The Flame Priest (The Silk & Steel Saga) Read Online Free Page A

bound the man to her service, the queen said, “Now rise, Master Saddler, for we have much to discuss.” Liandra waited till he gained his feet. “We have a royal commission for our most honest servant. We command you to do the opposite of those in your guild.” Seeing the puzzlement on his face she explained, “You will hoard the diluted coins, exchanging them for coins of solid gold. It is imperative that the false coins be taken out of circulation, before the common people take notice of the difference. We would have you approach the guild and enlist their aid in quietly gathering the diluted coins. Assuming that the guild works in total secrecy, the crown will exchange seven coins of solid gold for every five that are tainted. If the dilution factor is as you say, then the exchange represents a profit of nearly fifty percent.” She paused to let the goldsmith consider the magnitude of the reward.
    His eyes grew wide. “A very generous offer, your majesty.”
    “We expect to be well served by the profit. You and your guild must work with the utmost secrecy. Panic in the marketplace will benefit no honest merchant or citizen of Lanverness.” She lowered her voice. “Panic will terminate our royal offer…and those who hold the coins will be the poorer.” She studied the goldsmith. “Do you agree?”
    He blanched pale. “Hard but fair.” His face turned thoughtful, “But the guild won’t believe me.”
    “You shall have our royal writ to convince them…in exchange for an oath of secrecy. Breaking the oath will be considered treason and we are not in the mood to extend clemency to traitors. Are we understood?”
    The goldsmith swallowed. “Y-yes, your majesty. The guild knows how to keep a secret.”
    “See that they do.” Adding a touch of gracious warmth to her voice, she said, “You have done well in bringing this scheme to our attention. Foil the plot and we shall see that you are richly rewarded. We would have men of your honesty elevated to the Peerage.”
    A gasp escaped the goldsmith, a stunned look on his face.
    “The Rose Crown rewards those who are loyal. We value honesty in our court.”
    The goldsmith straightened, his face flushed with pride.
    The queen extended her ringed hand. “You are dismissed with our thanks. The Master Archivist will see to the drafting of the writ and the administration of the oath. Go with our thanks.”
    Bowing, he reverently kissed her emerald ring of office. With a dazed look, he followed the master from the chamber.
    The queen sat wrapped in stillness, her mind plumbing the depths of the plot. Instead of unveiling the identity of the Red Horns, the dire news only served to deepen the complexity. The dilution of the coins had to be linked to the Red Horns. Such a devious plot was worthy of her adversary. With one fell stroke the traitors harvested gold from her royal treasury to fund their rebellion while threatening economic ruin across the realm. Simple yet elegant, the plot had far reaching consequences. Liandra seethed at the threat. Building the prosperity of Lanverness had been her lifelong goal. Everything she’d achieved could be undone by a single plot. Rage boiled within her. The threat had to be contained and the mastermind brought to the scaffold. It was time to end this treason.
    The door to her solar opened to admit the Master Archivist. The fact that he had not knocked indicated the depth of her counselor’s unease.
    “My deepest apologies, majesty, for not having seen the plot myself.”
    “We were both looking elsewhere. Your shadowmen watch for people not coins. Now it appears they must look for both. Our resources will be stretched thin but it must be done.” The queen stabbed at the heart of the problem. “Clearly the royal treasury is compromised.”
    “Do you suspect Lord Wesley?”
    “No, our Lord Treasurer does not have the imagination or the subtlety for this plot.”
    “I concur.” Lowering his voice, the master said, “The