Moon's Artifice by Tom Lloyd Page A

God last night ? This is your idea of a more plausible explanation ?’
    ‘I swear it’s the truth ! I wish I was making it up, but I think I’m in real trouble if I don’t find out what he was doing out on that rooftop.’
    Sheti didn’t speak for a while. She approached the bed and looked down at the man. He was asleep or unconscious and half-naked already, a sheet only partially covering his broad chest. The man was older than Narin, but still in the prime of life given his build. The ghost of a black beard lay on his tanned cheeks, while a pile of weapons sat atop some stained black clothes on the other side of the bed.
    ‘Who is he ?’ she breathed, edging closer.
    ‘I’ve no idea. That’s what I have to find out.’
    ‘Is he dangerous ?’
    Narin hesitated. ‘He’s a goshe – dressed and armed like an assassin. We have to assume he’s dangerous, but mostly I didn’t want him moving before he woke and I had to leave him alone for half the day.’
    ‘You honestly spoke to Lord Shield ?’ she said, confusion taking over again. ‘What game is he playing with you – how can you manage anything he cannot ?’
    ‘It seems Lord Shield doesn’t want to be too actively involved,’ Enchei supplied from behind her. Sheti glanced back to see the man reverse his knife and drive it down through the shell of the crab with a practised movement. ‘He must want Narin to stir up trouble first, see what rises to the top.’
    ‘And then ?’
    Enchei shrugged and turned his attention back to the crab, neatly cracking it open.
    ‘What are you going to do, Narin ?’
    The younger man scowled and gestured to the pile on the other side of the bed. ‘Firstly, go through his belongings. See if there’s anything that might help me.’
    She shook her head. ‘First you fetch water and a cloth.’ Sheti sighed and knelt down beside the injured man. ‘I don’t know much about Gods, but I do know about injured men. He needs to be washed ; you don’t leave a man stinking in his own sweat and blood like that.’
    As Narin went to fetch a bowl, Sheti started to untie the cord around the unconscious man’s ankles. ‘As for after, how about you just leave a note on your door for him ? When he wakes he can come find me.’
    ‘I can’t risk him running away !’ Narin protested. ‘He’s probably a fugitive, remember ? The word of a God’s good enough for me—’
    ‘Then take him to the Palace of Law !’ Sheti interrupted angrily. ‘That’s where you take criminals isn’t it ?’
    ‘It’s complicated.’
    ‘Enough to make you act like a fool ?’ She rose and faced Narin. ‘You’ve told me often enough how much of a stickler Lawbringer Rhe is – what would he say about all this ? Would he approve of you confining a man without record or trial ? You
are
still trying to impress him, aren’t you ? Prove to him you’re worthy of promotion ?’
    Narin raised his hands to stop her. ‘I know, I know, but please listen. I have no evidence, no crime under Imperial law, no clue what is going on other than a God giving me orders I don’t understand. I’m going to speak to Rhe tomorrow – tell him everything and ask his advice. You know what he’s like ; Rhe is the most scrupulous and uncompromising Lawbringer in living memory.’
    ‘So you’ll take his opinion but not mine ?’
    ‘He’s a Lawbringer,’ Narin protested, ‘my superior and as much an expert in the Emperor’s law as anyone I can trust. I don’t mean it as a slight on you.’
    ‘Enchei – are you just going to stand there silently and not offer any sort of opinion ? Normally we can hardly hear ourselves think for your thoughts on every subject under the stars.’
    The older man looked up. ‘You want me to help persuade him ? Sorry, I’ve never been one for rules and regulations. Anyways, our friend there looks like he’s seen his fair share of trouble. Doubt he’d be so happy if he woke up at the Palace of Law.’
    ‘So you’re happy to