„Must be." Aral had made Michael explain before asking his smuggler friends to do the job. He didn't like it. Supplying weapons to El Murid's Chosen. Seemed suicidal. But what did he know about foreign policy? He hoped the Fat Man didn't find out. The Fat Man had a big hatred for anything that smelled of the Disciple. He'd lost a brother in the El Murid Wars.
„Going to go out and prowl," Aral told the Fat Man. „See what's happening around the neighborhood."
The whole district was as quiet as their home place. Aral hoped he was right about business improving with time.
Time to go back, get some sleep. He was supposed to ride with Michael in the morning.
Mist had an appointment with Lord Ch'ien Kao E, the man most responsible for her restoration. She faced it nervously. Lord Ch'ien had spent the day representing her before the Council of Tervola. He would bear good tidings or bad.
He came in with a nod. They had decided to back her! She was Princess in fact as well as name. The empire was hers again, and this time without dispute. There was no O Shing in the outlands gathering armies to challenge her claim. She bounced off the throne and threw her arms around Lord Ch'ien. „We did it. We did it, Kao E. All the way home."
Kao E actually hugged her back, lightly, tentatively, in the first affectionate gesture she'd ever seen from him. Behind his rigorously proper demeanor, he was excited too.
She backed away. „What did it? What convinced them?" She had expected them to temporize because of her long association with enemies of the empire.
„Your swift stabilization of the southern front coupled with your success in the east. Lord Ssu-ma spoke for you, and spoke well. He was a great admirer of Lord Kuo Wen-chin. He tipped the balance. I think we can look forward to a long and tranquil reign. There isn't a hint of a plot to come back at you. The Tervola are tired of coup and counter-coup. They've seen the cost of disunity. In all the realm there is just one potential troublemaker."
„Lord Hsung?"
„Exactly. I haven't had time to watch him. What's he done lately?"
„Nothing new. He just hasn't cancelled his plan to attack Hammad al Nakir."
„I think it's time you replaced him, Princess."
„He has a lot of friends. And many of the Tervola share his ideas about the western problem." She smiled gently. She had decided what to do about Lord Hsung long ago. „We can't move him out till he does something incontestably insubordinate."
„At which point we'll be at war with El Murid. He's not a heavyweight anymore, but we don't need more enemies of any sort."
„Did you make the arrangements in Lord Hsung's head quarters?"
„Exactly as you directed."
„Good."
„I don't like doing that to a brother, Mistress. If I may say so."
„I don't either. But there are limits. He'll damn himself out of his own mouth—and become an example."
„As you say, Mistress."
„As I say. One more thing. Ask Lord Ssu-ma to see me tomorrow. I want to thank him personally."
„Of course."
Thank him? Mist thought. He's been thanked already.
But only he and I know, Lord Ch'ien. I'm sorry, old friend, but I'm going to disappoint your secret ambition. Lord Ssu-ma is a better man for the job. But your turn will come. I promise you that. You've served me long and well. Be patient. I never forget my friends.
She reflected on old friends in the west, friends who would be ill-served if Lord Hsung had his way. She hoped Bragi would interpret her gesture positively.
20
Year 1016 AFE; As the Sparks Ry Upward
Credence abaca folded his hands, closed his eyes. „Read the last part again." His aide went back to the report delivered by Michael Trebilcock's messenger. „Tonight, eh? Here's what you do. Have the carpenters rig a sixteen-man gibbet. Send Blakely's company down there in civilian clothes. Tell him to grab the shit disturbers the minute they start sounding off. Give them to Trebilcock." Michael's report predicted rioting in the Arsen Street area.
„You know what this is, don't you?" Abaca asked. „A diversion set up by the Estates. The main show will take place somewhere else. They want to test me. Send that back to Trebilcock. Have Adam pass the word to stay alert. Oh. Ask Trebilcock where else we might expect trouble."
The riots began exactly as Michael predicted. Abaca was quick and merciless. His gibbet collapsed under an over load. Bodies were left lying in the streets. People were appalled and intimidated when they had time to reflect.
Abaca's prophecy proved correct. The rioting was a diversion for a band of men who tried to raid Castle Krief. They were supposed to free the Queen and spirit her into hiding in western Kavelin. They perished in the attempt.
„Perfect end to an ill-conceived plot," Abaca observed next morning. „We win the first test of strength. Next time they won't underestimate me. What's holding up break fast?"
Dan] picked up Gales coming off the Great Bridge into the Wharf Street South district of Itaskia. Gales was a day later than Haas expected. He had had time to contact his king's friends in the Itaskian government.
He had been surprised to find them eager to help. The man assigned to aid him was a Colonel from the War
Ministry staff. He brought a team of thirty men with him. He took one look at Gales and told Dahl, „That's no infantry sergeant, Captain."
„Sir?"
„The name is right. Josiah Gales. But he's a colonel in the Greyfells family forces. One of the Duke's top men. We thought he'd been eliminated. He's been missing for several years. Let's get back to the Ministry and review what you remember about his friends."
„He's a Greyfells agent, then?"
„Yes. A good man, too. He's wasted on them. The rumor is, he sticks with them because he's in love with Inger, and because he thinks he owes them for a lapse of his while guarding her when she was young."
Dahl said, „I think you've answered most of the King's questions already."
„You sound happy."
„I was afraid I'd have to hang around for months. I left a lady friend... ." Dahl blushed.
„I see. Before you run back to her, give us a few days. With your help maybe we can scuttle this thing from this end. Chop off the dragon's head, as it were. We knew the Greyfells lot were up to something, but we couldn't pin it down. We expected it to be something here. Can you stay?"
„Of course. I want to ride up north while I'm here. King Bragi has some property up the river. I have relatives there."
„I know the place. We used to have troops garrisoned there. It's abandoned now, except for a few farmers. Your relatives farmer types?"
Dahl nodded. „My father gave them his share of the property. You sure your men will keep track of Gales?"
„Better than you could. Let's go over what you know today. Go see your relatives tomorrow. I'll give you a full report when you get back. We can go over any new ques tions, then you can head home."
„Sounds good to me." Dahl was eager to see the old place. He'd been happy there. He hoped he could recapture the feel of the past.
The news Bragi was awaiting finally came from Maisak. The Dread Empire legion stationed at Gog-Ahlan, a ruined city at the eastern mouth of the Savernake Gap, was pulling out. „We move in the morning," he announced. „Up to Maisak."
Sir Gjerdrum looked at him askance. Baron Hardle asked, „Why the hurry?"
„Even a fast rider needs a week to get from Gog-Ahlan to Baxendala. We want to make some noise while there's still somebody to see us."
„I have a bad feeling about this," Gjerdrum said. „Some thing doesn't smell right."