Rampton from beneath his brown hair.
'What then?'
'Not here,' the man said, looking about, 'not in public.' He melted back into the alley and waved for Rampton to follow him.
Rampton pushed himself off the wall and stepped into the mouth of the alleyway. He looked behind him, and then back into the alleyway. He had no intention of being caught off guard and to make such a basic error than to be jumped by several of the man's accomplices.
'You are joking, I take it,' Rampton said. 'Do you think me a fool?'
'You saw me duck in here.' The man sighed. 'You saw that I am alone.'
Rampton supposed that the man was telling the truth and looked up to the heavens before entering the alley. He could well regret his next action if it turned out for the worst.
The alleyway was narrow, and it was certainly darker than outside but some daylight filtered down from above at least offering him something. The man waited for him to follow further in.
'You were asking about Colen Marek?' he said. 'Back there in the tavern.' It was his turn to lean against the stone wall.
'Do you know him?'
'That depends on who you are,' the man said. 'And what you want with him.'
Rampton shook his head. 'And you expect me to just tell you?'
'Well if you don't then I won't take you to him.'
'So you do know him?'
'Ain't saying.'
Rampton reached into his pocket taking out a coin. 'I don't suppose a gold crown would loosen your tongue and encourage you to reveal his whereabouts.' He held it out for the man to see.
'I thought you said that you had no money.'
'It's my only one.' Rampton laughed.
'I don't need your money.'
'Then it seems we are are at an impasse?'
The man eyed Rampton up and down. 'It looks that way. Why do you want him anyway? He is a secretive man, he has enemies that he would not wish to be pointed in his direction.'
'Then I take it you really do know where he is?'
'It strikes me that it is I in the position of having the information you want. So, I'll ask the questions if you don't mind.'
Rampton shrugged. He had little option but to go along with the man's game, there were no other leads.
'Why are you looking for him?' the man asked.
'I bring news from his family.'
'His family?'
'Yes,' Rampton replied.
'I know for a fact that his family are from a place a very long way away.'
'That's true. And so am I. The same place, in fact.'
'I see,' the man said. 'I also know that he would like to hear how they are keeping.'
'Then you do know him?' Rampton's face formed a grin.
'Possibly.' The man looked him up and down. 'You really aren't from around here, are you?'
'No,' Rampton said. 'I told you.'
In truth, he didn't know what to say to the man that might move on the conversation. If the man did know Marek, then he needed him, if not, then he needed to be on his guard.
Rampton continued, 'Marek and I were neighbours back in the old days.'
The man smiled. 'I expect that he would find that unlikely.'
Then Rampton had an idea. It was a tenuous link, but it might just be enough to get to the bottom of this.
'His uncle Frederick was asking about him,' he said. 'I should liked to have given the old man some news of how he fairs, when I get back.'
The man nodded, seeming to understand where Rampton was leading him.
'Marek once told me that his uncle had a horse that was his personal favourite amongst all his stables. But, I have to say that its name escapes me these days. Perhaps if I might be reminded of it then it might give some confidence in your sincerity.'
Rampton nodded. 'Caballus,' he said. 'Uncle Frederick's favourite horse was called Caballus.'
'It was,' the man replied.
Rampton smiled and held out his hand. 'You are the Black Dove, aren't you?'
The man nodded, his face blank, and then he smiled, holding out his hand. 'I am Colen Marek.'
'I had already begun to guess that my friend,' Rampton said. 'My name is John Rampton, Lieutenant, Imperial Guard, garrisoned in Highport.'
'Imperial Guard, eh?' Marek smiled. 'You really are a very long way from home, Lieutenant.'
'That is true.'
'And how is old Martell these days?' Marek asked.
'Still bald,' Rampton replied.
42
The Twenty-Sixth Day of Lo-autumn,
Imperial Year 2332
Courtenay watched as the Speaker picked up the glass bowl and poured its contents onto the tray that the pageboy held out for all to see. Eleven cubes lay on the surface, white and black mixing together as they sat in their final places on the board. The Speaker reached out his hand to pick out the ebony tokens, placing them back into the blue glass bowl and counting the ivory pieces that remained.
'Your Majesty,' the Speaker said, once he had finished, 'your graces. On the vote to dissolve the Council of Electors, and to transfer its powers to His Majesty the King, I can report that the motion has been carried by six votes to five.'
Courtenay tried to stop the grin from showing on his face, but his eyes flicked across to the council members as they remained silent in their seats. None looked up to meet his eyes. He would of course never find out for sure who it was that had voted against him but he did know three of the six that had voted in his favour at least. It wouldn't matter anyway, he thought, all their days were numbered.
Courtenay rose from the throne and shrugged his shoulders to try to feel more comfortable in his heavy robes of state. The red cloak was a change from the black that he had often worn in the past, but the ermine trim and heavy velvet suited him, he thought. He strolled across to the petitioner's bar that divided the two parts of the chamber and he leaned on it with his hands, looking up at the faces of the Electors.
'Thank you so much for your support in this historic,' he said, 'and may I say, extremely brave decision to put all of your faith in me as the sole power in the Commonwealth. Or at least,' he added, 'the six of you that did do just that.'
The Electors glanced nervously around each other, but in truth Courtenay had already given up the notion that he might find out the identity of the dissenters; they would all pay.
'For most, if not all of you,' he continued, 'this will possibly be the last time that you are asked to partake in the administration of this great country. On behalf of all of its people, I would like to thank you for the years of loyal service you have shown.' Courtenay lowered his head in the indication of a bow, and then lifted it again.
'My first command as supreme ruler is a simple one, and direct to you all.' Courtenay looked around the faces, and took in the stares of each one. Some neutral, some hostile, but none of a friendly disposition. They were waiting on his every word, he could see. Well, he'd give them a word to think about. He took a deep breath and looked along the line again.
'Leave,' he said.
The members of the council looked at each other, and slowly they rose from their chairs, shuffling to their right and then filing towards the exit, silent and sullen.
As he watched them reach the half way point, he couldn't help but notice that Duchess Rennick had stopped, hanging back behind the others. When they had left she turned and made her way back towards Courtenay.
'May I speak with you, Your Majesty?' she asked.
'Is it urgent?'
'Well, yes,' she said, 'I would consider it so.'
'My time is precious, Duchess. Be brief.'
'What about the children?'
The Duchess's face was lined and drawn, and she looked tired. Her eyes almost pleaded with him.
'What about them?'
'When are they to be released, Your Majesty, as we agreed?'
'I think that if you cast your mind back, Kaitlynn, you will remember that I did not, in all actuality, agree that they woul
d be.'
'What?' the Duchess said. 'But you said—'
'What I said, Duchess, was that if you did as I said, then I wouldn't kill them,' Courtenay smiled. 'Or words to that effect. I didn't say that I would release them.'
'Why, you slippery—' Duchess Rennick stepped forwards towards Courtenay.
'Guards!' Courtenay called out, and three of his men, positioned around the chamber, ran towards the Duchess. He looked over at the first man to arrive. 'See to it that the Duchess leaves the Palace, would you? There's a good fellow.'
The man saluted and grabbed Duchess Rennick's arm. He was joined by the remaining men and they pulled her towards the chamber door.
Courtenay turned towards the woman. 'A moment!'
The guards stopped and the Duchess turned back towards him.
'If you would like to petition for an audience to discuss the matter further,' Courtenay said, smiling, 'then you would have every right, as does any other common citizen, Duchess. The application will be considered along with all the others.'
He waved his hand and the guards responded by taking her arms again, pulling her closer to the exit.
'Wait!' the Duchess screamed, trying her best to pull free of the stronger men on either side of her. 'I'm sure the country would like to hear about the way that you got your hands on the throne!'
Courtenay stopped, turned and placed his hands behind his back, walking slowly across the hall to the Duchess. As he reached her, he leaned in close.
'I do hope that is not a threat, Kaitlynn,' he said. 'You should know that threats are one of my pet hates. I do not respond well to them.'
'You will never get away with it. The people will not stand for it if they find out.'
'I've no doubt that you are right,' Courtenay said. 'But are you prepared to pay the price of the sacrifice that would come with revealing such a