She didn’t think the captain would have any difficulty getting back home, though it concerned her that a Lakashan vessel had so easily reached Manunian shores.

  ‘We’re about half a days walk south of Banse.’ Bo said.

  They had asked the captain to drop them on the beach away from any towns. They weren’t sure what sort of welcome a Lakashan vessel would receive, and they weren’t yet ready to put themselves in Jacques hands if he had people waiting for them. It was unspoken, but they wanted to give Asmara more time to recover before putting her in a situation where she would be asked to use her shadow magic again.

  ‘We can skip Banse,’ Bo continued, ‘and walk to the carriage service stop in Collere north-west of here and take an overnight carriage from there. We should make it back to Allonce in no more than five days. If we head for Manus instead that would only take perhaps three or four days.’

  ‘Perhaps we should head to Manus.’ Julietta said, ‘since we have important news, don’t we? Asmara completed the task, but somehow the Lakashans knew we were coming. Jacques might not even be in Allonce anymore anyway, but if he is I’m sure there’s someone else we can speak to.’

  ‘Perhaps you’re right. Anyway, we can’t make a decision until we reach the service point. Ok, let’s get going.’

  It took most of the day to reach the carriage stop in Collere. Back on dry-land, Asmara almost walked normally, albeit slowly. Being able to walk on her own improved her mood markedly, and she was more responsive when they spoke to her. There were few people around, and they were in their own country, so they didn’t bother hiding her under a cloak.

  The carriage stop was small, being so close to Banse most people wouldn’t bother stopping. It consisted of a squat inn and a few houses. The smell of horses was strong in the air, and there were many people around; hopping in and out of carriages, carrying luggage and tending to horses.

  Bo went inside the inn to hire a carriage while the other three stayed outside. When Bo emerged he announced his success. ‘More bills to put on Jacques tab! We can leave right away, that carriage down there, the brown, mangy looking one.’

  ‘Bo, wait.’ Dorian said, a frown on his face. ‘I think you and Julietta should go on ahead of us.’

  ‘What about you and Asmara?’

  ‘I don’t think sitting in a carriage all day and night would be good for her, Bo. There’s nothing she can do for Jacques right now anyway that doesn’t involve shadow magic, she can’t fight. You and Julietta can carry our news, there’s no reason for her to rush.’

  Bo nodded slowly. ‘I see your point. But at the rate she’s walking it’ll take weeks to get to Manus.’

  Dorian shrugged. ‘We’ll figure something out. Besides, it might take her weeks to be ready to get to Manus.’

  ‘Julietta, are you alright with that?’ Bo asked.

  She nodded.

  ‘Alright, you have everything you need, Dorian? Let’s get going then.’

  The group parted ways. From the carriage Julietta watched Dorian and Asmara out the window until the buildings blocked them from view. When she could no longer see them she sat back down in the carriage with a sigh, prepared for a long and uncomfortable journey.

  Bo’s estimate turned out to be correct, and they arrived in Manus the morning of the fourth day of travel. The carriage rumbled slowly through the winding streets of the city up the hill towards the Royal Palace. The carriage stopped outside the walls at the end of a long line of carriages, all much nicer than theirs. Upon hopping out into the bright morning sunlight Julietta wondered if they should have stopped at an inn and bathed first.

  Bo didn’t seem to have any such qualms and strode confidently towards the well guarded gate. The bars of the palace gate sparkled in the morning sun, and the breastplates and helmets of the guards gleamed.

  ‘Ah, nice to stretch my legs finally! Excuse me, we have a message to deliver.’ Bo said to the guards at the gate.

  The guards looked him up and down, clearly not impressed.

  ‘A message to who?’ the closest guard demanded.

  ‘Jacques Dulère, do you know if he’s here?’

  ‘What’s your name?’

  ‘I’m Amjerbo mer Shalla-’

  ‘A Lakashan!’ the man growled.

  ‘This is Julietta Calance. We were travelling with Asmara Sinan, the shadow mage.’

  The man turned and conferred with his fellow guardsman. One, younger than the others, detached from the group and headed into the guardhouse by the gate.

  ‘Wait here. Someone will come see to you. Step back, let others through!’

  Bo and Julietta were quickly bustled off to the side as other, far better dressed people spoke with the guards. Mostly the petitioners were servants, but they still outshone the travel weary Bo and Julietta.

  ‘The front gate usually isn’t closed like this. Usually people are met in the Visitors Hall.’ Julietta said.

  ‘I suppose it’s a sign of the times. Don’t tell Dorian he didn’t get a mention to the guards.’ Bo smiled.

  Bo and Julietta stood quietly beside the gleaming white wall surrounding the palace. It was well cleaned by the front entrance, though in other sections it was not nearly so blindingly, painfully white. The sun slowly rose and the day warmed, and still they waited in the shadow cast by the wall. Julietta shifted impatiently from foot to foot, while Bo leant against the wall, his eyes closed. Julietta watched as people came and went, carriages always moving in the roundabout before the palace gate. Most visitors seemed to be just delivering messages, though occasionally the gates were opened and an opulent carriage would enter the palace courtyard. With all the people moving around, the gates opening and closing, Julietta was surprised everything moved so smoothly. As she pulled out her water flask and sipped at it moodily, she observed as two carriages barely missed each other as one tried to exit the palace courtyard while another circled the roundabout.

  ‘Do you think they’ve forgotten us?’ Julietta said around midday, thinking with all this waiting it could have been faster to go to Allonce instead.

  Bo shrugged. ‘I can go ask if you like.’

  Julietta didn’t reply.

  Half an hour later, just as Julietta was getting ready to insist he go bother the guards, Jacques appeared at the gates. The guards were surprised to see him, and looked around a bit before spotting them, a look on their face suggesting they had been forgotten.

  ‘Amjerbo, Julietta,’ Jacques greeted them pleasantly, ‘I was expecting to hear from you days ago. What kept you?’

  ‘The guards.’ Julietta said acidly, too sweaty and moody to resist.

  Jacques smiled thinly. ‘Where are Asmara and Dorian?’

  ‘They’re coming, but they decided not to take the overnight carriage.’

  ‘I’d love to hear why, come this way please.’ and he led them through the gate and into the palace courtyard.

  As they passed the guards Julietta had to resist the urge to stick her tongue out at the guards who had kept them waiting so long. I get so childish when I’m hot, she thought.

  Jacques led them into the palace and into his office. It was on the third floor, off some ill-used corridors. It was small and cramped and had no windows. It was uncomfortably warm inside, though Jacques did not seem bothered as he sat behind a big wooden desk.

  ‘So, from the beginning then.’

  Bo did most of the talking. He told Jacques how they’d arrived in Lakasha and at the castle without incident, ‘Asmara and Dorian entered and we were to wait outside. They had been gone less than fifteen minutes when the guards attacked us. We had to retreat and did not meet up with Asmara and Dorian until later. They were attacked also. Asmara tells me she completed her mission, however she had to use her shadow magic to escape the castle. We met up in Eliach and it took us a few days to find a boat. We did not think it wise for Asmara to spend all day and night in a carriage, not walking, after using so much shadow magic. She and Dorian are making their own way here.’

  ‘I had heard rumours.’ he said, leaning forward, his fingers tented. ‘I am pleased to hear Asmara succeeded. I am not so pleased she is not here.’

  ‘Rumours?’ Julietta asked, surprised.

  ‘Manunian spies, fighting in Lakasha. Have you not heard? The Lakashan army entered Dartham on the 14th of Maurth. It seems they had the army prepared and waiting on the border.’

  Julietta’s mind whirled. Everyone knew what had happened? Had the war finally started because of them?

  ‘It was going to happen anyway, I suppose you could say your group was the final straw, the spark that finally alighted the fires of war, if you will allow me such flowery language. Our army is marching into Dartham to meet the Lakashans. I imagine that is why you had such difficulty finding a boat. I will have to inform the Admiralty of the state of their defence, if a Lakashan vessel could reach our shores so easily. Of more concern however is what happened on your mission... it seems you were betrayed.’

  ‘That thought had occurred to us.’ Bo said. ‘At least we all survived.’

  ‘Hmm. We will have to investigate. I hope you don’t mind answering some questions, Julietta, Bo?’ Though Jacques mentioned Julietta’s name as well, his eyes were firmly on Bo as he spoke.

  ‘That’s why we’re here.’ Bo said slowly.

  ‘So you don’t mind?’

  ‘No...’

  He smiled thinly. ‘That makes things easier.’ he straightened up slightly, his eyes on the door and called, ‘if you would come in now!’

  The door opened inward and two burly guards stepped menacingly into the room. The small room was suddenly very crowded.

  ‘If you would escort Amjerbo to the interrogation room? Inquisitor Dusont is waiting for him.’

  Bo slowly looked from the guards to Jacques. ‘Interrogation room?’

  Much less calm, Julietta demanded, ‘what’s going on?!’

  ‘You understand the need for the investigation of course? No one from our side betrayed the mission, so that leaves someone from your quartet. Unfortunately as Amjerbo is Lakashan that makes you our... primary concern.’

  ‘What? No! You can’t!’ she leapt to her feet.

  Bo said nothing, just stared at Jacques, his face pale.

  ‘Julietta, you will have to be questioned also. Inquisitor Dusont will speak to you after he is finished with Bo.’

  Suddenly feeling weak, Julietta wobbled, speechless.

  ‘You need not fear, there is no need to question you in the interrogation chambers, we are not so concerned with you, Julietta. Now, if you please, these men will escort you, Amjerbo.’

  The world seemed to move very slowly to Julietta as Bo stood. Seeing the look on his face, the helpless, confused look, Julietta felt a sharp stab of fear and powerlessness punctuate her outrage and disbelief. The two guards grabbed Bo’s arms and roughly escorted him from the room. He was taller than them both, but he let the guards pull him. Jacques was talking to her, his voice slow and distant. But it seemed there was meaning to his nonsensical words, and soon she was escorted by a maid to an elegant suite far removed from any interrogation room.

  CHAPTER 30

  1 Avril, 1353

  Idris’ eyes flicked over the notes in the margins of the old, valuable book. He finished the page, closed the book and placed it thoughtfully on the table beside him.

  Despite his extensive network of highly trained spies, he couldn’t quite catch up to Amiri and his shadow mages. Yaquba Citadel had been weeks ago, and that was more a measure of Amiri’s inexperience (and Idris’ withholding of information) than anything else. He could not rely on such mistakes again. He’d thought with the shadow mages confined to Arcos, and the naturally disorganized state of army camps (particularly camps of armies in the midst of losing), his spies within the Lakashan and Manunian ranks would have given him the advantage. A frown flickered briefly across his face. The Manunain shadow mages were not so confined as the Lakashan ones, and they’d placed one within their camp. That made things... difficult.

  Amiri’s shadow mages were all children, and the Manunians had few shadow mages of their own, perhaps Idris could take advantage of their naivety... people could be pressed and bought, controlled, without the use of shadow magic. He’d been doing it for years. Idris’ knew he had an inexplicable urge (need) to be liked by others. It made him very good at getting people to trust him - they actually believed he was interested in them. In a way, it was true. But he also disliked people, most people in fact. And that made it very easy for him to exploit and manipulate others. These were traits most people didn’t notice, except so many years ago, an agent of the Emperor... His peculiar personality made him very good at gaining the trust of people and then controlling them. It had taken him years to accept that pathetic weakness within himself, that drive to get others to like him. It was an aberration in his make up, but he’d come to accept it was useful. However the important Manunian actors were far across the ocean, and so, like so many times since he’d reached his rarefied position, he would have to trust the manipulation to his underlings. They would perform the work, he would just provide the guidance...

  Jacques Dulère, his counterpart in Mance-Jolune. His lips quirked up in a smile. It was a ridiculous comparison. For one, Jacques’ position was widely suspected, for another, the Manunian spies were woefully underfunded in comparison to Idris’ operation. The poor man actually relied solely on the funding provided by the King, and he was all tied up with that sticky situation with the Crown Prince and the favoured younger brother... perhaps a situation that could be exploited.

  Idris quickly moved his thoughts on from Jacques, a man whose motivations he understood. The prince would be a better piece to press, Jacques had too little power of his own, and frankly, few concerns outside his work that could be used against him.

  The situation with the Duke of Belcanon was interesting, another opportunity King Theuder had created for him. Idris pursed his lips. With the Lakashan armies in Dartham (holed up in the Lishar Ravine, but that wouldn’t be for long), it would be difficult to spread disloyalty among the ranks of the Manunian nobles. He thought it unlikely he could spread enough discord that the Duke of Belcanon might say, withdraw some of his troops...

  Then there was the shadow mage researcher, a man who had been around for several years, though never particularly interesting to Idris until now. He was a mage, though not a very gifted one. His skills lay more in research. Quince Abelard. He was a curious creature. Idris had been getting very contradictory reports on the man. It seemed he’d undergone a severe personality change in the last few years. The scarcely believable reports held he’d been such an ethical researcher, he’d tested all his concoctions on himself, and not on any subjects. Not a very smart idea, in the long run. Idris thought. Far more likely the man has some masochistic streak. What sane man would test magical toxins on himself and not say, prisoners? Or rabbits? Or anything other than himself? Whatever the reason, it means I may have to disregard everything I know about his motivations. The annoying creature has no family either.

  Idris liked families. They were very useful. He took it as a personal affront when his targets arranged not to have one. He does take quite a varied assortment of medications to manage the damage he’s done to himself with all his experiments. Magically induced illness is so challenging to fix... I wonder if I could tamper with his pills...

  ‘My, you do look thoughtful.’

  Idris jerked up in surprise, and quickly hid his discomfort behind a relaxed smile. ‘Lady Elira, what a pleasant surprise!’ The woman has cornered me! How on earth did I let the creature sneak up on me?

  Elira smiled smugly. ‘Is it?’ and she sat down on the arm of his chair. ‘It has been such a long time, Idris.’

  Idris dropped his smile and said, ‘that’s because I’ve been avoiding you.’

  ‘I’m aware of that. I would have thought that a man in your profession would have been harder to sneak up on.’

  Idris glared at Elira. He had no counter to that, other than that she was taking advantage of her familiarity with his habits.

  ‘I’m sure you know why I’m here.’ Elira continued, raising an eyebrow. ‘You know what I wish to discuss.’

  ‘I’m afraid, my dear, it is simply not possible, your father decided a marriage to the Hafsa family would be more-’

  ‘I got out of that.’ she replied flatly, and then a smile bloomed on her face again. ‘Idris, dear, you can arrange as many suitors for me as you like, but I have a very large family, and very many sisters. It is not in the least bit difficult to direct attention elsewhere in the family.’

  ‘So I heard.’ he replied glumly. ‘I did go to so much effort, Elira, it would have been an excellent match for your family.’

  ‘It is an excellent match for one of my many elder sisters.’

  ‘I heard. One of the widows.’

  ‘Young Lord Hafsa will make an excellent husband number two. Now, Idris, you and I are in an enviable position. Our families are in accord, and we do not find each other repulsive. How many people can say that? Or are you to say you dislike me now? Our courtship proceeded so smoothly!’

  Idris regarded her in no small amount of irritation. ‘That was many years ago.’ It was not out of any concern for her safety that he had broken off their engagement. He had family enough, none he was very fond of, but none he wanted to see killed because of his position either. His anonymity was the best protection he could provide, and Elira would not make him any more vulnerable than he already was. Everything had been quite suitable until he had discovered what a cunning, manipulative, difficult, perceptive creature she was. She was really very much like him. The woman had an annoying habit of sticking her nose in his business. If he was going to marry someone, it would have to be a woman who did not care what he did or when, a dull woman would be better, with the intelligence of some kind of vegetable.

  ‘Idris, my dear, the traits you find so compelling in me drive most men away.’