Free Dark Sun: Prism Pentad 1 - The Verdent Passage by Troy Denning Page A

the Tyr Valley.
    “What's your secret, my friend?” Tithian asked, pausing to run an appreciative eye over
     Agis's lush fields. “It's all that anyone else can do to produce a few hundred bushels of
     needles a year, but your farm is covered by an orchard.”
    Agis smiled at the compliment. “There's no secret to it,” he said. “I just took a lesson
     from a druid.”
    “And what did you learn?” Tithian asked.
    Treat the land well and eat well. Abuse it and starve.“ Agis pointed at the tawny plain of
     barren dust and sand lying beyond the borders of his estate. ”If everyone followed that
     simple rule, the rest of the Tyr Valley would be as lush as my farm."
    Perhaps you should come and explain this discovery of yours to Kalak,“ Tithian replied,
     his cynical tone suggesting that he found what Agis told him difficult to believe. ”I'm
     sure he'd be interested in such a marvel."
    “I doubt it,” the noble replied. “Kalak's only interest in the valley is draining it of
     every last ounce of magic-giving lifeforce it can provide, regardless of what it does to
     the land.”
    “Be careful who you say such things to, my friend,” Tithian said. “That comment borders on
     treason.”
    Still carrying the ceramic carafe of wine, Tithian started down the narrow path that led
     toward the estate mansion. As he descended the slope, Agis was surprised by the total
     absence of slaves in his fields. It was true that he worked them mainly in the relatively
     cool hours of the morning and evening, but even in the heat of the afternoon there should
     have been a few men in the fields to watch the irrigation ditches and clear any blockages.
     He made a mental note to speak to Caro when he returned to the house, then turned his
     thoughts to what he might learn from Tithian.
    “A week ago, Urik's emissary threatened war if we don't start shipping iron again,” Agis
     said, bringing up a point that he knew the templar could not dismiss lightly. “We can't do
     it because Kalak has taken the slaves out of the mine to work on his ziggurat. How long
     does the king think he can continue to ignore the city's problems?”
    Tithian stopped and faced Agis. They were now surrounded by snarled faro boughs. “How did
     you find out about the emissary?” the templar asked, clearly shocked.
    “If the high templars have spies in the Senate,” Agis responded evenly, “it stands to
     reason that the Senate has spies in the High Bureaus.”
    The truth of the matter was that the Senate had been trying for years to recruit a spy in
     the king's bureaucracy, which whether they liked to admit it or not, was where the real
     political power lay in Tyr. Unfortunately, they had always failed. Agis was simply trying
     to confirm a rumor he had heard from a caravan merchant. If he happened to cause a little
     turmoil among the templars, that was fine.
    “How did Kalak respond to Urik's threat?” Agis asked.
    To the noble's surprise, Tithian sighed, then dropped his gaze. “He sent the envoy's head
     back, carried by a merchant caravan.”
    “What?” Agis shrieked.
    Tithian nodded grimly.
    “Is he
    
    
     trying
    
    
     to start a war?”
    The high templar shrugged. “Who knows? All I can say is that he seemed very pleased with
     himself.”
    Agis was almost as shocked by Tithian's candor as he was by the news itself. Normally a
     high templar, especially this one, would be discreet about such things. “Why are you
     telling me this, Tithian?” the senator asked suspiciously. “What do you want from me?”
    Tithian appeared hurt and did not answer immediately. Instead, he took a long drink from
     his carafe, then studied the contents for several seconds. At last, he looked up.
    “I suppose I deserve even your suspicion, Agis,” he said.
    You must know that you're the only man I have ever considered a friend."
    “That's very flattering, Tithian,” Agis answered care-fully, “but we're hardly