"Mercedes Lackey - Mage Storms 1 - Storm Warning" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lackey Mercedes)

despite her abilities, until I realized just how cursed difficult it is to work in Valdemar.
As it was, her progress there was minimal. Most unsatisfactory. She was never able
to insinuate herself any higher than a mere court servantтАЩs position, and she had
more than one agenda and more than one employer at the time.тАЭ
The corner of TremaneтАЩs mouth twitched again, but this time it was downward.
Charliss knew why - Tremane never knowingly worked with someone who served
more masters than he.
тАЬWhy did you trust her in Hardorn, then?тАЭ the Grand Duke asked in a neutral tone.
тАЬI never trusted her,тАЭ Charliss corrected him, allowing a hint of cold disapproval to
tinge his own voice. тАЬI trust no agents, particularly not those who are as ambitious as
this one was. I merely made sure that this time she had no other employers, and that
her personal agenda was not incompatible with mine. And when it appeared that she
was slipping her leash, I sent an envoy to AncarтАЩs court to remind her who her master
was. And to eliminate her if she elected to ignore the warning he represented. That
was why I sent a mage, an Adept her equal, with none of her vices.тАЭ
тАЬYour pardon,тАЭ Tremane replied, bowing slightly. тАЬI should have known. But - about
Valdemar?тАЭ
Charliss permitted his icy expression to thaw. тАЬValdemar is peculiar, as I said. Until
recently, theyтАЩve had next to no magic at all, and what they had was only mind-magic.
There was a barrier there, according to my agents, a barrier that made it impossible
for a practicing mage to remain within the borders for very long.тАЭ
тАЬBut how did Hulda - тАЬ Tremane began, then smiled. тАЬOf course. While she was
there, she must have refrained from using her powers. A difficult thing for a mage -
use of magic often becomes a habit too ingrained to break.тАЭ
Charliss blinked slowly in satisfaction. Tremane was no fool; he saw immediately
the solution and the difficulty of implementing it. тАЬPrecisely,тАЭ he replied. тАЬOn both
counts. And that was why I continued to use her. In business matters, the womanтАЩs
self-discipline was remarkable. As for Valdemar - though they have begun again to
use magic as we know it, the place is no less peculiar than before, and many of the
mages they seem to have invited into their borders are from no land that my
operatives recognize! Well, that is all in the past; what we need to deal with is the
current situation. And that, Grand Duke Tremane, is where you come in.тАЭ
Tremane simply waited, as any good and perfectly trained servant, for his master
to continue. But his eyes narrowed just a trifle, and Charliss knew that his mind was
working furiously. A current of breeze stirred the tapestries behind him, but the
flames of the candles on the many-branched cande-labras, protected in their glass
shades, did not even waver.
тАЬYour Duchy borders Hardorn; you will therefore be familiar with the area,тАЭ Charliss
stated, his tone and expression allowing no room for dissension. тАЬThe situation in
Hardorn grows increasingly unstable by the moment. I require a personal commander
of my own in place there - someone who has incentive, personal incentive, to see
that the situation is dealt with expeditiously.тАЭ
тАЬPersonal incentive, my Emperor?тАЭ Tremane replied.
Charliss crossed his legs and leaned forward, ignoring the pain in his hip joints. тАЬI
am giving you a unique opportunity to prove, not only to me, but to your rivals and
your potential underlings, that you are the only truly worthy candidate for the Wolf
Crown. I intend to put you in command of the Imperial forces in Hardorn. You will be
answerable only to me. You will prove yourself worthy by dealing with this situation
and bringing it to a successful conclusion.тАЭ
TremaneтАЩs hands trembled, and Charliss noted that he had turned just a little pale.