mind—'
'Glad to hear it. I may be dead, but I'm not easy. I'll be there. Midnight, until a quarter past. No more. If he can convince me in that time, all and well. If not, too bad.'
'A quarter should be more than enough, Shurq.'
'You are foolish to be so confident of that.'
Bugg smiled. 'Am I?'
'Where's Bugg?'
'He'll be meeting us here.' Tehol walked over to the couch and settled down on it, drawing his legs up until he was in a reclining position. He eyed the three women. 'Now, what is so important that I must risk discovery via this reckless meeting?'
Shand ran a calloused palm over her shaved head. 'We want to know what you've been up to, Tehol.'
'That's right,' Rissarh said.
Hejun's arms were crossed, and there was a scowl on her face as she added, 'We don't need a bodyguard.'
'Oh, forgot about him. Where is he?'
'Said he had some belongings to collect,' Shand said. 'He should be here any time now. No, the others haven't met him yet.'.
'Ah, so they are sceptical of your enthusiasm.'
'She's been known to exaggerate,' Rissarh said.
'Besides,' Hejun snapped, 'what's all that got to do with being a bodyguard? I don't care how big his—'
The warehouse door creaked, and everyone looked over.
Ublala Pung's round face peered timidly inside, from just under the overhang.
'Dear sir!' Tehol called out. 'Please, come in!'
The half-blood hesitated. His pale eyes flitted among Shand, Rissarh and Hejun. 'There's ... three of them,' he said.
'Three of what?'
'Women.'
'Yes, indeed,' said Tehol. 'And ... ?'
Ublala frowned, lips drawing together into something much resembling a pout.
'Don't worry,' Tehol invited with a wave of a hand, 'I promise to protect you from them.'
'Really?'
'Absolutely. Come in, Ublala Pung, and be welcome.'
The huge man pushed the door back further and edged inside.
Ublala's belongings did not, it was clear, include trousers or loincloth. He was as naked as he had been down at the canal. Not that clothing would have much disguised his attributes, Tehol concluded after a moment of despondent reflection. Well, never mind that. 'Hungry? Thirsty? Relax, friend. Set your bag down ... yes, there is just fine. Sit down – no, the bench, not the chair – you'd end up wearing it, which, now that I think on it... no, probably not. Ublala, these women require a bodyguard. I assume you accepted the offer from Shand—'
'I thought it was just her.'
'And that makes a difference?'
'Makes it harder.'
'Granted. But, most of the time you'll be here ...' Tehol's voice trailed away, as he finally noticed that Shand, Rissarh and Hejun had neither moved since Ublala's arrival, nor said a word. Oh, now really ...
Nisall had been the King's First Concubine for three years. No official power was accorded the title, barring what the personality of the woman in question could achieve. There had been considerable variation throughout history, often dependent upon the fortitude of the king at the time, as well as that of the queen and the chancellor.
At present, there were six concubines in all, the others young, minor daughters of powerful families. Potential investments in the future, there as much to capture the prince's attention as the king's. Like the queen's four consorts, they were housed in a private, isolated quarter of the palace. Only the First Consort, Turudal Brizad, and the First Concubine were permitted contact with anyone other than the royal personages themselves.
Brys Beddict bowed to Nisall, then saluted Preda Unnutal Hebaz. He was not surprised to find the First Concubine in the Preda's office. Nisall had decided her loyalties long ago.
'Champion,' the young woman smiled. 'Unnutal and I were just discussing you.'
'More precisely,' the Preda said, 'we were conjecturing on the content of your conversation with Finadd Gerun Eberict earlier today.'
'Preda, I regret my delay in reporting to you.'
'A well-rehearsed report by now,' Nisall said, 'given that you have already been required to provide it to the First Eunuch and Ceda Kuru Qan. Thus, we will allow you a certain lack of animation in your telling.'
Brys frowned, his eyes on his commander. 'Preda, it occurs to me that Gerun Eberict remains one of your officers, regardless of the King's Leave. I am surprised he has not already reported to you the details of today's conversation.'
'And who is to say he hasn't?' Unnutal enquired. Then she waved a hand. 'An uncharitable response on my part. I apologize, Brys. It has been a long day indeed.'
'No apology required, Preda. I spoke out of turn—'
'Brys,' Nisall interrupted. 'You are the King's Champion now. There is