He looked crestfallen. 'Days?'
'Weeks, even, if Alvantes has his way. It seems there's some problem in Altapasaeda. Isn't there always? Anyway, no doubt Alvantes will be wading in to try to sort it out. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't rope you into his harebrained scheme.'
Another feature of conversation with Saltlick was how much of what went through his mind could be gleaned by watching the play of his crude features. 'Weeks,' he grunted, and his brows crumpled together. 'Help Alvantes,' he added, and the question twitched from eye to eye. Eventually, his face settled into its usual careless arrangement. 'Alvantes friend. Help if need help.'
I could hardly contain my shock. Not only had Saltlick taken Alvantes's side, he'd done it in what amounted to an entire sentence! Truly, there was no justice amongst men or giants.
'Well, let's just hope there's enough of your friends left to take home when we finally reach them,' I said, and marched back out into the rain.
I returned just in time for Alvantes's speech. I should have guessed he wouldn't let the night pass without one.
He'd stationed himself beside the fire. 'Listen, men!' he bellowed. Then, when the hubbub had died down, he continued, 'As you all now realise, circumstances in Altapasaeda are not as we left them. Clearly, those of us who are guardsmen have a responsibility to investigate. For the rest of you, your help will be welcomed if you're willing to give it… though I'll blame no one who chooses otherwise.'
He paused, let this sink in. 'A few of us will travel on to the Suburbs in hope of gathering more information. I'll send back news and further orders when I have them. In the meantime — keep sentries, stay out of sight, avoid wearing guard livery or weapons if you do need to go out. If we have enemies in Altapasaeda, our one advantage is that they don't know we've returned. Good luck to you all.'
Estrada, appearing beside me, put voice to the question I was in the process of asking myself. 'Are you coming with us, Easie?'
'Am I invited?'
'Of course. Alvantes mentioned you specifically.'
I didn't like the sound of that. Nor had I forgiven Alvantes for excluding me from his stupid meeting. Then again, there was nothing behind me but the occasional two-goat village. I could rent a decent bed in the Altapasaedan Suburbs, and travel on from there to anywhere in the Castoval. 'I'll come,' I decided. 'Better that than a sleepless night in this half-demolished barn.'
By the time I went outside, the rain had stopped. But the heavy cloud remained, leaving the moon a dim smear of brightness and shutting out all but a few stray stars. Alvantes had a dozen guardsmen gathered round him, including Sub-Captain Gueverro, and all were now dressed in anonymous grey cloaks.
'What I told the men counts just as much for us,' he told Estrada, who'd followed behind me. 'Until we know what we're dealing with, we'll keep a low profile.'
'What about Saltlick?' I asked. 'Low profiles aren't exactly his forte.'
Saltlick, who was just then squeezing his way out through the hole in the wall, proved my point by dislodging a sizeable chunk of masonry. Sheepishly, he stood brushing stone-dust from his shoulders.
'We agreed we'd bring him with us,' hissed Estrada. I realised the words were aimed at Alvantes rather than myself, and that I'd hit upon an already debated sore point.
'We will,' he replied defensively. 'I'll think of something.'
I couldn't entirely blame Alvantes for not wanting Saltlick along. A dozen disguised guardsmen might pass unnoticed, but a giant striding by tended to draw comment. Sooner or later, Alvantes was bound to decide Saltlick was too much of a liability. Judging from Estrada's reprimand, maybe he already had.
Two of Alvantes's guardsmen went back inside. When they returned, they were leading a column of horses, assisted by the men set to work in the stables. One of them handed me the reins of a drowsy-eyed bay mare. Since it was evident we'd be spending time together and that both of us would rather have been allowed to catch some sleep, I decided we should be friends. I patted her muzzle, and received a weary whinny in reply.
We set out in single file, not back the way we'd come but following the road around to the north-east, which would eventually twist back to make its way along Altapasaeda's western edge. Even in daytime, we'd be unlikely to be seen by anyone, for the only entrance on that side of the city was the small gate reserved for the comings and goings of the guard.
However, as soon as the walls came back into sight, Alvantes motioned a halt. 'Off the road,' he told us. 'Stay in the shadows.'
Everyone moved to comply, with varying degrees of success. Even knelt on his haunches, no patch of gloom was big enough to hide Saltlick in his entirety.
'Damasco,' said Alvantes, 'come with me.'
'What? Why me?'
'Because it's time you started pulling your weight. And because your insight into the underbelly of Altapasaeda might prove useful.'
I wondered what Alvantes was up to that required knowledge of Altapasaeda's underbelly. 'I see. You'll look down on me for being a thief until the day comes when you need a thief.'
'When did I say I'd stopped looking down on you?'
'Then maybe you should carry out your little mission on your own.'
'Unfortunately,' he said, holding up his stump, 'it requires assets I currently lack.'
Damn him, had he really sunk to that? 'Fine. I suppose I can spare you a few minutes.' It took all my willpower not to say, lend you a hand.
Alvantes climbed down from the saddle, as did I. 'The rest of you, stay here,' he said. 'We won't be long.'
Alvantes followed the road for a few paces, before abandoning it in favour of a rough path curling off to his left. I followed at a distance, insulting him steadily beneath my breath. It wasn't long before the path had deteriorated to little more than an animal trail over rocks made slippery by the downpour; only then did I give up my muffled cursing, to concentrate on not twisting an ankle.
Perhaps a quarter of an hour had passed before Alvantes held up his one hand. We were some way up the hillside, with an outcrop of dark rock at our backs and other smaller boulders lined haphazardly in front, interspersed with bedraggled bushes and the occasional lopsided tree. Where there were gaps, I could just make out the walls of Altapasaeda beyond, their highest point now somewhat below us.
'See there?' Alvantes said. His voice was low, though it was impossible anyone could hear us.
I followed his pointing finger. Two figures were just visible upon the parapet of the small northern gatehouse, lit by a glimmer of torchlight. 'Barely.'
Alvantes reached into his saddlebag, drew out a narrow metal tube about the length of his forearm. 'Try this.'
All my irritation at being dragged up there in the dark and cold vanished immediately. 'Is that what I think it is?'
'If you think it's a telescope.'
'Where did you ever come across that?'
'From my father. It was a farewell gift.'
I took it from him, trying to keep my fingers from trembling. The telescope was worth all the money in my purse and more. To my knowledge, no one in the Castoval or Ans Pasaeda had quite figured out how to make them, and the few floating around had originated in some distant land or other. I'd seen one once in Aspira Nero, much larger than this; but actually to use one was another thing altogether. I gasped as I pressed it to my eye and the distant walls sprang into focus. It took me a few disorientating moments to find the two figures, but once I did, it was as though they were standing just before me.
Whatever they were wearing, it wasn't guard livery. One was smartly dressed, with a cape over a brigandine of leather armour, an insignia on the breast. The other wore a full cloak with the hood drawn up. It didn't disguise his bulk. Of the two, he stood at least a hand taller, and was even broader in the shoulder. From the way he slouched against the battlements, he had none of his companion's discipline. In fact, the two had nothing obviously in common except their position, and their postures suggested both were aware of that fact.
Once I was certain I'd seen all there was to see, I turned back to Alvantes. He held out his hand, and I
