The Invisible Hand

by Chris Northern

  Renik poured some hot water into a bowl before leaving, and I made quick use of it before I dressed and headed into the outer room, looking like I was ready for the responsibilities of the day, even though I seriously didn't feel like it.

  "Report," I instructed as I took a seat at the table and leaned back to eye the two centurions.

  "Two people were killed in the night, with no clue as to who was responsible. Also one missing person. The day's vigil will be reduced in number as fifty of the available men are working on the new quarters. Also, our engineers are taking a work crew for stone; there is a quarry just three miles away. We intend to recruit through the day in order to carry out instructions regarding Hederan and the north."

  I gave a nod to indicate that I had heard and agreed their actions. I didn't comment; who knew what kind of body count Sapphire was responsible for? For now, I'd be ignoring any unexplained deaths and disappearances. "I'll be holding court today; I'll be needing Balaran, if you'd inform him that I'd appreciate his making himself available. Carry on."

  The centurions left and I reached for the wine; changed my mind and took water instead. I'd woken with another hangover and decided that had to stop. The compulsion to drink had faded, but old habits die hard. I was making critical decisions and didn't want to make them while half-cut.

  "How much training time will I have for the recruits?" Meran asked.

  "None. Just put some of your own men in charge of ten-man units and get moving. I have letters here that need to go south to my uncle and to the assembly of patrons and others," I slid the letters across the table and he scooped them up.

  "I have six scouts, but they are all out. I'll send these south as soon as one returns."

  I'd forgotten about the scouts my uncle had loaned us. "When do you expect them?"

  "Tomorrow; and you requested a copy of the census," he placed a bundle of papers in front of me.

  "Good." I immediately started reading, looking for men with skills I could invest in.

  "Where do you plan to hold court?"

  I hadn't thought about it. The courts are usually public, but I didn't want to offer a distraction for what was already happening publicly. The hall would be full of sleeping men, resting from the night-long vigil. "Good question. Later, we will clear out the temple and use that, but for now the courtyard," I decided. The prisoners could be dragged out one at a time and dealt with before disposal. "Have the court announced so that any interested parties can come and stand witness and offer evidence. We'll start at noon."

  He left to deal with it and I scratched at the bristles on my chin before turning my attention back to the census, picking out people whose skills looked promising; a brewer; a blacksmith; a cooper. I was still reading and marking names when Renik and another older retainer brought breakfast.

  "Get me a razor and more hot water," I ordered as he made to leave. It was time I started shaving again. The skin of my face still felt sensitive but the burns had healed well enough for me to be able to face scrape off the several days’ growth of beard that had just reached the itchy stage. As he left, Meran returned with Kathan and two guards in tow.

  "Well?" I asked without preamble.

  Kathan grinned. "We are yours to a man, if you will have us."

  "Good. There will be an oath to take, today at noon." I turned to Meran. "That's sixty-three men you don't have to recruit. Make sure the centurions know."

  "We are to be warriors?"

  I gestured to a chair and he took it. "Soldiers. It's not quite the same thing."

  He shrugged, putting his brawny arms on the table and interlacing his fingers. "What's the difference?"

  "The same difference as between barbarism and civilization; more layers of authority that promotes cohesive action." I briefly outlined the way we organise armies; units of ten with a first and second man and two non-combatants, ten units to a century with a centurion in command, two centuries to a maniple, three maniples to a cohort, ten cohorts to a legion. "The officers are separate from the structure of the units; even if you removed them from the picture the army would still function. They are only there to set objectives according to the commander’s orders; the officers provide direction, having an overall grasp of the objectives of the army and what place in that objective the unit he commands must play."

  "And what will our objective be?"

  I told him.

  "Some of the men are married, they might not want to leave their wives and children," Kathan said.

  "Persuade them," I instructed him. "Any who want to go can bring their women and children to the hall where they can be assured of their safety for the duration of the mission, which in any case should only take a matter of a few weeks. They will be my clients, so remind them that after they are discharged they will receive land and citizenship, entry into the fifth class and the rights and privileges that affords them."

  He nodded his acceptance of it.

  "You will have one day to arrange such personal matters. Tomorrow, you will march."

  #

  "I can't help you with that."

  Balaran was idly wondering around the room, studying the animal hides and the weapons used to hunt them. He had come to ask me why I would be needing him. His response was less than satisfactory.

  "You know the truth spell?"

  "Of course," he turned a surprised look my way. "But I don't have a sorcerer’s loupe with me." He shrugged. "Without one, the spell is useless."

  I returned the shrug, remembering that Jocasta had once made a loupe simply to prove a point. "So make one."

  His face scrunched up in puzzlement. "It isn't that simple, Sumto. Not only would I physically have to make the loupe, and I don't have the skills, I would then have to merge stone with it in a very complex spell. A loupe is an artefact, made with stone, not simply a couple of glass lenses mounted in a tube."

  It was my turn to look surprised, then to feel a little stupid. Of course a loupe was an artefact; of course it would require a permanent expenditure of stone. Jocasta had lied to me. She had been making a point, not making a loupe to replace the one I'd lost. Why had I believed her? I knew a loupe was an expensive and rare item; I knew that they were not made casually in an instant, yet had completely believed her and changed my thinking as a consequence.

  "Is there another way?"

  Balaran shrugged. "Not that I can think of, no. I'm afraid you will just have to judge them without the aid of a truth spell, Sumto."

  I supposed I would.

  #

  "Our father is dead?"

  I've often wondered why people repeat back information to you as a question when you have just imparted that information to them. How did they expect me to respond? 'No no, not dead, "wed", I said; he's taken a new wife! Dead, indeed, perish the thought.' Idiots.

  The three women looked at me with pleading eyes; two were young and the daughters of the chieftain of Twobridges, and one a little older and Dannat's wife. All three were recovered hostages; I'd been working my way through those and left these three until last.

  "What of Dannat?" The older woman asked, offering me the opportunity to ignore the redundant question.

  "I have no news of Dannat," I said. "I need you to write a message to whoever will be in control of Twobridges and inform them of your presence here under my protection." I indicated a chair, and Meran briskly placed pen and paper there. Dannat's wife took the seat and picked up the pen. "Have them send an escort here so that the daughters of Twobridges can be returned to them."

  It was Dannat's wife who sat and picked up the pen to write. "And myself?"

  "Until I am assured that Dannat is not a threat, you will remain my guest."

  "And my children?"

  "And your children," I confirmed. I had no idea where Dannat was or what his intentions were. The last I knew of him he was no ally of mine, having given me a blow to the head that nearly killed me. If he fell into my hands I doubted I would be gentle with him; in the mea
ntime I would keep his wife and children here as insurance against him. When some representative of Twobridges appeared for his sisters I would exact a statement of exile from them so that Dannat would find no allies there. I had also recommended to my uncle that a route to Darklake be secured; Twobridges was on that route and without legitimate leadership, and I hoped they would choose to cooperate. I saw no reason why Twobridges should not become part of the client state I was building here.

  "Do you consider my husband your enemy?"

  I considered briefly whether I could keep the news of his actions from her, but knew that many in Twobridges would know he had betrayed his father. I knew also that he must have like-minded allies in Twobridges, either other family or well-placed friends. The news, when I chose to give it, that the Necromancers were destroyed as a power and Twobridges at my mercy would probably be leverage enough to browbeat them into submission.

  "The last I saw of Dannat he was gloating that he had usurped his father and that Twobridges was his to rule as he saw fit. At the time, I was close to death at his hand. I cannot say that I am well disposed toward him; many good men, who were my clients, died as a result of his betrayal."

  She dropped her eyes to the blank page before her, her face pale. "I see."

  "I intend no harm to you or his children," I looked at each of the quietly weeping girls who stood holding each other closely for comfort, "or any of his family. But Dannat would be wise not to fall into my hands."

  "I see." Her voice was hardly more than a whisper. "Is there no hope of your forgiveness?"

  Was there? I thought of Jek, Pradas, Drant and Tain. Men I had come to begin to like. Men I could very well use here and now as my friends and allies. Men who were my clients. Men who were dead.

  I leaned forward, turning my head as I pointed to the two fresh scars there. "No."

  Without another word, she bent to the page.

  "Keep it simple and short, if you would. I'll be adding a message of my own."

  She nodded minutely, then gave her attention to the page before her and began to write. It didn't take long.

  "Consider yourselves my guests; do not attempt to leave the hall."

  After they left, I sighed and leaned back in my chair. It was nearly noon. I had one last task to perform before the judgements. Meran had located Jek's wife and surviving child. They were waiting outside. There was no delaying it further. I didn't know what I had that I could give them in the place of Jek, or to ease the loss of her son and her daughter. Nothing would be enough. I expected her to hate me for failing them.

  "Bring them in, Meran."

  I couldn't put it off any longer.

  #

  "They're ready."

  I glanced at the open door where Meran stood and nodded that I'd heard him. Renik had finally acquired new clothing for me and I was wearing the best of it. Some of it didn't fit; he was unsure of my size and Treleth had had a limited stock to choose from. Still, I'd found a pair of black trousers, a matching undershirt and a loose, short sleeved, green tunic that looked well enough together. I kept the felt boots that I'd filched from Orlek; they wore well enough. I finished notching the belt and headed for the door. Meran fell in beside me.

  "Where do you plan to house Kathan and the rest?"

  I was getting tired of making decisions. "They can squeeze into the hall overnight, and tomorrow you leave for the north. It's a problem that can wait, but I don't plan on building a standing army here." I thought about it as we walked through the empty hall. In a year we would be leaving; and I might not have my Uncle's soldiers that long. They were borrowed, after all. And these men would have to replace them in all their duties. "Have the centurion build enough room for them at the new barracks."

  The day was overcast and cool. The courtyard was full of men in ranks, eyes on us as we stepped out of the doorway. Sixty three men of Darklake stood there, and beside each man stood a soldier. I'd dragged them from sleep and put them on parade to stand one-to-one with the men who were going to take the oath, in part to prompt them in the words and in part to witness that they were said. No man who broke oath to me would be able to deny that he had spoken it. I picked out Anista, standing by her brother, and the other magistrates. They'd agreed to take the oath also, and I was glad to see it.

  We came to a stop behind a trestle table and a single chair. After we were done here I would sit in judgement on the prisoners. I wasn't looking forward to it, but it needed doing. To either side, around the walls of the courtyard, women and children had come to witness the event, fuelled by curiosity. Some were also here to witness and participate in the trials that would follow. They fell quiet as I appeared and took my place.

  "Men of Darklake," I raised my voice to carry and echoes came back at me from all sides, "you have decided of your own free will to become my clients. From this time on your problems will be mine, and your welfare and that of your families will be my concern. Should you have need, turn to me and I will meet that need as gladly and generously as though we were family. Remember that you are not servants or surfs, vassals or subjects, but free men and citizens of Darklake. The penalty for breaking the oath you take can only be applied if you take action against my interests or raise arms against me or mine, and I swear that you will never have need to do that, any more than would my son or brother or cousin. Now take the oath and seal the bargain."

  The soldiers took their cue and each prompted his man. The oath was short and simple, honed over centuries to express a binding agreement. At the end of it I was their patron and they were my clients. I told them so, reminded them that they would be under arms tomorrow and working to secure peace for their people, but until then they were at liberty.

  The soldiers broke formation and drifted back into the hall to resume their interrupted rest as women and children surged forward to be reunited with their husbands and fathers. I watched my new clients as they were led into the hall by their women and hoped that I would do better by them than I had those of Learneth who had taken the same oath.

  Kathan detached himself from the crowd and headed for me, Anista beside him.

  "Don't tell me," I said, "you want something already."

  Kathan grinned and Anista frowned. Expressions I'd come to expect from them.

  "I'd like my own arms and panoply," Kathan said. "I'm used to them, you understand. My shield, my spears, bow and sword come easy to my hand. I asked Anista but she hasn't the knowing of where they may be."

  I turned to Meran and looked the question. "Armory," he said shortly. "I'd intended to sell everything but now it will be distributed in the morning."

  Kathan looked relieved. "I'll be first in line, then."

  I nodded. "If only all requests were as easily solved. I'll be an hour or two here," I turned my attention to Anista. "Will you see two horses saddled for when I'm done?"

  She glared at me. I guessed she was still angry about the night before, when I had circumvented her staged event, but she could hardly say so without admitting her intentions.

  "It's been a while, maybe she has forgotten how to ride," Kathan said. He seemed suddenly intent on digging dirt out from under a thumb nail.

  Her glare transferred to him. "I've forgotten nothing," she snapped.

  "Oh? And how long has it been since you have sat astride a horse? Or taken as much as a step beyond these walls, for that matter? Go for a ride, girl. I'll see to saddling some beasts, if you like; I'm sure there must be one there you can handle."

  For a second I thought she was going to hit him. "You'd do better to tend to your own business, brother. I have things to tend to, so if you want clean clothes after you bathe, and Hesta knows you surely need it, you'll come with me now while I've a moment to see to it."

  Without another word she left our company, heading for the hall. Kathan shot me a grin and followed behind her.

  I took a long slow breath. "I get the feeling I missed something there."

  Meran cleared his throat. "Well, yo
u did give her the keys to the hall." He made it sound like the answer to a question.

  I looked around the courtyard. We were far from alone and were being watched. Clusters of men and women remained to give evidence in the trials to come, and there were a dozen soldiers there to keep the crowd in check and control the prisoners. All of them were waiting for me to get proceedings under way. Still, first things first.

  "What," I asked, measuring out the words carefully, "exactly is the significance of that?"

  "A chieftain gives the keys to his wife or mistress," he shrugged. "I guess she is a little confused"

  She wasn't the only one. I thought things through, trying to see it from her point of view. "Mixed messages."

  "Perhaps you had better explain." I suspected he was trying not to laugh.

  "Yes."

  "When you take her riding." He definitely sounded like he was trying not to laugh.

  "Let's get this over with," I gestured to the centurion to bring out the first prisoner. "Stop laughing and tell me what the man's accused of."

  #

  "Caliran could have helped you."

  The rough ground to the east of Darklake made for slow progress; picking out a path for the horses to follow required some serious attention. Anista had led the way across the broken plain until we reached clearer ground between two peaks that bracketed the route to Duprane's Keep. Here, in a deep cut in the rocky ground, a turbulent river roiled, the sound of the white water reaching us at its edge. I'd stopped to look up and down the river, picking out a gushing torrent of water that broke from one wall, arcing across the river strongly enough to strike the wall opposite, sending up an enveloping mist. I'd been about to ask if it was the outlet from the whirlpool I'd seen in Darklake when Anista spoke and diverted my attention.