Fire and Sword by Simon Brown Page A

chancellor shook his head, angry at the obvious contempt in Prado’s voice.
    Well, let him keep his arrogance,
he thought.
If he survives, he can be cut down a few pegs.

    From her chambers Areava, too, watched the departure of Prado and his men. Like Prado, she sensed that the world had turned, but for something new not something old. The age to come would be unlike any that had come before, and she was unsure if it was for good or ill. Her gaze lifted to take in the whole of Kendra. It was still one of the most beautiful sights she had ever seen, refreshing her spirit whenever she looked out upon it, yet some of the sheen had gone. More and more it seemed less an idea given form, an idea about statehood and the rule of natural law, than simply a place where power resided, and she was learning that power was like mercury, ready to flow whichever way fortune led it.
    Her private secretary, Harnan Beresard, coughed politely from behind his small writing desk. He was a thin, reedy man who looked barely strong enough to support his own weight when he stood. Sandy hair, sparse on top, made him look younger than he really was. Areava looked at him blankly for a moment. “What were we up to?”
    “Your correspondence to King Tomar and Queen Charion regarding their trade dispute.”
    “Oh, yes.” She brought her mind back to the matter at hand, and started dictating. “While I see it as my duty to ensure both your states have appropriate access to Kendra, there is little I can do to fix tariffs within your own domains. My mother saw fit to leave local affairs to local rulers, and I am reluctant to change that policy.”
    Still gazing out from her window, she saw Orkid striding across the courtyard to his own offices when a postrider suddenly galloped through the main gate. Instead of stopping for an attendant to take her horse, the rider went straight up to Orkid and handed him a message. Areava watched him read it, saw his figure tense. He said something to the messenger and she immediately rode off again.
    “Your Majesty?”
    “Where was I up to?” she asked absently.
    Orkid looked up toward her chambers and saw her. He changed direction and headed toward her section of the palace.
    “You are reluctant to change your mother’s policy about noninterference in local matters,” Harnan summarized.
    “However, I am deeply concerned at this ongoing dispute between two such loyal subjects, and wish to see it resolved as soon as possible.”
    She heard Orkid’s heavy footsteps coming up the stone stairs outside, then along the corridor to her chambers.
    “To this end,” she continued, “I am therefore resolved to establish a party of learned councilors who will advise me on this issue and other issues regarding trade and tariffs.”
    There was a knock on the door and a guard opened it. Orkid stood there for a moment, looking grim and displeased. Areava absently wished he would soften bis appearance by shaving off his beard.
    “And I would, of course, expect each of you to send a representative to sit on this council. In kindest regards, so on and so forth. For my signature this afternoon.”
    “Your Majesty,” Harnan said.
    “Orkid? You look like a startled bear.”
    “May I see your Majesty privately for a moment?”
    Areava nodded. “Thank you, Harnan. I will call you when I am ready.”
    Harnan stood up promptly, gathered together his writing materials and small desk, bowed to the queen, and shuffled out. Orkid shut the door behind him.
    “I saw a messenger arrive for you,” Areava began.
    “She came from the docks. I have a post down there.”
    “I know. I pay for it, remember?”
    Orkid looked uncomfortable.
    “Oh, come now, Chancellor. You can’t expect to keep all your secrets for yourself.”
    “My operations are an open book for you, your Majesty, you should know that. Something else troubles me.”
    Areava nodded.
    “The message was from one of my agents on a Lurisian ship that came in today. The