Part 16 (1/2)

'He did,' she whispered. 'I don't know how you know that, but he did.'

'Then so shall I.'

Seventeen.

They had sent Corcoran advance warning of the s.h.i.+p, but the vessel was now three days late and he was not a man to be out sitting on the dock every morning in loyal vigilance. Instead, for a handful of coins he had a boy keep watch for him. He meanwhile did his best to show autonomy and importance, for the position of foreign traders in Khanaphes was an uncertain one. A man had to work hard to get invited to the diplomatic functions that Corcoran enjoyed. Still, when the boy came running to the Iron Glove factora bringing the news, Corcoran got himself to the docks absolutely as quickly as possible.

He spotted the s.h.i.+p straight away, even amongst the perpetual dance of other vessels docking and leaving. Following his advice, they had come in under sail, but he could see the tarpaulin-covered bulk of the engine and paddle wheel at the stern, which had cut across the Sunroad Sea in defiance of wind or weather. The gauntlet badge of the Iron Glove was displayed on the round s.h.i.+elds that lined her rails, a practice borrowed from the Mantis-kinden and more decorative than functional here. The sail was blank, but they seldom had to resort to it: only here, where time stood still, was being at the mercy of the elements considered good form.

Corcoran got himself to the quay just as the s.h.i.+p drew in, making himself evident in his dark armour and s.h.i.+fting tabard. Though he liked to consider himself a free spirit, there were certain people whose continued favour was essential to his livelihood, and one such was currently on this s.h.i.+p.

And why is Himself taking all this so very personally? A simple message from Corcoran had confirmed when the Lowlanders were expected, and the reply had come back by return: A simple message from Corcoran had confirmed when the Lowlanders were expected, and the reply had come back by return: I am coming I am coming, and projected times and dates. None of my business None of my business, Corcoran decided. He's worried about the compet.i.tion, no doubt He's worried about the compet.i.tion, no doubt.

Once the dockhands had finished tying the s.h.i.+p off, a section of its metal-plated side fell open to form a gangplank. Corcoran drew himself up straight as the pa.s.sengers began to disembark.

Life alive, he marvelled. He doesn't do things by halves He doesn't do things by halves.

The man in the lead wore armour of black, fluted steel: an intricate mesh of fine mail and sliding plates, and each section cast in ridges and folds to give it more strength for less weight. Nothing of his face showed between the slotted helm and a high gorget. His Iron Glove tabard was edged in silver, but beyond that it was only the sophistication of the armour itself that marked his rank. Behind him came a full dozen Iron Glove mercenaries armoured in leathers, like Corcoran himself, but under plain breastplates and blackened steel helms. They all carried spears and swords, and Corcoran guessed at the disa.s.sembled crossbows or snapbows lying hidden in their packs.

It's not a delegation, it's an invasion, he thought. Already there would be word rus.h.i.+ng upriver towards the Scriptora, so they would receive their official welcome soon enough.

'Welcome to Khanaphes, Sieur,' he said. The eye-slit of the helm waited, and he hastily corrected himself, 'Sir, rather.' And why they have to use Imperial, rather than good honest Solarnese words, I don't know And why they have to use Imperial, rather than good honest Solarnese words, I don't know. 'Are you not hot in all that armour, sir?'

The man gave a hollow laugh. 'A little, but giving the right impression is important. What is the situation here? Where do we stand?'

'Would you not rather retire to the factora first, sir?'

'I'm sure I will be required to speak with the locals shortly, so tell me what I need to know.'

'Well then, nothing much has changed,' Corcoran explained. 'The Collegiates have been here almost a tenday now, and they've been meeting with the Ministers and poking at the statues, all what you'd expect. The only business was some kind of midnight scuffle with some Imperial types a few days back, but nothing further seemed to come of that.'

'How long has the Empire been here?' the helm enquired.

'Oh, about a couple of days longer than the Lowlanders. And yes, I know, obvious conclusions: one of them's here to watch the other. Or both of them are.'

His superior nodded. 'And the Lowlander amba.s.sador is ... who I suspected?'

'She is, yes.'

'So.' There was a fierce edge to this single word that made Corcoran guess that Che Maker was in for a complicated future. 'Where have they put her?'

'The old emba.s.sies. They've reopened them.'

'Make sure you have people watching her constantly. Know where she goes, who she meets.' The gauntleted hands clenched.

'Of course, sir.' And why's that then? And why's that then? But it was not Corcoran's place to ask questions of this man. But it was not Corcoran's place to ask questions of this man.

'And now I think we have our welcoming committee.'

Corcoran turned to see a full score of Khanaphir guardsmen hurriedly pus.h.i.+ng their way through the crowds towards the docks. Although not caparisoned in the gilded splendour of the Royal Guard, they had the great form of Amnon striding at their head. They halted and formed up at a respectful distance as the two groups of armed men watched each other cautiously. Corcoran, caught in the middle, began to feel exposed.

'Now then, who have we here?' boomed Amnon as he stepped forward. When he came to stand before Corcoran's master he seemed quite oblivious of the spear-tipped ranks poised ready to close on him. 'Iron Glove, then? More More of you? We're a little taken aback, my good friends, since we were not expecting such numbers. Our hospitality may not stretch to it.' of you? We're a little taken aback, my good friends, since we were not expecting such numbers. Our hospitality may not stretch to it.'

'We don't need much,' replied the Iron Glove leader, as he tilted his helm back, revealing a tan-brown face with that slight mismatching of feature that spoke of mixed blood.

'You must think our streets very dangerous, to come in such numbers,' Amnon murmured. His countenance was all good humour, but Corcoran could sense his displeasure, ready to make a fight of this if the Iron Glove's answers did not satisfy him.

I only hope they read everything I wrote to them about how to deal with the Khanaphir, he thought. Corcoran wanted to edge away, to slip out of that invisible line of tension strung between the city guard and the mercenary newcomers, but he had an image to maintain. The Iron Glove did not show fear.

'The world's not safe. Without these men I'd not have arrived at all,' the Iron Glove leader replied. 'Indeed, some pirates saw our little trading coaster here and marked it as an easy prize.'

Amnon nodded. 'And did you outrun them ...?'

'They discovered their mistake.'

'I hate pirates.' Amnon's face split in a grin. 'Those that dare strike near the mouth of the Jamail are the rightful prey of my s.h.i.+ps. I am glad to hear you sent them to the bottom.'

'Not at all. I put men on their vessel and had them sail her back to Porta Rabi. We of the Iron Glove are well known as traders, and wealthy ones. We become targets, by land or sea. We show them in exchange that we who sell war can use what we trade in. That way they will soon realize that we always fight, and that any attacks will cost them more than they could ever gain from us.' He glanced back at his followers, still standing at the ready. 'So there you have the reason for this force. As for my men, they can lodge here on the s.h.i.+p, or wherever you wish in the city.'

'I will have rooms prepared at your factora,' Amnon decided. He had been nodding with approval throughout the man's speech, and with these words the tension eased, his guards standing down with a tiny shuffle of feet. 'Well then, allow me to welcome you to our city. I am Amnon, First Soldier among the Royal Guard.'

The Iron Glove commander threw a brief glance at Corcoran for confirmation, before announcing, 'Ah, so we have a gift for you, I believe.'

Amnon nodded. 'That is no surprise to me, after all the measuring and prying that your man here has done.'

'It may surprise you yet,' the Iron Glove man remarked. 'I am glad to be here in your city.' He thrust forward his armoured hand and clasped Amnon's larger one. 'My name is Totho, once of Collegium. I think you have some of my kin here.'

'Apparently there's going to be a hunt of some kind,' Manny reported. The other Collegiates looked up from their breakfast in mild interest. 'Their big fellow, Amnon, came round yesterday while you were all out,' he went on. 'We're all invited. In fact it's in our honour. I, for one, am looking forward to it.'

'Are you sure you're feeling well?' Berjek asked him. 'This hunt, presumably it will involve some manner of exertion running around or that kind of thing. Not your favourite pastime at all, I would have thought.'

'Very funny.' The fat man gave him a sour look. 'I am a natural historian and a cartographer, do not forget. Neither of which I can do much about while sitting idly here in this city. I want to go out and make a few sketches, and this hunt sounds like the best chance I'll get anyway, it's on the river and so all I'll have to do is recline in a boat while some local beauty fans me with a frond or something.'

'Some local bald bald beauty,' Berjek pointed out. beauty,' Berjek pointed out.

Manny's expression remained supremely unconcerned. 'I happen to find that quite attractive.'

'Are you planning to deflower the entire female population of Khanaphes before we're done here?' Praeda asked testily.

'They don't object.'

'They've probably been warned that their families will be executed if they don't indulge the important foreigners,' she said. 'That's the only way I can account for it.'

'Trallo, what sort of hunt is this likely to be?' Berjek turned to the Fly. 'Dangerous?'

'Could be, if you get too close,' Trallo replied. He had been idle recently, his work in Khanaphes already done, and Che suspected he might soon ask for his pay and take his leave. 'They usually put the spectators out in mid-river where they can watch safely, while the real business goes on in the shallows or on the sh.o.r.e. Of course, they'll respect you all the more if you ask to take part.'