by James Cox
“Lochlie has ambition but scarcely sufficient talent to carry him past where he is. He constantly seeks position with first one and then another, each as he perceives closest to the goal he desires. Though he is distasteful he has little vision past his next accomplishment.
“Urdon is the master of his domain. He has talent and vision. He roots himself firmly in the Unity and his vision of it. He takes great pains to ensure the strength, faith and loyalty of his underlings and that is where he spends the most effort. He sees most accomplishment others value as vanity and cares little for it.
“Velvert is a spider. Or an eel. He serves well in what he does but when a decision is made, even if it favors a scheme of his, he is not visible. Most above him use him for the information he can gather, either directly or through others such as Tollison or Morr. I doubt his complicity in anything more than a detail. Honestly, I doubt he has the spleen for a conflict. His path is the shadowy one to your back.”
“Tollison.” Orris grimaced. “Tollison has ambition and talent. More of the former than the latter but he is steeped in cunning. He glories in the misery and downfall of others and will happily do whatever petty and vengeful things toward this that cannot be traced back to him. He will follow only one he deems stronger or more dangerous than himself and that only when he cannot avoid it.”
Orris paused to take a drink.
“Ludurz and Norril. When I was, inveigled, their union surprised me. Ludurz sees a threat in every shadow and he walks streets where shadows abound. Did you tell him the sun rose in the morning he would gather his information on it, calculate his gain and check to see whom of his minions deceived him. I do not know what vile secrets he holds but most in the Orders fear him.
“Norril is brutal and unwavering. He deems death a suitable penance for minor sins, with torment and pain preceding it for major ones. Publicly he and Ludurz dance at knives' points toward each other; Norril preventing Ludurz from excess and Ludurz holding Norril in check. When they joined hands I do not know but did they wish it they could likely shatter the Circle.”
Saying this cost Orris a great deal. Neither Micah nor Ionoski pressed the issue. After a moment he spoke again, hesitantly.
“You are also interested in the Firsts. Of Loglain I shall speak no ill words. I honor the man he was and shall overlook the man he became.
“Juch is no great leader though he desires it. He is competent but emotion rules him when aroused. Do not doubt his cleverness, though. He is as aware of his shortcomings as others and will use them himself if he can throttle his anger.
“Darby follows the consensus. He should not have been ordained First but fortune or folly favored him. Until the majority speaks he is friend to all yet when the wind blows sure he rides its crest.
“Maas comes from a merchant's family. Though he forswore material gain when he took his Oaths, I believe they still haunt him. If you wish to know him, look to a profit. He has done well by the Circle but also unto himself and his family. He is quick to assist another's cause but there is always benefit for him as well.
“Frond knows only the Unity. Any action he takes will further the Unity. If a course does not do so he will not follow it. More, he will oppose any such with all the breath in him. Reason holds no value for him when he perceives it as detrimental to the Unity. He is dangerous! Yet... Many folk share his vision and he speaks with their voices as well as his own.
“Litho is an admirable and honorable man. But for Frond the Circle would speak with his voice. He is slow and deliberate and does not voice a decision until he has all the facts he can gather. Do not deem him stupid though. Many have made that mistake. If convinced, he is an implacable ally.
“Brellin is reckless. It is said he once tweaked a slashray's tongue just to see its teeth flash. He is strong and able but most view him as capricious and impulsive. At times he stands counter to Frond for nothing more than his amusement. Still, on important issues he and Litho often speak with the same voice.”
Orris looked at them, burden evident upon him.
“Is there aught else you would know?”
“No, sirra,” replied Ionoski, “Third Orris, you have been of great assistance to us. Do not fear that we shall betray your trust. You are a man of honor and integrity and, despite what you may wish to believe, we of the League treasure these qualities.”
“So Ramsey has said.” Orris offered a wry smile. “Do not fear to betray me, friends. I have done that unaided.”
“I do have a question,” said Kidwell, “One you need not answer, but I am curious. Your bio doesn't mention brothers or sisters.”
Orris nodded. “My father was weak-willed, sin-filled and indiscreet. Though I call Jilli my sister it is only his blood we share. I have a brother and another sister. She is happily married and strong in the Unity in Rapture of Servitude. He works in a business in Salvation by the Sea. We often corresponded until Tollison...” He fell silent.
“Thank you, sirra.” Kidwell gave Orris her most sincere smile.
“One other, if you don't mind,” said Micah.
Orris nodded.
“How will a new First be appointed?”
Orris considered a moment. “There will be seven Firsts. By tradition the Firsts will begin fasting and contemplating the Unity. In fact they will discuss amongst themselves, take measure of the Orders and the congregations and likely maneuver toward their own ends.” Orris made a sour face at this. “Once they have consensus of the minor they will announce the candidate. Again, by tradition the candidate should enter a time of meditation and prayer. In truth the candidate will bow to the will of the people. None of this will occur, though, until there is solid peace and no threat of conflict.” He tried to keep the acid out of this and mostly succeeded.
“And must the candidate be Second to the Circle?”
“No. By Writ and Decree any member of any congregation of the Unity may be ordained. To do otherwise would smother the Circle in inflexibility.”
“Any ideas who the candidate might be,” asked Ionoski.
“There are many possibilities. The decision, though, rests with the Circle and only with the Circle. When they have decided, they will make their decision known. Not before.” Orris thought a moment more. “Given what I have learned, the decision may already be made.”
After a moment the door beeped and one of Ramsey's aides entered the room.
“Sirra Orris. Mister Ramsey asked me to invite you to an informal visit before you leave.”
“A pleasant memory before leaving?” Orris smiled as he said this. “Certainly.”
***
“So how should we play this,” asked Ionoski, after the others left.
“I have a thought,” said Micah, “Assuming his intel checks, First Orris would be a much stronger ally than Third. You'll verify the information he gave us, Ted?”
“Even as we speak,” nodded Ionoski, “Now. How to accomplish?”
Kidwell began doodling fact charts and Ferrel fired up a terminal and began queries. Micah closed his eyes and thought hard about his classes.
“He'll need a power base,” said Micah. Obvious but still true.
“He has a good one now,” said Kidwell, “But it needs to be stronger.”
“I can see two ways to accomplish that,” said Ionoski, “He's quite capable of the high road.”
“And we can help with the other,” said Ferrel, not looking up, “He'll have clean hands and full deniability. If we can trust him.”
“We can,” said Kidwell, “He may be convinced he's dealing with hell's own solicitors but he is a man of honor.”
“I concur,” said Micah.
“Agreed,” said Ionoski, “and he is also a man of skill, talent, drive and humility.” He checked his chrono. “Ian didn't think he could give us too long for this, so anything you might need you'd best grab now. We have a very iffy potential delivery system via your bangers, Micah, but trust is a major factor.”
***
Content with silence now, Orris directed alMarklin to drop Micah and the others close to lowtown. After a quick face-change Micah directed Kidwell and Ferrel through several meet points. After he felt comfortable that no one followed them they headed to their house.
Early the next morning Micah and Kidwell ran a rat path to lowtown. Delight's brothel hadn't opened for the day but picking the lock posed Kidwell no problems at all. Several ladies puttered about fixing a meal or finishing one. At Micah's appearance they fetched a sleepy Delight quickly.
“We have business to discuss,” said Micah.
“My office.”
Delight motioned them to chairs and eyed them cautiously.
“A question,” said Micah, “How do you feel about the gentleman we met here?”
“I know who he is,” said Delight, “and I think a great deal of him. Apart from and because of his sister and his situation. He is a treasure and if you've harmed him...”
“Far from it,” interrupted Micah, “We might even be able to help him. With help from his other friends, of course.”
“Oh spare me your word games. Speak your desires. I shall decide then whether or not to help you. None of my ladies know aught but that he and Jilli are close and that he is trying to protect her. For that all of them would gladly wed him or bed him and consider it an honor to do so. For that alone I would help him.”
“About the men usually with him,” said Kidwell.
“I know them as well,” said Delight with ice in her voice.
Kidwell leaned forward with a hard expression. “Sated men often hold their tongues on long leashes or not at all. They also listen to words spoken across a pillow.”
Delight's eyes hardened.
“Truth. And if they suspect their words travel the kindest men betrayed would shame a rabid sandwolf. These men are not kind.”
“You'll have warning,” said Micah, “well before any suspect you.” He reached into his pocket and brought out two rolls of currency: one from the Unity and one from the League. “And you will have the means to escape.”
If the quality or quantity of money surprised Delight she didn't show it.
“Jilli cannot be moved and I will not leave her.”
Kidwell placed a small case on the desk. “This will ease her pain. She should not have more than two doses in a single day unless you do move her. There are no side effects for short-term use.”
Delight considered this a moment before making the money and the medicine disappear.
“How is this information to be gathered? If any of these men suspect, or if they find monitors...”
Kidwell placed an assortment of makeup cases, lighters, styluses and bracelets on the desk.
“Give each of your ladies one or two of these. Tell them what you will. No monitors will be found and the men will suspect nothing. After three days package them and send them with Shari to the refectory at the corner of Dawn's Contemplation in Repose Park. Seven o'clock. I'll send back an identical batch with her. Make sure she dresses in plain robes.”
Delight considered for a long time before nodding.
“Until I deem danger too near.”
“Agreed.”
***
Micah turned his eyes downward and pushed the cleaning unit before him. Ferrel shuffled behind and hummed some nameless hymn. Suspicious men walked all around them but Micah and Ferrel escaped notice from all.
Gaining entry into the local Order of the Brethren of Walkers in Light was an exercise in simplicity. Two days after Micah and Ferrel applied to the cleaning service most of the other people working there contracted a severe illness. It passed quickly and with no lasting effects but for two to four days its sufferers could do little more than shuffle between the bed and the fresher.
“You must work quickly,” admonished their supervisor, “but you must also be thorough. The Brethren are not to suffer the indignity of filth as they work.”
Micah and Ferrel agreed quickly.
Now Micah turned his attention to the office. He labored at the work of two as Ferrel powered up his terminal and jacked into the one inside the office.
“Ahh, bliss,” said Ferrel as the terminals synced, “You missed a spot there, boy. Clean clean! Quick quick!”
The terminal beeped, cutting off Micah's sarcastic reply. Ferrel donned a dex to increase his speed and started his burns. After a few minutes he made a delighted noise and started working the dex even faster. Just before Micah finished he jacked out and helped with the finishing touches.
“Bonusjack, my brother! These Brethren are responsible for the security in several places we might want to be.”
“Did you...”
“Of course I did. Don't be insulting!”
***
“Well,” asked Kidwell.
“Smooth and easy,” said Ferrel, “Shall we cast some aspersions tonight?”
“Likely,” replied Kidwell, “While you two were having tea with the Brethren I received a blip from Ted.” She handed Ferrel the handterm. Then, to Micah, “It seems all of the information Sirra Orris gave us was accurate. At least to the extent Ted and Ian could verify it and that was quite an extent.”
“So it seems,” said Ferrel, his smile a bit lackluster now.
Kidwell held out her hand and Ferrel handed her a five-credit bill that had seen better days.
***
Micah didn't like the datamart Ferrel selected. It was clean, well-lit and situated in a decent neighborhood but it still made Micah uneasy. Showing a nonchalance he didn't quite feel Micah sat and watched Ferrel conducting his burns.
“Polarity,” said Ferrel softly, “Our illustrious Page Velvert has some interesting security. Or perhaps I should say 'had.' This might almost be a challenge.”
Micah admired the technique Ferrel used. With the back door he'd left as Loglain Ferrel burned several trails, deceptive and not hidden well, before turning his attention to serious work. He deliberately roused several watchdogs and placated them. During that process he 'revealed' himself as user 'qmaas' and tried a sloppy burn into Velvert's datacaches.
Ferrel copied what data he found, of course; to do otherwise would grate his very soul. Most of his activity centered around investigating that information and leaving Velvert an almost-visible trail to trace back.
“I'm glad we're out of there,” said Micah, “I know Unity doesn't have many datamarts but I do not like that one!”
“You probably shouldn't,” answered Ferrel, “It's a front operation for the Hand of Inquiry. We were under observation as soon as we hit the doorway.”
“Burn it! They took our rets!”
“Mmm...,” said Ferrel smugly, “Perhaps this isn't the time...”
“What?” Micah hadn't missed Ferrel's expression.
“Norril has rets on file for his agents. All of them. The ones I scribed tonight belong to two of his best burners.”
Micah took a sharp breath and hissed it out.
“That was a risk! Clever, but not smart!”
“My mark in water,” smiled Ferrel, “You did say sow chaos, yes?”
“Yes,” admitted Micah, “But next time warn me!”
***
Micah and Ferrel spent most of the next day prepping for their night's work. Kidwell mapped rumor flows and calculated effectiveness patterns. Ferrel blipped Ionoski all the new data they had and the three turned in early for a short rest.
Three hours after midnight found Micah, Kidwell and Ferrel making the medium-short trip to First Juch's manor. They ghosted around its not-too-large perimeter planting various electronic devices. Micah approached but carefully did not molest Juch's open-link security fence. Ferrel worked at the back gate but as yet had given no sign. A full squad of Brethren patrolled the area by pairs and they deliberately kept no regular pattern.
Micah and the others wore mercuries with the gain turned down for general darkness. This made them more easily spotted but able to move more quickly. Juch did have a s
izable yard and none of the three wanted to spend a long time crossing it!
Ferrel blipped Micah and Kidwell. Success! After a moment to ensure the guards hadn't tracked the blip Micah headed toward Ferrel. By the time Kidwell got there Ferrel had the gate open and was himself halfway across the yard.
Micah's heart leapt to his throat! A pair of Brethren walked around the house with lightstaves set to a moderately wide focus. Micah thumbed his suit to full gain and winced as Ferrel did the same. His outline blurred in one of the staves' beams. The light panned the area then moved back to Ferrel.
“What is it, Brother Harris?”
“I thought I saw something, Patrick. There.”
The other beam narrowed and brightened, playing across the yard. Micah reached for his stunner.
“I see nothing, brother.” The second beam widened and dimmed. “Perhaps your eyes are tired?”
“Perhaps, brother. Still...”
“Come, brother. I have no desire to serve a penance for tardiness.”
The first beam dimmed and the Brethren headed back around the house. Micah breathed a long, slow sigh of relief. He thumbed down his gain and started across the yard before anyone else appeared.
“That,” said Ferrel, once their suits were connected, “was far too close!”
“Are your shorts clean, brother,” replied Micah.
“If this is how you play,” said Kidwell, “I'm staying home next time.”
“We made it, luv,” responded Ferrel, “And that keeps my shorts, clean or otherwise, out of jail.”
Dawn found the three, mercuries at full gain, prone on the ground between the house proper and the scant shrubbery planted beside it. None of the night's patrols had come close to spotting them and Kidwell and Ferrel even managed a few short naps. Micah's chrono began vibrating. The small camera Micah focused on the manor's front door reported motion and blipped Micah an image: Juch leaving.
“Go, Charlie. He should be on his way to work now.”
Ferrel stealthed his way to the back door. The suit blurred once but faded quickly. Now came the riskiest part.