There was never any decent sense of time in Tay’shak headquarters. Artificial light blazed day and night in rooms and corridors that mostly had no crystal walls or windows to the outside world, and even in the deadest hours people bustled purposefully about. However, Jay sensed a difference in the atmosphere as soon as he stepped out of the lift on the uppermost floor. Late as it was, there was a subliminal tension and alertness in the air.
There was nothing subliminal about the two Star Rider guards flanking General Salthar’s door, decked out in full regalia and wielding extended firestaffs. As Jay approached they snapped to attention and crossed staffs across the doorway.
“Oh come on,” said Jay, using a swordbearer intonation. “Whoever your superior is, he’s waiting for me in there. Do you really think the Tay’shak would let just anyone wander onto the premises?”
They ignored him.
He was well aware that he was dressed like a metalworker, and suddenly it mattered. In the eyes of these two pompous young idiots, he could be actively ignored. Jay crossed his arms and leaned against the wall opposite, only vaguely and theoretically calculating the practicality of taking them both out, unarmed as he was. It would make too much noise and would embarrass Salthar, which could of course be seen as a bonus, and they probably had guns hidden somewhere in all that metalwork, which would make the exercise unnecessarily dangerous.
“Well then,” he said. “We could be here all night.”
The impasse lasted about two minutes, then one of the guards looked uneasy and muttered into his communicator. He frowned and stood aside as the door was opened from within.
Jay flicked back the guard’s staff lightly with his fingers as he passed.
The outer chamber of Salthar’s suite of offices was one of the few rooms in the building which did have natural light, a crystal wall overlooking the Yeda. By day it offered an impressive enough view and at night, the city below twinkled like stars. The noble standing by the wall admiring it was known to Jay only by reputation, which was unsurprising considering that he would spend nearly all his time at Court.
He had been prepared for grandeur, but not quite this. Salthar looked stressed. Jay felt a coldly disapproving glare boring into him. He bowed with proper humility to the noble, and waited to be abused.
“This is your man?” said the noble. “I don’t think so. I need someone to go in there and get close to Corusval. Close on a level that will allow him access to his work. This menial is unsuitable.”
“This menial,” said Salthar, “is my best operative. External and internal. His ability to impersonate other castes is unrivalled and utterly convincing. He can also ingratiate himself with practically anyone and deceive them without a qualm. There’s no-one else. These are my agents, my lord. I know them.”
Though his voice sounded controlled, Jay could hear the strain of a long and difficult conversation in his tone. Jay met the noble’s eyes, deliberately flouting protocol.
“And you trust him?” said the noble, staring directly at Jay but still addressing Salthar.
“I trust him to do his job.”
“Very well. Brief him. Keep me informed by personal messenger. You know how important this is, Salthar.”
The noble strode out, and Jay bowed again as he swept by him.
Once the door was closed, Salthar let out a breath and lowered himself deliberately into his desk chair.
“Thanks for the character reference,” said Jay.
“In the name of the Empress, Jhal, what are you dressed like that for? The one occasion I need you to appear respectable, and you look like a country blacksmith.”
“I am a country blacksmith – sir.”
Salthar glared. “Screw this one up and you will be.” He gestured to the other chair, and handed over a photoslate.
Jay flicked through the images, all of which showed a middle-aged swordbearer of venerable, stately appearance.
“Retired General Corusval, ostensibly of Caro,” said Salthar. “In fact, he took his wife’s clan – originally, he was a Blade of Vengeance. Caro is the principle swordbearer clan on Parmua.”
“Excellent, I could do with some sun.”
“Review this biography and come up with a reason for an extended visit to the former General, preferably as a scribe. You’re to get close to him and find out what you can.”
“About what?”
“About his former and possibly his present connections and activities. I can’t tell you more than that.”
“Because you don’t know any more, or because of Court squeamishness about internal affairs?”
“That’s enough, Jhal. Whatever it may have been necessary to say to Lord Eldo, I am not at all sure you’re right for this or any other internal mission.”
“Then why are you sending me? Why not Mizal? She’d have the old man eating out of her hand. Is she busy elsewhere?”
“No. She’s dead.”
Salthar stood up abruptly, scraping the chair sharply on the floor. Jay stared at the pyramid shaped paperweight on the desk, noticing that it cast a rainbow prism of light.
“This investigation is being driven from the highest quarters – you saw that yourself. There can be no delay, and for the sake of everyone’s honour there can be no mistakes. Afterwards, Jay, I want you to go after her killer.” He turned from the window wall. “Report to me in an hour with a convincing cover story and I’ll get some credentials set up for you. You’re to leave for Parmua as soon as practicable Take your servant. And Jhal - investigating Corusval does not involve seducing his wife, his daughter or any other female member of his household. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”
Not yet inclined to speak, Jay nodded.
“It’s best you don’t know everything, but I can tell you that from the suspicions that attach to Corusval, anyone close to him could be implicated, and any one of them could be dangerous if your cover is blown. Now go and use your imagination.”
The briefest overview of Corusval’s file was enough to suggest to Jay that he could represent himself as a Scribe Caste scholar needing to use the famous ancient library attached to the Caro ancestral home. For the rest of the allotted hour his imagination worked against him, suggesting in detail all the many ways a young combat trained woman could die.
TO BE CONTINUED!
Deadline available from all good e-book retailers September 2012
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends