Read Online Chasing the Phoenix by Michael Swanwick - Free Book Online

may not be clear until one considers them all together and a plot which seems abominable midway through the telling is sometimes redeemed by its outcome. Pretend that I am a storyteller and all that I say but a fanciful tale to idle away a pleasant hour.
    â€œNow. Let us imagine the possibility that rather than merely granting the Hidden King’s armies permission to pass through your land, you were to propose an alliance with the Abundant Kingdom, one in which Southern Gate would be a subordinate territory. Sit down, sir! By beginning to listen to me, you made an implicit promise to hear me out—and, as I said, without your willing participation this is but a tale.
    â€œThat is better. Remember, you have committed yourself to nothing as of yet. I am a fellow of no importance. You have no reason to believe I have any influence with the Hidden King or, more significantly, with any members of his court. It does not compromise you to listen.
    â€œWhere was I? Ah, yes. You were about to propose an alliance. Not only do you pledge the resources of your country—your intact, unplundered country—to the Hidden King’s war but you contribute military forces of your own to his armies. Led by you personally and loyal to yourself alone. That automatically makes you a member of his court and one of his advisors. You will not be trusted, of course. Secretly, the Hidden King will consider you a fool. But you will be useful to him and thus treated well. You will also have the opportunity to make friends among his advisors—and one whom I would most ardently advise you to befriend is Ceo Powerful Locomotive.”
    The prince’s eyes were unreadable. His lips were white and thin.
    â€œThe king, as I said before, is mad. However his war goes, in victory or defeat, there will inevitably come a time when his orders become so clearly disastrous that those closest to him must decide who is to survive—he or they. In that extremity, someone, and I cannot say whom, will see to it that the king is no more.
    â€œNow, when a king dies, the matter of succession is a thorny one. If a general or even a ceo were to assume the title, grave suspicion would rest upon him. But if there were a potential figurehead close at hand, someone of noble birth yet not born in the country in question, well, he would be an obvious choice. For a year or three, provided that figurehead king were cooperative, he would issue commands and edicts on the advice of his most trusted advisor. Then, when said advisor—a military man, no doubt—had consolidated his power and felt ready to take the throne in his own name …
    â€œWell, a second regicide would be an inauspicious beginning to the new king’s reign. But suppose the figurehead king were a provincial from a small mountain kingdom of no great importance to anyone but himself. Imagine that his ambitions were modest. He might express a weariness with the duties of ruling a great nation and a yearning to retire to the land that gave him birth. In such a case, his successor would certainly feel grateful enough to present him with Southern Gate as his own possession, free and clear.”
    Darger ceased speaking and waited.
    â€œAll this in exchange for letting your nation’s armies through?”
    â€œAnd for your promise to return to your own nation after two years’ reign.”
    â€œExactly who are you again?”
    â€œAs far as you are concerned, I am a fellow of no importance. But a harsh truth from the mouth of a man you distrust is surely worth more than the most reassuring lies from the lips of those who would pretend to be your friends.” Darger stood, and First-Born Splendor did likewise. Stooping to pick up the wine cups from the ground, Darger said, “You and I have barely touched our wine. Are you willing to drink to our mutual understanding?”
    The prince’s face was hard, but he nodded. They drained their cups.
    Then