Free Sethra Lavode (Viscount of Adrilankha) by Steven Brust Page B

Majesty, how am I to tell?”
    “How? Well, there is a stack of invitations on that table in the corner; go and see if any of them are dated this evening.”
    “Yes, Majesty.”
    Sergeant crossed to the indicated table, picked up the top-most of the rather large pile of letters, and, after glancing at it, announced, “Today the Count of Southmoor celebrates the completion of his home, Castle Black.”
    “What do you tell me?”
    Sergeant repeated what he had said.
    “Southmoor, do you say? Morrolan?”
    “Yes, Your Majesty.”
    “But, it has been less than a year!”
    “It seems, Your Majesty, that he has an astonishing number of Vallista at his disposal.”
    “Well, but, why wasn’t I informed of this?”
    “But Your Majesty was informed—the invitation is here, on thin black paper with gold lettering, addressed to: ‘Her Imperial Majesty, Zerika the Fourth, House of the Phoenix, Empress of Dragaera, at Whitecrest Manor, Adrilankha.’ ”
    “Bring it here.”
    Sergeant handed the invitation to Her Majesty with a bow. Zerika looked at it carefully, and noted that, in fact, it was not written on thin paper, but, rather, on silk; and, moreover, the lettering itself was, in fact, gold.
    “Well, that is certainly addressed to me. And the proof is, the invitation is here. And, moreover, it does not lack for style.”
    “Then shall I make arrangements?”
    “Yes, do so.”
    “Very well. But—”
    “Yes?”
    “What arrangements am I to make? That is to say, how will you get there?”
    “Do you remember a certain Athyra named Bebbyn?”
    “I do.”
    “He is the Imperial Sorcerer. He will arrange transportation.”
    “Very well. What else?”
    “Do you know Lord Brimford?”
    “The—that is to say, the Easterner?”
    “Exactly.”
    “I have seen him.”
    “Inform him that I will be at—what is the name? Castle Black. That I will be at Castle Black this evening.”
    “Yes, Majesty.”
    “And find my maid,” said Zerika, standing up. “Send her to me in my apartment. I go now to dress.”
    The Empress was going to the ball.

Chapter the Seventy-Fourth
    How the Entertainment at
Castle Black Took Place
    I t was on a Skyday in the winter of the first year of the reign of the Empress Zerika the Fourth that Morrolan opened the doors of Castle Black. Lady Teldra was there to greet the guests, who included, among others, Sethra Lavode, Sethra the Younger, the Sorceress in Green, the Necromancer, Viscount Lászlo of Brimford (that is, the Warlock), Khaavren, Aerich, Tazendra, and three score or so of nobles of various Houses, mostly Dragon, who were either teleported in by Morrolan himself, who had fairly mastered the art, or were levitated up to the courtyard after arriving below it by some other means.
    It is worth mentioning that this event, quite aside from its effect on the history we have taken it upon ourselves to relate, marks the first time an entertainment was given to which any of the guests (not to mention most of them) arrived by teleportation, and, as such, is significant to those who make a study of the social customs of such affairs. While no doubt interesting, such a study is beyond the scope of this history, wherefore we will content ourselves with the mere observation of the fact.
    Morrolan himself was kept busy answering questions, most of them having to do with the problems unique to construction carried on far off the ground. Even endless repetitions of the remark “Well, it is certainly a defensible position” or near variations did nothing to depress his spirits—he smiled and laughed and greeted his guests through the night, at one time remarking to Teldra, “This is very nearly as enjoyable a pastime as battle.”
    Morrolan had arranged for confections from Nacine, where there were two quite respectable bakers. In addition, he had imported creepers from the Shallow Sea, squabs from the Southern Coast, beef and kethna from the surrounding peasants (prepared by chefs discoveredand