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

too clever not to consolidate his position by eliminating enough rivals that those
remaining were intimidated.
That was, after all, one of the realities of life in the Empire; lead, follow, and
barricade yourself against assassins.
And the first in line for elimination would be Tremane - if Melles were named
successor.
Charliss knew this. So did Tremane. It made the situation all the more piquant.
Interestingly enough, if Tremane succeeded and attained the coveted prize, it was
not likely that he would remove Melles. Nor would he dispose of any of the other
candidates. Rather, he would either win them over to his side or find some other 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 TremaneтАЩs 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.
тАЬI cannot tell my Emperor how incredibly flattered I am by his trust in me,тАЭ he said
smoothly. тАЬI can only hope that I will prove worthy of that trust.тАЭ
Charliss said nothing; only nodded in acknowledgment.
тАЬAnd I am answerable only to you, my Emperor? Not to any other, military or
civilian?тАЭ Tremane continued quickly.
тАЬHave I not said as much?тАЭ Charliss waved a hand. тАЬI am certain you will need all
the time you have between now and tomorrow morning, Grand Duke. Packing and
preparations will probably occupy you for the rest of the day. I will have one of the
Court Mages open the Portal for you to the Hardornen front just after you break your
fast tomorrow morning.тАЭ
тАЬSir.тАЭ Tremane made the full formal bow this time; he knew a dismissal even when
it was not phrased as one. Charliss was very pleased with his demeanor, especially
given the short notice and the shorter time in which to make ready for his departure.
There were no attempts to argue, no excuses, no plaints that there was not enough
time.