‘I’m hearing about a side of my master I never suspected. I mean, I knew he had no love for the state. Now it turns out he was involved in something big. Something
important.
But… I didn’t know. He never told me about any of this.’
‘It was for your own protection,’ Karr replied, ‘on the principle that what you didn’t know couldn’t endanger you. Domex was engaged in a selfless purpose. That’s why they killed him, whatever pretext they may have used. Have no doubts about that. You’ve every reason to be proud of him, Kutch.’
The boy swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. ‘Is it because of this plan of yours that the government wants you dead?’
‘Perhaps. I don’t fool myself that they’re entirely ignorant of it. There are informers and spies enough in the dissident ranks.’
‘That messenger glamour in the likeness of a bird. It was sent to warn you of the attack?’
‘Yes, by associates in Valdarr. I could have wished it had arrived earlier! There’s treachery in my circle, and lately near to hand. But I think it more probable this latest attempt on my life was because I’m a general thorn in the authorities’ side. My death at the hands of apparently common brigands would suit them well.’
‘They’ve tried before?’
‘Several times.’ Karr sounded as though he took pride in it.
Caldason broke in with, ‘Why should they bother killing one of their own?’
The patrician regarded him narrowly. ‘What do you mean?’
‘The way I see it you
are
the government, or near as damn. You play their game.’
Karr laughed, half cynically, half genuinely amused. ‘You have a properly jaundiced view of authority. Politics has been my way of challenging the state. I don’t claim to be very effectual, and at best my views are barely tolerated, but it’s what I do.’
‘How much bread does it put in hungry mouths? When does it ever favour the weak over the strong?’
‘You’re right, politics is a fraud. I know. I’ve been a practitioner of the black art all my life. It makes accommodations, turns a blind eye, appeases those who tyrannise us.’
‘That’s rare honesty from your kind. So why bother with it?’
‘Because I believed governance was about the best interests of the citizenry; that the system could curb the excesses of our colonial rulers, maybe even help break their hold. They’ve branded me for that belief.’
‘I’ve heard. They call you naive, militant, insurrectionist, radical -’
‘And they call
you
pitiless.’
‘Depends on who’s doing the calling.’
‘Exactly.’
Kutch said, ‘If it means getting out from under those who grind people’s faces, isn’t radical a good thing to be?’
Karr smiled. ‘Well put.’
‘It was something my master used to say,’ the boy admitted, a little shamefaced.
‘Then it’s to your credit that you honour him by repeating it.’
Caldason shifted, looked down at Karr. ‘This great scheme of yours, it’s some kind of political manoeuvre?’
‘Politics… plays its part.’
‘What are the other parts?’
‘Protest takes more than one path.’
‘That sounds like another way of saying it’s something to do with the Resistance.’
Karr held his gaze. ‘I’m with the Opposition. Others are the Resistance.’
‘They’ve been known to shade together.’
‘As I said, our rulers slander those who stand against them. They’d have people believe all their opponents are terrorists.’
‘Does that mean you think the Resistance are terrorists?’
‘Why, do you?’
‘No.’ He glanced Kutch’s way and added caustically, ‘But then I’m an outlaw, remember.’
‘What’s your point, Caldason?’
‘Any plan meant to really change things would have to involve the Resistance to stand a chance.’
‘I repeat: opposition takes many forms. There are peace-loving witnesses of conscience and priests who disagree with the regime, let alone revolutionaries, agitators, protodemocrats and the rest. Even the Fellowship of the Righteous Blade’s no longer dormant. Did you know they’d reformed?’
‘So it’s said.’
‘Who are they?’ Kutch asked.
‘They’re an ancient martial order,’ Karr told him, ‘founded on patriotism. Their ranks boast some of the finest swordsmen in the land, and they’ve helped keep alive a tradition of valour that was once universally respected. They’ve often appeared in times when this country’s independence was threatened.’
‘And proved inept, if Bhealfa’s present state’s anything to go by,’ Caldason remarked.
‘Perhaps they would have achieved more if they’d had greater support from the rest of us,’ Karr replied pointedly. ‘At least they’re doing something.’
‘If you think a bunch of idealists with outmoded notions of chivalry have much to contribute to your cause, I suppose they are.’
‘Dissent isn’t as black and white as you think. The few politicians of my persuasion need all the allies we can get; we’re fleas on the backs of oxen.’
‘That just about sums up the size of your task.’
‘Even an ox can be brought low by enough flea bites.’
‘In your dreams, perhaps.’
Karr expelled a breath. ‘You seem less than enthusiastic about the idea of challenging those in power. Given what Qalochians have suffered, that surprises me.’
Reeth visibly stiffened at mention of his birthright.
‘Your people have faced massacres and enforced clearances,’ Karr continued, ‘and what’s left of your diaspora has blind prejudice heaped upon it. If any have a grievance against the regime, it’s the Qaloch.’
Knowing how sour Caldason could be about his people’s lot, Kutch expected a prickly reaction. He was half right.
‘The condition of Qalochians is well known,’ Caldason said, even-toned, ‘yet I see few taking up cudgels on our behalf. Why should we support you?’
‘Because it’s your fight too. And some of us
have
spoken out about the Qaloch’s plight. Myself included.’
‘That’s made a world of difference, hasn’t it?’
‘I understand your cynicism, but -’
‘Do you?’ Caldason’s passion began to show itself. ‘Have
you
been spat on because of your race? Have
your
settlements been torched, your womenfolk defiled? Have you had your life valued at less than a handful of dirt on account of your ancestry?’
‘For my ancestry… no.’
‘
No
, you haven’t. Your safety’s in peril, granted, but unlike me you have a choice. You could give up agitation and offer the state no reason to vex you.’
‘My principles wouldn’t allow that,’ Karr bristled.
‘I can respect a man who takes a stand. For me there’s no option. My blood allows me none. Because when it comes to prejudice and bigotry neither empire has anything to boast of. This land happens to be under the heel of one at the moment. In the past it was the other. The world is as it is.’
‘That’s where we disagree. I believe we could change things.’
‘Gath Tampoor, Rintarah; it makes no difference.’
‘I’m not talking about replacing one empire with the other, or trying to moderate what we have. There could be another course.’
‘Slim hope, Patrician.’
‘Perhaps. But history’s stood still for too long. Everything’s entrenched. Two-tier justice, blind to the crimes of Gath Tampoorians; Bhealfa’s youth conscripted to fight the empires’ proxy wars; distant rulers, cut off from the people; extortionate taxes -’
‘We know all this,’ Caldason interrupted. ‘This isn’t a public meeting.’
Karr looked mildly slighted at that. ‘All I’m saying is that it can’t go on.’
‘Why not? The empires are stronger than they’ve ever been. Even if it were possible to defeat one, its twin would fill the void.’
‘That’s certainly been true in the past. Now I’m not so sure. There are signs that their rivalry is beginning to erode their power.’
Kutch was sceptical. ‘Are you joking?’
‘I was never more serious. Rintarah and Gath Tampoor are straining under the pressure of outdoing each other. They’re hammering at the rights of citizens and subjects both, such as they are, and milking their colonies for all they can get. As to their strength… well, a bough’s hardy until lightning strikes, and ice is thickest prior to the thaw.’