Part 36 (1/2)

He laid a hand on the back of the collar around Pazel's neck. Then he looked deliberately at Chadfallow. 'Objections, Doctor? Now would be a fine time to share them.'

Chadfallow did not even look at the spy. His eyes were locked on Pazel, and they were bright and beseeching.

Ott's hand yanked at the buckle. There was a loud click click, and Pazel gave a strangled moan. The collar had visibly tightened.

'Another two clicks, and I crush his windpipe. Not a very good interrogation tool, as one of my men pointed out: Mr Pathkendle is already deprived of speech. But marvellous for extracting signatures and the like. Would you really shed no tears, Chadfallow, after sponsoring the lad for so long? Come, we all know you loved his mother. Surely you can't be indifferent to the fate of her son?'

Slowly the doctor raised his eyes to Ott's face. 'Entirely,' he said. Then he turned and walked back towards the window.

Click.

Chadfallow whirled about. Pazel was writhing in his bonds; a pink froth was on his lips.

Drellarek sat up, professionaly interested. Uskins gaped in horror. A faint sound escaped Pazel's throat, like the squelch of a deck-rag being twisted dry.

'For Rin's sake, Nilus, we're eating,' grumbled Oggosk.

Rose gestured at the collar. 'Remove that thing,' he said. 'Chadfallow, if you do not intend to dine I suggest you make preparations.'

Ott touched something on the buckle. The collar sprang loose, and Pazel fell forward with an agonised gasp. The spymaster returned to his meal.

'What I still cannot fathom,' said Drellarek, pa.s.sing his plate, 'is the nature of the uprising you have engineered. Let us presume for a moment that the mage is mad - that he cannot grant the s.h.a.ggat the power to wield this Nilstone, however great or small a weapon it may be.'

'We presume nothing nothing in this campaign,' said Ott. 'We will take the Nilstone for ourselves, and tame or kill the sorcerer, long before we arrive at Gurishal. Indeed it will be the first order of business, once the s.h.a.ggat is restored to life.' in this campaign,' said Ott. 'We will take the Nilstone for ourselves, and tame or kill the sorcerer, long before we arrive at Gurishal. Indeed it will be the first order of business, once the s.h.a.ggat is restored to life.'

'All the better,' said Drellarek. 'But how is the s.h.a.ggat's horde to threaten the Mzithrin? They have no navy, surely?'

Alyash shook his head. 'Fis.h.i.+ng boats, near-sh.o.r.e vessels, a few brokendown brigs.'

'Why then,' said Drellarek, 'how are they even to engage engage the White Fleet - let alone threaten it? Have they any hope of a general breakout from Gurishal?' the White Fleet - let alone threaten it? Have they any hope of a general breakout from Gurishal?'

'They have hope in their prophecy,' said Ott. 'And their faith is ferocious, while that of the Five Kings is weak. Remember that the Mzithrin nearly conquered the world, only to be defeated from within by the splintering of their own religion. The Nessarim, by contrast, have belief in a G.o.d who walked among them: a G.o.d who defied the greatest empire in Alifros, and who may yet return to rule it. Nothing will turn them from that dream.

'They have useful delusions; we have specific tactics. And tomorrow's excursion will play a part in both.'

Ott sat back, and Rose leaned his ma.s.sive elbows on the table. In the silence Pazel raised his head and found all of them looking at him.

'Are you quite finished, d.u.c.h.ess?' Rose inquired.

Oggosk pushed away her soup bowl. 'Glah.' 'Glah.'

'Very well,' said Rose.

Pazel tensed. His tormentors' eyes s.h.i.+fted. Pazel turned his head and saw Chadfallow coming towards him with what looked like a small, swan-necked watering pail. The doctor was very quick. He grabbed Pazel's hair in his left hand and wrenched his head back, then forced the pail's spout through the boy's lips and past the b.l.o.o.d.y rag. Before Pazel knew what was happening he had swallowed a mouthful of something bitter and warm. Chadfallow removed the spout and caught Pazel's chin in his hand, making sure the rest of the liquid went down his throat. His look was fierce and dangerous, but unlike Ott he showed no sign of enjoying what he did. A moment later he released Pazel and stepped back.

'You may proceed,' he said to the spymaster.

'So soon?'

'It will have happened already, if it is going to happen at all.'

Sandor Ott moved in front of Pazel, who was coughing and shaking. 'Calm yourself,' he said. 'It is no poison. Where that's concerned I scarcely need a doctor's help. Now listen to me carefully, Pathkendle. Urtale preda nusali ch'ulthanon.' Urtale preda nusali ch'ulthanon.'

The words were like a kick to the stomach. Pazel stared up into Ott's cold eyes. The spymaster nodded. And Pazel slammed his head back against the stanchion with a wail of grief that wracked his body more terribly than the pain of a few minutes before.

'Great Rin above!' said Drellarek. 'He understood!'

'Peace, boy!' laughed Ott. 'I was citing ancient literature, not telling you of my actual deeds. Urtale preda nusali ch'ulthanon: Urtale preda nusali ch'ulthanon: 'I sent your mother to an early death.' The confession of the doomed hero of the 'I sent your mother to an early death.' The confession of the doomed hero of the Song of Itash Song of Itash, written nineteen centuries ago by an anonymous wh.o.r.e in the court of the Amber Kings.'

Pazel's heart was hammering. His eyes were wide with terror and confusion.

'And yet you scarcely noticed me switching tongues,' Ott went on. 'Your Gift is working, lad. Chadfallow's drug has just induced it. And to you, Doctor, my hearty congratulations. If we can truly access his Gift whenever the need arises, Mr Pathkendle may yet prove as beneficial as once you claimed.'

Pazel twisted around to look at the doctor. Whatever mix of emotions he had felt before was gone. There was nothing in his eyes but hate.

Chadfallow did not meet his gaze. 'The drug is not perfect,' he said. 'The boy may suffer some disorientation, some loss of bearings, until the process ends in the normal manner.'

'Normal,' said Drellarek with a smirk. 'You mean with jabbering fits.'

'Just look at that face!' laughed Uskins. 'It's the muketch muketch you should be afraid of, Doctor. He hates you. Give him half a chance and he'll put a knife in your belly.' you should be afraid of, Doctor. He hates you. Give him half a chance and he'll put a knife in your belly.'

'Mr Uskins,' said Rose, 'you will escort Pathkendle to the brig. Have his dinner brought there, and his foul-weather clothes. And instruct the cobbler to make him a pair of shoes by evening. Shoes, not sandals.'

'Oppo, Captain, shoes it is.'

Oggosk squinted at Pazel. 'What are you staring at, boy?'

Pazel started. He felt as if they had beaten him with clubs. But it was true, he had had been staring, mute and amazed - at Captain Rose. The man's sleeve had ridden up towards the elbow. Seeing it now, Rose hastily pulled the sleeve down again. But it was too late, and he knew it. Pazel had seen what Rose wished no one to see: a wolf-shaped scar above his wrist. been staring, mute and amazed - at Captain Rose. The man's sleeve had ridden up towards the elbow. Seeing it now, Rose hastily pulled the sleeve down again. But it was too late, and he knew it. Pazel had seen what Rose wished no one to see: a wolf-shaped scar above his wrist.

'Get the boy out of here,' said Rose. 'And let us conclude our business swiftly. The day is waning, and tomorrow we shall all be tested.'

'The tarboy's pa.s.sed a test already,' said Drellarek, smirking again.

'Just one,' said Sandor Ott, 'the easiest.'

23.

Bramian

21 Freala 941 130th day from Etherhorde

Her heart is a throbbing beast, her body a wilderness, her sh.o.r.es a stone wall and her few harbours held by savages who roast their foes on spits. Great teams of explorers set off for her interior; months later broken men straggle out with tales of whip scorpions and swarms of carnivorous bats, and great monsters that bask on riverbanks or blend with the trees. There are also stories of lost races of thinking beings, whole cities perhaps, in the valleys of her central range.