‘More important than the unrest we’ve weathered in the past?’ a sceptical relative asked.

‘Yes, and for two reasons. First, we have something new in the mix: the Diamond Isle. From the moment dissidents from here, and from Gath Tampoor, were allowed to reach it, it kindled hope in the radicals’ breasts. The wretched place is a beacon for every malcontent, troublemaker and revolutionary.’

‘But we’re talking about a relatively tiny number of people,’ Rhylan argued.

‘Which wouldn’t ordinarily concern us too much,’ the Elder agreed. ‘But that brings me to the second factor, and one which I shouldn’t have to spell out. The Qalochian.’

‘Ah yes, a problem that should have been dealt with long ago.’

‘Had we been able to settle our differences about him, it would have. Now we have him entangled with the dissidents, and that’s like throwing oil on smouldering embers.’

‘Aren’t we in danger of exaggerating Caldason’s importance?’ another sceptic wondered.

‘That argument’s devilled us for far too long,’ the Elder replied. ‘If we forget his genesis, and his potential for harm, we do so at our peril.’

‘I agree,’ a female councillor interjected. ‘Caldason and the alienated ones are a volatile mix. There’s no question that action’s overdue.’

‘But we don’t even know if he’s aware of his latent capabilities,’ Rhylan responded, ‘let alone about to exercise them.’

‘There you have it: we don’t know,’ Felderth Jacinth said. ‘Are we prepared to take that risk?’

‘We need no persuading of the man’s latent menace,’ someone else assured him. ‘It’s the methods about to be employed that trouble many of us.’

There were supportive murmurs. Almost half the people at the table nodded agreement.

‘As we’ve permitted this situation to escalate to crisis point,’ the Elder told him, ‘we’re left with little option.’

Rhylan spoke for the doubters. ‘But joining forces with our deadliest rivals? That strikes many of us as an extraordinary state of affairs, brother.’

‘We are not joining forces with them. Achieving a joint goal would be a more accurate description.’

‘Whatever you call it, it’s totally unprecedented.’

‘Desperate times demand desperate measures.’

‘Maybe so. But are you honestly saying that the situation on the Diamond Isle is beyond the capability of Rintarah’s armed forces? Why do we need Gath Tampoor?’

‘We don’t. Militarily, of course we’re perfectly able.’

‘Then why this…alliance?’

‘Gath Tampoor is preparing to act whatever we do, and politically it makes sense for them. They have to demonstrate to their subjects that dissidence won’t be tolerated. If we act differently we leave ourselves open to accusations of weakness, which would only give sustenance to our own rabble-rousers.’

‘The argument does have merit,’ a supporter murmured.

‘I repeat that this is not an alliance,’ the Elder continued. ‘It’s a question of mutual self-interest. Necessity makes for strange bedfellows, and no matter how profound our differences, the only issue of any import is survival.’

That brought down a pall of silence.

The Elder waited a beat, then explained, ‘There need be no concerns that our dealings with Gath Tampoor have in any way compromised us. Such exchanges as have occurred were at the highest level, and our position was made plain. There can be no misapprehension on their part that we’re offering concessions of any kind.’

‘That’s reassuring,’ an opponent uttered with less than total conviction. Then he added, ‘What exactly do we know about the security situation in Gath Tampoor’s sphere?’

‘If anything, they’re suffering more than we are. But then they do have some notoriously troublesome colonies, Bhealfa being a good example. Which was Caldason’s birthplace, of course.’

‘Hmmm. And the rebels? Do we know their disposition?’

‘Less clearly than we did. They’ve been decimated and many of the survivors are scattered, which makes intelligence-gathering all the harder. Not that it was ever easy planting spies in their ranks.’

‘Yet we had one informer amongst them with access to their upper echelons.’

‘Yes, and they proved a useful source. But contact was broken just when some very interesting information was starting to come through. We don’t know what happened to that informer. Our suspicion is that they perished at the hands of Gath Tampoor’s security forces during their cull.’

‘Ironic,’ Rhylan observed.

His brother nodded. ‘Indeed.’

‘Of course, the informer might simply have changed allegiance.’

‘What do you mean?’ the Elder asked.

‘It’s a reasonable supposition that Gath Tampoor also had a highly placed source in the so-called Resistance, else they wouldn’t have been able to strike at them so hard. Perhaps it was the same person.’

‘That’s possible. It’s also largely irrelevant now. Our only concern is Rintarah’s internal security, and we know that although crippled, the rebels still pose a threat. Which brings us back to the action I intend taking.’ A clamour broke out. The Elder raised a hand to silence it. ‘For those of you who waiver on this, let me add another factor.’ He turned and pointed to the pit. It was an intentionally dramatic gesture. ‘We all know that strange things have been happening to the energy mesh. My fear is that the disturbances will grow worse unless immediate steps are taken to trace their origin.’

‘You can’t be suggesting a connection, surely?’ Rhylan exclaimed. ‘What possible relation can there be between the rebels and the matrix?’

‘I don’t know. But it takes little effort to imagine a potential link between it and Caldason. Nor should we overlook Zerreiss.’

‘The warlord? Being cautious is a commendable trait, brother, but don’t you think you’re going a bit far? What does he have to do with the picture you’re painting for us?’

‘Perhaps nothing at all. Or he could be the lynchpin in this affair.’

‘Oh, come on, Felderth-’

‘Hear me out. We know he’s carving a domain for himself in the northern wastelands, and that alone makes him a threat. Then there’s the question of the mission we sent to investigate his activities, and the one Gath Tampoor dispatched. There seems little doubt both have been lost, and the chances are it was Zerreiss’s doing. If Caldason, the rebels and Zerreiss united we could be facing a much more formidable menace than a mere handful of traitors.’

‘If. It’s not our way to talk ourselves into a panic over hypothetical possibilities. What would they have in common?’

‘A hatred of the empires seems a good enough impetus to me. Zerreiss certainly has no respect for us or Gath Tampoor; he’s attacked both our colonies with equal zeal. He might see a benefit in joining with our enemies. And I suspect that’s how Gath Tampoor sees it, too.’

‘This is all supposition. Where’s the proof?’

‘I’ve no hard evidence. But I do have something I think is heavily circumstantial.’ He took a parchment scroll from his robe and placed it on the table. ‘Recently, I noticed an anomaly. The last three or four occasions when the matrix became agitated occurred on what seemed to be significant dates. When I checked I discovered the upheavals coincided with Zerreiss’s conquests. I set our officials to compiling a list of his victories and major battles, and when they took place. Every one of them tallied with a disturbance in the matrix. It’s all there.’ He nodded at the scroll.

Rhylan picked it up. ‘And this is indicative of what, exactly?’ His tone held an uncertainty that hadn’t been there before.

‘Again, I don’t know. But there’s a definite correlation. And with each conquest he makes, with each step nearer our sphere of influence, the disturbances grow stronger.’

‘There’s no doubt about this?’ his brother said, studying the scroll.

‘None.’ The Elder addressed them all. ‘Don’t you see? We have something here that’s unprecedented. If there’s the slightest prospect of it affecting our position we’re bound to act. We’ve survived as long as we have by anticipating threats, and stamping down hard at the first sign of any opposition to our power. Ask yourselves this: what do we have to lose by taking action, bar a few lives amongst the lower orders? Inaction, on the other hand, could prove disastrous.’