The hideous apparition in the doorway continued to bellow horribly graphic descriptions of its plans for the faculty of the Contemporary History Department.
Were there any other questions about Trolls? Ulath asked mildly, but none of the assembled academics heard him over all the shouts, screams and the tipping over of chairs.
It took the better part of a quarter of an hour to restore order once Ulath had dismissed his illusion, and when Itagne reapproached the lectern, the entire audience was huddled closely together near the front of the auditorium.
Im touched by your eagerness to hear my every word, gentlemen, Itagne smiled, but I can speak loudly enough to be heard at the back of the hall, so you neednt draw so close. I trust that the visit of Sir Ulaths friend has cleared up the little misunderstanding about Trolls? He looked at Quinsal, who was still cowering on the floor, gibbering in terror. Splendid, Itagne said. Briefly then, Prince Sparhawk came to Tamuli. Elenes are sometimes a devious people, so Sparhawks wife, Queen Ehlana, proposed a state visit to Matherion and concealed her husband and his friends in her entourage. Upon their arrival, they almost immediately uncovered some facts which we had somehow overlooked. First, Emperor Sarabian actually has a mind, and second, the government led by Pondia Subat was in league with our enemies.
Treason! a thin, balding professor shrieked, leaping to his feet.
Really, Dalash? Itagne asked, against whom?
Whyuh Dalash floundered.
You still dont understand, do you gentlemen? Itagne asked the faculty of Contemporary History. The previous government has been overthrownby Emperor Sarabian himself. Tamuli is now an Elene-style monarchy, and Emperor Sarabian rules by decree. The previous governmentand its Prime Ministerare no longer relevant.
The Prime Minister cannot be removed from office! Dalash screamed. He holds his position for life!
Even if that were true, it suggests a rather simple solution to the problem, doesnt it?
You wouldnt dare!
Not me, old boy. Thats the Emperors decision. Dont cross him, gentlemen. If you do, hell decorate the city gates with your heads. Lets press on here. Id like to cover a bit more ground before our customary recess. It was the aborted coup attempt that finally brought things to a head. Pondia Subat was a party to the entire conspiracy and he fully intended to stand around wringing his hands while the drunken mob murdered all of his political enemies, evidently including the Emperor himself.
If Professor Dalash wants to scream treason he might take a look at that. We discovered much in the aftermath of that failed coup, not only concerning the treason of the Prime Minister, but of the Minister of the Interior as well. Most important, however, was the discovery that it had been Zalasta who had engineered the entire plot, and that he was secretly allied with Ekatas, High Priest of Cyrgon, the God of the supposedly extinct Cyrgai.
At this point Prince Sparhawk had no choice but to retrieve Bhelliom from its hiding place and to send to Chyrellos for reinforcements. He enlisted other allies as well, not the least of which were the Delphaewho do in fact exist in all their glowing horror.
This is absurd! Contemporary Historys reigning bully-boy, the crude and muscular Professor Pessalt sneered. Are we supposed to believe this nonsense?
Youve already seen a Troll this evening, Pessalt, Itagne reminded him. Would you like a personal visitation by a Shining One as well? I can arrange it, if youd likebut outside, please. Wed never get rid of the stink if you were dissolved into a puddle of slime right here in front of the platform.
Dean Altus cleared his throat meaningfully.
Yes sir, Itagne assured him. Ill just be a few more minutes.
He turned back to the audience. Now then, he continued quickly, since the subject of the Trolls has come up again, we might as well go into that and clear it away once and for all. As youve noticed, the Trolls are real. They were lured to Tamuli from their home range in northern Thalesia by Cyrgon, who posed as one of their Gods. The real Troll-Gods have been imprisoned for eons, and Prince Sparhawk offered them an exchangetheir freedom in return for their aid. He then led a sizeable force to northern Atan, where the misguided Trolls had been stirring up turmoil in hopes of forcing the Atans to return to defend their homelandwhich would have left us effectively defenseless, since the Atans comprise the bulk of our army.
Sparhawks move seemed to play right into the hands of our enemies, but when Cyrgon and Zalasta unleashed the Trolls, Sparhawk called forth their Gods to reclaim them. In desperation, Cyrgon reached back in time and produced a huge army of his Cyrgai. Then the Trolls, true to their nature, ate them.
You dont really expect us to swallow this, do you, Itagne? Professor Sarafawn, Chairman of the Department of Contemporary History and brother-in-law of the Prime Minister, demanded scornfully.