_________________________
A.R.Yngve DARC AGES Book Three _________________________ |
|
Chapter 14
In the beginning of the month of Oktam, Tharlos gathered noblemen from all of Castilia for a diplomatic conference in Pasko City. Lord Azuch Fache sent a lowly robot representative, but refused to fly there in person. Tharlos Pasko surprised his guests by also inviting nobles from outside the Madrivalo province. The perceived threat of Darc's radio campaign must have been great, to convince them to risk such a long jet flight. Laser messages arrived from other parts of the Juro continent, and from the north of Awrica, to confirm the sudden widespread interest in Tharlos's initiative. After all, it was Tharlos Pasko who had first attacked Damon City -- where Darc's career had once began. Tharlos was not late to stress this fact. After a modest but adequate welcoming ceremony, the visitors were ushered into a sealed hall in the castle. Tharlos took his seat and asked his murmuring guests for silence. "My beloved peers and guests -- the good Lord Migam Pasko wishes you welcome to our house." He gestured at the empty high seat, where his father had used to sit. "I regret to say that my father the city lord is gravely ill. He has granted me full authority over state affairs though, and I will serve as his representative." The dozen or so guests, robots excluded, nodded their approval. Lord Fache's robot messenger raised a skeletal metal hand. "Yes?" "My master wished to know if Lord Migam Pasko has appointed a successor to his title, Sir Tharlos." Sir Tharlos. Tharlos was certain that Lord Fache had programmed his ambassador to only use that derogatory title, no matter what Tharlos called himself. With an effort, he checked his fury and continued: "An heir has not yet been appointed. But the outcome is fairly clear, when you consider the fact that my only brother Andon Pasko is married away in another city... a marriage which I, in hindsight, deeply regret." Tharlos made his best to feign a flash of sorrow; several guests appeared to buy his act. In reality, Tharlos was only relieved to have his weaker brother out of the way, so that he could pursue his plans undistracted. The robot ambassador made a polite nod, and was still. "Good. As you all know, the safety of our civilization is hanging by a thread. An impostor and demagogue known as Darc is stirring up the lower classes, not to mention The Ones Whose Very Name Brings Disease, against us..." |
|
He looked across the table for a response; there were several.
"I share your concern," the slight Lord Yota said solemnly, and his son Ue nodded in silent agreement. "Indeed," thundered Lord Orbes, "he is a threat not only to Castilia, but to the world! Imagine what would happen if we let him continue his campaign!" A representative from Seguda City, the port town otherwise known as Kibralta, added to their self-righteous anger. "Yes, the filthy Wastelanders would storm our grand old cities and destroy them forever! The Goddess knows we have fought them back before... but that was before one of our own class betrayed us and turned to their help!" A younger nobleman from West Castilia asked him: "Sir, are you referring to Lord Damon, or his renegade son, or Sir Darc?" Tharlos raised his hands and gave the guests a suave smile. "My good men, let us not bicker about details. The crucial matter is that we unite now, before it is too late! We must attack this tumor called Darc, before it spreads to healthy parts of our society!" Lord Orbes asked: "But where can he be? Even Lord Damon does not know where Darc and his traitorous son might be hiding." Tharlos raised an index finger: "Darc may be a clever fiend, but he is no cleverer than our united might. I have just learned how these 'radio' devices work. To track down and fix his position, we must build our own sets of radio receivers. Together we can use those to pin down the source of the radio waves. "Our next step would be to organize a strike fleet. Because I already suspect that Darc is located somewhere across the sea. This fleet would be bigger than anything seen in centuries. It badly needs an experienced commander who has met the enemy before..." His charisma and boldness worked like a charm on the desperate noblemen. Before the end of the day, Tharlos had convinced the guests -- robots not included -- that he was their man. An agreement was signed, and a new military alliance was formed -- perhaps the mightiest alliance in the known world... |
|