"Joel Rosenberg - 04 - The Heir Apparent" - читать интересную книгу автора (Rosenberg Joel C)

"The time may come, Ahrmin," Yryn said. "The time may come when we can take his head. But the time
is not now. Not while he is where he is; not while his threat stays limited. As long as he stays within the
confines of his paltry little empire, you will leave him alone. Completely alone. Understood?"

Ahrmin forced a hesitation. "Understood, Guildmaster. Masters, friends, and brothers," he said formally,
"I obey the will of the council." He looked from face to face.

"I obey," he said.

Enough, he decided.

Enough waiting, enough patienceтАФenough. For the past five years he hadn't even tried for Karl
Cullinane's head, and there had only been a few furtive assassins sent out since the Bieme-Holtun war
fiasco. He had hoped to regain the support of the council, but support or not, his patience would have to
end.


file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%2...g%20-%2004%20-%20The%20Heir%20Apparent.txt (19 of 252) [12/29/2004 12:59:24 AM]
 file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20E-books/Joel%20Rosenberg%20-%2004%20-%20The%20Heir%20Apparent.txt


There had to be an opportunity. Soon the waiting would be over, or Ahrmin would take matters into his
own hands. Despite everythingтАФdespite the resistance of the other members of the council; despite the
yearning of the craven Wizards' Guild to cower in the comer whenever the name of Arta Myrdhyn was
mentionedтАФhe would act. He would.

Still, it would have to be handled carefully. The proper bait would have to be selected, and the proper
location, as well.

It couldn't happen while Cullinane was within Holtun-Bieme, of course; that left far too many ways for
things to go wrong.

But there were other places in the world besides that tiny empire, other places with other charms.

How much, he wondered, would Grandmaster Lucius pay for the sword that killed wizards?

And how much for the head of the one person who could take it from where it lay?

And how much would Karl Cullinane risk for the ones he loved?

The answers were the same: everything, of course.

Still, an opportunity would have to be cultivated. It would all have to be done carefully. Rumors would
have to be placed with consummate care, rumors that would have to be discredited in the appropriate
quarters, only to be reinforced and believed elsewhere, to prepare the way to tempt Karl Cullinane away
from his empire, away from Home.

No. Not to tempt him. To force him away.