Red Seas Under Red Skies: The Gentleman Bastard Sequence, Book Two (Gentleman Bastards 2)

‘Here,’ said Stragos after one of his soldiers took the oar from him. He removed two glass vials from his pockets and held one out to each Camorri thief. ‘Your first stay of execution. The poison’s had time to work its way into you. I don’t want to have to worry about you for the next few weeks.’

Locke and Jean complied, each gagging as they drank. ‘Tastes like chalk,’ said Locke, wiping his mouth.

‘If only it were that inexpensive,’ said the Archon. ‘Now give the vials back. Caps, too.’

Locke sighed. ‘I suppose it was too much to hope you’d forget that part.’

The two thieves were being hauled back toward the Mon Magisteria as Stragos lashed the boat to the piling once again.

He stood up, stretched and felt the old familiar creaks, the twinges in his hips and knees and wrists. Damn rheumatism . . . by rights he was still outrunning his age, still ahead of most men nearing threescore years, but he knew deep in his heart that there would never be any way of running fast enough. Sooner or later, the Lady of the Long Silence would call a dance with Maxilan Stragos, whether or not his work here was done.

Merrain was waiting in the shadows of the unlit side of the boathouse, still and quiet as a hunting spider until she stepped out beside him. Long practice enabled him to avoid flinching.

‘My thanks for saving those two, Merrain. You’ve been very useful to me, these past few weeks.’

‘Just as I was instructed to be,’ she said. ‘But are you sure they really suit the needs of this plan of yours?’

‘They’re at every disadvantage in this city, my dear.’ Stragos squinted at the blurry forms of Locke, Jean and their escorts as they disappeared into the garden. ‘The Bondsmagi sewed them up for us, and we have them second-guessing their every step. I don’t believe those two are used to being controlled. Out on their own, I know they’ll perform as required.’

‘Your reports give you that much confidence?’

‘Not merely my reports,’ said Stragos. ‘Requin certainly hasn’t killed them yet, has he?’

‘I suppose not.’

‘They’ll serve,’ said Stragos. ‘I know their hearts. As the days go by, the resentment will fade and the novelty will gain on them. They’ll be enjoying themselves soon enough. And when they start to enjoy themselves . . . I honestly think they can do it. If they live. It’s for damn sure I’ve no other agents suitable to the task.’

‘Then I may report to my masters that the plan is underway?’

‘Yes, I suppose this commits us. You may do just that.’ Stragos eyed the shadowed shape of the slender woman beside him and sighed. ‘Let them know that everything begins in a month or so. I hope for their sake they’re ready for the consequences.’

‘Nobody’s ready for the consequences,’ said Merrain. ‘It’s going to mean more blood than anyone’s seen in two hundred years. All we can do is hope that by setting things off we can ensure that others reap most of the trouble. By your leave, Archon, I’d like to go and compose my messages to them now.’

‘Of course,’ said Stragos. ‘Send my regards along with your report, and my prayers that we might continue to prosper . . . together.’