Jeff Salyards - Veil of the Deserters

“Well, last time it was a bloody business, for certain,” Darzaak replied. “No telling what his motive is now-long on pomp and secrecy, I should have said. But no, it’s not like to be a good thing at all.”

Vendurro asked, “Do you suppose he-” He stopped whatever question he had in mind and tried a different route. “Are you thinking it has to do with Thumaar? Should we be planning escape routes?”

Braylar shook his head. “No, he would have dealt with that in the dark, and only announced anything of the sort after he had rooted out the opposition and destroyed them. Not cause for a Caucus. He has another play in mind. He wouldn’t recall every operative, summon the Towers like this, unless it was something bigger.”

Darzaak agreed and added, “Most of what you boys have been doing was the continued work Thumaar started years ago. To be frank, I am surprised Cynead let you back into Anjuria after Thumaar was ousted. No, I suspect Captain Killcoin has the right of it. The Emperor recalling the lot of you is a bold move, but it serves a larger purpose. And that puts me at ease about as much as sticking my cock in a hornet’s nest.” He stopped and looked at me again. “Get yourself cleaned up, Arki. A bath if you like one. Some food, some rest. Then we need you back to it. Keep translating. Dismissed.”

I stood awkwardly, nearly dropped my writing case, and nodded. “Yes, Commander Darzaak.” I wasn’t sure where to go, and was reluctant to ask.

Darzaak must have seen it on my face. “Ven, show him the way.”

Vendurro stood up alongside me. “Aye, Commander.”

“Oh, and lad?”

Vendurro had been starting toward the door, turned and stopped.

“I was might sorry to hear about Gless. He was a good soldier.”

Vendurro straightened up, nodded. “Appreciate that, Commander. Appreciate that.”

As we walked down the corridor, I said, “As always, I feel as if there are a hundred things I have no understanding of.”

Vendurro laughed. “A hundred? Try a thousand. This is Sunwrack-even them of us who spent most of our lives here have no idea what’s happening half the time, or like to happen two days from now. Place ain’t called Capital of Coups on accident. Towers eliminate Towers, form alliances, break them just as quick, all positioning for power or to keep someone else from seizing it. It’s actually worse when we ain’t at war. Nothing brings the Syldoon together like a common enemy.”

“Or a Caucus apparently. What is that exactly? I would have thought the Tower Commanders convened with the Emperor regularly. Or at least not so irregularly it would raise eyebrows when it happened. But this isn’t that, is it? What’s happening?”

“Towers operate real independent, most of the time. Twice a year they get together, regular like you said. But a Caucus is something else. Only the Emperor can call for one. All the Tower Commanders have to be present unless they’re dead or dying. Them and their captains and chief officers. Failure to show is treason.”

I understood Soffjian’s urgency a little more in herding us here-clearly she knew or guessed what was going on. We started down the stairs. “So if we hadn’t made it back in time…?”

Vendurro was taking the stairs two at a time. “Awww, no. They wouldn’t have hunted us down or nothing. Cap’s a big man, for certain, but no Tower Commander. But it would have looked mighty queer, just the same. A Memoridon comes calling and cracking the whip, Syldoon best kick the spurs in. Especially if it smells like the summons is coming from the Emperor, not the Tower Commander hisself.”

“Can I ask you something, Vendurro?”

He led me down a hall. “Course you can. If you don’t mind much whether I answer or not.”

“Are you worried about the Caucus? Sounds like something we should be worried about. Only you didn’t seem particularly bothered.”

“‘We’ is it?” He stopped and looked at me, gave a half-smile.

“Well, I might never be a Syldoon. As Mulldoos pointed out, clearly I am not cut out for it. But my lot is tied to the captain’s, all of yours, as far as that goes. So, I suppose-”

“Only teasing you, bookmaster.” I relaxed as he said, “Caucuses, Emperors, Tower Commanders, that’s all above me. I’m just a soldier.” He pointed up at the corbelled hall ceiling. “Leave all that for them to figure out. I just do my job, best as I can. I trust Cap and Hew and Mull to do right by me and the other boys.”

We turned a corner, passing a Syldoon slave girl who gave me a queer look. “I’ve heard Thumaar’s name a few times now. He was the deposed emperor, wasn’t he?”

“Was indeed. Capital of Coups.”

“But not killed?”

“Nope, Thumaar’s alive and kicking. And like most that been on a throne and lost it, itching mighty fierce to reclaim it.”

I supposed most deposed rulers would be, but still asked, “How do you know that for certain?”

“Oh, Jackal Tower is trying to help him do it.”

He said it so nonchalantly, it took me a moment to register the enormity packed into such a small phrase. “You what?!” I nearly shouted, and then quieted myself and tried it again. “You’re trying to reinstate him?”

“Ayyup. We’re Thumaar’s men. Some other Towers feel the same. Thumaar was twice the emperor Cynead is. Quick to a flask, a laugh, or revenge, he was. A hard man, but fair. We can get him back where he belongs, we will.”

I looked up and down the hall, wondering if he should be proclaiming open treason so unabashedly.

“Oh, we’re among Jackals here, Arki. Out there, we bite our tongues and smile pretty and salute proper, but every man here will piss on Cynead’s corpse if we get half a chance.”

“But… but aren’t you worried about the Caucus and what it might mean, then? What if Cynead has gotten word that you are working against him?”

“Like I said-bigger problems for bigger men. We oust Cynead, or we die trying. It works out, or it doesn’t. Truth be told, I’m a lot more bothered by what I got to do on the morrow than any Caucus the day after.”

I thought about it, trying to puzzle out his meaning, when I recalled what the Tower Commander had said and remembered that losing a comrade wasn’t the end of things. At least not for Vendurro. “So, you’re going to see the widow tomorrow then?”

Vendurro looked at his feet, rubbed the back of his head vigorously. “I should go today. Still got a little sun yet. And tomorrow won’t be no better. Might even be worse, when it comes to it. But I ain’t seen my Towermates in a long time. Right now, I’m fixing to go see my brothers, drink too much, and lose more coin than I can afford.” He looked up quickly. “Don’t worry none, though. I’ll keep the widowcoin in a separate purse. I might make a woman weep and slap me tomorrow, but I’ll be thrice damned if I don’t at least offer her her due. Knowing Mervulla, she’ll throw it in my face. Before or after trying to rake my eyes out. Proud woman, and angry more often than not. Could be next time you see me, I’ll have a patch. Maybe two, blinder than those poor Hornmen bastards.”

He was trying to make light, but it was obviously forced.

“I can still come with you. If you like. If it makes it any less, well, if it makes it more bearable. Easier.”

Vendurro stopped in front of a door, took a deep breath. “That’s good of you, Arki. Mighty good. And it means a lot. But Commander Darzaak was cracking the whip on getting through the rest of those scrolls and whatnot. Wouldn’t want to take you away from that.”

I nodded, feeling relieved, as it was likely to be an intimate meeting and I would only be an intruder, but also guilty, as it was clear Vendurro was shouldering a burden. “I’m sure I can spare a little time. It’s not like we have to travel back to Alespell to see her, right?”