‘Your journey here was comfortable?’ she began.

He gave a deep bow. ‘Tolerably, thank you, Excellency.’

She indicated a lower chair for him.

‘I trust I find you in good health, ma’am,’ Talgorian ventured, sinking into the cushions.

‘Tolerably.’

Her slightly mocking use of his word was discomfiting. He maintained a bland smile.

‘I’ll come straight to the point, Ambassador,’ the Empress continued. ‘Some of the recent developments in Bhealfa have been gratifying to us. The revolutionaries have suffered a severe blow, and inroads have been made in restoring proper respect for our authority.’

‘Thank you, Highness.’ He felt uneasy. Experience showed that a compliment often came before a fall.

‘However, certain aspects of what’s been happening in Bhealfa are less pleasing.’

‘Majesty?’

‘A number of the traitors were allowed to escape to other shores. And it appears that a hardcore of rebels is still entrenched in the principality. This is not satisfactory.’

‘With respect, Highness, the security forces, local and imperial, have responsibility in these matters.’

‘Be assured I’ll be making the point to them too, Ambassador. But the issue we’re discussing now is the diplomatic corps’ part in this. Your job is to convey our wishes to the relevant agencies. It seems there has been a lack of liaison in that respect.’

He thought this unjust, but refrained from voicing an opinion.

‘No efforts must be spared to eradicate these rebels,’ she went on. ‘You’ll work more closely with the CIS and the paladins on it. This is my will, as you’ll make clear to any who question the policy. Is that understood?’

‘It is, Majesty.’ If she believed the security forces were being too soft, Talgorian didn’t agree. Again, he held his peace. He valued his head too much.

‘Good. As for the so-called Diamond Isle…well, it leaves us with a mess to clear up.’

‘Indeed, ma’am.’

‘Though it may not fall entirely on Gath Tampoor’s shoulders.’

‘I beg your pardon, Excellency?’

‘We know that Rintarah’s been plagued by insurgency as much as we have, and some of their troublemakers fled to the Diamond Isle too. As they currently have more protectorates in that region than we do, they might feel compelled to act. We’d be content if they so decided.’

‘I’m…surprised, Majesty. We’ve always regarded Rintarah as being prime suspects in stirring up the insurgency.’

‘I now have reason to doubt they’re behind more than a small percentage of it. As are we, against them. Indications are that the Resistance is largely self-directed.’

Talgorian was adrift. ‘Not long since, you spoke of possible war with Rintarah, and-’

‘Nothing’s changed,’ the Empress returned sternly. ‘Our differences remain. I’m simply stating that our aims aren’t necessarily incompatible. We share a common interest in stamping out this canker.’

‘You’re suggesting some kind of cooperation might be possible, Majesty?’

‘I didn’t say that. My view is that, in the event, we wouldn’t stand in Rintarah’s way. The important thing is that the insurgents be eliminated. Particularly as we have reason to believe they might be aligned with a force that could…inconvenience us.’ He wanted to ask who, but she ploughed on. ‘We must be conscious of the greater picture. The empires have mutual interests beyond the rebels. Events should be seen in that context.’

‘Do you have anything particular in mind, Majesty?’

‘News is coming in of attacks on our far north outposts.’

‘I’ve heard nothing about that, ma’am.’

‘We have our sources.’ She meant the matrix. A subject he was ignorant of, as were all but her inner circle. ‘Reports are vague at the moment, but naturally our first thought was that Rintarah was behind it. But we’ve learnt that their settlements have been attacked too. That, and certain features of the attacks, lead us to wonder if another might be to blame.’

‘Zerreiss.’ He all but whispered the name.

‘I give you credit here, Talgorian. You were one of the first to appreciate the threat this warlord might pose. The suspicion has to be that he’s expanding his dominance, and in attacking both empires perhaps he hopes to create even more bad blood between us. Should he and the rebels link up, we could be facing a major irritant. Can you see why it wouldn’t be in our best interests to obstruct Rintarah if it chose to oppose him?’

‘I can, Highness. Though it’s a strategy not without risks. If Rintarah and Zerreiss come to an accommodation, what’s to stop them forming an alliance against us?’

‘He’s unlikely to reach an understanding with them or us. The man has the instincts of a conqueror, not an appeaser. He’d see the empires as natural enemies.’

‘So the expedition we sent into his region, that we haven’t heard from-’

‘Must be assumed lost due to his actions, yes. Rintarah’s too, for that matter.’

‘That alone would constitute an act of war, Majesty.’

‘I’m aware of the rules of engagement, Ambassador. Not that we need be burdened by such niceties.’ She glanced at the sand-timer on the mantelpiece. The grains were running out. ‘We’ve aired these topics sufficiently for now, and other affairs will shortly require my attention.’

‘Of course, ma’am.’ He made to rise.

‘Stay where you are. This audience is not quite over.’

Talgorian lowered himself back into the chair, a sheepish expression on his face.

‘I have something else to convey. It concerns the Bhealfan domestic situation, and a task I wish you to handle personally.’

‘How may I be of service, Excellency?’ He said this with some trepidation.

‘We have spoken many times about Melyobar’s behaviour. It’s no secret that he’s a tremendous drain on the protectorate’s resources, and he brings authority into disrepute and ridicule.’

‘His eccentricities are well known, it’s true, Majesty. But the Prince is essentially harmless.’

Bethmilno didn’t look amused. ‘How do you know?’ She didn’t wait for an answer. ‘Our spies tell us something untoward is occurring at his court.’

‘There are always strange goings on in his circle, ma’am.’

‘Exactly. He’s beyond control, and it isn’t a situation we can tolerate any longer. The time has come to put an end to his antics. He’s to be relieved of his position, and direct rule imposed. We have that in all but name already, of course, but now the situation will be made plain.’

Talgorian was stunned. ‘It’s a sweeping change, ma’am. A major constitutional adjustment of that nature would require-’

‘It necessitates no more than my word. I didn’t bring you here to argue fine points of civic law. I am the law. Gather whatever force you feel necessary and remove him from office. I’ll see to it that the militia cooperates fully, as will the paladins.’

‘But…what do we do with him once he’s overthrown, ma’am?’

‘We are not insensitive in that regard. He is, after all, of royal lineage, though of no relation to my dynasty, fortunately. He’ll be transported here and allowed to live out his days in comfort, if not the extravagant luxury he’s been accustomed to.’

‘I feel bound to say that a move like this could antagonise the populace even further, Excellency.’

‘Does Melyobar still have a following?’

‘No one could deny that his personal following has diminished, Majesty.’

‘There you are then.’

‘But what he represents-’

‘He represents only his own unpredictable spirit. The example he sets as a figurehead has nothing to commend it. Whatever your feelings in this matter, I expect you to do as I say.’

‘Excellency.’ He bowed his head in acquiescence. ‘It was only my desire to remind your Highness that the Prince has always been seen as indispensable to our diplomatic strategy in Bhealfa.’

She fixed him with a hard gaze. ‘Graveyards are littered with the corpses of indispensable people, Ambassador.’