5.Death of Chaos
XLII
East of Lavah, Sligo [Candar]
THE TWO MEN stand in the small room wanned by a fire comprised at least half of white-hot embers.
“The Duke has not had time to employ the devices whose design you provided last season, Mage.” Begnula inclines his head politely.
Sammel gestures at the scrolls on the table. “Knowledge is the key to his future.” He smiles. “Or someone's.”
“You are not suggesting that you would turn that knowledge over to the red demon? You presume too much.” Begnula takes a step forward, and his hand touches his blade.
Sammel gestures with his index finger, and a ball of fire appears, then drifts toward Begnula. “Do I presume too much? How then shall I presume?” His eyes drift momentarily to the corner of the room where the wood, plaster, and floor planks are somewhat lighter colored.
Begnula steps back. “Ser Mage...”
“Do not tell me that knowledge is not important, Ser Begnula. Nor that it is not useful. I will have this knowledge”- Sammel gestures toward the scrolls-“spread throughout Candar and used. For too long, people in Candar have been kept in the dark.” He laughs gently, and lowers his hand. “Even now, the black mages would have this knowledge suppressed. If it is valuable enough to be suppressed by Recluce-then is it not of value?” He points to the tube weapon mounted on the wall. “Do you know what that is, Ser Begnula?”
“Ah... no.” Begnula takes another step back, a deep breath, and wipes his forehead.
“A pity. Definitely a pity. It is one of the tools by which Recluce has kept Candar in darkness.” Sammel turns back to face the envoy.
“How did you... ?”
“You might say it was presented to me, in a manner of speaking. Of course, it was supposed to depart with its presenter. A pity there, too, but these things do happen when one denies the value of knowledge-or tries to suppress it.”
Begnula wipes his forehead again. “Ah... yes...”
Sammel turns, bends, and eases another log into the fire on the hearth, where it bursts almost instantly into flame. Then he straightens and smiles again, waiting.
“What... what knowledge do you offer the Duke now?” asks Begnula after a long pause.
“A way to spy out his enemy's positions nearly instantly, yet from a distance.”
“In one device?”
“It takes two, but one is very simple, merely a tube and two special pieces of clear and finely polished glass. The other takes silk or another fine-meshed fabric and wax. These are easier than the cannon. They will also make the cannon more useful.”
“If these are so simple, why have they not been used before?”
Sammel smiles. “Who ever said they had not been?”
Begnula looks down.
Sammel's eyes flicker toward the door, glazing over as though his senses were elsewhere. Behind him, the light seems to glimmer on the polished steel of the rocket gun.