[Nurumaiel]

The light of the fire created strange shadows to play over the room. It was a large room, decorated with tapestries and richly-coloured rugs, and the fire was the only source of light and warmth. There were three windows, but all were closed. But for the fire, the room would have been a forbidding place, and indeed even with the brisk blaze there was a coldness. A tall, handsome man let his impressive step fall before the hearth, and just behind him was another man: short, pale, and thin, with keen eyes darting here and there, betraying a mind of cunning and maybe even some intelligence. The taller man was not distinguished by any singular expression of face, but rather by his good looks, and by his rich dark hair, and by his strong figure. A perturbed frown was upon his face, and his eyes were fixed on the flames that leapt here and there, and crackled and spat with a malice.

"A banquet tonight? Whatever for?"

"There is an emissary arrived, Lord Korak, from the West," the skulking, pale man replied. "Naturally the King wishes to honour him with a banquet."

"Naturally? Why is it so natural when I could not see it myself?" The Lord Korak's voice was angry, and his fists clenched powerfully at his side.

The pale man showed no signs of fear or even a slight apprehension, but said smoothly, and with impudence: "It is natural, my Lord. What would you do if you were King?" The darting eyes slid down to the fists and the taut arm muscles. "As you will be someday," he added, and the hands unclenched.

Lord Korak turned, and a bright light shone in his eye. "That is more natural than what you spoke of before, Morashk," he said. "Then the Princess will be there?"

"Naturally, as she is the King's daughter," said the pale man.

"You speak of naturally again," said Lord Korak, and though he showed no signs of anger this time, his frustration was clear in his voice. He clasped his hands behind his back and paced thrice in front of the fire. "Why is it so natural when I cannot see it?"

"It is this:" said Morashk: "you have taught me to know the minds of all the Royalty, to find out what pleases them and what does not, for your own advantage."

"I know that," said Lord Korak. "And because of it the Princess shall be my wife, for I have well-pleased the King."

"Well, as I know what the King does and thinks and says, and what he will not do and think and say, naturally it comes naturally to me."

"Too naturally," said Lord Korak, and he glowered at his servant. "I hear that word for endless days. Must all things be natural for you? Can you not think?"

Morashk stood erect then, and a frown of insulted pride came to him, but his voice did not lose its smoothness. "I did all the thinking needed long ago, and now I need only remember."

"Then you shall find it no difficult task to choose a suitable present for the Princess," said Lord Korak.

"Not at all," said Morashk, and he crossed the room and withdrew.

Lord Korak sat himself upon a couch richly embroidered, and was nearly buried by the decorative pillows that fell over and about him. His face glowed in the light of the fire, and the gold twined in his long beard glistened and shone. He said nothing, nor moved from his posture, but he gazed fixed down at the stone floor, and was silent. Time passed, and Morashk returned, displaying a necklace of gold and set with stones. Lord Korak took the piece of jewelry and gestured for his servant to leave, and then he studied the gift for the Princess. It would look pretty clasped about her throat, though he could not say it would improve her looks. There was no beauty in her. There was no beauty in any girl. If he married her he would have one to inherit his wealth and lands, her at least if she bore no son. But there was more than that.

Lord Korak left his relaxed posture then and sat straight up, and his eyes glinted with hunger as they swept through the room. The rugs, the intricate stone-work, the tapestries... How fine it all was, and how unsatisfactory. He had been in the Palace many a time before, and it was a sight above all sights. And more than that, there was power, and authority, for the one who held the throne. The Palace, and all in it, and all power, would be his, if he married the Princess.

If he became King.

He stood, and prepared himself for the banquet.