The Fifth Elephant

1999

 In an apparent fit of madness Lord Vetinari, Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, and Vimes's boss, decides to send Duke and Duchess Vimes off to the capital of UberWald to see about reopening the Ankh-Morporkian embassy there which had lain empty since the unfortunate demise of the previous ambassador. There's also a big bash being held in the Dwarven Halls that underlie UberWald as a new King issues in a new era.

While he's attending to all these duties, Vimes is also supposed to be renegotiating the new fat prices from the unlimited mines that are the source of UberWald's wealth.

He also gets a crash course in the local nobility and they are eager to get their teeth into the possibilities he represents.

But Vetinari knows what he's about and Vimes' brand of common-sense keeps his feet firmly attached to the ground.

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