‘Of course. Just as soon as they’ve ceased to be of use.’
‘There are some stirrings around the court about all this.’
‘Stirrings?’
‘About the wisdom of cooperating with the enemy.’
‘I’ve just made clear exactly what that cooperation amounts to.’
‘Yes, but there’s talk about whether you’ve got your priorities right.’
Bethmilno adopted an aggressive tone. ‘You’re questioning them?’
He shook his head. ‘I wouldn’t dream of it, grandmother. But there are those who express concern about developments other than the rebels.’
She nodded cannily. ‘You’re referring to the Clepsydra.’
‘Yes. Is it true that it’s been discovered?’
‘It was never really lost. We always knew approximately where it was, but we hadn’t bothered locating it. It’s only come to light now because our agents were shadowing a Diamond Isle ship, which led them to it.’ She smiled in a self-satisfied manner.
‘And is the Clepsydra really indicating an…end point?’
‘It wasn’t far off doing that the last time I saw it. And that was a very long time ago.’
‘Are you saying we have nothing to fear, grandmother?’
‘I’m saying I doubt the Clepsydra’s veracity. Because for all the skill with which it was created, it’s stood unattended for an age. There have been numerous shifts in the earth’s crust during that time, not to mention extremes of weather. Changes that could impair its function, and it goes without saying that it’s beyond the capability of any alive now to repair it.’
‘What of the so-called Source? If the rebels found that, too-’
‘Again, a groundless concern.’ The Empress was growing impatient.
‘But its power,’ her grandson ploughed on regardless. ‘Wouldn’t it be an appalling weapon in enemy hands?’
‘Only hands capable of using it. The rabble has no more understanding of how to master an artefact from what they call the Dreamtime than a dog knows how to drive a carriage. If we thought otherwise, we would have sought out and destroyed the Clepsydra long ago.’
‘I repeat, grandmother, that it’s the Source which causes most concern.’
‘And I say again,’ she replied tetchily, ‘that they have no hope of drawing on it. In any event it seems it’s been put beyond their reach, thanks to a bit of inventive maliciousness on the paladins’ part. Stop fretting’
‘I’ll try. So, how do we proceed?’
‘First we annihilate the rebels. Then we destroy the warlord. There’s nothing complicated about it,’ she assured him.
‘It’s simple,’ Zerreiss repeated patiently. ‘All I’m ordering is a diversion, and not an enormously big one at that.’ He indicated a spot on the hide map pegged up in front of them. ‘From here to around…here. It’ll put just a few days on our schedule. A week at most.’
‘With respect, sir,’ Wellem said, ‘it’s to do with practicalities.’ He jabbed his thumb sternward. ‘Redirecting all this is no small task.’
Their flagship was at the head of a massive fleet, consisting of a singularly ill-assorted collection of vessels; captured, commandeered and hastily built. Most were troop carriers, decks jammed with combatants and lashed- down war engines. Accompanying supply craft, laden with provisions, moved low in the freezing water.
‘Apart from re-plotting our course,’ Wellem continued, ‘the distribution of rations would have to be adjusted. That and a dozen other problems make it a logistical nightmare.’
‘I’m aware of all this,’ Zerreiss replied, ‘and the difficulties aren’t nearly as daunting as you make out, old friend. But I appreciate your efforts to save me from myself, as you see it.’
‘Sir, I would never-’
The warlord raised a hand to silence him, adding good-humouredly, ‘Of course you would. But this detour has great implications for our struggle.’
‘To a rock in the middle of the ocean, occupied by radicals? Do we need allies that badly?’
‘This isn’t about recruiting, is it, sir?’ ventured Sephor, the warlord’s younger aide. ‘It’s about him, isn’t it? The man in your dreams.’
‘I’ve not made a secret of it,’ Zerreiss confirmed. ‘Nor do I take strategic decisions based on hunches or intuition. You know that. Yet I strongly feel that heading for that island, meeting that man, are prerequisites for everything else we have to do.’
‘I don’t pretend to understand,’ Sephor admitted, ‘but I trust your instinct in this, sir. You’ve never steered us wrongly before.’
‘And I don’t intend to start now,’ Zerreiss assured him.
‘You know we won’t be the only ones heading there,’ Wellem reminded them. ‘Our intelligence says at least one empire fleet’s moving into those waters.’
‘It’s a good point,’ Sephor reckoned. ‘For the first time we’d be engaging the full force of imperial might head on.’
‘Have faith in me,’ the warlord said. ‘We’ve been preparing to take our message to their civilised world for long enough. It’s time we met.’ He fixed them with his cool, steady gaze. ‘Signal the new course.’
It was often said that the gods had some curious ideas about the deployment of their human progeny. While sceptics saw this as pure chance, and believers viewed it as divine intervention, both agreed that the disposition of players in the great game of life frequently displayed a savage irony.
So it was that this vast stretch of water hosted another ill-assorted troupe, also bound for the Diamond Isle.
‘Drink in the sight,’ Devlor Bastorran said. ‘You’re witnessing a momentous event.’
‘Is that so?’ Aphri Kordenza yawned into the back of her hand theatrically. ‘Just looks like a lot of boats to me.’
‘Ships,’ the paladin corrected.
‘Boats, ships; they’re only boring things that happen to float.’
‘You’ve no sense of history.’
‘Aphrim and I have something more important: a sense of self-preservation.’
‘Then perhaps you should take more interest in what’s going on around you.’ Bastorran gazed at the meld distastefully.
‘We take in enough to ensure our security. Everything else is surplus to requirements.’
‘It really doesn’t concern you that we’re part of something no living eyes have seen before?’
‘No. And we think it doesn’t matter to you either. We reckon you’re like us; when it comes down to it, you’re only interested in the Qalochian and getting your own back on him.’
‘Wiping out the rebels has its appeal, too,’ he said thoughtfully.
‘Sure, but even that’s not personal like Caldason, is it?’
‘I’ve never denied it. At least, I’ve never denied it to you.’
‘Then don’t give us all this history in the making shit, Bastorran.’
He held her gaze. ‘If you’ve got any ideas about getting to him first and depriving me of my revenge, freak, you’ll be history yourself. Both of you.’
‘You’ve no worries on that score. We’ll be contenting ourselves with cutting rebel throats, and hunting down the Ardacris woman.’
‘Who’s to be kept alive, remember. I promised Laffon I’d deliver her for interrogation.’
‘You’re no fun at all, are you?’
‘I only said she’d be fit for questioning. I didn’t say anything about her being whole.’
‘That’s some consolation, I suppose.’
‘Helping bring about Caldason’s death should provide further solace for you. So long as it’s me who strikes the final blow.’
The symbiote brightened. ‘That is something worth looking forward to. Aphrim’s going to be absolutely-’
Someone discreetly cleared their throat. They turned to see Bastorran’s aide approaching.
‘What is it, Meakin?’ the paladin snapped.
