JК
The Magehound :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 16 из 216"So there it is," the elf said softly.
"There it is," Procopio agreed. "I would be king. Tell me how. You have lived long and seen kingdoms rise and fall."
"Indeed," Zephyr murmured. He marveled that the wizard did not hear the bitterness in his voice.
"I am greatly skilled in the art of divination," Procopio went on, too absorbed in his own dreams to consider any nightmares his jordain might have lived. "But many wizards can captain a skyship as well as I, and military science is not my discipline. I need men who know it as well as I know my own business, and," he added with a sly smile, "that of Basel Indoulur."
Zephyr nodded thoughtfully, putting aside his own whirling thoughts to concentrate on his patron's situation. "Then you will need a master of horse to replace Iago. Regretfully, the outpost militia stationed in the Nath region found no trace of him. We assume he was carried off by raiders. There have been recent sightings of Crinti shadow amazons in the foothills," he said, referring to the race of gray-skinned, gray-haired horsewomen who ruled the land of Dambrath and haunted the wild eastern borders of Halruaa.
The wizard grunted. "Then we've seen the last of that jordain. Did we lose all the horses he purchased?"
"Only one, my lord. It would seem that Iago took a promising stallion out for a run and was not seen again."
"Pity. What of his replacement?"
"Several promising candidates, my lord. In this year's class, I would recommend Andris, whose grasp of military strategy is quite astonishing. Matteo is skilled with weapons and rides extremely well. Both are promising leaders. Either would do admirably."
Procopio considered this. "But do I really want another green jordain? What of those who are already in service to a wizard lord? Why not hire a seasoned counselor out from under his current patron? It's done all the time."
“True, but the practice holds risks," the elf cautioned. "You are not the only wizard to employ more than one jordain, but if you concentrate too blatantly on gathering a military council, it will not be long before your rivals perceive the pattern. The young men I mentioned have other skills that will distract the eye from your main purpose for them."
"Wise advice," the wizard mused. "Very well, then, see to it. Pick whichever one you think best."
The elf bowed. "I will send messengers to the Jordaini College as soon as we reach the villa. It is prudent to bid early for the services of the most talented students."
In truth, Zephyr started the process long before the skyship reached land.
"There it is," Procopio agreed. "I would be king. Tell me how. You have lived long and seen kingdoms rise and fall."
"Indeed," Zephyr murmured. He marveled that the wizard did not hear the bitterness in his voice.
"I am greatly skilled in the art of divination," Procopio went on, too absorbed in his own dreams to consider any nightmares his jordain might have lived. "But many wizards can captain a skyship as well as I, and military science is not my discipline. I need men who know it as well as I know my own business, and," he added with a sly smile, "that of Basel Indoulur."
Zephyr nodded thoughtfully, putting aside his own whirling thoughts to concentrate on his patron's situation. "Then you will need a master of horse to replace Iago. Regretfully, the outpost militia stationed in the Nath region found no trace of him. We assume he was carried off by raiders. There have been recent sightings of Crinti shadow amazons in the foothills," he said, referring to the race of gray-skinned, gray-haired horsewomen who ruled the land of Dambrath and haunted the wild eastern borders of Halruaa.
The wizard grunted. "Then we've seen the last of that jordain. Did we lose all the horses he purchased?"
"Only one, my lord. It would seem that Iago took a promising stallion out for a run and was not seen again."
"Pity. What of his replacement?"
"Several promising candidates, my lord. In this year's class, I would recommend Andris, whose grasp of military strategy is quite astonishing. Matteo is skilled with weapons and rides extremely well. Both are promising leaders. Either would do admirably."
Procopio considered this. "But do I really want another green jordain? What of those who are already in service to a wizard lord? Why not hire a seasoned counselor out from under his current patron? It's done all the time."
“True, but the practice holds risks," the elf cautioned. "You are not the only wizard to employ more than one jordain, but if you concentrate too blatantly on gathering a military council, it will not be long before your rivals perceive the pattern. The young men I mentioned have other skills that will distract the eye from your main purpose for them."
"Wise advice," the wizard mused. "Very well, then, see to it. Pick whichever one you think best."
The elf bowed. "I will send messengers to the Jordaini College as soon as we reach the villa. It is prudent to bid early for the services of the most talented students."
In truth, Zephyr started the process long before the skyship reached land.