The Mage in the Iron Mask by Brian Thomsen Page B

never knew my mother, killed my father, have imprisoned my brother, and am plotted against by my wife."
    "Most people are inferior pawns whose very existence is only validated for as long as they are useful to superior men such as yourself, High Blade," Rickman asserted.
    "Indeed," Selfaril agreed absently.
    Rickman remained in place, waiting for the High Blade to issue new orders, but Selfaril remained silent, as if preoccupied with other matters. Growing uncomfortable with his master's prolonged silence, the captain of the Hawks hazarded a question.
    "Your majesty," Rickman inquired cautiously, "have you confronted the Tharchioness with your discovery of her conspiracy yet?"
    "No," Selfaril answered quickly, snapping out of his preoccupied malaise. "I haven't finished planning how to turn it to my greatest advantage yet. Ideally I would like to use it to rid the city of all of those diplomatically immune wizards she has seen fit to bring here, exempting them from my control, while sending an occupational force to Eltabbar to exert our own battery of diplomatic influence. As you no doubt realize, this is more than just a wife wishing to kill her husband. This is war."
    Rickman was surprised at the recent amount of anger and emotion the High Blade had made evident. What had started out as a political chess game with what was initially considered to be a worthy opponent had quickly escalated into a ruthless shadow war. Rickman was in a quandary as to what he should offer to do next.
    "Should I have some of my men arrange for the removal-permanent or locational-of the Tharchioness?" he inquired.
    "Not just yet," the High Blade answered. "We must play this situation very delicately."
    "What if I were to send two of my men back to the Retreat to investigate the unfortunate slaughter of that order of contemplative mages. They could discover the Thayan wand that was left behind, and report it to their immediate superiors who would then pass this discovery up through the chain of command…"
    "And with gossip being what it is in the lower ranks, passing out into the unwashed masses as well."
    "Indeed, sire," Rickman agreed. "Maiden rumor will spread, fermenting public outrage against the Thayan murderers. I will have Wattrous and Jembahb dispatched immediately. Neither of them are known for their discretion."
    "Indeed."
    "In regards to rumor, sire," Rickman continued. "Wouldn't it be wise to remove any threat of it interfering with our plans?"
    "To what do you refer?"
    "The prisoner, sire," the Hawk captain explained cautiously. "Though his appearance is obscured, he can still talk. Perhaps he should be further isolated from the other prisoners in the dungeon."
    Selfaril shook his head and chuckled.
    "I really don't think that is necessary. A trip to the dungeon is a one-way journey for the hopeless, penniless, and terminally unfortunate. What are the odds of someone getting out, and even at that, what of it?"
    Rickman became quite serious.
    "Through my sources, I have learned that the prisoner in the cell next to your brother was released yesterday. An unemployed actor I believe."
    "What of it? If he heard anything at all it was the ravings of a madman. I find very little reason to fear an unemployed actor who probably knows nothing, nor anyone, of importance."
    "Just the same, your majesty, I would like to assign one of my spies to keep an eye on him, at least until your plan has come to fruition."
    "Fine, fine," Selfaril responded. "Spy on him, kill him, whatever you desire. Just don't waste my time with it."
    "Yes, your majesty," the captain of the Hawks answered dutifully. "And the Tharchioness? Does the same hold true for her?"
    "No, Rickman," the High Blade responded with a lascivious grin as he recalled the night before. "I'm not quite finished playing with her just yet."
    * * * * *
    In the chambers of the First Princess of Thay in the Tower of the Wyvern:
    "Your majesty," the fearful ambassador hesitantly interrupted the