„Ah, Inger, if you only knew. Hell, you do know. One whole hell of a lot goes on without me knowing. Wouldn't you say? What about an arrow?"
„Come here. Look at this and lie to me." She led him into another room.
A dead man lay on the floor. Michael knelt beside him. „Karl. How the hell?..."
„Through the window. The arrow was meant for me. Karl stepped in the way at the wrong time."
Michael went to the window. He looked out, toward Fiana's Tower. The arrow hadn't been meant for anyone. „I don't know anything about it, Inger. I will say this. The man who killed Karl was a hell of a bowman."
Inger hissed, exasperated. „So Hunsicker told me. I don't care. I do care about my life and the lives of my people. I didn't bring them here to be murdered."
„I'll find out who did it. He'll hang. Rest assured."
Uncertainly, she asked, „What if it was Abaca? You're always warning me about him."
„Assassination isn't his style. If he wanted you dead, he'd trump up some way to declare martial law, then bust in here and hang you before anybody could get in his way. It's something like that that he's been setting up. That's why I wanted you out. No, I don't think Credence did this."
Confused, Inger said, „That little bitch Kristen, then. She hates me because of Fulk."
„Maybe. Whoever, we've got to get you out of here. As soon as it's completely dark I'll take you to an abandoned manor north of the city. My own people will come in and pretend you're still here. As soon as I make the arrange ments, we'll send you north, through Anstokin and Volstokin."
„Why north?"
„Because the people trying to kill you won't expect you to go that way. Because Credence won't expect it. I've tried to make it clear I wish you no harm. Don't force me to state my feelings any more openly. That wouldn't be fitting in a servant of your husband."
Inger gave him a confused look. She sat down. „How soon?"
Michael glanced out the window. „Have to let the night settle in. Say two hours?"
„Won't all these people attract attention anyway?"
„They would if they all went. They're not going to. Pick four or five. The rest stay and keep up the pretense."
She gave him a hard look. „You sure you're not trying to get me out where you can... ?"
„Don't be silly. If I wanted you destroyed I could do it right here. Credence would be glad to help."
„Then why leave my people behind?"
„The attention. And, bluntly, as hostages. You mean much to me, Lady, but so does my duty to Kavelin."
Inger's face soured. „Duty. To Kavelin. I wish you knew how sick I am of hearing that."
Michael shrugged. „The King believes in what he's trying to do. Till he changes course, is succeeded, or I quit, my duty is to carry out his wishes."
„I take it you don't always agree with him."
Michael looked out the window, at a bloody sunset. „Not always. But he makes policy. The rest of us execute it."
„Prataxis makes policy. His pipe dreams are where Bragi gets his crazy ideas."
„Sometimes. Sometimes." You're walking a thin line here, Michael, Trebilcock told himself. Be very, very care ful.
Dahi Haas knocked on the door of the house in Sedlmayr. No one responded. He kept pounding. After a long time the door opened. Haas slipped inside.
„This must be the place," said the sergeant commanding the squad tracking Haas. He assembled his men. „You three go round back and see if there's another way out. Two of you cover it if there is. The other one come back and tell me." He faced the house, studied, waited.
One of his men asked, „Do we really have to do them all?"
„Duke's orders."
„But kids. Sarge, I never killed a kid."
„Knock it off. Just do your damned job." The sergeant was bitter and curt. He didn't like his orders either. But orders were orders.
One of the men he'd sent out returned. „There's a back door."
„Can two men cover it?"
„No problem."
„All right, gents. It's that time. And remember. Nobody out alive. Nobody. Or the Duke might shorten our necks. Let's go."
There was one survivor. Dahl Haas fought his way out the back door, leaving the men there with spilled guts. He lost his pursuers in the shadows of Sedlmayr's alleys.
General Liakopulos and four companions, clad as hunt ers, entered Vorgreberg unnoticed. The General hurried to his quarters, shifted into military dress, and sent a flurry of messages.
Prataxis arrived first. He had a grey look. „What are you doing here?" he demanded.
„Wait. I'll go through it for everyone at once. I've sent for Trebilcock and Abaca too."
Abaca arrived only minutes later. Trebilcock showed right behind him. Liakopulos's mere presence had alarmed them. „Sit," Liakopulos said. „I need help making a decision." „What's going on?" Prataxis asked. He was aquiver with nervous energy. Abaca remained standing. Trebilcock be trayed no emotion at all.
„The King is dead," Liakopulos said. „Be quiet!" he snapped as all three men babbled questions. „There was a battle. The King was surrounded. Only a fifth of our men escaped, apparently because they ran when they were sup posed to attack from the rear. I don't have the details. We'll look into it and apply discipline where needed. That's neither here nor there at the moment. The fact is, most of the army were slain. Including the King, Sir Gjerdrum, and Baron Hardle. The news began filtering in several days ago. I waited till I was sure it wasn't hysteria. I ordered the garrison commander at Maisak to hold the returnees there. I interrupted the telegraph so word wouldn't get through. Once I was sure I rode down to consult you all." Abaca growled, „Kill her before the word gets out." „You want to kill Fulk too?" Michael asked. „Goes without saying." „I don't kill babies." „I'll do it."
Liakopulos said, „No you won't, Credence. That's no defense of the crown. That's murder. That's regicide. Fulk became King the moment Ragnarson died."
„A sound legal point," Prataxis said. He still shook. „You're suggesting treason, Credence. And yet... ." „You see my quandary," said Liakopulos. „If we don't violate the law, the new masters of the law will rape what we've worked so hard to nurture."
„Two dead," Abaca snarled. „End of problems."
„If we ourselves scoff at the law, can we reasonably expect anyone else to respect it?" Prataxis demanded.
Liakopulos interjected, „I've been over these arguments with myself. It's a no-win situation. I've decided what I'll do. Your courses are up to you and your consciences."
Abaca inquired, „What are you going to do, sir?"
„I came here because the Guild owed Ragnarson. No Ragnarson, no debt. I'm going back to High Crag. If you three decide to obey the law, I'll stay to help insure an orderly transition. If you chose rebellion, I'll get out now. I can't join you, but I won't oppose you either."
Prataxis and Abaca nodded. That would give Credence sole command of the army. Abaca said, „The King's daughter-in-law is more sympathetic than Inger. Would she be regent for young Bragi?"
Prataxis replied, „The King's first choices were Mundwiller, Sir Gjerdrum, and Baron Hardle."
„Mundwiller, eh? I could work with him."
Liakopulos said, „We can talk forever, but talk isn't what's needed. We have to act. The people at Maisak can't keep the news quiet forever. Some of the survivors are sure to return over the smugglers' trails."
Prataxis said, „Michael, Kristen and the children will be in danger once the news breaks."
„I moved them out of the country already. With the money."
Abaca and Liakopulos looked askance. Neither Prataxis nor Trebilcock explained. Abaca asked, „Where do you stand, Trebilcock?"
„Right in the middle. Like all of us. I'll probably follow the General's example."