It has suited my purposes to play a role, many...
It has suited my purposes to play a role, many different roles, in fact, for a great many yearsTomasso bar Sandre ought to appreciate that
Tomasso did not return the smile"Perhaps then, under the circumstances, you might favor us by saying who you really are He said it as politely as the situation seemed to warrant"My father might have known but we do not
"Nor, I'm afraid, shall you learn just yet," the other said"Though I will say that were I to swear a vow of my own on the honor of my family it would carry a weight that would eclipse both such oaths sworn here tonight
It was matter-of-factly said, which made the arrogance greater, not less
To forestall Nievole's predictable burst of anger Tomasso said quickly, "You will not deny us some information surely, even if you choose to shield your nameYou said Alberico is a tool for youA tool for what, Alessan not-of-Tregea?" He was pleased to find that he remembered the name Menico di Ferraut had mentioned yesterday"What is your own purpose? What brings you to this lodge?"
The other's face, lean and curiously hollowed with cheekbones in sharp relief, grew still, almost masklikeAnd into the waiting silence that ensued he said:
"I want BrandinI want Brandin of Ygrath dead more than I want my soul's immortality beyond the last portal of Morian
There was a silence again, broken only by the crackle of the autumn cartier watches women fires on the two hearthsIt seemed to Tomasso as if the chill of winter had come into the room with that speech
Then: "Such terribly splendid words!" murmured Scalvaia lazily, shattering the moodHe drew a shout of laughter from Nievole and Taeri, bothScalvaia himself did not smile
The man on the window-ledge acknowledged the thrust with the briefest nod of his headHe said, "This is not, my lord, a subject about which I permit frivolityIf we are to work together it will be necessary for you to remember that
"You, I am forced to say, are an overly proud young man," replied Scalvaia sharply"It might be appropriate for you to remember to whom you speak
The other visibly bit back his first retort"Pride is a family failing," he said finally"I have not escaped it, I'm afraidBut I am indeed mindful of who you areAnd the Sandreni and my lord NievoleI have made it my business to be aware of dissidence throughout the Palm for many yearsAt times I have encouraged it, discreetlyThis evening marks the first instance in which I have come myself to a gathering such as this
"But you have already told us that Alberico is nothing to you Tomasso inwardly cursed his father for not having better prepared him for this very peculiar sixth figure
"Nothing in himself," the other corrected"Will you allow me?" Without waiting for a reply he lifted himself down from the ledge and pink louis vuitton bag walked over to the wine
"Please," said Tomasso, belatedly
The man poured himself a generous glass of the vintage redHe drained it, and poured anotherOnly then did he turn back to address the five of themHerado's eyes, watching him, were enormous
"Two facts," the man called Alessan said crisply"Learn them if you are serious about freedom in the PalmOne: if you oust or slay Alberico you will have Brandin upon you within three monthsTwo: if Brandin is ousted or slain Alberico will rule this peninsula within that same period of timeHis eyes, grey, Tomasso noticed now, moved from one to the other of them, challengingScalvaia toyed with the handle of his cane
"These two things must be understood," the stranger went on in the same tone"Neither I in my own pursuit, nor you in yours, can afford to lose sight of themThey are the core truths of the Palm in our timeThe two sorcerers from overseas are their own balance of power and the only balance of power in the peninsula right now, however different things might have been eighteen years agoToday only the power of one keeps the magic of the other from being wielded as it was when they conquered usIf we take them then we must take them both, or make them bring down each other
"How?" Taeri asked, too eagerly
The lean face under the prematurely silvering dark hair turned to him and smiled briefly"Patience, Taeri bar SandreI fake gucci watch have a number of things yet to tell you about carelessness before deciding if our paths are to joinAnd I say this with infinite respect for the dead man who seems, remarkably enough, to have drawn us hereI'm afraid you are going to have to agree to submit yourselves to my guidance or we can do nothing together at all
"The Scalvaiane have submitted themselves willingly to nothing and no one in living memory or recorded history," that vulpine lord said, the texture of velvet in his voice"I am not readily of a mind to become the first to do so
"Would you prefer," the other said, "to have your plans and your life and the long glory of your line snuffed out like candles on the Ember Days because of sheer sloppiness in your preparations?"
"You had better explain yourself," Tomasso said icilyWho was it who chose a double-moon night at double moonrise to meet?" Alessan retorted, his voice suddenly cutting like a blade"Why are no rear guards posted along the forest path to warn you if someone approaches, as I just did? Why were no servants left here this afternoon to guard this cabin? Have you even the faintest awareness of how dead the five of you would be, severed hands stuffed into your throats, were I not who I am?"
"My father said that Alberico would not have us followed," Tomasso stammered furiously"He was absolutely certain of that
"And he is likely to have balenciaga bag replica been absolutely rightBut you cannot let your focus be so narrowYour father, I am sorry to have to say it, was alone with his obsession for too longHe was too intent upon AlbericoIt shows in everything you have done these past two daysWhat of the idly curious or the greedy? The petty informer who might decide to follow you just to see what happened here? Just to have a story to tell in the tavern tomorrow? Did you, or your father, give even half a thought to such things? Or to those who might have learned where you planned to come and arranged to be here before you?"
There was a hostile silenceA log on the smaller fire settled with a crack and a shower of sparksHerado jumped involuntarily at the sound
"Will it interest you to know," the man called Alessan went on, more gently, "that my people have been guarding the approaches to this cabin since you arrived? Or that I've had someone in here since mid-afternoon keeping an eye on the servants setting up, and who might follow them?"
"What?" Taeri exclaimed"In here! In our hunting lodge!"
"For your protection and my own," the other man said, finishing his second glass of wineHe glanced upwards to the shadows of the half-loft above, where the extra pallets were stored
"I think that should do it, my friend," he called, pitching his voice to carry"You've earned a glass of wine after so long dry-throated among the small chanel purse d