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

"The most obvious conclusion would be that your agent turned," he said
after a moment, "and that she used this dagger to place suspicion on
agents of one of Ancar's enemies, thus embroiling us in a conflict with
Valdemar that would open opportunities for her own ambitions in
Hardorn. We have no reason for an open quarrel with Valdemar just yet;
this could precipitate one before we are ready."

Charliss nodded with satisfaction. What was "obvious" to Tremane was
far from obvious to those who looked no deeper than the surface of
things.

"Of course, I have no intention of pursuing an open quarrel with
Valdemar just yet," he said.

"The envoy in question was hardly outstanding; there are a dozen more
who are simply panting for his position. The woman was quite
troublesomely ambitious, yes; however, if she uses her magics but once,
we will know where she is, and eliminate her if we choose. No. What
truly concerns me is Valdemar itself. The situation within Hardorn is
unstable.

We have acquired half of the country with very little effort, but the
ungrateful barbarians seem to have made up their mind to refuse the
benefits of inclusion within the Empire."

Charliss felt a distant ache in his hip joints and shifted his position
a little to ease it. A warning, those little aches. The sign that his
spells of bodily renewal were fading. They were less and less
effective with every year, and within two decades or so they would fail
him altogether.... One corner of Tremane's mouth twitched a little, in
recognition of Charliss' irony. They both knew what the Emperor meant
by that; the citizens of what had been Hardorn wanted their country
back, and they had organized enough to resist further conquest.

"In addition, Charliss continued smoothly, "this land of Valdemar is
overrun with refugees from all the conflict within Hardorn and from the
wretched situation before Ancar perished. Valdemar could decide to aid
the Hardornens in some material way, and that would cause us further
trouble.

We know that they have somehow allied themselves with those fanatics in
Karse, and that presents us with one long front if we choose to fight
them. Valdemar itself is a damned peculiar place .... " "It has always
been difficult to insinuate agents into Valdemar," Tremane offered,
with the proper diffidence. Charliss wondered whether he spoke from
personal experience or simply the knowledge he had gleaned from keeping
an eye on Charliss' own agents.

From beyond the closed doors of the Throne Room came the soft murmur of
the courtiers who were waiting for the doors to open for them and Court