Martin Scott - Thraxas at War

'Can't wait,' I say, and force my way past.

Kalius is startled as I march into his office, as is Coranus the Grinder. The Sorceror, legendary for both his power and his bad temper, leaps to his feet in agitation.

'Who dares—'

I hold up my hand.

'I do. Thraxas. Tribune. With some questions for the Consul that can't wait.'

'Do you realise the importance of this meeting?' roars Kalius.

'No. But you can get right back to it after you answer some questions about who you were talking to at the food trolley right before Galwinius was murdered.'

Kalius's face turns red with fury. He orders me out of his office. A waste of time. I inform him that I've just seen some better sorcerous pictures of events.

'So unless you want me to go forth and blab to the Senate, you'd better come up with some answers.'

Coranus is looking wryly amused. He's never been that much of a friend of the city's hierarchy and doesn't seem to mind seeing the Consul discomfited. He rises gracefully. He's pale-skinned, with sandy hair, not a tall or imposing man. There's little about his looks to suggest the great power he wields.

'Perhaps I should leave you, Consul. I have an appointment to see Lisutaris, Mistress of the Sky. I'm sorry I have not been able to help you in the matter of Herminis. Perhaps the Mistress of the Sky will be able to pierce the gloom which surrounds the affair.'

Apparently the Consul has just been discussing the escape from prison of the Senator's wife, in which I am now deeply implicated. For a moment I expect the powerful Coranus to denounce me on the spot. Was there something in the way he mentioned Iisutaris's name? Are they suspicious already?

Coranus pauses at the door. I wait to be denounced.

'Be sure to pass on my message to Prince Dees-Akan that he is a fool of the highest order to remove Lisutaris from the War Council.'

The Consul nods stiffly. If he passes on the message I doubt he'll use those exact words. Coranus looks at me quite affably before sauntering out. I think I made a good impression. The door closes. Kalius turns to me.

'You will regret this. When you were made Tribune there was never any intention that you should interfere in the governing of Turai.'

'No. Just an intention that I'd help Turai cheat to get Lisutaris elected head of the Sorcerers Guild. And now I'm here with some awkward questions for you. Funny how these things work out. What were you doing in the corridor before Galwinius was murdered?'

'I have already explained that I was in conference with Rittius and Bevarius.'

'Not then. After. You all walked down the corridor. But you walked back alone, which you never mentioned before. And then you talked to someone at the food trolley. A Senator I didn't recognise. Who was it?'

'Do you think you can barge into my office and bully me? The Consul of Turai?'

I lean over the desk.

'You think that's bullying? How about this. You're badly in debt. Creditors are chasing you and if you don't get some money soon you're going to find yourself in the bankruptcy court, disbarred from office. No fancy carriage and seat in the Senate. No big house in Thamlin. No cosy relationship with your lady friend Tilupasis. Even your buddy Capatius won't cover your bills. But then Prefect Galwinius dies and suddenly you've come into a very fat inheritance. Nice for you. But I'd say it makes it fairly suspicious that you didn't mention to anyone that you were alone in the corridor and then talked to someone right beside the food trolley. Quite an omission, in the circumstances. It will all make for a good report to the Senate.'

'I'll have you thrown out of the city!'

'Not before I've made a report.'

Kalius hesitates. He's wondering if I've really seen some better sorcerous pictures of the events or if I'm bluffing. As Consul, he's been privy to all the findings of government Sorcerers so far. None of these showed him doing anything suspicious. And now here I am, spoiling things. Kalius is struggling. There's something on his mind he really doesn't want to admit.

'You might as well tell me. I'll find out in the end. I generally do. Politicians threaten me and thugs attack me and I just keep going. It's annoying for other people, but it's what I do.'

'You expect me to reveal anything to a man who is working for Lodius?'

'I'll keep it private. Unless you did kill Galwinius. You don't have a choice. It's me or a Senate committee.'

Kalius gives up the struggle.

'Very well, Investigator. I was called to meet with Senator Cressius. My talk with him was not something I wished to make public'

'Why not?'

'Because Senator Cressius is a moneylender. My debts are such that I was left with no choice. No bank in Turai will do business with me.'

I chew this over for a few seconds. I'm aware of Cressius's reputation though I've never encountered him. I didn't know he was a moneylender but it fits with what I've heard about him. He's one of our more disreputable Senators and not a man the city's Consul should be associating with. Kalius would certainly want to keep it quiet. The only strange thing is that they were talking in such a public place.

'I had not arranged the meeting beforehand,' explains the Consul. 'But on that morning a note arrived from my banker informing me that he was about to foreclose on my mortgage. I therefore instructed my assistant to approach Senator Cressius at the meeting and arrange an impromptu discussion. And now, Investigator, you will leave my office, and never enter it again. I told you that you were finished in this city, and I intend to make that happen.'

I leave the Consul's office deep in thought. It's possible that Kalius is telling the truth about Cressius. He needed money badly enough to approach him. Much the same would apply to Senator Lodius. Another man badly in need of funds. Maybe there was no more to the events in the corridor than two aristocrats both needing a loan. I'm still uneasy. Lodius and Kalius both stood to gain from Prefect Galwinius's death. Was borrowing money all they were discussing in the corridor with Cressius?

It's time to confront Bevarius. His secretary informs me that the Consul's assistant is not in the building today so I set off towards his home. Bevarius is unmarried and lives in a house of moderate size on the outskirts of Thamlin. On the way there I'm so deep in thought I hardly notice the cold. There's no one around except for a few hurrying servants, out buying provisions, as I walk up to Bevarius's modest dwelling. Not cheap - nothing is in Thamlin - but suitable for a young man whose parents never rose far in Turanian society. A few large rooms, small private temple, couple of servants, nothing more.

There's no answer when I knock on the door. I apply some weight. Nothing happens. I try a minor word of power for opening locks and the door swings open. The Consul's assistant should take more care. The hallway is bright, white walls, little furnishing. Likewise the main room. Bevarius obviously isn't a man given to luxury. I turn round to find him standing in the doorway pointing a small bow at me. He takes a step forward. I don't like the weapon he's carrying. It looks powerful and there's an arrow pointed at my heart. Bevarius notices my gaze.

'Specially issued to all cavalry commanders,' he explains. 'Small and light for using on horseback. Made from the horns of the arquix. Almost as powerful as a crossbow. The arrow will pin you to the wall.'

'I didn't know you were a cavalry commander.'

'Just commissioned. What are you doing in my house?'

'Investigating.'

'Investigating what?'

'Kerinox.'

Ah, Kerinox,' says Bevarius, calmly. 'The man I hired to kill you.'

'That's the one.'

Bevarius comes further into the room. I'm looking for a chance to jump him but he's careful not to come too close.