‘Yes,’ he said, smiling. ‘I know she says she’s an agent working for the empire, and I don’t like to correct her on it, but really she’s a merchant, who just happens to help out now and again. Her company won the contract to supply secret munitions to Silverstream, and she acts like that makes her a confidante of the Empress and Imperial Herald. But don’t listen to me. Sable is a sweet girl, and I don’t like to speak ill of her. She’s certainly looking after us well enough.’
Ravi could see that Yanin was desperate to speak.
‘It would be funny,’ she said, ‘if Sable was much more important than you, and it’s just that you’re not high enough to be told the truth about her.’
Derrick blinked. ‘Umm, yes. That would be funny, I suppose.’
‘But not very likely?’ Ravi said.
‘No,’ Derrick said. ‘Listen, I’ve been in this game a long time, and I think I’d know if Sable were someone special. But I’m sounding unkind again. Her heart’s in the right place.’
‘Have you ever been inside Rahain?’ Yanin asked.
‘Once,’ Derrick said, ‘many years ago, before Her Majesty ascended the throne. I briefly worked for Father Ghorley, now Lord Protector of that benighted republic, though I doubt if he’d remember me. I was an exceptionally junior clerk in his service in the Rahain Capital, just used to send messages back and forth to the local garrisons. I had been transferred by the time the civil war really got underway.’
‘Did you ever meet the mad Emperor?’ Ravi said.
‘I saw him once as king, but never as emperor. I arrived back in Plateau City after he had been killed, and Empress Bridget was newly on the throne. Of course, I offered my services to her. She was surprised that a vision mage had survived the turmoil and I was immediately put to work.’
‘I heard that most mages in the world were killed during the wars.’
‘It’s true,’ Derrick said, sipping from his mug. ‘What with the fighting and the insanity of the Emperor, there were very few of us remaining at the end. It took several years for new mages to emerge from among the youngsters. Like yourself, Ravi. Tell me, do you know any middle-aged clay or flow mages?’
‘None,’ he said. ‘They’re all in their twenties or younger.’
‘Indeed, Lady Isobel was only thirty years old. What a tragic waste.’
‘What’s Ghorley like?’ asked Yanin.
‘Single-minded,’ Derrick said. ‘Willing to do anything to achieve his goals. At the time I knew him however, his goals were to peacefully integrate Rahain into the empire. Now his goal is to use Rahain to destroy it.’
‘Do you think he’ll invade?’
Derrick frowned, his dark skin glowing in the firelight. ‘Yes.’
The others said nothing, sipping from their mugs in silence.
‘I have spoken to the Rahain dissidents who have fled here,’ Derrick continued into the smoky air, ‘those led by agents to this hidden town. Before escaping to the Plateau, they told me what conditions were like in the republic – the iron laws, the religious propaganda, the training of armies, the hero-worship of the Lord Protector…’ He glanced at them. ‘Of one thing you can be sure. Rahain will invade.’
Ravi rose at dawn, his head pounding and his mouth as dry as brickdust. He showered, then dressed in silence, so Kerri wouldn’t awaken. He gazed at her sleeping form as he pulled on his clothes, the morning light seeping between the slats of the shutters. He had been so drunk the previous night that he had fallen unconscious the moment his head had hit the pillow. A missed opportunity. He sighed, then slipped out of the room.
When he got downstairs, Yanin was sleeping on the couch where she had collapsed drunk the night before, snoring. He kicked the wooden frame as he walked past.
‘Oops,’ he said as his sister spluttered to life.
‘What the fuck?’ she groaned. ‘Was that you?’
He smirked and walked into the kitchen. Kerri had cleaned everything up after dinner. No time to make coffee, he thought, grabbing a sweet pastry from a paper bag. He left the house and stretched in the morning sunshine. The mountain air was clean and chill, despite the closeness of summer and the all-pervading stink of fish sauce. He was starting to get used to it, but it still surprised him each morning when he stepped outside. He ate the pastry in three big bites and began walking to work.
After a hundred yards or so, where his street met a larger thoroughfare, a crowd had gathered. Ravi frowned. They were blocking his way and he couldn’t be bothered having to speak to people so early in the morning, before he had even had a coffee. He lit a cigarette and paused. The crowd were peering over the edge of the walkway, into the deep waters of the flooded banks of the river. Thick reeds were swaying in the light breeze, and among them Ravi could see people in the water.
He walked closer so he could hear what they were saying.
‘Can you lift him out?’ shouted someone. ‘Get hold of his arms and legs.’
Ravi squinted through the crowd, pushing forward to get a better view. A small group were down in the water, carrying something. A body, head down, covered in river mud. Ravi shoved his way to the front as the group waded towards the walkway. The body was pushed up onto the wooden planks, and someone tipped it over onto its back.
Ravi gasped.
‘It’s the Holdings man,’ said one of the crowd.
Ravi watched open-mouthed as a woman wiped the mud from Derrick’s face.
‘Been dead a few hours, I reckon,’ she said. ‘Must have fallen in during the night. Drowned.’
Ravi turned and pushed his way back out of the crowd, and ran home.
‘Yanin,’ he yelled, bursting through the front door and hurtling into the living-room.
She looked up at him from the couch with drooping eyes. ‘What?’
‘Derrick’s dead.’
She sat up, rubbing her face.
‘He fell off a walkway and drowned,’ Ravi went on.
‘He fell?’ said a voice.
Ravi turned to see Sable standing by the door.
‘Yeah,’ Ravi said, ‘when he was walking home last night drunk.’
Sable stared at him, her eyes wide.
‘It was an accident,’ Ravi said.
‘Shit,’ said Yanin. ‘Poor bastard.’
‘Where?’ said Sable.
‘Just at the corner with the main street,’ Ravi said. ‘They were laying his body out on the walkway when I…’
Sable turned and ran out of the room, and the front door opened and slammed shut a second later. Ravi stared at the empty space where she had been for a moment, then noticed his hands were trembling. He sat down next to his sister on the couch and picked up a half-smoked weedstick from a full ashtray.
Yanin glanced at him as he lit it.
‘Do you really think it was an accident?’ she said.
‘Eh?’ he said. ‘Why, what do you think happened?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said, ‘but our only contact with the outside world is dead. Does that not seem a little strange to you?’
‘It was just bad luck,’ he said. ‘I mean, who’d want to kill Derrick?’
Chapter 24
Best Endeavours
Plateau City, Imperial Plateau – 21st Day, Last Third Spring 524
‘I don’t understand,’ said Nyane. ‘You mean they weren’t trying to kill the Empress?’
‘No,’ said Karalyn, a cigarette in her hand. Her eyes were heavy, and Nyane knew that she had been up all night questioning the three captive assailants.
‘I know you’re tired,’ said Dyam, ‘but you’re going to have to do better than that.’
‘It’s not as easy as you think,’ Karalyn said. ‘I’m trying to filter through three different sets of memories. It’s not like they were answering any questions. I had to go into each of their minds and delve deep. The Holdings prisoner, for instance, he doesn’t seem to know anything about an overall plan; he was just told to watch the entrance. The two Kellach captive
s, they knew more, but their plan was wrecked by the sudden arrival of soldiers banging on the door.’
‘What were their original orders?’ asked Nyane.
Karalyn took a long draw on the cigarette. ‘They were to break in, murder the children in front of the Empress, then maim her. Cut out an eye and her tongue, then cut off her nose, right hand and left foot. Then they were to flee.’
Dyam and Nyane stared at Karalyn in silence.
‘But the plan went awry,’ the young mage went on. ‘Soldiers arrived at the door and someone cut out the Empress’s eye before they were supposed to, then the guy in charge, the same man who was there when Isobel was murdered, well he told them to stop, and get on with killing the children. That’s when Nyane and I arrived.’
Dyam took a long breath and put her head in her hands, her elbows resting on the desk, and for a moment Nyane thought she caught a tear escape from the herald’s eye.
‘Who sent them?’ Nyane asked.
‘Ghorley,’ Karalyn said. ‘The beloved Lord Protector. They’re utterly loyal to him and the Creator. That’s why they’re not answering any questions. I don’t even think torture would break them.’
‘There’s no need for torture,’ Nyane said, ‘not with you assisting us, but what was the point of the plan? Why maim her?’
‘The captives didn’t really understand the reasons,’ said Karalyn.
‘I can hazard a guess,’ said Dyam, her face twisted with rage. ‘Ghorley reckoned that a murdered empress might become a martyr; someone the people could rally round, whereas a crippled and disfigured empress, who couldn’t speak or walk, would dishearten the empire and cause internal strife.’
‘Tell us more about the prisoners,’ Nyane said. ‘I want to understand what kind of people could do such a thing.’
‘The Holdings man,’ Karalyn said, ‘he’s older than the others, a former One True Path zealot who went to Rahain as a young missionary deacon and stayed. The two Kellach Brigdomin…’ She sighed and took another draw on the cigarette. ‘Have you heard of the Army of Pyre?’
‘Aye,’ said Dyam. ‘A unit of young Kellach Brigdomin, reared from the slaves that Ghorley refused to release when Bridget became Empress. Our agents have brought news of them over the years. We estimate that there are a few thousand battle-ready soldiers currently serving in the Army of Pyre. If it ever comes to war, these are the ones I fear most. The new marine division was established expressly to counter them.’
‘The idea of an army of Kellach Brigdomin fighting against us sickens me,’ said Karalyn. ‘I looked deep into the two prisoners’ memories and saw the years of cruelty they endured during training, and the lies they were told about the empire that they believe with all their hearts.’
‘It might not all be lies,’ Dyam said. ‘You did kill their god.’
‘But they don’t believe that,’ said Karalyn. ‘They think that we killed the Emperor, but more importantly, we killed the Lord Vicar, the last link to the Creator, leaving him unable to communicate with anyone in the world. We have wronged god, and that’s what they want to avenge. Not only that, they want to occupy the Holdings. That’s their ultimate aim, so they can control access to all of the vision mages, until a new prophet arises.’
Dyam leaned forward. ‘Do they know anything about invasion plans?’
‘No,’ said Karalyn. ‘As far as plans go, they only knew about their orders to attack the palace.’
Nyane got up to stretch her legs. It felt like she had been sitting with Dyam discussing the state of the empire for hours. She gazed out of the open window at the streets of the New Town.
‘How did they get in,’ she said. ‘and how did they escape?’
‘They had no idea about that,’ Karalyn said. ‘As far as they knew, one second they were in the Rahain Capital, the next they were in the palace here, in Plateau City. They had been told what was going to happen, but it still surprised them.’
Dyam frowned. ‘They were in the Rahain Capital?’
‘Aye,’ said Karalyn, stubbing out her cigarette. ‘They’re not dream mages after all.’
‘But how is that possible?’ the herald said.
‘Some unknown mage skill?’ said Nyane.
‘Maybe their memories of the journey were wiped clean,’ said Dyam.
Karalyn shook her head. ‘There were no missing memories. I would have known.’
‘So we’re dealing with assassins,’ Dyam said, ‘who can jump from one place to another?’
‘It would explain a lot,’ said Nyane. ‘How no one recognises any of them. How they managed to get past a company of armed guards to strike at the Empress herself. I’ve seen them vanish, and I’ve seen Karalyn disappear, and I think there’s a slight difference to the eye.’
Dyam shook her head. ‘This is an amazing claim, and I’m going to need some pretty fucking amazing evidence to believe it. Until then, I’m keeping an open mind.’
There was a knock at the door and a Kellach soldier entered.
‘Imperial Herald,’ he said, ‘the reception hallway is blocked with folk wanting to speak to you. There’s lords and ladies, members of the government, harbour and merchant guilds, and delegates from pretty much every embassy and mission in the city. What should we tell them?’
Dyam sighed. ‘Government first, then the ambassadors. Bring them here in pairs.’
‘Aye, ma’am,’ the soldier said. He saluted and left the room.
‘Do you need me here for this?’ Nyane said.
‘Damn right I do,’ Dyam said.
‘But the investigations, Herald,’ Nyane said. ‘I need to find the evidence you require.’
Dyam frowned, her eyes smouldering.
‘Fine,’ she said. ‘Wait here while the first batch of government ministers come in. I’ll pick the one with the most sense, and then you can go.’ She glanced at Karalyn. ‘Make yourself invisible and stand behind me. Give me a gentle nudge in the back if anyone’s lying.’
‘I’d prefer Karalyn to accompany me, Herald,’ Nyane said. ‘If that’s alright.’
‘No,’ said Dyam. ‘She stays in the palace. Those bastards could come back at any time to try to finish the job and I need her here.’
Nyane bowed. ‘Very well.’
The door opened and a soldier showed two people in. One was Olin, the Empress’s Rakanese lawyer, and the other was Lord Flavin, the minister of justice.
Dyam glanced at the two men. Before she could speak there was a clatter at the door and Lady Belinda strode through, surrounded by a tight group of supporters. A soldier tried to barge his way through them but he was kept back from Belinda by her followers, and the atmosphere in the room soured. More soldiers appeared at the door, shouting.
‘Everyone calm the fuck down!’ roared Dyam, and the room quietened. ‘Lady Belinda,’ she said, ‘did your parents never teach you any manners? You take your turn like everybody else, or you get out.’
‘I will have my say,’ cried Belinda. ‘I am here on behalf of the better-bred families of this city, to demand the immediate prosecution of those responsible for the appalling lapse in security that allowed assassins to penetrate the palace. If you were to blame, Madam Herald, then I expect your resignation. You must make way for someone who takes their duties seriously.’
‘Ma’am!’ called out a soldier to Dyam. ‘Do you want us to kick them out of the building?’
‘No,’ she said. ‘I’ll give Lady Belinda my answer, and then I expect her to leave.’ She turned to the group of intruders. ‘The attacks are being investigated, that’s all you need to know. Those responsible will be brought to justice, you can be sure of it.’
‘That’s not good enough, Madam Herald,’ Belinda said. ‘The people demand to know the truth about what’s happening. The incompetence and negligence of the government in their defence of the Empress is known across the entire empire, and nothing less than their complete replacement is required.’
Dyam snorted. ‘You’ve got ten se
conds to leave, or I’m ordering the soldiers to escort you out.’
Belinda stood her ground for a moment, then smiled and turned towards the door. The soldiers cleared a path for them, but before they could leave a young imperial messenger ran into the room.
‘Ma’am,’ he cried. ‘There’s been another attack. The Rahain quarter again.’
‘Who?’
‘Armed Kellach, like last time, ma’am. At least four assailants. The report I got said that a couple had been killed, but that two others were still on the loose. Mobs of Rahain are gathering at the bridges, and several groups with crossbows were seen running towards the last known position of the two remaining Kellach.’
‘Call out the cavalry,’ said Lady Belinda. ‘At once.’
‘One more word from you and you’re under arrest,’ Dyam said. ‘Don’t test me.’
Belinda smiled.
Dyam turned to Nyane. ‘I want you to head down there. Take charge. Do whatever you deem necessary.’
Nyane suppressed her tongue-flicker and nodded. ‘Yes, ma’am.’
She pushed her way through the crowd to the door, passing Lady Belinda on the way. They exchanged a hostile glance, the woman of Fell Grange smirking as they stared at each other for a moment. Nyane made it through the door and left the palace through a guarded side entrance. The forecourt was filled with soldiers and she strode up to an officer.
‘Captain,’ she said. ‘I need you and half your company to follow me.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ the Holdings man said. ‘Where are we going?’
Nyane frowned. ‘To stop a riot.’
An hour later, Nyane was waiting outside the gates of the enormous cavalry compound on the eastern bank of the river. To the south was a sprawling quarter filled with Holdings peasants, and then, by the river mouth, was the Rakanese district. To the north of the compound sat the Rahain quarter, separated from the Kellach Brigdomin by the river that ran through the city. Smoke was rising over the houses and streets of the Rahain quarter, and the sounds of a mob could be heard from where Nyane stood by the gates of the cavalry base.
Fragile Empire Page 34
