The Usurper

32

“It is so, Lord,” said Farrix.

“Does my father know?” inquired Ingeld.

“I think not, Lord,” said Farrix.

“I do not understand!” cried Ingeld. “Things were moving well. Pledges were made. Calendars were agreed upon. I had prepared rings to give. Now confusion reigns. The wretched Vandals are divided. Otungs will not move. Haakons and Darisi draw back. Basungs denounce us. Wolfungs will not rendezvous with our fleet.”

“Others hesitate, as well,” said Farrix. “Unaligned tribes now decline commitment. Neutral worlds refuse contact. Advance orders for thousands of Telnarian slaves are canceled. Consternation inhabits high offices. Curfews are established, roads patrolled, bridges closed. Administrations watch, and will not stir. And a thousand claimants to the medallion and chain struggle to summon troops, to lead movements.”

“A thousand claimants?” said Ingeld.

“Yes, Lord,” said Farrix.

He, Farrix, standing before the high seat of Ingeld, second son of Abrogastes, the Far Grasper, was a chieftain of the Teragar, or Long-River, Borkons. The Borkons were the third largest of the eleven tribes of the Alemanni nation, the second largest being the Dangars. There were several branches of the Borkons, the largest being the Lidanian, or Coastal, Borkons.

“And none will follow?”

“He who would follow one leader cannot follow a thousand.”

“I do not understand,” said Ingeld.

“Are you sure you possess the authentic talisman, the authentic medallion and chain?” asked Farrix.

“How can you ask that?” said Ingeld, angrily.

“I cast no aspersions, I perform no treason,” said Farrix. “But, as a chieftain of the Borkons, of the Teragar, I do ask it. Are you sure you possess the authentic talisman, the authentic medallion and chain?”

“Yes!” said Ingeld. “It was stolen from the festung of Sim Giadini by an Otung, Urta, after which the festung was destroyed, that the manner of its acquisition be concealed. It was then delivered to the Exarch of Telnar, one named Sidonicus. One of his subordinates, a legate and plenipotentiary, a ministrant named Fulvius, contacted me. Agreements were reached. Arrangements were made. The talisman was delivered here, to this hall, less than a month ago.”

“Here, Lord,” said Farrix, reaching within his cloak, and drawing forth a handful of dangling metal, “are two such medallions and chains.”

“They are false!” cried Ingeld.

“Undoubtedly, Lord,” said Farrix, “but these, and a thousand others, or more, on a hundred worlds, are proclaimed to be the one and only talisman of the Vandal nation. It is little wonder then that confusion abounds, that the Drisriaks are denounced, derided, and mocked. Who, who know little of these things, is in a position to know the authentic talisman? Vandals, wary of the Alemanni, were reluctant to begin with, to follow a Drisriak. And now, confronted with a thousand or more alleged talismans, in a thousand or more pairs of hands, what are they to do? Surely they will not call their fellows forth from the forests, will not march, will not man their ships. Vandals are no more willing to be deceived than we of the Alemanni, and they are certainly unwilling, in particular, to be our dupes. They speak of deceit, of trickery. Let us fear that the dreaded Vandals do not now plunge themselves into the arms of our enemies.”

“It is I who have been tricked,” said Ingeld.

“I have no doubt you possess the authentic talisman,” said Farrix, “but it is not difficult to understand doubt on the part of others.”

“It is not wise to trick Ingeld, of the Drisriaks,” said Ingeld.

“It seems, Lord,” said Farrix, “that it was not you alone who was treated so shabbily, so disgracefully, but others, as well, this Sidonicus, of Telnar, this Fulvius, of Telnar, and doubtless other members of their party.”

“I shall have this Urta, a renegade Otung, this Fulvius, a pompous ministrant, torn apart, by horses, by wild horses.”

“It is not you alone who were duped, Lord,” said Farrix.

“I, Ingeld, of the Drisriaks, of the Alemanni, duped?” said Ingeld.

“Forgive me, Lord,” said Farrix. “I spoke carelessly. You were not duped, but betrayed.”

“Men now mock the Drisriaks?” asked Ingeld.

“I fear so, Lord,” said Farrix.

“Does my father know of this?” asked Ingeld.

“I do not think so, Lord,” said Farrix.

“Good,” said Ingeld.

“How proceed things with my beloved father?” asked Ingeld.

“His forces are well deployed,” said Farrix. “In effect, Telnaria is blockaded. It is dangerous at this time to move more quickly. Lord Abrogastes awaits reinforcements. His agents are active in Telnaria. They celebrate Abrogastes as a liberator. Many prepare to welcome him, with garlands and flowers. I think he is readying himself for a landing.”

“Surely there are imperial forces about,” said Ingeld.

“They are scattered, many are posted on far worlds.”

“My father is in the vicinity of Telnaria itself?”

“He forced a passage,” said Farrix. “He penetrated defenses. I think few expected him to avoid engagements, and move decisively to Telnaria itself.”

“He is a fool,” said Ingeld. “The war was to be fought on a thousand fields. No foe was to be left behind us. It was for this we needed the Vandals and our allies. He has put himself in a trap.”

“He has moved boldly,” said Farrix.

“How will this destroy the empire?” asked Ingeld.

“I fear, Lord,” said Farrix, “mighty Abrogastes does not wish to destroy the empire, but to possess it.”

“By seizing Telnaria?” said Ingeld.

“By seizing Telnar, the capital, by seizing the throne,” said Farrix.

“He must be mad,” said Ingeld.

“If he seizes the throne,” said Farrix, “he seizes the capital, if he seizes the capital, he seizes Telnaria, if he seizes Telnaria, he seizes the empire.”

“He embarks upon a dangerous course,” said Ingeld.

“He is Abrogastes,” said Farrix.

“If he fails?” asked Ingeld.

“What then?” asked Farrix.

“Ingeld is first amongst the Drisriaks,” said Ingeld.

“Precisely, Lord,” said Farrix.

“Perhaps mighty Abrogastes will fail,” said Ingeld.

“It is possible, Lord,” said Farrix.

“Perhaps it can be arranged,” said Ingeld.

“It is possible, Lord,” said Farrix.

“I shall not forget my faithful servitors, my liegemen,” said Ingeld.