him carefully.
‘It could be,’ he said, ‘that common consent is wrong, Agent Ren. Di Guaard has many spies. They report frequently and are rewarded with coin. It has been suggested that many of the things they tell are more than the truth, since they are well paid for what they say. But there’s another who tells much and yet asks nothing in return.’
‘Specifically who?’ asked Ren.
‘Your friend the Imaiz .’ Taw was craftily watching the agent out of the corners of his eyes. ‘He claims to keep watch over the inland waters and brings special reports regularly to Lord Di Guaard. Di Guaard is always much pleased to see him, and the wizard quiets his tantrums considerably. With so much impressive support for the existence of pirates, do you think it wise for you or me to disbelieve?’
The castellan was purposely mocking his own words, hinting at the existence of a conspiracy—a development Ren had already deduced for himself. If Di Guaard was mad enough to believe that the Tyrene plunderers still functioned, others could gainfully manufacture evidence in support of the belief. For some the incentive was obvious—a purse full of money. For others, such as Sonel Taw and members of the castle household, support of the myth probably meant the continuance of their livelihood and possibly their lives. But what had Dion-daizan to gain from the charade?
‘Do you know why I came to see Di Guaard today?’
Sonel Taw shrugged. His wizened old face wrinkled with guile. ‘Anharitte is full of the news that you and the Imaiz have joined in feud. It’s reasonable to assume that you came here looking for an ally.’
‘A fair assumption.’ Ren looked at him searchingly. ‘But I didn’t find one. At least not in Delph Di Guaard. But now I ask myself about you.’
‘To help you in a feud against the Imaiz ?’ Sonel Taw was obviously worried by the suggestion.
‘Not actively, of course,’ Ren reassured him. ‘But I need information about Dion-daizan. I need to know why he humors Di Guaard and what he might gain from such a curious association. I’d like to be informed of when he visits Castle Di Guaard—at what hour he’s likely to return from such visits and what routes he’ll most probably use. In short, I need to know anything about Dion-daizan that might conceivably be turned to his disadvantage. And if your ear is as well affixed to locks as it appears to be, you’ll already know that the Company has an excellent history of rewarding its friends for their time and vigilance.’
‘I’ve often heard as much,’ said Sonel Taw. ‘And that’s the type of friendship a man could learn to appreciate. But if someone made this information available to you—would it be certain that no news of it ever got back to Di Guaard?’
‘All information is treated in the strictest confidence. Nothing can ever, be traced back to its source through me. Nor do I keep records of what moneys have been paid. Or to whom.’
‘Then I think you may have gained another friend,’ said Taw. ‘Not that I would hold any man of Di Guaard’s household capable of subversion—but should a messenger be received—claiming to have been sent by me, it would seem reasonable that he might be believed. And if a friend might bless my savings so that they multiply, I should not, through humility, be offended.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind,’ Ren said. ‘I’m a believer in humility’s achieving its just rewards. You know, talking with you has been an education. I’m sure my knowledge of events in Castle Di Guaard will improve.’
They had passed from the inner bailey to the outer during this conversation and were now entering one of the two formidable gatehouses that gave access to the town. Upon Sonel Taw’s approach the guard sprang meticulously into action. Taw had merely to wave his hand to initiate the raising of the portcullis. In the roof of the gate tunnel were slits through which nil kinds of merciless fire and
‘It could be,’ he said, ‘that common consent is wrong, Agent Ren. Di Guaard has many spies. They report frequently and are rewarded with coin. It has been suggested that many of the things they tell are more than the truth, since they are well paid for what they say. But there’s another who tells much and yet asks nothing in return.’
‘Specifically who?’ asked Ren.
‘Your friend the Imaiz .’ Taw was craftily watching the agent out of the corners of his eyes. ‘He claims to keep watch over the inland waters and brings special reports regularly to Lord Di Guaard. Di Guaard is always much pleased to see him, and the wizard quiets his tantrums considerably. With so much impressive support for the existence of pirates, do you think it wise for you or me to disbelieve?’
The castellan was purposely mocking his own words, hinting at the existence of a conspiracy—a development Ren had already deduced for himself. If Di Guaard was mad enough to believe that the Tyrene plunderers still functioned, others could gainfully manufacture evidence in support of the belief. For some the incentive was obvious—a purse full of money. For others, such as Sonel Taw and members of the castle household, support of the myth probably meant the continuance of their livelihood and possibly their lives. But what had Dion-daizan to gain from the charade?
‘Do you know why I came to see Di Guaard today?’
Sonel Taw shrugged. His wizened old face wrinkled with guile. ‘Anharitte is full of the news that you and the Imaiz have joined in feud. It’s reasonable to assume that you came here looking for an ally.’
‘A fair assumption.’ Ren looked at him searchingly. ‘But I didn’t find one. At least not in Delph Di Guaard. But now I ask myself about you.’
‘To help you in a feud against the Imaiz ?’ Sonel Taw was obviously worried by the suggestion.
‘Not actively, of course,’ Ren reassured him. ‘But I need information about Dion-daizan. I need to know why he humors Di Guaard and what he might gain from such a curious association. I’d like to be informed of when he visits Castle Di Guaard—at what hour he’s likely to return from such visits and what routes he’ll most probably use. In short, I need to know anything about Dion-daizan that might conceivably be turned to his disadvantage. And if your ear is as well affixed to locks as it appears to be, you’ll already know that the Company has an excellent history of rewarding its friends for their time and vigilance.’
‘I’ve often heard as much,’ said Sonel Taw. ‘And that’s the type of friendship a man could learn to appreciate. But if someone made this information available to you—would it be certain that no news of it ever got back to Di Guaard?’
‘All information is treated in the strictest confidence. Nothing can ever, be traced back to its source through me. Nor do I keep records of what moneys have been paid. Or to whom.’
‘Then I think you may have gained another friend,’ said Taw. ‘Not that I would hold any man of Di Guaard’s household capable of subversion—but should a messenger be received—claiming to have been sent by me, it would seem reasonable that he might be believed. And if a friend might bless my savings so that they multiply, I should not, through humility, be offended.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind,’ Ren said. ‘I’m a believer in humility’s achieving its just rewards. You know, talking with you has been an education. I’m sure my knowledge of events in Castle Di Guaard will improve.’
They had passed from the inner bailey to the outer during this conversation and were now entering one of the two formidable gatehouses that gave access to the town. Upon Sonel Taw’s approach the guard sprang meticulously into action. Taw had merely to wave his hand to initiate the raising of the portcullis. In the roof of the gate tunnel were slits through which nil kinds of merciless fire and
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