"Mage Storms 01 - Storm Warning" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

way to neutralize them-perhaps by finding something else, creating some
other problem for them, that required all their attention.

Charliss had used both ploys in the past, and on the whole' he
preferred subtlety to assassination. Still, there had been equally
successful Emperors in the past who ruled by the knife and the garrote.
Difficult times demanded difficult solutions, and one of those times
could be upon them.

The entire situation gave Charliss a faint echo of the thrill he had
felt back at the beginning of his own reign, when he first realized he
truly did have the power of life and death over his underlings and
could manipulate their lives as easily as the puppeteer manipulated his
dolls. It was amusing to present Tremane with a gift of a sword-with a
needle studded poisoned grip. It was doubly amusing to know that
Melles, at least, would recognize this test for what it was, and would
be watching Tremane just as avidly from a distance,

perhaps sending in his own agents to try and undermine his rival, and
attempting to consolidate his own position here at court.

The jockeying and scrabbling was about to begin. It should produce
hours of fascination.

Charliss watched Tremane closely, following the ghosts, the shadows of
expressions as he thought all this through and came to the same
conclusions. There was no chance that he Would refuse the appointment,
of course. Firstly, Tremane was a perfectly adequate military
commander. Secondly, refusing this appointment would be the same as
being defeated;

Melles would have the reward of becoming successor, and Tremane's life
would be in danger.

it took very little time for Tremane to add all the factors together to
come to the conclusions that Charliss had already thought out. He
bowed quickly.

"I cannot tell my Emperor how incredibly flattered I am by his trust in
me," he said smoothly.

"I can only hope that I will prove worthy of that trust."

Charliss said nothing; only nodded in acknowledgment.

"And I am answerable only to you, my Emperor? Not to any other,
military or civilian?" Tremane continued quickly.

"Have I not said as much?" Charliss waved a hand.