The Emperor asked Lightning, 'Have Insects flown again?'

'They flew every day for three days. There have been no more flights since.'

'Good. I must talk with Frost immediately.'

I stammered, 'Er, Frost has changed. She's...well...she's somewhat stressed.'

'Is she still the best architect?'

'Um...I think so.'

'She will be the Architect until she loses a Challenge. I will make a new Lawyer, Artillerist and Master of Horse from the best in the town to complete the Circle. We will need them in the coming days, but when times are easier I will open their positions to worldwide compet.i.tion.' San gestured for Lightning to ride on his left, level with Tornado. The Strongman was calm-faced and expressionless, looking straight ahead, his hands invisible under the circular vamplate on his axe haft.

Lightning beckoned to Cyan with a smile, asking her to join him, but she turned her face away. She seemed overwhelmed.

San said, 'Comet, ride ahead and announce our entry to the town.'

I don't remember climbing back onto Pangare but I must have done because the next instant I was on a level with the Emperor's face. I gave a quick nod and with shaking hands I unlaced my dented post horn from the saddle, where it shone like a New Year's decoration. I gave Pangare a single word and she leapt down the road.

Behind me the whole Imperial Fyrd and s.h.i.+vel fyrd began to move again, with the jingle of tack and clop of hooves.

The Emperor San here! I thought as I rode. The Emperor San in armour! I had seen his white panoply before; it was displayed, by tradition, in the Castle's armoury but n.o.body ever thought he would actually wear it.

When a new Armourer joins the Circle it is always his first honour to make a perfect suit of armour for the Emperor to the highest specifications, copying the measurements of the last. Sleat had put so much effort into creating San's perfect armour that I am surprised he ever made anything again.

I heralded San's arrival into Slake Cross. People lined the roadside, leant out of windows, cl.u.s.tered in the h.o.a.rdings, stood on the new earth ramparts. I slowed and cantered Pangare through the gatehouse arch, and hundreds of people dropped to their knees in a great swathe as I pa.s.sed. I could get used to this.

CHAPTER 18.

I rose before dawn and went to the washroom to have a powder bath. Those of us who have wings moult and re-grow flight feathers continuously, one or two at a time, but in the last few months I had lost six or seven, leaving me with great gaps in my wings. It made flying more laborious and I was at the stage of exhaustion when, no matter how much I ate, my meals didn't provide energy any more. San had asked me to sleep in a pavilion in the canvas city because he thought my presence might curtail the fyrd's drinking (ha!), the inter-manor rivalries, brawling and petty theft breaking out there.

As I rubbed handfuls of talc.u.m powder between my feathers I reconsidered the problems of the last few days. I had been gathering information for the Emperor, everyone was bombarding me with questions, and I had to think one step ahead. The Rachiswater fyrd vied with Tanager, and the Carniss fyrd stole things from everybody. The Awndyn fyrd had been arriving all night, stomping past my tent. The carpenters had been hammering, by firelight, while the Emperor sleptpresumablyin my bed. It was b.l.o.o.d.y bizarre. On the positive side, he had waived most of the formal courtesies, so I spent less time kneeling on the floor.

The powder relieved some of my itching. I took a shower, preened and oiled my feathers into a glossy iridescence. I tied back my hair in wet black rat-tails, lit a cigarette and returned to the hall feeling much more relaxed.

The hall had become a small, austere version of the Throne Room. Most of the Eszai were listening attentively as the Emperor, with Tornado and Frost beside him, discussed our situation.

Tornado was so huge that usually his very gravity pulled everyone's attention towards him, but now he managed to look humble and our concentration focused on San's gaunt figure. n.o.body dared question the Strongman's self-styled role as San's bodyguard, testimony to his profound faith although I thought he was overdoing it.

Frost, on the other hand, looked cadaverous. She spoke clearly although much too fast: 'M-my lordI have estimated the number of eggs in the lake. Given the parameters my approximation is, of necessity, rough. Rayne dissected an Insect and and and she thinks they're hermaphrodite. I have calculated the capacity of air w-which one Insect needs to fly, then figured the dimensions of the flight, and therefore the number of Insects in that volume of air, and what percentage reach the lake, and since they seem to contain between ninety-eight and one hundred and fifty eggs, a.s.suming all eggs are v-v-viable, I'

'Frost,' the Emperor said gently.

She bit at a crooked finger. 'Um...between seven million, eight hundred and eleven thousand, six hundred and twenty-one, and'

'I see,' said San. 'Seven million Insect sp.a.w.n.'

'Nearly eight, yes.' She gave a quick nod and continued. 'I estimate three hundred thousand five hundred and twelve adult Insects in the v-vicinity of the lake. They defend it so vigorously that no lancer has m-managed to reach the sh.o.r.e. My only suggestion is that we open the d-dam gate and d-drain the lake.'

The Emperor said, 'Does anybody have an alternative proposal?'

Silence around the room. Most eyes were downcast, including mine. 'Very well,' the Emperor continued. 'We shall march to the dam. Frost, what do you need?'

'Twenty draft horses...o...b.. harnessed in two teams of tenand and and sufficient troops to clear the way.'

'Very well.'

Frost sat down again, muttering, 'Two, eight, five hundred and twelve, one hundred and thirty-four million'

'Comet?' said San. It was my turn to rise. 'Yes, my lord?'

'What new troops do we have? What manor is currently arriving?'

'Fescue, my lord. Lord Governor Darnel Fescue came in last night with the musters of Fiorin and Melick, both Select and General. They're mostly infantry and s.h.i.+eld fyrd, with a few thousand archers. I've put some on escort duty. Marram muster is coming in now and the others will be arriving all through today.'

'How many men?'

'Twenty-two thousand. Behind them, probably after dusk, will come a division of felons under guard from Hacilith's jails. I'm lodging them in Lowespa.s.s Fortress. We can discount some manors from our plans: Cathee takes six weeks to raise troops, and Brandoch's infantry will be coming in last, if at all. When I visited, the governor was away touring his musters for the biannual a.s.sizes. I had to go around all his reeves' halls till I found him. But I'm expecting the remnants tomorrow.'

'Is our provisioning adequate? Where is Cloud?'

Tre Cloud stood up, in the front row. He was an energetic, sinewy Gra.s.s Islander who never seemed to need any rest. He pulled his cloth cap from his crew-cut head and twisted it between his hands as he spoke. 'The rationing will have to continue. I have requested grain throughout the Fourlands. All our depots in Lowespa.s.s are empty and the bastle farms have mostly been ransacked. I've ordered all the goods being unloaded to be sealed so their scent doesn't attract Insects. The carts coming up from Rachiswater all have armed protection, and my agents are licensed so no one can defraud us or buy in our name.'

'What about lodging?'

The Cook shoved the cap into a pocket in his striped ap.r.o.n. 'We're extending the encampment. The barracks in Whittorn is full. I sent men there until the reeve sent letters back saying he couldn't accommodate any more. I'm glad it's unseasonably cold because the towns are overcrowding. We can't keep so many people together for much longer. Not to mention the lake, it's a potential pool of infection.'

He continued, very self-a.s.sured. After all, he had won his Challenge by provisioning these fortswith the world's best ca.s.soulet which the troops much preferred to the previous Cook's pork stew.

While he was speaking, a movement on the steps caught my eye. Cyan had crept down from the upper storey. She peered around the stone newel post, but Lightning was the only one to acknowledge her. He swung his arms unfolded happily and gave her a smile. She straightened up, glided towards me, and settled beside me on the bench.

'We must determine the order of the advance,' the Emperor said. 'Tell me your suggestions.'

Tornado said, 'Infantry. Lots of infantry with axes and so on. That's our best bet.'

Wrenn said, 'I agree, but swords are lighter to wield for a day's march.'

'A swift cavalry charge,' said the new Master of Horse. 'That way we'll break through 'em.'

'No, no,' said Wrenn. 'If I only had the pick of the resources, I'm sure my approach would be best.'

'Well, you don't have the pick of the resources.'

Lightning rolled his eyes: here they all b.l.o.o.d.y go again.

Lourie Hurricane, the Polearms Master, spoke. Lourie was usually so silent that on the few occasions he opens his mouth everybody listens, knowing he will say something well thought out and worthwhile. 'The advance should be led by a pike phalanx as best adapted to open ground. We have ten thousand trained pikemen from Rachiswater, Litanee and Eske. My Lord Emperor, they will provide maximum protection to the rest of the host following.'

San asked Tornado, 'Do you agree with Hurricane's suggestion?'

Tornado considered it. 'Yes, my lord.' I could barely see his eyes, shadowed as they were in a deep ma.s.s of wrinkles. The rest of his round face was smooth with no wrinkles whatsoeverperhaps they gathered to make a determined a.s.sault on his eyes. He reminded me of one of the ma.s.sive columnar stalagmites in the caves below the town. The signs of constant physical endurance had worn into his face just as surely as water carves clefts in rock; I could imagine him formed of living flowstone. By a slow, cold process, in a cavern stifled by darkness, water that looks clear but is saturated with dissolved rock drips to the ground and precipitates, building a sullen soldier from the feet up. Trickles run down the outside of the column depositing a trail of wet stone, that over millennia grows lumpen and irregular to form his paunch and b.u.t.tocks. The hollows in the sides of his elbows and knees are smooth solution pockets. Random drips of hard water give him a physiognomy and knuckles. Then with a great heave he tears one foot and the other free of the bedrock and walks off to fight Insects. Tornado could be crystallised loyalty. With a beer gut.

'Lightning?' said the Emperor.

Lightning had been smiling at Cyan and he jumped. 'My lord?'

'Do you agree with Hurricane's proposition?'

'Yes.'

'What arrow-power can you supply?'

'Well...We have forty thousand archers, ten thousand crossbow men. I will not use crossbows on the field because they cannot shoot indirectly. We will shoot blind over the pikemen's ranks and eliminate Insects immediately in front of the advance. I'm sure the Polearms Master and Javelin Master will agree. However, we need Tornado's infantry to flank us. We have long used this technique with sarissai, akontistai and hastai...I mean, pikemen, javelin men and heavy infantry.'

Cyan was frustrated. She leant to me and asked, under her breath, 'What are the plans? What does he mean?'

I gave an irritated little gesture to quiet her.

'I want to take part,' she said. 'I'll lead my fyrd as a great governor should.'

'Well, listen and you might learn something.'

'Just what I'd expect from a glorified errand boy.'

Lightning said, 'The Armourer informs me we are holding nearly a million arrows and we can secure the same again. That includes two-thirds unmade arrows, and the off-duty fyrd are making them up.'

Cyan rocked from b.u.t.tock to b.u.t.tock. Lightning gave her a 'not now' look, and continued, 'The Lowespa.s.s, Carniss and Ghallain mounted archers will provide mobile support.'

Cyan cleared her throat and piped up, ''Scuse me?'

The Emperor looked straight at her. So did the rest of the Eszai.

Under San's gaze, Cyan had no choice but to rise to her feet. 'My lord...um...I would like to lead Peregrine's archers.'

Lightning sent her a sharp look. The silence of curiosity quickly became one of embarra.s.sment. Everyone glanced at each other impatiently.

I tugged her jumper, hissed, 'Sit down!'

Lightning looked from Cyan to the Emperor and spoke calmly. 'My lord Emperor, this is my daughter Cyan Peregrine. She will soon inherit the manor but I am afraid she is a little premature in her ambitions.' To Cyan he said, 'That is impossible for now, my dear. Please sit down.'

'But'

Lightning beamed around at everyone and spoke louder, for our benefit: 'I'm sure that some of us will be happy to listen to you after the meeting...for a very reasonable fee.'

A ripple of nervous laughter discharged around the room. We darted quick smiles to and fro.

'But'

'I will brook no more argument. You don't understand; this is a very important conference.'

The Emperor waited patiently but Tornado said, 'Get her out of here, Lightning.'

Cyan glowered at him. Lightning said, 'She's just trying to be noticed. Find yourself a sense of humour.'

'This is not, like, a cabaret.'

Lightning said to the room, 'See how ready she is to roll up her sleeves and lead the fyrd? Don't you wish she was your daughter?'

We laughed more openly this time. Cyan did not take well to being discomfited in front of the Circle. 'Peregrine manor seems no more than one of Micawater's musters,' she said. 'If I mayn't lead my men, I'd like to win their trust as a captain perhaps.'

The Emperor looked at Lightning, clearly requesting him to end the interruption. I was about to chip in, myself, but Lightning, with his hands on his hips and an amused expression, seemed well in charge.

'No,' he said. 'You may not. You may watch our operations from the town walls.'

'I'm joining in, so tough! You can't stop me! When you're engaged, I'll ride out!'

He spoke to her only, with serene persuasion. 'You are being unreasonable, blood of mine. Unless you sit down I must find you new accommodation. Say, the upper chamber of a peel tower?'

Cyan hesitated, trying to figure this out. 'Are you threatening to lock me up? You can't do that!'

He sighed, exasperated. 'These men will escort you safely to your new apartment.' He gave a nod to the Micawater fyrdsmen standing with spears either side of the door. They began to walk towards Cyan.

She glanced with round eyes from them to her father. 'No! I only wanted to' A guard took her arm but she booted him in the ankle and s.n.a.t.c.hed herself free.

She pointed at Lightning. 'I Challenge you!'

An intake of breath around the room.

Lightning stood still, mouth downturned, transfixed. Emotions welled up one after another in his expression: profound hurt. Bafflement. Pride, too, and anger. The anger surfaced quickly and quenched all the rest. 'Do you?' he said, measuredly.

Cyan stuttered and recovered herself. 'I, C-Cyan Peregrine, Challenge you, Saker Micawater, for the position of Lightning within the Castle's Circle.'

I looked around at all the shocked faces. Even the Emperor had raised his eyebrows. Tornado turned his eyes up to the ceiling, his mouth in an amused twist.

San announced, 'I uphold the Challenge. After the current campaign.'

'Very well...' Lightning managed a dry whisper to Cyan. 'Now get out of my sight.'

'But...'

'But what? What do you mean, but? Haven't you done enough? Do you know what you've just said? Now the words are out, you can't take them back! I'll have to shoot against you now!' He took a step. 'How could you do this to me? After all I've done for you. You repay me by...Throwing it back in my face! Not a thought of what I've given you. I saved you, on the s.h.i.+p. I reached out! I keep reaching out!'

He spread both hands and shook them towards her. His face and neck flushed so red they were blotched with white. He yelled in fury, 'Think before you speak! How can you Challenge me? I taught you to b.l.o.o.d.y shoot! Any man here has a better chance than you do. Any Select archer is stronger than you. What do you want? My attention? Now of all times? You always had my fond attentionnow you have my Lord Emperor's and Her Highness's and all the b.l.o.o.d.y journalists' attention as well!'