often have the appearance of brutish warriors. Kantor Hammrik looked like a clerk. Which was appropriate for someone who had effectively bought a kingdom. Bought in the sense of financing the bloody overthrow and regicide of an existing monarch.
Hammrik resembled a quill-pusher because, in a way, that's what he was. Early on in his illicit career he realised the efficacy of the equation between money and power. Learned it, and took it to what passed for his heart. He grew adept at using his ill-gotten riches to manipulate the greed of men without scruples, and rose on a tide of other people's blood, bought and paid for.
His build was more suited to running from a fight than engaging in one; what some called wiry framed. Any muscularity he had was restricted to his brains. He responded to hair loss by having his head completely shaved, which stressed the angularity of his skull. His raw-boned, beardless face was dominated by acute grey eyes. But woe to anybody who took him for a book-keeper.
As Hammrik swept in, the prisoners were forced to their knees. Everyone bowed.
'Ah, Micalor Standeven,' the usurper uttered as he perched on his stolen throne. 'I was beginning to think I'd never have the pleasure of your company again.'
The elder prisoner looked up. 'How delightful to see you, Kantor.' He went for casual bonhomie.
Hammrik gave him a stony, threatening look.
'That is,' Standeven hastily corrected, 'greetings, my liege. And may I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your elevation to — '
Hammrik waved him to silence. 'Let's take the fawning as read, shall we?' His gaze fell upon Standeven's companion. 'I see you've got your lapdog with you, as usual.'
'Yes, er, sire. He' s — '
'He can speak for himself. What's your name?'
'Pepperdyne, sir,' the younger prisoner replied. 'Jode Pepper-dyne.'
'You're bonded to him?'
Pepperdyne nodded.
'Then you're equally liable.'
'If this is a misunderstanding about money,' Standeven said, as though it had just occurred to him, 'I'm sure we can settle such a trifling matter cordially.'
'Trifling?' Hammrik repeated ominously.
'Well, yes. For a man of your newly acquired status it must be a mere — '
'Shut up.' Hammrik beckoned to a studious-looking old functionary standing to one side. 'How much?'
The old man was carrying a dog-eared ledger. Wetting a thumb, he began flipping pages.
'A round figure will do,' Hammrik told him.
'Certainly, sire.' He found the entry and squinted. 'Let's see. With interest, call it… forty thousand.'
'Is it that much?' Standeven exclaimed in mock surprise. 'Well, well. Still, I'm a little puzzled as to why you should call us in over this. I can understand it might have been necessary when you were a money len — when you were providing pecuniary services. But surely, sire, you don't need it now?'
'Look around you. This hardly resembles a thriving kingdom, does it? Overthrowing Wyvell was a costly business, and though his followers were beaten, they're not entirely crushed yet. It all takes money.'
'Of course.'
'A debt is a debt, and yours is overdue.'
'Absolutely. It's a matter of honour.'
'So what are you going to do about it?'
Standeven stared at him. 'Do you think I might have something to drink? We were out in that sun for an awfully long time, you see, and…'
Hammrik raised a hand, then called for water. A young flunkey brought him a hide pouch. Hammrik rose and stepped down to the kneeling Standeven. But he didn't give him the pouch. Instead, he tilted it, so that a single drop splashed into Standeven's outstretched palm. Frowning, the prisoner licked up the moisture with his parched tongue.
'One drop,' Hammrik said. 'How long do you think it'd take to feed you say, forty thousand?'
Standeven was baffled, and said nothing.
'Probably no time at all,' Hammrik decided, 'if you had it all in one go. In a tankard, for instance.'
'Kantor… I mean, sire, I — '
'But suppose you had it one drop at a time, like just now. How long would that take? Days? Weeks?' Hammrik held the water pouch at arm's length, as though studying it. 'This stuff's going to be precious here soon, given the way this land's going. The way the whole world's going. I can see water being as valuable as… blood.'
Standeven shifted uncomfortably. Pepperdyne betrayed no emotion.
'That's the deal,' Hammrik continued. 'Repay me in coin or I'll take it in blood. Forty thousand drops, one at a time.' He leaned closer to Standeven's face. 'I don't mean that as any kind of figure of speech.'
'I can pay!' Standeven protested.
'Does he have the money?' Hammrik addressed the question to Pepperdyne.
'No.'
'You're asking a slave about my financial arrangements?' Standeven complained. 'What would he know?'
'He's smarter than you. Or maybe not, seeing as he hasn't yet cut your throat while you were sleeping. But at least he didn't insult me with a lie. That earns him a quicker death than yours.'
'You can have him.'
'What?'
'To settle the debt. He's strong and hard working, and — '
Hammrik laughed. 'And I thought I was a bastard. He's not worth a fraction of what you owe me. Why would I want another mouth to feed?'
'I can pay you, Hammrik. I just need a little time to get together the — '
'I've wasted enough time as it is. I've no alternative but to have you both executed. Guards! '
Men came forward and took hold of the prisoners.
'There's no need for this,' Standeven pleaded. 'We can work it out!'
Hammrik was walking away.
'Suppose we could get you something more valuable than money?' Pepperdyne called after him.
The upstart king halted and turned. 'What could you possibly have to interest me?'
'Something you've long wanted.'
'Go on.'
'Everybody knows about your search for the instrumentalities.'
A passionate glint lit Hammrik's eyes, though his words belied it. 'And many have lied about knowing where they're to be found.'
'We're different. We really could help you gain them.'
'How?'
'As it happens, my master wasn't being entirely untruthful when he said he could pay you. The plan was to locate them, sell them to the highest bidder and settle your debt from the proceeds. In fact, we were following their trail when your men picked us up.'
'Why didn't you mention this before?'
'Would you in our position, and run the risk of losing such a prize?'
Standeven had looked bewildered at this turn of events. Now he was nodding furiously. 'It's true. Like you, I've heard the stories, though I confess to being unclear about what the instrumentalities are supposed to actually do. But I've always thought that anyone who found them would make a fortune.'
'I've no interest in making money out of them,' Hammrik stated.
'You're not interested in their value?' Standeven was shocked.
'Not that kind of value. If they function as they're rumoured to, there's a chance me and my people can escape this stinking world.'
Pepperdyne and Standeven were puzzled at the remark, but thought it wise to keep quiet.
