Warlord

'Now, about billeting,' Raj said. Arrias frowned.

'Messer general, couldn't more of the troops be accommodated in Squadron properties?'

Raj grinned. 'Not until they've been properly inventoried and stripped,' he said. 'I can keep them from stealing too much from living, breathing fellow-citizens, but not from absent barb heretics. Speaking of which, Jorg; I want three full battalions of infantry on continuous patrol as guardia; I'm authorizing you to take over whatever police arrangements this city had-'

He looked at Arrias. The man spread his palms: 'The Admiral didn't like civilians having any sort of armed organization,' he said apologetically. 'We had a volunteer watch, but it was mostly poorer Squadron members.'

'Well, we'll work out something permanent later,' Raj went on. 'Jorg, I want strict control. Come down like a ton of cement on anyone who so much as stiffs a barkeep or a hooker.'

Menyez dragged off three of his infantry Majors and they went into a huddle at a side table over a street map of the city.

'Kaltin,' Raj went on.

Gruder looked up, alert and smiling; he was nattily turned out, freshly shaved, and had a ruby stud in one ear; rumor had it that a prominent young widow had already invited him to use her townhouse as billet for his headquarters.

'Kaltin,' Raj went on, 'I'm still concerned about Curtis Auburn and those damned ten thousand men of his; it's only a week's sail from here to Sadler Island, he's going to have to hear about what's going on sometime. If he lands outside and joins his brother the Admiral, well and good-but he might just try attacking us here. Go over the harbor defenses-personally, and whatever records you can scrape up: get Grammeck to give you some of his people. I want a fallback plan for defense against simultaneous assaults on the walls and the outer harbor.'

Port Murchison had two linked lagoons; the outer was the merchant docking area, and the smaller circular one farther inland was the military. They were joined by a canal, but only the merchant harbor was directly accessible from the sea.

'Which reminds me,' he continued: 'Security. We want no tales getting out to the hot-blooded Curtis.'

'Ahem,' Arrias said. Raj raised an eyebrow. 'Messer General Whitehall, I have here'-he pulled out a slip of paper-'a small list, compiled with the help of the Reverend Arch-Syssup, of-hmmmm-questionable non-Squadron persons. You will understand, since the barbarians ruled here so long. . and to tell the truth, there are those not anxious to see our city back under East Residence rule.'

For which there are good reasons, Raj admitted. The Admirals had been sloppy, inefficient, lazy, corrupt, and occasionally oppressive rulers. The Civil Government was nearly as corrupt, but vastly more sophisticated and energetic. The Southern Territories would be better-organized and more productive now, but the local ruling class would not necessarily reap the benefits. He made an inquiring noise.

'Guildmaster Ferteryo Saylazar, to begin with,' the mayor said. 'He was instrumental in having the Civil Government's resident merchants interned when the news of the invas-of the liberation first arrived. And-'

Iron-heeled boots slammed to attention outside the door, and hands slapped on iron as rifles were brought to salute.

'The honorable Messer Senior Administrator Berg,' a voice said briskly, as the doors opened.

'Ah, Messer Administrator Berg,' Raj went on; the man came through the door and handed his riding cloak to a servant, accepting a glass of lemonade and dusting himself down.

Raj raised an eyebrow. 'You didn't come in with the fleet?' he said. Orders to bring the fleet and enter the harbor sometime today had gone out to Admiral Gharderini right after the battle, while the fleet worked north in concert with the Army. There had been little contact, but according to the last report-his eyes flicked down to the map-the fleet had been resting in a cove about three kilometers south.

'No,' Berg said, puzzled. 'Admiral Gharderini sailed immediately on receiving news of the victory, right after Major Dalhouse arrived with his detachment. But I had some matters to get in order first. .'

'Wait a minute-quiet, please!' The buzz of conversation died. 'When did Gharderini sail? With who?'

'Yesterday: Your courier arrived, then Major Dalhouse with about a hundred men. They embarked, and steamed off right then, well, actually around midnight. . Why?'

Raj held up a hand to stay him and turned to the halcalde. 'Messer Arrias?'

'Ah-then the four warships weren't supposed to be in dock?' the mayor said nervously. He looked around, touching a finger to his cravat. How can I avoid getting sucked into Army politics I know nothing about? was written plainly enough on his face. 'They've been, ah, loading supplies since last night.'

'Supplies?' Raj said flatly.

'From the Admiral's warehouses. A number of export trades were the Admiral's property. .' His voice trailed off. Raj spun on one heel like a gun-breech closing.

'Who's got the harbor sector?' he snapped.

'17th Cuirassiers,' Jorg Menyez said. Everyone was suddenly conscious of the absence of Captain Hermano Suharto.

'Major Gruder,' Raj said. 'Turn out the 7th Descott and get them down there. Find out what the hell is going on. See that all naval personnel return to their ships; and if you find Dalhouse, put him under close arrest and bring him here, immediately.'

'Sir!' Gruder said; suddenly the carefully brushed tunic looked like the glittering skin of a hunting carnosauroid. 'If he resists, sir?'

'Kill him.'

* * *

Captain Hermano Suharto needed the two troopers on either side to hold him up; the bandages on his face and side were still leaking red. He tried to salute as Raj stood.

'Get this man a chair, for the Spirit's sake,' he snapped. 'Kaltin?'

'Gharderini right enough,' the scarred young Descotter said. 'And Dalhouse with some of his cutthroats, and Hingenio Buthelezi and about half a dozen others-officers from the 17th and the 1st Gaur, mostly. That seagoing counter-jumper and his Blackjackets'-marines-'had a cool half-million worth loaded by the time we got there. Captain Suharto had some of his own men there; he was arguing with Dalhouse, then the hijdaput drew down on Suharto and cut him. There would have been a firefight right there and then if we hadn't ridden up; the warships fired blanks over our heads while the bastards got back on board, then they made steam. The last anyone saw of them, they were heading right out to sea.'

Raj sank back in the chair, his hands clenched white on the arms.

observe said Center:

* * *

— and Dalhouse bowed before the Chair. It was a private audience in the Palace, in the Negrin Rooms; the Governor, Lady Anne, and Tzetzas seated, Dalhouse, Buthelezi and Gharderini standing as petitioners. Cool evening light came through the tall windows, picking out the ancient murals of waterfowl and reeds.

'Sovereign Mighty Lord,' Dalhouse said, rising from the prostration. 'With a heavy heart I bring Your Supremacy news of your servant's treason.'

'Explain,' Barholm said dryly. Lady Anne frowned, and the Chancellor steepled his slim fingers and raised a brow.

'Whitehall's arrogance is beyond belief, Your Supremacy!' Dalhouse's face contorted with anger. 'He appoints known traitors like Poplanich and baseborn nobodies, peasants and infantrymen, to command over loyal men of good birth. Why? Because they owe everything to him, of course! Instead of sending back his loot to Your fisc as is his plain duty-as we loyal men have done-'

Tzetzas leaned forward and handed the Governor a slip of paper; this time Barholm's brows rose at the amount.

'— he spends it on donatives to buy the loyalty of his troops. I fear, I greatly fear, Your Supremacy, that Whitehall intends to make himself an independent ruler in the Southern Territories, using the Expeditionary Force and Squadron lords he's won over by bribes and by favors to their heretical cult. Already he's forbidden plundering of the abominable Earth Cult shrines, while they drip with a century's stolen wealth from Star Spirit churches.'

Barholm nodded. 'You may go,' he said, and the three officers withdrew.