'You're talking? Never mind. I'm sure Bronte Doneto has motives for being here that aren't those of his cousin. Nor those of any conspiracy to thwart Sublime. Doneto has an abiding hatred for Antieux. Bad things happened to him there.'
'He asked for them.'
'That isn't relevant, Piper. If an enemy is so arrogant as to defend himself and defeat you…'
Titus Consent returned without being invited. He was pale and confused. 'Sir, there's a message from Colonel Smolens. Somebody assassinated Immaculate.'
'What? Damnit! Damnit! I wish I could swear like Pinkus. Get in here, Titus. Talk to us.'
'That's it. Somebody got into the Palace of the Kings. The Braunsknechts weren't on duty anymore. There wasn't any reason for a heavy guard. Immaculate had been overthrown.'
'I understand.'
Consent continued. 'He's made arrests. The assassins were clever getting to Immaculate but not clever getting away.'
'The news isn't a hundred percent bad, then, is it?'
'The men they caught were all members of the Society, Captain-General. They were defiling and destroying symbols of the Viscesment reign when they were captured.'
'That isn't good,' Principal Delari observed. 'We've just gotten us thousands of new enemies.'
Hecht shook his head. 'What were they thinking? Never mind. I know. The human capacity for stupidity is infinite. Instead of a crusade against the Night, how about we exterminate stupidity? Titus. Send a courier right now. Smolens should question those assassins publicly. Then execute them pubbcly. And fast. I won't condone evil even in God's Name. What do you want?'
Principate Doneto had appeared, also uninvited.
Principate Delari said, 'Deep breaths, Piper. No matter how angry you are, you can't address a member of the Collegium that way.'
'My apologies, Your Grace. You've heard the news that has me so distressed?'
'I overheard your instructions to Lieutenant Consent. They're a bit draconian. A response that dramatic is sure to blunt the initiative of Society members.'
Principate Delari caught Hecht's elbow and squeezed with surprising force. 'Stifle it, Piper. Bronte, anything less will provoke a firestorm.'
'Well. Yes. You could be right. Those people are becoming too full of their mission. Lieutenant, forget your orders.'
Delari squeezed till Hecht ground his teeth.
Doneto continued. 'I'll go to Viscesment. The trial and executions will have more impact if the Patriarch's cousin presides.'
Hecht growled, 'If the executions are of somebody besides some poor spear carrier.'
Doneto glared at him, for the first time in his recollection directly angry.
Principate Delari squeezed his elbow again.
'Titus, that's how we'll do it.' He bowed slightly to Doneto. 'It's in your hands, Your Grace. Please move swiftly, lest the wound fester.'
It might be useful to have Bronte Doneto far from the main camp, too.
'I do understand that, Captain-General. I'll be on the road within the hour.' Doneto turned and left.
Give the man his due. He traveled without an entourage. He could move fast when he decided to do so.
Hecht waited fifteen seconds to ask, 'You think he was behind it?'
Delari said, 'No. His anger was genuine. The Society is fast becoming more curse than sword. They win no friends for the Church.'
Hecht mused, 'So how long do I have to sit here while they make our future more difficult? Sublime has become as wishy-washy as Duke Tormond.'
Consent said, 'We could get lucky. Tormond and the Patriarch could just sit there waiting for the other guy to die.'
'A vision likely prayed for by millions.'
Principate Delari opined, 'The news from Viscesment should inspire Sublime. He'll think the murder was a good thing. He'll convince himself that the collapse of the Viscesment Episcopals will follow. That all he needs to do now is exterminate heretics. Who, being inhuman minions of the Adversary, will just line up for execution.'
Heartbeat normal again, Hecht said, 'Titus, Colonel Ghort is bringing prisoners from Sonsa. Meet him. Take charge of them. Bring them to Principate Delari. Any couriers going to Viscesment are not to say anything about Ghort or Sonsa.'
Hecht tried to get back to the work of the day. He was too restless. He told Delari, 'I need to get out in the air. Walk some of this energy off.'
'I understand.'
Sergeant Bechter followed Hecht out of the mill. Several lifeguards did the same. Hecht wanted to tell them all to go away. He did not waste his breath. They would not go. Bechter said, 'Sir, I saw that man in brown again this morning.'
'If he's being that obvious he must want to talk.'
'Sir?'
'I know who he is, now. He's all right.'
'Who is he?'
'You wouldn't believe me if I told you. An Instrumentality in his own mind. But he's no danger. Except to the fool who gets in his way.'
'A sorcerer?'
'Of the first water. Let's walk down to those meadows south of camp. Where they pasture most of the animals. We'll watch traffic on the river.' He felt like a stress-free conversation about mules or oxen with Just Plain Joe. Joe and his mule Pig Iron were completely comfortable with their lives. What a wonderful peaceful, prosperous world it would be if everybody in it was like Pig Iron and Joe.
Six lifeguards tagged along. They remained at a distance once Hecht left the confines of the camp. They knew where he was headed.
A breeze stirred the meadow. It carried the perfume of late season flowers. There were few trees this side of the river, and only scattered shrubs. The hillsides to the east bore splashes of yellow, carmine, and violet, and several shades of green. The army's animals had not yet stripped the land of fodder. In the distance a bleak gray ruin of a castle watched over the river. Hecht did not know its name or story. The river itself was a sluggish band of olive drab syrup, showing no hint of current. On the Connecten bank Patriarchal troops had raised a palisade round the hamlet of the ferrymen. There was plenty of timber over there. Hecht had work parties harvesting some to build rafts. He had a few more men cross over every day. A casual, slow invasion.
This appeared to be fertile land. Some calamity must have befallen it. Else these meadows would be wine country or farmland like the rest of Ormienden.
Curious. That river down there, the Dechear, was one of the great traffic ways of the continent. Traders had been sailing it before the rise of the Old Brothen Empire.
He did not see Just Plain Joe. Pig Iron, the unmistakable mule, stood out, lording it over the cavalry mounts.
Hecht asked, 'Does it feel like the wind is getting cooler?'
No response. He looked around. He was alone. He had wandered away from his protectors. Who didn't seem to have noticed.
His amulet itched something fierce.
He started toward the lifeguards.
'Wait.'
Cloven Februaren stood a dozen feet away, having materialized out of nowhere.
'Ah. Ah?'
'Enunciation, Piper. Enunciation. Don't make people think you're a lackwit.'
'I'd heard you were lurking around. What is it?'
'You did? How can that be? I've used the strongest sorceries to remain unseen.'
