Episode 40

The system of power turns like a wheel

You can rise to the top through money or steel

You could lift up others or leave them in muck

But it’s the poor who will suffer when the wheel becomes stuck

If the problems aren’t met with any solution

The wheel must turn in bloody revolution

The vermin will rise as the predator sinks

Let’s see then if the fox can outsmart the lynx

“I don’t know much about him. My… friend said she’s only met him a handful of times. He was there on the balcony when I met the Empress though, and I’m fairly certain he was the one who delivered my invitation for the ball. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that we cannot afford to underestimate him.” Lilian studied the faces of her audience. Mr Attorcop looked deep in thought, his mind cast back into a past he thought long gone. Kissandra, the blade for hire who was here on Mr Attorcop’s invitation, looked more confused than pensive. She shook her head.

“The name is not familiar. But I agree with you, anyone capable of embedding themselves so highly within the Empress’ court cannot be trusted, especially if they’re not of noble birth. And seeing as I don’t recognise the name…” She trailed off, letting her experience speak for itself. Lilian looked over at her friend and mentor, his face was a map of past pains and newly opened scars.

“I know the name.” he spoke softly, as if Telson himself were within earshot, “but I have never met the man. You’re both correct of course, he seems to be the ‘mastermind’ behind this Guiding Hand business so to speak. A man who puts his faith in symbols and secrecy does so because he has no confidence in himself, his family or his friends. No doubt he has convinced himself that those who follow the Guiding Hand are doing some great service to the world, but they’re just the same…” Mr Attorcop’s tone took on a dark, rasping quality. These were old grudges and Lilian and Kissandra both sensed the shadows of his past creeping into the basement like unwelcome guests. His gaze fixed itself into the middle distance, not really looking at anything but seeing a million images all at once.

“Follow me, they say, trust the eye, the fist, the sword, the hand. This book, passage or poem will bring you peace. But beware they say, there will come those who doubt us and they are the enemy now. Trust none but those who wear the symbol. I’ve met these men. And while this one might be better connected than most, they’re all the same. Cult leader, holyman, wise whisperer, truth speaker I’ve met them all. They want all the trappings of power but none of the responsibility of fairness and equality. The Empress is just the same and though she’ll spin some sob story she will undoubtedly tip her head willingly as he pours poison in her ear.” He turned his sharp and focused eyes to Lilian and froze her with a chilling look. “I’m getting a better idea of who he is every day and judging by last night’s events and everything that has happened my theory is as follows. They have something on me, that much is certain. Some old grudge or fear perhaps. That is why Kissandra was sent to Benlunar, to make sure I did not return to put a spanner in their works. But not only did I return, I came back with you and your fearsome four-legged friend. That changed things. Now they seek to separate us. Divide and conquer. They’ve forced me into hiding and soon you’ll have soldiers at your door asking you ever so politely to escort them to the palace so that the Empress can have her prize.” Out of nowhere Mr Attorcop moved at lightning quick speed, hitting out and striking the surface of the table to his right. The speed and sound made Lilian and Kissandra jump. “Well I won’t let them. As the moon is my witness I shall not roll over. They have done nothing but stir my ire and now I’m forced to retaliate. So. Are you with me, ladies? I remind you that I’m not like this man Telson, I do not threaten or force people to fight with or for me, but if my fight is the fight of the just, then I ask that you consider your parts.” Lilian did not need much convincing, she had been fighting this fight since she arrived in the city, she nodded emphatically.

“I’m in.” she spoke in a low and confident voice, remembering her new friend Genevive’s face and the way her voice cracked when she spoke of her situation. They looked to Kissandra, she was still leaning casually against the wall, her arms crossed.

“I will go as far as my interests take me, but my allegiance is to my order first and foremost, not you.” Mr Attorcop shrugged.

“Good enough for me.” He looked as though he was about to get to work right there and then, jumping into a quick walk and heading for a cupboard in the corner. Kissandra interrupted his trajectory.

“It’s not just your fight Cromwell.” Mr Attorcop spun on his heel to look back at her. “To take on Telson is to take on the Empress, the seat of power in Freedos and indeed half of Alicium. I don’t know if you’ve visited Doma recently but when discontent starts to brew, Empress Sylvia has a habit of crushing it quickly and with extreme prejudice. And that’s many weeks march deep into the country, imagine how she will react when she senses revolution on her doorstep. Because that is what this is, hold no doubts in your hearts.” Kissandra turned her piercing green gaze to Lilian. “To take down the Weardian, oust Telson from his place of power and usurp the Empress? That’s revolution. Which means that even if you, if we, do succeed, there will be a power vacuum, the city will plunge into chaos, people… many people will get hurt. I know you’ve both considered this, I just want everyone to be clear of their role in the inevitable suffering that is to come about.” Kissandra did not break eye contact with Lilian the entire time she spoke. Lilian did not flinch. She pictured the faces of the starving children she had seen resort to pickpocketing and stealing when she had arrived in the city. She remembered what it felt like to be that desperate, that hungry and all the while knowing that nobles feasted until they felt sick. She thought about the fear she felt in her stomach every time she saw the flash of a dark green weardian coat, or the glint of a palace guard’s pike. People shouldn’t have to live like that, she thought, and so Lilian Lausanne didn’t flinch.

“You’re right to bring up the end of it.” Mr Attorcop settled a little, “I had considered it, but in truth, only briefly. We will need the people’s support, of course and I have a few ideas as to how to go about getting it. But when the dust has settled and the system needs new leaders…” He trailed off, letting the thought hang in the air. Kissandra looked over at him. A small smile appeared on his face, “Well, if whatever replaces the Empress and her system is better than what we have now then we leave it alone.”

“And if it’s worse?” asked Kissandra.

“Then we crush that too.”

A heavy silence followed Mr Attorcop’s proclamation. Lilian clenched her fist. The time for talking was drawing to an end. Kissandra nodded sagely and then let out a quick, sharp laugh.

“The day I left you alive on the side of that mountain, I was ashamed. I had failed my mission and I retreated honourably. I see now that my shame was a necessary price to pay. You’re both quite mad but if anything is going to succeed in taking down The Empress and her precious system then I think it would look very much like madness.” She paused for a second, remembering that fate-filled day. “The Weardian headquarters is in Laga Quarter. It’s unmarked but everyone knows which it is. Look for the only building on King’s Road with bars on the top windows. It’s made of the same brown limestone but don’t be fooled, the bricks were cut twice as thick and reinforced with iron rods. There’s no sense in attacking head on, you’d need an army. But there might be a way to disband The Weardian without killing them all, or even hurting them.” Kissandra stopped again, baiting her audience with a well timed silence.

“And that is?” Mr Attorcop, usually so patient, took the bait. Kissandra shot Lilian a cheeky wink.

“At the end of the day, they’re doing a job. They might enjoy beating people up for not carrying the correct market permits, but that’s by the by. Thankfully, the state is a little strapped for cash at this present moment. All of the Weardian wages are paid out at the end of the month from a coffer in the upper floors of that building. Now I happen to know that it hasn’t been filled in several weeks and isn’t set to be filled for several more.” Kissandra let her new co-conspirators fill in the blanks. Mr Attorcop looked at Lilian, his eyebrows raised in delighted surprise.

“So if we take the money…” Lillian had a go at completing the plan, “pretty soon they’ll be wondering how they’re going to get paid for beating up farmers.”

“And beggars,” said Mr Attorcop, “but yes. If that information is all correct…”

“Um, excuse me.” Kissandra interrupted, “My information is always correct.”

“It wasn’t about me.”

“Well no but that was differe… look it doesn’t matter, the information is good. But you’d need to act quickly.” Lilian nodded.

“The longer we wait the more the palace might be able to convince them to wait for payment,” she walked over to Mr Attorcop’s desk and picked up a spider shaped paperweight. A hundred scenarios were flashing through her head and she needed something to look at so that she could think through them clearly. She breathed in deeply and let out a long sigh. Setting the spider down she turned back to Kissandra and Mr Attorcop. “It’s risky. If we succeed we have to rely on the fact that they won’t work for free. I’ve only met a few Weardian but they all seem particularly… zealous. Are you sure they wouldn’t work just out of, I dunno, a sense of duty?” Kissandra smiled, shut her eyes and shook her head.

“No way. They are the Empress’s hammer. Hammers don’t get up and start hitting things of their own accord. I give it a week without pay and the whole place will fall like a house of cards.” She spoke with such confidence that Lilian almost believed her. She made a mental note to never play Kissandra at four ladies. Lilian looked over at Mr Attorcop. He had his hands together like he was praying, but Lilian knew enough about him to know that he never asked the gods for anything, Cromwell Attorcop made his own fate. He looked over at Lilian, bringing the tips of his fingers to his chin and looking unsure.

“It’s a risk,” he said. Lilian shrugged.

“Any plan involving taking down the Weardian is going to be risky. It’s true that we don’t want to hurt anyone if we can help it and going for the coffers would certainly avoid physical harm. I say…” Lilian paused and quickly went over every other possible approach in her head, just to be sure. “I say we go for it.” Mr Attorcop nodded.

“Agreed. Although before we do anything, I would like to know one thing.” He glanced over at Kissandra. “How do you know about the coffers?” Kissandra replied slowly, picking her words carefully.

“I heard about it from a reliable source. There were plans to rob The Weardian, there was even a date set. But the job was cancelled at the last minute, too risky.” That didn’t fill Lilian with confidence but she reminded herself that not everyone shared her and Mr Attorcop’s particular set of skills. One risky job for a group of petty thieves might be a walk in the park for two people trained in Gloaming.

Kissandra clapped her hands and rubbed them together.

“Very well, I wish you both the best of luck. I shall return here in a few days for my cut of the profits.” She began to walk towards the wooden steps to leave the basement when a thought struck her and she turned back. “Unless of course you were to give me back my blade, in which case I could call it even here and now.” A knot formed in Lilian’s stomach. She was grateful to have left the snake handle knife back in her room with Fritha. She looked to Mr Attorcop for guidance. His eyes were narrowed.

“That blade was won fairly.”

“I’m not disputing that,” Kissandra replied quickly, holding her hands up in front of her, “I just feel like my information has been valuable and I’d be happy to have that value met by the return of my poison blade.” There was a silence. Kissandra shrugged. “Think on it.” She turned back to leave again but something she had said had caught Lilian’s attention.

“What do you mean, poison blade?” Kissandra answered as she walked, taking the steps two at a time.

“The handle is hollow, for a vile of poison. There’s a hidden button that crushes the glass and drips the liquid onto the knife. It’s a rare item, difficult to reproduce and quite old. Keep it for now, but once you have the money, I’d like to discuss its return to me.” And with that, Kissandra whipped her hood over her head, smiled and disappeared through the trap door in the ceiling. Lilian thought about what she said, she had assumed the compartment had just been meant to hide messages or secret codes. The snake motif made more sense now. She looked over to Mr Attorcop whose face had turned white as a sheet.

“Lilian…” he said, “When was the last time you checked on the essence in that knife?”

By the time Lilian reached her little attic room she was out of breath. She hadn’t quite sprinted all the way back but she had certainly maintained a quickened pace. Her legs were heavy from the stairs up to her room and she could feel patches of sweat forming under her arms. Fritha was delighted to see her, jumping off the bed and bounding over with all the day’s pent up energy. Lilian gave her a quick hug and some food before checking on the blade. She’d hidden it under her little desk using a combination of string and a few nails. She knew that Fritha would probably be enough to scare off any chancing thief, but she wasn’t about to take any risks with something so precious. Her hand closed around the handle and Lilian breathed a small sigh of relief. She brought the blade and its sheath out from under the desk and carefully clicked the false snake scale until the handle popped open. No liquid seeped out, that was a good sign. Slowly, she parted the two sections and found the vial of lunar essence. It was intact and Lilian could finally relax. The light of the liquid illuminated her palm. Knowing that it was their very last bottle made the already meagre amount seem even less. Lilian thought about giving it back to Mr Attorcop, it’s not like she was able to do anything with it. She recalled the other night in the Stave Church and remembered how she had broken down at the mere memory of home. She remembered Mr Attorcop’s words, closed her eyes and allowed herself to think of Kilde. She felt the cold glass in her hand and approached the memories with love, rather than fear. She recalled his face, his laugh and his manner. He’d had a way of looking at the world that she had found confusing sometimes. He saw the good in everyone, he worked hard to understand why people did the things they did and if things didn’t go his way, he still managed to see the sunny side. A familiar lump formed in her throat but instead of shying away from it, Lilian followed the feeling. She took a deep breath and tried to find the happiness in her memories. It took a while, but it was there. The day’s they’d spent playing by the river, the pranks they pulled in class, the games they made up on rainy evenings. The lump slowly began to disappear and a smile took its place. Kilde was gone. But he was still teaching her, still affecting the way she saw the world. Lilian thanked him for that and opened her eyes. Fritha was sitting directly opposite her. Her eyes wide and curious. Her coat shimmered into a beautiful emerald green and she let out a soothing purr, like someone was running a padded hammer along musical wooden bars. Lilian smiled. The lack of essence was worth this animal’s recovery. She would have used the whole bottle if she’d had to and would not have regretted it one jot. Lilian thought about what Kilde would have said if he’d known what she was about to get into. Robbing the Weardian, dismantling the seat of power. It all seemed a very long way from the little day-to-day troubles they’d faced in Benlunar. But she had also come a long way. And she felt ready.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Not the polite knock of a friend worried about intruding, but a forceful knuckle that wrapped hard two times. Lilian didn’t recognise it and she wasn’t expecting anyone. Fritha seemed just as alarmed but when Lilian showed her the hand signal to disappear she obediently faded into the carpet.

“Who is it?” she asked. She didn’t need to be loud, the door was made of cheap, thin wood and her room was not big. There was a small pause and a man’s voice replied.

“A message from the palace.” Something about the sharp tone seemed vaguely familiar.

“Just a second.” She tried to buy herself some time. Slipping the vial of lunar essence quickly up her sleeve (her current smock lacked pockets) she went back over to the desk and was about to hide Kissandra’s blade again but a worry stayed her hand. Something about that voice. Two more knocks came from the door, not sharp wraps this time but loud thuds.

“Coming!” she tried to make it seem like she had been interrupted in the middle of dressing or washing. She glanced around in panic, not sure where to put the knife. Muttering a quick curse under her breath, she hid the weapon behind her back and opened the door.

Standing on the other side was an older man of average height. He wore a tall hat and a splendid purple coat. Pinned to the breast pocket, plane as day for all the world to see, was a brooch in the shape of a hand. Its polished silver reflected what low light there was on Lilian’s landing. In his left hand he held a cane, the top of which was adorned with a beautiful copper coloured scorpion stinger. Lilian looked up and into the eyes of Nicholas Telson. He was smiling. An oddly charming smile, one practised over many years and used to ingratiate himself into any company no doubt. She tried to not act too surprised, or even as though she recognised him. Last time they’d met, he’d been wearing a mask so it stood to reason that Lilian shouldn’t know him. Thankfully she had been partly prepared, having recognised his voice through the door.

“Good afternoon, Miss Lausanne.”

“Hello.” Lilian replied quickly, trying to ignore the knot of fear forming in her stomach. His eyes quickly glanced past her, scanning the room beyond in a flash before falling back on her.

“Pardon the intrusion. I was informed of your visit to the palace court this morning and have been sent to enquire as to why you did not fulfill your obligation to the Empress.” Lilian scrambled for an excuse, this sudden appearance had caught her off guard.

“I was told I had a week…”

“You had more pressing appointments at court than a meeting with her majesty?”

“No I just…”

“Apparently your, pet, was not with you.” Lilian winced at the way he said the word ‘pet’, like it left a sour taste in his mouth. “May I enquire as to why not?” Lilian felt her patience begin to run out.

“You’re welcome to enquire about whatever you like, whether or not you’ll get answers is a different matter.” There was a pause. Lilian regretted being cheeky, but if there was one thing she despised it was being bullied. Telson narrowed his eyes. Lilian thought he was about to launch into an angry tirade like her old school mistress, Madame Streng, would do every time one of her class would talk back to her. Instead, his expression softened into another second smile, even more disarming than the first, and he softened his approach.

“My apologies Miss Lausanne, I am under a certain amount of pressure from her majesty to see that your appointment is met and I admit I let it get to me for a moment.” He offered a small bow and Lilian felt her temper cool. She did not allow her guard to slip however. Kissandra’s foot long blade was getting heavy in her hidden hand. “May I come in?” Lilian could not think of a reason to refuse him quick enough and Telson was already moving past the threshold and removing his hat. She kept her eyes fixed on him and saw that his gaze shot from corner to corner, looking for something, probably Fritha, she thought. Lilian shut the door and leant her weight on it. She knew that if she kept her hand behind her back then Telson would know she was hiding something. So she put the knife between her and the door and kept it there with the weight of her body. She then crossed her arms in front of her and made herself look like she was waiting impatiently for this unwelcome guest to leave. Telson turned to her with a third smile, a settled smile shared with close friends.

“I don’t wish to get off on the wrong foot. My name is Telson. I work with Empress Sylvia. It is my duty to make sure the Empress’s wishes are fulfilled.” Lilian said nothing. One of Mr Attorcop’s greatest lessons had been when and where to rely on silence. People often reveal more when they are unprompted. Asking a question will only get you an answer to that question, remaining silent reveals all manner of things. His voice echoed once again in her mind. And so she said nothing. “I appreciate that meeting the Empress at the ball might have been an intimidating experience. We’re not so detached at court that we are unaware of her reputation. I will say this then.” He walked about the small floor space, his cane tapping the wood a second before each step, and glanced at the various furniture and paraphernalia that Lilian had collected over her weeks in the city. His tone was calm and casual on the surface, but Lilian could sense the threats lurking in its depths. “Empress Sylvia is nothing if not fair. Her reputation for cruelty is spread by those who have either broken the law or intend to damage her good name.” He paused and looked back at Lilian. She got the impression she was supposed to say something, she kept her response short.

“I haven’t broken any laws.” He held her stare and searched her eyes. Lilian knew that looking away would undermine the lie. She, of course, had broken many laws, but she could not let him know that. His face was losing some of its friendliness as it searched hers for the truth. But with a quick breath and a glance up at the ceiling it was back.

“No. No of course not. I’m not suggesting you have. I’m merely saying that seeing as the Empress’s word is law, to deny a direct request, particularly after having agreed to it, might be seen as… treason.” His eyes flashed on the final word. Lilian was not afraid.

“I still have a few days to fulfill The Empress request.” She tried her best not to speak through gritted teeth. Telson narrowed his eyes,

“So you keep saying.” Lilian had had enough of this man.

“Are you saying that the Empress was wrong to give me a week? Maybe I should tell her when I see her that her close associates don’t fully trust her judgement.” Telson’s face remained still, save for the smallest twitch in the corner of his mouth. The twitch became a fourth smile, sly and obsequious.

“Of course not. I wouldn’t dream of such a thing. But nor would I be fulfilling my duties if I simply let everyone who came in contact with her majesty run around the city ignoring her direct requests.” Lilian breathed in deeply, readying herself to let this pompous bureaucrat have it.

“Well if your duties involve running around the city checking up on children then I doubt very much Empress Sylvia…” At that moment, she stopped speaking. Telson, only two steps away from her, moved with unnatural speed. He whipped around and brought the tip of his cane flying towards Lilian’s temple. If she hadn’t been on high alert she would have undoubtedly been struck and knocked out, but thankfully she managed to drop her head down and avoid the strike. The move meant that the knife came loose behind her. Lilian leant into the momentum of the dodge to twist round and grab its handle before it hit the floor. She continued to spin up and round, bringing the knife, still in its sheath up to defend a second strike. A deft backhanded swing from Telson. The wooden cane and sheath met inches away from Lilian’s left eye with a sharp crack. Both combatants brought their free hands up to other ends of their weapons to reinforce the stalemate. Telson pushed forward, baring his full weight down on little Lilian lausanne.

“Enough games.” Telson spat the words. He was so close, Lilian could feel his hot breath on her cheek. “For some ridiculous reason, The Empress is fixated on you and that filthy animal you keep in your company. If it were up to me I would run it through and feed it to the foxes.” Lilian readied her right hand.

“You’ll have to find her first.” As quick as she had been attacked she unsheathed the knife and thrust the blade up and forward. Telson was ready however and did the same thing. His cane had been hiding a thin sword inside it and a quick twist and pull revealed the weapon. This time, it was the blades that met and instead of a crack they produced a high pitched ringing. Telson twisted the first strike away and came back with two more swift slashes. Lilian was able to parry them both and even used the now empty sheath to catch the second before it cut her upper arm. She kept her eyes trained on his, trying to anticipate his strikes by seeing where he was looking. Their blades clashed three more times and Lilian had to remind herself to keep breathing or else she would tire quickly. Occasionally she would glance down at his feet, trying desperately to find a weakness in his stance, but he was too clever or experienced to reveal any such gap. Lilian was reminded of training with Mr Attorcop, but whereas her mentor acted like an immovable rock, this man felt more like fighting fluid metal. He moved with grace and even held his weapon with a soft grip, that is until a millisecond before an attack or parry where the metal would harden at the point of contact into solid steel. If fighting Mr Attorcop felt like hitting a boulder, fighting Telson was like fighting a waterfall. One that could freeze in a second, and rain weight and power down in the next instant. As Lilian ducked and parried in frantic panic, she knew she was outmatched. She wanted to call out to Fritha for help, but she could not risk her being revealed. Not only was she fighting a skilled swordsman but Lilian was quickly figuring out that Kissandra’s blade was not intended for trading blows. It was an assassin’s knife, lightweight and thin. It parried Telson’s numerous swipes well enough but had far too little mass to give her reposts much clout. Lilian was still too young to be able to rely on her strength alone so the tools she used needed to compensate for her weaknesses. Unfortunately, Kissandra’s snake handled blade did no such thing.

Telson’s sword on the other hand was perfectly suited to his body and fighting style. It could be hidden behind his back in a step and then whip out in a flash. Blink and you wouldn’t just miss it, you’d be dead. Lilian’s eyelids were beginning to stick with sweat. She twisted out of an attempted disarm and countered with a kick. Telson was ready for it however and dodged out of the way by bringing his feet together and swinging his waist out to the right. The move was couple with a downward slash and Lilian saw a streak of red on her leg. She took a quick breath in and seconds later felt the pain from the cut. She blocked Telson’s follow up punch but was too shocked to think ahead more than just a few moves. Telson whipped his blade up and knocked Kissandra’s knife out of her hand. It flipped three times in the air before embedding itself in her desk with a dull thud. Lilian’s eyes were drawn to the sound but as soon as her attention came back to Telson she realised that the tip of his sword was at her throat. She could feel its needle sharp point scraping her skin every time she breathed in. Telson did not seem out of breath at all. His voice was calm but all of his smiles had disappeared.

“Tomorrow afternoon, fifth bell, you are to be at the palace gates. You will bring your slobbering beast with you and The Empress will finally put this idiotic project out of her head. Do you understand me, Lilian Lausanne?” Lilian was loath to respond. She felt the tip of Telson’s sword press against her skin with a surgeon’s precision: enough pressure to be felt, but not so much as to draw blood.

“Do you understand?” Telson repeated the question through gritted teeth.

“Yes.” There was a short pause but once Telson was satisfied that she was telling the truth the sword whipped away with a whisper swish and was being slid back into the cane before Lilian felt comfortable enough to move again freely.

“Good. Then I shall see you both tomorrow. And please don’t think of running or being late, the next time I have to ask I will not be so polite” He placed a delicate hand on Lilian’s shoulder and moved her aside, clearing his path from the door. The whole visit, including the outbreak of violence, felt to Lilian like he found it to be just another laborious logistical task. It was as if Telson had been asked to clean a particularly tough stain. He walked past Lilian, opened the door and even had the cheek to tip his hat before replacing it on his head.

“Have a good evening Miss Lausanne.” Lilian could only hope that her glare conveyed enough of her hatred as the door shut and Nicholas Telson disappeared from sight. All that was left of him was the sweet smell of perfume and a trickle of blood on Lilian’s leg.