b’lieve it’s your concern that you, as Knight-Cardinal, ain’t in command of your own Order — that you got to answer to a crowd o’ fanatics who’ve forced their way into power.’
‘I’m not sure what you’re saying here,’ Certinse said cautiously. ‘Are you asking whether I’m plotting against fellow members of the Knights of the Temples?’
Kayel laughed. ‘No! I’m sayin’ in your place, I’d likely gettin’ ready to murder the whole damn lot of ’em! And, I’m askin’ why you ain’t done so already - they’ve robbed you o’ your Order, and if you don’t take it back soon, it’s gone for good.’
The sergeant knocked back the last of his brandy and rose to fetch the bottle. As he turned his back, Certinse inspected the man. His high boots looked scuffed and dirty, dull black rather than polished to a shine, but they looked well-cared-for; Kayel was a man used to walking, he surmised; he obviously knew the value of good boots. He didn’t recognise the style of the lines of black stitching, but he did recognise the concealed pommel of a dagger when he saw it.
‘The Menin Army’s been gone a while now,’ Kayel said as he offered Certinse more, ‘long enough that the war’s likely to be done soon. Whichever way it goes, the Land’s goin’ to be a different place after.’
‘Undeniably,’ Certinse agreed, ‘but I can’t be sure there will be an Order of the Knights of the Temples left to see this new Land.’
‘So why ain’t you moved? You’ve hardly made much effort to help out Ruhen’s Children, and you know we’re happy for you to exploit us that way - don’t hurt our cause a shred.’
‘Unfortunately the matter is not so simple,’ Certinse said. ‘My Order is by definition composed of the pious. Our rank and file are all volunteers, and most joined for higher reasons than the stipend.’
‘So they’ll take their whippings like dogs?’ Kayel asked, momentarily surprised, ‘they’ll cower and whine, all the while shrinking from a raised hand? And never once thinking to bite back?’
‘The analogy is accurate,’ Certinse agreed. ‘They’re an army, and properly trained. I have been paying careful attention, as you might imagine, but there are simply not enough men willing to consider insurrection against a body of priests.’
‘But no one’s likely to complain if it’s done for them?’
The Knight-Cardinal smiled. Interesting, he thought suddenly, the man’s accent has softened now we’re at the meat of the conversation. He’s not playing the big simple soldier any more.
There was something more, something else at the back of his mind trying to grab his attention. Ah yes, he speaks Farlan well, very well. That’s not the casual familiarity of a mercenary. Certinse had spent more years than he cared to remember in exile, living under King Emin’s rule after Lord Bahl’s ban on the Knights of the Temples. Over that time he’d noticed a number of common errors in the way people there spoke the Farlan dialect; some were glaring, some subtle enough for most native speakers to not pick up on immediately. Sergeant Kayel had made none of those mistakes, none at all.
‘Obviously I couldn’t condone any such actions,’ he said carefully, mindful of being lured into speaking too openly, ‘and on a purely logistical note I would point out that only the Menin have the capability to do such a thing. A covert mission of the scale required would be near-impossible.’
Kayel didn’t blink. ‘It so happens,’ he said cagily, ‘that there might be some new arrivals in the Circle City very soon. The call of Ruhen’s message has reached further than many might believe, and a few remarkable followers have been attracted to him.’
‘Such as the Jesters?’
Kayel shook his head. ‘Their losses were considerable in the battle against the Farlan; only half a dozen acolytes remain.’
‘I’m intrigued,’ Certinse said, guessing he was going to be told no more. ‘If they are so remarkable it’s a shame I remain under house arrest, unable to receive visitors without the escort of Demi-Gods. ’
‘A shame indeed. If anything were to happen, however, you would have to step in quickly - no sense giving the opportunists a chance, is there? A symbolic figure would be useful in that instance, I think you’ll find; remind the Order of its founding principles.’ Kayel gave him a sly look and set aside his glass. As he was making ready to leave he added, ‘My view is it’d be sensible to prepare against all eventualities. Either King