“You do not have the Inquisition here in Harven?”
“The Quan would not allow it. We practise tolerance. It is good for trade.”
Rik felt as if he was missing something here. Were the gestures Alaryn kept making those associated with one of the Brotherhoods, those ancient secret societies that still lurked in the shadows of civilisation? Some were cults dedicated to ancient demon gods, others, it was said, to the pursuit of knowledge and equality between human and Terrarch. Still others were arms of foreign policy of the Dark Empire.
“The Quan enjoy a great deal of power here.”
“Say rather influence. They need us. We need them. Always we seek accommodation, and to keep the other party happy. That too is good for trade.”
“I can understand how the city needs the Elder Race. What I do not understand is what they get from you.”
“We provide them with raw material they cannot get for themselves. We act as their intermediaries on the surface.”
Rik thought of the darker tales he had heard, of human sacrifice and the devouring of souls. It seemed undiplomatic to mention them. “Have you ever seen one, a Quan I mean?” he said, to fill the gap in the conversation.
“I am an Intercessor. I have talked with them. I have swum with them. I have visited their city.”
“Is that possible?”
“There are magical engines that make it possible — great bubbles propelled by magic that let a man pass through the water.”
“Bubbles — would they not burst?”
“They are not like air bubbles in water, more like translucent integuments spun by the Quan.”
“I would not have thought they could hold enough air.”
“By strange alchemy, the integument extracts it from the water. I confess I do not know exactly how.”
“That is mighty and wonderful magic.”
“The Terrarchs are not the only source of powerful sorcery in this world, friend Rik. It is something to keep in mind on your travels.” Alaryn smiled and Rik wondered whether he had just been given a subtle warning. Was he supposed to carry this tale to Asea, or to think about it himself?
“I have heard that the Quan are very agitated these days.”
“You are well informed for a newcomer to the city. Indeed they are. Recent developments on the surface have upset them greatly. I believe you yourself had some involvement in them.”
“The destruction of the Serpent Tower, you mean?” Rik felt as if they had suddenly reached the point that Alaryn had been trying to get to all along.
“The very same.”
“Why is that of interest to them? The Tower was a long way from the sea.”
“The Tower was the mightiest citadel of an Elder Race left on the surface of our world, or so I am told.” He paused, giving Rik time to wonder exactly who had told him. “Of course, its destruction is of interest to the Quan. At the height of their power, a long time ago, it was something the Quan would have struggled to achieve, and yet you and your mistress somehow managed it…”
He paused, and his silence was an invitation for Rik to pick up the thread of the conversation. Instinct and training warned him against it. As a young thief in the streets of Sorrow he had learned that information was a commodity of great value to the right people, and the secret of what had happened in the Serpent Tower was obviously of interest to many people in this city of merchants. He decided to test the water.
“I would imagine the information about how that happened might be worth a great deal to the right people.”
“You imagine correctly, Rik. It is of enormous value. There are people who would kill to acquire it.” Almost by accident his gaze rested on Lord Malkior. The Sardean stood amid a group of Terrarch merchants, who all laughed at some jest of his. Almost as if he sensed them looking at him, he turned and his gaze met Rik’s. He raised his glass in a mocking toast and returned to his conversation.
“A most dangerous Terrarch,” said Alaryn. “They say he has the ear of the Queen Empress.”
“What brings him here at this particular time?”
“He is buying influence on the Council, trying to get it to take the Sardean side in your war.”
“Do you think he will succeed?”
Alaryn smiled. “I would say that too is information that would be of great value to the right people.”
“I am sure you are correct.”
“The world is changing, Rik. When the world changes, policy must change too. That is a maxim that we live by here. We all must.”
Sardec found himself standing with a Terrarch even more gaudily garbed than the local merchants. The insignia on his epaulettes marked him as being from the island realm of Selenea, part of its navy, he would have guessed.
“An interesting party,” Sardec said politely.
The Selenean surveyed the gathering coldly. “Smells of fish,” he said eventually.
He had the high Terrarch’s contempt for trade, which was odd, since his homeland was famously a place of traders. Sardec’s father had always told him the Selenean Terrarchs were funny that way, claiming to despise trade even as they took the vast majority of their revenues from it. He had never particularly cared for the Seleneans despite the fact they were traditional Talorean allies against the Valonians to the West.
“You are not enjoying this?”
“My dear Lieutenant, I have not enjoyed a single moment since I first set foot in this barbarous place three years ago.”
“Your patience in enduring such suffering is admirable.” Sardec allowed a hint of mockery to show in his voice. The Selenean’s smile said that he got the joke and did not mind the mockery.
“When Queen and country call, what else can one do? I can see you are a Terrarch who understands the meaning of duty.” His gaze lingered on Sardec’s hook. Sardec noticed that the speaker’s sleeve was empty. It looked like he too had taken his share of wounds in the name of duty.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” said the stranger bowing. “I am Laevin, Captain in the service of her majesty, Selena, Moon Queen of Selenea.”
Sardec introduced himself.
“You are the commander of First Asea’s bodyguard,” said Laevin. It was not a question.
“I have that honour.”
“I would be very careful if I were you. Things are very strange here at the moment.” Sardec was inclined to take that statement very seriously. “Lord Malkior is spending a lot of money and making a lot of promises to swing the Harvenites over to the Sardeans.”
That must worry for the Seleneans. If the Harvenites and their Elder World allies turned against Talorea, they would turn against her allies too. Selenea was an island, and a mighty naval power, but her fleets would be at risk from the Sea Devils. Facing such a threat, they might even remain neutral or switch sides themselves.
“Do you think he will succeed?”
“If he offers enough money, he might swing the vote of the Council. Normally you could rely on the Quan to make sure the merchants behaved sensibly, but something has them damnably stirred up. They have even been talking with Malkior, you know.”
Sardec gave Laevin a second look. “How do you know that?”
“I have my ways,” he said. “I am the Ambassador’s military advisor.”
Such a post was often a cover for a spymaster. “Why are you telling me this?”
“I have judged it in the best interests of my Queen to tell you. I suspect you may not have learned it from sources that should have informed you.”
Sardec narrowed his eyes. This was tantamount to an accusation that Ambassador Valefor had wilfully not told them what they needed to know. Of course, Laevin was not going to come right out and say such a thing, but then again he did not have to. Sardec’s sense of having put his head into the jaws of a trap increased.
“You think Lady Asea may be in danger.”
“I am certain she is.”
“What would you advise?”
“Do not try to get out of the city by ship. They can have accidents, if the Quan have taken against you.”