Adrian Tchaikovsky - The Scarab Path

He had lived his previous life hoping that a Rekef general would never call for him, but when Brugan's messenger came, it was only a relief.

The office was lined with racks full of scrolls and shelves of books and next to it was housed a coterie of clerks who sifted every word that came into the Empire, searching for the least drachm of significance. It had belonged to Brugan's rival and predecessor, yet he had changed nothing, and Thalric wondered whether this was to celebrate Brugan's victory, or remind him that nobody lasts for ever.

'Ah, Lord Regent,' he said without expression. There was a Wasp-kinden woman sitting in the corner, ready to record whatever was said.

'General,' Thalric was aware of the absurdity, 'you can call me Major, if you want, sir. I think I still own the rank.'

Brugan shrugged. There was no warmth towards Thalric in his expression, but it was not the job of a Rekef general to like people. 'I suppose I am calling on you for information, as I would with any agent,' he said carefully, with a curt gesture for Thalric to sit. 'I am aware you had a many-coloured career in the war.'

Thalric took the one seat before the desk, wondering how many others must have sweated and trembled here. However, he did not rise to the barb.

Brugan's lips twitched slightly. 'That may be of use,' he continued drily, 'now that you are a good son of the Empire once again. You were in a position to see things that sounder agents had no chance for.' His eyes said traitor , but Thalric met them without flinching. For a long time they stared at each other, with neither breaking from the other's gaze.

'Do you consider that you're immortal, Regent?' Brugan asked at last.

'I am sure that if you thought it in the Empire's interest, you'd make an end of me,' replied Thalric. The thought rose in him, If you must, then do it sooner rather than later , and he swallowed it down.

'Apparently someone tried to have you killed,' Brugan went on. 'Outside Tyrshaan, I am informed. The Regent may do as he likes, but perhaps Major Thalric should have made his report before now?'

Thalric looked down, at last. 'You are correct, of course, sir.'

'Well, it is now known to us and we will determine who is responsible,' said Brugan dismissively, as if now bored with the subject. 'Stenwold Maker, you met him, I believe?'

'I did. Several times.' This change of direction threw Thalric temporarily. 'What of him?'

'My agents there say that Collegium believes in peace, but what does Stenwold Maker believe in?'

'He believes that the peace is transitory,' Thalric replied. 'May I speak frankly?'

'Do.'

'He would make a good Wasp. Indeed he would make a good Rekef agent. Perceptive, loyal and selfless, he lives for his people and he sees threats to them very clearly. He foresaw the invasion of the Lowlands an entire decade early and spent all that time laying plans and training agents.'

'You admire him.'

'He has many admirable qualities. It is unfortunate he is our enemy.' The brief time he himself had been Stenwold's agent-captive, and the work he had done for Stenwold's cause, flickered briefly in Thalric's memory.

'He's sending agents out again,' Brugan growled. 'South of the Empire now. To places we will be looking to, once the South-Empire is fully ours. It would make sense for the Lowlands to make our Imperial ambitions there difficult, and they already have allies around the Exalsee.'

Thalric nodded. 'It's a good move for him. I can understand him making it.'

'We are far from ready yet for another conflict with the Lowlands,' Brugan said. 'Is he likely to force war upon us?'

'No.'

'So certain?'

'Stenwold will not start a war, not fought by his own people. He may, however, start a war with others' blood, as he did at Solarno.'

Brugan nodded. 'You are well informed.'

'Old habits die hard, sir.' Some emotion had stirred in Thalric's chest. 'Sir, you'll be sending out agents to keep an eye on Maker and his people?'

Brugan studied him with narrowed eyes but remained silent.

'Send me,' Thalric said. Please, send me. Send me away from here. Give me my life back .

'Why?'

'Why not? I am Rekef, still — Regent or not. I was good at my job. I know Stenwold Maker better than any agent you have. Give me a small team, embassy credentials perhaps. Who would be better?'

Brugan stared at him for a long moment, his heavy face expressionless. Rekef thoughts would be scuttling through his head.

'An Imperial embassy to Khanaphes,' he spat out finally. 'Ever heard of it?'

'I could soon learn,' Thalric replied.

'The roads are good all the way to Tyrshaan,' said Captain Marger. 'With the insurrection there quelled we should make good time.'

Thalric nodded, eyeing the automotive that Brugan had found for him. It would not be a comfortable journey but he was used to that. The hold, hastily fitted out for passengers, consisted of a metal and wood box slung between the huge-spoked rear wheels, while the driver and his mate would be sitting up front amid the dust. It was a conveyance meant for couriers, travelling fast and without luxury.

'How does it manage off the roads?' Thalric asked.

Marger raised his eyebrows. 'Well enough, if we had to.' Long-faced and sandy-haired, he was about five years Thalric's junior and slight of build for a Wasp. He looked wholly inoffensive, which was the best way for a Rekef man to look. Brugan had chosen an embassy as the ostensible reason for a Wasp team descending on Khanaphes. Thalric would provide the public face, and act as special adviser on the Lowlanders, while Marger would conduct the Rekef Outlander operation proper. It was a delicate balance of power.

'We'll go to Shalk,' Thalric decided. 'Not Tyrshaan.' Let's make it difficult, just in case .

Instead of protesting, Marger digested this proclamation. 'If you want. It shouldn't affect our timing much. With the mining trade the roads are probably better.' His team was loading the automotive now: two more Wasps and a Beetle-kinden strapping crates and rolled-up canvas to the vehicle's sides, before returning to the row of storage sheds for more. 'I'd ask why, though.'

'Why not? Shalk's as good,' Thalric told him, 'besides, I've seen Tyrshaan recently. I'd rather see somewhere else.' Let them think of me as the Regent, not the Rekef Major . He had other good reasons for wanting to go to Shalk, but those were not for sharing.

Marger shrugged, which he did a lot of. 'It's your call,' he said, and went off to help his men. Thalric leant back against one of the rear wheels, feeling the machine rock and jolt as they continued loading it. Marger was opaque: it was impossible to know yet whether he would cause problems. The captain's subordinates gave few clues, either. The Beetle-kinden was an artificer, a paunchy, grey-haired veteran put in just to reassure the locals. The other two Wasps looked like men more comfortable in armour. They showed Thalric a careful deference but otherwise said nothing.

Thalric was making maps in his mind: envisioning the Flykinden warren of Shalk, the quarry mines there, the descent to Forest Alim and the river Jamail. It was all book-learnt stuff, for his travels had never taken him much through the South-Empire and not at all beyond its borders.

I will be happier once the war starts up again, to give me an excuse to return to the Commonweal or the Lowlands, to places I know . Save that would mean crossing swords with Stenwold Maker once more. We cannot afford to let each other live. The next time I will have to remove him, or he me . The thought brought with it an unwelcome stab of conscience, for Stenwold could have had Thalric killed several times already. Instead he had stayed his hand. Though for his own advantage! Still, it did not sit well that Thalric's too often pawned loyalty must await that final twist of the knife.