An Ill Fate Marshalling

18

Year 1016 AFE; Tightening Screws

Habibullah awaited ragnarson in the chamber where so many conferences had taken place recently. Bragi stepped in, quickly noted, „You may think you're dressed local, but you won't fool anyone."

Habibullah shrugged. „Speed was of more essence than secrecy. I received the material from Trebilcock. I speak for the Lady Yasmid as well as myself when I express my gratitude."

„Glad to help."

„A cunning maneuver, that Captures match. I expect it will be more appreciated outside Kavelin, though."

Bragi was having his own second and third thoughts. Somehow, in winning, he had lost something, and he just didn't understand what or why. If some Nordmen baron had pulled the same stunt, nobody would have thought anything about it. There would have been no whining in the streets if the Panthers had won.

Was he supposed to be too good for that kind of stuff? Was it because he'd dipped his hands into too many strongboxes? Or did he just have a thin skin?

He shrugged. „I guess congratulations are due, Habibullah. That whipping you gave the Throyens. That was beautiful. I split a side laughing."

„A grand victory, but more symbolic than practical. It wakened our enemies. They won't underestimate us again."

Soberly, Bragi observed, „You're probably right."

„Megelin is pressing us from the desert side. He's using a lot of sorcery. We can't stand up to the savan dalage. And the Faithful in Throyes say Lord Hsung is preparing a major push into the littoral. He'll use the legions from Throyes and Gog-Ahlan to give his Throyen puppets backbone. That means thirty to thirty-five thousand invaders, twelve thousand of them soldiers of the Dread Empire. Too much for us to handle."

Bragi sat quietly for half a minute. „Mind if I bring Prataxis and Trebilcock in here?"

„Do you really need to?"

„I think so. They're familiar with more aspects of the situation." He rose, stepped into the corridor, looked around. He saw no one but the guard. „Get Prataxis and Captain Trebilcock. They're waiting down in the War Room."

„Yes, Sire. But who'll stand watch?"

„I'll be all right. Go on."

„Yes, Sire."

Rather than return to Habibullah, Bragi poked around the corridor. Curiosity took him to the door of the room he'd seen Gales exit. He stepped inside, looked around. The room appeared as innocent as ever.

What the devil had Gales been doing that day? He started looking around. Minutes tripped past. „Here. What's this?" He fingered a scratch in the wainscotting below hip level on the wall facing the conference chamber. A decorative boar's head was loose. It had been moved often enough to have gouged the paneling. He fiddled with it.

Something clicked. The next panel left eased back an inch. He prodded it with a toe. It swung back. He hunkered down, scrambled through, found himself in one of the innumerable hidden passageways which networked the pal­ ace. „I thought I knew them all," he muttered.

A moment later he was looking through a peephole at Habibullah, who was waiting patiently, arms folded and eyes halfway closed. He looked older and more tired when he didn't know he was being observed. Trebilcock and Prataxis entered the room. Michael asked, „Where's the King?"

Bragi didn't stay for Habibullah's answer. He returned the way he had come, muttering, „Gales, you belong to Michael now." He couldn't put it off any longer. No matter what Michael uncovered.

A part of him wanted to cry. He had tried hard to convince himself that he was wrong, but his intuition had scored again. He glanced in the direction of his wife's apartment. „I guess blood will tell."

His expression was bland, mild, and friendly when he returned to the conference room. „So. They beat me back. Michael, Habibullah has been telling me some things. I want you and Derel to hear him out, then add anything you can."

Habibullah started over. When he mentioned Hsung's intentions, Michael added, „My contacts say he can't take Mist seriously because she's a woman. He's treating West­ ern Army's area of operations like it was his own personal empire. He seems to think Mist can't touch him before the Matayangan crisis is settled."

Prataxis said, „Sire, he's one of your worst enemies among the Tervola. Breaking you is an obsession with some of them."

„So Mist kept telling me."

„He respected Lord Kuo's wishes, but I suspect he never intended to honor the commitments we made during our negotiations. He may have been playing me along to keep his superiors happy. Lately, his treatment of our caravan people has been more indicative of his thinking than anything he's said."

Bragi said, „Mist promised to straighten him out."

„What if she doesn't?" Habibullah asked.

Derel replied, „There isn't a thing we could do. Our people are at his mercy. Yours are too." To Bragi, Derel added, „Michael says it's probably only a matter of weeks till he invades the littoral. Apparently the decision to go has been made."

Michael nodded. „That's the word I get out of Throyes."

Habibullah said, „That agrees with what we've heard. And we won't be able to put up much of a fight."

„What have you got?" Bragi asked.

„Maybe ten thousand old, tired, worn-out men led by Invincibles past their primes. We couldn't engage except on the best terms. We expect to get a lot of local guerrilla support, and help from the Faithful who live in Throyen territory, but that's not enough. We've decided our strategy will be wholly partisan. Our main force has to be kept intact in case Megelin hits Sebil el Selib. The Lady Yasmid has ordered increased guerrilla activity west of the mountains, to make it more difficult for Megelin to approach the pass. But he has Beloul, el Senoussi, and Rahman. There isn't much we can do to stop them."

Bragi knew the three Royalist generals. They were smart and tough and unlikely to be deterred by partisans. Espe­ cially not with Magden Norath backing them.

Varthlokkur, why did you have to be such a pigheaded fool? I need you now.

„Derel, maneuvers are supposed to start next month. Can we move them up? Use them to bluff Hsung?" The planned operation was a rush by regular units to Baxendala, in the Savernake Gap, to see how quickly they could respond to a sudden eastern threat.

„Moving them up would be difficult. Credence isn't well enough to take part. Sir Gjerdrum would have to carry the whole load. And I don't think Lord Hsung would be particularly impressed anyway."

„Once the regiments are assembled, we could move up to Maisak any time he threatened to invade Hammad al Nakir. Make it look like we'll jump on his backside if he goes in. In his shoes I don't think I'd call our bluff."

„Why not?" Michael asked.

„If he gets us stirred up he'll get too far on Mist's bad side. She doesn't want him starting new wars while the Matayangan thing is so iffy. He didn't make army com­ mander doing stupid things."

Sourly, Prataxis observed, „The only way to run a bluff is not to be bluffing. We can't do that. Our home situation is too precarious. And Lord Hsung knows it."

„Michael?"

„Derel is right. The Captures match polarized everybody. We're not very strong right now. There would be rioting if it looked like most of the army was moving through the Gap."

Ragnarson sighed. „You'll just have to increase your efforts, Michael."

„There are more of them than there are of me. Without the Unborn to ferret them out... ."

„Do your best. Habibullah, I'm sorry you had to hear all our woes. You've got problems of your own."

„We all have troubles, Sire. You and the Lady Yasmid are fighting for the survival of ideals. The struggle has used up most of your resources, but you can't let yourselves betray your beliefs. That's why the Lady is proposing we share resources."

Bragi grunted noncommittally. Yasmid was no more enthusiastic about this than he. His participation, such as it was, was an acquiescence to necessity.

Someone tapped on the door. The guard leaned in. „Sire, Captain Haas wants a word with you."

„Excuse me." Bragi stepped into the corridor. „What is it, Dahl?"

„Trouble in the Thing, Sire. Mundwiller says the Estates are pushing a motion of censure. He says you'd better show up to defend yourself."

„What do you think, Dahl?"

„I think he's right, Sire. They're in a mean mood."

Bragi sighed dramatically. „All right. Give me a minute here." He stepped inside. „I have to go over to the Thing. Derel, you and Michael go ahead and talk to Habibullah. Habibullah, I trust them completely. Hammer out your deal. Michael, I have a job for you. Gales. He's been listening in." He tapped the wall. „Hidden passageway."

Trebilcock looked unhappy. „I'll take care of it." He exchanged glances with Prataxis.

Bragi stepped into the corridor. „Let's go give them hell, Dahl."

Trebilcock stared at Habibullah for half a minute. „Tell me what we can do for you. Really. Other than make gestures, I don't see much myself."

„You could provide weapons. You have a considerable stockpile taken during the Great Eastern Wars. You could share intelligence. You have other assets we don't. Especial­ ly the wizard."

Michael concealed his surprise. Habibullah hadn't heard about the big split? Interesting. But then, the match was all the talk in the streets these days.

„I do, yes. As to the weapons, the army has those."

Derel said, „The King would let us deal them. Can you deliver them, Michael?"

Trebilcock nodded. Aral's smugglers could handle that end. For a price, of course.

Prataxis went on. „There's no problem, then. Let's say arms for five thousand men. What can you do for us, Habibullah?"

„The Lady Yasmid has suggested a loan of the Harish."

Trebilcock met Derel's eye. Each man wore an expression so blank the other knew it was studied. „The Harish?" Michael asked.

„The cult has dwindled. There are fewer than a hundred left. The survivors are an occasional embarrassment. The Lady would like them used up profitably. Preferably away from home. They could do you a lot of good."

Trebilcock recalled the long lists his people had assem­ bled. They grew longer daily. In that he saw the hand of the enemy within the palace, the enemy the King wouldn't admit existed. „All right. But we'd have to share this with Credence Abaca. His people would have to provide the bases for that big an operation."

Derel protested. „You're talking about wholesale mur­ der."

„Assassinating a few hundred is better than getting thou­ sands killed in a civil war, isn't it? We're headed for one, Derel. Unless... ." Michael turned to Habibullah. „You don't want those men coming home?"

Habibullah winced. „I didn't mean that. We just want them out of our hair while we reorganize."

„Where do you want the weapons delivered?"

„Michael," Derel said, „I really don't like this."

„It's egg-breaking time, Derel. The day of nice is over. Habibullah, I'll see Abaca right away. I'll let you know where he wants your people to go. Where are you staying?"

Habibullah told him.

„That's good. Lot of foreigners there. Don't come back here. If you need to contact me, see a man named Harry at the Three Candles in Tintner's Lane." Michael rose. „I'd better find Gales, Derel."

„Wait for me." Prataxis took a courteous leave of Habibullah, hurried after Trebilcock. „Michael... ."

„Wait till we're outside. Walls with ears."

They stopped at the fountain the stonecutter Callison had been building. Someone had started it flowing, though it remained unfinished. Its babble masked their whispers.

Prataxis said, „The King seems ready to face the truth."

„Yeah. But will he take steps?"

„He has too much ego and sentiment invested. I hate the proposition, but I think it's time for a strong prejudicial action."

Michael chuckled. „Strong prejudicial action? That's what drove me crazy at the Rebsamen. You dons couldn't say anything straight out."

Derel stared into the dancing waters. His face was pale. This was his first murder plot.

Michael told him, „It's set up. But I won't say the word without your go-ahead."

Prataxis chewed a fingernail. Emotional torment dis­ torted his features. He had come to Ravelin to be Ragnarson's secretary. His intention had been to write a history that would make him famous in scholastic circles. Somehow, he had lost his objectivity and become one of the King's chief lieutenants. And now he had to decide whether or not someone should die... .

He'd been round and round with his conscience since Michael had come to him after his last conference with Varthlokkur. The idea was his own, not Michael's. He was ashamed of himself. He had told Michael to see what he could do. And Michael had found a way. Damn him.

„I'm sorry, Derel. I know how you feel. I don't like it either. But the decision has to be made, and it's not one I can take on my head."

„I know. I know."

Trebilcock saw Sergeant Wortel passing. „Wortel. Come here."

The sergeant trotted over. „Sir?"

„Seen Sergeant Gales? I need to talk to him."

„Funny you should ask, sir."

„Funny? Why?"

„He's missed his last two watches. Nobody can find him."

„Damn! When was he last seen?"

„Last night. He rode out about an hour before he was supposed to go on duty. He didn't come back."

„All right. There's probably no point, but I want to talk to the men who were on the gate."

„Yes, sir." Wortel hurried off.

„Derel?"

Prataxis sighed. „Go with it, Michael. We don't have a choice." They started walking. „You know he'll know what happened, no matter how good you make it look."

„Probably. And he'll probably guess who did it. Let's hope he's in a forgiving mood when he hears about it."

They interviewed the men who had been on guard duty while Gales was making his exit. „Sounds like he was planning a long trip," Michael said.

„Sounds like," Derel agreed. „Think he was running while the running was good?"

„We couldn't be that lucky. He was here doing a job. He's still working."

Dahl said, „Sire, that was the finest speech I've heard you make. Powerful. Loaded with emotion."

Cham Mundwiller agreed. „He's right. But I don't think it changed any minds."

„Why are they so determined to get to me? I haven't done anything those Nordmen bastards wouldn't have done if they'd had the chance."

„I guess it's just that time again. It goes in cycles. For a while everybody is behind the Crown one hundred percent, then they all turn. That's Ravelin's history."

Bragi sighed. „At least the Marena Dimura and most of the Wessons stuck with me."

Dahl startled him by observing, „Watch the Wessons, Sire. They're getting so some of them are having aristocratic ideas."

„Is that true, Cham?"

Mundwiller turned red. „More or less. I wouldn't put it in those words. But some of my colleagues are starting to identify more with the Estates than with their own people."

„Could we replace them with more responsive souls?"

„If they weren't secure they wouldn't have gotten fat."

„I see. Yech! What's this?" Prataxis and Trebilcock were approaching. Derel looked terrible.

„The man you wanted me to see?" Michael said. „He deserted. Rode out last night equipped for a long trip."

„Must have felt fate's breath on his neck. Cham, can I see you later?"

„Surely, Sire." Mundwiller excused himself.

„Do you feel up to a long ride, Dahl?" Bragi asked.

Haas didn't look as surprised as Bragi thought he should. „Yes, Sire."

„I've been pushing you pretty hard lately. And not really using all your abilities."

Haas shrugged. „I'm a soldier. It's not my place to ask."

Ragnarson smiled. The lad did feel slighted. „I'm going to give you a special job. When we finish this we'll find you something better than adjutant. Your own field command sound good?"

„Yes, Sire."

„All right. Go after Gales."

„Sire?" Haas sounded disappointed.

Michael caught on. „I'll be damned. He thought you were going to send him to Sedlmayr." He punched Dahl's biceps. „You rake, you."

Haas reddened. He stammered unintelligibly. „Lay off," Bragi said. „Do you want to do it, Dahl? I can send someone else." Amazing. Dahl with a crush on Kristen. When did that get started?

„I'm not clear on what you want, Sire."

„Get on Gales' trail. See where he goes. See who he reports to. I have a hunch he's headed for Itaskia. While you're there, check on the rest of this crowd. Derel will give you letters of introduction to friends of mine up there. People in high places who can help you."

„Yes, Sire. All right. It's an opportunity I can't refuse. I have relatives there I haven't seen since I was fourteen. Should I visit the old steading?"

Ragnarson still owned property in Itaskia, where he had lived before coming to Kavelin. „If you have time. It's not important."

„I'll make time, Sire. I have roots there."

„All right. Whatever."

„When should I leave?"

„As soon as you can. Gales won't waste time. Stay close or you might miss something."

„I'm on my way. If you'll excuse me, Sire?"

„Go." Bragi watched Haas hurry away. „A good man, Dahl. Wish I had a few thousand more of him."

„He does seem eager to prove himself," Derel said. „What did you work out with Habibullah?"

Inger stood at a window, staring out at the city. The sun was setting. Long shadows stretched behind the spires of taller buildings. Each shadow seemed to be a grasping hand reaching for her. „Have you heard anything, Thelma?"

„Not a word, My Lady. Something is happening, though. People won't answer my questions. The Guards are acting funny around our people. It's scary."

Scary? It was terrifying, that was what it was. Josiah, Josiah, did you get away clean?

They had messed it up somehow. Right now she was balanced on a razor's edge, kept from falling only by Bragi's feeling for her. ... He did know, didn't he? He had to know. „Why did I let Dane push me into this? We could have been happy if it weren't for him. I don't really care about family vengeance."

„Yes, Mistress."

She'd been thinking aloud. Dangerous habit. Bragi was right when he said the walls had ears. That damned Michael Trebilcock... Thelma had seen him skulking down the hall a few hours ago.

The shadows were longer. Sunset on a crazy dream, she thought. It's hell being scared all the time. Will the Estates really protect us? They've broken so many vows. It's impos­ sible to trust them.

Nordmen conspirators had helped her get her law of succession. Most of them would go when Dane got here. Out Death's door behind Abaca, Trebilcock, and that lot. Otherwise they would turn again.

She understood Bragi's frustration. The Nordmen were a bunch of snakes.

„My Lady, your supper is getting cold," Thelma said. She'd been dithering around the table trying to keep things warm.

Inger waved a hand in a go away motion. „No. No. I can't. I'm not hungry."

„My Lady, you have to eat. You haven't had a decent meal since yesterday."

„Take it away, Thelma. Maybe I'll be hungry tomorrow."

Thelma looked disgusted. „As you wish, My Lady." She rang a bell. Her helpers appeared. Thelma began hustling the food out. Inger smiled. Wanted to get to it herself before it got cold, probably.

Inger snuffed the candles and sat in the gathering dark­ ness watching lights come alive in the city.

A girl named Carol burst into the room. „My Lady," she gasped.

Inger stared at her silhouette in the doorway. The girl was shaking. „What is it?"

„It's Thelma. And Martha and Zeal. Something's wrong. You'd better come see."

Inger rose, a fatalistic haze gathering her into itself. What now?

All three women were in Thelma's little cubicle. Inger pushed through the women crowding the doorway. Inside, someone moaned horribly. Inger understood after one glimpse.

Thelma had brought the meal to her quarters to share with her friends. Half-empty plates lay on the floor. One was overturned, another was broken. All three women were curled up, clutching their stomachs.

Someone said, „Thelma is vomiting blood, Lady."

Inger covered her face with her hands. She felt the sting of Death's cold breath, started shaking. The sounds made by the poisoned women didn't help her nerves. „Did you send for Doctor Wachtel?" she croaked.

„Yes, Lady."

There wasn't much point. They would die. The meal must have been half poison. What was this nasty? Arsenic? Whatever, the poisoner hadn't tried to be subtle. He—or she—had wanted to make a point in no uncertain terms. She started shaking again. It wasn't a point someone was trying to make. Somebody wanted her dead. That was her supper.

The doctor came in, shooed everyone away save Inger. He examined the three women. „Nothing I can do for them now. And you? Did you get any of it?"

She shook her head. She didn't trust herself to speak. She might not stop talking. All her fears and regrets were clamoring to get out.

„Just rattled?"

She nodded.

„I'll give you a little something for the nerves." He mixed something in a tall mug. „Drink."

She drank. It tasted awful. Horrified, she dropped the mug. It didn't break. She stared at it as if it were a venomous spider.

Wachtel guided her into her own chamber, settled her on her bed. „Starting to feel better?"

She felt lazy, languorous, and a little sleepy. „Yes."

„Want to tell me about it?"

She shook her head. „It was poison, wasn't it?"

„Yes. A massive amount. Meant for you, wasn't it?"

She shuddered. „How did you know?"

„The way you reacted when I gave you the sedative."

„Yes. It was meant for me. What can I do?"

„Watch what you eat and drink. Patch it up with whoever you've offended. Ask your husband to turn Michael loose."

„Michael?" She laughed giddily. „No. Not Michael. I'll take care of it myself."

„You've made female enemies here?"

„Female?"

„Poison is usually a woman's weapon. These days, any­ way. In Imperial times sorcerers used poison, but prided themselves on their subtlety. There was nothing subtle about this. This was like using a battle-ax to swat a fly. How do you feel now?"

„Relaxed. Sleepy."

„Good. You need sleep. But first, what should I do with your women?"

„They're really going to die?"

„They're dead," Wachtel said. He was usually less blunt. Tonight he was upset. He didn't like murder.

„Bury them. I'll assume the expense. And don't tell anyone what's happened." The room began spinning. She felt a feather touch of fear. Darkness descended.