Part 3 (2/2)

”I don't expect you to. I only ask that you keep your eyes open, and listen for these names. They are bad people. There is a reason that few living men and women have ever seen them, and that is because those who see them seldom live long. The first is Trigorah. You know her well enough and she is, to a degree, the least of your worries. She is the decent and honorable sort and will only do what she is ordered to do. In the same vein, she will always do what she is ordered to do, and since she takes her orders from the other generals, she is capable of anything. Next is Teht. You won't likely run into her, but you may be brought before her if you get caught. She is fairly inactive, spending nearly all of her time in research, experimentation, and training others. A powerful wizard, and surrounded by many of the same. Now, Demont. He is one you had best keep away from. He doesn't seem terribly dangerous. A rather slight and weak looking man, but he surrounds himself with the most vicious and twisted of D'karon creatures, and they take his will as law. Beasts snap to attention more readily and obediently than soldiers around him. He likes to spend his time researching as well, but research of a different sort. Many is the story I have heard of a patrol of soldiers torn to shreds by a swarm of creatures none had ever seen before while a man matching Demont's description watches. He tests these creatures. More disturbing is the man he often brings as a partner. Epidime. Nearly all of the information I have about this fellow is contradictory. This much I am certain of: He is an intelligence officer and a very good one, specializing in interrogation. His skills in that area are the stuff of legend. Those who come before him are never the same afterward. I have spoken with one or two of his victims. They ended up telling him things they didn't even know they knew. However, all of them report to one man, Bagu. Don't be fooled by the name. He is a masterful leader and, if what is said is true, every bit the wizard and warrior to keep the others in line by fear or force,” he said.

”I can't imagine them being as evil as you make them sound,” she said.

”It depends on your perspective. Frankly, most of our countrymen should be wors.h.i.+ping them. I guarantee you that without them, the North would have fallen to the south fifty years ago. It is on the strength of the five generals that the Alliance army has withstood so many years against a far larger and healthier force. From your point of view, though, they are most definitely evil. These are the men and woman who want your freedom,” he said.

”They want to help me, and the world,” she said.

”If you choose to believe that,” he said with a shrug. ”Just remember, these are the most important and powerful people in the north. If you meet them, consider every breath from there after a gift. People don't tend to outlive their usefulness around them.”

”Point taken,” she said.

”I sincerely doubt that. Regardless, back to the business at hand. We need to do something soon. I believe these to be the last dispatches that we will receive until we can establish some new informants. We need manpower,” Desmeres said.

”How much gold have I?” Lain asked.

”Most of what we have left is yours. I'd say perhaps ninety bars worth,” he said.

”That will be enough,” Lain said.

”For what? . . . ” Desmeres said, with a tone of humoring a child.

”There is a mining company in the mountains to the north east . . . ” Lain began.

”No. No! Absolutely not. You know I cannot go out there. If you like, I'll show you the order by the AA demanding my head! I didn't even need an informant for it. It was nailed to a tree. You expect me to go out and negotiate a purchase now?” Desmeres objected fiercely.

”It will give us countless new opportunities . . . ” he countered, calmly.

”I don't care what it will give us, it is a terrible idea. I simply will not do it. And don't think that you'll be able to do it either. Unless those interrogators were kind enough to return that cloak that hides your face, you won't last three words into the first round of negotiations before either your throat is slit or you are forced to slit someone else's, and it will take me months to replace that little gadget. Not that anyone would conduct a negotiation with a man he couldn't look in the eye,” he said.

”We'll send Myranda,” he said.

”No! Absolutely not! I don't want anything to do with this awful business of yours!” Myranda objected.

”You want to send her!? We have only just gotten her back into fold after you released her the last time! Now you propose that she be sent out, alone, with all of our money? I thought that you had mentioned best judgment as the standing order,” he said.

”We do not have very many options,” Lain said.

”That doesn't mean that we must choose the worst one! I've got a business or two left. We only need to get to one,” he said.

”If it was so simple you would have done it,” Lain said.

”Perhaps I was waiting for you,” Desmeres offered.

Lain looked calmly at his partner.

”How many?” Desmeres asked, defeated.

”Two hundred,” Lain answered.

”It's Grossmer's? Grossmer's, the suppliers of half of the iron and copper in all of the Low Lands, is what you've got your eye on?” Desmeres said in disbelief.

Lain nodded.

”When did they even mention the possibility of putting that place up for sale? It isn't a gold mine, but it may as well be! They've got military contracts! Guaranteed business until the end of the war! . . . Of course, long standing military contracts mean that some of the older administrators could have fairly firm connections on the inside. That would be useful. We might have to bargain hard to take them for only ninety and have any left for your little practice in futility,” he said thoughtfully. Finally he threw his hands up. ”There is simply too much that needs to be done. I shall have to come along. We will need a carriage, an impressive one. With equally impressive horses and a driver. Impressive, but not extravagant. We need to convince them we are oozing with money, but we use it wisely. It will set the tone of the day and turn the deal in our direction before we even start. We will need a disguise for Myranda in keeping her supposed social rank. The carriage will need a hiding place for me.”

”Weren't you listening? I simply won't go!” Myranda objected again.

”You will change your mind. As for you, Lain. Since this was your idea, I will be expecting you to gather the necessary equipment. I will finish working on Myranda's staff and draw up the paperwork. And I'll mix up some of the smoke flares to keep the oloes away from the horses while we load up the carriage,” Desmeres said.

”Meet me on the road east of here in seven days,” Lain said.

With that he rose and headed for the door.

”No, not again! Come back here! I haven't agreed!” Myranda called after him.

It was no use, she threw open the door that he had shut behind him, only to see him whisper a word or two to Myn, who sat obediently and watched as he whisked up to the hatch and slipped out.

”I'm not through with you!” Myranda called uselessly.

”You are beginning to repeat yourself. A word of advice from a veteran in dealing with that fellow. He and no one else decides when you are through with him. I have yet to finish a conversation with him that did not interest him,” Desmeres said.

”Both of you are so selfish,” she said.

”That is a fair opinion. One I happen to agree with, in fact,” he said.

”How can you be so c.o.c.ky? You take it for granted that I will help you,” she said.

”You will. You are both intelligent and helpful. It is in your nature to do what others need of you. You are already becoming aware of how businesslike I am, and it is only a matter of time before you realize how useful it will be to have performed a valuable service for us,” he said, walking back to his workshop.

”What do you mean?” she asked, following him.

”Your life, or death, depends entirely upon your value of each to us. You are alive because you are worth more to us in that state. Were I you, and I was after Lain's aid in this Chosen nonsense as you are, I would be spending most of my time and effort proving that I am more valuable as an ally than as a captive,” he said, taking a seat at the bench and picking up the wood chisel.

”How could I possibly do that?” she asked.

”I don't have all of the answers, but I would say that helping us with this purchase would be a fine start. You might think about sabotaging our relations.h.i.+p with the AA while you are at it. That way we would have a harder time turning you over for the reward to anyone but Trigorah. We would have to hold onto you longer, and you would have more time to convince Lain to end the war,” he said.

”Why are you telling me this?” she asked.

”It will both plant the seeds of an idea, making it more likely for you to make the decision that benefits me most, and confuse your desire to do the opposite of what I say,” he said.

” . . . I wish you were not quite so forthcoming with your explanations,” she said, less than pleased with this glimpse into the disturbingly well crafted manipulations of her host.

”I'd warned that my honesty would become bothersome . . . ” he said, looking up distractedly. ”Lain . . . he didn't bring a weapon, did he?”

”I didn't notice. I suppose not. Why? Are you concerned for him?” she asked.

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