Malspire (24 page)

“Indeed, Lord Ardalrion,” said Pavantu smiling a wicked cut of teach. “But thanks to you we can capture it. We can take control of the tower and tell the enemy that all is well.”

“We must move quickly,” said Villor. “How do you suggest we proceed, Lord Pavantu?”

“Why, we send the hero of the hour, Admiral,” said the strange advisor, waving a hand in my direction. “He seems to be able to come and go in enemy waters. Send him. You have competent marines?” This last question was to me.

“They seem able. We’ve only been on a sea trial but they have proven willing to fight.”

“Good. I can attach the Lady Lamient to this mission.” Pavantu indicated the pretty lady sitting quietly at the end of the long table. “She is a killer, Malspire,” Pavantu said happily in response to my look. “Young and pretty, but deadly. She will help you.”

“If the Admiral wishes it.”

Admiral Baron Villor was deep in thought. It was obvious that he had his doubts about the plan. If I were in the Admiral's boots, I did not know what I would have done. The Admiral was clever enough to know that the enemy might suspect that the Imperial Navy had made a copy of the book, and they could turn it to their advantage by turning the Imperial trap into a trap of their own making. It was a risk.

“The enemy is too large to fight head on, my lord,” I said. I was now quite keen on the plan, risky though it was. If it worked, it would most certainly hurt the rebels, and allow for the further expansion of Imperial forces in the region.

The Admiral gave me a look. “Your father would not approve of this plan.”

“He is a cautious man. He wouldn’t want to make a move without detailed planning.”

“Planning we do not have time for,” said Pavantu, adding his voice.

“What would your brother do?” asked the Admiral.

“He would probably want to send the fleet into enemy waters now and meet them head on. He is no fool, but he does think highly of the Imperial and Ardalrion Navy and its capabilities.” Of course one day Ajator would probably be the Lord Admiral and so it made sense that Villor wanted to understand the young man.

“Hm. They have a capable navy… So all the Ardalrion’s have different ideas on how to wage war at sea. Interesting,” said Villor.

“You are wrong however, Malspire,” said Pavantu. “Ajator would only take such action if he was commanding the fleet. Only then would he feel that we would be assured a victory.”

I was annoyed at the idea that this man thinks he knows my own twin brother better than I. Annoyed, but I realised that Pavantu was probably right. I had to ask. “How do you know my brother?”

Pavantu smiled and leant back. “I know the both of you very well. It is my job. You are the sons of a lord admiral, and I serve the Emperor as his eyes and ears, and he of course takes a great interest in those that might one day lead his fleets.”

A Secret Servant! I realised then that Lord Pavantu was one of the Emperor’s Secret Servants, a spy masters. The Secret Servants were agents who answer directly to the Emperor himself. They are his spies and personal messengers. They seek enemies both outside and within the Empire and bring them to account. Little is known about them, even to the Navy, but they are feared, as a single word from such an agent could lead to the enmity of the Emperor, and the enmity of the Emperor means certain death.

I now felt distinctly uncomfortable in Pavantu’s presence, and wondered what my brother’s business was with such a man. Why had my brother talked in secret with Pavantu and why did my brother not share this with me?

“We’ll do it,” said the Admiral finally. “Captain Ardalrion. You will take your ship and capture…” He ran a finger along the coastline until he reached the lookout point. “Tars-hard. If memory serves, it is a lone tower ten or so miles north east of a rebel stronghold. Capture it, and then station a lectrocoder officer there to report back that all is well to the enemy. You are to take it by surprise so they cannot send warning. Do you understand?”

“I do.”

He ran his finger a little further until he reached a small indentation in the coast line. “We shall place the fleet here, and hope it provides enough cover to hide us. If not, we strike at once. We will still catch them off guard."

***

Returning to the Lady Ocean, I told my senior crew of the plan and ordered that the ship was to leave within the hour. With me had come ten more marines, a lectrocoder officer by the name of Mister Farnsind, a portable lectroder, which took eight men to man handle into the captain’s cabin, the Lady Lamient who was yet to say a word, and a senior engineer and team who went straight to the Lady Ocean’s engine room with orders to supply any parts needed to get the ship going at once. The Lady Lamient had taken a long leather bag and a ladies hand bag. Otherwise she still wore the simple dress and slippers although she had added a short coat and a square umbrella against the weather.

The name of the ship had been repainted but I had it washed off with spirits as the paint was still wet. Now she was the Wraith Deep again. In the end it took four hours for the parts to be found and fitted. The engine was not well, but she would do for the mission. The ship was ready. Just as we were about to cast off and head out to sea, there was a call from the pier. I went to investigate and saw the strange Lord Pavantu requesting to board the vessel.

“Come aboard,” I reluctantly called, and went down on deck to meet my guest.

“Captain Ardalrion. I thought perhaps I could have a word in private before you leave.”

“Of course,” I said, ushering my unwanted guest towards the cabin. “But we must make haste.”

Showing the Secret Servant to a chair, and before the man could open his mouth, I seized the initiative by saying, “How do you know my brother?”

Pavantu smiled and without even a hint of surprise answered, “He came to me. He had a problem and asked for my advice.”

I sat down in my chair, watching the spy master.

“I know you saw us on the pier, Malspire. I have men watching me. I have men watching them and I have a man watching Ajator.”

“Why?”

“I am interested in Ajator and yourself. This is why I am here.”

“Because he will be the Lord Admiral of the Ardalrion Fleet I presume? I can only tell you that Ajator is a loyal servant of the Emperor. He is honest, brave and diligent in his duties. Does my father know you’re watching him? Did he send you?”

“Your brother is the perfect subject. I don’t doubt his loyalties. Your father did not send me. I do not know how much you know of the Secret Servants but I answer only to the Master of the Secret Servants and he answers only to the Emperor.”

“Then is my loyalty in doubt?”

“What do you think?”

“You’ve trusted my advice and you advised to send out the fleet based on what I told you. Of course I might be a rebel sympathiser and I’ve just laid a trap for the fleet. Only time will tell,” I stated.

“Indeed. In a couple of days we might lose a major part of the Ardalrion fleet all thanks to a trap you’ve laid, but I doubt it. Even so, the Lady Lamient will see to it that you are the first to die if that be the case.” He smiled.

“Is that what you came here to tell me? To threaten me?”

Pavantu did not answer, but instead said: “Do you know Lord Luthis Balegrim? He is my captain as it were, the spy master general. I am a lowly officer who runs his errands. He sits by the Emperor and takes the Emperor’s questions and any that have anything to do with the Ardalrion house and rebellion come to me. I then find the answer and pass it back to my master.”

“A candid answer for a spy.” I was somewhat taken aback by the man’s openness. He was after all admitting to spying on me and my family.

“It’s no secret that the Emperor keeps an eye on his subjects, especially those close to him, as is your father. You are no fool, Malspire, and you suffer them lightly which is why I rather like you. I don’t think I need to play games of subterfuge or smoke and mirrors with you as you are a person like myself.”

I did not like being compared to this man. He was obviously a cunning and clever bastard who would cut his own mothers throat for a step up on the rungs of power. But then, this man probably already knew that I knew this.

“We are realists, Malspire. We see things for what they are, so if I tell you that I am spying on you and your family, you will accept it as a reasonable course of action for the Emperor to take. There is no malice. Although regrettable, it’s just the way things are.”

Pavantu looked round the simple cabin, then continued, “As for threatening you, the answer is no. The fact is that I rather trust you. You wanted to know why Ajator and I met. I’ll tell you as I am looking for answers myself. He came looking for the Secret Servants here in Umuron and didn’t find us. My office likes to remain hidden, but when I heard of this I went to him.”

“What did he want?”

“He wanted to know about a man named Obein Klarans. Do you know who he is?”

“No, but I remember Ajator mentioning that name. He asked my brother to join the Ship of Mariners.” Of course. Ajator would not have been able to let the incident with Klarans rest.

"Indeed. Ajator told me. Klarans also offered him a place in the rebellion."

"We assumed he was testing Ajator's loyalties. Do you know this man? I think he was seen recently. When in Sulenfir, I had a ship watched. I don't know what it was about the ship. Perhaps I had seen it recently in Umuron. My lookout, Mister Sudlas…"

"Sudlas?"

"Yes."

"Carry on."

"He spied a man with red hair, a missing ear and two missing fingers. This was the description given me by Ajator."

"I see. What was the name of the ship?"

"The Water Horse."

Pavantu pondered this information as he fingered his cane. "What else did Ajator tell you?"

“Nothing more.”

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him to forget about it. I told him it was a test."

Pavantu leant forwards. “He told you nothing more? You are brothers. You are twins. You are both very close and very fond of one another. I know this. I know a lot about the both of you. He is obviously troubled by this event, and he told you nothing more?”

I did not like being questioned like this. Who was this man to question my loyalty or my brother's? "No."

Pavantu leant back again and steepled his fingers in thought. “Your brother was here not long ago,” he suddenly said.

“He was?” I had hoped my brother was with the fleet but had not had time to find out. “Is he not here anymore? Will he join the fleet?”

“He is a captain. He was made captain at the same time as yourself. He was given a frigate called the Sharpblade in Norlan. He married you know?”

“I did know.”

“Good. Rather a quick affair I hear. A bit of a scandal, but nothing that won’t be forgotten in a few months.”

“Then where is he?”

“I don’t know.”

“I thought it was your job to know.”

“And so it is, Malspire. So it is. I was rather hoping you could tell me.”

I thought for a moment. “I should think his crew might not be ready for action yet. He may be on sea trials.”

“No. Apparently the ship is in good shape as are the crew. The ship and crew have been at sea for a number of years now. Its previous captain was moved to make way for Ajator. All ready for action and eager to give the rebels a broadside. Also, he didn’t report his intentions to the naval office. All I know is that he was given orders and set sail the same day.”

“Isn’t there a copy of the orders at the Naval Office?”

“Highly secret. He has the only copy. The Naval Office only has a receipt to show that he picked them up.”

“Well, what about your spies? Don’t you have a man on his ship?”

“I do. I only just placed him there though. I don’t have the manpower to have spies on every ship and didn’t have reason to until now. Anyway, the Sharpblade left before I had any news from my man.”

This indicated that Pavantu probably did not have a spy on the Lady Ocean, although that might be just what the man wanted me to think.

“Why now?”

“This is where I start putting the pieces together and the picture it makes… unnerves me. It needs more parts. I found a need for a spy on his ship. You see, someone is already spying on him, and it isn’t me. That is, not directly as it were.”

“Who else would be watching my brother? How do you know?”

“That is the question. I know because the interloper is a Secret Servant who was recognised by one of my agents. It would seem that someone else in the service is also watching Ajator.”

“Is that uncommon?”

“It happens, but strictly speaking, I am in charge of your family when it comes to answering the Emperor’s queries and I know nothing of this agent. I am looking into it, but at the moment I know nothing about this agent at all.”

“Lord Balegrim?”

“Perhaps. But why keep an eye on Ajator without my knowledge? Why not use me as I am meant to be used?”