After Corrolin had exhausted his vocabulary, Kathandrion rose and also waxed extravagant in his praise of me. I liked that speech too. Then Mangaran stood up and demonstrated the fact that the Asturians had not totally forgotten how to thee, thou, and what-not. The shrewd old earl concluded his remarks with a little surprise, however. ‘Nobles all,’ he said with a faint smile. ‘This gathering here on the plain of our mournful Arendia hath as its ultimate goal a lasting peace. For many, this will seem unnatural, and for others, perhaps even impious. Peace is an alien concept in Arendia, and the fact that our meeting hath lasted for quite nearly an entire afternoon with not a single drop of blood spilled may cause outrage in some quarters. Since we are flying into the very teeth of convention, let us further shock that stuffy old grand dame with yet another violation of her conception of how things ought to be done. Ladies, as all the world doth know, are creatures of delight, more beauteous, more genteel, more tender than are we, and it is the sworn duty of every right-thinking nobleman in all the world to protect and serve them. It is also known, however, that their minds are not the equal of ours. Our fulsome and most deservéd praise of Lady Polgara this day hath encouraged me to investigate a shocking possibility. Could it be that great Chaldan hath, in fact, given women brains? Is this possible? Then, emboldened by the fact that a divine thunderbolt had not as yet incinerated me, I pushed this heretical concept even further out into unexplored territory. It is well known, I think, that Duke Oldoran hath recently been removed from his throne and ensconced in a monastery to rave and scream out the remainder of his life. It is also widely bruited about that I was responsible for his removal. I will openly confess that this is true, but it would not have happened had it not been for the assistance of two – not one, but two – ladies. The one, of course, was Lady Polgara. I’m sure that surprises no one here. What is not so widely known, however, is the fact that a high-born lady in Vo Astur was also involved – all the way up to her pretty eyebrows. Moreover, she has advised me in most matters since I seized control of the government of the duchy of Asturia. The need for total openness at this conference impels me to reveal this and to introduce the lady who rules at my side. Nobles all, may I present the Countess Asrana, a conspiratoress without peer.’

There was some faint applause, which gradually grew less faint, swelling finally into an ovation.

‘I’ll get you for this, Mangaran,’ Asrana said, rising to her feet.

‘Promise?’ he asked slyly.”

Asrana struck a tragic pose. ‘And now is my dreadful secret revealed,’ she declared. ‘How can anyone possibly forgive me? Truly, gentlemen, it was not my fault. Polgara made me do it. It’s all her fault.’ She sighed a long, quivering theatrical sigh. ‘I am exposéd now, so I guess we might as well get on with this. This unnatural gathering has been convened to explore the possibility of peace. – Isn’t that awful? How can we live without enemies? We have to hate someone!’ She paused, then snapped her fingers. ‘I have it, my Lords! I have the solution! Let’s hate Murgos instead of each other! Murgos are hideous, and Arends are the most beautiful people in the world. Murgos are dishonorable, and Arends are all nauseatingly saturated with honor. Murgos are unmannerly, and Arendish courtesy is the despair of the known world. Let us join hands, nobles all, and pledge upon our sacred honor to hate the eyebrows off every Murgo we meet.’

They were all laughing by now, and pounding on the table with delight. The Countess Asrana had neatly rolled them all up into a little ball and put them in her pocket.

‘I do confess that I like this charming young lady, your Grace!’ I heard Mandorin say to his duke. ‘She is utterly delightful.’

I just happened to be watching Asrana’s face when he said that about her, and her look became just a trifle smug. Then, without so much as changing expression, she winked at me. She’d obviously overheard Mandolin’s remark, and it was also obvious that she felt that she’d just won something.

There was a banquet that evening, and Baron Mandorin managed to find a seat next to Asrana’s where she promptly did war upon him. Her cavalry charges were outrageously winsome remarks and observations. Her siege engine of choice was a low-cut gown that went just a bit beyond the bounds of propriety. Baron Mandorin didn’t quite sue for peace that evening, but he came very close.

The Countess shared my quarters, and I waited up for her. ‘Why Mandorin?’ I asked her bluntly when she came in.

‘I didn’t quite follow that, Polly.’

‘Why are you setting your cap for Baron Mandorin? There are others here who are prettier, and he’s quite a bit older than you are.’

‘So much the better,’ she replied, letting her hair down and shaking it out. ‘With Mandorin, I won’t have to endure all those calf-eyed looks and the reams of misspelled bad poetry. Mandolin’s very close to the center of power in Mimbre, and I’ve got a similar position in Asturia. You’ll be managing things in Wacune, so among the three of us, we ought to be able to keep everybody in line – long enough for peace to become a habit, at least.’ Then she gave me a wicked sidelong glance. ‘I hate to say it, Polly, but I’m going to have more fun than you are.’

‘Are you doing this out of patriotism, Asrana?’ I asked incredulously.

‘You can call it that if you wish, but down at the bottom, power excites me – and the three of us are going to have almost all the power there is in poor old Arendia. You can’t ask for much more than that.’

‘What about love, Asrana?’

She shrugged. ‘What about it? Love’s for children, Polgara. It’s a plaything I’ve outgrown. I like Mandorin. He’s handsome and unspeakably noble. The years will erode his handsomeness, and I’ll erode his nobility. We’ll do some fairly unpopular things, I’m afraid, but Arendia’s going to be better for it. If that makes me a patriot, so be it. Watch me very closely, Polly. I might even be able to teach you some tricks.’

By mid-morning of the next day, even the densest Arend in Duke Corrolin’s pavilion was aware of the fact that something was ‘going on’ between our unscrupulous countess and Baron Mandorin, and I think that was also included in Asrana’s plan. I don’t think that even Ce’Nedra could ever be as duplicitous as Asrana was. By the end of that day, poor Baron Mandorin was completely in her thrall. He watched her every move and hung on her every word – since Asrana spoke frequently at our deliberations. Here was a young lady who could play two games at the same time – and both of them very well.