Largely favourable murmurs rose from the Council.

‘I propose we vote on this,’ a supporter suggested.

‘Those in agreement with military action as outlined,’ Jacinth said, ‘raise your hands.’ He scanned the table. ‘And against?’ There was a quick reckoning. ‘The ayes have it.’

But only just.

Rhylan got up. ‘A word on behalf of the naysayers, brother?’

The Elder nodded.

‘There’s wisdom in what you’ve told us, as usual. But I know you’ll respect the reservations some of us have. In recognition of that, I’d like to suggest a rider to the Council’s decision.’

‘Of course.’

‘We should be kept fully informed at every stage of this operation.’

‘Naturally, that goes without saying.’

‘And in the event of any mishap, any hint that this enterprise was misconceived, a further vote shall be taken with a view to instantly recalling our forces. The outcome of such a ballot to be absolutely binding.’

‘You ask no more than that which would have been freely given, Rhylan. So be it.’ He rose. ‘There are busy days ahead and we all have our tasks. Unless anyone else wishes to speak…? Good. Then I suggest we adjourn and go about our business.’

The Council dispersed in whispering groups.

But the brothers lingered, and, as one, moved back to the pit.

The Elder gestured, reactivating the silvery mass. Visions came again. Views of the streets, squares and parks of Jecellam, once the most orderly of all capitals, now fraying at the edges.

Snow had begun to fall. It dusted the shoulders of dissenters and enforcers alike, and tempered unlawful fires, but it did nothing to quench the passion for justice.

At a silent command from the Elder, the empire’s largest port came into focus. A great invasion fleet was at anchor there. Lines of stevedores chained provisions from hundreds of wagons jamming the dockside, while battalions of harbour marshals swelled the crowd, making preparations for the embarkation of a waiting army. Ships were so numerous they queued out into the bay; a seemingly endless prospect of nodding masts and fluttering sails.

And beyond, the vast expanse of a heaving ocean.

Flying the colours of the freebooter alliance, around a dozen ships lay at anchor within sight of the Diamond Isle.

The small fleet’s number had recently been reduced. Not through the attrition of warfare, but a cause less predictable, and one that left fury in its wake.

On the deck of the largest vessel, Kingdom Vance vented his anger.

‘Three ships! Three damn ships, and two score men!’

‘So you said,’ Kinsel Rukanis told him.

Vance turned from the rail and faced the singer. ‘You find this amusing?’

‘Instructive would be a better word.’ He was shivering from the cold, and found little protection in his threadbare garments.

‘Instructive? The only lesson I draw is that a bunch of turncoats switched sides.’

‘Have you thought why?’

‘Why?’ There was genuine menace in his tone. ‘Because they’re cowards!’

‘Isn’t it possible they deserted because they realised the futility of what you’re trying to do?’

‘That’s just another way of saying they’re spineless. I’m better off without scum like that.’

‘Or could it be that they saw the justice of the rebels’ cause?’

Vance laughed cynically. ‘They’re fools as well as lily-livered if they think that. They deserve each other.’

‘You surprise me, Captain. I thought you’d feel an affinity with the rebels, given they stand against the authorities.’

‘Then you think wrong, singer. I’ve no love for the empires, but at least you know where you are with them. They’ve got power, and don’t have any scruples about using it. I can respect that. The only thing of any account in this world is what you can grab with your own two hands.’

‘If that’s what you truly believe, I’m sorry for you.’

‘Save your pity for yourself, Rukanis. And think on this. The people on that island chose to leave their homes and come here. By doing that they deprived us of a land of our own. That makes them my enemy.’

‘Who’s being self-pitying now? You chose your way of life. Were you forced into piracy? Did somebody hold a blade to your throat? No. Make an accommodation with the islanders, Vance, as your deserters have. End this lunacy.’

‘You come out with that refrain as regularly as any of your airs, and I’m growing tired of it. There’ll be no truces or climb-downs. And the ones who ran out on me are going to pay for it when I take that island.’

‘If you take it.’

Lightning swift, Vance swung his fist into the side of Rukanis’s head. It was a savage blow, and the singer would have fallen if he hadn’t been standing with his back to a mast. His cheek instantly reddened. A dribble of blood seeped from his swelling lip.

‘You’re forgetting the nature of our relationship,’ Vance hissed, his face close. ‘Prisoner and captor, not equals. You’re not somebody I take advice from.’

Rukanis spat blood on the deck, then met his gaze. ‘Is hearing the truth really such an unfamiliar experience for you?’

The pirate made to strike him again, but hesitated, and finally stayed his hand. ‘To hell with it.’ He turned away, leaving Rukanis to dab at his mouth with a shirt cuff. ‘It’s only a question of time before I get what I want,’ Vance promised. ‘And you’re going to help me.’

‘Anything happening?’ Serrah asked, squinting at the group of ships lying well offshore.

‘No.’ Caldason offered her the spy tube. ‘See for yourself.’

‘Not much point looking at nothing, is there? Come on, we can’t do anything here. We’ve got plenty of eyes on them.’

They resumed their walk along the compacted spine of the sandbank. The wind was raw, and they felt its chill despite their hooded fur topcoats and fleece gloves.

‘You know, I still find it hard to believe,’ she said.

‘The pirates?’

‘Yes. When they came in flying white flags I thought it was another trick.’

‘Darrok was convinced of it.’

‘Perhaps he was right.’

‘Planting vipers in our midst, that kind of thing? I doubt it. Too obvious. But they’ll be kept under guard until we’re sure.’

‘Says something about morale under Vance if that many changed sides, doesn’t it?’

‘All it tells us is that forty-three of his cohorts were disheartened enough to desert. It doesn’t necessarily weaken Vance. If anything it makes him more dangerous.’

‘How’s that?’

‘It’s going to fire him up all the more; give him another reason to hate us and want this island. And now his ranks have been purged of waiverers he’s got a stronger force to send against us.’

‘Well, at least we got three more ships because of it. Talking of which…’ She nodded ahead.

They overlooked a cove the islanders used as a small harbour. A two-masted, square-rigged ship was anchored in the shallows, and half a dozen smaller craft were moored at a makeshift jetty.

‘It’s a brig,’ Caldason announced.

‘You’re an expert on ships all of a sudden, are you?’

He smiled. ‘Er, no. It was the one that brought me over.’

‘Thought it seemed familiar. Is it big enough for the voyage you have in mind?’

‘Darrok says it is. Actually, it has to be. We don’t have an over-abundance of ships to spare, you know.’

‘What about one of the galleons the pirates came in?’

‘They’re fighting ships; we need them here. The brig’s built for speed, not sea battles.’

‘But you don’t know what might be defending the Clepsydra. A warship could be-’

‘We can only work with what we’ve got, Serrah. Besides, the faster the ship the quicker the journey. Getting back as soon as possible is a real consideration if this place is going to be blockaded.’

‘You still think it will be?’

‘It’s what I’d do if I was either of the empires. Isolate the infection.’