be simple camouflage. He talks to all, and all talk to him. I would not draw any conclusions about who his friends and enemies are from the amount of time they spend together.”
“Do you have more concrete information?”
“There are contracts going to certain houses. The Empress is showing certain people favour.”
“This is not gossip.”
“Our agents have seen the contracts. In several cases I have copies of their exact wording.”
“Good work, Lord Valefor, I am impressed.” This praise from one of the First obviously affected the diplomat, despite his self-control. His chest puffed a little and a small smile quirked the corner of his mouth. Asea said: “What do you think he hopes to gain here?”
“You jest, Milady. He seeks to get Harven to break its long-standing policy of neutrality and side with Sardea in the coming war.”
“Do you think that is likely?”
“If you had asked me the question a year or two ago, I would have said it was impossible. But things have changed.”
Asea nodded as if he were merely confirming something she already knew. “In what way?”
“Harven is afraid, Milady. It fears Talorean ambition. Since the intervention in Kharadrea, I believe the Councillors think the balance of power has tipped too far in our favour.”
“Surely the Council does not fear us? Harven is safe behind its sea walls. Its allies make it invincible.”
“There are rumours of trouble with the Quan, Milady.”
Asea looked at him sharply. “Rumours?”
“Since the destruction of the Serpent Tower messengers have passed daily, sometimes hourly, between the Council and the City Below.”
“Why has it stirred the Quan?”
“All I know is that my spies believe the destruction of the Tower upset the Sea Devils a great deal. I do not know why — by all accounts the Quan and the Serpent Men were hereditary enemies. They fought against each other in the Elder Wars.”
A thrill passed through Sardec. Perhaps he had just been given a clue as to why the Dark Empire had not intervened as strongly as it might have done in Kharadrea this summer. The Serpent Tower was supposed to be indestructible and yet it had been destroyed. And Asea had been present.
Perhaps the Quan feared she had bound some new demon, developed some new sorcery. Perhaps the Sardeans did too. And perhaps she had…it was not impossible the half-breed had lied to him about what happened within the Tower. The destruction of the wizard Ilmarec and his home had seemed a blessing at the time, but now it looked like it had had unexpected consequences. It seemed like the disappearance of the prime artefact of their ancient enemies had frightened the Quan. Perhaps they would force the Council to side with the Sardeans. If they did, this could have had very deadly consequences for the woman he was protecting and for his men.
“Why was this not mentioned in dispatches?” he asked coldly. Valefor and Asea stared at him as they would have at a child who spoke out of turn.
“It was all merely conjecture and rumour. Only recently had it become clear what the fuss was about,” said Valefor. Another and more sinister interpretation struck Sardec but he kept it to himself. Valefor might have been paid off. He might have let Asea come here deliberately so that she could be captured. If that was so, their security here was compromised. He would have to discuss this with her and soon.
“Your suspicions are interesting ones, Lieutenant,” said Asea. They sat on the couches in her apartment. More pictures of the sea and ships covered the walls. While not quite as impressive as the Palace in Halim, their accommodation was certainly still luxurious.
Rik could see that there was something to Sardec’s logic. He would never have thought of this himself without having it pointed out to him, but once it was…
And it could be as dangerous for him as it was for Asea. After all, he had been her agent in the Serpent Tower affair and if anyone wanted to find out about it, he would make a far easier target than she, and one whose disappearance would be far less likely to cause a diplomatic incident.
Had she known about this? Was that the reason for all this training and her sudden concern for his health? He could not tell by looking at her smoothly beautiful face.
“Interesting is not the word, I would have chosen, Milady,” said Sardec. The corners of his mouth turned down sourly. He looked older, Rik realised. Responsibility pressed down on him.
“No doubt, Lieutenant, but what do you propose I do about it? I can hardly leave before talking to the Council. If your suspicions are correct, they would most likely not let me go anyway.”
“We should at least investigate possible ways of getting clear of the city. Talk to ship masters, see if there is any safe way out.”
“If things lie as you think they do, our heads are already in the dragon’s mouth. The Council will hear of any attempts we make to hire a ship — their agents are thorough and efficient, and there are few other ways out of the city. The Salt Marshes surround the city. They are a mass of monster-haunted bogs. Swamp fever strikes almost everyone who goes through them. Another reason why this city has never been successfully besieged.”
“We should do something, Milady.”
“Indeed we should. I will have the embassy people look into it.”
“I am not entirely sure I trust Lord Valefor, Milady. It seems to me that he could have warned you of this matter before you arrived, rather than letting you walk headlong into a trap.” Rik stifled a smile. Sardec was no longer as green as he once had been. That suspicion was one worthy of a Sorrow gang-lord.
“As yet we do not know whether there is a trap, Lieutenant.”
“I stand corrected. Shall we say a possible trap?”
“We shall. Is there anything else, Lieutenant?”
“The wards are in place?”
“They are functioning perfectly. The embassy was well warded before we came, and it is doubly well protected now.”
“I am thankful for that. I would prefer not to have a repeat of what happened to Lord Elakar happen on my watch.”
“I think you will find we are in agreement, Lieutenant.” Asea smiled sweetly. She did not appear to be taking Sardec’s suspicions too seriously. He made a gesture of frustration with his hook.
“Then with your permission, Milady, I will withdraw and make sure our sentries are not asleep at their posts.”
“You may go, Lieutenant Sardec, and believe me I appreciate your concern.” Sardec bowed and left. Once he was gone Rik said; “You don’t seem to think much of Sardec’s suspicions.”
“On the contrary, Rik, I think the Lieutenant is most likely correct.”
“You seem very cheerful for someone who may soon be fed to the squids.”
“There is not a great deal I can do about these things, Rik. I will deal with them when I have to. At the moment I have other business. I must deal with Lord Malkior.” The haunted look had appeared in her eyes once more. It set Rik’s nerves a-jangle.
“Your obsession with him may cost us all our lives, Milady. I must say that though you punish me for it.”
To his surprise she laughed. “Rik, the only thing I would punish you for is dishonesty. You must speak your mind to me about these things — in private. Even the cleverest of us can make mistakes — I often have.”
“You don’t think it was a mistake coming here, with the Quan so upset about the destruction of the Tower?”
“It may well have been, Rik, but we must make the best of the situation now. And so your lessons must continue.”
He suppressed a groan. Inwardly he wandered whether all the sorcerous drugs might not be affecting her judgement as much as his.
