"My Lord King," he gurgled. "May I present Count Diekes Ronstadt. Our neighbor and benefactor. Count, His Most Serene Majesty... "
"Enough, Meguid. Ronstadt? I've heard that name before."
The Count was a big man. He had muscles everywhere and an impressive mane of silver hair. Haroun had the feeling that his powerful dark eyes were probing the soft white underbelly of his soul. A quick, warm smile fluttered across the Count's pale lips. It was a smile that proclaimed its bearer an amused observer of the human condition.
"That could be, lad. We had a friend in common. Megelin Radetic."
"Of course! His roommate at the Rebsamen... You're the one who was always getting him in trouble."
"In and out again. He was the most naive kid... But brilliant. A genius. He could do anything. I wouldn't have survived without him. We exchanged the occasional letter. I was crushed when I heard what happened."
"The world is poorer for his absence. I'm impoverished. I would have made him my vizier. My marshal."
"A new departure, Megelin as warrior. But there wasn't anything he couldn't do when he put his mind to it. Come with me. Gamil wants to show off our new camp."
"Megelin managed both jobs for my father, in fact if not in name. What new camp?"
"Gamil supposed you'd be put off by this mess. He was scared you'd fire him. So he rushed over and asked me if we couldn't show you what all we've been doing."
"All right. Show me. He's right. This place appalls me."
"Follow me, then. We're building in the valley on the other side of that ridge. The water supply is better, the bottom ground more level, and there's good clay for building."
Haroun went along. Beloul, el Senoussi, and the others crowded around him, their hands near their weapons. "What is your part in this?" Haroun asked Ronstadt.
"This is my county. My fief. It's primitive and sparsely peopled. I'm combining a favor to an old friend with a favor to myself. Megelin wrote a few years back and suggested it. I liked the idea."
Count Ronstadt led them to a man-made clearing in the bottom of a wide, heavily forested valley, on the banks of a small, slow river. The clearing contained dozens of buildings in various stages of construction.
"Getting ready for winter is our main concern this year. Your people are living mostly by hunting. Next spring, though, they should be ready to try farming."
Haroun examined several of the incomplete houses. They were constructed of bricks of sun-baked clay. The refugees were making no use of the plentiful logs. Those they sawed into lengths and rolled into the river.
"I'm pleased, friend of my friend," Haroun said. "I see you have your own people helping. That's really too much."
"They're only teaching. They'll be back to their own work soon."
"How many people can you take here?" The refugees were unpopular everywhere, yet the migration from the desert had not peaked.
"How many here now, Gamil?" Ronstadt asked.
"Nearly five thousand, Count. But the official census lists about eight."
"My arms are open," Ronstadt told Haroun. "My fief is virgin. It could support thousands more. But the King is nervous. He ordered me to make a head count, then freeze it there. He doesn't want me getting too strong. We fudged a little. I want to tame this whole valley. I can't without Gamil's cheap labor."
"That's your deal with Meguid?"
"And a generous one by most standards. Since I'm not bellicose, the feudal burden is light."
"Ah. And their responsibilities to myself as their King?"
Ronstadt became less animated. "They no longer live in Hammad al Nakir. This is Kendel."
Haroun stifled a surge of anger.
Beloul took his elbow gently. "The logic is unassailable. Lord. We can't expect to get something for nothing. And this gentleman seems willing to give more for less."
"I'll let them help you where they can," Ronstadt said. "As long as it's not done at my expense."
Haroun remained angry. This being king without a throne was more frustrating than he had anticipated. Too much depended on the good will of people who owed him nothing.
He had to create a political currency before these westerners would take him seriously. He had to have something they wanted to exchange for what they could give.
His absolute imperative would have to be to retain the loyalties of the refugees. He could not permit them to become assimilated, nor to forget their grievances. They had to remain politically viable as contestants for power in Hammad al Nakir.
"Gamil says you want to meet the Duke of Greyfells," Ronstadt said. "Can I give you some advice?"
"What?"
"Don't waste your time."
"What?"
"He's not your man. He's a political animal, a political creation, a political opportunist. He got command only because the Itaskian Crown had to cut a deal with its opposition. You can't help him with his ambitions. He won't give you a place to squat."
"You know him?"
"He's a distant relative. By marriage. So is the man youshould see. Everybody in the north is related to everybody else."
"Who should we see?" Beloul asked. "If the Duke is no good, who is?"
"Itaskia's Minister of War. He's the Duke's superior, and his enemy. And he has the ear of the Itaskian King. I'll give you a letter of introduction."
Next morning, while riding to meet Greyfells, Haroun asked, "What do you think of our benefactor?"
Beloul shrugged. "Time will tell."
"A not unenlightened man," el Senoussi opined. "Meguid thinks well of him. And trusts him."
The others agreed with Beloul.
"How Greyfells treats us will tell us a lot about him."
The Duke was easy to find. His army had not moved twenty miles in the past three days.
Ronstadt was right. Greyfells would have nothing to do with Haroun. Bin Yousif made it only as far as the entrance to the ducal pavillion, where he waited while an aide tried to get him in.
Radetic had taught him some Itaskian. Enough for him to follow the drift of the abuse Greyfells heaped on the aide for bothering him with the requests of "bandylegged, camel-thieving rabble."
The aide returned red-faced and apologetic. Haroun said only, "Tell him that he'll regret his arrogance."
"Well?" Beloul asked when he rejoined his captains.
"The Count was right. He wouldn't talk to me."
"Then let's follow up on Ronstadt's suggestion. Itaskia isn't that far."
"I guess a few days more won't matter."
They crossed the Great Bridge three days later, guided by an impatient native sergeant.
"The glory that was," el Senoussi intoned. "Thus it was in Ilkazar in the Empire's prime."
Few of them had seen the like of the waterfront. The river traffic was incredible. Hellin Daimiel and Dunno Scuttari were becoming increasingly dependent on supplies brought in by ship. A river of wealth was flowing from the treasuries of the besieged cities to the coffers of Itaskian merchants.
The sergeant pushed and nagged and finally guided them to a kremlin at city's center. He took them into a building and up several levels to an anteroom where a gimpy old man snatched Haroun's letter of introduction. He disappeared through a fancily carved doorway. He was not gone long. "His Lordship will see you now. You." He indicated Haroun. "The rest stay out here."
"That was fast," Haroun breathed. He started toward the doorway. His followers milled uncertainly, paths blocked by the old man.
A thin, short, middle-aged man came to greet Haroun. He offered his hand. "They told me you were young. I didn't expect you to be this young."
"Count Ronstadt in Kendel suggested I see you."
"And direct. I like that, though you young people overdo it. I presume my cousin disappointed you?"
"The Duke of Greyfells. He was unpleasant."
"He usually is. Somebody forgot to teach him his manners. I never cease being amazed that he's built such a strong following. I was more amaze
d when he outmaneuvered me on the command appointment."
"I hear he's a good soldier."
"When it serves his purpose. I imagine he'll try to use this as a stepping-stone to the throne. He makes no secret of his long-range goal."
Haroun shook his head slowly. "What's the attraction? It's nothing but headaches and heartaches for me."
The Minister shrugged. "Come. Sit down. I think we've got agreements to agree."
Haroun sat. He studied the Minister. And the thin man considered him from behind steepled fingers.
Haroun saw someone in complete control of his destiny, someone as sure of himself as was El Murid. A hard man. He'd make a bitter enemy.
The Minister saw a boy compelled to become a man. The strain of paring was making him old before his time. Creeping cynicism had begun tightening his brow. It had given his young mouth the lemon-biting look.
And he sensed a hardness, an implacability that approached fanaticism.
"What agreements?" Haroun asked.
"First, tell me what you think of El Murid's goals. His war goals. I don't give a damn about the religious issues."
"Restoration of the Empire? It's a fool's dream. This isn't the world of yesterday. There're real countries out here now. And, geopolitically, Hammad al Nakir isn't suited to the role of the great unifier." He recounted some of Megelin's thoughts on the subject, dwelling on his homeland's lack of a centralized administrative tradition and the absence of an educated class capable of administering. Ilkazar had had those, and the peoples the Empire had conquered had, for the most part, been little beyond the tribal stage.
"How old are you?"
"Nineteen."
"You had remarkable teachers, then. I know men with forty years experience in statecraft who couldn't put it that clearly. But you didn't tell me what I want to know. Do you subscribe to the imperial dream?"
"No. The Disciple and I come together only when he says we have to re-establish the dignity and security of the nation."
"Yes. You were well taught." The Minister smiled. "I suppose I can accept that. Let me confess to a small dream of my own. I want to make Itaskia the predominant state in the west. We're already the strongest, but conquest isn't my ideal. More an assumption of moral and mercantile dominion. Today's kingdoms are too diverse for unification."
They were speaking Daimiellian, Haroun's strongest foreign language. The Minister's confession made him determined to improve his Itaskian. "I believe the word you want is hegemony."
The Minister smiled again. "You may be right. Now, to the point. We can help each other."
"I know you can help me. That's why I'm here. But what can I do for you?"
"First, understand that I perceive El Murid as the principal threat to my dream. Yet he's also an asset. If he's defeated before he does much more damage, my hopes might come to life of their own accord. The destruction in the south, and the siege of Hellin Daimiel, have elevated Itaskia to a position of moral as well as military dominance. Economic domination is on its way. Cultural dominance shouldn't be far behind."
"I can help turn him back. But I need money, arms, and places for my people to live. Most especially, I need the arms."
"Even so. Listen. You have enemies who aren't mine. I have foes who aren't yours. And that's where we can help each other. Suppose we trade enemies? If you follow my meaning."
"I'm not sure I do."
"A man is more vulnerable to the dagger of an enemy he doesn't know, wouldn't you say?"
"I see. You want to trade murders."
"Crudely put, but yes. I'll give you arms and money if you'll make three commitments. The first is to go ahead and fight El Murid. The second is to abolish his imperialism if you win. And the third, bluntly, is to provide me with undercover knife work, or whatever, when I need to make a move from which I can dissociate myself."
A classic schemer, Haroun thought. What he wants is his own underground army. "Do you have designs on the Itaskian throne yourself?"
"Me? Good heavens, no! Why on earth would I? I'm safer and happier where I am, pulling the strings. I take it you have reservations."
"It sounds like a sweetheart deal. Too good to be true."
"Maybe from your viewpoint. But you don't know Itaskian politics. Or me. I'm not talking about cutting one throat tomorrow. I'm talking the long run. A lifetime of trade-offs. A perpetual alliance. Our problems aren't going to be resolved in a summer. Nor in ten summers, nor even by our achieving what we think we want. Do you see? Consider, too, the fact that I'm sticking my neck out here. I'm offering you a secret treaty. That could get me thrown out on my ear if certain parties got wind of it."
Haroun knew he might spend his life grasping for something beyond his reach. The old sorcerer in that ruined watchtower had shown him the possibilities.
He turned his inner ear to intuition and the Invisible Crown.
"I'll take the chance. You've got a bargain."
"Forever? It's said your father was a man of his word."
"Yes. And I'm my father's son."
The thin man rose, offered a hand. Haroun took it.
"This is all the contract we'll ever have," the Minister told him. "Nobody but you and me should know about it."
"And I'll never be able to invoke it for immunity, no doubt."
"Unfortunately. That's the nature of the game. But remember, you have me at the same disadvantage."
Haroun did not see it, but refrained from so saying. As the Minister had remarked, he did not know Itaskian politics. And he had searched the west and been offered no other deal at all. Beggars could not choose.
"What do you want right now?" he asked.
"Nothing. Just help stop El Murid. I have to survive that crisis first." The Minister turned, walked to a huge wall map of the west. He examined it briefly, one finger tracing a line from Itaskia toward Dunno Scuttari. "If you'll take some men to Hempstead Heath, about twelve miles south of the South Town Gate on the Octylyan Road, my people will meet you with a shipment of weapons. A gesture of good faith on my part. How does that sound?"
"Again, too good to be true. You don't know the disappointments we've suffered."
"But I do. Why do you think you got in so quickly? I've been studying this thing for eight months. These weapons. They're not the best. They're old, non-standard, captured arms. The kind we use for foreign aid and arming the militia. I can scatter them around without having to account for them."
"Anything is better than bare hands. Not so? I'll be there waiting."
But he was not. He had to deputize el Senoussi for the job.
The messenger had come from Dunno Scuttari. Haroun found Nassef's apparent plans less interesting than the messenger's serendipitous acquisition of facts about Duke Greyfells.
Patiently, probably for the dozenth time, the man told his story. "Lord, as I was passing the camp of the Itaskian host-which I dared because I wanted to see this army that everyone expects to be the salvation of the south-I saw riders come forth. I could not flee without being seen, so I concealed myself in the forest. They passed within ten yards of me, Lord. Their captain was the bandit Karim. He had with him several Itaskians of lofty station. They and Karim's men shared jests as old friends might."
"Karim? You're sure?"
"I have seen Karim several times, Lord. I've heard him speak. This was the same man. There's some treachery afoot."
"Then this Duke... He wouldn't treat with the legitimate King of Hammad al Nakir. He wouldn't share his thinking with his allies. He practically whipped me from his camp... No wonder. Karim was there at the time."
Beloul muttered, "A scorpion. Poisonous vermin. He makes common cause with bandits."
"Ah, Beloul. Think. The scorpion dies beneath the boot of the man who knows its ways. Perhaps fate has tossed us a meager gift. Shadek. Meet those men bringing us arms. Beloul. Collect our warriors. Let them know we're on the spoor of the villain Karim. Let them know that it's a hot trail. The rest of us will start after
him now. If we catch him before he rejoins his army... " He laughed evilly.
Beloul's grin was as wicked. He had a special hatred for Karim. Karim was one of the butchers of Sebil el Selib.
"As you command, Lord."
The Fates were toying with the young King. Karim led him a merry chase into the south. The old bandit was in enemy territory and knew it. He was wasting no time. Haroun did not overtake him till he was making the river crossing into northwestern Altea. Haroun could do nothing but curse and watch. Six hundred of Karim's warriors lined the south bank.
Haroun had to wait for Beloul before he could force the crossing, hurling all his strength against the handful Karim had left. By then he was a day behind, and Karim was aware of how narrowly he had escaped.
Chapter Ten:
ALTEAN VENTURES
The arrows madewhisking sounds when they streaked over the riverboat, andthumped when they hit its side. The barrage was desultory. The range was extreme for the short desert bow.
"They're going to follow us to the end of the river," Haaken grumped.
Nassef had tightened his noose round Dunno Scuttari before their departure. They had sailed under fire, and the attack had continued every day since. No damage had been done, but constant pursuit was depressing. Sooner or later the Guildsmen would have to fight, if only to make their landing.
The riverboat was a small galley. Most of its regular crew had been left behind. Guildsmen had to take their turns at the oars. Neither the primus nor even the non-coms were exempt.
The labor left Kildragon surly. "If I'd wanted a career pulling an oar I would've gone home to Trolledyngja," he grumbled every time his turn came up.
"You'll get to put it down quick enough," Bragi promised. "Then you can entertain us with your philosophizing about the life of an infantryman. The Captain says we're in for some hard marching."
Haaken and Reskird muttered subversively.
"You had your fun. In Simballawein you chased skirts. In Hellin Daimiel you chased skirts. In Dunno Scuttari you didn't have to do anything but keep the girls happy. Now all of a sudden you start bitching because you have to earn your allowances."
"I think that corporal's belt has gone to his head," Reskird observed.