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  “Oh yes. That witch hid it from me for a while, but now has told me of his existence, somewhere here in Bragal. I’ve been trying to find him but you know how it is – the Bragalese could hide a town here and you’d never find it. I’ve told her there’s no way I’m going to accept him as part of the imperial family or in the line of succession, and she seems to accept it, but says he’ll be brought up as a Bragalese tribesman and not a Kastanian. She won’t tell me anything more than that!”

  “That isn’t mentioned here,” Vosgaris tapped the message. Astiras took it back. “If whoever wrote this knew of that, surely it would have been mentioned too?”

  “Aye, and that is something I do not want to be discovered. The consequences would be catastrophic. The Council of Houses would not look on this favourably – it could even undermine the stability of the empire. There are still some Houses who are looking for an opportunity to depose me and this sort of thing would be food and drink to them.”

  Vosgaris pondered on the matter for a moment. “Blackmail, sire?”

  Astiras snorted. “If so, why bring it to the attention of the empress? They could have given me the message and threatened me. No, this doesn’t strike me as blackmail. I need you to find out who put that message under the empress’s door.”

  “When was it done?”

  “Yesterday morning. Who had access to the inner chambers then?”

  The captain looked up into the sky, concentrating. “Inner confidants of course, Pepil, Frendicus, Teduskis, the guard details for that morning, your political advisor, myself, Alenna, the two young princes, Kerrin Afos, Panat Afos, Iovan Sen. I don’t think there were any others there. Oh, the various servants and slaves. They may have merely carried a letter without knowing its contents on behalf of whoever wrote it.”

  “Leave no stone unturned, Captain Vosgaris.”

  “Then who knew of your affair, sire? I didn’t, neither did the empress, obviously.”

  Astiras glowered. “Thetos Olskan, Teduskis and a couple of guards. Nobody else.”

  Vosgaris looked at Astiras. “Teduskis is the obvious starting point, then.”

  “Unthinkable! He’s a loyal servant.”

  Vosgaris held the emperor’s gaze. “Metila may have arranged it herself. You’re emperor, your word is law in the empire. Arrest her, interrogate her. Force her to reveal your illegitimate son’s location.”

  Astiras pointed a stubby finger at Vosgaris. “And rip up what secrecy there remains? As far as I’m aware only a handful still know about this. I want to know why this person or persons haven’t told anyone else yet. Clearly there’s an agenda they have and it’s not to topple the Koros, or else the other Houses would have been told. Neither is it blackmail, so why? What is it they intend?”

  “Then, sire, I shall begin with Teduskis. It’s an obvious place to start.”

  “He’s been my right hand man for decades! There’s no reason for him to betray me! I forbid it, Captain.”

  “Then, sire, forgive me but I cannot conduct an investigation. Leave no stone unturned you told me. No stone. I may have to question the empress, too.”

  “Wha-at?” Astiras’ voice rose. The guards turned their heads in his direction. Astiras swore, violently, and lowered his voice. “You take too many liberties, Captain!”

  “If you want me to carry out a full and proper investigation, sire, you must let me question anyone I choose to for whatever reason. I will need an imperial seal giving me that authority, too. There may be some who outrank me, both militarily and socially, and I would need that to open their mouths.”

  Astiras seethed. “You’ll get your wish, curse your eyes, Captain. In this case I will demand a result – or else.”

  Vosgaris swallowed. “Understood, sire. I won’t let you down.”

  “You’d best not, or you may as well fall on your sword.” He sighed deeply. “If you have to go to Turslenka, just watch that woman Metila. She’s as devious as anyone I know and may try to seduce you. You are not to take any food or drink from her, and have Thetos present at all times you are in her company.”

  “You make her sound quite sinister.”

  Astiras gave Vosgaris a long, hard stare, and the captain looked away. “Now, Captain, let us give you our seal, and you can start on your mission. For the time being, your duties will be taken up by General Teduskis. He’s quite capable of doing those.”

  Vosgaris didn’t argue. He knew Teduskis was beginning to be forgetful and that could be a security risk. Astiras was too blindly loyal to a man whose mental faculties were starting to unravel. The man should have been retired the previous year, but Astiras was keeping him on out of a sense of gratitude.

  Back in the castle, Vosgaris looked at the wax-sealed edict from Astiras, written by Pepil, the major domo. Pepil was curious and looked quizzically at the order. Vosgaris had shrugged and kept his mouth shut. Pepil wasn’t known for his discretion, and Vosgaris distrusted the slimy kivok anyway. He was too obsequious and fawning, smiling when it wasn’t necessary. He never trusted anyone who smiled that much. Nobody should do so, ever.

  He went to his office and waved the Order in Alenna’s face. “I’m seconded to the emperor for the foreseeable future, darling. Got to do some secret project for him. Nobody is to know, including you, what it’s about.”

  “Oh,” Alenna’s face fell. “Does that mean you’ll be away somewhere for a time?”

  “Possibly. For the moment I’m to stay here so you’ll still have my company to enjoy,” he smiled. “My immediate replacement is General Teduskis.”

  Alenna didn’t look impressed. “He’s getting terribly forgetful. I’m going to constantly have to remind him of things!”

  “Keep a written record, sweetheart. Sorry, but the emperor ordains it.”

  “Pah. Favouritism. He criticised my family for that, yet here he is doing it himself!”

  “Alright,” Vosgaris said soothingly, “don’t start that, or you might have your job taken away from you and you being replaced by some ignorant illiterate from this town.”

  “After all the work I’ve done to get it up in order? Agh! Alright, I’ll keep my peace, but you’ll be moaned at each evening.”

  “Just how I like you,” Vosgaris grinned rakishly.

  “Oh! You….” Alenna gasped, going red.

  Vosgaris chuckled, then kissed her full on the mouth. They held it for a long time, then he pulled away with regret and slipped the sealed letter into his jacket. “Right, off I go to prep the good old general. He should be along shortly. I think he likes his klee quite sweet.”

  “What am I, his personal servant?” Alenna demanded as Vosgaris reached the door.

  Her husband blew a kiss and left, propelled on his way by a scream of frustration. He made his way swiftly to Teduskis’ personal room, a small chamber at the end of the passageway, and knocked. He got permission to enter, and shut the door behind him. The room was homely, well furnished, and cluttered. Teduskis had a bed against the far corner and chests along another wall. Narrow slits looked out onto the countryside and a small opening in the far wall led to a garderobe. Simple, unpretentious.

  “Yes, Captain?” Teduskis asked, getting up from the only chair in the room by a small writing desk. “What is it?”

  “General, I have been asked by the emperor to conduct an enquiry. I have his authority here,” and he passed it to the curious man, who was grey-haired, his face lined with age. A man whose health was visibly fading. He had to angle the paper against the light coming in from the slit, and peered closely at the lettering. His eyesight was getting bad. “Oh. What sort of enquiry? I would have thought Astiras ask me first.”

  Vosgaris smiled briefly. “General, my post includes security of Zofela so it was natural he would seek out myself rather than you. I understand you’ve not been feeling that well recently, too. I believe he thinks you should be allowed to rest as much as possible before being given new tasks.” The captain had no idea whether this was true or n
ot; Teduskis was getting too forgetful and short-sighted these days to be trusted with any responsible job.

  “Ah, yes. That’s thoughtful of him. He’s always thought kindly of me. He’s a good man, Captain, and one day might even make emperor.”

  Vosgaris caught himself before he corrected the elderly man. He looked carefully at the general. “Do you recall your time in Turslenka when Astiras visited the slave girl Metila?”

  “Who? Oh, yes, the slave girl.” Teduskis slowly sat back down and chuckled. “Gave him a right old welcome.” He grinned and stared into the middle distance. “We need to train up more men to put down the Bragalese insurrection. How many men can you raise to help us?”

  Vosgaris felt uncomfortable. Teduskis’ mind was wandering and who knows what he was thinking. He tried to steer himself back onto course. “Metila seduced the emperor?”

  “What emperor? You mean the fool on the throne at the moment? I don’t know if she did that! Thetos says she helped seize Turslenka from the Duras. They’re a dangerous lot; don’t trust them one little bit.”

  “Sir, who knows about Metila and Astiras?”

  “General Koros, you mean? That’s a secret; I’ve been sworn to secrecy and won’t tell anyone, not even the emperor. Sorry, but I can’t help you any further. Now if you don’t mind, I’ve got things to attend to.”

  Vosgaris saluted and slowly left. Outside he sighed. The deterioration in Teduskis’ mind was going too fast. He wasn’t going to be of any use for much longer. One thing he had found out though; Teduskis had babbled too much about the incident and it was probable that was where the leak had come from. The problem was to find out whom he had babbled to.

  He decided to grasp the thorn and go to the person who would be most angry about it. The empress.

  He got an audience fairly quickly, and once he had insisted on speaking alone with her, the handmaidens and servants were dismissed. “Now, Captain, what is this all about? I do have things to do and you being mysterious isn’t being helpful.”

  “I’m sorry ma’am, but I have to speak to you about the – regrettable relationship of the emperor and the slave girl in Turslenka.”

  Isbel’s face tightened at once. “No, Captain, I do not wish to discuss that with anyone. If that is what you are here for then I must ask you to leave.”

  Vosgaris sighed. “Sorry, ma’am, but I’ve been tasked by the emperor to find out who wrote that letter.”

  “I’m not in the mood, Captain, now please leave or else I’ll be forced to insist.”

  Vosgaris slowly produced the authority from Astiras and passed it to her. “I don’t want to do this, ma’am, but I think there is someone here, probably more than one person, who wishes to spread harm to the Koros. I have to find out whom.”

  Isbel glared at the letter, then thrust it back at him peremptorily. “Very well, it seems that I have no choice. What exactly is it you want from me?”

  “Do you have any idea who could possibly write that letter? You saw it, of course, and I presume you didn’t recognise the handwriting? Somebody wrote it who is well educated and writes neatly. Someone else probably slipped the letter under your door yesterday, most possibly a servant. A scribe?”

  “I have no idea, Captain. Do you know whether the emperor is intending to merely silence the messenger? He didn’t seem to be upset at having fornicated with that woman – I knew there was something wrong with her, I could feel it! – but rather he’s angry at it coming out.”

  Vosgaris shook his head slowly. “I can’t say, ma’am – I must admit it came as a surprise to me when he told me this morning. I wondered why the two of you seemed – distant – yesterday.”

  Isbel puffed out her cheeks. “Not as surprised as I! All the time I could have – “ she caught herself.

  Vosgaris guessed what she was about to say. “I wouldn’t have said no, ma’am.”

  Isbel shot him a sharp look and Vosgaris looked over her shoulder and stood to attention. “Captain, I do not wish to discuss these matters right now. I’m not in the right frame of mind. Perhaps in time to come we can speak of this, but not now.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “You’re just as bad as he is, Vosgaris Taboz. Every woman who catches your eye you lose your head. What is it with you men?”

  Vosgaris looked at the empress. “I don’t know ma’am – I can’t help myself.”

  “Have you betrayed Alenna since becoming married?”

  “No, ma’am! She’s keeping me, ah, satisfied.”

  “Damn Astiras,” Isbel said forcefully. “He’s a man but too much of one, so it would seem. Why would he want to sate his feelings on that slut when he has me?”

  “I believe she used potions on him. That’s what I’ve been led to believe, anyway.”

  “I ought to have her tied to a stake and burned! Witches should be destroyed.”

  “Perhaps – but I need to find out who wishes your marriage harm. Who knows what they will do next?”

  Isbel stood up. “I won’t help you if Astiras merely wishes to silence people in order for him to continue with his affair, but I will help you if it means finding enemies of my family; I do have Argan and Istan to think of now. I can’t leave the emperor, although I feel like doing so, for he would take the two boys from me and they are my children, too. I would have nothing if I left him.”

  “Ma’am,” Vosgaris said helplessly.

  “Oh, I’m just feeling sorry for myself.” Isbel waved an arm in the air. “Go. Find out who is trying to undermine the Koros.” She said the name bitterly. “And keep me informed, too. I have as much at stake as that philandering man!”

  “Yes ma’am, I’ll do that.”

  Isbel nodded. “Thank you, Captain.” She sank back into her chair after Vosgaris had left and put her head in her hands and began sobbing uncontrollably.

  ___

  The captain’s next task was to return to the emperor. Astiras was busy, so Vosgaris had to content himself with speaking to the political advisor, a nobleman called Fostan Anglis, the son of a House that traded in marble from Turslenka. The advisor was of medium build with wavy dark hair and dark eyes. No doubt a lot of women would find that enticing, or so Vosgaris considered. It did seem the young Anglis nobleman never lacked female attention. There didn’t seem much difference between their ages, but Fostan Anglis always dressed smartly and displayed wealth with jewels on his clothing, such as clasps, buckles and rings. Vosgaris considered it somewhat vulgar, especially as the Koros tended not to flaunt anything like that except when holding some special occasion, such as the eighth anniversary celebration of Astiras’ accession to the throne the previous evening.

  “Any news worth talking about, Fostan?” Vosgaris asked, sitting on the edge of a desk.

  “News?”

  “Mazag? Venn? Zipria? Political stuff.”

  “Oh, nothing out of the ordinary, Taboz.” Fostan addressed him by his House, denoting that he regarded the Taboz family below his in social rank. “Mazag remains our ally, as you know, and Venn is holding true to the ceasefire. I hear rumours but unless they are proven I don’t think it my place to go spreading what is, after all, gossip. I leave that to eunuchs, women and other such types.” He looked and sounded disapproving of it all. “As for the Tybar, news from there is patchy at best, and I have to rely on merchants to pass on what they have learned, like Demtro Kalfas in Niake. He would appear to know more of what is going on than anyone else.”

  “And what is the latest with the Tybar, from what you have heard?”

  “Tybar occupation of Tobralus is being consolidated, despite resistance. Refugees are still trickling into our lands. The Tybar are now in the process of conquering Amria. It would seem the tribes are not looking at us for the time being, which is something to be thankful for. So, Captain, what is your news?”

  “No uprising imminent, nor any news of any Bragalese resistance. All seems settled here.”

  Fostan Anglis grunted with amusement. “T
hat’s not what I hear. The Mazag border area is rife with banditry. Now that the massacres have stopped the natives are becoming bolder. Surely you would have heard these rumours, if you’re chief of security?”

  Vosgaris eyed the man, piqued. “So where did you hear of these rumours, Fostan? If you’re really concerned about them why haven’t you brought them to my attention, or even to that of the emperor?”

  “What, and do your job for you?” Fostan Anglis smiled slickly. “The heavens forbid! I leave such matters to you or your excellent network. I’m a mere courtier and talk of rebellions and slaughter are beyond my responsibility.”

  Vosgaris stood up. This man mirrored the courts in the later days of the Duras-Fokis backed puppet emperors. He decided to look into the background of him and his family. “In which case I think I’d best look into them, rather than take up your valuable time.” He reached the door and turned round. “The trouble with people like you, Fostan, is that you’re too busy looking outside when the real enemy is much closer. Good day.” He left Fostan looking at the door with a thoughtful expression.

  The day was nearly halfway through now, and so Vosgaris returned to his office. Alenna was sifting through a pile of parchments and smiled at his entry. They kissed and made small talk for a few moments. Then Vosgaris gave her the bad news. “I’m definitely going to have to go down to Turslenka as part of my investigations. I think that’s where I’ll be able to get definite leads. I’m afraid I will probably be gone for the best part of a moon’s cycle.”

  “Oh, do you really have to?” Alenna looked dismayed. “I’ll miss you terribly, you know!”

  “I know – I’ll write once I’m there so you know I’m alright. I’ll sort out whatever I need to as fast as I can and return. I won’t want to be away too long.”

  “Can’t you tell me what it’s about, Vos? I’d love to help, really I would.”

  Vosgaris shook his head, then became thoughtful. “You know, perhaps you can. I would like to have a full list of everyone who was within the keep here yesterday morning, from the emperor down to the lowest servant. Also, if you can find anything, an example of hand writing of these people. I know the servants won’t have any, but the courtiers and inner confidants must have, and their scribes. I still can’t tell you what it’s about but I will say that there’s someone here who isn’t doing us all any good. I need to find out who it is.”