‘I can see why you came to support the Resistance.’

‘From that day to this I’ve had a horror of enslavement; any kind of imposition of one man over another, and that goes doubly for the state. Any state. And I’ve a terror of poverty. Not just for myself; for everyone. But I don’t see either of the empires improving things for most people. Quite the contrary. That’s why I put so much hope into the new state. For us, and most of all for the children.’

‘Thank you, Kinsel.’

‘For what, dear?’

‘For telling me. For opening your heart. I know it isn’t easy for you.’

‘Perhaps I have a trace of shame in my blood, the same way you have a little of the martial.’

‘There’s no need for shame. You’ve done nothing to deserve it.’

‘Knowing that and feeling it are two different things sometimes.’

‘You can talk to me about anything, you know.’

‘I know. It’s one of the many blessings you’ve brought me.’

Tanalvah stretched. ‘It’s getting late. Big day tomorrow.’

‘Ah, yes. The concert.’

‘Nervous?’

‘A bit. I always am. You’re bound to be a little worried that things won’t go well.’

‘Why shouldn’t they? The gods know you’ve rehearsed enough. You’ll be wonderful, and you’ll be doing something for the poor.’

‘I just wouldn’t want to let them down.’

‘You

won’t

. You’ll give it all you’ve got, Kinsel, the way you always do.’ She slipped her hand into his. ‘Now let’s get some rest, shall we?’

A short walk away, in the paladin compound, restful was the last word anyone would apply to Devlor Bastorran’s state of mind.

Ensconced in his private suite, injured leg resting on a padded stool, he was engaged in a tirade. The object of his wrath, a look of indifference on her face, leaned one arm sloppily on the mantel of the fine marble fireplace.

‘…not to mention an incompetent, idiotic, irresponsible, useless little…

freak

!’

‘Finished?’ Aphri Kordenza said.

‘Impertinent

bitch

.’

‘Yes. And your point is?’

‘Haven’t I made myself clear? You

failed

. I gave you a simple commission and you bungled it.’

‘Not that simple, considering who we were after. Anyway, there were unseen complications that let Caldason get the better of us.’

‘Oh, come

on

.’

‘The same happened to

you

. Or so you said. Took you by surprise was the expression you used.’

‘All right, all right. I concede the Qalochian’s a difficult mark for someone of your calibre.’

‘Well, you picked us.’

‘I believed your reputation. More fool me.’

‘You military types have a saying: the one about time spent in reconnaissance never being wasted. We learnt a lot about the way Caldason operates by going against him. The next time we meet-’

‘He’s going to be even more on his guard. No, I wouldn’t want you tackling him again unless the odds were massively in our favour.’

‘Wait a minute. This is a personal thing for us now. We can’t let him get away with besting us. It’s a matter of honour.’

‘I imagine that’s something you surrendered years ago. Forget your personal feelings.’

‘The way you have?’

‘My own sentiments don’t come into this.’

‘Really?’ She glanced pointedly at his bound limb. ‘How’s your leg?’

‘You forget yourself,’ he replied coldly. ‘Keep up your insolence and the next assignment’s going to someone else.’

‘Next? I thought we let you down on the first one.’

‘You did. But I’m prepared to give you a second chance.

Follow my instructions to the letter this time and you could redeem yourself. Not to mention earning an even larger fee.’

‘How?’

‘I’ve seen a way to down a whole flock of birds with a single, well-aimed stone.’

‘You’ve what?’

‘Leave the thinking to me, Kordenza. Let’s just say that I have an even bigger commission for you, if you’ve the courage to take it.’

‘A bigger target?’

‘Yes. But softer, and considerably more lucrative for you.’

‘You know how to entice a girl, General.’

‘Then sit, and listen while I explain.’

Bastorran laid out his plan, and they talked until the banked fire dwindled to embers.

‘There’s a certain poetic justice to it,’ Aphri granted, ‘and I take my hat off to your base ruthlessness. But the risk…’

‘That’ll be kept to a minimum as far as the deed itself is concerned. I’ll see to that. Remember, you’ll be under my protection, and, of course, you’ll have my eternal gratitude.’

‘And your money.’

‘That too.’

‘Doesn’t it worry you that you’ve told me so much? I mean, you’ve put your fate in my hands.’

‘A measure of how much I trust you. Then again, if you breathe a word about this, or try to betray me in any way, I’ll not only deny it, I’ll have you killed. Both of you. And not pleasantly.’

‘Sealed lips are an essential in our business, General.’

‘See you keep it that way. Well, what do you think?’

‘Sounds good to me. I’ll have to talk it over with Aphrim, of course.’

‘You will?’

‘We

are

partners.’

‘Er, where is he, by the way?’

She thrust a thumb at her chest, and answered under her breath. ‘Sulking. He lost a favourite weapon today, so he’s generating a new one.’ Even more quietly, she mouthed, ‘Now’s not a good time.’

He stared at her for a second. ‘I see. You’ll talk it over with him soon, though?’

‘First thing.’

There was a rap on the door.

‘Come!’ the paladin barked.

Lahon Meakin entered. He gave his master a respectful nod, and looked askance at the meld. ‘Your briefing, sir. But if this isn’t a convenient time…’

‘Perfectly convenient. Kordenza was just leaving.’

She got up. ‘I’ll be in touch.’

‘I’ll look forward to it. There’s an escort waiting to see you out of the compound. Meakin, the door.’

The aide opened it for her. She passed through without so much as acknowledging his existence.

‘Take a seat, Meakin.’

‘Thank you, sir.’ He chose the severest chair and produced his customary sheaf of notes.

‘Tomorrow is an auspicious day, Meakin. Remind me why.’

‘Well, sir, the ten for one law comes into force at midnight.’

‘About time, too. Ten prisoners executed every time a paladin’s killed will exercise the rabble’s minds very nicely. What else?’

‘On a personal note, sir, you’re due to have that binding removed.’

‘Yes, thank the gods. I’ll finally be mobile again. And able to kick some backsides in person. But it’s not entirely personal, Meakin. Whatever affects me has a bearing on the clans. We are indivisible, and don’t forget it.’

‘Of course, sir.’

‘And lastly?’

‘Lastly? Ah.’ He consulted his notes. ‘I don’t seem to have-’

‘No, you don’t. Because this has been kept on a strictly need-to-know basis. I’m telling you about it now, and I expect you to make all necessary arrangements despite the hour.’

‘Yes, sir. What will I be preparing for exactly, sir?’

‘I’ve decided to act on certain intelligence that’s come our way regarding dissident activity.’ He smiled a cat-that-got-the-cream smile. ‘We’re going to deal the Resistance a blow, Meakin. One they’ll not forget in a hurry.’