"Of course. You're my Chief Adviser. I don't want to be discomfited by shocking revelations from the past. Does Baron Mabados know about this?" #51 | | |
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"That's just as well." #53 | | |
"I knew Demelzos before she ever met the Baron," I point out. "It's not like she cheated on him." #54 | | |
"He'd still be furious. How would he feel if the other Barons learned his wife was once rolling around with a sword-fighter?" #55 | | |
"I don't care what Baron Mabados feels about anything. Here's the Marquee we're looking for." #56 | | |
I head inside to make enquiries, leaving Lisutaris and Makri beside the area sectioned off for fighters to warm up. The organisers have just completed the draw for the qualifying rounds and are busy pinning up lists of fighters. There are forty-eight hopefuls, of whom sixteen will qualify for the tournament proper. The organisers have divided these forty-eight fighters into eight groups of six. I already know the rules but I scan them again, just to be certain. All the fighters in each group fight each other once. The winner is awarded one point. The top two from each group qualify for the real competition. Makri will have five fights. She shouldn't have any difficulty finishing in the top two. The only bad thing is that Makri's group is the last to be scheduled, which means a long wait. #57 | | |
I head back to the warm-up area where Makri is now in conversation with General Hemistos. Kublinos has also put in appearance and is standing close to Lisutaris. I tell Makri what's expected of her. #58 | | |
"I'll win the group," she says, matter-of-factly. #59 | | |
"You should warm up," I suggest. #60 | | |
Makri shrugs. "I won't be fighting for a while. I'll do it later." #61 | | |
"Ah, Mistress of the Sky," comes a voice. It's Lasat Axe of Gold, in the company of Chief Steward Daringos. He glances towards the Marquee. "Qualifying round? Best of luck. My fighter, Elupus, doesn't have to qualify, of course." #62 | | |
I'm surprised at the pettiness of this. For the nation's top Sorcerer, Lasat never misses an opportunity to make some footling criticism. #63 | | |
"Elupus is a strong favourite," continues Lasat. "What do the bookmakers have to say about your young lady?" #64 | | |
"Nothing," I say, muscling my way into the conversation. "Which is unfortunate for them, because we're cleaning up when Makri wins the tournament." #65 | | |
"Really? What say you, Lisutaris, to a small bet on whose fighter progresses furthest?" #66 | | |
"I say that's a good idea," replies Lisutaris, rising to the bait. With so many Barons looking on, it would be difficult not to. #67 | | |
"Say five thousand gurans?" #68 | | |
I blink. That's a lot of money when you don't have any. #69 | | |
Lisutaris doesn't blink. "Only five thousand? I thought you were confident. Let's make it ten." #70 | | |
Lasat is taken aback, though he does his best not to show it. "Ten thousand? Very well. To whoever goes furthest in the tournament." #71 | | |
Lasat bids us farewell, and departs with a smile on his face. Throughout all this Makri has shown no sign of emotion. Kublinos, however, is very concerned. #72 | | |
"Ten thousand gurans? I don't mean to be rude… " He casts a glance towards Makri. "But are you certain about this?' #73 | | |
"Quite certain," declares Lisutaris. "Lasat Axe of Gold is not going to intimidate me. Makri will be victorious. Thraxas, I have a small matter I need to discuss with you." #74 | | |
Lisutaris draws me aside, out of earshot. "Thraxas, find me a quiet space where I can inhale some thazis." #75 | | |
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"Not as risky as me lighting up a stick in full view of everyone. Which I will do in about fifteen seconds if you don't find me somewhere private. Do you realise I just bet ten thousand gurans?" #77 | | |
"I thought you carried it off well, in the circumstances." #78 | | |
"I don't have any money! What if Makri loses?" #79 | | |
"We could flee. Fleeing from gambling debts isn't so bad, I've done it a few times." #80 | | |
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"Yes, it's quite an established tradition." #82 | | |
By now I've led us to a quiet spot beside one of the small huts used as changing rooms. We slip inside. Lisutaris takes out a thazis stick and snaps her fingers. Her magical power really is considerable. I doubt if any other Sorcerer in the world could simultaneously cast spells to lock the door, light a thazis stick and erase the smell of smoke with one hand, while rolling another stick with the other. "If Makri loses I'll probably have to marry Kublinos. He's got a lot of money. I didn't really notice he was attracted to me till Makri pointed it out." She pauses. "Strange really. Men aren't often attracted to me." #83 | | |
The hairs on the back of my neck tingle. I have an uncanny sense of when a woman is about to say something concerning romance, emotion and affairs of the heart, none of which I want to talk about. #84 | | |
"Why do you think that is?" says Lisutaris. #85 | | |
"Probably just put off by your position. You know, Head of the Sorcerers Guild. It can be intimidating." #86 | | |
Lisutaris isn't convinced. "I don't think it's that intimidating." #87 | | |
"Well there's probably some other simple explanation," I hazard. #88 | | |
"I'm not attractive? Is that what you're saying?" #89 | | |
"I didn't say that at all." #90 | | |
"There's no real need to say it, is there? I mean, face facts. Men simply regard me as unattractive." #91 | | |
Lisutaris looks so unhappy I'm worried she might burst into tears, something I'm completely unable to cope with. #92 | | |
"Could we stop having this conversation?" I say, desperately. "We have to get back to Makri." #93 | | |
"Of course, you can't last five minutes without Makri," says Lisutaris. "It's obviously tedious spending any time in my company. You're wasting your time you know, Thraxas. A beautiful young woman like Makri is never going to go for you, no matter how much you keep trying to seduce her." #94 | | |
"I've never tried to seduce Makri," I protest. #95 | | |
"I supposeseduce is the wrong word. More like skulking around the Queen's Bathing House, hoping to see her naked again. I tell you Thraxas, it looks bad for a man of your age. People are starting to notice." #96 | | |
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"Many people. Your relentless pursuit of Makri is the talk of the Baroness's swimming group." #98 | | |
"I refuse to continue this conversation." #99 | | |
"Hah." Lisutaris smokes the rest of her thazis in gloomy silence. I think her moods are becoming worse. I've no idea why. I suppose the prospect of abject humiliation in front of her peers might have something to do with it. #100 | | |
