Two stories below, in a vast workspace opento the ceiling, rows of desks stretched from wall to wall. Only onewas occupied. A man with dark, wavy hair sat before a stack ofpapers, head bowed, pencil scrawling, while a second fellow pacedaround him. The first wore civilian clothes, a cream-colored shirtand forest green vest, and he seemed to be doing his best to ignorethe mutterings of the other. The second man had the same hair,though shorter, and wore black army fatigues, complete with a swordand pistol hanging from his belt.
Amaranthe squinted but could not make out therank pins on the man’s lapel.
“A lieutenant,” Sicarius whispered, and shewondered when he had come to know her so well that he could guessat the thoughts behind her squints.
Maldynado wriggled up beside them. He pointedat the man at the desk and whispered, “That’s Deret.”
“Trap?” Amaranthe flicked a finger at theofficer.
“Maybe not,” Maldynado said. “I think that’sFerel Mancrest, one of Deret’s brothers. There’s an older one, too,but I think he’s a captain. Ferel’s probably in town for theImperial Games and visiting his little brother.”
“So he stopped to load a weapon in thealley?” Amaranthe whispered.
“Hm.”
Down below, the officer leaned his hands ontothe desk. “You said six, didn’t you?”
“That’s what Maldynado said.” Deret keptworking without looking up.
“That disowned drunken gigolo,” the officergrowled. “You’ll be lucky if he gives her the right directions tofind this place.”
Maldynado’s eyebrows rose. “Drunken?”he mouthed.
“Just don’t shoot me with your grandioseplan,” Deret said. “The army has already damaged me enough.” Heflicked a hand at a cane leaning against his desk.
“Don’t be bitter because my C.O. didn’tconsult you. You let me know about her. You did your part.”
“Wonderful.”
“You don’t need to be here. We’ll-” Theofficer broke off and faced the balcony.
Amaranthe tensed, prepared to back away fromthe railing, but his eyes focused on something on his own floor. Asoldier jogged into view, a rifle in hand. He saluted and clickedhis heels together as he came to attention.
“Sir, Corporal Dansek checking in, sir. Nochange in status. The target has not been spotted yet. The menremain ready.”
“Very well. Dismissed.”
“The men?” Amaranthe whispered,turning an incredulous eye on Maldynado. “This is atrap.”
Sicarius leveled a dark stare at him aswell.
Maldynado’s eyes widened. “I didn’tknow.”
Amaranthe scooted back, gesturing for theothers to follow her. They retraced their route in, not stoppinguntil they reached the back alley again. Maldynado muttered tohimself all the way out.
“I can’t believe he’d betray my trust likethat,” he said.
Sicarius took a few steps toward the alleyentrance, but Amaranthe caught his arm.
“Wait,” she said. “Let’s talk aboutthis.”
“You’re not going in,” he said, more an orderthan a question.
“Going in, no. That wouldn’t be too smart ifthere’s a squad of soldiers waiting to capture me.”
“Then what is there to discuss?”
“This man could still be the ally we want himto be. It’ll just take more work than we thought to sway him to ourside.” Amaranthe smiled.
“Dear ancestors,” Maldynado said. “Youalready have a new scheme in mind.”
“Nothing big. Maldynado, I need you to do alittle shopping, then you can meet the others at the stadium andlet them know we’ll be late. Sicarius and I will be arranging akidnapping.”
Maldynado scratched his head. “A kidnappingthat requires…shopping?”
“One must be prepared.” Amaranthe smiledagain.
CHAPTER 3
“What are all these slagging enforcers doinghere?” Akstyr slouched against a tree and glowered at the groundswhere athletes mingled, roaming from the barracks to the baths andto various eating and shopping tents.
Books stood beside the tree as well, thoughhe was scribbling something in a notebook and paying littleattention to the scene before them. As far as Basilard could tell,serious training had ended for the day, but the evening was youngenough that few of the athletes were heading for the barracks. Moreenforcers than one would expect patrolled the grounds.
“We’re not going to be able to investigate acigar butt without getting spotted,” Akstyr went on.
In the fading light, Basilard exaggerated hissigns so Books and Akstyr could read them. We’re only supposedto see if magic is being used. We don’t need to get close or talkto anyone.
“Cursed enforcers will bug me just because ofmy brand.” Akstyr lifted a fist to display the arrow mark scoredinto the skin on the back of his hand. That seemed less likely toget him harassed than the greased ridge of spiky hair bisecting hishead and the baggy mismatched clothing any enforcer would assume hestole-probably correctly.
“Then keep your hands in your pockets,” Bookssaid.
Where should we start? Basilardasked.
“I believe I’ll observe from here,” Bookssaid. “You two lads are young enough to pass as athletes, but withmy gray hairs, nobody will believe I’m in the competition.”
Basilard lifted his eyebrows, amused at beingcalled a lad. He was close to thirty-five and had a bald spot itwould take a beaver pelt to cover. All the scars made the hair onthe sides grow in patchy, so he simply kept his whole headshaven.
“That and the fact you can’t walk more thanten steps without tripping over something,” Akstyr said.
“I’m not that clumsy.” Books tuckedhis notebook into a pocket.
A gaggle of young women Akstyr’s age walkedpast, their sleeveless togs displaying enough flesh to stir one’simagination. Akstyr straightened and touched his hair, as if toensure it was still suitably spiky.
Basilard signed a comment for Books, I’msurprised your empire lets girls compete. Larocka and Arbitan didnot have women fight.
“They’re permitted to enter the runningevents and the Clank Race,” Books said. “Not wrestling or boxing.Women have never been allowed to fight in the empire. As to therest, the historical precedent is interesting. In the old days,warrior caste men would come to the Imperial Games to hunt forbrides. The women who won the events were presumed to be mostlikely to birth sons who would become superior warriors. Theoriginal awards ceremony involved interested men coming out tocompete for the winners. Bloodshed was often involved. Sometimesdeath. I understand there are some warrior-caste men who still comewith the intent of shopping for brides, but the women are lesslikely to be interested these days. They want to start shops orwide-ranging businesses, using the status and honor they gain fromtheir victories to assist in their endeavors. We live in afascinating time, I must say.”
“Look at the chest on that one.” Akstyrpointed at a woman trotting to catch up with comrades. “I’d watchher run a race anytime.”
“Fascinating for some of us anyway,” Booksmuttered. “Akstyr, why don’t you go look for magic. That’s whywe’re here, right?”
Akstyr shrugged and ambled off.
Basilard had wanted to talk to the youngerman alone and saw his chance. I’ll go, too, and see if all theseenforcers are here about the missing people or Sicarius.Amaranthe had briefed Basilard, Books, and Akstyr on the morning’sevents.
He jogged to catch up with Akstyr, and theytook the path that meandered around the grounds. A nervous flutterteased his gut, and he did not start a conversation immediately. Ifhe guessed incorrectly, and Akstyr tattled on him, he would be adead man.
They avoided the crowded areas as theywalked. Basilard could not tell if Akstyr was checking for signs ofmagic use or simply ogling female athletes. They veered into theshadows to avoid a pair of enforcers marching in theirdirection.