The Righteous Blade

by Stan Nicholls

  ‘I spent three years in the business. And I use the word advisedly; it was a business as far as I was concerned.’

  ‘That’s a novel way of describing it.’

  ‘But it’s true. Piracy’s a very elementary form of barter. You take possessions from people in exchange for letting them keep their lives. It’s not dissimilar to taxes. Nobody wants to pay them but governments make you. It’s certainly no worse than what the empires’ rulers do, where people have to follow their laws at the ultimate expense of their lives.’

  ‘Let’s take the self-justification as read, shall we?’

  Darrok grinned. ‘Me and Vance worked well enough together for a while, though we had different attitudes to buccaneering. That thing about taking possessions but sparing lives, for instance. He too often wanted both. But the real difference between us, what led me to this chair, was to do with money.’

  ‘There’s a surprise.’

  ‘Vance’s way was to spend as fast as he got it. Mine was to hoard most of what I made. I saw piracy as a stepping stone to other things, not something I’d be doing for the rest of my life. Which would probably have been quite short, incidentally.’

  ‘It looks as though it almost was.’

  ‘Anyway, we hit a lean period. Even pirates have them, believe it or not. Vance started agitating for a share of my nest-egg. I wasn’t keen, let’s say, and things quickly came to the crunch. He persuaded the rest of the crew to take his side by offering them a portion of my money. To cut a long and rather unpleasant story short, it inevitably ended in violence.’

  ‘What kind loses a man his legs?’

  ‘The kind where you find yourself having to jump overboard. Then being sucked under the keel of a ship in shallow water with a rocky bottom. That’s how I got this rather fetching voice, too.’

  ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘The surface of the water was ablaze at the time. Vance is nothing if not thorough. I inhaled a goodly measure of searing oil.’

  ‘And you survived that?’

  ‘I hear you’re a pretty good survivor yourself. Maybe you’re as bone-headed stubborn as I am. Anyway, I washed up here, on Batariss. The Diamond Isle. I was lucky. There were some people here inclined to help me, and they had healing skills. They couldn’t salvage my legs, what was left of them, but they did save my life. I was able to reward them for that later, and quite lavishly, I might add. I was doubly lucky, as a matter of fact. The then owners of this place wanted to sell up, and I used most of my savings to buy it. It wasn’t exactly what I had in mind as a career move, but the options for half a man can be somewhat limited. It’s provided a good income until the last couple of years.’

  ‘And Vance?’

  ‘He thought I was dead, and was very pissed off because he hadn’t got the location of my hoard out of me first. But that was nothing compared to how he felt when he found out I was alive and must have used the money to buy this island.’

  ‘So this is personal? His interest in the island, I mean.’

  ‘He’d probably be haunting these waters anyway. But me being here has certainly twisted the knife for him. The way Vance thinks, this should all be his by rights, and he’s madder than hell about it.’

  ‘That isn’t going to change once you’ve gone, is it?’

  ‘I don’t know. There’s a good chance he’d try to find me. But it’s just as likely he’d want to plunder this place first. If ever a man was ridden by greed, it’s Vance.’

  ‘Where will you go?’

  Darrok smiled. ‘You’ll forgive me for not answering that. But I will say that I’ve got another island in mind, a very long way from here. I’ve acquired rather a taste for having my own little principality.’

  ‘Not a kingdom?’

  ‘That’s a word that doesn’t figure in my vocabulary too much these days.’ They swapped smiles. ‘But I’m not ready to go just yet. I still have arrangements to make concerning shipping out the gold. Quite complicated arrangements. My staying a bit longer won’t be a problem for you, will it?’

  ‘It’s all the same to me. I don’t suppose Karr and the others will mind much either. Besides, you can familiarise me with the island in the meantime. If I’m going to be staying here a while, that could be useful.’

  ‘Let’s start now. A quick tour before the sun goes down. Are you game for it?’

  Caldason was.

  They rode in an open carriage, with Darrok at the reins and Caldason beside him. Darrok’s hover disk was loaded in the back. He hadn’t brought any of his bodyguards, not even the redhead who’d occupied so much of his time on the trip from Bhealfa. Caldason took that as a vote of confidence on Darrok’s part. Presumably he didn’t think Reeth was going to cut his throat as soon as they turned a corner.

  The carriage was travelling along a less-than-perfect road towards a cluster of buildings.

  ‘We can’t do it all with the light we have left,’ Darrok explained. ‘The island’s only a fraction of the size of Bhealfa, but it’s still pretty big. You’d need at least a couple of days to explore it all. But you probably know that.’

  ‘I’ve never been here before, but I’ve seen maps. That’s given me a rough idea of the geography. Do you still have visitors?’

  ‘Paying guests? Not really. As I said, the last few years have seen poor pickings. Did you know the history of this place goes back a couple of centuries? As a resort, that is?’

  ‘I think somebody mentioned it. It was quite exclusive in the early days, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Up until, oh, seventy or eighty years ago. When people started to drop the name Batariss and took to calling it the Diamond Isle. Its days as a grand resort are long in the past. Not that it went right down after that. It was a slow decline.’

  ‘What brought it about?’

  ‘A combination of things. Fashion, mostly. People were less interested in coming. Probably because, as the affluent got richer, they were able to afford more and more glamours for private use. They just didn’t need to come here to experience what they already had at home. And it’s expensive to maintain something like this. It got to the point where all the money coming in was going straight out again on repairs and the like. The final nail in the coffin, in recent years, has been the pirates.’

  ‘Did you ever prey on people visiting here when you were one?’

  ‘It would be ironic if I had, wouldn’t it? But no, there was little point. Not if you wanted to make a good amount from every raid. It was better to go for merchant ships, or maybe some of those fancy cruise ships the very rich patronise. Of course, they’re usually better protected, but the rewards are worth it. That was my philosophy, anyway. Vance, on the other hand, had to be argued out of attacking everything that floated. Not that my way always paid off. I remember one time we boarded a merchantman and found it was a chandler’s vessel. Had about a hundred thousand candles on board, which are not the easiest goods to shift quickly. Especially as most people prefer glamour lighting these days. Vance got so worked up about that one he torched the ship and sank it.’

  Caldason found himself dismissing his preconceptions about this man and warming to him. Notwithstanding he’d been a rogue in his time, and not necessarily someone he would have approved of.

  They came to something that looked like a small village, except all the buildings were more or less identical, and they were dilapidated.

  ‘These used to be luxurious chalets,’ Darrok said, ‘hard as it is to picture now. A retreat for the wealthy and influential. You couldn’t let them out as pigsties these days.’

  The tour continued, taking in further clusters of buildings. There were areas where gambling parlours were situated, and a whole row of brothels, hidden prettily in a shallow valley so as not to offend the more strait-laced visitors. They passed a circuit for chariot races, and a sizeable boating lake being choked by uncontrolled vegetation.

  Oddest were the so-called jest fayres, where glamour power had been used to offer novelty rid
es, distortion houses, gambling dens, monstrosity shows and the like. The architecture of these attractions was fantastical, bizarre and not a little tacky. They looked all the stranger for being semi-derelict and overrun by weeds.

  ‘It’s going to be dark soon,’ Darrok said. ‘We should be getting back. I’ll show you the rest of the island tomorrow. Are you sure you won’t take up my offer to stay at my house?’

  ‘Thanks, Darrok, but I think it’s best if I lodge with my band.’

  ‘You don’t want to erode their morale by leaving them in the rather shabby guest block I’ve provided while you bed down in luxury.’

  ‘Something like that.’

  ‘You’re probably right. Make do with it for a couple of days and I’ll see your men get something better.’

  They headed for the billet. As they went past another collection of tumbledown buildings, Darrok remarked, ‘It’s amazing how quickly Nature reclaims its realm. Some of these places were in use just two or three years ago. Most of the island’s always been relatively unspoilt, actually. No more than a tenth at most was ever built on. But I don’t suppose a jumble of old buildings are going to be of much interest to your people. I gather they intend using a fair slice of the island for agriculture.’

  ‘That’s the plan.’

  ‘Oh, I think that’s just part of it, Caldason, if the truth be known. No need to look uncomfortable, my friend. You might think I’m solely a materialist, so it might surprise you to know I’m not unsympathetic to…well, to whatever it is you intend doing here.’

  ‘Is it that transparent?’

  ‘I hope not, for your sakes.’

  ‘This…plan we supposedly have. How do you view it?’

  ‘Totally hypothetically, of course, given that I have no idea what it is?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘I’d say it was…inspiring, marvellously idealistic. Noble, even.’

  ‘And what would you say its chances were?’

  ‘Realistically? Oh, about the same as an ice crystal’s in hell.’

  ‘Ah.’

  ‘But what’s life without its challenges?’

  27

  ‘I’m so glad you could make it, Commissioner,’ Devlor Bastorran said as his aide ushered Laffon into the paladin’s office.

  ‘Your message left me little choice. I hope the matter you referred to is urgent enough to warrant our meeting at such a late hour.’

  ‘I’m sure you’ll think so once I’ve explained everything. Please, make yourself comfortable. Can I have Meakin bring you something? Refreshments? A drink?’

  Laffon held up a bony hand. ‘Thank you, no, High Chief. All I require is the briefing you promised.’

  ‘Very well. On the night my uncle was so tragically cut down, and since, you and I have spoken about the need for our two organisations to co-operate on affairs of state security.’

  ‘We have. Though I must say the flow of information so far has been somewhat less than I was hoping for.’

  ‘If we’re being candid, I think I could say the same from my side. But what I have to tell you tonight is solid, reliable and has a very significant bearing on the activities of the terrorists. It demands co-operation between the CIS and the paladins, to the great advantage of both.’

  Laffon steepled his fingers. ‘Go on.’

  ‘We’ve been cultivating spies in the dissidents’ ranks for some time now.’

  ‘We both do that, Bastorran.’

  ‘Yes, but with respect, we now have a particular source more centrally placed than any hitherto known. That’s not supposition, it’s fact.’

  ‘This is a new contact?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And you have no reason to suspect their motives?’

  ‘If you mean are we being fed misinformation or lured into some kind of trap, no, I don’t believe so. And may I say, Commissioner, that our recent harsher clampdown on the dissidents, and high-profile arrests like that of Rukanis, have contributed in no small way to a flow of higher grade intelligence. I believe our stance has been vindicated, and that we’ll see more informants like this one coming forward.’

  ‘That would be gratifying. Do continue.’

  ‘This source has supplied us with names, addresses and other data concerning those calling themselves the Resistance. Not everything by any means, but enough to strike a substantial blow against them. Possibly enough to disrupt their activities for the foreseeable future.’

  ‘I repeat: can you trust this information? The kind of resources we’d need to devote to any action based on it would be considerable.’

  ‘I know that. And, yes, I trust the source. The person in question has an important personal stake in telling us the truth.’

  ‘Very well, I’m prepared to accept that. What do you propose?’

  ‘Acting, naturally, and as quickly as possible. We need to mount a number of raids on the addresses I’ve been given. They must be simultaneous in order to have maximum impact, and ideally they should be combined paladin-CIS operations. Pooling our expertise and manpower will greatly increase their effectiveness.’

  ‘That can be arranged. As the CIS is still in the process of securing a headquarters here in Valdarr, I suggest we use yours as our base of operations.’

  ‘Our facilities are at your disposal.’

  ‘I’ll get my people over here immediately to start planning.’

  ‘Excellent.’

  ‘I’ll need to avail myself of several of your messengers, if I may. But in a moment. I have something I need to speak to you about first. Privately.’ He shot a pointed look Meakin’s way.

  ‘Certainly. Meakin, go and make the arrangements for the Commissioner to send the messages he needs to get out. Then come back here afterwards.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ The aide left.

  ‘Is this related to the subject in hand, Commissioner?’

  ‘In some respects it is. It concerns this very substantial reward you’ve offered for the capture of Reeth Caldason.’

  ‘What of it?’

  ‘Now that you’ve assumed control of the paladins, I imagine you’ve been made aware of the special guidelines concerning this man?’

  ‘I have. My uncle left a sealed briefing.’

  ‘We’re concerned that offering such a large reward might breach those guidelines.’

  ‘I don’t see why it should.’

  ‘I think I might beg to differ on that.’

  ‘A man murders the top official of the paladin clans. How can we not offer a reward in order to catch him? What kind of message would it send out to the rabble if we didn’t? That it’s permissible to assassinate who they like, no matter how exalted, in the certainty that our efforts to catch the perpetrators will be feeble? And do note, Commissioner, that our reward stipulates his capture, not his death.’

  ‘A fine distinction, and not one likely to be noticed by the average street rowdy or bounty hunter who might be tempted to collect it. Look, I understand how you feel, particularly in view of the personal loss you’ve suffered. But I still think we have to tread very carefully in respect of Caldason. May I remind you that the guidelines in question came down from the highest possible authority?’

  ‘And I intend lobbying that same authority to have them rescinded. Because, frankly, I see no sense in them.’

  ‘It isn’t always given to us to reason why, Bastorran.’

  ‘Commissioner, in view of the other matter I’ve laid before you, can I respectfully suggest we return to this subject at a later date? We have plenty to occupy us tonight.’

  ‘As you say. We’ll speak about this another time, then. Where’s that man of yours?’

  On cue, Meakin knocked and came back into the room.

  He conducted Laffon to the messengers’ block, and in due course returned to his master.

  ‘Sir, speaking of messages, we’ve had several from Aphri Kordenza, demanding to see you. She’s getting quite insistent, in fact.’

  ‘Insistent be
damned. This isn’t the time. Stall her. We have much bigger fish to net, Meakin.’

  ‘Information from spies can’t always be relied upon,’ Disgleirio maintained. ‘Do we have any independent confirmation?’

  ‘Not as yet,’ Karr replied, ‘but our informants in the dockyards have proved very trustworthy in the past. All we know is that the galley Kinsel’s on failed to make port when expected. The delay’s getting to the point now where adverse weather can’t be blamed. Not that any has been reported.’

  ‘That doesn’t mean the vessel’s been lost. It might be acting on new orders and making for somewhere else.’

  ‘Yes, there are several reasons why we shouldn’t necessarily be too alarmed just yet. But we must be alive to the possibility that something’s gone wrong. In which case–’

  ‘Tanalvah.’

  ‘Yes. After all she’s suffered, Kinsel’s loss would be a most grievous blow. It’s going to extinguish any hope she has of ever seeing him again, no matter how unrealistic that hope might be. That’s why I’ve asked you here too, Goyter. If the worst has happened, we’ll need you to lend a hand in getting Tanalvah through it. After Serrah, you seem to be the one she’s come to rely on most since the trial.’

  ‘Of course I’ll do whatever I can for the poor girl,’ his aide said. ‘Though, to be honest, I’m not sure I’d do anything like as good a job of it as Serrah. Those two seem to have formed a bond.’

  ‘Karr, in view of this, shouldn’t Serrah’s departure be delayed, or even cancelled?’ Disgleirio suggested.

  ‘On balance, I think not. She and Kutch are at a safe house now, ready to go out to the island at first light tomorrow. I’m loathe to change that. After all, what can she do here? If Kinsel’s lost, he’s lost. I don’t want to sound hard-hearted about it, but Serrah’s of more use to us out there, helping to pave the way, than trying to deal with a hopeless situation here.’

  ‘Perhaps we should at least get word to her,’ Goyter submitted. ‘Doesn’t she have a right to know?’

  ‘I’m inclined to reject that idea, too. Knowing that Kinsel might be lost isn’t a piece of information she can do anything about except fret over it. That’s hardly going to improve her efficiency. Yes, I know; it’s a harsh way of looking at it. But decisions have to be made for the greater good. The nearer we get to the move, the more that’s going to apply, I’m afraid.’