The Invisible Hand

by Chris Northern

  "There's one more thing," Dannat said.

  Oh, good. "What?"

  "Duprane said to tell you that she will not yet reside at the Keep." He looked at me with his wolf eyes and I noticed for the first time the scar tissue around them where someone had laid a blade across his eyes. For a moment it reminded me of Meran, who had a similar wound, though it had only cost him one eye. I began to wonder what progress Meran had made, and hoped to have word from him soon. It might be best, I thought, to send word for him to abandon his missions and return. "She said to tell you that there are signs that someone else has been using the pattern, and there are fresh graves close by."

  "Hmm," I said, hardly aware of him. That, I thought, would be best. Let everything north of the pass go, I decided, and bring Meran and his force back here. I needed them, and his missions in the north just complicated matters. Worse, they would perhaps stiffen opposition from the Keeps of Battling Plain. When had they left? Hells, I thought, had it really only been this morning? I rubbed at my eyes. That was good, I thought; he could be back here tomorrow if I sent word after him now. If he hadn't already been turned back by the messenger from the Assembly. But that, I decided, was something I definitely didn't need to be thinking about. Not yet, anyway.

  I tossed the scout's report into the open bundle at my feet and stood up. At that moment the door opened and a group of boys and women began to file in, carrying buckets of steaming water. I recognised the woman who led them as she bobbed a curtsey my way but couldn't place her name. I blinked in surprise and watched a steady stream of them begin to fill a bath. Steam began to fill the air. For just a moment I was half tempted, but I didn't have time; and the thought of bathing in the company of Dannat did not have much appeal. Just because I pretty much had to let him live if I was to stay on good terms with Duprane, that didn't mean I had to keep his company.

  Dannat was looking at me as though he was waiting for something and the scout was eyeing the fast-filling bath with definite signs of interest. "She thought you might want to know," Dannat said.

  What? "Oh." Graves. Someone else using the pattern. "I thought she was the only one who could use the pattern?" Hadn't she said that? "Is she sure? Are the graves..." related to that? Of course they were. Why else would he mention them in the same breath? For a moment, despite the sudden bustle around us, something almost came together in my mind, but then Parast appeared in the doorway and I caught his surprised look and the raised eyebrow.

  "Centurion," I reminded him of our respective positions. "Send a messenger to Meran, have him abandon his missions and return here at once." And, I thought, there was something else, what in the hells was it? Oh, yes. "And send word to the trading post; tell Lendrin Treleth that I want half his fighting men sent here without any delay. And tell him..." damn, it was too complicated and he might not accept it from anyone else. "Belay that," I said, "get me an escort and I'll go and see him myself. You," I turned to Dannat, "will come with me." I turned back to Parast. "We'll need horses for the two of us and a small escort," I worried at that for a moment, men were in short supply. "Six men. We'll meet you by the granary. And have Seldas meet us there."

  As Parast gave a casual salute and turned to obey, I grabbed a bucket from the hands of a surprised servant and placed it on a stone counter. I didn't have time for a damn bath, no matter how much I wanted one, but a quick splash wouldn't do me any harm. There was still dried blood on my hands and arms and my tunic was a mess. Do something, I thought; if it happens to be the right thing, so much the better. I stripped off my tunic and pressed it into the hands of the serving girl who was still standing there. "Go to my chambers and get fresh clothes for me, would you?"

  As she hurried away, I called after her. "And also bring a hood, a scarf or a hat or whatever you can find." The last thing I wanted right now was for Hald to recognise his nephew and try and kill him as we left the town.

  Dannat casually snagged a clean towel and tossed it my way. I snatched it out of the air and glared at him for a moment before glancing at the scout. "Well, there's plenty of hot water, so get a bath while you can; then get some food and rest; report to Parast when you feel up to it."

  The scout gave a grateful nod and began to strip.

  I envied him the luxury. A long soak and time to think would ease my mind considerably. But I didn't have time. I had a definite sense of events outpacing my ability to react to them. One thing at a time, I reminded myself. Just do one thing at a time.

  I cleaned myself up; then put on my armor, feeling better for it, my own sword a familiar and comforting weight at my hip.

  #

  I put my back to the wall to avoid running into a young woman who bustled through the kitchen doorway, her hands full with a large platter of cold meat. She called out a hurried apology but didn't let it slow her down. Beside me, Dannat growled and I glanced at him in surprise. He caught my look and cleared his throat.

  "Hungry," he said, as though it were an explanation. Perhaps it was.

  "Well, we're in the right place," I said, and followed him into the organised chaos of a busy kitchen. The place quietened some as we eased our way through the press of busy people. A few nervous glances were thrown my way and activity slowed down some. I smiled back my approval, snagged a fresh pastry from a tray and bit into it. "It's good," I said to no one in particular, then grabbed another and moved on. The noise level picked up around us.

  Someone had taken charge. I wanted to find out who it was and bless them. There were a lot of frightened and nervous people flooding into the compound of the hall, and putting food in their bellies would calm them, would promote an air of normality. Doubtless the same someone had noticed me enter the baths and sent hot water for much the same reason.

  The ovens were hot and redolent with the smell of baking bread as I stepped out into the thick of them. The baker wasn't in evidence, but it was all men here. They were on edge; too aware of their surroundings and not fully focused on their task. I noticed that there were a good many kitchen implements close to hand; the kinds of items that could double as weapons in a pinch. As I stepped out into the passage between the bakery and the granary, I could see why.

  Half the people I could see either leaving or preparing to leave. Then there were the others. Too many of them stood in groups, staring at the hall. Not close, but visible. Not aggressive, not threatening; just watching. Islands of stillness amongst a sea of activity. I counted to fifty and then gave up trying to pick them out. Even as I was counting them, I saw that my presence had been noted. I saw a man nudge a lad in the ribs and whisper in his ear. The youth gave a nod and slipped away. Someone, doubtless Caliran, would hear word of my movements.

  We stepped into the space behind the guards who held the entrance to the passageway. They were a mix of soldiers and armed non-combatants; men who would normally break camp, cook, lead mules and generally take care of the logistics for the other eighty men of the century they were attached to. Still, I could tell at a glance that they had seen fighting in their time. They ranged in age between twenty and forty and damn few of them lacked visible scars; the baggage train is a legitimate target in any campaign, and these men were all veterans. I was glad of them. Apart from holding the entrance to the compound of the hall they also controlled the granary, the mill and the bakery. There was a wide open space of maybe twenty yards between us and the nearest civilian. None were heading this way now, and I guessed that all who sought our protection were already here; maybe a thousand of the citizens of Darklake. Apart from those preparing to leave, it was hard to tell what the rest were doing. Huddling in their homes? Gathering those they considered able to protect them? Each looking to their own advantage and acting in what they perceived to be their own best interests. The invisible hand at work. You can never know every motive or every objective, or calculate the consequence of every action even if you did know. In economic terms, the invisible hand was not a concern; but in politics, the invisible hand must be made visible b
efore it can be countered.

  The unit commander dropped back from his men and gave a casual salute. I recognised him, but it took me a moment to place him and remember his name.

  "Any trouble, Hetkla?" He was one of the men who had been with me the night that Talin was killed.

  "Nothing we can't handle, Commander," he said. Together we eyed the town, watched a small group scurry past us as they headed for the west gate, carrying what seemed to be everything they owned.

  "How many have been leaving?"

  Hetkla shrugged. "Can't see everything," he said, "but from what I can tell, something like three hundred have left that way," he gestured after the group who were passing out of sight behind the granary. "More than twice that number have left by the east gate."

  We had a clear view down the gentle incline to that gate, maybe a hundred yards away. Even as we watched, a group of twenty or more passed through and turned north before disappearing from view. The guards there watched them from the walls; there were not many there and they were isolated. I debated calling them in. They served no real purpose right now. A hundred yards is only a few seconds away, but could be much further if the road was full; and Hetkla could back them up only if he weakened his own position. I'd bring them back with me when I returned from the trading post, I decided. Then I would have enough men to bring some order back to the town.

  "Any sign of Caliran or Anista?"

  "Largest groupings seem to be north of the market," Hetkla gave a nod in that direction. "I'd guess they were there if I had to guess."

  I looked that way but couldn't see much. Two hundred yards of dwellings and animal pens were in the way. I could see only a few people, some on the move. The whole town seemed quieter than it should for all the signs of activity, yet I could still easily tell that there were far more people north of the road than south of it. I gave it time, but couldn't tell much. Glimpses of people on the move and little more than that. I moved so that I could see more of the area south of the road, the area that fronted the temple. It was easy to see that that smaller area was much quieter. That fact fit in with my plans well enough; with enough men I could split the town in two and quickly gain full control of the area south of the road. Then we could move slowly north and sort people as we went. At some point we would isolate Caliran and his followers. I figured we had just enough daylight hours to get the job done. The less time Caliran had to organise, the better. And one night where he was free to consolidate his position might be one night too many.

  "You've marked the men watching us?"

  Hetkla threw me a filthy look. "Of course. Them and a few others who look like trouble."

  At the sounds of horses’ hooves, I turned to look back up the shade of the passageway. Parast came ahead of four guards and six horses. Behind him was Seldas, leading a dozen armed men, none of who I recognised. His clients; I didn't wonder that he had gathered a few around him; the town might not be safe to travel alone. I couldn't blame him and wouldn't deny him his escort. But it was just one more sign that the unity of the town was broken, and when he was seen travelling with an armed escort, a few more who were undecided or uncertain would pick a side and join it. Well, in some ways that was a good thing. The invisible hand becoming visible, so I knew who was friend and ally and who was my enemy. Let them gather into groups and then I could deal with the head of the group. In Caliran's case, I rather thought that I would deal with that head by severing it from the body; and the sooner the better.

  Dannat and I took control of the spare mounts; I spent a moment to outline my plan of action to Parast and then climbed into the saddle. I felt better there, somehow more in control. Armed, armored and mounted. My thinking completed the shift from civil to military. I had enemies; some known, some unknown; some close and some distant. Locate them, isolate them and then fight them. I turned in the saddle and looked back over the wall to the ridge where Resh Ephannan and the petty chieftains waited with their small force of warriors. Were they allies or enemies? And the boy Elendas, who I had sent among them; the man, I corrected myself. Was Elendas a tool of Caliran or his own man? He'd had plenty of time to work his mischief if he was working against me. If I let them into the town now I could be bringing an enemy into my own camp. I turned back in the saddle and glanced at Dannat, mounted beside me, a hood masking his features, a living example of how dangerous it could be to have an enemy in my camp. If I released the hostages he would be free to act, and might well act against me. Better not risk it, I decided. Turning to Seldas, I gestured him forward.

  "Here is my message to Resh Ephannan. Tell him I will allow him to send one man to assure himself that my guests are safe and well. Tell him that I require Elendas to return." I wanted Elendas here where I could keep an eye on him, and perhaps test him. "Also that when his own man leaves he can take one, and only one, of my guests with him as a sign of my good faith." That should make little difference to the status-quo; and would ensure Elendas was permitted to return. Or, if he was reluctant, forced to return.

  Of course, I couldn't help thinking as Seldas indicated his understanding and turned away, that I was assuming that Seldas himself was free of any other influence and would communicate my message as I'd given it. But that, I decided, urging my mount into a walk, was pure paranoia.

  #

  Being on horseback gave me a better view. Not that there was much to be made of it. Just people. People in groups, people on the move, or preparing to move; glimpses of people in doorways. I spotted Hald Epwhel and a handful of his men bringing a group to the gate; the same gate we were heading for. I glanced at Dannat, riding at my side. I let my gaze run over him from head to toe. There was nothing to mark him for who he was. Nothing I could see, at least.

  Still, better safe than sorry. "Drop back," I told him, then turning in the saddle, I raised my voice just enough to be heard by the guards who followed us. "Don't stop when I do," I told them. "Head north round the lake and I'll catch up."

  Facing forward again, I nudged my mount to move to the right, putting myself between Hald and Dannat. His people had already seen us and slowed; they bunched up and huddled like sheep who had glimpsed a threat. Hald said something to them but they weren't listening. After a moment he turned and headed my way. Like it was the most natural thing in the world, I turned my mount off the path and moved to meet him, reining in just off the road, forcing him to adjust his route slightly. He barely gave my escort a glance as they moved on down the road. Still his gaze lit on the hooded rider and he frowned, more curious than suspicious.

  "Hald," I called out, urging my mount forward a few steps before stopping again as his attention once more focused on me.

  "Patron," he called out as he advanced through the wide open space between two roundhouses not more than forty feet away. "Your soldiers are making them nervous," he jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the group of fifty or sixty men women and children, who carried pretty much everything they owned. I recognised one or two as men I had loaned money to, and sighed.

  I turned my mount around. There were plenty of other people not so far away and I wanted to be back on the road and out of here as soon as I could. I was also painfully aware that our exchange could be heard, that we made our exchange in an island of quiet tension. "Why? We are here to protect them, after all," I tried to sound as casual and cheerful as possible considering that I could feel the tension in the air, as bleak and dense as a threatening thunderstorm.

  He stopped not thirty feet away and shrugged, saying nothing. Over his head I could see a section of path where Dannat and my men passed. Beyond that, the gate. He shifted his weight to turn away and see what I was looking at.

  "How many are choosing to leave for the south?" I asked him.

  Instead he glanced at the people waiting behind him, listening to our exchange. "Nearly three hundred so far," he said as he faced me again and took a step closer.

  A subtle nudge and my horse moved forward half a dozen steps before I checked it.r />
  Twenty feet; and if he looked now he would see nothing but a roundhouse between him and the gate. I smiled. "They go with my blessing," I said, keeping my voice raised enough to carry. I noticed the tensions in the faces of the group behind him eased; there was even a smile or two of relief.

  "So I told them," Hald said, taking one step closer and half turning to look back over his shoulder.

  The sound of horses’ hooves had faded. Time to go. "They are, after all, a free people; free to come and go as they choose." With that I rolled my hips forward and walked the horse back to the road, giving Hald a casual wave as I went. I didn't see if he returned it. My attention fixed on the gate as soon as I could see it. Dannat and my guard were through. On the walls, the gate guard was watching. Behind me, more of my men stood too far away to be useful to me. All around I could see people watching me and I suddenly felt very isolated. I gritted my teeth to keep the calm smile on my face and headed for the gate. I'd almost reached it before a single voice rang out somewhere off to my left and behind me. "Where are the children?" A muttering of voices were raised in the wake of that single voice, but then I was through the gate and kicked the horse into a trot as though I had not heard.

  It was, I thought as I caught up with my guard on the path around the lake, a damned good question. I guided my mount to a walk beside Dannat and set about finding an answer.

  "Tell me," I instructed him as he turned his hood shadowed face to look my way, "about these fresh graves you and Duprane have found."

  #

  While Dannat and my men waited, I walked my horse in wide circle, looking out from the centre and thinking about each direction and the problems it represented. East. Duprane, an ally. The Keep and the pattern, an artefact. Fresh graves containing unidentified bodies. Beyond that, maybe as close as a day, an army out of Battling Plain, led by a number of individuals empowered by other artefacts.