Lyonesse II - The Green Pear and Madouc by Jack Vance

Then, after you had been safely clapped into a dungeon, he could overwhelm Troicinet at his leisure. We preceded him into South Ulfland and he is now thwarted. So there you have it.”
    King Audry gave a cynical snort. “I also perceive an extension of Troice ambition. It adds new dimensions to the charade! I already have problems enough from Godelia and Wysrod, not to mention the Ska who occupy my strong fortress Poelitetz… . Aha there! Well bowled, Artwen! Now then, Mnione, to the attack! Smite your oppressor hip and thigh!” So called King Audry to the maidens playing at bowls. He lifted a goblet of wine to his lips, drank, then poured out a goblet for Sir Tristano. “Be at your ease; this is a careless occasion. Still, I could wish that Aillas had sent a full-fledged plenipotentiary, or even had come himself.”
    Sir Tristano shrugged. “I can only repeat what I have said before. King Aillas has imparted to me the full details of his program. When I speak, you listen to his voice.”
    “I will be blunt,” said Audry. “Our common enemy is Casmir. I am at all times ready to unite our forces and end, once and for all, the danger he represents.”
    “Sir, this idea naturally comes as no surprise to King Aillas-nor to Casmir, for that matter. Aillas responds in these words. At the moment Troicinet is at peace with Lyonesse, a condition which may or may not endure. We are putting the time to good use. We consolidate our position in South Ulfland; we augment our navy, and if the peace persists a hundred years, so much the better.
    “In the meantime the most urgent situation confronting us is the Ska. If we joined you to defeat Lyonesse, the Ska problem would not go away; and we would then confront a new aggressive Dahaut without the counterbalance of Lyonesse. We cannot tolerate a preponderance in either direction, and always must throw our weight behind the weaker antagonist. For the immediate future, this would seem to be you.”
    Audry frowned. “Your statement is almost insultingly crass.”
    Sir Tristano refused to be daunted. “Sir, I am not here to please you, but to present facts and listen to your remarks.”
    “Hmmf. These, you say, are the words of King Aillas.”
    “Precisely so.”
    “I gather that you have no high opinion of my military might.”
    “Would you care to hear the appraisal we have received at Domreis?”
    “Speak on.”
    “I will quote the report more or less as it reached us: ‘Above all else, the knights of Dahaut are required to appear on parade with armour shining and all caparisons resplendent, and indeed they make a brave show. In battle, they may not fare so well, since they have been enervated by luxury and are disinclined to the rigors of the campaign. If forced to confront an enemy, no doubt they could wheel their horses in gallant caracoles and defy the foe with insouciant gestures, but all from a safe distance. Archers and pikemen march with full precision, and at the parade are the marvel of all who see them. The compliments have befuddled poor Audry; he reckons them to be invincible. Again, they are trained to the parade ground, but barely know which end of their weapons is hurtful. They are all overweight and clearly have little stomach for fighting.’ “
    Audry said indignantly: “That is a graceless canard! Are you here only to mock me?”
    “Not at all. I came to deliver a message, part of which you have just heard. The second part is this: King Casmir well understands your military deficiencies. He has been denied his easy passage through South Ulfland, and now must think of direct attack. King Aillas urges that you take command of your army away from your favorites and put it into the hands of a qualified professional soldier. He recommends that you abandon your dress parades for field exercises, and spare no one his necessary effort, including yourself.”
    Audry drew himself up. “This kind of message verges upon sheer insolence.”
    “This is not our