‘No idea.’
‘Nor me,’ Kutch added gravely.
‘Criminal gangs,’ Serrah said. ‘The same people who make the stuff.’
‘I was part of a criminal gang,’ Darrok reminded her. ‘Not that we had much to do with narcotics, despite being pirates. But I know ramp didn’t come from the criminal underworld.’
‘Where, then?’ Caldason asked.
‘One of the empires.’
‘What?’ Serrah exclaimed.
‘Some say Gath Tampoor, others blame Rintarah. Perhaps it was something they both came up with independently. I don’t suppose we’ll ever know.’
‘I don’t understand,’ Kutch admitted. ‘Why would anybody invent such a horrible thing?’
‘As a weapon. A covert munition in the war between the empires. It was designed to disrupt the enemy’s population and weaken morale; to encourage criminality and corrupt institutions. Not to mention diverting resources to deal with it.’
‘But that’s wicked,’ Serrah said.
‘Since when was morality a strong point for either empire? In its twisted way, it was a brilliant idea. Nobody could deny the damage it’s caused. But it was stupid, too. For all their cunning, the empires didn’t foresee it getting out of control. They didn’t anticipate it seeping into the lives of those who served them. Or affecting their own children, come to that. That young man whose death you were accused of, Serrah. What was his name?’
‘Chand Phosian,’ she whispered. ‘The Principal-Elect’s son.’
‘Phosian, yes. He was killed by ramp, indirectly.’
‘And through that my eyes were opened and I came to the Resistance.’
‘Ironic, isn’t it?’
‘If what you say is true, they killed Eithne as well, as surely as if they plunged a blade into her heart.’
Darrok nodded. ‘If you needed further proof of the evil the empires do, there you have it. It doesn’t matter if it was Rintarah or Gath Tampoor.’
‘How do you know all this?’ Caldason wondered.
‘When you live outside the law you occupy another world. You get to see and hear things ordinary folk don’t. I was told the story about ramp many times, by people whose word I relied on. I even spoke to old hands who claimed that in the early days, when ramp was first appearing, they were offered it as contraband by government agents. I’d no reason to disbelieve them.’
‘She didn’t stand a chance,’ Serrah murmured, eyes misting. ‘It’s so damn addictive.’ Caldason slipped an arm around her shoulder.
‘There might be a reason for that, beyond its narcotic properties,’ Darrok offered. ‘It could be just a myth, but it was rumoured that some kind of spell was built into its formula, to make users crave it more.’
Caldason glanced at Kutch. The boy looked away, reddening.
‘When I found this,’ Serrah said, indicating the chest, ‘it all came back. Eithne. Everything. What I’m hearing now isn’t making me feel any better. You’ve got to destroy it, Zahgadiah.’
‘I can’t do that, Serrah.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because we might need to use it as a kind of weapon ourselves.’
‘What the hell does that mean?’
‘You know what ramp does to someone taking it. Increased strength, stamina, aggression. It turns people into fearless…beasts. For a while, anyway. I heard some Resistance members in Bhealfa took it during the cull, out of desperation. If it comes to the last resort here, I think it should be available for those who want it.’
‘If I’m going to go down fighting I’d rather do it without that muck in my head.’
‘So would I. But I can’t deny it to anybody who feels differently. And in some circumstances it just might turn the tide.’
‘So what are you going to do, dole it out to everybody?’
‘No. It’s a last-ditch thing. It’ll be there if things get hopeless. Along with a stock of poison I keep, for any who prefer that.’
‘You paint a very charming picture of our prospects.’
‘I’m just trying to be realistic about what might happen.’
‘It stinks, Zahgadiah, and I don’t like it one bit.’
‘This isn’t the time to argue amongst ourselves,’ Pallidea suggested.
‘You don’t say much,’ Caldason told her, ‘but it usually makes sense.’
‘Hear, hear,’ Darrok added. ‘I’m sorry you feel the way you do, Serrah, and I understand why. But this is something the Council’s agreed on, too. So let’s drop it, shall we?’
‘Do you agree with this, Reeth?’
‘Whatever you or I think doesn’t make much difference, Serrah. It’s been decided.’
‘Is that all you’ve got to say about it?’
‘We’re not in a normal situation. Everybody on this island could be heading for death. Who are we to dictate how they face it?’
She sighed. ‘Well, at least get the damned stuff out of my sight.’
‘I’ll have it moved,’ Darrok promised. ‘It’ll be hidden. And hopefully it’ll never be needed.’
‘I think we have something more positive to discuss, don’t we, Zahgadiah?’ Pallidea said.
‘We do. Reeth and I have worked up a plan for rescuing your friend Kinsel.’
‘How are you going to do it?’ Kutch asked.
‘Good question. Let’s discuss it while we eat, shall we?’
17
‘So you think it was the same meld Reeth and Serrah encountered?’ Karr said.
‘How many can there be?’ Disgleirio replied. ‘But it shook me, I can tell you that. I’ve never faced such strength in an opponent, or skill. And she took the life of one of our best men, which is something I’ll not forget in a hurry.’
‘She was aiding the militia?’
‘Well, in the sense that she was attacking civilians. But I don’t think she was working with the authorities. More like a freelance.’
‘But not some kind of maverick, apparently. At least, Reeth didn’t think so. He suspected a connection with the paladins.’
‘Whoever she’s aligned with she did a lot of damage out there today.’
Goyter stuck her head round the door, a familiar, determined look on her face. ‘Come on, you two, eat. I won’t tell you again.’
Karr smiled wryly. ‘I think we’d better do as she says. The wrath of a meld’s as nothing compared to hers.’
Disgleirio had to grin. He knew it was at least half true.
They filed out of Karr’s tiny makeshift study. The ex-Patrician walked stiffly, but try as he might to hide the pain, he couldn’t disguise his eyes. Disgleirio pushed from his mind the thought that their leader, his friend, had death written on him.
A spacious side chamber in the catacombs had been given over to a dining area. Half a dozen long, sturdy benches almost filled it. But most people had eaten by this hour, and only a handful lingered over their meals. Karr and Disgleirio chose seats at an unoccupied table.
Once they’d settled, the Righteous Blade man said, ‘But the really strange aspect was the business with her foot. I reckon she was drawing magical power directly from the grid. Have you ever heard of such a thing?’
‘Actually, yes, though it’s rare. When I was a young man there was a case that caused quite a stir. It was a
