Empire in Black and Gold

none of them rich or sophisticated, or that’s what the textbooks say. Well, in the last two generations all that has changed, and keeps changing, and it will change faster than anyone wants.’

He sighed. ‘Looking at you, the lot of you. . it takes me back. When I was not so much older than you are, I and some like-minds headed east, to see if the disturbing news from that quarter was true. It was indeed, for a new power has arisen. The Wasp-kinden, who are described in our oldest records as barbarians primarily interested in cutting each other’s heads off, are an empire now. Their borders have since been pushed to not so very far east of Helleron and Tark. There is a city called Myna. .’ The memories swelled in him, and he closed his eyes. ‘We witnessed the fall of Myna, and realized a little of the Wasp dream. One world, one empire: that sums it up neatly.’

‘But this must have been. . what, twenty years ago?’ Tynisa objected. ‘So where are they? Why aren’t they all over Helleron? Why aren’t they at Collegium’s gates with an army?’

‘As to Helleron, they are familiar with the Wasps. Indeed, the merchants of Helleron have been doing well out of importing the spoils of their war, and they sell them the latest in Beetle-made arms in return. They want to see the Wasps as just another city-state that is constantly fighting, never really changing. There was a time, during the Empire’s war with Salma’s people, when enough of Helleron suddenly woke up to what was brewing on their doorstep. But the Wasps came in with their treaties and their promises, and signed lots of comforting pieces of paper about the Empire going no further than Myna and, so long as the trade revenue keeps coming in, the Helleren magnates overlook just what it is they’re trading in. And perhaps those that don’t overlook it don’t get to live very long. And as for what their army is up to. . Salma, you’re best placed to answer that one.’

Salma’s smile widened a little, but lost its warmth. ‘I did wonder what you knew, when you took me as a pupil so easily.’

The other three were staring at him dubiously, and he shook his head. ‘When I first came here, it had been only a year since the Twelve-Year War ended. Twelve years’ conflict between my people and the Wasp- kinden.’

Their expressions had become intense as they tried to assimilate this, to stretch their minds around the periods of time involved.

‘The Wasps only stopped their march forward when they became overextended. There was a rebellion behind their lines, conquered people trying to cast off the yoke. The Wasps then offered us a chance at peace, and by that time we had no choice but to take the terms they gave. They demanded three border principalities. Over here, in extent, that’s from about Lake Sideriti right to the west coast, taking in all of Collegium and Vek along the way. The Wasps then turned round to crush the rebellions as we sat there with our Treaty of Pearl. We’re still waiting for them to come back. So that explains where their army has been, all those years. Not sitting idle, believe me.’ Salma sat back, watching them.

‘And my agents in Helleron, who keep an eye and ear open for me, lead me to believe that the Lowlands will be next to feel the rod,’ Stenwold finished. ‘If nothing else it will mean that, when the Wasps move on the Commonweal again, they’ll come at it from both east and south, and with Helleron’s foundries supplying their army.’

‘So what can we do?’ Che asked the question in all of their minds.

Stenwold sagged. ‘I had hoped that this would go differently, but time’s a wheel that crushes better plans than mine. I’d wanted to take you. . take some of you with me to Helleron, to introduce you and gather a little information there. Once you were ready, and when I knew enough about the Wasp plans, I would put a question to you.’ He paused, aware that he was turning a page in their lives, and his, that could not be turned back. ‘I am putting the question to you now. Will you help me against the Wasp-kinden? I want you to be my agents in this. Think very carefully before you answer. Now, Totho.’

The halfbreed had been very quiet, very still. He watched Stenwold warily as the old man pulled a scroll case from within his voluminous robe.

‘I had to fight for these, but they’re yours. I know that the Master Artificers have been stinting you, so I’ve made sure you’ve got everything that’s due to you. Your College accredits, Totho. As of now you’re confirmed as a journeyman artificer.’

Haltingly, the youth took the case from him, not even daring to open it. ‘Thank you, sir.’

‘I’m giving these to you now so that you’ll have them, whatever you decide,’ Stenwold explained awkwardly. ‘Just so you know I’m not a blackmailer.’ Though only I know all the things this business has had me do.

‘What would we need to do for you?’ Tynisa interrupted.

‘Difficult to say, right now,’ he admitted. ‘But go to Helleron and ask questions, meet my people there. Collect word as it comes in from the east, and find out what the Wasp foothold in Helleron amounts to. Sound simple enough? Then remember that the Wasp-kinden have agents as well, or can hire them. Our late-night guests were just such an example. You’ll need to keep a blade and a fallback escape plan handy.’ He grimaced. ‘As I said, this isn’t how I wanted it but right now, with what happened last night, I want you safely out of Collegium. Just now it’s more dangerous for you to be with me here, than alone in Helleron. So even if you don’t want to take me up on this suggestion, you should still leave the city.’ He looked from face to face. ‘Any thoughts yet?’

Salma stretched luxuriously, making it all seem like some minor matter, barely worth his attention. ‘Of course,’ he said. ‘I’ve already written to my Kin-obligate in the Commonweal. I’ll be a servant of two masters, Master Maker. Two masters with a common enemy.’

‘I can live with that, and you won’t be the first in that position,’ Stenwold said.

‘I want to help, too,’ Che added quickly. ‘I’ll do whatever you need me to.’

Stenwold felt a stab of sadness. I had wanted to keep you from this. But he had no safe place to keep her now, and if the Wasps marched on the Lowlands there might be no such place anywhere.

Tynisa still held her own counsel, but Stenwold saw Totho nod slowly, though not looking too happy about it.

‘I’ll go, sir,’ he said simply, and Stenwold wondered if it was the accredits just received that had made up his mind. Or maybe it was the lure of Helleron’s machines and factories, or something else.

‘Tynisa?’

She smiled at him. ‘Uncle Sten, there are things you aren’t telling us.’

And he thought, Blood will out, because she had seen through him just as sweetly. He was playing a blindfold game that all Spiders knew in their hearts from their earliest years. Here she was in his city, raised amongst his own resolutely practical kind, yet she could still have been a Spider-kinden princess.

‘And some of it I will tell you, if and when you agree, and some of it is not safe yet for you to know.’ And let them brood on why that is.

Tynisa was still looking at him keenly, considering carefully. ‘And you’re going to join us in Helleron?’

‘As soon as I can. When I have closed my business here.’

Her smile changed from the penetrating to the blithe. ‘Why not, then? Let’s all go.’ He wondered how much she had guessed at. Still, he now had their agreement, although he wondered if any of them had given it for the right reason. He was not even sure he would know what that right reason was.

‘So what’s the plan, Uncle Sten?’ Tynisa prompted him.

‘Well,’ he said, ‘before all this blew up I made arrangements for four of us to take the rail as far as Sarn, and go overland from there to Helleron. Sound good?’

‘If there’s no other way of travelling,’ Salma said. The idea of the rail automotive obviously did not sit well with him.

‘As it happens, there is,’ Stenwold confirmed. ‘If all of this was happening a month from now, we’d have the Iron Road to take us direct to Helleron, and damn the expense. However, the promised last hundredweight of track is slow to be laid, and we need to shift promptly. Because of this, by midday you four will be on board the Sky Without, which is leaving for Helleron today.’

‘The Sky Without being some manner of flying boat, as I recall,’ Salma remarked.

‘An airship,’ Totho breathed. ‘Very new. Very large.’