Alaynor was responsible for most of the female servants in the palace. Dilrap rarely encountered her in his normal work but knew that she was held in great affection by most of her charges.
More to the point at the moment however, she was a level-headed and eminently practical person and no mean administrator. ‘Yes, Honoured Secretary,’ she said when she reached him, her face fraught and anxious. Dilrap saw that she too was struggling to remain in control of herself.
‘What are you doing?’ he said simply.
Her eyes became vague, and for a moment Dilrap thought she was going to slip into hysteria. The years of dealing calmly with all manner of crises asserted themselves however. ‘Floundering,’ she said bluntly.
Despite himself, Dilrap smiled. Turning to the Cap-tain he asked him the same question.
‘Organizing men to seal off the Palace and clear intruders out,’ was the impatient reply. ‘In between trying to find as many senior officers as I can for Commander Urssain… and answering your questions.’
He paused before the word ‘questions’ to make his disdain clearly felt, just short of outright insolence. Dilrap nodded and hitched his errant gown back on to his shoulder. Now he must take the first steps into his new future, using the lessons he had learnt at the hands of Dan-Tor.
He looked straight at the man. ‘Your name, Cap-tain?’ he said coldly.
‘Halson… Sir,’ replied the Captain, his confidence faltering slightly. ‘Third co… ’
Dilrap cut across him. ‘You’re seconded to my ser-vice, Captain Halson,’ he said. ‘Whatever men you’ve sent wandering round the Palace, get them back and assembled in the Lords’ ante-room at the double.’
Halson started. ‘But… Commander Urssain… ’ He waved vaguely at the crowds moving in and out of the main palace entrance. ‘And intruders… ’ The wind blew his hair in his face.
Dilrap had turned to Alaynor when he had finished speaking and, turning back to the Captain, he allowed himself an expression of dangerously mild patience.
‘I’ll attend to Commander Urssain, Captain,’ he said. ‘Don’t concern yourself. As for intruders, believe me, there’s little they could do in the Palace that would be worse than what’s already happened.’
‘But… ’
Dilrap’s expression became angry. ‘No buts, Cap-tain. Are you in the habit of questioning orders?’ He did not wait for a reply, but forged on. ‘As the King’s Secretary, and in the temporary absence of the Ffyrst, my authority overrides all others. You should know that, Captain.’ He emphasized the rank. ‘You may choose to waste time by seeking out Commander Urssain and debating the matter with him, if you wish, but it’s not in your best interests. Those are best served by looking to those people out there.’ He pointed through the gaping gateway. ‘And that’s best done by your obeying my orders right away. Is that clear?’
The Captain surrendered hesitantly after a moment and, saluting, made to move off up the steps towards the palace entrance.
Dilrap laid a hand on his arm. ‘Where are you go-ing?’ he asked quietly.
Halson looked at him uncertainly. ‘To find the men who’re checking the Palace, Honoured Secretary. As you asked.’
Dilrap sighed audibly and shook his head. Then, pointing casually in the direction of various Mathidrin troopers around the palace entrance, he said, with wilful patience. ‘Send them, Captain. You stay with me. We’ve got a lot to do.’
Colouring, Halson turned away and called out to the troopers that Dilrap had indicated… plus one or two others.
Dilrap looked down at the small boy and, smiling, gave his hand an affectionate squeeze. ‘We’ll look after you in a minute,’ he said. ‘Don’t be frightened.’
Turning again to Alaynor, he found her looking at him enigmatically, her eyes full of questions. ‘Later,’ he said in reply to her silent queries. The sound of Halson shouting orders too loudly at the troopers floated between them and slowly she raised an eyebrow in acceptance and approval.
‘What do want me to do, Honoured Secretary… Dilrap?’ she ventured.
‘What have you done so far?’ he replied.
‘Precious little,’ she said. ‘I think the Guilds and the Rede’s people are organizing rescue parties and setting up shelters for those people who’ve been hurt or lost their homes, but there doesn’t seem to be any overall control.’ She flicked a discreet and derisory thumb towards the returning Halson. ‘This lot are useless,’ she whispered. ‘Anything other than strutting and bullying and it’s beyond them.’
Dilrap acknowledged the comment with a brief nod but said nothing. Halson, still flushed, and slightly breathless, arrived back. ‘I’ve attended to that… sir,’ he said. ‘But I don’t know… ’ His manner was that of one about to disclaim responsibility, but he stopped in mid-sentence. Dilrap was quite surprised that his attempt at a menacing look should prove so effective.
‘I don’t want to have to tolerate any more of this reluctance on your part, Captain,’ he said. ‘It verges on insubordination. Confine your comments solely to practical matters that will help get this City back to normal.’
‘Sir.’ Halson snapped to attention and his face went blank. That’s better, thought Dilrap. That the man had had the wit to retreat into his traditional emotionless Mathidrin shell showed at least that he was gaining control over himself.
‘Good,’ he said. Then signalling to Alaynor and the Captain to follow, he walked back to the palace entrance, the wind tugging at his robe, ‘Captain,’ he said. ‘I want you to send messengers to the Guild Master and the City Rede. Tell them that rescue operations are to be coordinated from here. Ask them to send their best people over together with any maps, plans, lists of craftsmen etc. Whatever they think will be useful.’ Halson nodded. ‘Just wait a moment,’ Dilrap added, looking purposefully around the palace entrance hall. ‘Alaynor, I’ll work from the Lords’ antechamber but we’ll need somewhere where the injured can be treated and where the lost and homeless can be fed and housed for a day or so… ’
‘The Old Kings’ Halls,’ Alaynor suggested. Dilrap nodded. ‘Yes, they’ll do. Gather up what servants you can find and make a start on that. Captain, send a couple of your men with her to help. They’re to do whatever she says,’ he emphasized.
Pausing to look at the disordered crowd outside, he frowned. ‘We have to get these people off the streets,’ he said, half to himself. ‘Captain, as soon as you’ve organized messengers and men for Alaynor. I want you to send out some of your men as Cryers to the main squares, or wherever there’s a large crowd. They’re to ask people amp;mdashask, mind you, not tell amp;mdashto go home unless they can help with the rescue work or with nursing the injured, in which case they’re to come here first. Tell them… bulletins will be posted here, and… ’ He waved his arms vaguely. ‘… the Guild Moot House and the Rede’s Hall as information comes to hand.’
Halson hesitated. ‘I’ll have to get mounted patrols to act as Cryers, sir. I’ve already had reports of troopers being attacked by the crowds.’
Dilrap looked thoughtful. Good for the crowds, he thought briefly, but he let the thought pass. He could relish it later. ‘If you go out mounted and in force it’ll turn chaos into mayhem,’ he said. Then in the wake of his first irreverent thought came a second one, appro-priate for the occasion and quite elegantly malevolent in character. ‘You should find some High Guard liveries in the Westerclave, Captain,’ he said. ‘Have your men wear those. Providing they keep their mouths shut and watch their manners they should be all right. Tell them to move at the double. That should avoid too many questions.’
Halson’s jaw tightened slightly, but he nodded reluc-tantly. Dilrap twisted the knife. ‘And don’t forget the Royal Sash,’ he added, ‘if they’re going to look like High Guards on palace duty.’
Dilrap looked up from the map spread out on the table as he heard the door slam. It was Urssain, and he was angry. For a moment Dilrap quailed inwardly at the sight, then he stood up and hitched his gown back on to his shoulder.