Authors: Tom Lloyd
‘A famous name does make quite an impression on us all,’ Kashte smiled, fluttering his eyelids. ‘Do your companions have names?’
‘Keel and Holin,’ Maiss supplied before anyone could contradict her.
‘Mercenaries who owe a favour or two,’ Enchei added, ‘yer princeship. Don’t you worry about them.’
Kashte’s smile never wavered as he inclined his head. As an Imperial he could hardly fail to recognise the given names of the Ascendant Gods, Lady Spy and Lady Dancer, but he made no objection to the pseudonyms.
‘So you’ve had the same notion as I, Narin?’ Rhe said.
‘We did after what we saw in Dragon,’ he replied. ‘No single summoner’s managing all that.’
‘Do you propose a plan of attack?’
Narin shrugged and glanced at Enchei. The veteran nodded. ‘Same as before.’
Rhe raised an eyebrow. ‘As on Confessor’s Island? I seem to recall we took all of the casualties that day.’
‘Doesn’t mean you took all the risks,’ Enchei said, pointing at the assembled party behind Rhe. ‘And you had every Lawbringer you could muster then, now you’ve only got trained fighters.’
With Prince Kashte there were two dozen more Imperial castes carrying the beautifully-crafted rifles they had employed to great effect against the goshe. On top of that, Rhe had assembled a similar number of high-born Lawbringers and perhaps a dozen gun-carrying Investigators. Narin recognised many faces among them, but none he considered friends.
He was not in the habit of befriending his betters and being raised to Lawbringer by Imperial writ would have galled many. There were precious few friendly looks among them and all Narin could be sure of was that Rhe had selected only those he could trust completely.
‘So we attack and draw their fire,’ Kashte recalled, ‘while you sneak in the back and try to cut the summoner’s throat.’
Enchei scowled. ‘Before they drag some demon prince through the veil to tear all our faces off, yes.’
Kashte gave Enchei and Irato a searching look, clearly trying to work out what he didn’t know. Narin had downplayed their efforts at foiling the goshe, putting success down to the efforts of the fox-demons and the majority of guards facing the Lawbringers. Enough of that had been true to make it plausible, but it was stretching matters to expect to get away with it again. Narin just had to hope they could find an explanation – or threat – to ensure Enchei’s secrets were kept, but surviving this was going to be hard enough.
‘Go, then. We’ll give you time to get into position then follow and announce ourselves,’ Rhe said.
‘You’re going to tell them they’re all under arrest first, aren’t you?’ Enchei said wearily.
‘I am not a soldier, I am a servant of the Emperor’s law,’ was Rhe’s stiff reply. ‘If we act no better than the soldiers that rule our streets, what’s the point of claiming we are different?’
‘Aye, there is that,’ Enchei said.
Narin pointedly brushed past his friend as he set off, heading for the interior of Iron District, and Enchei got the hint, falling in beside Narin without another word. The others followed along and none of them spoke until they were past the Lawbringers and out of earshot.
‘So Rhe brings out your good side, eh?’ Maiss asked from behind her father.
‘Mark my words,’ Enchei said darkly, ‘the hypocrisy of that one’ll kill more’n a few of his fellows.
Now
he claims superior authority, with high-born guns at his side? Mebbe if House Dragon had oppressed this city he’d have a case, but they’ve protected the Emperor’s position as well as any.’
‘On our side now?’ Myken called from the rear.
He glanced back, clearly surprised she had spoken up. ‘On no one’s side ’cept my own, but I won’t ignore truth. Dragon’s been this city’s protectors for centuries and the wealth has flowed in, not out. I’ve seen conquest and oppression – this ain’t it, not by a long shot. That the high castes of the city might not like it ain’t the greatest problem in—’
‘Let’s start with problems like hellhounds then, shall we?’ Kesh interjected. ‘Do you have a plan like last time?’
Enchei shook his head. ‘Unless killing everyone and everything in our path is a plan?’
‘There’s only seven of us,’ she pointed out. ‘How about we find something a little more clever than that?’
‘Like we’re outnumbered, they probably know we’re coming for them, and this’ll be a trap of both demons and Astaren?’ Enchei’s sour response was met with silence.
Narin glanced back at Kesh and forced a smile. ‘Something better than that,’ he said. ‘Something that involves our own demons – our own Astaren.’
‘Who made you officer in charge, eh?’ said Enchei.
‘You did, every bloody time you made me take the credit.’
Enchei laughed at that. ‘Good point. Guess that makes me the sergeant who gets all the important stuff done.’
‘Are you both finished?’ Enay demanded.
Narin and Enchei exchanged a look.
‘Don’t have daughters,’ the veteran said. ‘She was this bossy even as a child. Ah, too late for you, isn’t it? Well then, don’t have two.’
Oh brother of mine, what have I done?
Sorpan crouched on the roof of the Minerild in the lee of a shrine recently desecrated with bloody symbols. He was not alone, but of the other figures up there only one possessed a soul and Sorpan considered that a tattered, pathetic thing.
A little treachery, you would not have begrudged me that,
Sorpan thought, picturing the grey-haired veteran he’d met the year previously.
Such is the nature of our lives. Those of us not destined for greatness must still make our own way.
He bowed his head, unable to look out at the mist-veiled streets through which, he was sure, the hero he’d betrayed was approaching. The city was quiet, cowed to silence by the demons that haunted its shadows and the brutal cold of winter. Distant echoes brought the voices of hellhounds to him, faint on the feeble breeze, while the occasional gasp and moan of pain came from a figure much closer to hand – one he wished he could not see.
And it turns out they were right about me. Whatever flaw they identified, whatever led to the quiet, painless stalling of my career, that seems to have been my undoing. I never intended this – as the Gods are my witness, I did not.
A pale figure ascended the stairway behind Sorpan and moved up beside him. ‘You’re quiet,’ he commented.
‘I’ll be dead soon, Kebrai,’ Sorpan replied. ‘That makes a man want a few moments with his thoughts.’
The Leviathan made an amused sound. ‘You think us so vulnerable?’
‘Expendable, not vulnerable.’ He looked up at to meet Kebrai’s disconcerting lilac eyes. ‘Even you.’
‘Who is not expendable in this world?’
Sorpan looked away. ‘I’m Astaren. I’ve no use for feeble fatalism.’
‘Very well. Answer me this – why would Priest plan to throw our lives away?’
‘Because all this has little to do with my countryman. All that’s happening in the city, the tattooist and I are both incidental to it.’
‘You think Priest cannot pursue two goals at once?’
‘I think I will not survive to see either.’
Kebrai was quiet a moment. ‘Priest is not wasteful, certainly not with those of value. Do you doubt your worth, whether or not we take the mind of this tattooist?’
‘My value comes with a danger – I don’t know what the Sea Lords think of their Astaren striking out on their own, but I doubt Priest wants such attention from House Ghost too if she’s already antagonising House Dragon.’
‘That is Priest’s problem.’
‘And my life.’
The Leviathan smiled unexpectedly. ‘Perhaps this will cheer you then, I have orders for you.’
‘What? Where’s Priest?’
‘Nearby. We anticipate the tattooist and his friends will be coming here. When that happens, you will ensure the Senior Kobelt escapes and heads toward the river. There’s a palazzo at the far end of the Steel Steps bearing the family arms of Sultatrair – the family are wintering elsewhere. Priest will meet you there.’
‘We’re to be bait?’
‘Priest remains determined to take the tattooist. That has not changed and there’s no conflict with any other plans she might be pursuing. One might even complement the other, but what’s certain is that Priest isn’t foolish enough to waste a man of your skills. Bait you might be, but the sight of you is bait enough. Not your death.’
Sorpan pursed his lips as he thought. ‘Why the Kobelt? If he’s an agent of Priest’s, he can take care of himself. If not, why is he important?’
‘He has a further role to play.’
‘Like Sharish?’
Sorpan forced himself to look to his right across the roofs and shrines towards the raised crescent of wall that rose around a quarter of the Minerild’s perimeter. His mage-blessed eyes meant he could see every detail of the shamaness’ pain – chained to the brick wall and linked to the rooftop shrines.
Her clothes and flesh had both been torn by shadow claws and her blood ran freely, but it was the spiked crown that fixed her to the wall and linked her to the shrines that was the greatest horror. He knew he could do nothing for the woman, but the sight of her reduced to a mere tool to engineer horror sickened him more than the experienced Astaren would have expected. Or perhaps it just reminded him of his betrayal, and he found that harder to stomach than expected.
The entire summoning effort was being directed through her mind. Priest had turned on her suddenly and without mercy. Sharish had stood no chance of escape before she was handed, crippled and stunned, to the strange pagan priest who had welcomed them here – Senior Kobelt Geret Hoke – who had acted as though he had always been party to their plans, had known what was going on better than Sorpan. He had been the one to draw more and more horrors from the shadow realms, to the brief astonishment of his own Kobelen and acolytes. And then they had succumbed almost all at once, their souls swallowed by the hellhounds driven into their minds.
And he has done it better than I could have ever expected from some civilian pagan, certainly when he called a demon-prince of their realm.
Sorpan paused.
Which is the whole point. Gods, what a fool I am!
‘The Terim,’ he said slowly. ‘Such a powerful demon is too great for most minds, it would destroy them almost immediately. But if a mind was already enslaved by something lesser beforehand, that might prepare it enough for a demon – for a time at least.’
Kebrai gave him a level look. ‘I see you understand.’
Understand? Oh yes. I understand Priest is in bed with House Eagle and their Mindwalkers. If ever I doubted how expendable I might be, I’m sure the twisted soul of the Mindwalker inside Geret Hoke will be happy to confirm it as it watches me die.
‘Where is he?’
‘In the central forge, down below.’
Sorpan nodded and returned to his vigil. ‘I will see it done.’
Too late to go back now.
‘This isn’t going to be easy.’
Narin glanced around at his comrades. ‘Did anyone expect that?’ he asked, clenching his fists less in anticipation of the fight to come than an effort to keep them warm.
Enchei shrugged. ‘I’m reminding you,’ he growled. ‘Given the numbers we just saw back there, it’s worth saying twice.’
‘How many?’
‘On view? Half a dozen novices prowling the rooftops, all possessed. Patrolling the perimeter you’ve got teams of guards, Sea Snakes if my guess is right.’
‘Astaren?’
‘More like pets of Astaren,’ Enchei said. ‘A warrior cult from Leviathan, trained from birth to work as a unit – brains half-fried on drugs, but all the more dangerous for it. They get sold in broods to work as mercenaries. Given what I was told about there being a Benthic Knight behind this company, it’s no surprise they brought Sea Snakes with them.’
Maiss nodded. ‘We came across a handful in Sight’s End once – skin so pale they look dead already, they take wounds like it too. Don’t notice injuries until you put them down.’
‘And what if we come across this Benthic Knight?’
Enchei scowled. ‘Run – all of you.’ He looked pointedly at his daughters. ‘I’m serious, unless you got that one dead to rights with the Dragon’s Breath, run away. Maybe with your new passenger, Irato, you can take one, but not the rest of you. I ain’t so keen on it either, but the choice ain’t mine.’
‘We’ve got all the skills you have, Father,’ Enay objected, but Enchei just raised a hand to stop her.
‘No – you really don’t. Your body’s been changed the same as mine, that’s all. Don’t mistake that for twenty years’ training and battlefield experience, let alone my armour.’
She bit her lip and nodded. ‘Just don’t think we’re precious and helpless.’
‘I’ve seen you in action, remember?’ Enchei gave a brief, fierce smile that gave Narin a cold sensation in his gut. ‘You’ll be getting your hands bloody.’
His friend was an irreverent and calm figure most of the time, but now he had the look of a bone-deep killer. It was disconcerting to see the man strike a match and ignite that part of his soul, the part Enchei had now been running from for decades.
Is that how he was chosen?
Narin wondered.
For the ability to choose which self he wears, or is it just something buried in his mind by the mage-priests who changed him? Gods, which would I even prefer? I still see the faces of those I’ve killed, but would I want a dead corner of my soul like that?
‘Irato and me lead,’ Enchei said as he readied his helm again. ‘Narin, Kesh and Myken behind us. Watch our backs and follow us up to the top. The summoner’s likely to be up there with the shrines. We go when the guns start, with luck it’ll distract them and give us room to move.’
‘And us?’ Enay asked.
‘You two take the rear. Maiss, take Enay’s pistols and cover her. That lance is slow to move and they could be coming from all sides. Enay, leave a trail of destruction in our wake – make it clear for anyone investigating tomorrow that Dragons were here and dealing with the threat to the city. I’m no fan of House Dragon, but anything that pisses on our enemy’s plan works for me.’
‘What if they
are
here?’ Narin asked suddenly. ‘What if we meet Dragon Astaren?’
Enchei shook his head. ‘They’ll be back in Dragon District; they’ve got enough on their plates. Their remit’s to protect their own, protect Lord Omteray. If they hadn’t been ambushed, sure, but they don’t have the numbers to rule the city right now. Their only goal is ensuring the ruling lord of Dragon District lives through the night – if they can’t protect their own, the shame’ll be doubled.’
‘And Iron’s Astaren?’
‘Most likely killed before the shrines were activated, or they’re keeping their heads down. Only Dragon keep units of combat troops in the city, so far as I’ve ever heard, the rest mostly have just spies. They’re much tougher than normal soldiers, but they’re not here to challenge Dragon’s authority. You don’t piss off the prime hegemony in the Empire unless you really need to.’
He slipped his helm on and readied his weapons, tucking back the sleeve of his left arm to uncover twin holes the width of a knitting needle that could spit darts hard enough to punch right through a man. In his hands were his Astaren baton and a triangular-bladed dagger of the same dark metal as the rest of his armour.
‘Now we wait.’
On the western flank of the Minerild, Lawbringer Rhe glanced left and right at the figures waiting in the shadows. The gaudily-dressed Imperials had split into two groups and flanked Rhe’s Lawbringers, pulling on nondescript grey capes that blended into the smoke-blackened stones of Iron District. Through the mist he caught Prince Kashte’s eye and the young Imperial nodded to him, the jewelled hilt of Kashte’s broadsword protruding from his coat while his rifle nestled in his hands.
Rhe set off, moving swiftly through the narrow side-streets until he reached the broad cobbled road that surrounded the Minerild. His neck prickled as he felt the predatory attention settle on him, but he strode on regardless until he was out in the most exposed part – a looming ghost in the starlight.
He looked around, seeing faint red glowing eyes in the shadows of a darkened archway, then two pairs, then three. The outline of a head appeared over the high wall almost directly in front of him.
‘You are all under arrest,’ he called loudly. His voice echoed around the deserted streets, met by a low growl just on the edge of hearing. ‘You will receive no second warning. The summoner and all members of the Etrage Merchant House are to surrender immediately.’
Behind him the Lawbringers and Investigators emerged too, guns already drawn. He couldn’t see the Imperials but Rhe knew they would be there, keeping to the shadows themselves and readying a volley if the Lawbringers were attacked.
There was no reply. Rhe drew his sword and transferred it to his left hand. All nobles and warriors were taught to use both gun and sword in either hand, but the pistol holsters were traditionally angled towards the right. Few became more than competent with either in their off hand; Rhe had even seen one youth manage to stab himself when ordered to switch hands in duelling practice. For Rhe there had never been such problems, never anything more than puzzlement that skilled fighters could be reduced to childish helplessness that way.
‘No answer?’ he said, almost to himself. ‘Very well.’
He didn’t get a chance to take a step forward. A small figure burst forward from the archway, blond hair flying, face contorted and distended as it leapt for Rhe. Such was its shocking, unnatural power that it covered the ground in the blink of an eye. With blurring speed Rhe drew and fired. The figure’s head snapped back as though on a leash, black blood exploding from its throat as the bullet tore through and shattered its spine.
It fell like a broken toy, but Rhe was forced to dart to one side to avoid the tumbling bundle of fangs and ragged limbs. He almost didn’t see the second possessed novice charge out, but behind him, Investigator Soral was the first to aim and fire. She caught it dead-on, a black flower blossoming on the possessed’s chest before it staggered back.
Rhe made up the ground in two steps and brought his sword around in a long arc before the novice could right itself. He slashed up at its armpit and opened a deep cut, but didn’t wait to see if that was enough to kill. He brought his blade back around to chop into its nape hard enough to break bone. It fell.
From the roof of the building off to his right a pair of pale, hairless figures dropped. Rhe left the Lawbringers there to deal with them and one was spun right around by the double-crack that split the night. The second ducked down and leapt like a hunting dog, scampering forward at the nearest Lawbringer and ignoring the shot that grazed it. The pale man drove up at the Lawbringer, daggers outstretched as though for leverage before he bit at the man’s face.
The Lawbringer howled – the first cry to part the night – and fell. What happened to him Rhe couldn’t say, as the sound seemed to herald a dozen more possessed novices and pale ones emerging as one from the shadows of the Minerild. Rhe sheathed one gun and fired again, taking one of a pair through the forehead. From both sides the night was shattered by a volley of gunshots – both pistols and Imperial rifles.