Old Man's Ghosts

by Tom Lloyd

  He turned into Lawbringer’s Square and stopped short. Lawbringer Rhe stood in a familiar pose in the centre of the square, hood raised on his long white coat but unmistakable by his stillness. His coat was closed, hiding the pistols across his waist from view, but as usual he carried an Investigator’s stave, held horizontal behind his back.

  While others hurried around him, Rhe looked like a vengeful spirit unaware of the living going about their lives, his terrible gaze reserved for one man. Narin felt his heart sink at the sight and trudged forward. Only when he was up close to the Lawbringer did Rhe slip his hood back and reveal his pale, blue-dusted face. In another, that pallor would look like signs of hypothermia, but Narin knew that was just his Brightlance heritage.

  ‘Lawbringer Narin,’ Rhe said, inclining his head formally.

  ‘Lawbringer Rhe,’ he replied, feeling his trepidation deepen. ‘Has something happened?’

  ‘I’m afraid so. I spoke to your friend, Prince Sorote, last night. He informed me of the meeting he had with Lord Vanden Wyvern.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘The petitions for annulment and Imperial betrothal go to the Senior Minister today. As such I decided it was necessary to inform the Lord Martial of the situation, at your behest.’

  ‘My behest?’

  Rhe nodded. ‘It would be appropriate for such information to come from you via your superior. You would not want Lord Martial ald Har to receive the news from other sources in the Imperial Court.’

  ‘I see.’ Narin felt his anger rising and bit down on it hard, knowing perfectly well he’d brought this down on himself. That Rhe hadn’t told him he was going to the Lord Martial with Narin’s infractions was galling, but he knew he’d received all the special treatment he could hope for already. ‘You’re right, of course. And now?’

  ‘Now he waits upon your presence.’

  ‘Do you know what he is going to do?’

  The question seemed to surprise Rhe, but he didn’t hesitate to reply. ‘He hasn’t informed me of his decision, but I am certain you will be demoted back to Investigator. Unless there’s a complaint lodged by Lord Vanden, he will not wish the public scandal of expelling you entirely, and Prince Sorote’s involvement is likely to have prevented that. Where you will be assigned is another matter, but you will accept it without complaint.’

  Narin pursed his lips and bowed his head. ‘Yes, Lawbringer.’

  ‘Come then.’

  Rhe led the way into the Palace of Law and up the echoing flights of stairs to the higher levels. The top two floors were reserved for the Law Masters of the Vanguard Council and Narin had been up there only once, when the Lord Martial had informed him he was to be elevated to the rank of Lawbringer. Much of the top floor was reserved as private apartments for Lord ald Har and his main chamber was a round room overlooking Lawbringer’s Square and the city and sea beyond it.

  Three tall windows stood fifteen feet high opposite a broad oak desk, while six black marble pillars were set an arm-span in from the wall to support a conical roof. From the very peak of the roof, Narin saw a beautiful framework of silver and jet, studded with cut glass or crystal – the constellation of Lord Lawbringer glittering in the room’s lamplight.

  Around the room were portraits of past Lords Martial – Toro Dragon and his successor flanking a larger one of the Emperor behind the desk. It depicted the young Emperor holding court as he had likely never done in his life; pronouncing judgement between two kneeling low castes. Narin could see from their clothing that one was House Dragon, the other House Eagle, and felt like laughing at the message the artist had intended.

  ‘Lawbringer Narin,’ the Lord Martial said, not looking up from his desk.

  There was no greeting implied in the words but Narin still bowed and replied as formally as he could. Rehn ald Har was a white-haired man and older than Enchei, but bulky with muscle for all his age. Though by tradition he was an Imperial emissary and a stand to one side held the pistols of a warrior caste, he wore neither gold nor red. A Wolf by birth, he wore a plain white coat against the cold and the only colour on him was the disturbing red tint to his eyes.

  ‘Do you have anything to add to Lawbringer Rhe’s account from last night?’

  ‘I, ah, I don’t believe so, my Lord,’ Narin said, glancing at Rhe. ‘You know of my infraction and the result – and I presume also of the blood feud her family pursue?’

  Ald Har nodded.

  ‘I do not believe Lord Vanden will complain about me at court. I hope the shame I have brought upon the Lawbringers will be limited.’

  ‘Limited?’ Lord ald Har growled. ‘Given what you stirred up in the spring, limited shame is hardly the reprise I had hoped from you. The both of you seem intent on uprooting the traditions and position of the Lawbringers within this Empire, whether by design or carelessness.’

  The Lord Martial stood, hands flat on the desk and leaning forward towards Narin. ‘What are you, Lawbringer Narin? Why are you within our ranks?’

  Narin blinked in surprise. ‘I, I don’t understand, my Lord.’

  ‘What House do you serve?’

  ‘None, my Lord – ah, that is the House of the Sun, but no other.’

  ‘Then what part of the Imperial House is that? You won the patronage and friendship of Lord Vanden Wyvern by some act of prowess and bravery – or fortune, perhaps. And when you turn that friendship to ashes, there is another to protect you elsewhere – one whose name is omitted from the petitions going before the court today. Where did you win this patron, Lawbringer Narin? Whose pay are you in?’

  ‘I serve only the Lawbringers,’ Narin said, feeling his cheeks flush at the idea. ‘I am acquainted with a member of the Imperial family, it is true, but the Emperor’s law remains my master.’

  ‘And the name of this prince or princess?’

  ‘I— I have been asked not to share it.’

  ‘Do I look like some fucking stranger off the street?’ ald Har roared. ‘I do not care what you have been asked – you are in my employ and I will not brook you serving another master! You recall the punishment for corruption in public office is execution, Lawbringer Narin?’

  ‘I do, my Lord,’ Narin croaked, feeling a renewed flush of fear.

  ‘Narin,’ Rhe interrupted. ‘Tell him.’

  Narin turned to look at the tall Lawbringer for a moment, mouth half-open as though wanting to ask Rhe something, but Narin’s mind was blank. At last he caught up with himself and closed it again, bowing again to Lord ald Har.

  ‘My apologies, Lord Martial. I didn’t think properly. I’ve been keeping secrets for too long, it’s become too much of a habit. His name is Prince Sorote of the Office of the Catacombs.’

  ‘Never heard of him,’ ald Har commented.

  ‘Nor had I,’ Rhe said, ‘but I have confirmed his existence. What role he is playing I do not know, but he made out he represented no party other than the interests of the House of the Sun.’

  ‘Good for him.’ The Lord Martial’s face twisted into a look of disgust. ‘You are demoted, Investigator Narin, and count yourself lucky at that. If I discover you acting under this prince’s orders, I will not hesitate to send you to the headsman, do you understand me?’

  ‘I do, my Lord.’

  ‘Now get out. You are suspended from duties for a week.’

  ‘A week?’

  Narin was startled by that. Suspended without pay was a common punishment, but a week was lenient compared to the Lord Martial’s evident anger. The loss of that money Narin could survive without going hungry, but he’d known men forced to live without a month’s wages or more and in winter that could prove dangerous.

  ‘A week only. You have that long to see this blood feud ended, one way or another. Duelling is prohibited under Imperial law, but Dragon law allows such a thing if your prowess extends to facing a warrior caste with longsword. So long as you find justification under law I do not care how you address your problem, but if you remain encumbered by the consequen
ces of your actions in a week’s time, you will be thrown out of the Lawbringers. If you succeed in ending this feud, if you are alive and remain one of us, Lawbringer Rhe will work you harder than you ever knew possible. Your penance will be a remorseless reminder of an Investigator’s duties.’

  Narin bowed, knowing that would have been coming whether or not ald Har decreed it. ‘Yes, my Lord.’

  ‘Now get out.’

  Just before Narin reached the door, the Lord Martial called out again. ‘Wait.’ He sighed, sounding like age was once more settling on his shoulders. ‘There was a child.’

  ‘Yes, my Lord. Her name is Dov.’

  ‘She is healthy?’

  ‘Yes, my Lord. Her mother too. I … I intend to wed her when I can.’

  ‘You remember at least the first Lawbringer oath?’

  ‘Yes, my Lord – “protect the innocent”. I will give my life before I allow her to be harmed, either of them.’

  ‘Above all, we are Lawbringers,’ ald Har said gravely. ‘We serve the Emperor’s law and the oaths we made before the Ascendant God himself. Fail mother or child and I’ll kill you myself.’

  ‘Yes, my Lord.’

  CHAPTER 26

  ‘Narin.’

  He stopped on the stair, feeling strangely light-headed after the Lord Martial’s words. When he turned, Rhe was at the top, stave in hand.

  ‘Lawbringer?’

  Rhe held out his hand. ‘I must take your sword. You are no longer permitted it. I suggest you have a novice fetch your greys from your home. I doubt it would be safe for you to go back there, but you should not be wearing the white.’

  Narin couldn’t help but laugh briefly at the absurdity, but he unbuckled his sword without comment and shrugged his white coat off his shoulders. Underneath remained the white jacket of the Lawbringers, of course, but tossing the coat aside was as much of a statement as he could be bothered to make. He watched it slide rather pathetically down the remaining steps of that flight before it came to rest in an unimpressive heap at the bottom.

  ‘You blame me,’ Rhe stated.

  ‘You?’ Narin shook his head. ‘You could’ve had a little more tact perhaps, Lawbringer, but I don’t blame you. No, I know I’m the fool here and this was always going to come. I just didn’t expect it today.’

  ‘Here.’ Rhe held out the stave to Narin. He wanted to refuse it, but he had no room in his life for petulance now. There were still people trying to kill him and going unarmed wouldn’t stop them. He was low caste, after all; Narin had already provided sufficient reason for a warrior to cut any man down in the street.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said finally. ‘What about the summoner?’

  ‘The house is under surveillance. We will not move until we’re sure what we are dealing with, but we cannot wait a week.’

  Narin nodded. ‘Without me you lose my friends too, I expect. I’ll ask them if you want, but I doubt they’ll join you unless they’re making the decisions.’

  ‘I understand.’

  ‘You’ll take more casualties without them,’ Narin added, wondering if the stony-faced Rhe cared about such details. Noble and warrior castes saw death differently to the rest of the Empire.

  ‘The Gods have willed it so. I’ll endeavour to minimise our losses. I hope the surveillance will assist there, and Prince Kashte may be persuaded to join us again.’

  ‘Good. There’s lots of royal family going spare,’ Narin said, too weary to put any real effort in his bitterness.

  He nodded absentmindedly to himself and set off again. This time he was not called back and soon he rejoined the anonymous bustle of the lower floors. At the bottom he stopped on the stair and spent a while looking blankly at the great slate where Lawbringer Cailer oversaw the city’s crimes.

  The woman saw him staring and limped over, leaning heavily on her cane but determined to ascend the half-dozen steps to where Narin stood.

  ‘So you got busted down, eh?’

  Narin blinked, unable to help glancing back up the stairs. ‘What? How did you hear so quickly?’

  Cailer smiled. ‘I hear everything.’

  ‘Lawbringer Rhe?’

  ‘My novices are the ones to bring me gossip; you think they’re likely to get anything from him?’

  ‘Then what—? Oh, the Imperial petitions.’

  ‘It’s not hard to put those threads together. Petition for divorce, disappeared pregnant noblewoman, your friendship with the husband – and o’ course you coming down those stairs looking like a puppy just had his bits cut off with the sword you don’t have no more.’

  She turned and beckoned to one of her novices. ‘Danshuer, come here.’

  Narin flinched as a tall, dark-skinned youth darted forward, but when he looked he realised the boy was a Moon, not a Wyvern.

  ‘Gods,’ Cailer commented, noticing his reaction. ‘You’ve really not been having a good week, have you? Danshuer, head to Narin’s quarters – Lord Scholar compound, isn’t it?’

  Narin nodded.

  ‘Mistress Sheti,’ he said before shaking himself out of the daze. ‘Find her there and she’ll let you into my rooms.’

  ‘Go fetch him a set of greys and coat. That your stave?’

  Narin glanced down at the one in his hand. It was identical to his own, but it belonged to Rhe and he realised he’d be glad to hand it back. ‘Stave too.’

  ‘You heard the man, jump to it. If you’re not back within the hour I’ll be more than displeased.’

  The novice blanched a shade, no doubt having experienced Lawbringer Cailer’s displeasure before. He bobbed his head and scampered away.

  ‘Now you go sit up in the shrine. An hour or so among the oaths might be good for you – remind you what’s important and it’ll keep the gossips away.’

  ‘Bugger the gossips,’ Narin replied, standing a little straighter.

  ‘The ones who don’t out-rank you, sure,’ Cailer said. ‘But there were some with their noses out of joint after the way you got raised, remember? The last thing you need is a confrontation to heat your blood further. I doubt the Lord Martial’s well disposed towards you at the moment so don’t let anyone goad you. Either you’d be expelled from the Emperor’s service or restored to novice and ordered back into the dormitories as punishment.’

  Narin nodded, the spark of anger in his heart not enough to cloud common sense. ‘You’re right, I’ve got a blood feud to deal with. Petty squabbles will just get in the way.’

  ‘That they will, if you’re fool enough to let them.’ Cailer cocked her head at him. ‘I’ll tell you what, though, I’m an old woman and need for little, but I’d not object to having a woman with some learning around to help me with chores. My maid’s a foolish little girl who can barely sweep the floor without breaking something. I’ve no children, but I’m getting old enough to think it might be good to hear a baby’s cry in my house before I die.’

  His mouth fell open, recognising the generosity of the gesture for what it was. ‘I— Gods above. Thank you, Lawbringer Cailer; that is good of you.’

  ‘If she’s high born, might be she’ll get the maid working better than I can. The girl barely speaks she’s so frightened of me. I can’t have her live in, though; I’ll not have wailing disturb my sleep.’

  ‘Of course.’ Narin hesitated. ‘Ah, she might not be able to take you up on the offer right away, she will need to recover.’

  ‘They take it out of you, I’m told,’ Cailer said dryly. ‘Babies, that is.’

  Missing her joke, Narin shook his head. ‘That’s not all. Her husband has demanded she be whipped for deserting him, one stroke only but it must break the skin and will make her recovery longer.’

  ‘There’s nothing more vicious or petulant than a man scorned,’ Cailer said. ‘No doubt it was a man’s spite that made up the saying about a woman scorned. I’m in no rush, just so long as I’m not taken for a fool when she does come.’

  ‘I promise,’ Narin said, bowing as best he could without b
acking up the stairs. ‘Dov is all that matters to either of us now. Letting you down would let her down.’

  ‘Good. Wait – a moment more, Investigator.’ Something had changed in Cailer’s voice and Narin returned to her side with a puzzled frown, sensing this was something of greater import than a maid’s work.

  ‘Yes, Lawbringer?’

  Cailer gestured for him to lean closer. ‘There’s a woman waiting down the corridor. Lawbringer Uledenin sent her to me from the front desk. If you walk to the bottom of the stairs and look right you’ll see her.’

  Narin did so, glancing along the high corridor where a dozen people in grey or white were walking. Off to one side was indeed a woman – warrior caste, with long red hair and an ornate red-and-white tunic. Her eyes were turned in the other direction, but Narin still ducked back out of sight with a gasp.

  ‘Is that a Banshee?’ he hissed in astonishment. ‘I’ve never seen one in the flesh, not even while patrolling Leviathan District.’

  Cailer inclined her head. ‘So she appears.’

  ‘What does she want?’

  ‘To speak to the Lord Martial.’

  Narin scowled. ‘He’s not in the finest mood.’

  ‘More importantly,’ Cailer said pointedly, ‘she gave old Uledenin quite a tale, one he’d be inclined to dismiss if it weren’t for what she is.’

  ‘Well yes, Banshees aren’t likely to get hysterical over something imagined.’

  ‘Indeed. She claims she saw a man with features twisted beyond recognition entering a house on the Tier Bridge, the upper level. Given what she’s heard from local gossip, she seems pretty sure it was a man possessed by a hellhound – a House Smoke mercenary.’

  Narin nodded. That confirmed what he’d deduced about likely safe-houses used by the Etrage Merchant House. Now it was Cailer’s turn to frown.

  ‘You don’t seem so surprised.’

  ‘I’m not, only that whoever’s behind this is sloppy about covering their tracks.’