“ | Now he was expected to sit at the very heart of government. Jezal dan Luthar, once widely celebrated for his towering ignorance, would be sharing a room with the twelve most powerful men in the Union. | ” |
Horrible Old Men is the eighteenth chapter in Last Argument of Kings.
Chapter Summary[]
King Jezal the First stands in his opulent chambers before a mirror, while the royal tailors poke and prod at him; a King’s wardrobe must match his exalted station. Directing it all is Bayaz, who reject any elaborate ideas, Jezal should look like a warrior-King of old. Finally, ushering the tailors out, he declares the King has business with his Closed Council. As they walk, Bayaz tells him of some agreements that were made to put Jezal on the throne. Lord Isher was promised his two brothers would be put on the Closed Council, a boon Jezal should never grant. He must instead elevate his enemies like Heugen and Barezin, but never Lord Brock who came too close to being King himself.
As Jezal enters the Closed Council, the argument halts and everyone falls over themselves to welcome him. He sits and begs them to continue, and they resume debating taxes, and whether or not peasants should have rights. Whenever Jezal tries to make suggestions, he is shot down. As the debates continue down various avenues, most of it flying over his head, until the discussion turns to Lord Marshal Burr’s death. Sult’s faction backs Poulder, while Marovia backs Kroy. Jezal, remembering his old friend and frustrated at being ignored, demands that Colonel West be named the new Lord Marshal. When the Closed Council pushes back, Jezal erupts in rage, demanding that he be respected as King. And so common-born Collem West is name the new Lord Marshal of the Union Army.
Afterwards, Bayaz congratulates Jezal on his performance. However, when Jezal turns his anger on Bayaz, the old Magus coldly puts him in his place. The topic now turns to a strategic royal marriage. Jezal must secure his authority by taking a bride. When Jezal tells him he loves for Ardee, Bayaz laughs it off as unsuitable. Surely she is much better suited to be the Kings’ mistress.
Characters[]
Introduced | Appeared | Mentioned | |
---|---|---|---|
High Consul Torlichorm | Jezal dan Luthar | Lord Isher | General Poulder |
Lord Admiral Reutzer | Bayaz | Lord Heugen | General Kroy |
Arch Lector Sult | Lord Barezin | Collem West | |
High Justice Marovia | Lord Brock | Ardee West | |
Lord Marshal Varuz | Lord Marshal Burr | Princess Terez | |
Lord Chancellor Halleck | |||
Lord Chamberlain Hoff |
Locations and Terms[]
Adua | The Union | Closed Council | Union Army |
References[]
- Politically, a compromise candidate like West probably is the best choice for Marshall. It prevents either faction from getting an upper hand in the Council. This is probably why Bayaz supports it.