“Hmmm. Unless Hierem has charts I don’t know of,” she said. “After all, he might well have been involved with this Julius character.”
“I rather doubt it,” Colin said. “Anyway, this place is not connected to anything in or beneath the ministry.”
“Then why are we here?”
“Because this is where you’re staying,” he said, “until I have this sorted out.”
“Nonsense,” she replied. “We’re partners in this. I recruited you, remember?”
“I could hardly forget that,” he told her. “But for what I’m about to do, you would only impede me. You have your gifts, but the shadows aren’t friendly to you, I can see that much. Here you should be safe. I brought food and wine down yesterday. I also left some little tricks to show if anyone has been here since then, and they haven’t.”
She sighed. “Well, that all makes sense, but-”
“If I’m not back in four hours, you can worry about your next move,” Colin said. “But I’m safest working alone.”
She nodded. “I trust you’re right,” she said.
“I’m often wrong,” he replied. “But not about this.”
“About being better able to get in unseen, perhaps-but what then?”
“I’ll find the Emperor’s proof.”
“The journal didn’t satisfy him. What do you imagine will?”
“Documents concerning the voyage, with Hierem’s signature. Even a ship’s manifest would do. He is connected to Umbriel-there must be some evidence of it.”
She looked skeptical. “Even with the key to his private chambers, I doubt you will find anything like that.” She sighed. “I don’t believe the Emperor thinks so either.”
“Why give me the key, then?”
She brushed his bangs with her fingers. “You’re being naive,” she said. “It’s sweet, but now isn’t the time for it.”
“Do you really think the Emperor wants me to kill him?”
“Of course. Why else give you the means?”
“Well, I take him at his word. If he wanted the minister dead, why wouldn’t he just tell me to do it? Or send a more experienced inspector?”
“When Hierem is dead there will be many questions, and they will all lead to you, a member of the Penitus Oculatus, yes, but operating without permission. You were never assigned to follow me, or spy on Hierem, by any superior. It will be easy to paint you as a rogue because-in fact-you are.”
Colin let that settle across his shoulders for a moment. Everything she said made sense; it was all reasonable. He reviewed his conversation with the Emperor and her case grew stronger. Perhaps Titus Mede did mean for him to end Hierem’s threat and then absorb the blame, pay the penalty.
What of it, then? He had signed on for this, hadn’t he? To serve and protect the Empire, even if that meant doing the nasty, horrible things no one ever sang about in ballads?
Even though he was looking down, he could feel Arese’s gaze upon him.
“It may be you’re right,” he said.
“It won’t be easy,” she said. “I believe you will need my help. Together we might manage it.”
“If it comes to that,” he said. “If the Emperor tells me in plain words to kill Hierem, I will. But until then, I do what I’ve been told to.”
“Since when?” she exploded. “We’ve just been over this. You’ve been operating on your own for some time now. Why are you suddenly so concerned with permission and commands?”
“I’m not arguing with any of that,” Colin said. “But I won’t kill Hierem unless I have to.”
“I can’t stay down here forever,” she said softly. “If you won’t help me, I’ll have to try myself.”
“Then this is about your own life.”
“That’s not fair,” she replied. “You know it isn’t.”
“Look, let me try it my way. If it doesn’t work, if I can’t find anything to convince the Emperor to move against Hierem, then we’ll come back to this conversation again, okay? And I’ll at least know more about the layout of his rooms-we won’t be going in blind.”
She stayed stiff for a moment, but then he saw the cords in her neck soften.
“Okay,” she said. “Don’t get yourself killed.”
“I won’t,” he said. He hesitated, and then leaned forward to kiss her, but she drew back.
“Not now,” she said. “I-just not now.”
“That’s fine,” he said, feeling something twist in his gut.
It was still twisting when he was back out in the sewers. Did she think she’d made a mistake? Did she regret what they had done? If so, he ought to be relieved. It wasn’t like they were going to get married, raise children, and live in the country. There was no sort of future for them, and pretending there was would only make them stupid now, when they needed all their wits about them.
But it didn’t make him feel any better, and it took him longer than usual to find his way into the darkness that few could see into. But he finally got there, and made his mind as clear as it could be, and moved to the secret door that led into Hierem’s private office and quarters. The key fit, turned, and the door opened.
And, as in the house of Delia Huerc, there was something waiting for him.
SEVEN
Attrebus jumped back with an inchoate shout, reaching for his sword, but of course it wasn’t there. He realized his hands were up in a defensive position, and left them there.
“Who is it?” he demanded, backing quickly toward the light of his room.
“I-I’m sorry,” a woman stammered. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Well, you did,” he said. “Sneaking around in the dark-who are you?”
Her face appeared then, a young woman, probably about his age, with golden hair and a quirky, wide mouth and very blue eyes. He’d seen her before, at dinner.
“My name is Irinja,” she said. “I’m just a serving maid.”
“What were you doing outside my door?”
“I made up your room,” she said, moving a bit more into the light. He saw that she was wearing a heavily quilted robe and thick, knitted footwear. “I was just coming to make sure everything is good for you.” She looked up boldly. “Anyway,” she went on, “it looked as if you were about to do a bit of sneaking on your own.”
“Why didn’t you have a lamp, or something?”
“I grew up here, sir. I know these halls like I know my own toes. Besides, I have excellent vision at night. They say I get it from my grandfather.”
“Okay,” he said, nodding. “Everything is fine. The room is acceptable.”
“Good,” she said, but continued to stand there.
“That’s it, then,” he said. “Thanks for your concern.”
“Right,” she said, nodding. “I’ll just be going.”
“Good, then.”
She started to turn, but then spun back.
“What are you really about, your highness?” she asked. “I won’t tell anyone, I swear.”
“What?” he managed.
“No one else reads in this bloody castle,” she said. “They really don’t have a clue who you are. They completely fell for your story. But I’ve read every adventure about you I could get my hands on.”
Attrebus felt a peculiar warmth steal over his face, and realized he was blushing. “Listen,” he said, “I think you’ve mistaken me-”
“Don’t you dare!” she said. “You’re not really going to lie to me and tell me you’re some sort of horker-watcher? I’d know your likeness anywhere.”
He sighed, knowing she wasn’t going to be convinced. “Very well,” he said. “But you really mustn’t tell anyone my true identity.”
“I knew it,” she said. “You’re incognito, on some sort of adventure, aren’t you?”
“Well, now that you bring it up,” Attrebus said, “yes, I am. And it’s of a very secret nature.”
“Oh, I want to help,” she said. “Surely I can be of help.”
As he was considering that, he saw a ghostly face appear over her shoulder. The smoldering eyes were those of Sul, and in that instant he felt the girl’s life was hanging by a thread. He shook his head violently.
“Oh, please?” she said, mistaking the object of his gesture.
“Come in,” he replied. “Shut the door.”