‘I know. But it feels a bit different from my side.’

‘You have us,’ Sephor assured him, ‘and not just us; there are thousands now who believe in you and want to support you.’

The warlord laid a hand on the young man’s shoulder. ‘And I’m more grateful for that than I can say. But there’s something even you can’t give me. For all your loyalty and trust, you can’t empathise. Not truly. You can’t know what it’s like to be alone the way I am. If you could, you’d understand why I have to find him.’

In Bhealfa, too, there was a temporary respite from snowfall.

Not that weather conditions affected the number of people thronging the streets of Valdarr, or the attendant magical surges. But it certainly made the citizens’ daily lives more miserable as they traipsed through slush and skidded on icy sidewalks, and it snarled up traffic.

Andar Talgorian’s carriage, travelling to paladin headquarters, took nearly an hour to make a journey that should have lasted minutes. Unsurprisingly, he arrived in a dejected mood.

Nodding the diplomat to a chair, Bastorran asked, ‘So, how was Merakasa?’

Mindful that Commissioner Laffon was present, and aware he currently enjoyed favour with the Empress, Talgorian replied cautiously. ‘It was a pleasure to meet with Her Royal Highness, as always. But I must confess I find the prospect of the imminent military action somewhat depressing.’

‘Nonsense,’ Bastorran snorted. ‘It’s exactly the right response to the situation on the Diamond Isle. I only regret it hasn’t happened sooner.’

‘War should always be the last resort.’

‘We’ve reached the last resort.’ He handed Talgorian a goblet of wine. ‘What would you have done, talk them to death?’

‘If you mean do I think there’s still time to reach a negotiated outcome, the answer’s yes.’

‘My late uncle often said that you were a peacemonger. He meant it kindly, I’m sure.’

‘I prefer to see myself as pragmatic,’ Talgorian countered. ‘And it seems to me that talk has to be a better option than spilling blood.’

They exchanged frosty smiles.

‘I agree with the High Chief,’ Laffon chipped in. ‘If you negotiate with these people you only give them credence.’

‘Surely they already have credence in the eyes of our superiors. If they didn’t, why send a costly expeditionary force against them?’

‘Because force is what they understand. It just proves my point.’

‘The Commissioner’s right,’ Bastorran said. ‘And we should be as ruthless with them at home as I trust we’re going to be overseas.’

‘Is it possible to be more brutal than we already are?’ Talgorian wondered.

It was Laffon’s turn to adopt a feigned smile. ‘If I didn’t know better, Ambassador, I’d think you were sympathetic to these malcontents.’

‘No one is more opposed to public disorder than me, Commissioner. I merely query the methods we’re using to deal with it.’

‘Whatever our view of the coming conflict,’ Bastorran said, raising his glass, ‘I’m sure we can all agree to toast the mission’s success.’

Eyeing each other, they drank.

Talgorian was the first to lower his glass. ‘I hope it goes without saying that the Diplomatic Corps stands ready to offer whatever help it can to both your organisations in this expedition.’

Bastorran gave a hollow laugh. ‘Forgive me. But there’s hardly much use for the service of diplomats once hostilities begin.’

‘Then perhaps you can help me.’

‘What do you mean?’ Laffon said.

Talgorian finished his wine and waved away a refill when Bastorran offered him the carafe. ‘Tell me, have either of you seen Prince Melyobar recently?’

‘As it happens, I have,’ Bastorran replied.

‘How did you find him?’

‘I don’t think it would surprise any of us if I said…problematic.’

‘As unpredictable as usual, in other words.’

‘Yes. But Melyobar’s state of mind is hardly news. Why do you ask?’

‘Her Royal Highness has decided that the time has come to take steps as far as the Prince is concerned.’

‘Steps?’ Laffon echoed.

Talgorian produced two folded parchments bearing the Empress’s personal seal. ‘These should explain everything.’ He handed one to each of them. As they tore them open he added, ‘You’ll see that Her Majesty requires the paladins and the Council for Internal Security to cooperate fully.’

Bastorran read quickly, then looked up. ‘You’re in charge of this operation?’

Talgorian nodded.

‘Why you?’ Laffon wanted to know.

‘It’s not for me to question the Empress’s decisions. But perhaps she thought the CIS and the paladins would have enough on their plates. And strictly speaking it is a diplomatic matter; after all, Melyobar is constitutionally Bhealfa’s sovereign.’

‘Naturally I bow to Her Majesty’s wisdom on the matter. In fact, I expect to be summoned to an audience with her myself quite soon. No doubt she’ll expand on her wishes then.’

‘In the meantime you have what you need in that letter.’

‘I’m pleased the Prince is finally going to be dealt with,’ Bastorran declared. ‘Something should have been done about the man long since. When are you going to tackle him, Ambassador?’

‘I’m not sure yet. It’s obviously a delicate situation and needs to be handled discreetly.’

‘I wouldn’t leave it too long if I were you. The last time I was at the palace I saw something rather curious.’

‘Oh? Stranger than usual, you mean?’

‘Point taken. I don’t know if it fell into the category of abnormal or not, seeing as we’re talking about Melyobar. But he’s installed a battery of siege catapults, and it looked as though the fortifications had been beefed up even further. I can’t help wondering why.’

‘As you say, curious. But I don’t intend storming the place. I’m thinking of a more tactful approach than that.’

‘What are you going to do, reason with him?’ Bastorran came back acerbically.

‘Essentially, yes. But I’m not so naive as to think he’ll appreciate Her Majesty’s proposal. Which is why I’ll need a robust escort to accompany me. And I think it should consist of personnel from different services, given the sensitive political nature of the operation. We’ll need to liaise on this.’

‘It’ll have to be large if he decides to be uncooperative.’

‘I don’t think it’ll come to that. It’s not as though the empire intends making a prisoner of him; he’ll be treated as an honoured guest.’

‘You might have a job persuading him of that. Don’t underestimate his liking for power. After all, no one’s ever tried restraining him before.’

Any response Talgorian might have made was pre-empted by a rap on the door.

‘Come!’ Bastorran snapped.

Lahon Meakin stuck his head into the room.

The paladin glared at him. ‘I told you we weren’t to be disturbed!’

‘I’m sorry, sir, but something’s come up.’

Bastorran rose, mumbling apologies, and joined his aide in the corridor.

‘This had better be important, Meakin,’ he hissed.

‘We’ve news of a disturbance on the streets.’

‘Is that all? You should know better than to bother me about such a-’

‘This is something different, sir, and I think you’ll want to attend to it personally.’