The Invisible Hands - Part 1: Gambit by Andrew Ashling Page A

me?”
    “Oh, extortion is such an ugly word,” Arranulf said.
    “Maybe, and also a fitting one. Anyway, how do I know he’s up to the job?”
    Arranulf looked at Obyann who looked at Anaxantis.
    “I know, I know,” he erupted. “Remember the Zinchara?”
    “Vaguely,” Anaxantis said dryly. “Yes, I’m almost certain I was in the neighborhood when some fighting was going on there.”
    “Exactly,” Obyann continued, ignoring the obvious sarcasm. “We were first on the battlefield. Well, we couldn’t have done it without Tarnwood. He was one of the patrol leaders, you see.”
    Anaxantis looked doubtful.
    “The pages respect him and look up to him,” Arranulf smiled.
    “Come on, Anaxantis, it’s only one extra clansman. Surely it doesn’t make that much of a difference.”
    “To my hide it will, seeing as Tomar will have it,” the prince said.
    “He’s already complaining I spend far too much money. And now you
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want me to appoint Eynurm master of pages, which means I’ll have to
    knight him before his age, and also that I have to enlist him in the clan and pay him.”
    Arranulf and Obyann didn’t answer. Seeing their befuddled faces, Anaxantis laughed.
    “I must admit, it seems the perfect solution. That is if Eynurm agrees to all this.”
    He cast a questioning look at the page, who couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
    “Yes, yes, of course. I, I don’t know what to say,” Eynurm stammered.
    “Yes and thank you both come to mind,” Arranulf said.
    “Be careful what you’re getting yourself into though, Tarnwood.
    Except for me you’ll be the only other normal guy. The rest of them are all perverts and completely bonkers,” Obyann added.
    “Oh, let’s get this over with,” Anaxantis said. “I think I’d better begin with knighting you.” He looked around. “I seem to have mislaid my sword.”
    He turned to Eynurm.
    “What… what do I do? Kneel?”
    “Oh, in heaven’s name, no,” the prince said. “My Lords of Ramaldah and Landemere will officiate as witnesses.” He laid his hand on Tarnwood’s right shoulder. “And thus you are a knight, Sir Eynurm. Be good and, eh, things. I’ll have the parchments made up and registered. I understand Arranulf and Obyann have yet to move into their new quarters, so you can do that together.”
    “Thank you, Your Highness,” the new knight said, overwhelmed by the sudden good turn his fortunes had taken. “And you too, guys.
    Thanks for standing up for me.”
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“Don’t forget to thank Lorcko when you see him,” Anaxantis added
    casually. “It was he who made me decide to help you out. Although neither he nor I could have known that at the time.”
    “Iramid?”
    “Yes. He told me how you went out of your way to befriend him, just when he needed a friend the most.”
    “Ah, that. It was nothing.”
    “He seems to think it was definitely something. So do I. Lorcko says you didn’t even particularly like him at the time. Yet you invited him into your circle of friends.”
    “It’s just that I can’t bear the cruelty of those snobs. They were putting him down in the most vicious way and I wasn’t about to let them get away with it.”
    “I hate bullies,” Obyann grumbled.
    “Funny thing is,” Eynurm continued, “that I did it partly because I had seen how he himself defended one of his Mukthar friends. It changed how I looked at him. Till then I thought he was just some empty headed, pretty-boy parvenu. I was wrong. So, when he in his turn could use someone to stand by him, I thought it could as well be me.”
    “That was kind of you. Not to mention that it shows a lot of character, correcting your initial impression of him. I could use a friend like that myself,” Anaxantis smiled. “Oh yes, before I forget,” he said, addressing the three of them, “I plan to have some leisurely festivities for the Midwinter period. Mainly eating, drinking, riding, walking and talking. Just between friends. You’re invited,