The Proof House

by K. J. Parker

  The soldiers came nearer, stopped. ‘Venart Auzeil,’ the NCO said. ‘Eseutz Mesatges.’

  Venart took a deep breath. ‘I’m Venart Auzeil,’ he said. ‘What—?’

  ‘Eseutz Mesatges.’

  Athli, Vetriz and Eseutz stayed perfectly still. The NCO waited for a few seconds, then nodded. ‘All right,’ he said, ‘we’ll take them all and sort it out later. You’re under arrest,’ he added, as an afterthought. ‘This way.’

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  ‘I hate getting arrested,’ Eseutz said. ‘It’s so boring. You sit around for hours in cells and interview rooms and waiting rooms and anterooms, with nothing to do and nothing to read, and it’s always either too cold or too hot, and the food—’

  That morning, it had been the guild secretary’s office, tucked away discreetly at the end of a corridor leading off the gallery that ran round three sides of the Merchant Venturers’ guild house. That morning, it had been a place you dreamed of being invited to; a big, fat office hidden down a little, thin passageway, a monument to the fusion of discretion and conspicuous display. Secretary Aloet Cor was known to be a fanatical collector of furniture, in particular the delicate, expensive and entirely impractical bone and ivory chairs and tables made by the Arrazin family of Perimadeia for six generations; she didn’t like them much, so they said, but she collected them because they were rare and horrendously overpriced, and likely to appreciate in value considerably now that the supply had been made finite following the death of all the Arrazins in the Fall. It was worth sitting on the hard marble bench outside for an hour or so, they said, just for a glimpse of the bizarre and rather grotesque lampstand carved by Leucas Arrazin a hundred and fifty years ago out of a single piece of whalebone.

  ‘Get arrested often, do you?’ Venart asked. ‘Sorry; I’m just curious.’

  Eseutz shrugged. ‘It depends where you go,’ she said. ‘In some places it’s accepted, like their way of saying hello, welcome to our fair city. There was a time when I used to go to Burzouth a lot, I was on first-name terms with all the warders at the excise guardhouse. We used to play chess or I’d sew buttons on for them—’

  ‘You?’ Vetriz interrupted. ‘Since when have you been able to sew on a button?’

  Tonight it had become the office of Major Javec, the newly appointed sub-prefect of the Island; and somehow the corridor was darker and colder, the marble bench was harder, and seeing the famous Arrazins wasn’t quite the priority it would have been a few hours earlier. In fact, Vetriz had a horrible feeling that she had just been added to a collection, and had been dumped in a stockroom waiting to be catalogued, stamped and put in a cabinet. She’d known a man once who collected the skulls of birds; he’d described to her the method of skinning them, boiling out the brains and flesh, bleaching the bone and mounting the finished exhibit; she’d actually found it rather fascinating, in a disgusting sort of way.

  ‘The point I was trying to make,’ Eseutz said, ‘is that different people mean different things by arresting you. For all we know, it could just be a getting-to-know-you thing, nothing more sinister than that.’

  Venart sighed. ‘Then how would you account for the fact that we’re the only ones here?’ he said. ‘Do you think that, as far as they’re concerned, we’re the only people worth getting to know on the whole island?’

  Eseutz made an exasperated gesture with her long, thin hands. ‘All right,’ she said, ‘be miserable, see if I care. Personally, I don’t see the point. After all, it’s not going to make things any better, you sitting there worrying yourself to death. But if that’s your idea of a good attitude, then you go ahead—’

  ‘Eseutz.’ Athli lifted her head and looked her in the eye. ‘Shut up. And you, Ven. I know it’s only because you’re scared, and bickering makes it easier, but you’re starting to annoy me. All right?’

  ‘Speak for yourself,’ Eseutz snapped. ‘I’m not in the least scared—’

  The door opened and the two guards who’d been standing like architectural features behind them, blocking their way back down the corridor, motioned to them to get up and go in. ‘It’ll be all right, you’ll see,’ Eseutz whispered. The others ignored her.

  Sub-Prefect Javec was a round man, short for a Son of Heaven, bald as an egg on top but fringed round his multiple chins with a little curtain of woolly beard. He looked neither threatening nor friendly; mostly, in fact, he looked very tired, which was of course perfectly understandable. Annexing a whole country is hard work.

  ‘Names,’ he said; not to the four Islanders but to his clerk, a young outlander with curly brown hair. The clerk read the names off a list. His pronunciation was awful; Eseutz Mesatges became Ee-soo Muzzertgees, while Venart and Vetriz both found that their family name was now Orzle. He was rather better at Perimadeian names, because apart from putting the stress on the wrong syllable of Zeuxis, he managed it quite competently.

  ‘Thank you,’ the sub-prefect said, and the clerk sat down and started to sort through a tray full of wax tablets, the sort that Imperial NCOs were issued with for filing reports. ‘And thank you,’ the sub-prefect continued, apparently noticing the Islanders for the first time. ‘I hope this isn’t too inconvenient for you, but these things have to be done. You are all friends of Captain Bardas Loredan—’

  ‘Excuse me,’ Eseutz interrupted. ‘I’m not.’

  Javec moved his head a little so that he could see her without getting a crick in his neck.

  ‘Oh,’ he said. ‘Is that right?’ he went on, facing Athli, who nodded. ‘You two, is that right?’

  Venart took a deep breath. ‘Yes, sir,’ he said. ‘I don’t think she’s even met him once.’

  ‘I see,’ Javec said. ‘Well, can’t be helped; you’ll have to stay with these three until the war’s over. Now,’ he went on, ‘you’re Vetriz Auzeil.’

  ‘That’s right.’ She was impressed; Javec’s pronunciation was flawless.

  ‘And about seven years ago you had an affair with Gorgas Loredan.’

  Vetriz sighed. ‘That’s right,’ she said, before Venart could deny the statement on her behalf. Pity; she’d managed to keep it from him this long. ‘Though affair is probably an overstatement. I believe the usual expression is one-night stand.’

  Javec nodded. ‘I stand corrected,’ he said. ‘That is what it says in the file. Well, I’m sorry about this but I’m going to have to put the four of you under house arrest for the time being – I’m sure you’re all harmless enough, but as long as Captain Loredan’s in command of a major field army, anybody who could be used against him as a hostage – well, we’ll feel happier if we know you’re out of the way and safe. I’m sure you’ll see the logic behind it if you think about it for a moment.’

  Nobody said anything.

  ‘We’ll try to make this as painless as possible. You’ll be confined to the Auzeil house – that’s number sixteen in the fourth transverse alley, yes? I’ll be posting a guard, obviously; they’ll have their own bivouac and wash-house and cook and everything, so you won’t have to fetch and carry or feed them. You can receive visitors for an hour a day, but of course there’ll have to be soldiers present. Any questions?’

  Out of the corner of her eye, Vetriz caught sight of what had to be the notorious lampstand. She turned her head a little for a better view; it was every bit as hideous as she’d imagined.

  ‘Overrated, if you ask me,’ the sub-prefect said. ‘Of course, I’m not an expert by any means, but I find the late-period Arrazins are almost like parodies of the products of the classic period. There’s this unfortunate tendency to try to do things on a massive scale that are better suited to small work. Take the big two-handed cup, for instance; over there, look.’

  They looked in the direction he was pointing, and saw what looked unpleasantly like a human skull, mounted on a small ivory pedestal. The top had been sawn off, turning the brain cavity into a cup, and two handles, made of cunningly spliced finger-bones, had been inserted into the ear hollows. ‘That�
�s an interesting piece, isn’t it?’ Javec went on. ‘I believe it was originally the head of a rebel prince of the plains tribes; he lost a civil war about a century ago, and his victorious rival sent it to the City to be mounted. It was part of the loot brought back by Captain Loredan, when he was a young man. Probably a unique example, although I have a stag’s head that’s generically similar in my own collection at home; Suidas Arrazin, quite early.’

  Vetriz felt slightly sick.

  ‘Is it valuable?’ Eseutz asked. ‘Only, I know where there’s one just like it, if you’re interested.’

  (That’s Eseutz, Vetriz thought.)

  ‘Really?’ Sub-Prefect Javec leaned forward a little. ‘A genuine Arrazin? With a provenance?’

  Eseutz frowned. ‘I think so. I’d have to check, obviously. If it is genuine, roughly how much are we talking about?’

  ‘Money isn’t really an issue,’ Javec replied. ‘If you’d care to give me the name of the person who has this thing, I’ll follow it up; thank you.’

  ‘Jolay Caic; he’s got a stall down by the long quay, anybody’ll tell you how to find it.’ As she spoke, Eseutz realised just what Javec had meant by, Money isn’t really an issue. A pity; she’d known Caic for a good few years, and he’d never done her any harm. ‘But it’s been a while,’ she added quickly. ‘For all I know, he may not have it any more.’

  Javec shrugged. ‘I’m sure I’ll be able to track it down, if it does turn out to be a genuine piece. But that’s by the way.’ He moved his head slightly and fixed his eyes on Athli. ‘Now then,’ he said, ‘I imagine that you’re about to point out that I have no jurisdiction over you because you’re a Shastel citizen, and by detaining you I’m risking a diplomatic incident. Well, for a start I think that at best you’ve got dual nationality and in all likelihood you’re just as much of an Islander as these three; but I’m not going to get involved in that, because I just don’t have the time or the energy. Let me put it this way: I’d suggest to you that staying put where we can keep an eye on you and protect you is very much in your best interests, just as it’s in the best interests of your ward, Theudas Morosin. You two are probably closer to Captain Loredan than anybody else outside his family, and naturally that puts you at risk. If you accept what I’m saying – and you’re a sensible young woman, so I’m sure you do – these tiresome issues of citizenship and jurisdiction simply don’t arise, and we won’t have to waste time on them. Do you agree?’

  Athli looked at him; it was like looking at her own reflection in the polished visor of a helmet, for all the good it did her. ‘I suppose so,’ she said quietly. ‘After all, I don’t imagine I’d be doing any business even if you let me go.’

  Javec smiled. ‘Thank you for reminding me. For what it’s worth, the provincial office has taken over the Shastel Bank franchise here – we’ve written to the Order to regularise the position, and I’m sure there won’t be any difficulties. I should congratulate you on the clarity and thoroughness of your records, by the way. When things have settled down a bit, I’m sure they’ll be glad to have you back as chief clerk.’

  Athli looked at him for a long moment, and nodded. ‘That’s very kind,’ she said.

  ‘Unless,’ Javec went on – he was watching her very closely – ‘unless you feel you might be interested in joining Captain Loredan’s staff, wherever his next posting happens to be. It’d be just like old times, don’t you think?’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ Athli replied. ‘I don’t know a thing about military administration, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Well, you don’t have to make your mind up right away,’ Javec said. ‘We’ll see how things turn out, shall we? And now, if you’ll excuse me – thank you for your time; and for the tip about that possible Arrazin headpiece. I’ll most certainly follow that up.’

  The two guards took a step forwards, and the Islanders stood up quickly. ‘Just one thing,’ Athli asked.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘You mentioned Theudas – Theudas Morosin? What’s going to happen to him?’

  Javec smiled. ‘Once again, thank you for reminding me. I’ve already talked to him; he’s going to join Captain Loredan. Interestingly, it sounds as if he might have some really rather useful local knowledge, following his recent detention by the plainspeople. I’m sure he sends you his best wishes.’

  Athli frowned. ‘He’s already left, then?’

  ‘Either that or he’s on his way.’

  ‘I see. It’s just that I’ve got something that belongs to Bardas – to Captain Loredan; a sword, as it happens, rather a fine one, and I was wondering if Theudas could take it to him when he goes.’

  Javec nodded. ‘The Guelan,’ he said. ‘Superb example, isn’t it? And the sentimental value as well, being a gift from his brother. It’s all right, we’ve already seen to that. But thank you for raising the matter.’

  He nodded to the guards, and a moment later the four Islanders found themselves back in the corridor, having to walk faster than they’d have liked just to keep up. In due course they arrived at the Auzeil house, hot and out of breath. The front door was open, with a soldier standing on either side of it.

  ‘Excuse me,’ Eseutz started to say, but a hand in the small of her back propelled her into the house, and the door closed behind her. There were two more soldiers in the hall, and a further three in the courtyard. One of them, a long, skinny man in his early fifties, declared that he was Sergeant Corlo, and provided they didn’t give him any trouble, everybody was bound to get along just fine.

  ‘I don’t think I like him very much,’ Eseutz whispered, as she went with Vetriz into the south back bedroom. ‘In fact, I don’t think I like any of them.’

  Vetriz didn’t answer; she’d been very quiet, in fact, for some time.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Eseutz went on. ‘I can’t see how this is going to work out. I mean, what about our ships? Or the rest of our property? They can’t just take it; what’re we supposed to live on, for gods’ sakes? And what are we supposed to do? Really I’d prefer it if they looted the place, so long as they went away afterwards and left us in peace. Being robbed is one thing, but—’

  ‘Eseutz,’ Vetriz interrupted, dropping heavily on to the bed, ‘please. I’ve got the most dreadful headache and I need to lie down for a while.’

  ‘What? Oh, all right. I’ll go and see if I can at least get them to bring me some clothes; assuming they haven’t confiscated them all.’

  Has she gone?

  Vetriz closed her eyes and nodded. ‘Yes, thank goodness. She’s a nice enough person, I do actually like her a lot, but the thought of being cooped up with her indefinitely is fairly horrifying.’

  I can imagine.

  Vetriz smiled. ‘Being cooped up with anybody’s bad enough, I suppose,’ she said. ‘But I’m sure that’s going to be the least of our problems. What’s going to happen, do you think? Seriously.’

  I wish I knew.

  ‘Oh.’ She sighed. ‘When that horrible man mentioned Gorgas Loredan, I thought I was going to die. I suppose I’ll have to talk to Ven about it, and he’ll be all pompous and aggravating. When I think of some of the specimens he’s got mixed up with—’

  Perhaps you should have told him. But I can see why you didn’t.

  ‘Oh, I can handle Ven. Alexius, what do you think’s going to happen? It looks like a ghastly mess to me, and it’s all our own fault. We shouldn’t have provoked them like that.’

  Well, it’s done now. Once they’ve finished with this war, I expect they’ll go away. Then it’ll be up to you to try to make the best of it. Of course, they’ll keep the ships, and the crews too, until they can train crews of their own. If I were you, I’d be thinking about where you can go.

  ‘Oh,’ Vetriz repeated. ‘Leave the Island for good, you mean? I’ve never . . . Oh, this is awful. They can’t do this to us, surely.’

  Don’t count on it. They don’t need you. They’ll probably want the Island itself as a naval base, so there’ll be a need fo
r inns, shops, things like that. But they tend to prefer their own people, in which case they might well evacuate all of you and send you somewhere else inside the Empire. It’s one of the things they do; it’s a very good way of keeping control.

  Vetriz lay quiet for a while. ‘So where do you think we should go? Colleon, maybe – but it’s so hot there, I don’t think I’d be able to cope. And what would we do for a living? I suppose it depends on whether we’re able to take anything with us. I think we’d be all right running a shop, especially if Athli comes in with us – now there’s a born survivor, if ever there was one. I think Ven has friends in Colleon who’d help us out.’

  Possibly. Of course, it won’t be long before the Empire annexes Colleon. Personally, if I were you, I’d be looking to go a long way further out than that.

  She shook her head. ‘Now you’re really starting to depress me,’ she said. ‘Not that I’m saying you’re wrong. I just wish I knew how all this happened so quickly.’

  Simple. It’s because Bardas Loredan made it possible for them to take Ap’ Escatoy. They’d been stuck there for ten years; there was no reason to assume they’d ever succeed. Arguably, if it hadn’t been for Bardas they never would. Ap’ Escatoy was impregnable, there was no way round it, and the Empire doesn’t have a fleet. Now Ap’ Escatoy’s fallen and they’ve got a fleet. As a study in how one man can affect the whole direction of the flow of the Principle, it’s absolutely fascinating. If only I were still alive, I could write a book about it.

  For a long time, nobody spoke.

  ‘What the hell—’ Iseutz finally broke the silence. ‘What the hell is she doing here?’

  Gorgas frowned. ‘That’s no way to talk about your own mother,’ he said. ‘Come on, this is a historic occasion, our first proper family reunion in – what, how long is it now, Niessa? Must be over twenty years.’ He thought for a moment, then clicked his tongue. ‘Of course, we know exactly how long it’s been. How old are you now, Iseutz? Twenty-three?’