mastery over the world and ourselves. In learning to control our bodies and our weapons, we learn to control our minds and our destinies.
'Think of what we could teach you. Captain. Every move, every trick and skill of fighting there has ever been is to be found here somewhere, in our libraries and instructors. Our fighters are unbeatable, our warriors suitable to advise Kings. We are the future; we decide the way the world will turn.'
'Thanks,' said Hawk. 'But I have enough problems dealing with the present. Besides, Isobel and I are a team. We work together. Always.'
'And that's why you'll never be anything more than a city Guard,' said Rukker. 'A pity. You could have gone far, Hawk; if it hadn't been for your woman.'
Hawk smiled suddenly. 'Commander, I'm giving you a lot of slack, because I'm here as Adamant's guest. But if you insult my wife one more time, I will hurt you severely. Even worse, I might let Isobel do it. Now, be a good fellow and get on with your business with Adamant.'
Rukker flushed pinkly, and his hand rose to the sword hilt at his shoulder. Hawk and Fisher were both on their feet facing him, weapons drawn and at the ready, before Rukker's hand could close around the hilt. Adamant moved quickly forward to stand between them.
'That's enough! Hawk, Fisher, put your weapons away. That's an order. I do apologize, Commander. We've had a very trying day, and I fear all our nerves are somewhat on edge.'
Rukker nodded stiffly and took his hand away from his sword. Bright spots of color burned on his cheekbones, but when he spoke his voice was perfectly steady. 'Of course, James. I quite understand. Let's get down to business, shall we? What exactly can I do for you?'
'Hardcastle's mercenaries are grinding my campaign into the ground,' said Adamant. 'My people are holding their own for the moment, but they can't last long without armed support. I need your support, Jeremiah; I need your men.'
Rukker pursed his lips thoughtfully. 'The Brotherhood doesn't take sides, James; you know that. We're above politics. We have to be.'
'The militants feel differently.'
'They're fools. We're only allowed free rein as long as we support all sides equally. We're not strong enough yet to stand as a political force in our own right. We survive because we're useful, but the powers that be would crush us in a moment if they thought we were dangerous. No, James. We've worked together in the past when we found ourselves walking the same path, but we can't afford to be openly allied with your Cause.'
'You can't afford not to,' said Adamant. 'According to all the reports. General Longarm and his militants are doing very well at the moment. They haven't got enough support to win on their own, but if they were to ally themselves with Hardcastle, they'd make an unbeatable team. And Hardcastle's just rattled enough by their successes and mine to agree to such an alliance.'
'You make a good argument, James. But not good enough. Longarm's certainly ambitious, but he's not stupid enough to trust promises from Hardcastle.'
'Who said anything about trust? For the moment they need each other, but all kinds of things could happen once the election is safely over. After all, Hardcastle maintains his position through armed force. Forces that in the future would be exclusively controlled by General Longarm; But you're missing the point, Jeremiah. The point is, can you afford to bet that Longarm won't make an alliance with Hardcastle?'
'No,' said Rukker. 'I can't. All right. James. I'll have to consult with the High Commander, but I'm pretty sure he'll say <em>yes</em>. We can't allow Longarm to win this election. You'll have your men in a few hours. And we should be able to call off most of Hardcastle's mercenaries. A large proportion of them belong to the Brotherhood. You've got your support, James. But you'd better make damned sure I don't have reason to regret it.'
Out on the Street of Gods, three different clocks were striking fifteen, although it was still barely midday. Given some of the Street's earlier excesses, Hawk felt only a mild relief that nothing worse was happening. He looked carefully about him, and then stopped as a commotion broke out further down the Street. Fisher noticed his reaction, and her hand dropped to her sword. 'Trouble, Hawk?'
'Could be. Take a look.'
Halfway down, on the other side of the Street, a very tall woman dressed in bright yellow and battered leathers was beating up half a dozen nuns from the Convent of the Bright Lady. The nuns were armed with wooden staves and lengths of steel chain, but the tall woman was wiping the floor with them, using only her bare hands.
'Who the hell is that?' said Hawk.
'That is Roxanne,' said Medley. 'I'm surprised you haven't heard of her.' He winced as Roxanne lifted a nun bodily into the air and slammed her face first into the nearest wall.
'So that's Roxanne,' said Hawk. 'I always thought she'd be taller.'
'There's a good price on her head,' said Fisher.
'With her reputation as a fighter, there'd have to be. I'm not tackling her without being paid extra.'
'She's probably overrated. No one's that good.'
'Bets?' said Hawk, as Roxanne head-butted one nun and punched out another.
'All right,' said Fisher. 'Who goes first?'
'Toss you for it.'
Fisher fumbled for a coin.
'Wait a minute,' said Dannielle. 'Look.'
Hawk and Fisher looked back just in time to see two new figures dragging Roxanne away from her latest victims, just as she was about to start putting the boot in. She shrugged them off easily, but made no move to attack them. Hawk whistled softly as he realized one of them was Councilor Hardcastle. The other man, dressed in ill-fitting chain mail, was the sorcerer Wulf. Hawk studied him thoughtfully. He'd heard about Wulf.
'Now, that is interesting,' said Adamant. 'I didn't know Roxanne was working for Hardcastle.'
'She won't be much longer,' said Hawk. 'She's about to be arrested.'
'I'd rather you didn't,' said Medley quickly. 'We don't want to draw attention to ourselves. Officially, we were never here. Our agreement with the Brotherhood will last only as long as we can keep it quiet. In fact, we'd better get out of here now, before Hardcastle spots us. Right, James?'
'I'm afraid so,' said Adamant. 'If it's a question of the bounty money, Captain Hawk;'
'It isn't,' said Hawk shortly. 'She's wanted on a dozen warrants, most of them for murder and arson. But she can wait. Protecting you has top priority until I receive fresh orders. Let's go.'
Fisher nodded reluctantly, and the party moved quickly off down the Street of Gods, keeping to the shadows.
'It's probably just as well,' said Medley. 'Roxanne's supposed to be unbeatable with a sword.'
Fisher sniffed. 'I could take her.'
'I'm sure you could,' said Adamant. 'After the election.'
'Well, at least now we've got something to look forward to,' said Hawk.
Roxanne liked the Street of Gods. Its constantly shifting realities appealed to her own mercurial nature. She almost felt at home. Of course, not everyone felt the same. The Street had terrorized Jillian to the point that not even Hardcastle's threats could make her accompany them. He'd had to send her home, along with all his followers and mercenaries. The Grey Veil had insisted on that. Apparently his God didn't like large audiences when it came to hard bargaining. Roxanne kept a close watch on Veil. She didn't trust him any further than she could spit into the wind.
Veil led them past churches and temples decorated with imps and gargoyles and demons. None of them looked particularly healthy places. Veil passed them all by, and Roxanne pouted disappointedly. Finally they came to the Temple of the Abomination, and Veil smiled sardonically as he took in their reactions. It wasn't much to look at, just a plain stone building with no windows, the stonework scarred and pitted by long years of neglect, but something about it put Roxanne's teeth on edge.
Veil gestured for his guests to enter. Hardcastle and Wulf looked at the rough wooden door hanging slightly ajar, and then looked at Roxanne. She grinned broadly, drew her sword, and moved forward to kick the door open. At the last moment, the door swung open before her. Roxanne stopped and waited a moment, but there was no one there. The gloom beyond the door was still and quiet. She looked back at Veil. He was watching her mockingly
