The Tyranny of the Night: Book One of the Instrumentalities of the Night
Page 57
The writing of the letter was a powerful message in itself.
Else cautioned himself. This was just a spurt of romantic nonsense from a spoiled child. Helspeth had heard too many Connecten jongleurs sing their ballads of love. True love was the tale of Gedanke and Arlensul. But he could not quite stifle the excitement the letter caused.
Anna returned with coffee. “What’s all that about?”
“The head imperial spy trying to recruit me again. The new emperor thanking me for helping him escape. His sister thanking me for rescuing her band from the undead warriors that attacked them.”
“I thought you were saving Pinkus.”
“Sure. But I don’t have to tell her that, do I? Anyway, none of it was anything that had to be dealt with right away.” There was, of course, Helspeth’s brief and indirect mention of her brother’s illness. That suggested a potential for major future dangers.
“Then he had some other motive for bothering you here.”
“Almost certainly.”
“Because he wanted to see me? Or because he wanted to find out how vulnerable you might be here?”
“I don’t know. I’m sure we’ll find out. Let me finish seeing what Renfrow says, then I’ll see about finishing that special task you had for me.”
“Ooh! Read fast, then, lover.”
Else read fast. And did not like what he read.
Lothar meant to continue the Imperial alliance with Sublime V. In exchange for Sublime remaining solidly behind the established Ege succession.
“Finished?”
He told Anna what she wanted to hear. “I’ve only just begun, darling.” Thinking about Helspeth Ege.
About the Author
The author of many novels of fantasy and science fiction, including the bestselling Annals of the Black Company series, GLEN COOK lives in St. Louis, Missouri.