The Vondish Ambassador

No, if Emmis were going to take up conquest, he would hire wizards. Wizards didn't have to argue with gods or demons, they had all the magical power one could want, but the Wizards' Guild wouldn't let them be rulers themselves, so you didn't need to worry about being deposed by your magicians. And if they got out of hand in some lesser way and the Guild wouldn't intervene, you could cut off the supply of the ingredients they needed for their spells – a wizard without his bottles of dragon's blood and boxes of mummified toads wasn't any more of a threat than a witch.

Of course, the Guild might not allow them to take the job in the first place.

Emmis glanced around the room to see if there were any wizards around; he didn't seriously intend to ask about Guild rules, but he was just wondering…

And there was Lar in the door, heading for the stairs. The hat was unmistakable.

Emmis got to his feet so quickly he almost knocked over his chair. "Time to go," he said. "My money?"

A

"Your excellency!" he called, shoving the coins into his purse.

Lar turned at the foot of the stairs. "Oh, there you are!" he said.

"I've been waiting here for some time," Emmis said.

"Oh? I went out to see the city. I went to the market, and to the docks to see the ships. I'm sorry if you were worried."

"Oh, I wasn't worried," Emmis said. "Just eager to get on with things. I found you a house to rent, over near Arena Street."

Lar smiled, and started up the stairs. "Good," he said over his shoulder. "And a meeting with the overlord?"

"Well, that's a little more difficult," Emmis said, following Lar up the stairs. "I have to go back tomorrow and talk to the guard at the palace again."

Lar glanced back at him, and Emmis quickly added, "But I'm sure we'll manage something."

"I am the representative of an empire," Lar said. "I know it isn't much of an empire compared with the Hegemony of Ethshar, but still, it would be reasonable for the overlord to see me."

"I know, I know!" Emmis said. "And he will, I'm sure. It just may take a while to arrange."

"But you have a house?"

"Yes. We can move you in this afternoon, if you want, though of course you'll have to pay a month's rent first."

"Of course."

"I didn't hire a wagon for your things because I thought you might want to see it first," Emmis added. "I mean, you weren't very specific in your instructions, so you may not find it suitable."

"Oh, I'm sure it will be reasonable," Lar said.

"I'd be happier if you looked it over before bringing everything."

"If you want." They had reached the top floor, and the ambassador was reaching for the key on his belt.

"By the way," Emmis said, glancing back down the stairs, "I thought you might want to know – there are some other foreigners here asking about you."

Lar stopped, key in hand, and turned to look at Emmis. He cocked his head to one side, and his hat tipped, looking as if it was about to fall off.

"Are there?"

"Yes," Emmis said. "I talked to them while I was waiting for you."

"And what did you tell them?"

"That you are the Vondish ambassador, and you hired me to find you a house to rent."

"You said nothing of warlocks?"

"What is there to say? You haven't told me why you want to meet warlocks."

"These foreigners – do you know where they are from?"

"Lumeth of the Towers and Ashthasa, they told me."

"Ah. G'dye zas." He turned his attention back to the door, sliding the key into the lock. A moment later he had it open and had stepped inside; he gestured for Emmis to follow him.

Emmis obeyed.

The ambassador looked up at him, then leaned back out the door, looked both ways, and closed it, gently but firmly. He tossed his hat on the bed, then turned back to Emmis.

"How much," he asked, "are they paying you to spy on me?"

Chapter Five

Emmis didn't bother pretending to be shocked. "A fair price," he said. "Do you really need to know exactly?"

"If I am to match it, yes."

"Why would you need to match it? You already hired me, and you're paying me far more than they are."

"You did not tell me about them to start the bidding?"

"No. I told you because it's your business, and I work for you."

Lar cocked his head to one side. "Then you won't… I don't know the words. Dargas ya timir?"

"You're my employer," Emmis said. "I'm working for you. I'm also letting them pay me for talking to them, because you didn't tell me not to, and nothing you've told me seemed to be a secret. If there is something you want me to keep secret – well, you can always just not tell me, or we can agree on a price at the time. Some secrets I wouldn't charge for; others, well, I hope you have plenty of silver. If you're pla

"And what if I want to know what they said?"

"Oh, I think that's included in my salary."

"Ah. Then tell me."

Emmis did, as best he could recall.

Lar listened intently, then asked, "She thought Vond might be here, in Ethshar?"

"So it would seem."

Lar did not immediately reply, but Emmis saw his expression and said, "Yes, I know that's impossible. I've heard about the Calling."

"Do you think the Lumethans really didn't understand Ethsharitic?"

Emmis turned up a hand. "I never caught them out, but maybe they're just good at hiding it. Does it matter?"

"Probably not." Lar sighed. "What I would really like to do is to simply go and tell them the truth. The regent and the Imperial Council do not want to expand the empire any further, and my business here has nothing to do with Lumeth or Ashthasa."

"Why not tell them?"

"Because they wouldn't believe me. After all, if we were pla

Emmis had never given the matter any thought, but now that Lar pointed it out, it was obvious. "Oh," he said.

"You could tell them," Lar said thoughtfully.

"Why would they believe me?"

"You're their paid informant, aren't you? They want to believe you." Then he shook his head. "But you're right, they wouldn't. Not completely."

For a moment the two men stood silently; then Lar turned up a palm. "Well, we'll let that go for now. You may sell them any information they want, for now – I don't think you know anything I want to keep secret. If that changes, I'll tell you."

"Thank you."

"Now, you found me a house?"

"Yes. It's just off Arena Street, between the Palace and the Wizards' Quarter."

"How far is that from here?"

"Ah… two miles, perhaps?"

"You know, I'm really not inclined to walk that far and back to inspect it. You found it reasonable?"

"Well… yes, I suppose. But I would really…"

"I trust you. We will need transportation for my belongings."

"Yes," Emmis said, hesitantly. He would have preferred that Lar not trust him quite that much, as he hadn't really even looked inside the house. But he could hardly argue that Lar needed to have less faith in him when he had just confessed to selling information to his employer's enemies – or if not actual enemies, at least people who had no reason to wish him well. "If you're sure you don't want to look at it first…"

"I'm sure."

The next half-hour was spent making plans, and after that Emmis trotted up to Warehouse Street to hire a wagon, a team of oxen, and a driver. Lar had suggested hiring a flying carpet or some other magic, but Emmis had quoted a few prices that convinced him otherwise.