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Quicksilver Zenith. Stan Nicholls
Читать онлайн.Название Quicksilver Zenith
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9780007386345
Автор произведения Stan Nicholls
Издательство HarperCollins
There was a frozen moment, each side eyeing the other, fists balled, muscles tensed.
Karr nodded at his people. ‘Sit.’
Darrok waved away his bodyguards.
Caldason righted his chair and Serrah sank back into hers. Both moved reluctantly, and kept their gazes on the escort.
‘So, you have trouble with pirates,’ Karr recapped.
‘I think they prefer to be called merchant adventurers,’ Darrok corrected.
‘To hell with what they call themselves; why didn’t you tell us before?’
‘I’m telling you now.’
‘How big a problem is it?’ Disgleirio wanted to know.
‘Until recently it was manageable; no more than a minor irritation. But that’s changed.’
‘Why?’
‘Traditionally, the privateers were disorganised. As ready to fight amongst themselves as to plunder travellers that came their way. Now they’ve got together and formed an alliance.’
‘That wouldn’t have happened without a leader of some sort,’ Caldason reasoned. ‘Who rallied them?’
‘You’re more perceptive than you look. Have you heard of a man called Kingdom Vance?’
Serrah mouthed, ‘Oh, shit.’
‘I take it you have,’ Darrok said.
Karr scowled at him. ‘Who hasn’t? Given that he’s the most infamous, cold-blooded freebooter ever to cut a throat. And you’re telling us he’s organised this alliance?’
Darrok nodded.
‘He must have held out a prize tempting enough to bring them together,’ Caldason decided. ‘A prospect bigger than their differences.’
‘That he did. He offered them something they’ve wanted for a long time.’ Darrok paused and scanned his hosts’ faces. He saw that one or two had already guessed. ‘A land base. A country they can call their own.’
‘They want the island,’ Disgleirio whispered, realisation dawning. ‘You bastard, Darrok! This borders on treachery. What are you after? More money? Is that it?’ He was on his feet.
‘There’s no deceit on my part.’ Darrok gestured at his restive bodyguards, checking them. ‘All I’m asking for is the final payment.’
‘After dropping this on us? Forget it.’
‘I think you’ll find the pact we have stipulates no full payment, no deal. And I get to keep what’s already been paid.’
Disgleirio swung to Karr, red with anger. ‘You agreed to this?’
Before the patrician could speak, Darrok answered. ‘There isn’t exactly an abundance of islands for sale. Like I said, it’s a sellers’ market. Take it or leave it.’
‘Karr?’ Disgleirio pressed.
‘He’s right. We’re not in a position to dictate terms.’
It was Serrah who broke the ensuing silence, and in contrast to Disgleirio’s outrage, she seemed almost amused. ‘Well, you could cut the tension in this room with a knife,’ she said. Glancing at the surrendered weapons, she added, ‘Anybody like to try?’
Karr stood, signalling for calm. ‘All right. Everybody. Let’s keep things civil. We can sort this out.’
‘Always the conciliator, eh. Patrician?’ Serrah gave him a smile that fleetingly looked half demented.
‘He’s right,’ Darrok intervened. ‘You might have rivals for the island. So what? They’re small in number compared to you, judging by the set-up you have here. You can deal with it.’
‘You make it sound trivial,’ Disgleirio remarked, still seething.
‘No, I make it sound like it isn’t my problem. My only concern’s spending the money you’ll be giving me.’
‘So you can buy more toys like that?’ He jabbed a thumb at the hovering dish.
Darrok made it rise, lifting him to the height of a man standing. ‘This is more in the way of a necessity than a luxury.’ He rapped his knuckle against one of his legs, then the other. The hollow ring attested to their being artificial. ‘Kingdom Vance,’ he explained starkly. ‘That’s why it’s not my problem.’
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