Free Rage of a Demon King by Raymond E. Feist Page A

upon innocents by the Emerald Queen. But there were other merchants with far better connections to be made with Queg. “Why me?”
    “You are a well-regarded curiosity, Roo Avery. Word of your rise has spread from Roldem to theSunset Islands, and I’m counting on that curiosity to tip the balance.”
    “What balance?” asked Roo.
    James set his goblet on Roo’s desk. “Queg has many quaint and original laws, and not the least of these is the simple fact that a non-citizen of that mad little Empire has no legal rights. If you set foot on Quegan soil without a Quegan sponsor, you’re property for the first Quegan with a strong enough arm to toss a rope around you and make it stick. If you resist, even to save your life, that’s assault on a citizen.” He made a rowing motion. “How do you feel about long ocean voyages?”
    “How long?”
    “Twenty years is the shortest sentence we’ve heard of.”
    Roo sighed. “How do I get a sponsor?”
    “That’s the tricky part,” said James. “We’ve had strained relations with Queg lately. Too much smuggling and raiding from our point of view, too little paying of duties for sailing on their ocean from their point of view. Our delegation was expelled from their court four years ago, and it’s going to take a while to get another installed.”
    “Sounds difficult,” said Roo.
    “It is. But the thing you need to know about the Quegans is that their government serves two purposes: to keep order—by keeping the peasants beaten down—and to defend the island. The real power rests with their rich merchants. The oldest families have hereditary rights to a place on their ruling body, the Imperial Senate. Those with enough money can buy a seat.”
    Roo grinned. “Sounds like my kind of place.”
    “I doubt you’d like it. Remember, aliens have no rights. If you irritate your sponsor, he can withdraw his protection at whim. That means you have to be very polite. Take lots of gifts.”
    “I can see what you mean.” Roo reflected on what he had been told for a moment, then asked, “How am I supposed to get ashore to make this sort of sponsorship contact if you can’t provide an introduction?”
    “You’re an enterprising lad,” said James, finishing his brandy. He stood. “You’ll find a way. Start sounding out your business associates. Once you get some names to contact, I can arrange to have one message smuggled into Queg without too much difficulty, but that’s about the limit of what I can do.”
    Roo rose. “I suppose I’ll find a way.” Already his mind was turning to the problem.
    “My carriage is waiting and I have some distance to travel,” said the Duke as he reached the doorway.
    James followed him and motioned for the serving girl, who was rooted to the same spot he had left her in, still holding the Duke’s cloak. She quickly helped the Duke on with it, and James stood aside while Roo opened the door.
    James’s carriage was waiting just beyond the portal, and Roo’s gateman made ready to escort the carriage back to the entrance to Roo’s estate.
    As the carriage door was closed by a guard, James leaned out the window and said, “Don’t be too long. I’d like you to leave next month at the latest.”
    Roo nodded, and closed the door. Karli hurried from the upstairs to ask, “What did the Duke want?”
    “I’m going to Queg,” answered Roo.
    “Queg?” responded his wife. “Isn’t that dangerous?”
    Roo shrugged. “Yes. But for the moment, getting there is the problem.” He yawned. Slipping his arm around her waist, he gave her a playful squeeze. “Right now I need some sleep. Let’s go to bed.”
    She returned his merry tone with a rare smile. “I would like that.”
    Roo led his wife upstairs.
    Roo lay in darkness listening to Karli’s even breathing. Their lovemaking had been uninspired. Karli did nothing to arouse his desire the way Sylvia Esterbrook did. He thought of Sylvia during his love play with his wife and felt