Authors: Tom Lloyd
‘Giving Prince Sorote control over a Wyvern nobleman,’ Myken added. ‘Let’s hope that counts as payment enough for the service he’s extended.’
‘I doubt that,’ Narin said. ‘He’s the sort who’ll want to be paid by both sides of a deal – that’s how Imperials work, isn’t it? For all the time he kept my secret, he knows I’m still his to use. I can only hope he and Rhe come to some sort of arrangement that keeps me bloody out of things and counts as another mark on the slate.’
‘Rhe?’
‘Asked to meet Sorote,’ Narin explained. ‘Rhe got a visit from some Dragon emissary demanding to know what was going on with our investigation. He wants to find out from Sorote what sort of cover the Lawbringers can get at court if they come face to face with Dragon troops. Can’t say I blame him much; when there are guns drawn you don’t want to be the only House Brightlance facing a load of angry Dragons.’
‘Astaren,’ Enchei said quietly, pausing in his kneading. ‘It won’t be troops that go after that summoner, it’ll be Astaren – Firewinds scouring the city free of shadows.’
Narin frowned at him, the veteran apparently lost in his thoughts for a moment, but it didn’t look like Enchei was willing to share them so he carried on. ‘Astaren, then. The point is, Sorote’s been interested in Rhe from day one. I never found out why other than the obvious, Rhe being the most famous of Lawbringers, but bringing those two together might be all he originally intended from me.’
‘So that’s all to the good then,’ Enchei declared. ‘I can give you something for the pain, Kine, something that’ll dull it but not make Lord Vanden feel cheated. I for one always rather liked a woman with scars.’
Kesh snorted and thumped the man on his arm, but that just made him grin more and before anyone could comment further there came a bang on the front door. Narin jumped at the sound, causing Dov to screw her face up and cry, but it was just Irato returning.
‘Good news for all of us then,’ Enchei continued as the former goshe stamped in and shook off his snow-laden coat. ‘It doesn’t look like our summoner is sanctioned by my former employers, so whoever’s behind it they don’t have a team of Astaren to back them up.’
‘How did you find that out?’ Narin said.
He nodded towards Kesh. ‘We’ve been jumping at shadows all day, the pair of us, but it turns out they were friendly ones. My daughters are in the city, come to watch over their old man.’
‘Your daughters?’ Kine and Narin gasped together.
‘Aye, all grown up and a thousand miles from home.’
‘And what’s more,’ Kesh broke in, ‘they’re—’
‘They’re shy,’ Enchei said loudly over her, ‘which is why they ain’t here, but they brought good news in their wake so I’m glad enough of it. They’ve gone back to Ghost District now, see what help their contacts there might be able to provide.’
He gave Kesh a look that told Narin there was more to the tale, but given how close the former Astaren kept his secrets among friends, the Lawbringer left it at that. There would be time enough to talk to Enchei in private later, he knew pressing the man would be counter-productive. As though to emphasise that, Enchei cleared his throat and pointedly changed the subject. ‘I take it Kine’s family aren’t going to listen to sense?’
Narin shook his head. ‘There has to be a way we can turn them back without killing them all.’
‘What’s wrong with killing them all, again?’ Irato asked, receiving a sharp look from Kesh in response.
‘They’re my family,’ Kine said, ‘I owe them that at least. My brother, Shonrey, will never stop, nor my cousin, Vosain, but the rest will doubtless be with them out of duty and fear of Vosain. He is a very fine duellist and experienced soldier, very dangerous.’
‘Could we have killed him already?’
‘He is very tall, even for a Wyvern, and broad with it. He has only half an ear and a scar down his cheek after being grazed by a bullet in a battle with House Smoke raiders.’
‘Shame,’ Irato said with a shake of the head. ‘One more to die then. Probably two. Hope you’re not too attached to your brother.’
Kine shook her head gravely. ‘We were never close. When I chose not to be trained as a warrior, I rarely saw him, and of course now I am dead to him. He wouldn’t acknowledge my presence in a room other than to kill me.’ She lowered her head a shade. ‘He is family and I do not wish him harm or my parents the grief of his loss, but we were never close.’
‘Fuck him then,’ Irato concluded. ‘When do we do it?’
‘Tomorrow if we can,’ Enchei said. ‘Pirish won’t mind me owing her another favour; we can borrow her smokehouse for the ambush. Warrior castes won’t try to burn the place down, that’d be cowardly.’
‘Can you not simply follow them?’ Kine pleaded. ‘They will have brought younger cousins with them, boys like Toher who are old enough to bear their own guns under law, but …’ She tailed off, knowing how young men were sent to battle.
He shook his head. ‘Doubt it. Most likely they’re based up in Dragon District, surrounded by other warrior castes. Might be Irato and I could do it quiet like, but you heard Rhe’s news. If there are Dragon Astaren on alert in the city, it’s not a risk I’m willing to take.’
‘I will,’ Myken said. ‘I know both their faces and I have two guns. I can kill them both.’
‘Not without dying,’ Enchei pointed out. ‘I know you’re warrior caste and you lot are stupid about fighting, but I’m in charge of any violence that goes on here and I prefer to do things so no one on my side dies. It’s a strange idea I know, but it’s served me well over the years.’
‘Who put you in charge?’ she asked coldly.
‘The Gods them-bloody-selves,’ Enchei snapped. ‘You’re sworn to protect the caste system of this Empire. Don’t deny it, it’s the principal purpose of the warrior caste.’
‘Your point?’
‘My point is,
might is right
in this Empire you’re sworn to protect, and none of you could stop me even if you all came at once. You either agree to obey me now or I’ll put you down and out until it’s over. So what’s it to be?’
‘Please, Myken,’ Kine urged, putting a hand on the woman’s arm. ‘Don’t sacrifice yourself, not for me.’
Myken’s face was tight as she turned to look Kine in the eye. ‘That is my duty,’ she said hoarsely, ‘that is all I know.’
‘Well, like the rest of us, you’ll learn new tricks,’ Enchei growled. ‘Trust me, Siresse, there’ll be a place for you after all this – if nothing else then with the Lawbringers, given they’re likely to need all the guns they can muster. In this life there’s always enough duty to go round, enough to make you sick and break you if you let it.’
‘Please?’ Kine repeated.
Myken bowed her head. ‘I will obey you in this.’
With an effort, Enchei brightened. ‘Good. Now who’s hungry?’
Narin woke with a start from a dream about Wyvern warriors. Dark raging faces and brass-fitted pistols, blue braids flying as they pursued him through tiny endless streets. He had Dov in his hands, cradling the child as best he could while he ran. Chunks of stone exploded all around him as his pursuers shot again and again, while his hands were so tangled in Dov’s swaddling he couldn’t free one to grab the pistols he wore in a holster identical to Lawbringer Rhe’s.
He’d heard Kine calling as he ran, but couldn’t find her no matter which way he went, and as he woke he found his hands still bunched and tangled in the blankets of their bed.
‘Narin?’ Kine said sleepily from beside him.
He stared wildly at the dark room for a long while, gasping for breath until the dawn rays creeping through the shutters finally outlined the room enough for him to shake off the dream. ‘I … Sorry.’
‘No matter,’ she purred, tugging at his hand to slide it over the bump of her belly and bring his body closer. ‘I have the rest of the day to sleep.’
Narin’s brain caught up with reality just enough to allow him to smile then. He eased his head up a little to look at the crib beside the bed. It was totally silent and for a moment he felt a flutter of panic, but then a wheezing snort came from within. He gently settled back down, fitting his body around Kine’s and planting a line of kisses down her shoulder.
Just that moment of contact seemed to wake his body and he felt himself stiffen against her skin. A flush of embarrassment and desire washed through him as Kine shifted slightly and he realised she felt it too.
‘Sorry,’ Narin whispered again.
‘For what?’ she said, bringing his fingers up to her mouth to kiss them one by one. ‘For desiring me?’
‘No, but I …’
‘Will have to wait, yes,’ Kine finished with the ghost of a laugh, ‘given lying still is uncomfortable enough. But so long as you are willing to wait, I’m just glad you still feel that way.’
‘Good. Something tells me it won’t stop any time soon.’ Narin smiled.
‘Do you have to leave yet?’
‘No, my love,’ he murmured into her hair. ‘There’s no rush.’
‘I’m glad. I doubt it’ll be long before Dov is hungry, stay until then?’
‘I promise.’
Nestled against her dark skin, Narin drifted off into something approximating sleep – his body more than willing to take any scraps of rest it could gather. A stuttered cry woke him again as Kine lifted his arm gently away.
‘I’d hoped not to wake you,’ she whispered. ‘She didn’t cry at first, I thought I had time.’
Narin pushed himself up and put a hand on Kine’s shoulder. ‘I’ll get her, you sit up.’
She raised an eyebrow at him. ‘She will need to be changed.’
‘Oh.’
‘But fortunately for me you are no proud warrior, fearful of her staining robes or honour.’
Narin grunted, unable to resist the look on her face. ‘And given you’re some idle high caste, incapable of managing a day without us commoners to wait on you, I’d better jump to it.’
Kine smile wavered. ‘No longer,’ she whispered. ‘Soon I’ll just be a woman with no skills of any use for the world she inhabits.’
Realising he’d pushed it too far, Narin went and kissed her. She quickly ushered him away with a dismissive hand and urged him back to the baby, whose cries had grown more insistent.
It took him a long while to get Dov cleaned up and settled to feeding, but eventually Narin managed to move on to dressing himself. He pulled on his still-damp jacket and headed out with one final look back at the bed, descending the stair as quietly as he could.
Irato was waiting for him in the kitchen, a misshapen pillow and blanket by the stove showing where he’d spent the night. Clearly he’d slept in his clothes, shucking off just his weapons and stiff leather armour before settling down.
He even sleeps like Kesh’s dog now,
Narin thought idly as he entered and headed for the big black iron kettle to one side of the stove.
‘Morning,’ he said as he grabbed a flatbread left over from the previous night and smeared oil over it.
‘Going to be a cold day,’ was Irato’s response. ‘Fog’s come in. More snow too.’
Narin nodded, pouring himself some bitter black tea. He slumped at the table, the earthenware cup grasped like a lifeline as he worried at the bread with his teeth. They sat in silence until he was finished, Irato watching him patiently until he was almost done then rising to pull on the last of his armour. Slotting half a dozen weapons into various sheaths on his body, Irato hauled his heavy sheepskin coat over it all and headed for the main door without waiting for Narin.
The Lawbringer sat a moment longer, remembering that this was the day he’d be actively encouraging Kine’s vengeful family to follow him. How they were going to stop the other, more terrifying, faction from doing the same was beyond him right now, but Enchei had it all worked out – or so he claimed.
‘Come on then,’ he said at last, heaving himself reluctantly up.
Irato unbarred the front door and together they headed outside into a ghostly world. For a moment Narin wondered if he’d in fact died, struck down by some assassin waiting at the door, and not even felt it. Snow coated every rooftop and open patch of ground, not thickly but with more falling. On top of that there was a thick fog hanging over the city, spreading its chilly fingers through the streets.
The sounds of the city were distant and unreal as they walked, the towers of Dragon District mere suggestions against the sky. The fog was thick enough that he was forced to take the bridge to the Imperial District, hairs prickling on his neck as he felt hostile eyes on him. The people of the city were up and about early that morning, however. Fearing another heavy snowfall, the citizens were clearly keen to be about their daily tasks while they still could and Narin had company of all castes on the streets.
He turned into Lawbringer’s Square and stopped short. Lawbringer Rhe stood in a familiar pose in the centre of the square, hood raised on his long white coat but unmistakable by his stillness. His coat was closed, hiding the pistols across his waist from view, but as usual he carried an Investigator’s stave, held horizontal behind his back.
While others hurried around him, Rhe looked like a vengeful spirit unaware of the living going about their lives, his terrible gaze reserved for one man. Narin felt his heart sink at the sight and trudged forward. Only when he was up close to the Lawbringer did Rhe slip his hood back and reveal his pale, blue-dusted face. In another, that pallor would look like signs of hypothermia, but Narin knew that was just his Brightlance heritage.
‘Lawbringer Narin,’ Rhe said, inclining his head formally.
‘Lawbringer Rhe,’ he replied, feeling his trepidation deepen. ‘Has something happened?’
‘I’m afraid so. I spoke to your friend, Prince Sorote, last night. He informed me of the meeting he had with Lord Vanden Wyvern.’
‘Oh.’
‘The petitions for annulment and Imperial betrothal go to the Senior Minister today. As such I decided it was necessary to inform the Lord Martial of the situation, at your behest.’
‘My behest?’
Rhe nodded. ‘It would be appropriate for such information to come from you via your superior. You would not want Lord Martial ald Har to receive the news from other sources in the Imperial Court.’
‘I see.’ Narin felt his anger rising and bit down on it hard, knowing perfectly well he’d brought this down on himself. That Rhe hadn’t told him he was going to the Lord Martial with Narin’s infractions was galling, but he knew he’d received all the special treatment he could hope for already. ‘You’re right, of course. And now?’
‘Now he waits upon your presence.’
‘Do you know what he is going to do?’
The question seemed to surprise Rhe, but he didn’t hesitate to reply. ‘He hasn’t informed me of his decision, but I am certain you will be demoted back to Investigator. Unless there’s a complaint lodged by Lord Vanden, he will not wish the public scandal of expelling you entirely, and Prince Sorote’s involvement is likely to have prevented that. Where you will be assigned is another matter, but you will accept it without complaint.’
Narin pursed his lips and bowed his head. ‘Yes, Lawbringer.’
‘Come then.’
Rhe led the way into the Palace of Law and up the echoing flights of stairs to the higher levels. The top two floors were reserved for the Law Masters of the Vanguard Council and Narin had been up there only once, when the Lord Martial had informed him he was to be elevated to the rank of Lawbringer. Much of the top floor was reserved as private apartments for Lord ald Har and his main chamber was a round room overlooking Lawbringer’s Square and the city and sea beyond it.
Three tall windows stood fifteen feet high opposite a broad oak desk, while six black marble pillars were set an arm-span in from the wall to support a conical roof. From the very peak of the roof, Narin saw a beautiful framework of silver and jet, studded with cut glass or crystal – the constellation of Lord Lawbringer glittering in the room’s lamplight.
Around the room were portraits of past Lords Martial – Toro Dragon and his successor flanking a larger one of the Emperor behind the desk. It depicted the young Emperor holding court as he had likely never done in his life; pronouncing judgement between two kneeling low castes. Narin could see from their clothing that one was House Dragon, the other House Eagle, and felt like laughing at the message the artist had intended.
‘Lawbringer Narin,’ the Lord Martial said, not looking up from his desk.
There was no greeting implied in the words but Narin still bowed and replied as formally as he could. Rehn ald Har was a white-haired man and older than Enchei, but bulky with muscle for all his age. Though by tradition he was an Imperial emissary and a stand to one side held the pistols of a warrior caste, he wore neither gold nor red. A Wolf by birth, he wore a plain white coat against the cold and the only colour on him was the disturbing red tint to his eyes.
‘Do you have anything to add to Lawbringer Rhe’s account from last night?’
‘I, ah, I don’t believe so, my Lord,’ Narin said, glancing at Rhe. ‘You know of my infraction and the result – and I presume also of the blood feud her family pursue?’
Ald Har nodded.
‘I do not believe Lord Vanden will complain about me at court. I hope the shame I have brought upon the Lawbringers will be limited.’
‘Limited?’ Lord ald Har growled. ‘Given what you stirred up in the spring, limited shame is hardly the reprise I had hoped from you. The both of you seem intent on uprooting the traditions and position of the Lawbringers within this Empire, whether by design or carelessness.’
The Lord Martial stood, hands flat on the desk and leaning forward towards Narin. ‘What are you, Lawbringer Narin? Why are you within our ranks?’
Narin blinked in surprise. ‘I, I don’t understand, my Lord.’
‘What House do you serve?’
‘None, my Lord – ah, that is the House of the Sun, but no other.’
‘Then what part of the Imperial House is that? You won the patronage and friendship of Lord Vanden Wyvern by some act of prowess and bravery – or fortune, perhaps. And when you turn that friendship to ashes, there is another to protect you elsewhere – one whose name is omitted from the petitions going before the court today. Where did you win this patron, Lawbringer Narin? Whose pay are you in?’
‘I serve only the Lawbringers,’ Narin said, feeling his cheeks flush at the idea. ‘I am acquainted with a member of the Imperial family, it is true, but the Emperor’s law remains my master.’
‘And the name of this prince or princess?’
‘I— I have been asked not to share it.’
‘Do I look like some fucking stranger off the street?’ ald Har roared. ‘I do not care what you have been asked – you are in my employ and I will not brook you serving another master! You recall the punishment for corruption in public office is execution,
Lawbringer
Narin?’
‘I do, my Lord,’ Narin croaked, feeling a renewed flush of fear.
‘Narin,’ Rhe interrupted. ‘Tell him.’
Narin turned to look at the tall Lawbringer for a moment, mouth half-open as though wanting to ask Rhe something, but Narin’s mind was blank. At last he caught up with himself and closed it again, bowing again to Lord ald Har.
‘My apologies, Lord Martial. I didn’t think properly. I’ve been keeping secrets for too long, it’s become too much of a habit. His name is Prince Sorote of the Office of the Catacombs.’
‘Never heard of him,’ ald Har commented.
‘Nor had I,’ Rhe said, ‘but I have confirmed his existence. What role he is playing I do not know, but he made out he represented no party other than the interests of the House of the Sun.’
‘Good for him.’ The Lord Martial’s face twisted into a look of disgust. ‘You are demoted, Investigator Narin, and count yourself lucky at that. If I discover you acting under this prince’s orders, I will not hesitate to send you to the headsman, do you understand me?’
‘I do, my Lord.’
‘Now get out. You are suspended from duties for a week.’
‘A week?’
Narin was startled by that. Suspended without pay was a common punishment, but a week was lenient compared to the Lord Martial’s evident anger. The loss of that money Narin could survive without going hungry, but he’d known men forced to live without a month’s wages or more and in winter that could prove dangerous.
‘A week only. You have that long to see this blood feud ended, one way or another. Duelling is prohibited under Imperial law, but Dragon law allows such a thing if your prowess extends to facing a warrior caste with longsword. So long as you find justification under law I do not care how you address your problem, but if you remain encumbered by the consequences of your actions in a week’s time, you will be thrown out of the Lawbringers. If you succeed in ending this feud, if you are alive and remain one of us, Lawbringer Rhe will work you harder than you ever knew possible. Your penance will be a remorseless reminder of an Investigator’s duties.’
Narin bowed, knowing that would have been coming whether or not ald Har decreed it. ‘Yes, my Lord.’