Part 14 (1/2)
”We have unchecked murders in our streets, a war between criminal factions, someone methodically killing magicians in our city, magicians attempting to a.s.sa.s.sinate visiting n.o.bility, and a band of Kes.h.i.+an Izmalis operating far north of our border with Great Kesh.” Arutha sat back. ”In sum, we have as out-of-control a situation as I can remember.”
James said nothing, and when William looked at him, gave the young man a slight shake of the head, indicating that the Prince was not to be questioned or interrupted.
After a moment of silence, Arutha said, ”James, I have a commission for you.”
James smiled. ”Another?”
”No, the same, only more clearly defined.”
William sat motionless, expecting to be dismissed at any moment.
Arutha noticed the posture and said, ”I a.s.sume my wife has invited you to sup with us?”
William nodded.
”Good, because you're to play a part in this as well.”
”Me?” asked William.
Arutha gave his adopted cousin a faint smile. ”You feel as if you've been derelict in your duty?”
William nodded again.
Arutha said, ”Losing men under your command is never easy. On your first mission, it can be devastating.”
William felt tears threatening, and blinked them back as relief flooded over him. ”Thank you, sire,” he said softly.
Arutha paused for another long moment, then said, ”What is said here, now, stays in this room.”
Both young men nodded.
”James, for two years you've been flirting with the idea of setting up an intelligence corps.”
James said nothing.
”I want you to stop flirting and start building in earnest. Young William here will help you.”
”Me, Highness?”
Arutha looked at William. ”The longer you stay in Krondor, the more you will come to understand that trust is a rare commodity to the throne. There are those, of course, who swear loyalty with every fiber of their being, but their own natures make them untrustworthy, since they harbor mental reservations even they are unaware of until the moment of crisis comes. You have shown your mettle over the last two days, and besides, you're Pug's son.”
William's expression darkened a bit despite his attempt to keep a neutral facade. ”Sire?” he asked, tentatively.
”I know you've had difficulties with your father, about taking service with me. You can be certain he and I had words over this several times. My point is, Pug has a particular loyalty to this family and nation. He has experienced things you and I can only imagine, yet he works for a greater good. Had you been a man I could not trust, I would have learned of that long before you came to Krondor.
”Besides,” finished Arutha, ”as one of the younger officers, you will be last among those suspected of any special rank within this court.”
James said, ”And I?”
Arutha looked at James. ”Publicly, you will continue for a while with the rank of squire, but we both know you abuse that limit on your authority with regularity and invoke my name whenever you feel that will make a difference.”
James just grinned.
”Eventually, if you and Locklear manage to live, I'll promote both of you to baronets, but while you probably have earned that rank half a dozen times over in the last few years, that promotion would only serve to call more attention to you should I award it now. Those men who tried to apprehend you a few days ago have me concerned.”
James nodded. ”As they do me. And given that some of my informants were among the dead, I shall have to give some thought to how I recruit their replacements.”
”Young Deputy Means can help. What you must do is to recruit a few-no more than five-people who know you by name and face. Those must be the ones who work to bring in informants and agents. I shall also have to send you to every city in the Kingdom, and eventually, abroad, so that a true letwork can be established. It will take years.” He rose and two young men followed suit. ”But for the time being, let's see if you can set up a bit of an intelligence service here in Krondor without getting yourself killed.”
”I've avoided it so far,” James said with confidence.
”Which is why you get the task, my young future duke.”
James grinned at the old joke between them. ”Are you going to name me Duke of Krondor some day?”
”Perhaps. If I don't hang you first,” Arutha said, leading them to the dining area. ”Though if we get this network to the state I wish, one that will counter Kesh's, then I suspect you'll end up in Rillanon. The east is where we need intelligence, in many ways, more than we need it here.” Ignoring protocol, Arutha pushed open the doors himself.
Seeing the door open from the other side, the two pages inside the dining room hurried to pull out the Prince's chair. William took his place at the foot of the table, next to James. He glanced over to see how James was taking all of this and saw the young squire was already lost in thought about the task before him.
Arutha said, ”We'll continue this discussion later.” He turned his attention to his wife and children.
Princess Elena seemed content to sing quietly to her doll, which had been propped up next to her dinner plate, and occasionally she informed James and William that the doll was not enjoying supper, mostly because she didn't like the behavior of the two boys next to her.
James nodded to William, and whispered, ”Even money says the doll is abducted before the meal is over.”
Sizing up the mischievous Princes Borric and Erland, William said, ”No wager.” Supper pa.s.sed quietly and pleasantly, with Anita asking William questions that led him to tell of his mission without vivid details that might disturb the children.
After supper, Arutha rose and motioned to the two young men to follow him back to his office. As they left the dining area, and again pa.s.sed through the private chamber, from behind them came an outraged screech from the Princess, followed by, ”Mummy! Borric's got my dolly!”
James shrugged and said, ”So I was off, she made it through the meal.”
William smiled. ”Barely.”
When they reached Arutha's office door, James opened it for him.
The Prince swept through the door and William followed when James motioned him ahead. James closed the door and joined William before the desk.
Arutha waved for them to sit and said, ”I've given this a lot of thought, James, and as much as I know you'd love to be given a free rein on this, I want you to report to me on every proposed agent you want to recruit.”
James nodded. ”That will slow us down, Highness.”
”I know, but I'd rather not lose agents down the road for haste at the outset. I would prefer you to be circ.u.mspect and find us reliable people.”
James said, ”I've been thinking about this as well, Highness. What if we set up two sets of agents?”
”What's your meaning?”
”What if I line up some snitches and a couple of dock-workers, the sort of blokes I employed before, as if I were replacing those who were killed or fled, while at the same time I was quietly setting up a real ring of agents?”
”Sounds plausible, but you realize those you recruit more openly are likely to be punished for the deeds of your real agents, don't you?”