‘I was like you, son, but when you get an arrow lodged in your leg and a wound that never quite heals, you don’t get much choice in the matter.’ Trajus moved back to his seat and relaxed into it with a thunderous groan, which he seemed to enjoy. The place was modestly decorated – bare stone walls, with a stove and a few plain chairs, desks and benches. One workbench was littered with papers and scrolls, while in the corner of the room stood a small bust of Polla, with beads and necklaces draped over her. In my head I briefly requested her blessings.
‘Now, what course of action would you like?’ Trajus asked.
‘It’s a serious situation. I’m going to need an urgent message dispatched to my senior officers – have any soldiers been stationed nearby?’
‘Two dozen Sun Legion veterans on the other side of those trees.’ Trajus gestured towards the window.
‘Really? I saw nothing on the way up.’ I looked across to Leana, but she shrugged.
‘Then they’re doing their job properly, son. No one’s supposed to know they’re here. Not even I know what they’re here for.’
‘That might be my doing – or at least I hope it is. Please, can you take me down to see them?’
The disappointment was apparent in Trajus’ face. ‘I’d just got settled in my chair.’
Trajus limped at a frustratingly slow pace through the afternoon sunlight, leaning on his stick for support. Eventually, through the yellowing poplars and down a small country track, we arrived at a dip in the valley, a natural shelter carved out of the land itself. There were no tents, just a smouldering campfire in front of a small, crumbling barn overlooking the valley.
‘Where are they?’ I asked.
I heard the clamour of armour – and some brief, sharp orders being issued from up the slope. Silhouetted against the bright sky were the two-dozen men, sheathing or lowering their weapons almost in unison.
‘Trajus,’ a voice called down, and a figure gestured towards us with the tip of his blade. ‘Who are these people?’
‘I am Lucan Drakenfeld, officer of the Sun Chamber.’
‘Is that so?’ the voice called back. ‘Then we have business with each other, Lucan Drakenfeld.’
The figure marched down the hill and into focus. I could hardly believe my eyes. Looming over me in his resplendent uniform was an old friend.
‘Maxin Callimar?’ I called over. ‘Is it actually you?’
‘You were always getting into trouble, Lucan, even years ago.’
Callimar strode into view smiling – a good deal older, flecks of grey in his beard, his nose even broader than it used to be, those brown eyes more penetrating than before. His skin had been darkened by a lifetime under the Vispasian sun. His hair was still raven-black, though, and he’d put on a lot of muscle mass over the years. We embraced, and I felt the iron grip of his veteran arms.
‘What are you now, a captain?’
‘General,’ he said laughing. ‘One of ten in the Sun Legion. And you’ve come a long way since I trained you, so I hear.’
We took a step back so we could assess each other better. We’d known each other in Free State where Sun Chamber officers had to undergo a stint of military education. We became close friends for that brief time, the way a young and older man can do: me eager to learn, him eager to talk over a cup of wine.
‘Time’s been kinder to you than it has to me,’ Callimar said.
‘I don’t do half the things you lot do.’ I indicated his fellow veterans, who were stepping down slowly from the slope. ‘What good fortune that they sent you.’
‘Fortune hasn’t much to do with it. Our unit had been ensconced in a small town a few hours from the border of Maristan when there was news that some Lucan Drakenfeld character wanted help. I’m hardly likely to leave a friend standing, especially one like you.’
‘I’m relieved to find a friendly face out here.’
‘Sounds serious.’
‘It is.’
‘Come, then. Trajus, please, we’ll be fine from here. Thank you for bringing him and his colleague down.’
Trajus muttered something before shambling back up the slope to the station post, while Callimar placed his arm around me and steered me towards the barn. It felt good to be among friends, to have someone from the Sun Chamber back me up in what had to be done.
We walked back to the quiet shelter of the old limestone barn. I introduced him to Leana, and was a little surprised he made no comment on the fact that I had chosen a female assistant.
We sat inside on rough wooden benches while his veterans set off in small teams around the hillside. Callimar offered us a cup of water, which was gratefully received.
‘So, friend,’ Callimar said, ‘what trouble have you found for yourself this time? The details I was given were hazy at best.’
‘It’s King Licintius,’ I said.
Callimar’s face darkened and his expression grew more serious. ‘Go on.’
‘He’s staged the murder of his own sister, Lacanta, arranged for a priestess to be killed in her place, and tricked the whole city into believing his sister had been killed. In fact, the whole of Tryum believes the king to be in mourning for Lacanta, but I’m convinced she’s alive.’
Callimar grunted a laugh of disbelief. ‘That sounds like a lot of effort.’
‘There’s a lot more I’m trying to connect. General Maxant has been killed, but I believed him to have been involved in the staging of Lacanta’s murder, too.’ I explained how Maxant had been the first one on the scene, the only one who could have put the key in the lock on the inside; the connection between him and the actor, Drullus, and the leaf of henbane. ‘And we found Maxant’s own murder staged in a similar manner – people were led to believe one thing, though quite another in fact happened.’
‘And you investigated all of this, Lucan?’
‘I did. The king permitted me access, but I don’t believe he wanted me there – another senator called me to the scene that night – but the king couldn’t get rid of me, not so soon after another Sun Chamber official had died.’
‘A unit far bigger than my men would have been dispatched in an instant,’ Callimar said.
‘Exactly – and he also had to create the illusion that he was interested in seeing Lacanta’s supposed murderer caught. It would have looked strange otherwise, but he was no stranger to acting, it seems. He put on quite a show of making me welcome. He must have been very confident in his own plans, but he now knows I’m on to something. He’s grown desperate. The King’s Legion will be out looking for us.’
Callimar waved his heavy hand dismissively. ‘City troops will be lazy. We’ve hidden right in front of their noses and, if they come for you, we’ll keep you concealed.’ Callimar frowned momentarily. ‘Your father – he was the official who died, wasn’t he?’
I nodded and took another gulp of water.
‘Lucan, I’m truly sorry. I hope Polla does her best for him.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Are these accusations enough, do you think?’ Callimar asked. ‘What solid evidence have you found?’
I mentioned the priest’s descriptions of the missing priestess, and our verification of the body. ‘Of course, the body will be burned before long,’ I continued. ‘They have to give the impression the funeral rites are being conducted in accordance with Trymus’ own laws.’
‘Why would he have gone to all this trouble?’
I shrugged. ‘That’s what I’ve not yet worked out.’
‘Looks like we’ll have to find Lacanta, in that case.’ Callimar grinned. ‘Good luck with that.’
‘It might not actually be too difficult…’
Callimar seemed confused. ‘And what makes you say that?’