"It is a beautiful day, neh, Colonel Karr?" Li Yuan laughed, his face momentarily open, unguarded; a side of him Karr had never seen. Then, more soberly. "However, we are not here to discuss the weather."
Karr waited, silent, not presuming upon that moment's openness, knowing his place. For a time Li Yuan did nothing, merely looked at him, as if weighing something in his mind. Then, abruptly, he put out his hand.
"Give me your badge."
Without hesitation Karr unbuttoned his tunic and took the badge of office from where it rested against his left breast, handing it to his T'ang. Then he stood there, at attention, his head lowered respectfully, awaiting orders.
Li Yuan looked down at the badge in his hand. It was more than a symbol of rank, it was a means of identification, an instrument of legal power and a compact storehouse of information, all in one. Without it Karr lost all status as a soldier, all privilege. In taking it from him Li Yuan had done what even his General could not do, for it was like stripping such a man of his life. He looked back at Karr and smiled, satisfied. The man had not even paused to question—he had acted at once upon his Lord's command. That was good. That was what he wanted. He handed the badge back and watched as Karr buttoned up his tunic. Only then did he speak.
"Tomorrow I plan to appoint a new General. Tolonen would have had me have you, young as you are, inexperienced as you are. But that cannot be. However loyal, however right you might be for the task, I could not have you, for the post is as much a political appointment as a strategic one."
Karr kept his face expressionless and held his tongue, but between them, nonetheless, was the knowledge of Hans Ebert's betrayal, years before—of the political appointment that had gone badly wrong. Even so, Karr understood what his T'ang was saying. His Family was new to the Above and had no influence. And as General he would need much influence.
"I called you here today for two reasons. Firstly to let you know that, were it possible, I would have had you as my General. And one day, perhaps, I shall. But for now there are other things I wish you to do for me."
Li Yuan paused. "I took your badge from you. Did you think it some kind of test?"
Karr hesitated, then nodded. "Afterward, Chieh Hsia. I—"
Li Yuan raised a hand. "No need to explain. I understand. But listen, it was more than a test. From this moment you are no longer commander of my Security forces in Africa."
This time Karr did frown. But still he held his tongue and, after a moment, bowed his head in a gesture of obedience.
Li Yuan smiled, pleased once more by Karr's reaction, then stepped closer, standing almost at the tall Hung Moo's shoulder, looking up into Karr's face, his dark olive eyes fierce, his mouth set.
"This is a new age, Gregor Karr. New things are happening—new circumstances which create new demands on a ruler. Even among those close to me there is, it seems, a new relationship."
The young T'ang smiled sourly and turned away. When he turned back his features were harder. He stood beside the miniature tree, the fingers of his left hand brushing the crown absently.
"You are to be given a new role. I need a new Ssu-li Hsiao-wei. Do you think you can do the job, Colonel Karr?"
"Chieh Hsia ..." Karr smiled, astonished. After General the post of Ssu-li Hsiao-wei—Colonel of Internal Security—was the most prestigious in the whole Security service. It meant he would be in charge of security at all the imperial palaces, in command of the elite palace guard and responsible for the personal safety of Li Yuan and all his family wherever they went. It was a massive responsibility—but also a huge honor.
He considered a moment, then bowed his head. Beside him, in the dark circle of the fountain, the leaf turned slowly, like a needle on a compass. Inside he felt excitement at the challenge: more excitement than he'd felt for years. Looking across at Li Yuan he saw how carefully the T'ang watched him and realized, with a sudden, almost overwhelming sense of warmth, what trust his Lord was placing in him.
On impulse he knelt, bowing low, offering his neck ritually to his Master.
"I would be honored, Chieh Hsia."
Li Yuan stepped forward, then placed his booted foot gently but firmly on Karr's bared neck.
"Good. Then you will report to me tomorrow at twelve. We shall discuss your duties then."
"So tell us, Li Min. Just why are you here?"
Lehmann looked up, then pushed his plate aside, surprised by the suddenness of the query. For two hours they had played a cautious game with him, avoiding anything direct, but now, it seemed, one of them at least—the "Bear," Yang Chih-wen—had tired of such subtleties.
He glanced at Fu Chiang, then met Yang's eyes.
"The two Americas have fallen. Likewise Australasia. Asia—both west and east—is a snake pit overseen by jackals. And Europe"—he picked a miniature fruit from the nearby bowl, chewed at it, then swallowed—"Europe is but a shadow of its former self. Which leaves Africa. . . ." He smiled coldly. "I am told that Africa is the world's treasure chest."
"And is that why you are here—to plunder that treasure?"
Lehmann shifted his weight and turned so that he faced Yang Chih-wen full on. The man was big, it was true, but he had faced bigger men. Yes, and killed them too.
"Does that disturb you, Cousin Yang?"
Yang shrugged, as if unconcerned, but his eyes told a different story. "I'll lose no sleep over it."
"That's good. A man needs his sleep, neh? And what better tonic than to know that one's neighbor is also one's friend."
That brought a spate of glances—tiny, telling exchanges that confirmed what Lehmann had suspected. For all their swagger, these men were deeply insecure. The collapse of their City and the war that had followed had given them their opportunity, yet their rule was still tenuous. They would fight him only if they must.
He lifted his hands. "Besides, when you talk of plunder you mistake me, cousins. I am not here to talk of plunder, I am here to talk of trade. Trade between equals."
"Equals?" It was Mo Nan-ling, the Little Emperor, who spoke. He wiped at his mouth delicately, then leaned toward Lehmann, his fine gold necklace tinkling as he did. "You talk of trade, Li Min, but your words presuppose that there is something we should wish to trade with you."
Lehmann sat back a little, gesturing for him to expand on that.
"What I mean is this, cousin. Africa is indeed a treasure chest and we Mountain Lords have had rich pickings these past few years. Our coffers are full, our foot soldiers happy. What could we possibly need that you might offer?"
Lehmann nodded, as if acceding the point, then turned and signaled to Visak, who came across at once, placing a hard-shell case in front of his master.
"Has that—?" Mo Nan-ling began, but Fu Chiang raised a hand and nodded. It had been scanned—four times in all—but still he had no clue as to what it held. He watched now, his curiosity naked in his eyes, as Lehmann flipped the latches, then turned the case about, opening the lid.
There was a murmur of surprise.
"Drugs'! You want to trade in drugs?" Yang Chih-wen's voice was incredulous. He pushed away from the table, his face scornful. "Are you serious, Li Min?"
But Lehmann seemed not to hear the insult in the Bear's voice. He leaned forward and carefully picked the six tiny golden ingots from the depressions in the smooth black velvet, then looked across at Fu Chiang.
"Forgive me, Fu Chiang, but may I draw my knife?"
Fu Chiang hesitated, looking about him, then nodded.
"Thank you." Lehmann tipped all the ingot-shaped capsules into Visak's open palm, then stood, reaching down with his left hand to unsheath the pearl-handled knife from his boot.