just to give me a boost, make me feel human, and keep me going. Only the campaign just ground on and on, and I got more and more tired, and there were always more and more things that needed doing for your bloody Cause. And I needed more and more dust just to feel normal and get me through the day. I even had to embezzle from you to pay for the dust.'
'Why didn't you tell me?' said Adamant. He realized he was still holding the snuff box, and put it down on the dressing table. He wiped his fingers unconsciously on his sleeve, as though they were dirty.
'When did I ever get a chance to talk to you?' said Dannielle. 'We haven't had a moment to ourselves in months.'
Adamant started to say something heated in reply, and then stopped himself. When he spoke again his voice was low and cold and very controlled. 'Perhaps you're right, Danny. I don't know. We'll talk about it later. In the meantime, I have to think about how best to keep this quiet. A lot of people are counting on me to swing this election, and I won't let them down. If news of this gets out, I'll be ruined. I've made a lot of enemies in my stand against the drug trade, and they'd use a scandal like this to destroy me. Who else knows, apart from us? Who was your supplier?'
Dannielle smiled almost triumphantly. 'Lucien Sykes.'
'What?'
'Drugs come in through the docks, and he takes his share. Where do you suppose all the money came from that he's been donating to your campaign?'
Adamant turned away and closed his eyes for a moment. Nobody said anything. Adamant turned to Hawk and Fisher. 'How much of this do you need to report?'
'Not all of it,' said Hawk. 'Keeping quiet about your wife comes under the general heading of protecting you. But Sykes is a different matter. We can't ignore someone in his position. But he can wait until after the election tonight.'
'Thank you,' said Adamant. 'That's all I can ask. Danny, pull yourself together, and then come down and help with my guests. People have been hurt.'
'Do I get to keep my dust?'
'Do you need it?'
'Yes.'
'Then keep it.'
Adamant turned and left the room, and the others followed him out.
'I'm going to have to put out some kind of statement about the attack,' said Adamant as they went back downstairs. 'To reassure my followers that I'm all right. Rumors spread like wildfire in Haven, particularly when it's bad news. I'd better talk to Stefan. He's probably still in my study with his lady friend.' He smiled briefly. 'I did promise no one would barge in on them while they were there, but I'm sure he won't mind, under the circumstances.'
He led the way back to his study, and knocked briskly on the door. 'Stefan, it's James. I need to see you. Something's come up.' He waited a moment, but there was no reply. Adamant smiled slightly, produced a key, and unlocked the door. He knocked again, and pushed the door open. Medley and Roxanne were sitting together. For a moment nobody moved as the two sides stared at each other, and then Roxanne grabbed her sword belt and drew her sword.
'Get out of here, Stefan! They'll kill us both!'
She started towards Adamant, sword at the ready, and then stopped as Hawk and Fisher moved quickly forward to protect him. Medley got to his feet, but stood where he was, staring at Adamant's horrified face. Roxanne grabbed a burning brand from the fire and set it to a hanging tapestry. Flames ran up the wall. She grabbed Medley's arm and urged him towards the other door. Hawk and Fisher went after them as Bearclaw and Kincaid tried to beat out the fire before it could spread. Adamant just stood where he was, watching.
Roxanne backed away from Hawk and Fisher one step at a time, her sword sweeping back and forth before her, keeping the Guards at bay. She was grinning broadly, and her eyes were full of death. She glanced back over her shoulder just long enough to be sure that Medley was safely through the door. Then after a moment's hesitation, she turned and ran after him. Hawk and Fisher plunged after her, but she slammed the door in their faces and turned the key on the other side. Hawk lifted his axe to break down the door, and then lowered it again. His job was to protect Adamant, not to chase after traitors. Medley and Roxanne would keep for another day. He put away his axe, and after a moment Fisher sheathed her sword. Kincaid and Bearclaw had torn down the burning tapestry, and were stamping out the flames. Adamant was still standing in the doorway, staring at nothing. Hawk glanced at Fisher, who shrugged uncertainly. He moved tentatively towards Adamant, and the politician's eyes came back into focus. He had to swallow two or three times before he could speak.
'My wife is taking drugs supplied by one of my main backers. My guests have been attacked in my own dining hall, and most of my men-at-arms are dead. And now it turns out my closest friend has been a traitor all along. I never knew politics could cost so much.' For a moment he couldn't get his breath, and Hawk thought Adamant might cry, but the moment passed and some of his strength came back to him. His face hardened, and when he spoke again his voice was strained but steady.
'Not a word of this to anyone. We can't afford for my supporters to know how badly we've been betrayed. It will all come out after the election, but by then it won't matter, whatever the result. So, we'll go back to the dining hall, reassure my guests, and keep our mouths shut about all this.
'But win or lose, Stefan Medley is a dead man.'
Medley followed Roxanne through the packed streets, dazed and unquestioning. It was all like some horrible nightmare he couldn't wake up from. One moment he'd been cherishing a snatched moment with Roxanne, and the next he was running for his life. He didn't know where he was running to; Roxanne had taken over as soon as they left the house. He couldn't seem to concentrate on anything; all he could see was Adamant's face, and the look of betrayal in his eyes. Roxanne led him through increasingly narrow and squalid streets until finally they came to the Sheep's Head Inn, a quiet backwater tavern they'd used before for their few assignations.
The bartender showed no interest in seeing them again, but then he never did. That was one of the reasons why they'd chosen the place. Roxanne collected the key and led the way up the back stairs to their usual room, and for the first time they were able to sit down and look at each other.
'All in all, it's been an interesting day,' said Roxanne. 'Pity I didn't have time to kill Hawk and Fisher, but there'll be other times.'
'Is that all you've got to say?' said Medley. 'My life is ruined, my reputation isn't worth spit any more, and all you can think about is fighting a couple of Guards? We've got to get out of Haven, Roxanne. James won't move against us while the election's still running, but once that's over he'll send every man he's got after us. His pride won't let him do anything else. And you can bet he won't have given them orders to bring us back alive.'
'We can go to Hardcastle,' said Roxanne. 'He'll protect us. If only to spite Adamant.'
'No,' said Medley. 'Not Hardcastle. I've hurt him too badly in the past. He has scores to settle with me. Look, Roxanne, this is our chance to get away from all this and start over.'
'But I don't want to leave,' said Roxanne. 'I don't run from anyone. Besides, I like working for Hardcastle. The pay's good, and the work is interesting. I'm staying.'
Medley looked at her for a long moment. 'Why are you doing this to me, Roxanne?'
'Doing what?'
'I love you, Roxanne, but I can't go to Hardcastle. If you love me, you won't ask me to.'
Roxanne looked down at the floor, and then back at him again. 'Sorry, Stefan, but I told you; I work for Hardcastle. You were just another job. Hardcastle's sorcerer set me on you, as a way of getting to Adamant. You told me all kinds of useful things without realizing it. You were fun, but now the masks are off and the game's over. You lost. I'm sorry to rush you, Stefan, but I have to be going now.'
She got to her feet, and Medley stood up to face her. 'So it was all nothing but lies; all the things you said to me. I betrayed my best friend and dragged my honor through the mud, ail for you; and now you're telling me it was all for nothing? I can't believe that, Roxanne. I won't believe that.'
She shrugged. 'Don't take it so personally. It's just business. No hard feelings?'
Medley sat down again, as though all the strength had gone out of his legs. 'No; no hard feelings, Roxanne.'
She smiled at him briefly, and left, closing the door quietly behind her. Medley stared at the closed door,
