“In truth, this place is like nothing I’ve ever seen. There’s a strict class system, with a very definite hierarchy. Privileges flow from rank; law is applied not based on the crime committed but upon a combination of the crime and the ranks of the criminal and the victim. Bribes are common and even expected.
“For me, the most frightening aspect of this city is the total lack of thought people put into the claims made by the government. For well over half of the people, if the government says it’s so, then it’s so, even if their own eyes tell them otherwise.
“In many ways, a bard is a propagandist, a teller of stories who mixes truth with fantasy to create a version of reality that makes an argument. And in all my life, I’ve never seen a people so unskeptical, so unquestioning, and so pliable as these people.
“I can only guess that they’ve been conditioned to believe the authorities and trained to avoid thinking about any subject with a critical eye. That leaves the rest of the people, self-interested criminals all, to take advantage of the sheep without challenge.”
“No wonder this place is so broken,” Alexander said.
“From an operational perspective, I’ve obtained lease to two residences and a bakery with a basement that accesses one of the underground passage networks. I have modest stockpiles of food and water, so you both have a place to hide when you decide to move.”
“Nice.”
“Spending time entertaining the nobility has given me the opportunity to gather some potentially useful information. It seems that General Talia has launched a rather effective insurgency within the western province where you were captured. They have begun to coordinate attacks against the slave camps and caravans while avoiding or ambushing the Lancers in the forest. There are also stories that the rebels have magical support … as well as reports of dragons. As I understand it, the Babachenko isn’t pleased with this development.”
“What do you mean, dragons?” Anja asked.
“I’m certain people are mistaking wyverns for dragons,” Jack said.
“They wouldn’t if they’d ever seen a real dragon.”
“You’re probably right,” Alexander said. “Anything else, Jack?”
“This character Nightshade is a frequent subject of hushed conversations in the upper circles. He’s been stealing shipments of silver bound for the shipyards along the northern coast. The effect has been to financially weaken the Andalian Cartage Company as well as the Cartage Guild, precipitate a work stoppage in the ports backed by the Shipwrights Guild, and undermine confidence in the Lancers and therefore in the king’s ability to protect trade routes. I presume the stolen silver is an added bonus. We might consider reaching out to him. Some of his goals seem to coincide with our own.”
“The thought crossed my mind,” Alexander said. “Anja, what have you learned?”
“Only that Lady Grant was really unhappy about the death of the crown princess, but when I asked how long she’d known her, she said they’d never met. It didn’t make sense. Other than that, I’ve been a servant … and I’m getting tired of it.”
“There’s more to the death of the crown princess,” Jack said. “The word on the street is that the king impregnated his sister, which is the long tradition of the Andalian royal line so as to maximize the purity of the bloodline. Apparently the Acuna is very concerned about the viability of the Crown. In fact, it’s a common theme of some of their more stock propaganda.
“The interesting thing is, Joss Grant is a cousin of the king.”
“And you think she’s afraid the king will claim her to produce a pure blood heir.”
“I know she’s terrified of it because she brought it up to me,” Jack said.
“Interesting,” Alexander said. “Considering Grant’s recent activities, I wouldn’t be surprised if her fear isn’t well founded. These people have a maddeningly complex array of rules and laws that seem more designed to control than protect, but they do respect them … at least the more prominent citizens do.”
“Seems only natural,” Jack said. “The rules provide them with their wealth and power, and the more complex they can make them, the harder it is for people of lesser means to understand and therefore comply. That way, powerful people can always find some legal justification for persecuting those of lesser rank. Large numbers of complex rules also enables corruption to thrive.”
“Corruption is certainly alive and well here,” Alexander said. “I think it’s time for us to move. Titus Grant just tried to make a deal with me. He said he thinks I’m one of the pretender’s agents sent to stir up trouble. He wants me to kill the king so he can make more money … trouble is, I can’t see his colors. I can see him with my all around sight like I can see anyone else, but he just doesn’t have any colors, so I don’t know what to think about him.”
“Don’t trust him,” Jack said.
“No, but he might be useful.”
“If he doesn’t have colors, he’s dangerous.”
“There’s more. He can make people not see him … or those with him.”
Anja and Jack looked around the room.
“I don’t think he’s here,” Alexander said.
“So he has something like my cloak?”
“No, he can make people not even perceive that he’s there, like he’s reaching into their minds and blocking out his very existence from their awareness.”
“That makes for a very short fight,” Jack said.
“True, but I think it might be worth the risk, especially if he really does want the king dead. Either way, he’s going to force the issue. If I don’t agree to work with him, I’ll have to kill him, and that could be a problem given his rather unique talents.”
Jack and Anja both nodded reluctantly.
“There’s a lot more …” Alexander spent nearly an hour explaining the mine, the crystals, the Babachenko, and Tyr, briefing Jack and Anja about everything that had transpired and warning them to be prepared to move quickly. Finally, he outlined his plan and objectives.
After they left, Alexander sat in the middle of the circle and brought himself to the edge of the firmament, then held himself there, focusing his mind and freeing himself of all thought at the same time. He balanced on that edge until it felt natural, sitting in that state when Grant entered the following morning.
He wasn’t in the firmament, yet his all around sight was perfect, clear with vibrant detail, reaching out farther than ever before. He was sitting quietly, his mind poised on the very edge of the collar’s control, at the precipice of the firmament, yet still present in his own mind, and the moment felt like he owned it, as if he could bend it to his will with a thought.
He opened his eyes and focused on Titus Grant with his entire awareness.
“Decision time,” Grant said.
Alexander stood up slowly, settling into a stance that was at once relaxed yet tense, and faced Grant very deliberately.
“I have terms.”
“I’m listening.”
“Remove the collars from me and my sister, give me a thousand silver crowns and papers for us both, plus a hundred thousand silver crowns once the king is dead. Oh, and I’ll need your help in gaining access to the palace.” Alexander stopped talking and held his breath.
Grant stared at Alexander as if thinking through his options. “That’s quite a change of heart.”
Alexander shrugged, “You forced my hand.”
“Perhaps you’re just telling me what I want to hear. I mean, I’m good at reading people, but not that good. I can’t help but wonder if there isn’t another explanation for you being here-one that I haven’t considered.”
“Oh, you were close. I was sent by Lord Reishi but I’m not one of his agents; I’m a hired assassin.”
“Would he really entrust such an important task to one with such fickle loyalty? Doubtful.”
“That’s assuming I’m the only assassin he’s hired for the job,” Alexander said. “There are twelve others. The one who returns with the Andalian Crown gets paid, the rest get nothing. I’ve already killed two of them, but I’m afraid a few the others are getting close and I have no intention of letting them collect my reward.”