'Now, according to Wiggin Junior, two months ago somebody wanted to buy five kegs. The Pinnskas sent them to the Graumachi brothers. Apothecaries. They had some saltpeter. We visited them. They said they would've gone ahead and made some firepowder except for one technical problem. They didn't know how.'
Interesting. Though firepowder weaponry had begun to proliferate, the secret of the powder's manufacture remained closely held by those who had acquired it.
'So now it starts to get interesting,' Ghort said. 'Hello, Lieutenant.'
Titus Consent joined them, as did Anna soon afterward. 'Good afternoon, Colonel. Captain-General.'
'Titus. Go ahead, Pinkus. Interesting how?'
'The buyers told the Graumachis that they had to get permission from Artecipea to hand over the formula and instructions. They didn't know how you make firepowder.'
'Artecipea?'
'Where Rudenes Schneidel supposedly hides out.'
'I thought he was in Viscesment.'
'Not anymore,' Ghort said. 'I've been trying to hunt him down.'
'So have I,' Titus Consent said. 'Anyone who knows anything says he went back to his home island. I've had no luck finding out anything there. Sonsans and Navayans keep getting in the way.'
'Anyhow,' Ghort said, 'I've got men working the waterfront now. They've already swept up some Artecipeans connected to the people we arrested here.'
'Impressive speed. Very impressive.'
'Not so much when you realize that all these people were too stupid to understand that there would be a big-ass manhunt after something like this happened. Who go around bragging that they were involved. Titus, my man, you had something for Pipe?'
'Nothing helpful with this. I'm off early because Colonel Smolens wants me to find out what's happening. We're behind schedule. He doesn't want to fall farther back because he didn't know the Captain-General was hurt too bad to work. The Patriarch seems serious about an expedition to punish Count Raymone Garete for his persistent defiance.'
Hecht blurted, 'Stupid! Stupid! Can't anybody make him listen?'
'No. He hears what he wants to hear. His cronies tell him what he wants to hear. And right now he wants to hear about disasters happening in the Connec.'
'This something new? More of his bandits get themselves butchered?'
'There's that. And more. A chest of Arnhander specie arrived this week. Another chest vanished en route last month. He blames the Connectens. Rumors say the men moving the gold decided they needed it more than Sublime does. A more sinister rumor says Anne of Menand arranged the disappearance to finance her own mad ambitions.'
'Insanity,' Hecht said. 'I hope they get into it with each other.'
'I don't think you'd like it if they did. We might have to fight Arnhand.'
'I don't want to think about it right now.' He needed to stop talking sedition.
'Another reason I'm here. I've found workmen to do restorations. They'll start in the morning. If that's all right with you, Anna?'
'Oh, it's fine. Thank God everybody is so thoughtful and practical. All I've done is worry about Piper and the children.'
'You really moving to Delari's town house?' Ghort asked.
'Looks like.'
'Lucky shit. My angel is a goddamned tightwad.'
'What's he say about Delari? Especially lately?'
'He don't like him much. So what? None of them like each other. Hugo Mongoz, whenever he wakes up long enough, hates the whole goddamned world. But you don't see him in no hurry to leave it.'
'I heard them arguing a while back. It got pretty hot. Something about Doneto trying to sabotage Sublime.'
Ghort looked like someone had slapped him with a board. 'That's nuts.'
'Maybe I heard wrong.'
'You must have. Look. I'm gonna have those guys cover Anna's place. What I want to tell them… Here's the thing. I've got to let a bunch more guys go come the end of the month. They'll be a lot happier if they can get on with you than if they've got to wait for a spot to come up with the militia.'
'Sounds like I'm hiring, want to or not. Fine. Tell them. But they need to look out for all these houses, not just Anna's.'
Anna rushed off to bark at a teamster for not being careful enough with her furniture.
Hecht looked for the blond woman and Osa Stile. He did not see her but Osa was in tripping range, eavesdropping. Unabashedly.
Ghort noticed him, too. 'Isn't that…?' He backed away, holding Hecht's arm, then turned his back to Stile. 'I just twenty minutes ago heard from Bo. He's got a report for you.'
'Really? I'd about given up, it's been so long.'
'He had a rough, slow go of it. What do you want him to do?'
'He can come to the town house. I'll stay there till Anna and the kids get settled.'
'And then?'
'Then it's likely we'll get to take a trip to the Connec.'
'God help us all.'
'I don't think anyone else can.'
Darkness was near. Principate Delari's staff-all three-helped the teamsters carry things into the house, without enthusiasm. Piper Hecht stood halfway between the wagons and the doorway, not watching the teamsters so much as the surrounding night. He never, never trusted the night.
There were people out there who wanted to kill him. There was the malice of the night itself.
He scratched his left wrist. There was some faint sorcery going on somewhere close by. Maybe inside the town house. The Principate might be in there.
Scratching, he reflected that there had been no warning before the firepowder cart exploded. Again, the attack had been straightforward.
Because the mastermind knew he would be forewarned about any sorcery?
Probably not. Somebody was using the tools at hand.
Somebody kept failing. But the sad fact was, somebody only had to get it right once.
The blond woman joined him. She said nothing immediately. He told her, 'We'll do our best not to inconvenience you.'
She grunted like a man. 'I won't be the best housemate. I don't know how. I live like a hermit. I seldom leave. The only people I see are Turking and Felske. And Mrs. Creedon. And Grandfather, when he comes around.'
Her voice lacked animation. That chilled Hecht. 'Turking and Felske?'
'The servants. They're married. Mrs. Creedon cooks and does what she can to help the other two. She's a widow.'
'You were here first. You set the rules. Within reason. I don't want the children sleeping in the garden.'
The woman weakly laughed. 'I'm not used to the little beasts but I think I can cope.'
'They're calm for their age.'
'Your woman, though. She doesn't like me.'
'She feels threatened. I don't know why.'
'Does she enjoy coffee?'
'I couldn't say. We haven't shared any since we've been together.'
'I'll go brew some.' Little smile. 'It's one thing I do well.' She strode away, forcefully while slightly bent, as though expecting a blow. She was focused and alive, suddenly. Hecht wondered what her story was.
Anna materialized. Hecht was startled, noting how short she was, compared to the other woman. She was much bigger in his mind. 'What was that all about?'
'Trying to work out how to get along. I gather she isn't used to people. Especially kids. But she wants to get
