Three Hands for Scorpio Read Online Free PDF Page B

overcome by our potent Southern wines and forgot where he was, and the chief accepted that calmly. Never believe, daughters, that these clan leaders are slow-wits. Their underlings and close kin may sometimes be judged so, but one such as Starkadder, who has led the largest clan in Gurlyon for near thirty years, is as wily and shrewd as our Chancellor Yan of Kork. I therefore gravely doubt that this play was of his planning; it was too crude and ill-timed. No, I believe he was left ignorant of it by some courtier, or”—Father paused for a moment, enabling us all to fill the gap
with the name of another type of hanger-on with equal reasons for starting an intrigue—“someone who did not understand how clever his countryman really is.”
    â€œIt is true,” he continued, after a pause, “that King Arvor wishes his throne free of any Merven standing behind it to whisper orders. He had a taste of war when he defeated the Harsorean Fleet two years gone, and he then showed himself capable of the strategy a true leader needs. His victory was followed by the prompt arrival of the Chosen from out of the mountains. I think the timing not lacking in significance.”
    As Father raised his little finger, then lowered his whole hand, his Scorpy signet caught the lamplight with a fiery blaze of red-gold.
    â€œI do not,” he said in a quiet voice that sounded even more dangerous than his earlier tone, “like this hint of greater powers somehow controlling us and belaboring men and women for so-called ‘sins.’ However, it is said that the king has welcomed this Voice from the mountains, and perhaps he has. If that is so, I foresee war—such conflict as could blast this poor country out of existence. Few of the Gurlys have visited Alsonia—they can only guess at what strength we can summon. That fiasco in the Year of Nar, wherein our army remained here at the Border without invading, might well induce the gullible to believe we cannot summon the wherewithal to defend the South from invasion. The men of the Border on both sides are used to raiding. To force blackrent, by which a landowner must pay two taxes—one rightfully to the Crown and the other, outright theft, to a neighbor stronger than himself—is common practice. The Northerners look South and lick their lips at the feast of our riches. At present, they are unable to raise a force great enough to invade—the memory of Erseway remains too fresh to permit this. But should the king pledge all his own army to such an attempt—” Father pursed his lips.
    â€œWar?” asked our mother.
    â€œWho can guess? However, now we know that they would involve us, the House of Scorpio, in their intrigues. Perhaps they even hope to besmirch our name before the queen. Her Majesty is known to loathe war, though she does not hamper plans for the assembling of defense.
    â€œOf this much I am sure: you must not allow personal concerns to override the order I now give. You will not accompany us to the Truce—in fact, it will be suggested that this is a punishment given you—” He paused and favored us with a warm smile; thus he had ever been able to charm us out
of the sullens. “A punishment given you,” he repeated, “for your improper forwardness of bearing. I trust you each to don the face of maids who have been well chastised when you appear in public.”
    Then he was wholly serious, and again he held each of us in turn, eye to eye, for the space of a breath or two. “Be also aware that you may still be marked as proper prey to incite your family—even Her Majesty, with whom we share a bloodline—into some wrong move. From now on, you must be very careful of speech, thinking twice, even thrice, before you speak anything of moment. I would, if I could, leave Tweder with you, but I must show my Captain of the Guard with me at the Truce. Your mother will also accompany me, for our