Orb Sceptre Throne

Then all was dark and cold.

A hand touched his cheek. He opened his eyes — or regained consciousness. His mage-vision allowed him to see the sideways chamber glowing in a blue so dark as to be almost indistinguishable from black.

Someone was with him. A shape in the night — or a shape of night itself. Her face was black, as were her eyes. Black on black, as if carved from jet.

‘Just you and I, soldier,’ she said.

Good, he said. Or thought he said. They got out.

‘Yes.’

And me?

The shape slid away into the dark as if dissolving. ‘You spoke with a shade,’ the voice said.

Yes.

‘How — how was he?’

How?

‘Yes. He has been … away … for some time. Now he has returned. How did he seem?’

He seemed … sad.

‘Sad?’

Yes. He gave his name as Morn.

‘Morn? He did? Thank you, soldier. For that I bless you. Now, it is time for you to go.’

Go? Right. Face my squad.

‘No. Not to them. Do not be hurt or angry. They were harsh because they feared you might long to join them. They love you, Antsy. They want you to live. For that reason I am here speaking to you. That, and for the child, Orchid.’

Orchid?

‘Yes. You brought her to me. And for that you have my gratitude. Farewell, soldier.’

Frigid waters as dark as night churned round him. Movement then. A hand pushed against the chest of his hauberk. A glimpse of a masked face in the dark swirling waters, then blackness.

CHAPTER XVII

The more laws a land has, the more corrupt it is.

Message scratched in stones of a fallen

prison wall, Darujhistan

Scorch’s and Leff’s boot heels echoed in the empty night-time streets of Darujhistan. They walked the Daru district, not far from the Third Tier Wall that demarked the estate district containing Majesty Hill. Scorch peered about at the closed doors and the empty walks where crowds usually discussed the latest shows, a new dancer, or a troupe of entertainers newly arrived in the city. He nervously licked his lips and peered sidelong to his partner.

‘Where is everyone?’ he murmured, suspicious.

Leff squinted his disbelief. ‘It’s the curfew, you idiot. No one’s allowed out after the tenth bell. We was there when the Legate signed the law.’

Scorch shrugged his bony shoulders. ‘Not my business. I must’ve been busy looking for threats.’

‘Threats, right,’ Leff murmured, looking skyward.

‘Well,’ Scorch went on, ‘it’s not like we’re gettin’ out much these days.’

Leff put a touch harder stamp into his step and thrust out his chest even further. ‘That’s right. Got us important work. Guardin’ the Legate and such. Busy. Can’t be loafing about.’

‘Not like the old days.’

‘Nope. No more drinking or chasing skirts for us.’

‘Can’t be doin’ none o’ that,’ Scorch sighed, and he pulled on his lower lip. ‘Leff …’ he said, tentative.

‘Yeah?’

‘What say you we sign on any trader leavin’ tonight? Head down south. Rich pickin’s down there. Everyone says so. Heard me stories of buckets of coin.’

Leff stopped. He hooked his thumbs in his belt and regarded his partner, head lowered. ‘You see — there’s our problem. Consistency. Stick-to-it-ness.’ He drove a hand through the air before him. ‘Have to hoe a straight row. See things through to the ugly bitter sticky end no matter how many tell us for gods’ sakes would you just drop it! No more o’ that listening to other people. Not for us, right?’

Brows cramped together, mouth open, Scorch nodded. ‘Right.’

‘Hey, you two!’ a new voice called out.

Both turned. A detachment of the city Wardens approached. They carried lanterns and were armed with truncheons. ‘It’s curfew, you know,’ their sergeant continued.

Leff threw out his hands, aggrieved. ‘Yeah! It’s curfew — an’ if we see anyone out we’ll arrest them, won’t we!’ The sergeant’s unshaven face screwed up as he tried to work his way through that. ‘We’re Majesty Hill guards, I’ll have you know,’ Leff continued, and he made a show of resting his hand on the grip of his shortsword.

The sergeant’s gaze followed the motion and it seemed to Leff that the man was suitably impressed. He waved them on, murmuring something that might have been: ‘Say hello to the Seguleh.’

Leff stamped off, chest thrown out. Scorch followed. ‘Imagine,’ Leff complained loudly. ‘The nerve of some.’

Scorch spotted a faded sign of a bird rising from flames, a warm yellow glow from glazed windows, a door a sliver ajar, and the noise of laughter and tankards banging tables.

‘Phoenix’s open,’ he commented.

Leff abruptly stopped again. ‘After curfew?’

‘Uh-huh.’

Leff set his hand once more on his weapon grip. ‘Have to ’vestigate. Might be curfew-breakers.’

Scorch’s wide mouth drew up in a wet grin. ‘Just doin’ our duty.’

‘That’s right.’

Inside, the noise seemed a solid barrier. Scorch and Leff peered about, blinking at the crowd. Leff scanned for a table but the floor was jammed. An older tough-looking woman glowered at them from behind the bar. ‘What do you two want?’ she demanded.

‘Friends!’ a familiar voice piped.

Leff looked round to see Kruppe gesturing them over. ‘It’s all right,’ he told the woman, ‘we’re expected.’

Kruppe was at his usual small round table hidden away near the back. He invited them to sit then clapped his hands, calling: ‘Jess! Summer ale for my friends here. They thirst!’

The two exchanged suspicious glances. ‘What’s this?’ Scorch asked.

The little man appeared offended. He pressed a hand to his stained shirt. ‘What is this? Why, nothing more than drinks among friends. Mere hospitality! Why should there be anything more to this than that? Why, there is none of this or that, I assure you.’

The heavy bulk of Jess pressed up to the table. ‘You again,’ she accused, glaring at Kruppe.

‘Yes? Me?’ Kruppe blinked winningly up at her, hands pressed together under his chin.

‘Nothing more for you until you pay your tab.’

Scorch and Leff shared knowing looks and pushed back their chairs, preparing to leave.

Kruppe clutched at them. ‘No, no! Said tab is as good as covered. I assure you I have every intention of taking care of that trivial detail. There you have it, Jess. A promissory promise. I, ah, promise. So, until such time … would you be so good as to put these drinks on the tab?’

Jess heaved a sigh and pushed back hair stuck to her sweaty face. ‘I’ll ask Meese,’ she allowed, and