“Adam,” Caroline called. She looked tired, but happy. Her tunic was in rags. “You’re free!”
“I broke out,” I said. I sensed, more than heard, more people running towards us. “We have to get out of here!”
Caroline nodded, then unhooked a potions bottle from her belt and hurled it into the hallway. There was a flash of light, followed by a roar of thunder that made my ears ache. I saw the ceiling start to cave in as Caroline grabbed my arm, yanking me back. I cast a glamour over myself as we ran through the hall and out the door. The spell wouldn’t keep them from noticing me - nothing could do that, now they knew we were there - but they’d have problems knowing precisely where we were. Hopefully, it would make us harder to hit.
My ears rang as we ran through the gate and down the streets. I looked around, frantically trying to work out where we were. We were on the southern side of North Shallot, I thought, only a short distance from the shops, cafes and beaches. Caroline held my hand tightly, casting a series of glamours. Passersby stared at us, their noses twitching in disapproval. We didn’t look remotely like people who belonged in North Shallot.
“I think we’re clear,” Caroline said, as we reached the beach. A handful of children were playing in the waves, watched by nannies and governesses. They looked carefree, even though the entire city was on the brink of chaos. “I’m sorry it took so long.”
“Don’t worry about it,” I said. We sat down on a bench and stared out to sea. “Where were we?”
“A townhouse, I think,” Caroline said. “I didn’t have time to look up the records and see who owns it.”
I scowled. “Anton Bolingbroke,” I said. “He had some very interesting things to tell me.”
Caroline nodded as she removed a flask from her belt. “What did he say?”
“There’s a group within Magus Court that wants to trigger a riot,” I said. I outlined what Anton had told me, piece by piece. “And use that as an excuse to clamp down on their enemies.”
“Interesting,” Caroline said, when I’d finished. “Do you think he was telling the truth?”
“I don’t know.” I stared at my hands. “He was quite keen to convince me to join him.”
Caroline laughed. “He doesn’t know much about you, does he?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I didn’t get the impression he was lying, but ...”
“Yeah.” Caroline peered out to sea. “He could have been lying. Or he could have been repeating a lie someone else told him. We don’t know.”
I rubbed my aching sides, feeling unsure of myself. “He said - he was quite insistent - that His Majesty also wanted the socialists crushed. He figured they posed a threat to the king as well as Magus Court. And ... what if he’s right?”
Caroline cocked her head. “What if he’s right?”
“I ...” I swallowed, hard. “I don’t know.”
My mind was a mess. I didn’t know what to believe. The Kingsmen were meant to uphold law and order, but ... what if King Rufus wanted the socialists crushed? What was my duty if my ultimate superior wanted Anton’s plan to go ahead? And yet ... I shook my head firmly. The law couldn’t stand if the lawmakers themselves abused it. The socialists had done nothing wrong. They hadn’t detonated the infernal devices, they hadn’t set out to riot ...
“If someone is guilty, they have to go to jail or face the hangman,” I said. I’d promised myself I was going to fight for justice. “But if someone isn’t guilty ... it isn’t fair to frame them, or to invent new offences, just to bring them to heel. The system itself will collapse.”
I looked at her. “We have to stop them,” I said. “Don’t we?”
“Yes.” Caroline winked. “We’ve certainly received no orders to let the plot go ahead. Sir Griffons could have taken us out of the city, if he’d wanted the plotters to succeed. He didn’t have to leave us here ...”
I stood, brushing down my tunic. It was torn and stained. My arm ached, a grim reminder that I’d bled myself only a few short minutes ago. I muttered a healing charm, hoping I had enough magic left for it to work. Caroline watched, her eyes concerned. A spell that involved blood - even the caster’s blood - was always borderline dark. I might wind up paying a price for what I’d done.
“We have to tell Lord Dirac,” I said. “And then ...”
I froze. We had no proof. There was nothing we could take to him, nothing that would prove our story. Anton Bolingbroke would laugh in our faces. We could use truth spells and swear oaths on our ancestors and ... and it wouldn’t be enough. We’d be arrested the moment we contacted Lord Dirac. And then the protest march would become a riot and the crackdown would go ahead.
And they wouldn’t stop, I thought. Anton had hinted the king would be happy, but I doubted it. Once the plotters had taken control, they’d need to keep control. They might not kill Caitlyn after all. They might try to use her to threaten the entire kingdom. They’ll unleash a civil war, rather than give up their power.
“We can’t prove anything,” I said. “We can’t.”
“There is the damage to the townhouse,” Caroline pointed out. She sounded as unsure as I felt. “And we do have the assassin ...”
I shook my head. By now, Anton would have put together a cover story. It didn’t matter what it was, as long as it was convincing. Lord Dirac would have no reason to pry any further. He’d just arrest us and ... no, that wouldn’t do. We couldn’t rely on anyone. I didn’t think we even had time to call our superiors. What could they do about the riot?
“We have to get there,” I said. “Quickly.”
Caroline caught my arm. “It might be too late,” she said. “There were already people on the streets when I left Water Shallot.”
“We have to hurry,” I said. I wasn’t about to give up. Not yet. If we could stop the riot, we could keep the plotters from taking control. There’d be time to gather irrefutable proof. Or contact our superiors and ask for help. Sir Griffons would listen, at least. He might have some good ideas. “Come on!”
Caroline touched her ring. “We need to report first,” she said. I saw her gather herself, composing her thoughts. “Give me a moment.”
She pressed her finger against the ring, then started to outline everything that had happened since we’d been left in the city. I felt cold as we started to walk, wondering what Sir Griffons would say when everything came to an end. We’d done as we’d seen fit, but it was clear we’d made a whole string of mistakes. We’d probably also pushed our authority to the breaking point - and then crossed the line. He’d have done a much better job, I was sure. It was hard to believe, despite everything, that he’d be fine with everything we’d done. He might dismiss both of us without a second thought.
I picked up speed as we hurried through North Shallot. The people on the streets were either aristos, wealthy commoners or their servants. They looked ... content, browsing the shops as if they didn’t have a care in the world. They didn’t know there wouldn’t be a third infernal device ... I wondered, sourly, if Anton had quietly reassured his superiors. It was so much easier to predict when and where a device would explode if you were the one setting them. I felt a flash of hatred. The bastard had killed children - children - for his petty power games.
A middle-aged woman in fine clothes walked past us, followed by a pair of servants who were utterly loaded down with expensive bags. I felt a stab of pity as the mistress berated her servants for being lazy and slow. The servants would probably join the socialists, if they thought they could get away with it. I couldn’t blame them if they did. It was suddenly clear, more than I cared to admit, that Anton had a point. The socialists crossed class and tribal lines, drawing in supporters from both the lower and middle classes. They could turn society on its head if they wished.
And Anton prefers to resort to force than tackle the problems leading to socialism, I thought, as we reached the bridges. They were closed and barricaded, a small army of guardsmen and sorcerers ready to repel attack. I couldn’t h
ear anything on the far side of the barricade. The march was intended to go through South Shallot, not North Shallot. They’re panicking over nothing.
A guardsman blocked our way as we started to cross the bridge. “The bridge is closed. Go home.”
I hesitated, trying to decide what to do. If I showed him my ring, we’d probably be arrested on the spot. There were enough guardsmen and sorcerers within eyesight to make resistance completely impossible. I glanced at the churning waters, wondering if we should jump in and swim again. But ... we’d be hauled out within seconds. There were just too many people who could intervene.
I drew myself up to my full height. “Do you know who I am?”
The guard looked doubtful. He didn’t know me, but that proved nothing. “No ...?”
I felt a flicker of guilt. “I’m the special representative of Lord Joaquin Aguirre,” I said, in the most imperious manner I could muster. Francis would have been proud. “I have orders to enter Water Shallot and collect items for His Lordship. Unless you want to stand in my way ...?”
“It isn’t safe,” the guard said, carefully. I’d put him in an awful position. He might think I was lying, but what if he was wrong? Lord Joaquin Aguirre would demand the guard’s dismissal for standing between his agents and their mission. No guardsman in his right mind wanted such a powerful enemy. Even checking my credentials would be risky. “My Lord ...”
“I have my orders.” I lowered my voice, slightly. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
The guard opened a door within the barricade. “Good luck, My Lord.”
I felt another pang of guilt as we passed through the door and crossed the bridge. I’d lied to someone who was only doing his job. But I didn’t have a choice.
Caroline nudged me as we entered Water Shallot. “You’d make a good aristo,” she said, snidely. “You’ve really mastered the entitled bastard act.”
“And I deserve a kick up the backside,” I said, as we started to run. Time was not on our side. “Come on, hurry!”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
My sides started to hurt, again, as I raced through empty streets towards the gentrified district and the bridges beyond. No one was in sight, not even the guardsmen or the prostitutes, but I heard a rumbling sound of anger from the bridges. The sound grew louder as we ran faster, fearing the worst. It struck me, as I ran, that it might be impossible to keep the protest from turning into a riot. There were too many people who saw violence as the only answer in Water Shallot. They’d already started killing guardsmen. They wouldn’t hesitate to lash out if they came under attack.
My breathing slowed as we ran to the waterside, passing dozens of shuttered and warded shops. I saw faces in the window, staring at us and the gathering marchers. I sucked in my breath as I saw them, realising - for the first time - that they were more than just socialists. Men, women and children, dressed in their finest clothes. They looked as if they were going to pay their respects to their ancestors, not taking part in a political demonstration. I felt a lump in my throat as we slowed, passing a pair of stewards who held out signs. I’d spent most of my life complaining about Water Shallot, but not everyone who lived there was a criminal, a loan shark or a monster in human form. The vast majority of the inhabitants were decent people.
I frowned as we headed towards the bridges. The stewards - men and women in red cloaks - seemed to have things under control, although I suspected their control wouldn’t last if all hell broke loose. They were telling everyone not to carry weapons, but that wasn’t going to happen. Men concealed weapons under their cloaks, women carried daggers on their belts ... I saw an able-bodied man carrying a walking stick that was almost certainly a disguised rapier. Or possibly even a spellcaster. If the protest was attacked, the protesters were prepared to fight back.
Caroline nudged me as we hurried on. “How many people are here?”
I shrugged. It was hard to tell. The crowd was shifting too rapidly - people coming, people going - for me to be sure. I shuddered as I saw a handful of small boys running through the crowd, either caught up in the excitement or taking advantage of the chaos to pick a few pockets before they were caught. I hoped it was the former. I didn’t want to have to intervene as the crowd beat a tiny pickpocket to death.
“Thousands, perhaps,” I said. It felt as if the entire district had turned out for the march. I knew it was unlikely, but still ... “I don’t know.”
We kept moving as someone - a middle-aged man - started to speak, his voice booming. He reminded the crowd of their rights as citizens and castigated Magus Court for even thinking they could take them away. Louise was a better speaker, but I had to admit he had power. The crowd murmured its anger as the speech went on and on. It looked as if they were on the verge of pushing forward and marching across the bridges without waiting for the order.
Louise herself was at the front, surrounded by a small army of toughs and runners. I thought I recognised some of the toughs, boys I’d known on the streets before going to Jude’s. I was mildly surprised they listened to Louise, even though she was a sorceress. Perhaps she’d made it clear the cause came first, always. Or maybe she’d had to use magic to assert herself.
“Adam,” Louise said. She drew us forward, motioning her cronies to stay back. “What happened?”
“You have to stop the march,” I said. “You’re going to be attacked!”
Louise paled. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I didn’t have time to tell her everything. “You can’t give them the chance to make an example of you. I ...”
The crowd roared as the speaker finally came to an end. Lines of people surged back and forth, threatening to overwhelm the stewards and head for the bridges. The waves of emotion were so strong that I knew, deep inside, that no one would be able to stop the crowd when it ran out of patience. Louise might understand what I was telling her, but ... she couldn’t stop the crowd. And if she walked away, she’d destroy herself. No one would ever take her seriously again.
“We have to do it,” Louise said. “If we back down now, they’ll know they can keep us under control.”
“Listen to me,” I said. “They’re going to crush you.”
Louise met my eyes. “Either we make a stand for our rights, here and now, or we lose them,” she said. “What would you choose?”
I bit my lip as Louise turned away, heading for the box. I understood, all too well. I’d learnt the hard way that you had to stand up to bullies. If you gave them what they wanted, they just demanded more and more until they found something you simply couldn’t give. But here ... I swallowed, hard. Louise was going to lead her people into a trap. They were going to be hurt or killed or ...I didn’t know what to do. There was no way I could stop her. The crowd would tear us apart.
Caroline caught my hand as the crowd roared again. “We have to protect them.”
I nodded, stiffly. Louise spoke now, her calm voice echoing over the crowd. She told them things could be different, if they reached out and took what was theirs. I felt another lump in my throat. If I hadn’t joined the Kingsmen ... my eyes scanned the crowd, picking out a handful of familiar faces. I’d have been one of them, if I hadn’t gone elsewhere. I was tempted to wonder if I’d made a mistake. And yet ... I shook my head. If I hadn’t joined the Kingsmen, I wouldn’t have tracked down the plotters. Sir Griffons knew who they were. He’d find a way to expose them even if Caroline and I died today.
Louise jumped off the box and started to march towards the bridges, her long hair blowing in the breeze. The crowd surged forward, the stewards desperately trying to keep the people under control. I glanced at Caroline, then walked on the edge of the crowd as Louse led them up the road. A chant started to echo, the beat thrumming through the air. I understood - I sympathised - and yet I found it terrifying. The crowd wanted what it wanted, and wouldn’t hesitate to turn on anyone who denied it. The people on the far side of the river had to be quaking in their shoes, hastily locking their doors an
d firming their wards. They wouldn’t be pleased about the marchers coming into their territory. I just hoped they’d have the sense to keep their heads down.
The wind grew colder as the crowd marched across the bridge. The handful of guardsmen on duty seemed to have decided to stand aside, instead of trying to block the crowd. I breathed a sigh of relief, even though I didn’t think it was a good thing. The guardsmen could have barricaded the bridges to South Shallot as thoroughly as the bridges to North Shallot. Instead, they seemed to be allowing the crowd to march towards Jude’s. I didn’t like the look of it. They could have prepared a killing ground somewhere ahead of us.
“The plan is to march around South Shallot and then return to the bridges,” Caroline said, as a pair of stewards hurried past us. I concealed a smile as I saw they were dropping leaflets in mailboxes. I didn’t think anyone would bother to read them, but it was worth a try. “Louise said she wanted to make a point, without being too provocative.”
“I hope it works,” I said. Clearly, Caroline and Louise had talked about a lot of things. “The march itself is provocative. The locals will hate the marchers coming up here.”
I frowned as I studied the crowd. They might have been wearing their finest clothes, but ... I felt their anger. It was more than just their lost rights now. It was everything, from poor housing to corrupt guardsmen preying on the people they were supposed to serve. I suspected it was just a matter of time before the socialists started patrolling the streets, even if it ran the risk of bringing them into conflict with people like Zadornov. The loan sharks might find themselves forced to run for their lives if everyone turned on them. I was surprised the idea hadn’t occurred to Louise. There wasn’t anyone in Water Shallot who liked the loan sharks. Even hardened criminals saw them as utter bastards.
The King's Man Page 34