new heirs.’
‘Who stands to inherit?’
‘Sezioti, the eldest son of the Emperor’s eldest son, but he’s not a charismatic leader. His younger brother, Dangai, is very popular. He’s a brilliant hunter – and you know as well as any how important that is to the Trueblood – and has been a warrior, and he now oversees the Inner Legion, which is a very powerful position in the Empire.
‘Sezioti is a scholar, and while he’s well liked, he’s not seen as a natural leader. But he has the support of the Master of Horses, Lord Semalcar, and the Leader of the Royal Charioteers, Lord Rawa, which is more than a match in influence for the Inner Legion.’
‘In short, you once more have a divided Gallery of Lords and Masters and a wholesale civil war is not out of the question.’
‘I’m sorry to say that is a possibility,’ said Turgan Bey.
‘I think we have common cause,’ said Kaspar.
‘Apparently we do,’ said Bey. ‘I’ll have quarters made up for you and see about finding someone who can sponsor you to see the Emperor. Trust me, it will be pro forma by the time you appear before His Majesty.’ He paused. ‘But what do we do about Hawkins?’
‘Leave him about his business for the time being. Just do what you would have done had he arrived without me.’
‘Well enough,’ said Bey. ‘I’ll have your servant sent for, and in a day or two we’ll start to see what good you can be to us.’
‘More than the safety of the Empire rests on this, I should remind you,’ said Kaspar. ‘I may not be welcome in Olasko, but I love my nation and my sister, whom I cherish beyond anyone on this world, and her family are there. A war down here that spills over the borders brings threat to them. Civil war in Kesh can easily breed regional instability.’
Kaspar thought it best not to mention the Talnoy and the risk from the Dasati. Bey had enough on his mind already.
Bey nodded. ‘I long for simpler times, Kaspar, when all I had to worry about were fractious rebels in the south or ambitious Kingdom generals to the north.’ He waved Kaspar away and added, ‘Border wars are so much less complex than all this magic, intrigue, and secret alliances. Rest well. We’ll speak again soon.’
Kaspar followed a servant to his new quarters and was pleased to see they were fit for royalty. Seven rooms comprised his apartment, complete with servants – some of whom were astonishingly lovely young women, all wearing the traditional Trueblood garb, the same linen kilt and bare chest affected by the men, with a torque of rank around their throat.
When Pasko arrived, he found Kaspar sitting on a divan, nibbling at a platter of fruit while two beautiful young women stood by awaiting his instructions. The former teacher of Talon of the Silver Hawk and long-time agent for the Conclave said, ‘Did all go as planned?’
‘As we expected,’ said Kaspar. ‘Lord Bey is everything we were told he would be.’
Both men looked around at their opulent surroundings. Kaspar glanced at one of the girls, who smiled back at him warmly. He then looked at Pasko and said, ‘Had I thought it would turn out like this, I would have asked for political asylum long ago.’
RALAN BEK WAS GONE.
Nakor sat up, looked around and saw no sign of the young man. Then something moved just over the top of a small rise to the east of the cave. As he stood, Bek hove into view carrying a large bundle of sticks.
‘You’re up,’ said the young man with a grin, adding, ‘obviously.’
‘Yes,’ said Nakor with a smile. ‘I am.’
‘I noticed the fire burning low and thought I’d get more wood.’ Again he added, ‘Obviously.’
Nakor nodded. ‘You hungry?’
‘Always,’ said the young man, putting the firewood down and sitting close to where Nakor fumbled through his rucksack. ‘No more oranges, I hope. I’m getting the flux.’
Nakor shook his head. ‘Travel food.’ He took out a packet wrapped in oiled paper and said, ‘Here.’
Bek opened the paper and found half a loaf of bread, some hard cheese and dried beef. ‘Not the worst I’ve eaten,’ he said, shovelling the first bite into his mouth.
As they ate, Nakor studied the young man. There was something about him that Nakor almost understood, but he had to look hard, as if somehow it would just take a bit more will to perceive it.
‘What?’
‘What?’
‘You’re staring at me. It’s … odd.’
Nakor grinned. ‘You and I have had similar beginnings. My father used to beat me when I wandered off as a boy.’ Nakor went on to tell Bek about his own youth, being a gambler, and running into Pug and the other magicians.
‘So that explains why the big man in white and gold was here.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘Because I don’t understand half of what you’re saying, Nakor, but I do understand that these are very important people you’re talking about, and important people have powerful allies. And I suppose those things in the cave are important and powerful, too.’
‘You snuck in there?’
Grinning, Bek said, ‘You know I did. You were awake, I know you were.’
‘Why do you think that?’
‘Because I wouldn’t have slept if I had thought that someone might try to take advantage of me.’
‘Why didn’t you?’ asked Nakor, then he took another bite of food.
‘Because I’m not stupid, even though sometimes things don’t make sense to me.’
‘So that’s why you didn’t try to attack me or flee on the first night?’
Bek shrugged. ‘I have nowhere else to be, and those things in there are as interesting as anything I’ve seen in a while. And I know not to take stupid chances.’
‘And leaving or attacking me would have been stupid?’
Bek nodded. ‘I’ve met your type before, Nakor. You act silly and harmless, but you know what you’re doing. You wouldn’t have stayed here alone with me unless you were confident that you could keep me from hurting you, or you knew you could hurt me.’
Nakor shrugged, and Bek pointed an accusing figure at him. ‘You’re some kind of magic user, right?’
Nakor shrugged again. ‘I know some tricks.’
Nodding as he chewed, Bek said, ‘I thought so.’
‘What are your plans, Ralan?’
Bek shrugged. ‘I don’t think like that. I just go out and find some lads, find a fight, find a woman, whatever. I don’t see the point in making plans. It’s not as if I have anything anyone wants; I mean, I can’t mill or plough, or do anything that people want to pay you to do. All I can do is fight and ride.’
‘There are many places where a man who can fight like you can earn a living.’
‘Soldiering!’ He spat. ‘Wear a uniform and take orders – yes sir, no m’lord – and all that? Never. I tried being a mercenary once, but that was boring. I just need –’ He stared off into space for a moment, then his dark eyes regarded Nakor. ‘I’m not sure what I need, but something