Free Ice Forged (The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga) by Gail Z. Martin Page B

disagree.
    Penhallow shrugged. “Perhaps, but only as part of a wider attack. No, my sources tell me that Meroven has held back its strongest battle sorcerers until the end, but that they are well equipped to turn the tide of the war—unless Merrill counters them with mages of equal power.”
    “How can you be sure?”
    “I’ve got a spy among the mages at the front, and one among the mage-scholars at the university,” Voss replied. “Our man at the university, Treven Lowrey, has found some sensitive information that may have bearing on the war.”
    Connor shifted uncomfortably. Although he had been a messenger for Penhallow and Garnoc for several years, he often wrestled with just how much of his own opinions—rather than observations—to share.
    Penhallow watched him with a look that made Connor wonder if the rumors were true that claimed the undead could read minds. “I have the feeling there’s a comment you’d like to make, but aren’t sure you should.”
    Connor sighed. “It’s just that—I get the feeling King Merrill doesn’t like using mages in battle.”
    Penhallow’s expression was resigned. “You’re correct. KingMerrill is, in many ways, a very good king. I have existed long enough to know, and seen many monarchs who were unworthy of their crowns. Merrill’s virtue, in this instance, is his undoing. He doesn’t consider it ‘sporting’ to use mages in battle unless there’s no other choice, and even then it’s distasteful to him.”
    “Edgar of Meroven has no such hesitation, I gather?”
    Penhallow nodded. “Edgar has no such hesitation about anything that he wants,” he said, and his voice mirrored his disdain. “I’ve heard quite a bit about Edgar through my sources and none of it is good.”
    “Did your sources warn you of war?” Connor looked up sharply, not for the first time wondering whose side Penhallow was really on.
    A faint smile touched Penhallow’s lips, but it did not reach his eyes. “Did you think you and Garnoc were my only sources? I haven’t survived for centuries without very good information.” He paused. “I received no warnings of war that I did not pass on to the king through my various connections. But what Merrill does not realize is just how far Edgar will go to get what he wants.”
    “Is Edgar a madman?”
    Voss laughed out loud. Penhallow’s brow furrowed. “You mean, does he bay at the moon? No,” Penhallow replied. “But he is quite without regard for what his ambitions cost others and utterly without feeling for the unfortunates who get in his way. Merrill doesn’t yet realize, I fear, that to Edgar, all of Donderath—and Tarrant—are in his way.”
    “But what does Edgar covet so badly that Meroven doesn’t already have? Their seaports are as favorable, their farmland as good by all accounts, their climate as pleasant.”
    “He doesn’t have it all. He doesn’t rule the Continent,” Voss answered in a voice that made his contempt clear.
    Connor blanched. “And Vellanaj, are they party to his madness? If Edgar wants to rule the entire Continent, then surely he’ll turn on Vellanaj as soon as Donderath and Tarrant are swept aside, and the smaller states will be swallowed whole.”
    Penhallow nodded. “Yes, he will. Either Vellanaj isn’t willing to see Edgar’s ambitions for what they are, or they’ve convinced themselves that they are so valuable that he’ll make an exception for them. They may be the last to be swallowed, but Edgar will want them as part of his empire sooner or later.”
    “I’ve been beside Lord Garnoc at the War Council. Merrill’s reports are grim, casualties are high, but there’s been no suggestion that we were about to be overrun—especially with Tarrant entering the war on our side.”
    “Merrill’s being fed lies by his generals,” Voss said, adding a creatively embellished curse for good measure. “They don’t have the balls to tell him the truth.”
    Penhallow met Connor’s gaze.