Knives of Bastion (An Empire Falls Book 2)

by Harry Leighton

  Kellan

  K.

  I am glad you have arrived safely. Please remember that these three men have lived by strict codes and other people’s laws for many, many years, and are now experiencing freedom. They are bound to be erratic. But we want them for that. I am pleased the journey went well, and I expect communications regarding the solving of our problem soon.

  Karina.

  Hello Karina.

  Daeholf and his friends have met Erik and are working on solving that issue. I have been looking into the other tasks you sent me to do, and I have discerned something interesting. I may be wrong, but I believe the underworld in this city is actually being controlled by one person, and if that is an overstatement, then I believe one person is trying to control it. Gangs are being ejected or stamped down, crime is being moderated, something is happening. I spoke to the merchants / pirates, and they hinted at interesting things. I will try and work out exactly what the situation is.

  Kellan

  K.

  A head of the underworld? That would be quite the achievement, and to be frank with you, I would know how to judge. Please find out as much as you can, our operations, current and planned, would certainly rub against this. I am pleased you are examining the issue, if we had left the other three alone they might have missed it until too late. Have they solved that problem?

  Karina.

  Hello Karina.

  We live in interesting times. Firstly, the three men you handpicked for this operation have managed to annoy so many people they ended up in the cells, until I got them out. They are now back at the location, presumably working out a similarly ill informed plan. I suppose this reads like I am questioning your judgement, and at distance it is easier to write. Perhaps taking pity on them was not the right thing to do. However, I have other news, but whether it’s good or bad I leave to you. There is a head of the underworld here, and their power is considerable. They are a kraken, tentacles in everything, and are winning the wars.

  Kellan.

  K.

  I have not taken pity on those three. I seem to remember that you needed moulding into your current shape and didn’t start auspiciously, so remember to afford them the same chances. I am confident they will be able to solve our issue. But, that pales in significance to what you have found. A living, breathing head of an underworld, the position dreamt of by criminals for centuries. This puts a very different complexion on our plans. I will need time to consider, but I see a number of options for us. We will have to remove this person, or at least damage them greatly.

  Karina.

  Karina.

  I write with difficult news. Firstly, the head of this underworld has won a war against the gangs and is now in sole charge. That would be bad enough, but Daeholf has been nearly killed and is stuck in bed. The extortionists are gone, dealt with by others, but he and his friends encountered a serial killer who has been terrorising the city, and are believed to be the first people to do so and live. The man is made of steel, and with time will recover. He and his friends are devoting themselves to catching this killer. They have allied with a guardswoman.

  K.

  K.

  Terrible news in your last letter. Please do everything you can to speed and secure his recovery. A serial killer on the streets? Let them focus on that. But I have formulated a plan to deal with our rival. We are going to destroy them. But we are not going to fight a street war with them, we are not going to unleash our agents onto this city with their fists balled and their knives ready. Instead we are going to use money. I have liquid funds, and they will be delivered to you. We are going to buy and bribe and kick the props out from under this man, until they are tottering, and then we are going to let the city push them over. Expect the cash soon, but take care of the chaps first and foremost.

  Karina.

  *****

  “Do you have a thing about pies?”

  Trimas paused, turned, and saw Zedek looking at him with a wry smile. The former was in the process of buying food, the latter had noted something.

  “Pies?”

  “Yes. Every chance you get you buy a pie.”

  “You buy pies. You bought the last pies.”

  “To fit in with you. No point buying something you don’t want.”

  “Alright, say we didn’t buy the pies. What do we buy?”

  “We are in the north. There must be an awful lot of meals you can guide me to.”

  “You want a food tour?”

  “I left home to see and experience the world.”

  “You left home because you…”

  “Let’s stick with the official explanation.”

  “Okay. So you want to see food…” Trimas turned and tried to remember the city. “We could just drift into some random shops and see what we find?”

  “Yes, alright, let’s do that.”

  They turned, came back together and started to walk.

  “It feels odd for you, doesn’t it,” Zedek noted.

  “Ey?”

  “Being us two again. Like before.”

  “Yeah, yeah it does. It was never strange when it was just the pair of us, in fact you were the first real friend I’d had since I was a kid, a friend without all the military baggage, but … yeah, since being with Daeholf we became a trio. Now we’re back as a pair.”

  “I feel it too,” Zedek confessed.

  “You do? I mean, of course you would, but…”

  “I’m awkward and different, I know. But yes, I feel strange being a pair too. Being a trio feels so natural. Now.”

  “A good find by me then.”

  “A good find?”

  “Daeholf.”

  “Oh, yes. If you want to call him that.”

  “Risky, yes. Very risky. But a great person.”

  “I’m not sure any of us are great people.”

  “No?”

  “But we are great people for each other.”

  “When did you start to make incisive personality judgements?”

  “I observe and learn.”

  “I should probably do that. I’m enjoying not having to do it.”

  “So are you and I doing this more or less enjoyable than being in the legions?”

  “Well, no offence, but there is nothing like leading a victorious army.” Trimas had gone proud.

  “None taken. No one alive in my people has any conception of that feeling. Nor will they.” Zedek was certain of this.

  “Right. But I’ve learned a few things since then, and that’s the feeling stops, and you can’t win victories forever. Things get in the way.”

  “Senators.”

  “Indeed. We’re told senators stop us from being taken over by the military.”

  “And you’d prefer that?”

  “No. I don’t know what I’d prefer anymore. I’m just no more a fan of senators than I am of putting generals in charge of everyone.”

  “Plenty of emperors led armies.” Zedek knew his history.

  “Emperors, believe it or not, have a lot of other functions.”

  “Did that woman just look at us funnily?”

  “I suspect she thought we were being cruel about her beloved emperor. If only she knew who we were.” Bloody emperors, Trimas added to himself.

  “Perhaps we best change the subject.”

  “Okay. Change. We are investigating a serial killer.”

  “Yes.”

  “And trying not to get arrested again for pissing people off.”

  “So we have started that by allying with someone who annoys the guard even more than loud bounty hunters do.”

  “I sense some scepticism.”

  “We should find out why they dislike her.”

  “It seemed rude to ask, she’ll tell us when she’s ready. It’s not like we told her everything about us, is it.”

  “We kept one or two things back.”

  “Yes. So let’s hope she doesn’t, deep down, hate soldiers, rebels from the skinny cowards to the we
st and people who totally fucked up their stint in the senate.”

  “Oh that’s how my people are being described now is it?”

  “Would you prefer purple?”

  “It’ll do.”

  “I seem to recall it di…”

  “So back to the Nightwalker.”

  “Of course.”

  They walked along for a little, before Trimas said, “Elena wants us to blend into the ex-military inns and see if we can find any psychopathic scouts.”

  “A shame Daeholf isn’t here.”

  “Of course. But I do have a common touch.”

  “This is what we’re calling drinking with your troops now?”

  “Yes. Language evolves.”

  “Well luckily for you, these inns will be full of people happy to do the drinking.”

  “If only we had more money.”

  “We have enough money to run out so you can still walk home.”

  “If I’d known interrogation could be this fun I’d have joined the Imperial police.”

  “Really?”

  “No, they’re utter bastards who think they own the capital.”

  “So why say…”

  “It’s a joke.”

  “Oh, right.”

  “If anyone looks at you funny, while we’re drinking and questioning, just say you’ve gone siege blind.”

  “What?”

  “Trust me. It’s soft in the head for respected soldiers.”

  *****

  The Governor slammed his fist down on his desk but regretted the action immediately. Aside from the obvious pain, it didn’t look good for him to lose his control in front of his subordinates and that had been happening all too often recently for his liking.

  “Governor, sir?”

  He looked up. The watch captain sat opposite, looking at him nervously. The man was a weasel. Oh not overtly. He very much appeared the upright and upstanding watch captain. But also, given the right encouragement, someone who was happy enough to skip the chain of command. Sell his superior out. He was very useful but not really to be trusted.

  “In his bed?” the Governor said, moderating his sudden anger and taking a more measured tone.

  “In his own bed too,” the captain said.

  “This isn’t funny, captain.”

  “Not at all sir, no, just unexpected.”

  “It doesn’t fit the pattern, no.”

  “It is an escalation sir, yes, but that’s not quite what I meant. This last victim was a known, ah, player. To catch him in his own bed suggests either coincidence or some determined stalking.”

  “Perhaps. More effort needs to be made.”

  “In the Thieftaker’s defence, a killer that changes his method this much and this often is going to be near impossible to catch unless he wants to be.”

  “In her defence?”

  “In the watch’s defence sir.”

  “You came to me, captain.”

  “You wanted to be kept appraised of the case sir.”

  The Governor frowned. Was there a hint of backtracking here? Did the captain think that Vika might be closing in on him? And did he fear her more than him? That was very interesting.

  “Indeed. It is making a lot of people look bad. A lot of people. I’m sure you understand me, captain.”

  “Sir.”

  “Thank you for the update. You may go. Perhaps via the back would be best. We don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.”

  “As you say Governor.” The captain got up to leave.

  “Send in my aide on your way out.”

  “Sir.” The captain walked out. A moment later the new aide appeared.

  “You called for me sir?”

  The Governor studied him. He didn’t like new people but his hand had been forced.

  “Yes. How are the festival preparations coming?”

  “It’s too warm.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “The lake still hasn’t frozen properly yet.”

  More trouble. Great.

  “Move the pavilion into the square, cancel the ice events and reallocate the stall spaces based on importance. We’ve done this before.”

  “As you say. I’ve taken the liberty of drawing up a plan for the new layout, if you’d like to review it.”

  “Leave it on my desk. Looks like I’ll have to talk to a few of the merchants. Set up the meetings will you?”

  “Of course sir.”

  “Have they located your predecessor yet?”

  “Ah, I’ve not heard anything. Shall I go and check again?”

  “No. Leave it. Idle curiosity, no more.”

  “As you say sir. Will that be all?”

  “Yes. Close the door on your way out Darek.”

  “Yes sir.” The aide walked across and dropped a file on the Governor’s desk before disappearing back out through the door he’d entered by.

  Problems. Nothing but problems. A couple of months ago, the city had been relatively quiet. Well, quietish anyway. Now there had been a gang war in the docks, the public were terrified of an uncatchable serial killer, one of his closest aides had embarrassed him greatly and the Thieftaker was starting to get way above her station. And to top it all, the end of year festival that the whole city had been looking forward to was going to have to be smaller than usual because of the bloody weather. Not cold enough! This far in the north and it still hadn’t even snowed properly yet. He supposed he should be grateful really. He’d not grown up in the area so the cold really got into his bones if he let it. It was ridiculous that he was cursing that it wasn’t cold enough, but here he was.

  Still, that was the least of his problems. At least there was an established procedure for dealing with that, however unhappy it would make some of the lesser merchants. It was probably for the best anyway. The city wasn’t really in quite the right frame of mind to party at the moment. Not after the last couple of killings anyway. People got stabbed on the streets with enough regularity that it was hardly news, though no one liked the idea of being stalked. Running around the roofs and killing people in their beds was quite something else however. The city was on edge. The end of year festival was coming at exactly the wrong time, though there was not much he could do about that. He couldn’t exactly change the calendar and cancelling it entirely would probably cause more upset than anything else he could do at the moment. So on it stayed.

  His thoughts strayed to things he may not be quite so powerless about. The watch clearly were making a concerted effort to catch the killer, and much as he wouldn’t put it past Vika to stall an investigation to hurt the public’s view of him, the failure to capture the killer was hurting her worse than it was hurting him. She’d be putting everything into catching him as soon as possible. Every day that went by with the killer still free was damaging her reputation. He smiled briefly. He was seeing personally to that. That didn’t change the fact that the killer remained free, terrifying people about being killed as they went about their business on the streets or even as they slept in their beds. There was no pattern to the victims, anyone could be next, which only magnified the fear. The best people in the city were on it though. Short of bringing in some outside agency to solve the problem, there was little more he could do about that other than offer the right encouragement and incentives.

  Outside agencies though. It was an interesting thought, but who and how? An appeal to any lawbringers from other cities would just make him and Bastion a laughing stock. He couldn’t expect to be governor for very much longer after admitting he couldn’t keep his house in order. Official help was out of the question. He had heard that there were some bounty hunters in town but he didn’t exactly trust those sorts of people. Halfway to being criminals themselves.

  Besides which, hiring Bounty Hunters to go after the Nightwalker was essentially a declaration of war on the Thieftaker. She may be his subordinate but she had built up a lot of influence in the city. He wasn’t blind. She could make things very difficult for him. Thoug
h to be fair, it was starting to look like she’d declared war on him. He still seethed about how she’d handled his aide. She should have come to him. Not snatched the man from under his nose and throw him in a secret cell. He shouldn’t have gone to her in anger. That was a mistake. Oh, she’d been calm and polite. Explained that it was out of her hands. He’d caught the trace of the smile though. And he knew that he’d played into her hands there. If he hadn’t been sure of how far her fingers reached, he’d have thrown her off the job in a heartbeat. He hadn’t become governor of the third richest city in the empire by being rash and stupid. A city that was probably closing in on being the second richest under his governorship. So he needed to be careful. Watchful and methodical. She’d won this round but not the war.

  And war was how it looked. He needed to see the next move coming. Unless she had already played it if course. The takedown of his aide had been a masterstroke. Both humiliating and not something he could retaliate over. And it had left an opening on his staff…

  Darek had seemed like a good hire at the time. He was more than capable with solid references from the council offices. No sign that he was a gambler either so at least he shouldn’t end up in the same situation twice. But … he didn’t know him. Good people had recommended him, sure. But that didn’t change the fact that he was new. And new people needed to earn trust.

  Maybe he was just being paranoid. Maybe it was nothing. But... After all, he had people in both of his enemies’ organisations, so it wasn’t really a stretch. And both of his enemies had proved capable and well informed.

  Darek. Hmm. He’d better keep an eye on the man.

  *****

  “You seem uncharacteristically happy,” Trimas said to Zedek as they walked to the end of the street.

  “You make me sound miserable.”