Midnight Tides

  Brys looked round. ‘Where are your helpers?’

  ‘I sent them to the Royal Lens-maker for more lenses.’

  ‘When was that?’

  ‘Sometime this morning, I believe. Yes, just after breakfast.’

  ‘You have therefore been hanging there all day.’

  ‘And turning this way and that, without my own volition. There are forces, lad, unseen forces, that pull upon us every moment of our existence. Forces, I now believe, in conflict.’

  ‘Conflict? In what way?’

  ‘The ground beneath us exerts an imperative, evidenced by the blood settling in my face, the lightness in the back of my skull, the unseen hands seeking to drag me down – I have had the most exquisite hallucinations. Yet there is a contrary, weaker force seeking to drag me – another world, one which travels the sky around this one—’

  ‘The moon?’

  ‘There are actually at least four moons, lad, but the others are not only distant, but perpetually occluded from reflecting the sun’s light. Very difficult to see, although early texts suggest that this was not always so. Reasons for their fading as yet unknown, although I suspect our world’s own bulk has something to do with it. Then again, it may be that they are not farther away at all, but indeed closer, only very small. Relatively speaking.’

  Brys studied the map on the floor. ‘That’s the original, isn’t it? What new perspective have you achieved with all those lenses?’

  ‘An important question? Probably, but in an indirect fashion. I had the map in my hands, lad, but then it fell. None the less, I have been rewarded with an insight. The continents were once all joined. What forces, one must therefore ask, have pulled them apart? Who forwarded the Chancellor’s request?’

  ‘What? Oh, Turudal Brizad.’

  ‘Ah, yes. Such an errant, troubled lad. One sees such sorrow in his eyes, or at least in his demeanour.’

  ‘One does?’

  ‘And he said?’

  ‘He spoke of a feud between you and the Chancellor. A, uh, new one.’

  ‘There is? First I’ve heard of it.’

  ‘Oh. So there isn’t one.’

  ‘No, no, lad, I’m sure there is. Be good enough to find out about it for me, will you?’

  Brys nodded. ‘Of course, Ceda. If I can. Is that the extent of your advice?’

  ‘So it is.’

  ‘Well, can I at least help you down?’

  ‘Not at all, lad. Who knows how many more insights I will experience?’

  ‘You may also lose your limbs, or pass out.’

  ‘I still have my limbs?’

  Brys moved directly beneath the Ceda, positioning his left shoulder below Kuru Qan’s hips. ‘I’m unstrapping you.’

  ‘Be assured I will take your word for it, lad.’

  ‘And I intend to have a word or two with your assistants once I’m done with the Chancellor.’

  ‘Go easy on them, please. They’re woefully forgetful.’

  ‘Well, they won’t forget me after today.’

  ****

  Hands clasped behind his back, Triban Gnol paced. ‘What is the readiness of the military, Finadd?’

  Brys frowned. ‘Preda Unnutal Hebaz would be better equipped to give you answer to that, Chancellor.’

  ‘She is presently indisposed, and so I would ask you.’

  They were alone in the Chancellor’s office. Two guards waited outside. Votive candles exuded a scent of rare Kolanse spices, giving the chamber an atmosphere vaguely religious. A temple of gold coins, and this man is the high priest… ‘It is a mandate that the army and navy be maintained at a level of preparedness, Chancellor. Supplies and stores sufficient for a full season’s campaign. As you know, contracts with suppliers stipulate that, in times of conflict, the needs of the military are to take precedence over all other clients. These contracts are of course maintained and will be rigorously enforced.’

  ‘Yes yes, Finadd. But I am seeking a soldier’s opinion. Are the king’s soldiers ready and capable of war?’

  ‘I believe so, Chancellor.’

  Triban Gnol halted and fixed Brys with his glittering eyes. ‘I will hold you to that, Finadd.’

  ‘I would not have ventured an opinion were I not prepared to stand by it, Chancellor.’

  A sudden smile. ‘Excellent. Tell me, have you taken a wife yet? I thought not, although I doubt there’s a maiden among the nobility who would hesitate in such a coup. There are many legacies one must live with, Finadd, and the means in which they are answered are the defining features of a man’s or a woman’s life.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Chancellor. What are you getting at?’

  ‘Your family history is well known, Finadd, and I hold deep sympathy for you and indeed, for your hapless brothers. In particular Hull, for whom I feel sincere worry, given his predilection for involving himself in crucial matters which are, strictly, not of his concern. I admit to fretting on his behalf, for I would not wish sorrow upon you and your kin.’

  ‘It strikes me, Chancellor, that you are too generous in assembling your list of concerns. As for legacies, well, they are my own affair, as you no doubt appreciate. For what it is worth, I suggest that you are according Hull too much power in these matters—’

  ‘Do you imagine I am here delivering a veiled warning?’ Gnol waved a hand dismissively and resumed pacing. ‘It insults me that you believe I am as crass as that. Does a seal-hunter warn the seal of the net closing round it? Hardly. No, Finadd, I am done with you. Rest assured I will waste no more sympathy upon you and your brothers.’

  ‘I am relieved to hear that,’ Brys said.

  A venomous look. ‘Please close the door on your way out, Finadd.’

  ‘Of course, Chancellor.’

  ****

  Outside, walking alone down the corridor, Brys sighed. He had failed to learn anything of the purported feud between Gnol and Kuru Qan. It seemed he had achieved little more than adding himself to the Chancellor’s list of enemies.

  A second, deeper sigh.

  He had nothing of Hull’s stolid determination. Nothing of Tehol’s cunning. He had but some skill with a sword. And what value that, when his attackers employed insinuation and threat in some verbal knife-game? Seeking to deliver wounds that time did not heal?

  Reluctantly, he realized he needed advice.

  Which meant another duel, this time with his own brother.

  At least Tehol had no desire to wound. Errant bless him, he seems to have no desires at all.

  ****

  ‘What I desire,’ Tehol said, scowling, ‘is a meal that actually began with real food. Sort of a founding premise that what one is to eat is actually sustaining at its most basic level.’ He lifted one of the dark, limp leaves, studied it for a moment, then forced it into his mouth. Chewing, he glowered at Bugg.

  ‘There are apes, master, for whom banana leaves constitute an essential source of nutrition.’

  ‘Indeed? And are they extinct yet?’

  ‘I don’t know. I am only recounting a sailor’s story I heard once at a bar.’

  ‘He was a drunkard and a liar.’

  ‘Oh, you know him, then.’

  Tehol looked round. ‘Where’s Ublala? I need him here, so Shurq Elalle can gauge his…’

  ‘Length?’

  ‘Worth. Where is he?’

  ‘On the roof. Pining.’

  ‘Oh. The roof is good. Pining is not. Does he need yet another talking to, do you think?’

  ‘From you, master? No.’

  ‘Some more leaves, please. Don’t skimp on the sauce or whatever it is.’

  ‘Right the second time.’

  ‘Whatever it is? You don’t know?’

  ‘No, master. It just leaked out. Maybe from the leaves, maybe from something else. It reminds one of—’

  ‘Tanneries?’

  ‘Yes, that’s it exactly. Well done.’

  Tehol paled and slowly set down his bowl. ‘I just had a thought.’

 
Bugg’s eyes widened and he too put his bowl down. ‘Please, master, do not pursue that thought.’

  ‘It keeps coming back.’

  ‘The thought?’

  ‘No, the supper.’ He rose suddenly. ‘Time for some air.’

  ‘Mind if I join you?’

  ‘Not at all, Bugg. Clearly, during the course of preparing this meal, you worked hard at ignoring whatever impressions you may have had. I understand that you might well be exhausted by that effort. And if not, you should be.’

  They turned at a sound from the alley, then the curtain across the entrance was swept aside.

  ‘Ah, Shand, we were wondering when you would arrive!’

  ‘You’re a liar and a thief, Tehol Beddict.’

  ‘It’s the company I keep,’ Bugg muttered.

  Rissarh and Hejun followed behind Shand as she stormed into the small room.

  Tehol backed to the far wall, which wasn’t nearly far enough. ‘Needless to say,’ he said, ‘I’m impressed.’

  Shand halted. ‘With what?’

  He saw that her fists were clenched. ‘Well, your vigour, of course. At the same time, I realize I have been remiss in directing your admirable energies, Shand. It’s now clear to me that you – all three of you, in fact – require a more direct involvement in our nefarious undertaking.’

  ‘He’s doing it again,’ Rissarh growled.

  ‘We’re supposed to be beating him up right now,’ Hejun added. ‘Look what he’s done. Shand, less than a bell ago you were saying—’

  ‘Be quiet about what I was saying,’ Shand cut in. ‘Direct involvement, you said, Tehol. Finally. It’s about time, and no games, you slippery bastard. Talk to save your life.’

  ‘Of course,’ Tehol said, smiling. ‘Please, make yourselves comfortable—’

  ‘We’re comfortable enough. Talk.’

  ‘Well, you don’t look comfortable—’

  ‘Tehol.’

  ‘As you like. Now, I’m going to give you a list of names, which you will have to memorize. Horul Esterrict, of Cargo Olives. Mirrik the Blunt, eldest of the Blunts, owner of Blunt’s Letherii Steel and Blunt Weaponry. Stoople Rott, the grain magnate of Fort Shake. His brother, Puryst, the ale brewer. Erudinaas, queen of the rustleaf plantations at Dissent. The financiers, Bruck Stiffen, Horul Rinnesict, Grate Chizev of Letheras, Hepar the Pleaser, of Trate. Debt-holders Druz Thennict, Pralit Peff, Barrakta Ilk, Uster Taran, Lystry Maullict, all of Letheras. Tharav the Hidden, of room eleven, Chobor’s Manse on Seal Street, Trate. Got those?’

  Shand was glassy-eyed. ‘There’s more?’

  ‘A dozen or so.’

  ‘You want them killed?’ Hejun asked.

  ‘Errant no! I want you to begin purchasing shares in their enterprises. Under a variety of names, of course. Strive for forty-nine per cent. Once there, we’ll be poised to force a coup. The goal, of course, is controlling interest, but to gain that will only be achieved with sudden ambush, and for that the timing has to be perfect. In any case, once you have done all that – the purchasing, that is – make no further move, just get back to me.’

  ‘And how are we going to afford all that?’ Shand demanded.

  ‘Oh,’ Tehol waved a hand, ‘we’re flush. The coin I invested for you is making a sizeable return. Time’s come to make use of it.’

  ‘How much of a return?’

  ‘More than enough—’

  ‘How much?’

  ‘Well, I haven’t actually counted it—’

  Bugg spoke. ‘About a peak.’

  ‘Errant’s blessing!’ Shand stared at Tehol. ‘But I haven’t seen you do a thing!’

  ‘If you had, Shand, then I wouldn’t have been careful enough. Now, best we start with just the names I’ve given you. The next list can come later. Now, I have meetings scheduled this night—’

  ‘What kind of meetings?’

  ‘Oh, this and that. Now, please, I beg you – no more charging in through my front door. It’s bound to get noticed sooner or later, and that could be bad.’

  ‘What have you two been eating?’ Rissarh suddenly asked, her nose wrinkling.

  ‘This and that,’ Bugg replied.

  ‘Come on,’ Shand said to her companions, ‘let’s go home. Maybe Ublala will turn up.’

  ‘I’m sure he will,’ Tehol said, smiling as he escorted the three women to the doorway. ‘Now, get some sleep. You’ve busy times ahead.’

  Hejun half turned. ‘Cargo Olives – Horul who?’

  Shand reached out and dragged Hejun into the alley.

  Still smiling, Tehol adjusted the curtain until it once more covered the entrance. Then he spun round. ‘That went well.’

  ‘Rissarh had a knife,’ Bugg said, ‘tucked up along her wrist.’

  ‘She did? Tucked up?’

  ‘Yes, master.’

  Tehol walked to the ladder. ‘I trust you had your own knives close to hand.’

  ‘I don’t have any knives.’

  Tehol paused, one hand on the nearest rung. ‘What? Well, where are all our weapons?’

  ‘We don’t have any weapons, master.’

  ‘None? Did we ever?’

  ‘No. Some wooden spoons…’

  ‘And are you adept with them?’

  ‘Very.’

  ‘Well, that’s all right, then. You coming?’

  ‘In a moment, master.’

  ‘Right, and be sure to clean up. This place is a dreadful mess.’

  ‘If I find the time.’

  ****

  Ublala Pung was lying face-down on the roof, near the bed.

  ‘Ublala,’ Tehol said, approaching, ‘is something wrong?’

  ‘No.’ The word was muffled.

  ‘What are you doing down there?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Well, we’re about to have a guest who wants to meet you.’

  ‘That’s fine.’

  ‘It might be worth your while to endeavour to make a good impression,’ Tehol said.

  ‘All right.’

  ‘That might prove a little difficult, Ublala, with you lying there like that. When I first came up, I admit to thinking that you were dead.’ He paused, then, considering, and brightened. ‘Mind you, that might be a good thing—’

  A scuff of boots to one side, then Shurq Elalle stepped from the shadows. ‘Is this him?’

  ‘You’re early,’ Tehol said.

  ‘I am? Oh. Well, are you waiting for a necromancer to animate him or something?’

  ‘I would be, were he dead. Ublala, if you will, stand up. I would like to introduce you to Shurq Elalle—’

  ‘Is she the dead one?’ he asked, not yet moving. ‘The thief who drowned?’

  ‘Already you’re holding something against me,’ Shurq replied, her tone despondent.

  ‘We haven’t got to that yet,’ Tehol said. ‘Ublala, get up. Shurq has needs. You can meet them, and in return you get Shand, Rissarh and Hejun to leave off—

  ‘Why would they?’ Ublala demanded.

  ‘Because Shurq will tell them to.’

  ‘I will?’

  ‘Look,’ Tehol said, exasperated, ‘neither of you are co-operating here. On your feet, Ublala.’

  ‘That won’t be necessary,’ Shurq cut in. ‘Just roll him over.’

  ‘Oh, fine, that’s very nice. Crass, but nice.’ Tehol crouched down alongside Ublala, pushed his hands beneath the huge man, then lifted. Tehol’s feet skidded. He grunted, gasped, heaved again and again, to little effect.

  ‘Stop it,’ Shurq said in a strange voice. ‘You’re going to make me laugh. And laughing right now would be expensive.’

  Sprawled across Ublala, Tehol stared up at her. ‘Expensive?’

  ‘All those spices, of course. Tell me, Ublala, what did you see when you walked across the bottom of the canal?’

  ‘Mud.’

  ‘What else?’

  ‘Junk.’

  ‘What else? What were you walking on?’

  ‘Bodies. Bone
s. Crayfish, crabs. Old nets. Broken pots, furniture—’

  ‘Furniture?’ Tehol asked. ‘Serviceable furniture?’

  ‘Well, there was a chair. But I didn’t sit in it.’

  ‘Bodies,’ Shurq said. ‘Yes. Lots of bodies. How deep was the canal originally?’

  Bugg had arrived, and with this question Tehol looked over at his manservant. ‘Well? You must know, being an engineer and all that.’

  ‘But I’m only pretending to be an engineer,’ Bugg pointed out.

  ‘So pretend to know the answer to Shurq’s question!’

  ‘It was said seven tall men could stand, foot to shoulder, and the last would be able to reach up with his hands and find the surface. Used to be big trader ships could make their way the entire length.’

  ‘I wasn’t far from the surface,’ Ublala said, rolling over, unmindful of Tehol who yelped as he was tumbled to one side with a thump. ‘I could almost reach,’ he added as he stood, brushing himself off.

  ‘That’s a lot of rubbish,’ Bugg commented.

  ‘I’m not lying,’ Ublala said.

  ‘I didn’t say you were,’ Bugg said.

  ‘So,’ Shurq asked, ‘who is killing all those people?’

  ‘Never mind all that,’ Tehol said as he clambered to his feet. ‘Shurq Elalle, permit me to introduce Ublala Pung. The canal walk is very lovely at night, yes? Not in it, I mean. Alongside it, just for a change. Perfect for a promenade—’

  ‘I intend to rob Gerun Eberict’s estate,’ Shurq said to Ublala. ‘But there are outlying watchers that need taking care of. Can you create a diversion, Ublala Pung?’

  The huge man scratched his jaw. ‘I don’t know. I got nothing against them—’

  ‘They don’t like you.’

  ‘They don’t? Why?’

  ‘No reason. They just don’t.’

  ‘Then I don’t like them either.’

  ‘So you say, but I haven’t seen any proof.’

  ‘You want proof? Good. Let’s go.’

  Shurq hooked one arm in Ublala’s and led him towards the far edge of the roof. ‘We have to jump to that other roof,’ she said. ‘I don’t think you can do it, Ublala. Not quietly, anyway.’

  ‘Yes I can. I’ll show you I can.’