He was pleased at the sudden deference shown once he identified himself.
The sergeant saluted, then asked, ‘Is it true, then, sir? The prince and the queen are prisoners of the Edur?’
‘A miracle that they survived at all, sergeant.’
A strange expression flitted across the sergeant’s features, quickly disguised, yet Moroch had understood it. Why didn’t you fall defending them, Finadd? You ran, like all the others …
‘We will get them back, sir,’ the sergeant said after a moment.
‘Send for your reinforcements,’ Moroch said, kicking his horse into motion once more. You’re right. I should have died. But you were not there, were you ?
He rode into the city.
Champion Ormly and Chief Investigator Rucket were sitting on the steps of the Rat Catchers’ Guild, sharing a bottle of wine. Both scowled when they saw Bugg, who approached to stand before them.
‘We know all about you now,’ Rucket said. She sneered, but added nothing more.
‘Well,’ said Bugg, ‘that’s a relief. What more have you heard from your agents in the occupied cities?’
‘Oh,’ Ormly said, ‘and we’re to reveal all our intelligence to you, simply because you ask for it?’
‘I don’t see why not.’
‘He has a point, the bastard,’ Rucket said to the Champion.
Who looked at her in disbelief. ‘No he doesn’t! You’re smitten, aren’t you? Tehol and his manservant – both of them!’
‘Don’t be absurd. It’s in the contract, Ormly. We share information-’
‘Fine, but what’s this man shared? Nothing. The Waiting Man. What’s he waiting for? That’s what I want to know.’
‘You’re drunk.’
Bugg said, ‘You haven’t heard anything.’
‘Of course we have!’ Ormly snapped. ‘Peace reigns. The shops are open once more. Coins roll, the sea lanes are unobstructed.’
‘Garrisons?’
‘Disarmed. Including local constabulary. All protection and enforcement is being done by the Edur. Empty estates have been occupied by Edur families – some kind of nobility exists with them, with those tribes. Not so different after all.’