‘I believe so, Chancellor.’
Triban Gnol halted and fixed Brys with his glittering eyes. ‘I will hold you to that, Finadd.’
‘I would not have ventured an opinion were I not prepared to stand by it, Chancellor.’
A sudden smile. ‘Excellent. Tell me, have you taken a wife yet? I thought not, although I doubt there’s a maiden among the nobility who would hesitate in such a coup. There are many legacies one must live with, Finadd, and the means in which they are answered are the defining features of a man’s or a woman’s life.’
‘I’m sorry, Chancellor. What are you getting at?’
‘Your family history is well known, Finadd, and I hold deep sympathy for you and indeed, for your hapless brothers. In particular Hull, for whom I feel sincere worry, given his predilection for involving himself in crucial matters which are, strictly, not of his concern. I admit to fretting on his behalf, for I would not wish sorrow upon you and your kin.’
‘It strikes me, Chancellor, that you are too generous in assembling your list of concerns. As for legacies, well, they are my own affair, as you no doubt appreciate. For what it is worth, I suggest that you are according Hull too much power in these matters-’
‘Do you imagine I am here delivering a veiled warning?’ Gnol waved a hand dismissively and resumed pacing. ‘It insults me that you believe I am as crass as that. Does a seal-hunter warn the seal of the net closing round it? Hardly. No, Finadd, I am done with you. Rest assured I will waste no more sympathy upon you and your brothers.’
‘I am relieved to hear that,’ Brys said.
A venomous look. ‘Please close the door on your way out, Finadd.’
‘Of course, Chancellor.’
Outside, walking alone down the corridor, Brys sighed. He had failed to learn anything of the purported feud between Gnol and Kuru Qan. It seemed he had achieved little more than adding himself to the Chancellor’s list of enemies.
A second, deeper sigh.
He had nothing of Hull’s stolid determination. Nothing of Tehol’s cunning. He had but some skill with a sword. And what value that, when his attackers employed insinuation and threat in some verbal knife-game? Seeking to deliver wounds that time did not heal?
Reluctantly, he realized he needed advice.
Which meant another duel, this time with his own brother.
At least Tehol had no desire to wound.
‘What I desire,’ Tehol said, scowling, ‘is a meal that actually began with real food. Sort of a founding premise that what one is to eat is actually sustaining at its most basic level.’ He lifted one of the dark, limp leaves, studied it for a moment, then forced it into his mouth. Chewing, he glowered at Bugg.
‘There are apes, master, for whom banana leaves constitute an essential source of nutrition.’
‘Indeed? And are they extinct yet?’
‘I don’t know. I am only recounting a sailor’s story I heard once at a bar.’
‘He was a drunkard and a liar.’
‘Oh, you know him, then.’
Tehol looked round. ‘Where’s Ublala? I need him here, so Shurq Elalle can gauge his…’
‘Length?’
‘Worth. Where is he?’
‘On the roof. Pining.’
‘Oh. The roof is good. Pining is not. Does he need yet another talking to, do you think?’
‘From you, master? No.’
‘Some more leaves, please. Don’t skimp on the sauce or whatever it is.’
‘Right the second time.’
‘Whatever it is? You don’t know?’
‘No, master. It just leaked out. Maybe from the leaves, maybe from something else. It reminds one of-’
‘Tanneries?’
‘Yes, that’s it exactly. Well done.’
Tehol paled and slowly set down his bowl. ‘I just had a thought.’
Bugg’s eyes widened and he too put his bowl down. ‘Please, master, do not pursue that thought.’
‘It keeps coming back.’
‘The thought?’
‘No, the supper.’ He rose suddenly. ‘Time for some air.’
‘Mind if I join you?’
‘Not at all, Bugg. Clearly, during the course of preparing this meal, you worked hard at ignoring whatever impressions you may have had. I understand that you might well be exhausted by that effort. And if not, you should be.’
They turned at a sound from the alley, then the curtain across the entrance was swept aside.
‘Ah, Shand, we were wondering when you would arrive!’
‘You’re a liar and a thief, Tehol Beddict.’
‘It’s the company I keep,’ Bugg muttered.
Rissarh and Hejun followed behind Shand as she stormed into the small room.
Tehol backed to the far wall, which wasn’t nearly far enough. ‘Needless to say,’ he said, ‘I’m impressed.’
Shand halted. ‘With what?’
He saw that her fists were clenched. ‘Well, your vigour, of course. At the same time, I realize I have been remiss in directing your admirable energies, Shand. It’s now clear to me that you – all three of you, in fact – require a more direct involvement in our nefarious undertaking.’
‘He’s doing it again,’ Rissarh growled.
‘We’re supposed to be beating him up right now,’ Hejun added. ‘Look what he’s done. Shand, less than a bell ago you were saying-’
‘Be quiet about what I was saying,’ Shand cut in. ‘Direct involvement, you said, Tehol. Finally. It’s about time, and no games, you slippery bastard. Talk to save your life.’
‘Of course,’ Tehol said, smiling. ‘Please, make yourselves comfortable-’
‘We’re comfortable enough. Talk.’
‘Well, you don’t look comfortable-’
‘Tehol.’
‘As you like. Now, I’m going to give you a list of names, which you will have to memorize. Horul Esterrict, of Cargo Olives. Mirrik the Blunt, eldest of the Blunts, owner of Blunt’s Letherii Steel and Blunt Weaponry. Stoople Rott, the grain magnate of Fort Shake. His brother, Puryst, the ale brewer. Erudinaas, queen of the rustleaf plantations at Dissent. The financiers, Bruck Stiffen, Horul Rinnesict, Grate Chizev of Letheras, Hepar the Pleaser, of Trate. Debt-holders Druz Thennict, Pralit Peff, Barrakta Ilk, Uster Taran, Lystry Maullict, all of Letheras. Tharav the Hidden, of room eleven, Chobor’s Manse on Seal Street, Trate. Got those?’
Shand was glassy-eyed. ‘There’s more?’
‘A dozen or so.’
‘You want them killed?’ Hejun asked.
‘Errant no! I want you to begin purchasing shares in their enterprises. Under a variety of names, of course. Strive for forty-nine per cent. Once there, we’ll be poised to force a coup. The goal, of course, is controlling interest, but to gain that will only be achieved with sudden ambush, and for that the timing has to be perfect. In any case, once you have done all that – the purchasing, that is – make no further move, just get back to me.’
‘And how are we going to afford all that?’ Shand demanded.
‘Oh,’ Tehol waved a hand, ‘we’re flush. The coin I invested for you is making a sizeable return. Time’s come to make use of it.’
‘How much of a return?’
‘More than enough-’
‘How much?’
