Power's Shadow by Richard Parks

Author:Richard Parks [Parks, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canemill Publishing
Published: 2015-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

10 the limits of diplomacy

“Most men would count themselves among the virtuous if they’ve only done half of the things they’re accused of.” – Seb of the Kuldun Order

As the night wore on, Marta found herself feeling more and more uneasy, and it wasn’t because she was expecting a party of armed thugs to break into the cabin at any moment. It was because they had not yet already done so. Nor had Longfeather returned.

Something is wrong….

She knew it even before the thought had finished forming. The feeling had been building all evening, but she’d lost it in her anxiety and anticipation as the events she had triggered began to unfold. Marta knew she should have recognized the signs earlier, but there was no time to malign herself. There might not be enough time for anything.

“Sela!”

Sela emerged from where she’d been hiding. “No one’s here. What’s wrong?”

“That is what’s wrong!”

Sela’s eyes widened in sudden understanding. “Callowyn—“

Marta summoned Bonetapper to her but there was no sign of the bird when they emerged on deck. She couldn’t feel his presence as she could when he was closer, and there was no time to wait for him to answer. “Let’s go.”

Marta and Sela tore through the streets of Amurlee like madwomen. City guards stared at them as they flew by and some even checked to see if they were being pursued. A few tried to chase them but gave up quickly. They arrived at Count Maton’s door out of breath and fearing the worst. There was nothing but silence from within but the Count himself greeted them at the door.

“Come in. We were just tidying up.”

“Callowyn?”

“She’s fine. We all are. The others…not so well.”

It was only then that Marta spotted the two bodies heaped in the corner of Count Maton’s dining hall. Count Maton excused himself to sit down and continue what he’d apparently been doing when Marta and Sela arrived—cleaning the blood off his sword. He’d no sooner taken his seat when a pair of stony-faced soldiers appeared on the stairway carrying what appeared to be a third body.

“Is that the last of them?” the Count asked.

“No, my lord. One was taken alive. The lady is bringing him.”

“Our guest? Why?”

“She’s the one who caught him.”

“Splendid.”

For a moment or two all Marta could do was stare, but Sela nodded, then leaned close and whispered. “I told you he moved like a swordsman.”

“It would seem you were right,” Marta said, returning the whisper.

There was cursing from the stairway and then Callowyn appeared, somewhat disheveled but unharmed, pushing a balding, leather-clad man before her. She had both of his arms tied behind him and held a dagger to his back.

“I’m not sure how they got past the gate,” Count Maton said, “but my watchmen spotted them on the grounds immediately and raised the alarm.”

“This one made it up the stairs,” Callowyn said, and gave him a shove down the last few steps so that he fell sprawling in front of Count Maton. The thug would

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