The Diamond Throne

abdication?’
    Harparin laughed. ‘There’s a monk at the monastery near Lenda. He’s been practising the Queen’s signature for a month now. He’s very good.’
    ‘Clever. What happens to her after she abdicates?’
    ‘As soon as Lycheas is crowned King, we’ll give her a splendid funeral.’
    ‘But she’s still alive, isn’t she?’
    ‘So? If need be, we’ll entomb her throne and all.’
    ‘There’s only one problem then, isn’t there?’
    ‘I don’t see any problem.’
    ‘That’s because you’re not looking, Harparin. The primate is going to have to move very fast. If the Pandions find out about this before he can get to the Hierocracy in Chyrellos, they’ll take steps to counter his accusations.’
    ‘We’re aware of that. That’s why you have to send the message to me as soon as the count and his people are dead.’
    ‘The message would never reach you. Any man we send will realize that he’ll be killed as soon as he delivers it and he’ll find an excuse to go to Lamorkand or Pelosia instead.’ Krager paused. ‘Let me see that ring of yours,’ he said.
    ‘My ring? Why?’
    ‘It’s a signet, isn’t it?’
    ‘Yes, with the coat of arms of my family.’
    ‘All noblemen have rings like that, don’t they?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘Good. Tell Annias to pay close attention to the collection plate in the cathedral of Cimmura here. One of these days a ring will show up among the pennies. The ring will bear the coat of arms of Count Radun’s family. He’ll understand the message, and the messenger can slip away unharmed.’
    ‘I don’t think Annias will like that.’
    ‘He doesn’t have to like it. All right, how much?’
    ‘How much what?’
    ‘Money What is Annias willing to pay Martel for his assistance? He’s getting the crown for Lycheas and absolute control of Elenia for himself. What’s it worth to him?’
    ‘He told me to mention the sum of ten thousand gold crowns.’
    Krager laughed. ‘I think Martel might want to negotiate that point just a bit.’
    ‘Time is important here, Krager’
    ‘Then Annias probably won’t be too stubborn about the price, will he? Why don’t you go back to the palace and suggest to him that a bit more generosity might be in order? I could wind up spending the whole winter riding back and forth between Annias and Martel carrying proposals and counterproposals.’
    ‘There’s only so much money in the treasury Krager.’
    ‘Simplicity in itself, my dear Baron. Just increase taxes or have Annias dip into church funds.’
    ‘Where is Martel now?’
    ‘I’m not at liberty to say’
    Sparhawk swore under his breath and took his ear away from the wall.
    ‘Was it interesting?’ Naween asked. She still lounged on the bed.
    ‘Very’
    She stretched voluptuously ‘Are you sure that you won’t change your mind?’ she asked. ‘Now that you’ve taken care of your business?’
    ‘Sorry, little sister,’ Sparhawk declined. ‘I’ve got a great deal left to do today. Besides, I’ve already paid Shanda your price Why work if you don’t have to?’
    ‘Professional ethics, I suppose. Besides, I sort of like you, my big broken-nosed friend.’
    ‘I’m flattered.’ He reached into his pocket, took out a gold coin, and gave it to her. She stared at him in amazed gratitude. ‘I’ll slip out of the front door before Krager’s friend gets ready to leave,’ he told her. He went to the door.
    ‘Come back sometime when your mind’s not so occupied,’ she whispered.
    ‘I’ll think about it,’ he promised. He tied the bandage over his eyes again, opened the door, and stepped quietly into the hall. Then he went on down into the dimly lit lower hall and back out to the street.
    Talen was leaning against the wall beside the door, trying to stay out of the rain. ‘Did you have fun?’ he asked.
    ‘I found out what I needed to know’
    ‘That’s not what I meant. Naween’s supposed to be the best in Cimmura.’
    ‘I really wouldn’t know about that. I was there on business.’
    ‘I’m disappointed in you, Sparhawk.’ Talen grinned impudently ‘But probably not nearly so much as Naween was. They say that she’s a girl who likes her work.’
    ‘You’ve got a nasty mind, Talen.’
    ‘I know, and you’ve got no idea how much I enjoy it.’ His young face grew serious, and he looked around cautiously. ‘Sparhawk,’ he said, ‘is somebody following you?’
    ‘It’s possible, I suppose’
    ‘I’m not talking about a