LITMIR.BIZ

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chimeras mingled with the humans. Pure glamours in numerous exotic forms, brought as companions and pets, or just for effect. Impossible to tell from flesh and blood, they reflected their owners’ natures. A few were angelic. Most were incarnations of base instincts, ugly and venal.

      The masque was well underway. A glamoured orchestra played. Liveried flunkies weaved through the dancers, pewter trays held high. Secure in the knowledge that they were above the law – indeed, many present were servants of the law – the revellers behaved as they saw fit. They imbibed grape and hop, some recklessly. Others sampled the pleasures of cuzcoll, viper sting and pellucid, or stronger narcotics like sabre cut, red frost, and even ramp.

      In a quiet corner, a rat and a serpent were engaged in earnest conversation.

      ‘I’m not saying I sympathise with them, for the gods’ sake,’ the rat protested. ‘It’s just a question of methods.’

      ‘You always were inclined to be too soft on these dissidents,’ the serpent snorted.

      ‘I resent that! I loathe them as much as you do. We differ only in how best to address the problem.’

      ‘All a bit academic now, isn’t it? Word’s come down from on high and it no longer matters what we think. Or are you questioning your superiors’ wisdom?’

      ‘No, no. Of course not. I’m just saying that honey catches more flies than vinegar. I’ve always believed that stealth’s the best policy when dealing with these misfits.’

      ‘Mollycoddling them, you mean.’

      The rat’s whiskers quivered irritably. Before he could respond, a drunken satyr barged between them.

      ‘Let’s sit,’ the serpent said, nodding towards an empty table.

      Once they’d settled, a servant brought them drinks. Wine for the rat, brandy for the serpent.

      The rat wore a plump, copper-coloured medallion. He ran his thumb over it, dismissing the mask. It evaporated to reveal a clean-shaven man of middle years. His velvet skin and silvering, coiffured hair indicated one who lived by talk rather than deeds.

      Following his lead, the serpent wiped away his own disguise. He was older, and his face was weathered from a lifetime of doing. In his hair and beard, close-cut military fashion, he was further along the road to silver than his companion.

      ‘You have to admit, Clan High Chief,’ the one-time rat continued, ‘that the unrest has got worse since the emergency regulations were brought in.’

      ‘There’s always a period of turmoil after measures like that are introduced,’ Ivak Bastorran told him as he lifted his draught of brandy. ‘It’ll calm down once the hotheads know we mean business.’

      Gath Tampoorian Ambassador Andar Talgorian thought the paladin sounded typically self-satisfied. He took a sip of wine and kept that to himself. ‘Far from abating, reports reaching the diplomatic corps indicate dissident activity’s spreading like wildfire.’

      ‘I wouldn’t say things are that bad. We’ve had our successes against these terrorists, and it’s in their nature to retaliate.’

      ‘There, you admit it. Your heavy-handedness is making the situation worse.’

      ‘I didn’t say that. We’re stamping out a pestilence. There’s bound to be bloodshed before we’re through. It’s a case of holding our nerve.’

      ‘Let’s hope the rebels blink first. For all our sakes.’

      ‘You give these people too much credence, Talgorian. Not least in dignifying them as rebels. They’re criminals, chancers, vandals. Scum. I’m proud the clans are at the forefront of eradicating them.’

      ‘It must be very gratifying to have a free hand at last,’ the Ambassador commented dryly.

      ‘I’ve made no secret of my views on public order. And it seems I’m not alone. You know as well as I do that Rintarah’s cracking down hard, too. That proves the canker’s everywhere.’

      ‘So the insurgents are organised, then? You can’t have it both ways, Bastorran. Either this is an outbreak of random disobedience or a movement.’

      ‘They’re as organised as any other bandit gang, and their aims are no more noble.’

      ‘We shouldn’t allow ourselves to be hampered by too rigid an outlook,’ Talgorian replied pointedly, ‘or we’ll miss seeing the true nature of the problem.’

      ‘Nonsense. The truth is both empires are applying stricter sanctions because lawlessness is endemic if you let the mob have its head. East and west have been too soft. It’s past time to redress the balance.’

      ‘Throw oil on the flames, more like.’

      ‘And what would your remedy be? Soft words? Yielding to their insolent demands?’

      ‘I’d apply a little balm. Toss the people a few concessions. Repeal one or two petty laws, perhaps a small easing of taxes; and allow the poorest better access to basic provisions. They’d not be so easily stirred up if they had full bellies.’

      ‘Sounds like appeasement to me. Why give them what they haven’t earned?’

      ‘You asked for my opinion. I think artfulness has its part. A carrot to entice the donkey.’

      ‘Carrots,’ the paladin sneered. ‘What about the rod?’

      ‘Don’t make the mistake of thinking me squeamish. My way, we’d isolate the ringleaders and make examples of them. Single them out for assassination even, as the Council for Internal Security does back home.’

      “Then we’re in accord. The clans believe in eliminating the agitators, too. It’s just that where you see a few rotten heads in a field of corn, we see them all as infected.’

      ‘And cut down the lot.’

      ‘If need be. But you’d do well to leave such considerations to us, Talgorian. You’re too much of a worrier.’

      ‘It’s what they pay me for.’

      ‘Like this warlord you’re so obsessed with,’ Bastorran ploughed on. ‘You fret about him unnecessarily, too.’

      ‘Nothing’s happened to make me believe Zerreiss is any less of a threat,’ the Ambassador returned indignantly. ‘Everything we hear suggests he’s continuing to make inroads.’

      ‘I don’t know why you get so worked up about it. If the barbarians want to make a sport of slaughtering each other, that’s their affair. They can never offer any danger to the empire.’

      ‘Again I hope your optimism proves well founded.’

      ‘You won’t have to rely on my opinion alone. The northern expedition should be reaching its destination soon. Then you’ll see this Zerreiss for what he is. Any word, by the way?’

      ‘None. And according to our agents, nothing’s been heard from the Rintarah expedition either.’

      ‘Communication’s always poor from the barbarous lands. Everything gets delayed coming that far.’

      ‘I suppose so.’

      ‘There you go again with the anxious face.’ He took a gulp of his drink. ‘Trust me, Ambassador; you’ll see that all this is just a rash of pinpricks.’

      Talgorian’s attention was on the far side of the room. He nodded that way. ‘Talking of pinpricks …’

      Bastorran looked, seemed uncertain for a second, then spotted the mark. ‘Ah. Dulian Karr.’ There was no warmth in the recognition.

      Karr stood with his back to a wall. It bore the ubiquitous emblem of Gath Tampoorian rule: the dragon rampant, scales shimmering, belching gouts of glamoured flame. Karr was conversing with a small group, but it was obvious even from a distance that he wasn’t really engaged with them.

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