Lesson of the Fire Read Online Free PDF Page A

defeated Sven Takraf, no point
of Law forbade him from doing so. Dux Feiglin and his surviving
supporters decided not to take this risk.
    Minutes after Nightfire announced Sven’s
ascent to the chair, the four hundred seventh-degree wizards
belonging to the priesthoods of Domus Palus’ temples arrived at the
citadel without warning or explanation to swear loyalty to Sven.
The priests had not given an oath of loyalty to a Mardux in a
century, and few people knew that one of Sven’s friends, Weard
Horsa Verifien, was behind it. Some saw divine approval of Sven’s
rule in this gesture, but no one could ignore the magic resources
hundreds of yellows represented.
    Sven acted quickly to consolidate his power
within Domus Palus. The Mardux was little more than a dux of duxes.
He was the dux of Domus, equal rank in rank to all the other duxes,
except that by law and tradition, the ruler of Domus led the
Council. His authority ended at the edge of Domus. But as a
stranger to Domus, he wanted to make certain of his people’s
loyalty.
    He ordered all wizards to attend a banquet
celebrating his ascendancy to the Chair. During the days-long
celebration, he greeted all in the government, stripped them of
their ranks and titles and demanded an oath of fealty like those
the priests and Einar had given him. He banished anyone who refused
from the Duxy of Domus and confiscated their property — the Law
wouldn’t let him execute them. While his education and experience
had not equipped him to analyze and restructure the bureaucracy of
the capital after banishing so many wizards, he gave Einar and
Horsa full authority to act on his behalf. Sven personally and
severely punished any magocrat in the capital caught committing an
act of bad faith, and the others soon learned he had no patience
for the tears and pleas of corrupt officials.
    Eighteen days into his rule, Sven met with
the Council to tell them of his plan to unite Marrishland. He met
fierce resistance from Volund. Nightfire and the Duxess of Pidel
reiterated their neutrality. The Dux of Wasfal offered suggestions
but would not declare his loyalty outright. The Duxes of Skrem,
Gunne and Piljerka swore fealty with little encouragement.
    Little noted but of great importance to the
course events would take was the arrival of the Traveller and
storyteller known as Pondr. He played only a minor role in
spreading the Mardux’s legend, but his stories had a profound
effect on Sven that may have altered the course of Mar history.
    * * *
    The celebratory banquet evolved into
something else during the fifth nine-day span of Sven’s reign. He
stood on a balcony overlooking the revelry, viewing the celebrating
crowd. Einar stood at his shoulder.
    “I should stop this soon,” Sven mused. “It is
devouring resources we will need later.”
    “Food and drink can be replenished,” Einar
said. He swept an arm out over the crowd below. “These are the
resources you must watch most closely.”
    “They have all sworn their loyalty to me
before the Oathbinder. Even a mundane knows the consequences of
breaking such an oath.”
    Einar chuckled.
    “You do not trust their word.”
    Einar shrugged. “I trust it for what it is —
a promise to obey you as your position demands.”
    “Many of the faces out there are my students
and friends. They did not have to come all the way to Domus Palus
to swear fealty to me.”
    “Wizards flock to powerful leaders for many
different reasons,” Einar said, leaning against the crumbling stone
rail of the balcony. “Some are here for you. Some hope for money or
advancement. Some may even join you because you share an enemy with
them. Most just want to keep the positions they have here in the
city, and they really did not have any choice but to swear fealty
to you.”
    “Will they resist me?”
    “Some may, but most will not risk your wrath.
They did not keep their posts this long by refusing to bend in the
wind.”
    Sven gazed down at the colorful crowd