‘And you’ll get it. My guarantee.’
‘I’d like your bond on another matter, too.’
‘Oh?’
‘As you know, some of our people will be arriving on the island soon as pathfinders. We have to be able to count on you co-operating with them.’
‘We’ve agreed all this, Karr.’
‘It’s as well to underline its importance.’
‘Yes, yes, we’ll do as you ask. Now about the gold-’
‘It would save us a lot of trouble,’ Disgleirio suggested, ‘if payment could be made here on the mainland.’
‘Now who doesn’t understand the agreement? The deal was that the balance of the money went to the island for onward movement.’
‘So we take the risks and you reap the benefit.’
Darrok shrugged. ‘It’s a sellers’ market.’
‘We’ll keep our end of the bargain,’ Karr promised. ‘You keep yours and we can have the shipment there in a matter of weeks.’
‘You’d do well to send it with as much protection as you can muster.’
‘Naturally we’ll take precautions.’
‘You might need a little more in the way of precautions than you’re contemplating.’
Disgleirio regarded him suspiciously. ‘Why?’
‘There’s a certain amount of…unrest in my home waters.’
‘What kind of unrest?’
‘We have a few problems with privateers.’
‘You mean
pirates
?’ Kutch blurted out.
‘I’m not in the habit of answering questions from a child.’
‘Then try answering a man,’ Caldason told him, his manner threatening.
Darrok adopted a dismissive tone. ‘I’m not accustomed to explaining myself to the hired help either.’
The Qalochian rose, toppling his chair. Then Serrah was on her feet. Darrok’s bodyguards began to move in.
‘
Enough!
’ Karr thundered. ‘We’re here to talk, not to fight. Now calm down. All of you.’
There was a frozen moment, each side eyeing the other, fists balled, muscles tensed.
Karr nodded at his people. ‘Sit.’
Darrok waved away his bodyguards.
Caldason righted his chair and Serrah sank back into hers. Both moved reluctantly, and kept their gazes on the escort.
‘So, you have trouble with pirates,’ Karr recapped.
‘I think they prefer to be called merchant adventurers,’ Darrok corrected.
‘To hell with what they call themselves; why didn’t you tell us before?’
‘I’m telling you now.’
‘How big a problem is it?’ Disgleirio wanted to know.
‘Until recently it was manageable; no more than a minor irritation. But that’s changed.’
‘Why?’
‘Traditionally, the privateers were disorganised. As ready to fight amongst themselves as to plunder travellers that came their way. Now they’ve got together and formed an alliance.’
‘That wouldn’t have happened without a leader of some sort,’ Caldason reasoned. ‘Who rallied them?’
‘You’re more perceptive than you look. Have you heard of a man called Kingdom Vance?’
Serrah mouthed, ‘Oh, shit.’
‘I take it you have,’ Darrok said.
Karr scowled at him. ‘Who hasn’t? Given that he’s the most infamous, cold-blooded freebooter ever to cut a throat. And you’re telling us
he’s
organised this alliance?’
Darrok nodded.
‘He must have held out a prize tempting enough to bring them together,’ Caldason decided. ‘A prospect bigger than their differences.’
‘That he did. He offered them something they’ve wanted
for a long time.’ Darrok paused and scanned his hosts’ faces. He saw that one or two had already guessed. ‘A land base. A country they can call their own.’
‘They want the island,’ Disgleirio whispered, realisation dawning. ‘You bastard, Darrok! This borders on treachery. What are you after? More money? Is that it?’ He was on his feet.
‘There’s no deceit on my part.’ Darrok gestured at his restive bodyguards, checking them. ‘All I’m asking for is the final payment.’
‘After dropping this on us? Forget it.’
‘I think you’ll find the pact we have stipulates no full payment, no deal. And I get to keep what’s already been paid.’
Disgleirio swung to Karr, red with anger. ‘You agreed to this?’
Before the patrician could speak, Darrok answered. ‘There isn’t exactly an abundance of islands for sale. Like I said, it’s a sellers’ market. Take it or leave it.’
‘Karr?’ Disgleirio pressed.
‘He’s right. We’re not in a position to dictate terms.’
It was Serrah who broke the ensuing silence, and in contrast to Disgleirio’s outrage, she seemed almost amused. ‘Well, you could cut the tension in this room with a knife,’ she said. Glancing at the surrendered weapons, she added, ‘Anybody like to try?’
Karr stood, signalling for calm. ‘All right.
Everybody.
Let’s keep things civil. We can sort this out.’
‘Always the conciliator, eh, Patrician?’ Serrah gave him a smile that fleetingly looked half demented.
‘He’s right,’ Darrok intervened. ‘You might have rivals for the island. So what? They’re small in number compared to you, judging by the set-up you have here. You can deal with it.’
‘You make it sound trivial,’ Disgleirio remarked, still seething.
‘No, I make it sound like it isn’t my problem. My only concern’s spending the money you’ll be giving me.’
‘So you can buy more toys like that?’ He jabbed a thumb at the hovering dish.
Darrok made it rise, lifting him to the height of a man standing. ‘This is more in the way of a necessity than a luxury.’ He rapped his knuckle against one of his legs, then the other. The hollow ring attested to their being artificial. ‘Kingdom Vance,’ he explained starkly. ‘That’s why it’s not my problem.’
When that had soaked in, Karr told him, ‘We have to think on this.’
‘I’ll be in Valdarr a few more days. You know how to reach me.’
Zahgadiah Darrok motioned to his retinue. The bodyguards came forward to collect their weapons, then gathered about their paymaster and followed as he glided to the exit.
The doors slammed resolutely behind them.
Karr turned to face the others. ‘We’re not going to let this get in our way.’
‘Really?’ Caldason said, making no effort to hide his cynicism.
‘Yes. Too many people are relying on us. We owe it to them.’
‘I can’t believe you struck such a deal with that man,’ Disgleirio complained. ‘Isn’t the task we’ve set ourselves hard enough as it is?’
‘It’s done, Quinn. And Darrok was right about it being a sellers’ market. We’re over a barrel.’
‘So what do you propose we do about it?’
‘For a start, the band Reeth’s leading with the consignment of gold needs to be beefed up.’
‘Just a minute,’ Caldason cut in. ‘Asking me to deliver the
gold’s one thing. Expecting me to take on a pirate alliance is a different proposition.’
‘Surely you can see-’
‘What I see is that I’m no nearer reaching the Clepsydra, despite your promises. Now you’re enlisting me for a war that’s none of my making.’
‘But the plan-’
‘Is your problem, Karr. Find yourself another dupe.’
He headed for the door, snatching up his blades as he passed.
‘
Reeth!
’ Kutch yelled.
‘Let him be,’ Karr advised as the doors slammed one more time. ‘He’ll come round. And if he doesn’t…’
‘Don’t look at me,’ Serrah said. ‘I can’t be trusted enough to go, remember?’
Kutch slumped, despondent. Disgleirio was buckling on his sword, still incensed.
Karr expelled a weary breath, shoulders sagging. He stared for a moment at the radiant map spread across the wall. Then he snapped his fingers. The map instantly compressed, became pearl-sized again and dropped to the floor. It bounced, just once but high, and arced his way, dropping into his outstretched palm.