‘And nothing else?’
‘No, Ffyrst. It was always the same story.’
‘Did you succeed in following this rumour back to its source, Commander?’
Urssain shifted uneasily. ‘No, Ffyrst. It proved to be rather… ’
Dan-Tor turned slightly and fixed him with a side-long gaze.
‘It was impossible, Ffyrst,’ Urssain said defensively. ‘We interrogated a few people, but the trail invariably led back to some public gathering place of one kind or another. It was obviously started in several places at once.’
‘And what do you deduce from this, Commander?’ Dan-Tor turned round, his face bright with an open smile. Urssain’s stomach went leaden. He had learned enough of Dan-Tor to know that this smile meant his Master was at his most devious. The inviting smile was like soft grass covering an iron-toothed trap. He had learned also that this was no time to try intellectual games with him. Let the fear dominate. Simple honesty was the best protection.
‘Very little, Ffyrst,’ he said. ‘Except that he still has many loyal friends in the City. This rumour could be to cover his escape from the City, or it could be to mislead us into thinking he’s left the City when he’s planning another assault on the Palace to rescue his son, or… ’
Dan-Tor raised his hand. ‘Commander,’ he said. ‘Palace life is making you too devious. I’ll tell you what all this is.’ He waved his hand towards the window. ‘It’s not a rumour. It’s a simple announcement. Lord Eldric’s torn between his country and his family, so he’s left the country to his friends and is hoping to save his son by this futile gesture. It’s a solution to his dilemma that I had thought probable, though I hadn’t anticipated his flair for theatre. I presume he’s hoping to avoid clandestine arrest by making himself so visible to so many people.’
The smile again.
‘His hopes may be fulfilled, Ffyrst,’ Urssain said, cowering inwardly. Dan-Tor’s head tilted like a curious schoolgirl’s.
Urssain’s mouth dried. ‘The crowd’s in a strange mood,’ he continued. ‘Expectant, uncertain. In my opinion it would be dangerous to provoke them needlessly.’
Silence.
‘They’re talking about the Law, and the Accounting. Everyone’s become a juror. All the fear we’ve instilled into them over the months seems to have evaporated. At least for now.’ He hesitated. ‘The threat to Jaldaric pushed many of the waverers their way. If we do something imprudent such as seizing Eldric before he speaks we could bring the whole City down on us.’
The white smile vanished and Dan-Tor turned again to the window. Urssain released the muscles he had been holding tense and breathed out carefully. He kept his eyes fixed on the lank, motionless silhouette, vertical against the horizontal clouds streaming past in the sky beyond.
‘Are you saying, Commander, that you’d be unable to control this civilian rabble?’ said the silhouette eventually.
‘If those crowds turn against us, united? Yes. Quite unable. Besides there may be disaffected High Guards amongst them waiting to take advantage of any violence that breaks out.’
‘Dilrap?’
Dilrap hitched up his robe on to his shoulders and twitched back a sleeve. ‘I fear that Commander Urssain’s right, Ffyrst,’ he said. ‘The Fyordyn are a legalistic people. They’ll dismiss rumour and conjecture once appeal has been made to the Law or the Geadrol. It’s an old habit. Those people down there will expect to hear cases argued, especially the way Lord Eldric’s gone about it. It’s like a piece of folklore come true. A shrewd act. There’ll be trouble beyond doubt if he’s obstructed in any way.’
He walked over to the window and joined Dan-Tor in his surveillance of the City. ‘If Eldric appears and demands an Accounting, then we’ve a serious problem. He’s perfectly entitled to do so under the Law and, if he names you personally, then Ffyrst or no, you must reply.’
‘Must?’ There was an evil edge to Dan-Tor’s voice.
Dilrap flinched, but stood his ground. ‘Must, Ffyrst, with all those people there. We can dispense with legal niceties here and there, but not the overall form of the Law. It’s too well-known and respected for all the recent changes. If you don’t answer, you’ll be judged guilty of malicious accusation… ’
‘And?’ Dan-Tor picked up the hesitation.
Dilrap spoke more softly. ‘I fear the resentment that’s accumulated since the suspension of the Geadrol will manifest itself in considerable violence.’
‘Damn the Law,’ said Dan-Tor contemptuously.
Dilrap made a gesture of agreement. ‘But the Law’s deep in every Fyordyn, Ffyrst. Every child knows the adage "Who destroys the Law destroys his sword and shield". For all the… simplification… that your new office allows, it would be unwise to do anything that can’t be given at least a veneer of justification within the Law. And with respect, Ffyrst,’ he lowered his voice, ‘Commander Urssain’s correct. The threat to Jaldaric was ill-judged.’
Dan-Tor looked down at Dilrap. The man was still an irritation, but he’d been undeniably useful over the months. Now he seemed to be developing a reassuring self-interest; ambition even. He was harder to fathom than Urssain but he could still be useful. An interesting and unexpected development. The Secretary twitched under the gaze but kept his eyes fixed on the shifting crowds below.
‘So your advice is?’ Dan-Tor asked.
Dilrap turned to Urssain. ‘Can you find him and seize him quietly?’ he asked.
Urssain shook his head. ‘Not without time and a great deal of good luck,’ he said.
Dilrap turned back to Dan-Tor. ‘There’s your an-swer, Ffyrst. You don’t need my advice. If Eldric appears, you must meet him in debate and defeat him. It would be useful, however, if you announced that Jaldaric’s sentence is being reviewed. That will make the crowd a little less partisan.’
‘You say must, again, Secretary,’ said Dan-Tor qui-etly but angrily, a red fire flashing momentarily in his eyes.
Dilrap staggered back as if he has been struck. Steadying himself against the chair he had backed into, he gasped for breath, then frantically and needlessly adjusting his robe he stepped to the window again. ‘It’s not I who say must, Ffyrst,’ he said, unashamedly fearful. ‘It’s they who say it.’ And he prodded a desper-ate finger down towards the throngs choking the streets below. ‘If Eldric appears and you assail him by force, then they-those people-in that mood will bring us all down. With or without the help of High Guards.’
Bring us down, Dan-Tor noted, looking at the quak-ing figure in front of him, still desperately trying to advise him in spite of his mortal terror. Slowly he turned his gaze back to the window. ‘What of the Orthlundyn, Urssain. The man Hawklan?’
‘The same rumour says he left with the others, tend-ing their sick,’ replied Urssain.
Ah, Hawklan, Dan-Tor thought, I’d not expected to catch you today, but I continue to learn about you. You’re an arrogant player to give me such a piece as Eldric, albeit I have to cut my way through this farce. You attack too recklessly, far too recklessly.
However, came a cautionary thought, I must not be lured into the same folly.
He nodded slowly. ‘Your advice is sound, gentlemen. We mustn’t lose what we’ve so carefully gained for want of a little more patience, must we? When Eldric appears, I’ll confront him. It’ll be interesting to see how he defends the riots his men started, and his links with the Orthlundyn. Stay near, Dilrap. Your agile knowledge of the Law could prove useful.’
Dilrap bowed.
‘In the meantime, Urssain. If your men happen upon Eldric and can take him discreetly-very dis-creetly-do so. It’ll save complications. But if they encounter him on his way here, publicly, they’re to escort him with every courtesy. If we have to play this farce, and it seems we have, then that will doubtless make a favourable impression on the… ’ He waved a dismissive hand towards the crowds. ‘… on the jury.’
The sun was high in the sky and the streaming clouds white and triumphant as they surged overhead in the strengthening wind, when a perceptible change was noted in the crowds thronging the City streets.