight, refuge or war. I choose war! I will go to Chenameg and there join Lod's fight against Tarkal. Then, in the fulness of time, if another fate presents itself – I will be ready!'