The Invisible Hand

by Chris Northern

  Behind us the footfalls sounded louder, torchlight flickered in the branches overhead. I imagined them, a group of who knew how many, bearing burning brands as they jogged along the trail in the misty rain, looked at the trail.

  "The rain," I said.

  "I know," Sapphire sounded impatient. "They may see where we left the trail and it doesn't matter. Tracking will slow them."

  "Duprane," another half formed thought drifted through my fatigue blurred mind.

  "Went a different way," he told me. "Quiet."

  There wasn't anything I could think of that he hadn't already considered and decided upon, I realised.

  Not that I was thinking clearly or well. Random thoughts surfaced as my mind drifted, unguided. I was glad of Sapphire, and not for the first time. No matter what happened he kept his mind clear, focused on the immediate problem as he dealt with it, an eye on the next, considering. The past for him was nothing. For me, the past was too much. I didn't want to face it, and that reluctance dulled my wits more than fatigue alone could account for.

  "We should go back." If only we could.

  By way of answer, Sapphire pulled me to one side and slowly but firmly pulled me down. "Quiet," he said again, but more softly. "There's nothing to go back for," he softly, mouth close to my ear. "If Caliran is not with them he will be on the move and there are too many."

  I turned my head a little to look back the way we had come. Torches moved on the trail. Two dozen, three dozen. Too many. Footfalls sounded, regular, bunched to a blur of sound. Two hundred yards away or maybe more. We watched them pass for a time. "We are too far away to be seen," I said, but quietly.

  "You assume," Sapphire said, voice even softer.

  I wondered what he meant, then remembered. Caliran was a priest. Maybe he could see perfectly well with the aid of a temple spirit. Maybe his glass eyes saw better than natural eyes ever could. But he was old. They were moving fast. He wouldn't be able to keep up. He wouldn't be with them. Even as I thought that I knew I assumed again. Maybe he wasn't old anymore. Maybe he had stolen the youth of another. There were too many trees in the way for me to see clearly. Maybe he was there and maybe back at the Keep. Either way he was out of reach. Even if he was at the Keep he wouldn't be alone. Going back for him wasn't an option. There was no going back. I closed my eyes but only for a moment. As soon as I closed them, ugly images began to play against my closed eyelids. Better to keep them open and see nothing, or next to nothing. The light from the bunched torches moved steadily away, and had long since passed where we had left the trail.

  "What do we do?" Sapphire asked.

  Good question. I didn't have any answer, let alone a good one. Duprane and the boys we had rescued were on their own. I could only wish them good luck. I didn't want to think about them anyway, though I couldn't help but wonder which way they had gone and where Duprane was leading them. I shook my head in the dark. Tried to focus my mind on things that mattered. "Soon enough Caliran will know that Silgar hasn't passed on his message, that there is no rioting and disorder in Darklake as he planned."

  "If she hasn't," Sapphire half agreed.

  I wondered what he meant. How could she? She hadn't received the order; we had. She could hardly pass on an order she hadn't received. Unless she guessed what it would be. "If she guessed you would claim I was dead and knew what Caliran would order if he believed it..." I trailed off. You could tie yourself in knots thinking like that. Yet it was better than thinking of other things. "If I'm seen Caliran will know..." what? That she aided us? Not for sure, but he might guess. Think it through, I admonished myself. "If I am seen and word gets to him he will know that Silgar did not kill me as we claimed." What else. "He will know that we have a glass sphere, might conclude that we killed Silgar." So, best if he didn't see me, did not find out I lived. "If he sees Silgar, meets with her, he will expect her to have carried out his orders. She will not want him to doubt her..." I trailed off again; it was no use, trying to think from Silgar's point of view was just too much for me. "We go back to Darklake, either way," I decided. "My men have to be prepared to fight their way out or fight and hold."

  Sapphire stood, pulling me with him. Without a word he began to lead me through the woodland. I let him lead and tried not to think. It wasn't hard.

  #

  There were too many lights in Darklake. Even at this distance I could see flickering shadows thrown against the walls of buildings within the town. There was too much movement. Fires burned and I'd no doubt people fought and died in the night. I was glad of the roaring water from the gorge behind us that drowned out any sound from the town. My people were killing each other and I couldn't stand to hear it.

  "It's started!" I had to raise my voice over the thunderous sound behind us. We'd followed the ravine where the river cut deep and now stood above the torrent of water that gushed from one wall with such force that it crossed the ravine and struck the other.

  Sapphire said nothing that I heard. I scanned the plain between us and Darklake. Nothing moved there. The trading post seemed calm. No lights moved on the plain. Caliran's men had not come here, or if they had they must have doused their torches to be less visible as they moved.

  I stepped forward and Sapphire moved with me, guiding me in the darkness. "Can you get me in there without my being seen?"

  "Yes," he too had to raise his voice even though he was close. "But even if you are up to it, you won't like it."

  It didn't matter how much I didn't like it; what mattered was not being seen. Caliran thought I was dead; on that basis he had made his move prematurely. I clung to the hope that he needed me dead before he attacked, that I could make a difference, bring ruin to his plan and peace to my people. Whatever his plans were, he must consider me to be a threat to them, or else he would not have needed me dead before he made his move. It must be so, even though I couldn't make sense of it.

  As we moved on through the night, heading across the broken plain before Darklake, he explained what we would have to do. I wasn't sure if I was up to it. But I was sure that I didn't like it.

  #

  I threw up again. There wasn't much left in me so it just hurt my guts and made me more wretched than I already was. On my hands and knees, I stared at the soiled stone flags a few inches from my face. I shivered so violently that I thought I was going to throw myself off balance despite having four solid points of contact with the floor.

  "Wusa madder wi'im?"

  I recognised the voice. Hated it for reminding me where I was. As if I needed reminding. The stench was enough to do that. I retched again, my guts a knotted fist of pain. The freezing and sodden clothes I wore clung to my skin. Darklake had been colder than ice. And the sewer pipe stank beyond imagining. "Breathe through your mouth," Sapphire had said. "Hold your nose." It hadn't helped. Or maybe I'd forgotten. The cold had hit me like a hammer blow as we slowly slipped into the waters of the lake, far enough away to remain unseen, or so Sapphire had assured me.

  Strong hands gripped me by the shoulders and pulled me slowly back so that I sat on my heels. I didn't resist. I couldn't have even if I'd gathered the will to try. A moment later my tunic covered my face as it was pulled over my head. It felt like I was drowning and the stench of it filled my senses. A convulsive heaving combined with Sapphire's efforts to wrench it over my head. I struggled weakly, to absolutely no effect. I was held still while the sleeves were pulled free. A moment later I felt what was clearly a damp towel being rubbed vigorously over my back and shoulders. It hurt. I hissed and tried to move away from it. A strong hand on one shoulder held me.

  "Hold still."

  I did. Sapphire had sounded impatient. Bastard. He hadn't thrown up. His teeth weren't chattering. He wasn't shivering. The man was inhuman. I tried to say something but it came out as an incoherent, chattering stutter. I gave it up, reached over my shoulder and grabbed what I thought might be a handful of towel. My hands were numb. I pulled the towel over my shoulder and wiped my face with it,
trying to get the stink away from my nose. It didn't help much, so I gave it up and started on my arms and chest. My hands, I noticed in the flickering torchlight, were blue. My arms seemed to float randomly, unable to interpret or obey my intent. I concentrated on controlling them.

  I leaned back as the old man who tended the latrines bent down to peer into my face. I tried to ignore him. He stank too.

  "Wul 'e be a'wright?"

  I heard the slap of soaking wet cloth striking the floor. "He's moving on his own isn't he?"

  Bastard.

  "A'wright."

  I grabbed the towel in both unfeeling hands and put it to my head, arms so weak they barely made it that far. I started to try and get my hair dry. I'd already found out that if I closed my eyes I lost my balance, and I didn't want to be seeing the face in front of me.

  "Oy wrong dry t'other clothes, soor."

  The moment I sensed he'd moved away, I dropped the towel to my shoulder and started working there.

  "My thanks," Sapphire sounded sincere. "How long has this been going on?"

  Arms next, I decided. At some point I was going to have to pull my trousers off and dry my legs. That seemed like a long time off. I became aware right then of what I had been hearing all along. Fighting in the streets; shouts and screams and running feet. The sounds of chaos, but not close enough to be a threat. It would have to wait. Even if I could do anything about it, it would have to wait.

  "Af'er youse left 'ere."

  I gave a snort of almost laughter. Well, it hadn't started before we left, had it? We would have noticed. Still Sapphire seemed satisfied, or maybe just knew he'd get nothing more useful out of the old man. I started work on my chest.

  "Stay here." Sapphire moved to the door, fully dressed and ready to move. He hesitated at the doorway for just a moment and then was gone.

  I shuddered and carried on drying myself as best I could. Stay here, he'd said. As if I had any bloody choice. A thin thrill of anger ran through me, warming me slightly. I gritted my teeth to stop them chattering and fed the flame. Competent bastard. The anger warmed me as I breathed in and out with deliberate concentration; maybe this was how he coped with everything. Maybe he walked through the world hating everything and that's how he dealt with it. I forced myself to my feet and staggered to lean against a wall so that I could pull off my trousers. In a while I'd be dry and get fresh clothes on me. I was determined that when Sapphire returned he would find me ready and waiting.

  When I tried to step out of my trousers I was reminded that I was wearing boots. That's when I started swearing out loud.

  #

  Pacing up and down isn't so satisfying when you have to keep one hand against the wall to stop yourself from falling. I didn't miss the weight of my armor; I'd regretfully stashed it beyond the walls before taking the plunge into the waters of the lake. There had been little choice in that. I doubt anyone could swim far weighed down by chainmail. Right now, I doubted my ability to walk had I been burdened by the weight of it. Every now and again I'd stop where a brazier burned in one corner and lean over it until the heat began to burn my thighs and groin, a clear signal that it was time to move again. I missed my armor. Not the weight of it, though. That would have dragged me to the bottom of the lake. I turned and paced away from the brazier. It felt like I had been doing this for a long time. I seemed to be getting the hang of it when footsteps sounded at the doorway and I turned to see Sapphire and two of my men slip through the doorway. Sapphire tossed me a hood. I dropped the thing, of course; at least the time it took to bend and pick it up gave me a chance to remember the soldiers’ names.

  "No more saluting, Hetkla," I gave a token response and then pulled the hood over my head. "The official story is that I'm dead, Inesk." I was absurdly pleased that I'd gotten both their names right. "We are merely a couple of prisoners you are taking to the hall." I glanced at Sapphire. "I'll pass for a local with this over my head but you..."

  Sapphire shrugged and shifted his posture. A moment later his features twisted and changed. The effect was subtle yet profound; I wouldn't recognize him by his face or the way he moved. I'd seen him wear that face once or twice before. No one would recognise him; at least, no one would recognise him as Sapphire. "Good enough."

  "And then?" he asked.

  "We know what Caliran plans," I turned to Hetkla. "Where are the hostages?"

  "In the main hall, Patron. On the centurion's orders."

  Good. My messenger had made it back. "Drop the patron, sir, and commander as well. Have Resh Ephannan and his warriors made any move?"

  "No. They watch, wait, but have made no move."

  Of course not. That's what Caliran wanted the hostages for, to compel him to attack us. "Good enough. Get us back to the hall." I thought about it, where to place myself where I wouldn't be seen. After a moment, I decided that my best choice was the obvious one. "Take us to the suite of rooms where the hostages were kept, I think. Then have Parast meet me there." We would set a trap for Caliran. When he came for the hostages, we would be waiting.

  On shaky legs, I headed for the door and passed out into the night. The smell of smoke hung heavy in the air and there were the sounds of running feet, the odd cry and clash of arms. I felt the pressure of fretful eyes upon us as we moved through the night. No one slept. I kept the hood close around my face. I didn't want anyone coming to me for answers.

  I wasn't sure I had any.

  #

  It felt good to sit. I felt like a puddle of water poured into a bowl, like I'd melted there. On a low table in front of me there was food I'd hardly touched and wine that I'd gulped at before thinking better of it. A bowl of filthy water and a towel that wasn't as clean as it had been. My sheathed sword also rested there; it would need drying and oiling at some point, but that wasn't a task I relished.

  Parast stood between me and the door, waiting. I was aware of Sapphire as he paced around the chamber, moving rugs and examining the floor. I knew what he was looking for and left him to it. The suite of rooms where the hostages had been held was incongruously empty, considering that I'd had a hard time getting here without stepping on anyone.

  Parast made no comment but watched Sapphire, his curiosity aroused but held in check. We were in a small hall with the doors to eight bed chambers spread evenly around the walls. There was only one way in and out of the suite of rooms and it was open, with Hetkla on guard. Inesk had gone to seek out and bring Vesan and Seldas. Vesan because I needed a bit more energy than I had left in me, Seldas because I had a message for him to take to Resh Ephannan. I wanted the barbarian chieftain to know what Caliran planned; and that all I asked for the return of the hostages was that he stay out of it.

  "How many people are still in Darklake?" I already knew the hall was packed.

  "Perhaps as many as four thousand," Parast told me. "They are still leaving a handful at a time."

  I didn't blame them. Darklake was not a safe place to be.

  "When we are done here, bring all our men back to the hall and leave the town to fend for itself; the morning is soon enough to restore order.”

  He didn't like it, I could see, so I began to explain. Caliran, the pattern, the constant subverting of loyalties that had been happening under our noses, his plans for the hostages and Resh Ephannan, Caliran's intent to spread our troops out through the town and keep them busy and distracted. Caliran's planned attack at dawn and the imminent arrival of the lords of Battling Plain.

  When I was done he was silent for a moment, considering. "We could abandon the town entirely," he suggested. "Form up and march out of here, take control of the trading post and hold that. It would be easier to hold."

  It would. I'd thought of it. But I was not sure of Treleth's loyalties, and having enemies inside the trading post did not strike me as much of an improvement. Aside from which, I was already facing charges when I returned to the city, and pushing Treleth into a position where he might act directly against me, where I would have to kill him,
would just add one more to the list. But I didn't want to muddy the waters by explaining all that, so I gave a different reason. "And abandon those who have come here to seek our protection? No, we will hold the hall."

  "If the hall is riddled with tunnels that Caliran can use to bring people inside our defences..."

  "He doesn't know we are aware of the tunnels," I reminded him, "and we know where he plans to bring them..." I pointed to the floor.

  "Set a trap for him here, where we know he will come," Parast tested the idea aloud. "Cut the head from the rebellion and it will collapse."

  Vesan appeared at the doorway and I waved him over. "Exactly. Caliran plans that when the Plain Lords arrive he will be the only man to negotiate with. I plan the opposite. So far, it's looking like a draw. Duprane is still free and alive," though I had no idea where, "and so am I." I gave a slight smile. "I'd be happier about things if Caliran was dead before they arrive."