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.The Empire wanted its prize back.The joke was that at least two of her bidders would be imperial subjects, not averse to sneaking something special from beneath the noses of their peers.Self-interest was the universal rule of human nature, and the only rule she, too, had ever cared to obey.Now, in the guise of a middle-aged Beetle-kinden man, she slipped from the room she was renting, out onto the waterlogged streets of Jerez.Even as she did, she made sure not to look down at the puddles, in case she saw the ripples and splashes of another’s unseen feet.Lieutenant Brodan watched his informant pad out of the room: a lean, sinewy Skater-kinden with the same manner as the rest – all anxious-to-please on the surface, all hidden impudence.Brodan had long ago developed a pronounced dislike of the entire breed.He checked his notes, cataloguing who had arrived, and who had left, notables seen abroad on the streets, those who were well protected and those who were not.He knew an auction of some kind was taking place but he had no details.Nobody seemed to know much.Except there was a whole assembly of unusual characters in Jerez these days, and so they must know something.He would have to expand his researches to include one of them.Choosing a target was difficult, for some had connections he did not dare disturb, while some had proved impossible to reliably find or follow.Others, like the Spider-kinden, were simply unknown quantities, and he did not want to overplay his hand.If he scared off the vendor, if the transaction just decamped to start up again in some other haven of iniquity like the Dryclaw slave markets, or up north amongst the hill tribes.well, in that case Brodan’s career would be dead and buried.It was a time for Rekef men to show themselves loyal.He was well aware that there were changes going on back home, by which he meant Capitas, a place he had never seen.Still, the regular lists of the newly denounced traitors kept filtering down to him, with some names added, and others crossed through with grim finality.He had no wish to find his own name included there, one day.It was that thought that concerned him far more than any hopes of promotion.These days a good Rekef Inlander agent had to keep running at top speed just to stand still.He shuffled his papers once again, at a loss for a conclusion.The two Spider-kinden nobles had both invited him to drink with them, and each cautioned him against the other in no uncertain terms.One of the Beetle factors was dead.The Dragonfly had fled Jerez, probably on hearing word that Brodan was asking after him – but he would undoubtedly be back.Brodan guessed he and his servants were hiding out somewhere around the lakeside, that they would then fly in at exactly the right time to take part in the bidding.Brodan had men, or at least Skaters, watching for such a return.One of his men came in, just then, ducking beneath the low ceiling of the little guesthouse room.‘Sir, there’s an officer to see you.’‘From the garrison?’‘No, sir.’Brodan stared at him, but the soldier was obviously not inclined to be any more informative, simply saluting abruptly and backing out of the room.Brodan hastily rearranged his papers in a face-down stack over to one side of the rickety little desk he had commandeered.When his visitor arrived he stood up immediately, saluting.‘Easy, Lieutenant.’ He was a greying, slightly corpulent man, wearing a long overcoat half-concealing the imperial armour beneath it.No insignia of rank, but none were needed.‘Major Sarvad,’ Brodan said.‘I hadn’t expected—’‘Oh, sit down, Lieutenant,’ Sarvad said mildly.Brodan knew him for a long-term Rekef Inlander, a cunning politician who skipped from camp to camp without ever binding himself to anyone.Small wonder he always seemed to survive the culling.A soldier brought a three-legged stool for him, all the landlord could spare, and Sarvad and Brodan sat down facing each other across the desk.‘I’ve come from Capitas, Lieutenant,’ Sarvad explained.‘They’re not encouraged by what they’re hearing from you.’‘But I haven’t.’ sent a report yet.Brodan cut the words off short, but Sarvad smiled drily.‘That’s just what concerns them, Lieutenant.Now, I told them, a man like Lieutenant Brodan, he’s a perfectionist.He takes his time but it’s worth it.So they told me, why not go and let him know just how important this matter is.You do know just how important it is, don’t you, Lieutenant.’‘I – I do, sir.Yes.’‘Progress, Lieutenant.Where are we, then, and why aren’t you already on your way home with your mission complete?’‘This area has always been notorious for covert activities, sir.’‘Excuses, Lieutenant?’‘Only that it is never easy to find reliable sources of information.’ Brodan swallowed awkwardly.‘The locals are a pack of lying wastrels, sir.They’re all engaged in something illegal.They’re loath to talk, and even more loath to tell the truth.’‘I heard you had a man detained at the garrison.One of our own kinden.’‘He denies all involvement, sir.He has produced references sending him here.I am waiting for authorization to properly interrogate him.’ A ray of hope.‘I don’t suppose—’‘I’m not here to do your job for you,’ Sarvad growled, his patience obviously fraying.‘What else then? You must have more than that.’Not so much more, Brodan considered.‘I had contact with a Major Thalric, sir.He’s—‘I know Major Thalric,’ said Sarvad, his eyes narrowing.‘What did he want?’‘I think he’s involved, sir.I have men out hunting for him even now.’‘Hunting him?’ Sarvad leant over the desk towards him.‘Yes, sir.He was on the latest list I received, sir.As a traitor.’Sarvad’s expression gave him no encouragement, and for a moment Brodan wondered whether his lists were in fact accurate.Then Sarvad settled back, his expression becoming more reassuring.‘I only meant to say, Lieutenant, that if you already had contact with him, I should think that no further hunting was necessary.He escaped you, it would seem.’‘We will recapture him, sir, and then I’ll need no permission to interrogate him.’‘I doubt that he knows much,’ Sarvad murmured, half to himself, and then continued, out loud, ‘If he happens to die resisting capture, Lieutenant, or indeed whilst being put to the question, there will be no tears shed.You understand?’‘Perfectly, sir.’Sarvad left the dingy little guesthouse and, just a street away, found an excuse to duck into a narrow and shadow-cloaked alley, out of sight of any eyes.Then, although a big, old Wasp major had gone in, it was now a Beetle-kinden merchant who walked out and behind both faces lurked a Spider-kinden spy.Always good to keep a close eye on the competition.Scyla nodded to herself.She had worked with Sarvad a few times, just a few years back.He had then stuck in her mind as a useful face to wear, for his political acumen meant that he could plausibly turn up anywhere, and was also unlikely to wind up at the sharp end of imperial displeasure.Mention of Thalric was unwelcome, however.He knew too much about her, and she might have to hunt him down and kill him herself.Still, perhaps Brodan’s men could now save her the trouble.‘You want Spiders? Over here for Spiders,’ announced Nivit’s girl, who was taking her turn as tour guide about Jerez.Her name was Skrit, apparently, and she was certainly very young, although Skaters were so odd-looking she could have been equally ten or sixteen
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