The Invisible Hand

by Chris Northern

  By order of the Assembly of Patrons, enacted by and in the hand of Iolus Masan Alsingi Consare, Senior Consul for the year 553 after the founding of the Republic and by the will of the Assembly and People of Luria.

  Bastard. "Why?"

  "Secrets," Sapphire said.

  I waved the letter in irritation. "The whole Assembly voted on this!"

  He shrugged. "They need not all know there are secrets to be kept; bribery, canvassing, pulling in favours, faction loyalty."

  "A good and entertaining speech."

  "Democracy in action," he shrugged.

  I picked up on the dry contempt in his tone but didn't comment on it. Another time.

  "He doesn't say when I have to leave; ordered to withdraw from the area, return to the city, lay down my imperium, answer charges of..." I broke off. I didn't want to think about that too much right now. Treason. "...but it doesn't say when I must leave."

  Sapphire didn't respond. Arms folded across his chest, he leaned back against the chest of drawers and crossed his ankles, gaze wondering up to the ceiling. He pursed his lips but still didn't say anything. Impatiently I tossed down the letter and got to my feet to pace the room, thinking.

  "Why didn't I get any warning of this?"

  "I don't know."

  "Why didn't my father contact you?"

  "I don't know."

  Jocasta might not yet have reached the city and may not have heard anything of this even if she had. But my father was a Patron of the Assembly; he would have voted on this! I could only assume he voted against, but why hadn't he warned me through Sapphire? Did he have a reason or was he unable to act? Was he ill? Or worse?

  "Immediately," I turned and paced back. "One word added and I would have no choice. Why was that one word omitted?"

  "I don't know."

  I shot him a filthy look. He didn't know much. Treason! Bloody hell. That charge couldn't stick. What treason? Raising troops illegally, well yes. Guilty but I might get away with it on a technicality. Murder? Tahal was the only real candidate and I hadn't killed him; besides which, all those who were there had agreed a story and written letters home with the same version of the news of his death; that he had died honourably and heroically.

  I paused in the doorway of my sleeping chamber. The bed looked appealing. I had a book from Caliran that I hadn't read; I didn't even know what the title was. A bed, a book, some wine, no problems apart from a little negotiable debt. Okay, a lot of debt.

  Well, wine I had.

  As I stood at the table and poured some into a glass, there was a knock at the door that I had been half-expecting.

  "Come," I snapped out the word and filled my mouth with a quick gulp of wine that I swallowed before the door opened and Parast stepped into the room, all stiff military formality. Word of the dispatch had reached him and military law required that I reveal relevant orders to senior members of my command chain, and right now that was him.

  The centurion saluted and I returned it more casually.

  "Commander, in accordance with article thirteen I respectfully request to be informed of the contents of the dispatch recently received by you from the Assembly of Patrons."

  I didn't hesitate. "I am ordered to withdraw to the Eyrie, and then to the city." Relevant orders. But I got to decide what was relevant.

  "I understand those orders, Commander. Now, what are your orders to me?"

  He had come alone to hear this; he could have brought a witness or asked in front of any number of his men but he hadn't. Did that mean he was willing to collude in circumventing the orders? Did that mean he was an ally? There had been hardly any losses so far and the men had made good money in loot. How loyal were they to me? How far was centurion Parast willing to go? In colluding with me in disobeying the orders of the Assembly he was risking his career, his property, possibly exile and even loss of citizenship, depending on the charge brought. Negligence, dereliction and mutiny were all possibilities. And he must know it.

  "For now, none. The dispatch makes no mention of timing and there are matters to be dealt with; there are enemies outside the gates. We are engaged," I had already decided to be honest with him, "technically we are engaged by an enemy, and until that is resolved I cannot obey." Sometimes the mouth works faster than the brain. "Who can say how long the siege might last?"

  Parast cleared his throat. "An enemy of equal numbers..."

  "Wouldn't keep us tied up for long but who knows how many there are? Have you counted them, centurion?"

  He raised his gaze to the ceiling. He might have to testify under a truth spell. "No," his tone was musing.

  "And there are hostile elements within the town."

  He glanced at my bandaged arm. "Inarguably."

  "Of unknown numbers, posing a substantial threat, along with some six hundred hostile warriors who are actively besieging the town and thus keeping us from manoeuvring."

  His eyebrow twitched. "I suspect estimates may vary."

  "I believe we may initially have grossly underestimated their numbers."

  "By a factor of ten?"

  "Has anyone ridden up there and looked?"

  Parast shook his head.

  "So we have only the estimates of the local civilian population to go on, potentially hostile reports of a subjugated people." Idly, I poured some wine and passed Parast a glass.

  "I would not recommend that we trust them, Patron." His tone of voice expressed caution.

  "I will be acting on your recommendation that they are attempting to lure us into a false sense of security and I suggest that you warn the men to that effect."

  He gave a nod of assent.

  "It's a worrying situation." I tried to sound worried. But I wasn't so worried that I couldn't drink.

  "Terrifying," Parast couldn't keep the ironic tone out of his voice. "I'll go and... comfort the men."

  The involuntary snort of laughter made me choke on my wine. Well, someone was bound to score sometime.

  #

  "I estimated sixty or so." Vesan look up from the nasty gash in my forearm and peered at me in seeming confusion.

  "Estimates vary," I told him.

  "I'll say," he returned his concentration to my arm, stone raised. A moment later I caught the flicker of light at the corner of my eye that always accompanies the use of stone and felt warmth flood through the flesh in and around the wound. The pain eased.

  I ignored the process, focusing my attention on his face and trying to read him. "And there are hostile elements within the town."

  "Hmmm," he sounded non-committal.

  "I feel it would be unsound tactics to attempt to withdraw at this time."

  He glanced up at me then transferred his attention to my ear. "You should have done this sooner."

  What? Oh, the wounds.

  "There are also unknown threats from the north; our force is divided in hostile territory."

  The flash again and warmth flooding through my ear.

  He sniffed. "I am a healer, Sumto. The burden of command is not mine, nor does it much interest me other than insofar as it brings the men into unnecessary danger."

  "I see." I didn't.

  "I like to raise bees and make honey. I am required to accompany the army from time to time to permit me to do this and other things I enjoy. Where and why does not interest me much." He sniffed and headed for the door. "Neither has mathematics much interested me."

  "I see." I was beginning to.

  He opened the door, hesitated just a moment and glanced back at me over his shoulder. "Or politics," he said, and was gone.

  I poured the last of the wine and leaned back in my chair to think. Sapphire hadn't moved, nor had he commented further. I wasn't sure how I felt about that. He hadn't asked me why I was doing what I was doing. That, at least, I was glad of; I wasn't too sure myself. I could lift the treasury and walk away; leave them to their fate without so much as a good luck on parting. I could do that. As soon as Meran and the second century returne
d, and I could message them easily enough even if Meran ignored the contents of his letter from the Assembly. And that bothered me; how did they know he was in command of troops? Would my uncle have included the information in dispatches? Maybe, maybe not. How was the Assembly getting their information? How much did they know?

  "Bloody politics."

  "Sometimes," Sapphire agreed.

  That wasn't what I had meant, but I assumed he knew that. Should I send a message to Meran? Saying what? Meran, ignore any orders from the Assembly of Patrons. I am.

  Damn it. "Right," I got to my feet, spilling a little wine over my fingers. "What's next?"

  "Take a bath. Get something to eat."

  It was nowhere near noon, the next time I had an appointment to keep.

  "I have to decide what to do about those bastards outside the gate."

  "You know what you want to achieve, the only question is how to achieve it."

  True. I wanted them to stay put but not do anything. I wanted someone there to watch them and to reassure the people that there was no threat so that they would go back and tend their land. I needed someone there in the enemy camp, someone the people would be reassured to see there. I needed to open negotiations with them subtly so that they cooperated with my intent. I could send them a gift, maybe one of the hostages, in company with some prominent figure of Darklake; that meant Anista or her son, Elendas. And a letter, a carefully worded letter. I didn't want to put Anista at risk, not did I trust her not to discard the letter and instead push her own agenda; and Elendas was young, just a boy. Who else was there? No one. A third person with the letter then. The scout. Perfect. The scout who had already met these people. Now all I had to do was remember his name.

  "I think some food might be a good idea. Have Renik bring it, he can take word to Treleth about our dinner engagement tonight."

  "You want to go ahead with that now?"

  "Why not? It's a good excuse to have Vesan give me some enhancements. Resh Ephannan and his retinue probably aren't a serious threat but they look like one, and that's all they have to do to serve my purposes. He is just sabre-rattling to enhance his image amongst the other chieftains, and by tonight he will know that I fully intend to give up the hostages and always did."

  Sapphire just looked at me, his expression giving nothing away.

  "You, me, Vesan and a dozen of my men could chew them up and spit them out. They would be stupid to start something when the outcome is so certain."

  His gaze roamed the room while he thought about it. "People do stupid things all the time."

  Well, I was hardly the right person to argue that point.

  "I need a piss," I put down the wine and headed for the chamber pot in the bedroom.

  "I'll send for Renik," Sapphire moved to the other door. "Anyone else you want to see?"

  I shrugged, not looking back. "Have Elendas come eat with us," I said. "After all, he has brought his own plate."

  #

  "You have problems, Patron."

  Hald Epwhel was a big bluff man with a ready smile coupled with a shrewd eye. I'd invited him to join us, along with Seldas, my choice for ambassador for Darklake. Seldas had to learn his job quickly. Hald had to be dealt with before I forgot about him again. Elendas had set his plate on the table and taken a seat without more than a quiet word of greeting. He hadn't said a word while Renik and a girl set out food and left. I'd taken the opportunity to instruct Renik to send a message to Treleth to expect me for dinner that evening. I was confident that before the appointed time everyone would know I was planning a casual stroll out to the trading post. Silgar would hear of it and tonight we would kill him, with any luck.

  "It's best to deal with problems one at a time, I find."

  Hald shrugged his broad shoulders, the material of a fine green shirt stretching over heavy muscles as he did so. "It is the only way, I find. Still, there appear to be many for you."

  I smiled. "Not so many. Remember there is an army not far to the south."

  He nodded and gulped heavily watered wine to wash down a mouth full of pork and winter roots. "Yes, I've spoken with their messengers. They drive a road north, intending to pass close to Twobridges. I am permitting this."

  Like he had a choice. "The road will increase trade and prosperity for your people."

  He smiled. "And there are rogue Alendi that your army frightens away. As you no doubt know, there have been a few skirmishes but nothing serious."

  I hadn't known. My uncle had not seen fit to inform me of details. Nor I him, for that matter. "Peaceful trade is our sole intent."

  "With your friends." He grinned then stuffed his mouth with more pork.

  "I'm releasing your nieces to you as a matter of courtesy."

  More wine. "So your letter said, my friend. Now, what of Liana and her children?"

  "Dannat is not my friend. He tried to kill me and almost succeeded. He allied himself with the Necromancers, who for his sake murdered your brother, his father and imprisoned his spirit in his animated corpse."

  "Of course I know this. I travelled with a few warriors to your army and made common cause with the general, your uncle. I returned in company of a small force of city soldiers and ousted the Necromancer and his allies, the Alendi along with some few of my own people." His eyes had become hard and narrow. "The small black man released my brother’s spirit and I burned his body on a pyre."

  "I know Dubaku," I allowed.

  "And the city noblewoman, Jocasta. She spoke well of you; she reassured me that you would allow no harm to come to my kin."

  My heart leapt at mention of Jocasta but I kept my reaction from my face. "Except Dannat."

  "Dannat is outcast, a wolfshead. His life is forfeit. What do you do when a son murders his father?"

  Did he know? "We tie him in a sack with a dog, a cat and a cockerel and throw him in the river." It was true, but hardly ever happened. Of course, finding a dog can be a bit of a chore.

  "We put them in a cage and burn them alive." His face was grim. "I would as soon my nephew did not come cross my path, you understand?"

  I gave a thoughtful nod. "I've had no word of him."

  "But if you do?"

  "He tried to kill me. I doubt he will survive a second encounter."

  He pushed his empty plate away from him and leaned back. "So. But his wife and children are innocent of any wrongdoing."

  "For now I would prefer they remain my guests."

  "Dannat will not move against you while they are here; thus you will not meet again."

  I nodded. I saw his meaning clearly and agreed with it, in part. "Yet he will want them freed. I believe he will make an attempt at some stage, having no allies among his own people to negotiate for their release."

  He thought it through and I let him. "Perhaps."

  No one spoke for a few moments. Seldas cleared his throat but I nudged his foot under the table and he took the hint.

  "I have sworn the oath to your uncle," Hald said. "I am his client now, and all my people with me. So we are friends and allies, Sumto Cerulian." He stood up and quaffed the last of his drink, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. "I am going home with my nieces. I leave my nephews wife and her children in your care. If they come to harm, you and I will have a problem, Sumto. I speak to you as a man, not as the leader of my people. How do you answer?"

  I kept the smile from my face, and the frown. So my uncle had beaten me to it and had this man as client; still this meeting had gone as well as it could have. "There are duelling laws to cover such an eventuality, Hald Epwhel, should it arise. But your people are safe with me and I look forward to releasing them to your care in due course."

  He nodded. "It is good. We will send traders. I want slate and other things," he was already turning away and Elendas got to his feet to open the door for him. "But that is for the traders. We have nothing else to talk about."

  "Hald." He stopped and turned in the doorway. "I may be travelling south sooner than I had thought
. Will I be a welcome guest at your hold?"

  He gave a huge grin and spread his arms in mock welcome. "Of course! We are friends and allies, are we not?"

  I allowed a smile. "So we are. I look forward to being your guest."

  "Just be sure to bring my kin with you."

  Elendas slowly closed the door behind him and I let out a slow breath. Hald was a big man, a warrior in his prime, and the laws on duelling were specific; no enhancements, no magic, no armor. Two blades, two men and may the best man win.

  And I wasn't sure I was the best man.

  Seldas shifted in his seat. "That was diplomacy?"

  I shrugged. "He is a client of the city, so we know we are playing by the same set of rules. What else is there?"

  "But nothing was decided; no trade agreements, no discussion of tariffs or restrictions or anything."

  "It is as Hald said, that is for the traders."

  Seldas was shocked. "But leaders have to make decisions for the good of the people, to safeguard local production from foreign imports, other things…."

  "Exactly, and it is the job of the people to stop them." I glanced at Elendas as he took his seat. I wanted to be sure he was listening. "Governments are a necessary evil. Just because something is necessary doesn't mean you should pretend that it is a good thing. Governments cannot do good, it is against their nature; it is beyond their ability; so curb them and curb the evil that they do."

  "If they are so evil, why tolerate them?" Seldas posed the question, half challenging and half sly rhetoric.