‘It’s the Qaloch gods who should be invoked.’
‘That’s a bit rich coming from you, Reeth. I thought you had your doubts about gods of any kind.’
‘I do, but it’s funny how the prospect of almost certain death can make what you were taught as a child seem meaningful again. Anyway, how is Kinsel?’
‘I think you can guess. Having the new baby and the children to care for is the only thing keeping him going, I reckon. He feels ashamed, you know. For what Tan did. He sees it as reflecting on him.’
‘He shouldn’t. He wasn’t responsible for her actions.’
‘You’re right. Oh, just a minute. Stand still.’ She reached up and plucked something from his head.
‘What was that?’
‘A grey hair. I’m damned if I know what to do to help Kinsel, Reeth. How do you get somebody through a thing like that?’
‘By being there for them. Which of course might not be possible.’ He nodded towards the brooding enemy forces. ‘And don’t forget the other complication. There’s a fleet in these parts that’s not either empire’s. We don’t know what difference that’s going to make to the balance.’
‘Whose might it be?’
‘I think we can guess.’
Disgleirio appeared, bounding up the battlement stairs with his usual athleticism. He made for them.
‘What’s up, Quinn?’ Serrah asked.
‘Phoenix asked me to relieve you.’
‘Why?’
‘I don’t know. He’ll be here directly to explain.’ He looked out at the enemy ranks. ‘Sobering, isn’t it?’
‘You could say that,’ Caldason replied.
‘What I don’t understand is what they’re waiting for.’
‘That’s what we wondered.’
Somebody was moving along the line of defenders on the battlements, dispensing water from a pail. He proved to be Kutch’s newly returned brother.
‘Good to see you don’t think water carrying’s beneath you,’ Serrah said.
‘I’m happy to do anything to help,’ he replied, putting down his load. ‘But when the fighting starts I expect a much more active role.’ He patted his sheathed sword.
‘We need everybody we can get. Oh, I don’t think you two have met properly yet. This is-’
‘I know,’ Varee said. ‘Quinn Disgleirio. I’m honoured to meet you.’ He held out a hand.
Disgleirio took it. ‘And you’re Kutch’s brother. Well met. But how do you know me?’
‘I’ve seen you, more than once, back in Bhealfa. In fact, I once got very close to you indeed.’
‘Really? I don’t recall.’
‘You weren’t supposed to notice. It was during a riot. I managed to get a note into your pocket.’
‘It was you, was it? I’ve been wondering ever since who had the inside knowledge to warn us. Given your connection with Bastorran, it makes sense now. Well, I’m grateful.’
‘I’m still not clear on you, Varee,’ Caldason admitted. ‘What’s your story?’
‘That’s something everybody seems to want to know.’
‘Just tell us,’ Serrah advised him, ‘we’re notorious gossips.’
Varee smiled. ‘I’ll make it quick, I’ve got thirsty people waiting for me.’
‘How did you come to turn from the paladins?’ Caldason wanted to know.
‘I didn’t. I’ve always hated them. I got into their ranks because I hated them. I’m not clan blood, of course, but they take a certain percentage of outsiders to fill administrative posts. That was how I worked my way up to Bastorran.’
‘Why?’
‘You and I have something in common, Reeth. We both wanted revenge on the paladins. The only way I could see to do it was to climb as high in the organisation as I could, leaking bits of information to the Resistance as I went, anonymously.’
‘To what purpose?’
‘To get close to the highest-ranking officer I could and kill him. But you kindly undertook that part earlier.’
‘Sorry if I deprived you.’
‘Don’t apologise. I could never have taken Bastorran in a straight fight. You know he killed his uncle, to get the leadership?’
‘It didn’t take much guessing.’
‘The meld did the actual deed. It killed two birds with one stone for Devlor: he got the leadership and you conveniently took the blame.’
‘But why did you want revenge so badly?’ Serrah said.
‘With respect to Reeth, the Qalochians weren’t the only ones to suffer at the paladins’ hands. The Pirathons were farming folk for generations. Then a local lord decided he wanted our lands, and all our neighbours’, too. The paladins were contracted to do the job, and used utmost brutality, needless to say. We were just an unregarded backwater and nobody outside our community cared.’
‘This was before you and Kutch were born?’
‘Before Kutch. I was about two at the time. But that wasn’t all. Our father could never accept the unfairness of what happened to us, and he spent years trying to get justice. Petitioning officials, begging audiences with governors, trying to find somebody in authority who’d listen to him. I’m as sure as I can be that it’s what got him killed. He just became too much of an irritant, and eventually he simply disappeared. From what I’ve seen of clan records since, it’s pretty obvious they got rid of him.’
‘Kutch never mentioned any of this.’
‘He doesn’t know. Our mother kept it from him, and evidently didn’t tell him after I left to join the clans. In fact, she thought I’d enlisted in the army.’
‘You never saw her again?’
‘I didn’t want to run the risk of them finding out about her and Kutch. So I sent money when I could and bided my time. I’m going to tell Kutch everything, but not just yet. I think he needs time to get used to me being back first.’
‘So getting here to the island was part of your plan?’
‘No, not really. Bastorran ordered me to accompany him. But by then I knew Kutch was with the Resistance, so it suited me well. It goes without saying that it was Bastorran’s intention to kill you. The meld was along as back-up. Or possibly some kind of scapegoat, knowing Devlor.’
‘Where is your brother?’ Caldason said.
‘I don’t know. But here’s a man who probably does.’
Phoenix arrived, stern-faced. He got straight to the point. ‘Serrah, Reeth, come with me.’
‘Now?’
‘You’ll want to see this.’
He led them to a cluster of wooden buildings on the far side of the square. One was an unprepossessing storage silo with no windows and a single door. Inside, at the very back, behind stacks of crates, a small group of rebels were gathered around something. They moved aside for Phoenix and the others.
‘Well, now we know what happened to Kordenza,’ Serrah said.
‘Do we?’ Caldason wondered.
The meld was stretched on the floor, unmistakably dead, her face hideously contorted. There was an extensive, gaping wound down her left side, from which innards had seeped. A trail of blood and a glistening, mucus-like material ran to a large burnt stain in a corner.
Phoenix pointed to it. ‘And that must have been her glamour twin…’
‘Aphrim,’ Caldason supplied. ‘What happened here?’
‘Self-evidently the twin killed his host by trying to escape from her body. That or something went wrong when she was bringing him out in her usual way. Look at this.’
They went back to Aphri’s body. For the first time, they noticed that one of her feet was bare.
‘She removed the boot herself,’ Phoenix explained. ‘If you were to examine her heel, you’d find that an object’s been inserted just under the skin.’
‘I’ll take your word for it,’ Serrah assured him.
‘It’s a device Covenant’s familiar with, though it’s rare. Its function is to draw energy from the grid, almost certainly with the object of keeping her symbiote status permanent. It clearly failed her.’
‘Not a pleasant death,’ Caldason remarked.
‘Not at all,’ Phoenix agreed. ‘Come on, there’s more.’ He marched for the exit.
As they trailed him, Serrah spoke to Reeth in an undertone. ‘You look a bit ashen, my love.’
‘My energy level’s down a bit. I’m all right.’
‘Maybe it’s what I said earlier: you need to recharge.’
‘Maybe.’
This time, the sorcerer took them into the redoubt itself. The damage from the attack was still very much in evidence, though the worst had been cleared. Phoenix made his way to the chamber where Praltor Mahaganis was lodged.