by Glen Cook
***
Anna was more than usually demanding that night. She was troubled. It took a while to get her to open up. “I’m afraid,” she said. “All the time, anymore. Not terrified. Just always anxious.”
Hecht held her close. “Any special reason?”
“I worry about the girls. That evil thing is still out there. Principaté Delari keeps saying they got it, but it keeps coming back. Plus, Principaté Doneto has people trying to find out things about us. If he digs deep enough …”
“He’ll get his digging fingers lopped off. The Ninth Unknown has created entire lives for us based on what we’ve told people. Pinkus Ghort’s special spy, Bo Biogna, dug up my service records all the way back to Grumbrag. And in Grumbrag he found a man who says he’s my brother.”
Anna stiffened. “Really?”
“He told me so himself. I saw him in Alten Weinberg. He came by to see Joe.” He did not have to explain. Anna knew about Bo Biogna, Just Plain Joe, Ghort, Hecht, and their shared adventures.
Hecht added, “You’re protected. Never doubt it. Principaté Delari will watch out for you. Cloven Februaren, even more so. I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t have a squadron of Night things guarding your house.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Because they want things from me. And they’re more likely to get them if they look out for you and the kids.” Not to mention, they were basically decent men.
Anna started to ask something, decided against it. Probably about something she knew he would not discuss. “You may be right. Heris visits us at least twice a week. She always prowls around outside like she’s looking for something.”
“There you go.” Heris? Muniero Delari’s granddaughter. Hecht’s sister. Who, like Hecht himself, had no talent for sorcery. But talent might not be necessary with Delari and Cloven Februaren behind her.
Hecht was not sure what his grandfather, and his grandfather’s grandfather, were all about. He was no longer the naive Else Tage who had taken a picked band into the Idiam, to plunder the tombs of Andesqueluz. Piper Hecht, Captain-General of the Patriarchal armies, took no one at face value. Neither his enemies, nor the least of his friends and allies. Saving only Just Plain Joe.
Everyone had a secret agenda.
***
The children smirked and giggled at breakfast. Hecht ignored them. He was in a good mood. It was a fine day. He had no obligations. He planned to stay right here and do nothing.
Anna was not so cheerful. Looking further ahead, she was anticipating Hecht’s inescapable eventual departure.
Lila made breakfast. Hot bread. Honey. Some fiercely tart little green grapes harvested far too soon. And sausages that seemed to be half fennel. She explained, “This sausage is the kind my mother made. The Artecipean way.”
“Very good. Spicier than I’m used to, though.” And mostly pork. Of course. These westerners seemed determined to cleanse the earth of swine by devouring the beasts faster than they could breed.
“Vali. Now that you’ve learned to talk, why don’t you tell me all about Vali Dumaine? What’s the big mystery? What’s the big secret?”
The girl’s lips twitched and twisted. Habit died hard. But she had known this would come. “I made it up. All of it. I heard some Arnhander crusaders at the Ten Galleons talking to the Witchfinders. We didn’t know they were Witchfinders then.”
“Continue, please.” She seemed to think that she had explained.
“The crusaders had been told to go to the Holy Lands by the Arnhander king. The old one. The one that died. Anne of Menand got him to make them go. They belonged to a count she wanted revenge on. His wife was named Vali Dumaine. I liked its sound. So I made up the story that Lila told you that night in Sonsa.”
Hecht looked at Lila, who stared at the floor. “You believed Vali?”
“Not really. But I wanted to. So I pretended. I didn’t want her to do what I had to.”
Hecht guessed Lila to be fourteen. Even back then, she would have been an experienced prostitute, her virginity auctioned nightly by her mother.
“God will reward you, Lila. I’m sure of that. So. Vali. Who are you, really? The daughter of Bit’s relative from Artecipea? She told one story that ran that way. Another made it sound like you had been sold to the house.”
Lila said, “Mother never told the whole truth. She couldn’t. Not even to herself.”
Hecht thought a woman would have to be skilled at lying to herself to survive in such a hard trade.
“I don’t remember any more, Father. I was too young when I came to the Ten Galleons.”
Hecht did not pursue the matter. It was not crucial. Let the child be what she wanted. Anna would set her on the path of righteousness.
Hecht had another sausage. Vali watched, obviously anxious. He winked. She jumped. “Lila. How are you doing?”
The older girl was surprised to be asked. “Good. Considering. This is an interlude I’ll enjoy as much as I can.”
Hecht’s turn to be surprised. Not because Lila was insecure but because she had assumed a fatalistic outlook so early. Her life must have been harsh indeed. “You have a place here. As long as you like. You’re family, now.” Which could end with one slight political crosswind.
Hecht said, “Everyone listen. Life is unpredictable. Mine maybe more than most. Other people don’t have giant worms come out of the ground after them. If anything happens to me, ever, all of you get to Principaté Delari’s house the minute you hear about it.”
“Why?”
“Anna?”
“Why would we be safer there than here?”
“Because Muniero Delari is who he is.” And because Cloven Februaren made his home there, as well. The Ninth Unknown might be the most powerful sorcerer in the west, if not the world. Though he hid it well.
“I understand that. What eludes me is the Principaté’s motives for caring about me or the children.”
“Ah, I can’t really explain that.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?”
“Fifty-fifty. I know some things. I suspect some things. And I know there’s more that I don’t know. One thing I do know is, the umbrella of the Principaté’s protection casts its shade on this family. Accept it. Enjoy it, the way you will the weather we’ll have today.”
Pella rose. He had not spoken for some time. Not even minimal table courtesies. “We can’t enjoy the weather. We aren’t allowed. Some people aren’t afraid of Principaté Delari.” He left the kitchen. A moment later Hecht heard the front door open. Pella would be staring out into the fine morning and, no doubt, would be incensed because he could not go run the streets.
Hecht murmured, “All life is compromise and trade-off. He can’t run the streets but he isn’t starving.” And he had learned to read. And he had begun to learn a trade.
“Trade-offs,” Anna agreed.
Hecht wondered how she meant that.
***
“Dad,” Pella called. “There’s soldiers coming. Patriarchal Guards.”
Anna said, “And there goes the one day we thought we had.”
Pella made a startled squeal. Hecht rushed to the front, armed with a kitchen knife.
Heris stood six feet from Pella, who was framed in the doorway. The boy was pale. The woman had her hands spread to indicate that she was not dangerous.
“She came out of nowhere, Dad! I was watching the guards. When I turned around, there she was. And I was in the doorway the whole time.”
Heris said, “I’m no good at this yet. I meant to hit that breezeway down the street, across the street. A memory of this room got in the way.”
Anna and the girls crowded together behind Hecht, gaping. With Anna eyeing him suspiciously because it was obvious that he understood.
Hecht asked, “There’s a reason you did this?”
“Grandfather wants you to know that those men are real Patriarchal Guards.”
Hecht had not thought otherwise. Yet. But he would have done if th
e soldiers were not men he recognized.
“Has something happened?”
“Boniface has taken a bad turn. He’ll want to see you.”
News Delari must have gotten from Cloven Februaren. “I see.”
“Also, I’m supposed to tell you you’re all to come to the town house tonight.” Heris looked him in the eye. “It’s important, Piper.”
“The old man’s wish is my command.”
“And the old, old man’s.”
The Patriarchal Guards arrived. They formed up outside. Their corporal came up to the door with a letter case. Pella called, “Dad.”
The letter case contained only a brief note in a shaky hand. It urged the Captain-General to pay his final respects to Patriarch Boniface VII.
“It’s serious this time, sir,” the corporal said. “He doesn’t have long. Everyone says. He’s determined to see you before he goes.”
“I see.” Though he did not, really. “Anna, maybe you should take the kids to the town house now.” That place was no fortress but it would be safer than this if troubles followed Boniface’s passing. He would get his own men down here right away.
Hecht wanted to ask Heris if it was a problem, the family showing up now. …
Vali said, “She just kind of turned sideways and wasn’t there anymore.” Her eyes were huge. “How did she do that?”
Anna, however, was suspicious. “What was all that? Never mind. I understand the need. I just hope nobody decides to loot this place while we’re away.”
“Don’t worry. There are watchers. And I’ll send some of my men. Corporal, I’ll make myself presentable and be right with you.”
***
Hugo Mongoz looked all of his eight decades, and more. “Out!” he rasped at his attendants. “All of you! Begone!”
The Patriarch had made prior arrangement with his guards. They began removing the physicians and hangers-on. They were not gentle with any who resisted.
“You arrived in time,” Boniface said.
“You’re a stubborn man.”
“I won’t let my Church slide into the grasp of those who want only to aggrandize and enrich themselves.”
Hecht did not ask why Boniface wanted to be different.
“You’ll observe my Will and Testament?”
“That’s why I hurried down from Alten Weinberg. I know Rocklin Glas. He’s a good man. He’ll be good for Mother Church. But he has drawbacks.”
“Which are?”
“You must know. He’s a cripple. Unlikely to outlive you by long. And he enjoys the enmity of every Principaté interested in assuming the ermine in order to aggrandize himself and his family.”
“True. Mustn’t forget the Five Families. Have they put forward an alternative to Bellicose?”
“No, Your Holiness. They’d have to fight it out amongst themselves, first. None of them have the charm to get the others to elect them.”
“Make them fulfill my promises.”
“I will.”
“Suppress the Society. Don’t let that whore in Salpeno seduce anyone else the way she did Sublime.”
“These things will be done. Are being done already.”
“Excellent. Excellent. I can go on satisfied that good men are in charge. Come here.” The old man’s voice had been weakening. Hecht knelt beside the sickbed. Mongoz exuded a sour odor that could not be masked by rosewater. “Tell Cloven Februaren I’ll haunt him if he doesn’t take care of you.” He laughed at Hecht’s surprise. The laughter turned into a coughing spasm.
“Yes. I know he’s out there. I know what he’s doing. He was always a busybody. With a juvenile sense of humor. But good at heart.”
“So it seems.”
“And a useful ally to someone like yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Pray with me.”
Hecht did so.
***
Principaté Delari could not wait to get Hecht into his silent room to ask about his visit to Krois. “The Patriarch had you in?”
“He wanted assurances that his plans will be carried out after he goes. And he wanted me to relay a message to your grandfather.”
“Uh?” Delari’s right eyebrow shot up.
“Seemed to know all about him.”
Delari scowled. “Makes me wonder who else knows more than he should.”
Heris joined them. She brought two permanent members of the household staff, Turking and Felske, who were married. The cook, Mrs. Creedon, seldom left her kitchen. Heris said, “Anna and the children are changing. Do you have anything that needs bringing in and putting away?”
“I have a couple of lifeguards outside. They could be made more comfortable.” Madouc’s men had caught up with him coming out of Krois.
Heris gestured. The couple hurried off. Hecht glanced at Delari. “She’s grown more sure of herself.”
“Blame it on the Ninth Unknown. And the Construct. Will you be able to spend time with us there, this time?”
“If I can. But I doubt it. I’m here to make the Collegium behave. Heris, what the hell were you doing, materializing in Anna’s sitting room? I have trouble enough explaining things without that.”
“I missed. I told you. The old man isn’t the best teacher. He mostly lets you figure things out for yourself. He isn’t around ninety percent of the time.”
Hecht faced Delari. “You said Heris and I have no talent for sorcery.”
“Inborn, less than some stones, certainly.”
“There are a million magical stones in folklore and myth.”
“My point. But in this case Cloven Februaren is just harnessing the Construct. The magic is in that. You could learn the trick if you spent a few months down there getting in tune.”
“Anyone can learn?”
“Given time and the inclination.”
“Including the people that work down there?”
“Within severely constrained limits. That’s how the women get in and out without falling foul of the Palace guards. Enough, for now.” Anna and the children were arriving.
Anna was stunning in something she had found in the apartment set aside for the family. Vali and Lila were not quite so remarkable but were well dressed, too.
Hecht suppressed a chuckle.
Pella had been outfitted like a young lord, complete with silken hose and slippers with bells on their upturned toes.
“Marvelous,” a new voice opined. And there was the little old man in brown, Cloven Februaren. The Ninth Unknown. “Yet there’s something wrong, here.”
Felske stepped into the room to ask, “Your Grace, Cook would like to know when the meal should be served.”
“When she has everything ready, I expect.”
Almost simultaneously, Februaren said, “These kids don’t fight. Brothers and sisters should be like cats and dogs. The girls should be scorching the boy about being dressed like that.”
Hecht observed, “Some young people are more civilized than others. I saw Hugo Mongoz today. He had a message for you.”
“I heard it. I took it up with him personally after you left. The only man we need to worry about is Bronte Doneto.”
Hecht glanced at his family, all eager to eavesdrop. “Doneto? As a concern other than what we have already?” Doneto was digging. Doneto held Pinkus Ghort’s leash.
“Friend Bronte has his eye on the Patriarchal throne.”
Not unlikely, on reflection. “He seems a little young.” Again, Hecht indicated the family with a glance.
Februaren said, “Might as well bring them in a little way, Piper. It’s true, what they don’t know they can’t betray. But what they don’t know can let them tell things they wouldn’t if they knew what was going on.”
That worried Hecht. Family worried Hecht. Family made you vulnerable. His enemies would not withhold their cruelties because he did not share his secrets with Anna and the children.
“I don’t like it. But you’re the expert. I’ll defer to your judgment.”
&nb
sp; “Why, thank you, Piper.” The old man chuckled.
“Teach Heris better aim with the turn sideways trick.”
“I heard. She just needs practice. And more concentration. Well. Here they come. And it looks like Muno has laid on a leg of lamb.”
Principaté Muniero Delari, within the confines of his home, disdained many Firaldian customs. Among his steps away from the customary was, he let children eat with adults. Though he was not so relaxed that he tolerated their chatter during the meal.
Turking and Felske presented the initial courses. Delari remarked, “I’m as uncomfortable as Piper, Grandfather. For different reasons. If you insist on baring souls, I suggest we save it for the quiet room, over coffee.”
“Conceded. One of my failings,” Februaren told Anna, flashing a big, boyish grin. “I’ve never been sufficiently paranoid. Gets me into trouble all the time.”
“So has your childish sense of humor,” Delari said.
“It’s just not possible to resist sticking a pin in, here and there.” The old man grinned again.
Hecht changed the subject. “What’s the problem with the thing in the catacombs? First, I hear it’s been hunted down and destroyed. Then I hear that it’s on the move again.”
Amazing. Principaté Delari actually reddened. “I don’t want to sound defensive. Or whiny. But it keeps getting re-created by the needs of the populace.”
Anna asked, “Why would anyone want a monster that creeps around, doing evil?”
“Nobody wants it consciously. But refugees have a powerful need to be scared of the dark. They’re from rural areas where the Night was never a friend. The city is different. Night is almost as safe as daytime. Pinkus Ghort makes it so. So the monster fills their need to fear the dark. We destroy one, the belief and need seizes another minor Instrumentality and feeds it. Belief channeling power toward its object.”
Hecht asked, “You mean …?” He got no chance to ask.
Cloven Februaren interrupted, “The way to fight that would be to start some rumors that make the believers lose faith.”