There had been no definite word, however, regarding his chief concern, and that irked him. Sulvec and the entire Rekef team seemed to have died as well, which was a shame. Brugan was left only with the uneasy hope that they had at least accomplished their mission before vanishing so utterly.
It was late now, but the Rekef paperwork would only accumulate if he postponed it. Unlike his predecessor, he kept as many layers of clerks between himself and the sources of information as possible: good, trained men who knew how to judge what was important.
He sorted through the summaries and reports, gleaning the essential information from a quick glance, reading in more detail when it was merited. His mental picture of Rekef operations within the Empire, and without, was advanced by one day.
He came to one sealed scroll and broke it open, and paused. The seal on the outside was top priority from the governor of Shalk, his eyes only. The handwriting within was no clerk's, though, too solid and blocky and uneconomical. It was a soldier's hand, and Brugan knew it already. He felt his stomach twist just to see it, even before he read the words: General Brugan,
I hope this missive finds you in good health and secure in the heart of your power.
You will be pleased to hear that I have solved the matter of the assassinations. It took a few more attempts and a confession for the pattern to become clear, but now I understand. I have been painfully slow in this task, not befitting a Rekef agent, and I apologize for this.
I understand that, when I was chosen to stand beside our Queen, it was because I was a man entirely at her mercy, who would have nothing without her support. I was her husband to satisfy the conservatives, while she was my preservation against the crossed pikes.
I had not thought at that time what other plans I might be intruding on, but I was given no choice, after all. It is not quite true to say that I would rather the pikes than share Her bed, but there is yet some truth in that.
And I know now that it is not enemies of the Empress that seek my death, nor any of that multitude whose lives I have personally ruined at the call of my professional career. It is simply because a man loves a woman, and would remove the only barrier between them.
Let me tell you, Generaclass="underline" I give her to you with all my heart. She is yours. Keep her if you can. You deserve each other.
Tell her I died in Khanaphes. I do not intend to expose the lie. I do not intend that any word of me will reach the Empire for a very long time. If you send more killers after me, though, I will get word to her of your actions, and I do not believe she will see them in a favourable light.
Tell her I died. I don't imagine she will mourn for long.
But if this does not move you to forget about me, General, then know that, just as this letter has found you in good health at the heart of your own Empire, then so can I. I have one Rekef general's blood on my hands, and I would not scruple at there being two. Keep sending killers, and what would I have to lose?
I hope you and the Empress are as happy together as she'll let you be. Yours Thalric, formerly Major.
General Brugan stood for a long time with the scroll still in his hands, and then he cursed and consigned it to the fire.
Glossary
People Accius Vekken Ant-kinden ambassador Achaeos Moth-kinden, lover of Cheerwell, deceased Akneth Khanaphir Beetle-kinden tax gatherer Amnon Khanaphir Beetle-kinden, First Soldier of Khanaphes Angved Wasp-kinden engineer Arianna Spider-kinden former agent, Stenwold's lover Berjek Gripshod Beetle-kinden scholar Brugan Wasp-kinden Lord General of the Rekef Cheerwell Maker ("Che") Beetle-kinden scholar, niece of Stenwold Corolly Vastern Beetle-kinden Rekef agent Corcoran Solarnese Beetle-kinden factor for the Iron Glove Dannec Wasp-kinden Rekef officer Dariandrephos ("Drephos") halfbreed artificer, former Imperial officer Dariset Khanaphir Beetle-kinden soldier Ethmet Khanaphir Beetle-kinden, First Minister of Khanaphes Faighl Solarnese Beetle-kinden Iron Glove guard The Fisher Khanaphir halfbreed information broker Genraki Scorpion-kinden warrior Gjegevey Woodlouse-kinden advisor to the Empress Gram Wasp-kinden Rekef agent Hakkon halfbreed helmsman with the Iron Glove Halmir Khanaphir Beetle-kinden soldier Harbir the Arranger Khanaphir Beetle-kinden assassin Helmess Broiler Beetle-kinden statesman, enemy of Stenwold Hrathen halfbreed Rekef agent Jakal Scorpion-kinden, Warlord of the Many of Nem Jodry Drillen Beetle-kinden statesman, ally of Stenwold Jons Allanbridge Beetle-kinden aviator Kham Khanaphir Beetle-kinden soldier Kadro Fly-kinden scholar Kovalin Scorpion-kinden chieftain Malius Vekken Ant-kinden ambassador Marger Wasp-kinden Rekef officer Mannerly Gorget ("Manny") Beetle-kinden scholar Meyr Mole Cricket-kinden Iron Glove factor Mother halfbreed Fir eater Osgan Wasp-kinden supply officer Parrols Beetle-kinden aviator Petri Coggen Beetle-kinden scholar, Kadro's assistant Praeda Rakespear Beetle-kinden scholar Pravoc Wasp-kinden colonel Ptasmon Khanaphir Beetle-kinden soldier Seda Wasp-kinden Empress Stenwold Maker Beetle-kinden statesman Sulvec Wasp-kinden Rekef officer Tathbir Khanaphir Beetle-kinden Minister Te Berro Fly-kinden spy, former Rekef agent Te Rallo Alla-Maani ("Trallo") Fly-kinden caravan master Te Schola Taki-Amre ("Taki") Fly-kinden aviatrix Tegrec Wasp-kinden ambassador from Tharn to the Empire Teuthete Mantis-kinden Chosen Thalric Wasp-kinden Regent of the Empire, former Rekef officer Tirado Fly-kinden Iron Glove messenger Tisamon Mantis-kinden Weaponsmaster, deceased Totho halfbreed artificer, leader of the Iron Glove Tynisa halfbreed Weaponsmaster, daughter of Tisamon Vargen Wasp-kinden governor of Tyrshaan Vollen Wasp-kinden Rekef agent Places Alim forest, source of the river Jamail Capitas chief city of the Wasp Empire Chasme city on the Exalsee, noted for its mercenary artificers Collegium Beetle-kinden city in the Lowlands, noted for its academics Commonweal Dragonfly state north of the Lowlands, part-occupied by the Empire Darakyon forest, formerly Mantis-kinden hold and, until recently, haunted Exalsee inland sea east of the Lowlands Helleron Beetle-kinden city in the Lowlands, noted for its merchants Jamail river running from the Forest Alim to Khanaphes Khanaphes Beetle-kinden city far to the east of the Exalsee Maynes Ant-kinden city, formerly occupied by the Empire Myna Beetle-kinden city, formerly occupied by the Empire Ostrander Ant-kinden outpost on the Exalsee Porta Rabi Solarnese outpost on the Sunroad Sea Sarn Ant-kinden city allied with Collegium Shalk Fly-kinden city in the Empire Solarno Spider-ruled city on the Exalsee Sonn Beetle-kinden city in the Empire Spiderlands wide expanse south of the Lowlands, ruled by the Spider-kinden Szar Bee-kinden city, formerly occupied by the Empire Tark Ant-kinden city, formerly occupied by the Empire Three City Alliance coalition of Myna, Szar and Maynes Tyrshaan Bee-kinden city in the Empire Vek Ant-kinden city, traditional enemies of Collegium Zafir Khanaphir city on the Jamail Organizations and things Assembly governing body of Collegium, elected Consortium of the Honest the mercantile arm of the Empire Great College academic establishment at the heart of Collegium Iron Glove a merchant house trading out of Chasme Mercers agents of the Commonweal's Monarch Rekef Inlander the Imperial secret service arm devoted to internal security Rekef Outlander the Imperial secret service arm devoted to external security Scriptora the seat of Khanaphir government Skryres the magi-rulers of the Moth-kinden Speaker the leader of the Assembly Twelve-year War the campaign waged against the Commonweal by the Wasp Empire.