Part 40 (1/2)

A spasm shook his body. He dropped the reins from one hand and grabbed Pazel by the jaw.

'But a statue statue ? What in Rin's firebolts could I do with a ? What in Rin's firebolts could I do with a statue statue of the s.h.a.ggat Ness? You ruined everything when you turned him to stone. You took away the only chance they had.' of the s.h.a.ggat Ness? You ruined everything when you turned him to stone. You took away the only chance they had.'

The worst of the day's heat lay behind them. This time no rain or wind squalls slowed their progress. When five hours had pa.s.sed they climbed a crooked ridge and saw the fortress-city looming ahead.

'We'll be back in your caves by nightfall, won't we, Mr Ott?' asked Saroo.

'Unless you prefer to spend the night on Droth'ulad,' said the spymaster. 'It's all downhill after the fortress: that should help us stay ahead of the savages. And with any luck the eguar will remain sated as before.'

'He wasn't wasn't sated,' muttered Pazel, still burning with the unfairness of the doctor's accusations. sated,' muttered Pazel, still burning with the unfairness of the doctor's accusations.

'Hus.h.!.+' whispered Swift, glancing nervously at Ott. 'Pazel, you're a hazard to your own blary health. And another thing - you ride like a sack of spuds. Why in the Pits did Ott bring you along?'

'Why'd he bring you you ?' Pazel shot back. ?' Pazel shot back.

'Because Saroo and I are great riders, obviously. And because we're small, and that let the horses carry more gemstones. There, now what's your answer?'

Pazel looked away. His Gift was the answer, of course, but what had he done with it except overhear a few shouts from the Leopard People? Probably Ott was wis.h.i.+ng even now that he'd left Pazel behind on the s.h.i.+p. Maybe, he thought bitterly, Ignus will offer to force something really really strong down my throat, next time . . . . strong down my throat, next time . . . .

Perhaps two miles from the city they came to a low saddle in the hill, and Ott called for rest. Pazel could just make out the triple arch they had pa.s.sed through the day before. He shuddered at the memory of the eguar's voice.

They dismounted, and the boys watered the horses from a feedbag. Alyash tore chunks from a dark loaf of bread and handed them around. It was a gift from the Nessarim, along with two sausages and a clay flagon of wine: as if the forty-year journey of Erthalon Ness back into the fold had been reduced to a barter for foodstuffs.

'Vicious b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, those Nessarim!' said Drellarek approvingly. 'Scrawny, but b.l.o.o.d.y-minded; I could see it plain in their faces. They'd fight like wildcats even against my Turachs, I dare say.'

'They have only their faith to live for,' said Ott. 'And if you still wish to know, Doctor, we made this journey in support of their faith. To bring them a sign, a swallow of magic to carry with them into war.'

'A war they can only lose,' said Chadfallow.

Grinning, the spymaster inclined his head.

'A diversion,' said Saroo. 'You built that whole town full of crazies as a diversion. diversion.'

Pazel was aghast to hear a note of admiration in the tarboy's voice. His brother Swift was more guarded, however: 'The s.h.a.ggat's son would be an old man, now,' he said, 'if he hadn't spent half his life asleep. How do they know it's really him?'

'They knew instantly,' said Alyash. 'He's the son of their G.o.d, after all. They knew the birthmark on his elbow, and his tattoos - master-pieces, they were, the artist was blinded when he finished the boys.'

'Will the Secret Fist tell those poor fools when to sail?' asked Drellarek.

Ott shook his head. 'They are their own masters. We shall merely be sure it happens before the s.h.a.ggat himself reaches Gurishal. And when they do sail we shall raise the alarm in every corner of Alifros. ”The Nessarim! The Nessarim reborn, and howling that their s.h.a.ggat is coming back as well !” The world shall hear it loudly. And then we shall help the poor, ineffectual White Fleet to destroy them.'

'Destroy them!' cried Pazel, his voice cracking. ' You're You're going to destroy them?' going to destroy them?'

'The Mzithrinis will do the bulk of the work,' said Ott, 'but we shall sink a s.h.i.+p or two - visibly, of course - and chase them into the line of fire. They'll have their moment. They'll take a bite out of the Sizzy fleet. But that will be trivial. The real wound to the Black Rags will be the humiliation. Forty years after the war, men will say, and they still still can't eliminate the s.h.a.ggat cult! Best of all, the Five Kings will believe it themselves. As our other dogs begin to nip and bite, rumours of the s.h.a.ggat's return will spring up throughout the Crownless Lands. The Sizzies will be looking everywhere for the source of the rumour - and meanwhile they'll redouble the blockade between Gurishal and the eastern lands. But they will not be able to stamp the rumour out. And each time a dog sinks its teeth into that bear it will respond with greater desperation.' can't eliminate the s.h.a.ggat cult! Best of all, the Five Kings will believe it themselves. As our other dogs begin to nip and bite, rumours of the s.h.a.ggat's return will spring up throughout the Crownless Lands. The Sizzies will be looking everywhere for the source of the rumour - and meanwhile they'll redouble the blockade between Gurishal and the eastern lands. But they will not be able to stamp the rumour out. And each time a dog sinks its teeth into that bear it will respond with greater desperation.'

'A diversion,' said Alyash, 'You're right, Saroo my lad. But what a diversion! The first bay, the first howl from the hunting pack. The Five Kings will hear it and tremble.'

'And those other dogs?' said Chadfallow, with quiet rage. 'Who are they, and where are they hidden? Are they to be sacrificed as coldly as the men in that settlement?'

Ott shook his head, smiling. 'Would you deprive me of all my surprises, Doctor?'

'I would deprive you of more than that.'

'Ha!' laughed Sandor Ott. 'My woman, for example? And my liberty? You have attempted both of these, and failed. And even if you had persuaded that useless Ormali governor to clap me in irons, how long do you think I would have been held?'

'Two days,' said Chadfallow. 'After that I would have seen you locked in the brig of a packet boat making for Etherhorde - with an ample guard. I paid them in advance: the guards, and the owners of that boat. I had a letter prepared for His Supremacy, with all I knew of your betrayals. Particularly how you and that--' Chadfallow bit off the word, '-viper, spent the last year poisoning his good friend Eberzam Isiq.'

Pazel was suddenly afraid for Chadfallow. His fury had hardly vanished - Chadfallow was one to talk of betrayals! - but in spite of everything Pazel somehow felt he would be lost without the man. Can't you see what you're risking, fool ? Can't you see what you're risking, fool ? he wanted to shout. he wanted to shout. Ott's probably killed more people with his bare hands than you've saved in surgery. Ott's probably killed more people with his bare hands than you've saved in surgery.

For the moment, however, Ott just looked amused. 'His Supremacy would have consigned your letter to the fire. He knows quite well the necessities of this campaign to perfect his dominion. You, for starters, are certainly expendable. As for his friends.h.i.+p with Isiq--' He looked at Alyash and Drellarek, and suddenly the three of them began to laugh, low and hard. Pazel watched them, recalling how Niriviel had taunted Thasha. The Pit fiends. They The Pit fiends. They have have done something to the admiral. done something to the admiral.

Chadfallow's face was darkening with rage. 'What of future ”necessities?” ' he asked. 'How many leeches will you affix to the body of the Empire? Will you have the territorial governors a.s.sa.s.sinated? The lord admiral, perhaps? Will you decide that Magad's sons are unworthy to inherit the crown, and kill them as you did Empress Maisa's?'

The men's laughter redoubled. 'Oh Doctor, stop,' said Alyash, wiping tears from his eyes.

'Yes, Ignus, stop,' said Pazel. 'They're not worth it.'

The doctor turned him a tortured look. And suddenly Pazel recalled something Chadfallow had told him years ago, about the oath Arquali doctors took before their t.i.tles were conferred: Life in all its loveliness shall I defend, even at the cost of my own Life in all its loveliness shall I defend, even at the cost of my own. Did Chadfallow think he had broken that oath too many times?

'Ott kill Maisa's brats!' said Drellarek. 'That's priceless! Why don't you tell 'im the truth, Master Ott?'

Ott shook his head again. 'There are things I won't discuss with a man who'd try to brand me a traitor.'

'You are a traitor,' said Chadfallow, his control slipping further. 'You are a weak, grasping, small-minded man. You have perverted all that I lived for and held most dear. I will name your dog, Sandor Ott: it is Arqual itself. You have trained it with cruelty and fear. You have made it vicious, ready to bite anyone who crosses its path.'

The spymaster's laughter was abruptly gone. Drellarek and Alyash fell silent. Ott rose to his feet, eyes locked on Chadfallow.

'Not just anyone,' he said.

Pazel leaped up and grabbed Chadfallow by the arm. 'Please,' he hissed, 'don't say any more.'

'We're going to need him, Ott,' said Alyash, still smiling.

'There is a field surgeon here at Bramian Station,' said Sandor Ott. 'He can serve the Great s.h.i.+p, in a pinch. Chadfallow, you have twice defamed me with the one insult I swore never to bear. Call me a traitor again, and you will see if I am weak.'

'You're a tr--'

Pazel struck Chadfallow as hard as he could. There was a sound like a snapped branch, and blood gushed from the doctor's nose as he stumbled to the ground. He stared at Pazel, amazed, not even trying to staunch the flow.

'Shut your d.a.m.ned mouth!' screamed Pazel at the doctor. 'Wait, Mr Ott, he'll take it back, please, please, I'll make him--'

Sandor Ott drew his long white knife. Pazel stood between them, arms thrown wide, pleading with the a.s.sa.s.sin. There was a dream-like quality to his voice; it sounded soft and far away, like an echo. Behind him, Chadfallow rose and tugged out his sword.