David Tallerman - Crown Thief

Beside him, on the smaller chair, sat Marina Estrada.

Alvantes saw her as I did. He jerked forward three abrupt steps — to the obvious alarm of our handlers and their cronies around the room. I caught up quickly and grasped his elbow, trying by movements of my head to indicate how hopelessly outnumbered we were.

Whether or not he understood, Alvantes covered the remaining distance at a steadier pace. "Marina. Are you all right?"

Estrada smiled wanly. "Better for seeing you," she said.

"Has this creature harmed you? Is he holding you here against your will?"

The fat man cleared his throat — a greasy, molten sound. The way he occupied the overlarge chair had already made me think of a basking toad, and the impression was made a hundred times worse when I heard the flat croak that was his voice. "I assure you," he said, "that my co-mayor has not been molested in any fashion."

Alvantes ignored him. "We're getting out of here," he told Estrada.

"Guard-Captain Alvantes, I assure you that whatever you imagine this situation to be, the truth is quite otherwise."

Only then did Alvantes acknowledge the fat man's presence. "Guiso Lupa. Nothing you've done since the day your mother spat you out was innocent. Will you try to stop me taking this woman from here?"

Of course. That was why I knew him. Lupa had run one of the larger gangs in Altapasaeda, with an emphasis on extortion and prostitution. Before Alvantes had clamped down on the city's thriving crime scene, he'd operated quite openly. In the years since, he'd kept hidden, and his name had dropped from common parlance.

In many ways, he was Altapasaeda's version of Castilio Mounteban. Both had been notorious criminals supposedly cowed into retirement by law and order. From what I'd heard of Lupa, though, he was in many ways worse, with no time for refinements like diplomacy or restraint. He was also famously stupid, with none of Mounteban's guile.

However limited his gifts of character might be, though, Lupa was keeping his patience well in the face of Alvantes's radiating contempt. "Please, Guard-Captain. While we're certainly glad of your visit, I ask that you mind your tone. Not for my benefit of course, but for that of my men. They can be sometimes overenthusiastic in their desire to serve me."

"Lunto," said Estrada, her voice taut, "I'm not some horse, to be led out by the nose. Please calm down."

Alvantes looked wounded. "What is this?"

"As he's tried to explain, Guiso has been… assisting… with the reconstruction of Muena Palaiya." Estrada's voice was a numbed monotone, as convincing as a bored huckster's. "He kindly offered the service of his employees to fill the diminished ranks of our guardsmen."

Translation: Guiso Lupa had seen an opportunity and exploited it, just as Mounteban had. It was no coincidence. An image flashed through my mind; Mounteban as a bulbous spider spinning his web through every crack and corner of the Castoval.

"So you see," inserted Lupa, "we're all friends here. And as it so happens, your arrival is fortuitous. Since I left Altapasaeda to offer my assistance here, I've received instruction from Governor Mounteban."

"Governor?" Alvantes fairly spat the word.

"Indeed. Amongst other matters, he asked that I convey his greetings should we ever meet, and that I pass on how interested he'd be in speaking with you."

"And what does Governor Mounteban imagine we have to talk about?"

Lupa gave a gelatinous cough. "He believes your presence would be a — shall we say, calming influence in the current affairs of Altapasaeda. Further, he feels the city would benefit if you were to resume your vacant position. Perhaps not in quite so unrestricted a fashion, but otherwise much as you're accustomed to." Lupa turned hooded eyes in my direction. "In return, he would guarantee that neither you nor your… associates… should fall afoul of any unfortunate misunderstandings that might arise from recent events."

Alvantes's face left no doubt of what his reply was about to be. If I could see it, the dangerous men lurking in the shadows, fingers already resting on blade hilts, could too. I caught his arm once again, dug my fingers deep, and did my best to hang on under the look of fury he turned on me.

"Alvantes has endured a lot of late," I said, "and is more than usually quick-tempered. Lest he should answer rashly, perhaps we could take a little time to confer?"

"Absolutely," agreed Lupa, sounding more relieved than anything. "Take as long as you need."

"Also, we left some friends waiting outside town. We should let them know we're safe and that all's well."

"Friends?" It was startling how suddenly Lupa's solicitousness turned to open suspicion.

"Peasants we met on the road," I said quickly. "You know how it is."

"I can't say I do."

"If we're going to deal," inserted Alvantes with unexpected calm, "you'd do better not to doubt our word."

"Not yours," replied Lupa, his pinprick eyes darting between us. "No, not yours, Guard-Captain. Of course… who am I to keep you from these peasant acquaintances of yours? And in return, I'm sure you wouldn't mind one of my men accompanying you?"

"Not so long as he doesn't mind having his throat cut."

For a moment, Lupa looked as though Alvantes had spat in his face. He recovered quickly. "No, no. Quite right. You should go. Talk with these new friends about what we've discussed." Something dangerous rose in the morass of Lupa's voice then, like a snake darting through swamp water. "In the meantime… we'll be sure to take good care of Mayor Estrada."

Alvantes and I were out of Muena Palaiya, with our escorts left behind closed gates, before either of us opened our mouths again. Even then, it was only for Alvantes to make a long low sound of pure anger, an incoherent growl that made me wonder if I hadn't been safer with Lupa.

"We'll help her," I said.

"Shut up. Damn you, shut up, Damasco."

I shut up.

"We left her there alone."

Unsure if this was an invitation to stop shutting up, I decided not to risk it.

"Damn it all," Alvantes snarled — and there ended our brief, one-sided conversation.

Minutes later, we passed the outcrop shielding the northern cliff road from Muena Palaiya. The giants waited in columns to either side of the highway, like sentinel statues guarding the way. It was clear now why the road had been so quiet; who would want to go near Muena Palaiya with Lupa and his thugs in control? In that one small way, his presence had done us a favour, for many a traveller would have died of alarm to see this monstrous assembly lurking in the gloom.

Huero's cart was pulled up to the verge, while Dura and the children distributed food. Saltlick and Huero were waiting at the head of the column, obviously anticipating our return. They looked anxious when they saw us, no doubt reading the tone of our experience in Muena Palaiya from our expressions.

While Alvantes stood nearby on the edge of the roadside decline, glaring down into the valley below, I briefly explained the situation. It was dismaying to see the strain and worry, so recently removed, flood back into Saltlick's eyes. "Help Marina."

"We will," I said. "I don't know how, but we will."

"You won't." Alvantes turned abruptly. "You can't."

"You don't know that."

"Of course I do! I'll go back. I'll do what he asks, make whatever deal Mounteban wants. There's no other way."

"That's it? Just forget about saving Altapasaeda? Do you really think that's what she'd want?"

A dozen rapid steps carried Alvantes to a point where his face was hardly a finger's length from mine. "I don't care what she wants. I care about what keeps her safe." He spun to round on Saltlick, who actually cowered back. "Lupa will have scouts out by now, looking to see who these supposed friends of ours are. If he sees a crowd of giants camped on his doorstep he'll panic. If he panics, he might harm her. Get them out of here."