tonight.”
The twins nodded their understanding and rose, assuming this meant they were dismissed. As Locklear and James followed suit, Arutha said, “James, abide a moment longer.”
The twins exchanged glances, but said nothing, and left the room with Locklear a step behind. When only Arutha, James, and Gardan remained, the Prince asked, “What sort of intelligence are we getting out of the city of Kesh?”
Ten years previously, Arutha had quietly asked James to begin creating an intelligence system, primarily as a means to counteract a very well-established network of agents working for Kesh in the Western Realm of the Kingdom of the Isles. James had begun with his already established contacts in the Krondorian underworld. Within a year he had informants watching every ship and caravan in and out of the city as well as having identified a dozen likely recruits in other cities and towns, from Land’s End up to Ylith.
A visit to Locklear’s father two years earlier had provided James with his best new agent on the border with Kesh. James had only been to Land’s End once previously, as a boy, and used a very old acquaintance from that visit as his introduction around the city.
Bram had been the illegitimate son of the Baroness of Land’s End and his claim on the title had not been upheld by the crown, the title and estates being given to Locklear’s father. But as a reward for service done the crown in a bit of black murder few besides James knew about, Bram had been set up as a very wealthy farmer with his wife Lorri. By the time James reacquainted himself with them, they had trading concerns down into Great Kesh, and finally, after years of work, James had an agent in the palace of the Empress.
James said, “I have someone as highly placed in the palace staff as possible without trying to recruit a trueblood.” Both Arutha and Gardan knew that recruiting any trueblood Keshian to service for a foreign power would prove impossible. “The difficulty is sifting through rumor and gossip looking for useful information.
“Here’s what we know,” said James, knowing both men had read every report he had prepared. “There are factions within the trueblood community with differing loyalties to various claimants to the throne. The Empress has a daughter—now widowed—who would normally benext in line, but for reasons we don’t know yet is not openly acknowledged. She has a younger brother who is very popular among the leadership of much of the military. The Empress also has a granddaughter, who is very young, but a marriage to the right leader would create even more division among the factions.”
“Civil war,” said Gardan. “If the Empress doesn’t clean up the question of succession before she dies, Kesh could be shattered.”
Arutha nodded. “The Confederation is always looking for an excuse to rebel, and nothing would suit them better than the Royal House of Kesh being torn apart.”
James said, “I’m still waiting for copies of the last year’s communications between our Ambassador and your brother, Highness.”
Arutha nodded. One of his frustrations was that while he had a great deal of autonomy in dealing with the Western Realm, the Kingdom was still ruled from Rillanon, a city thousands of miles away. And while Kesh often sent envoys and ambassadors to the Western Realm as a concession to necessity, Arutha had no formal reciprocation. And for reasons not clear after years ruling Krondor, he still had trouble getting copies of communications between the Isles’ Ambassador and the King. “You’ll have to wait longer, I’m afraid. By the time you return from Kesh, I expect you’ll have better information than Lord Dougrey.” The Kingdom’s ambassador to Kesh was a minor Earl with a talent for entertaining and a lack of other gifts. “For he has been recalled by the King, so when you get there, you’ll have to rely on your agent in the palace, and your own wits.”
James sighed.
The twins nodded their understanding and rose, assuming this meant they were dismissed. As Locklear and James followed suit, Arutha said, “James, abide a moment longer.”
The twins exchanged glances, but said nothing, and left the room with Locklear a step behind. When only Arutha, James, and Gardan remained, the Prince asked, “What sort of intelligence are we getting out of the city of Kesh?”
Ten years previously, Arutha had quietly asked James to begin creating an intelligence system, primarily as a means to counteract a very well-established network of agents working for Kesh in the Western Realm of the Kingdom of the Isles. James had begun with his already established contacts in the Krondorian underworld. Within a year he had informants watching every ship and caravan in and out of the city as well as having identified a dozen likely recruits in other cities and towns, from Land’s End up to Ylith.
A visit to Locklear’s father two years earlier had provided James with his best new agent on the border with Kesh. James had only been to Land’s End once previously, as a boy, and used a very old acquaintance from that visit as his introduction around the city.
Bram had been the illegitimate son of the Baroness of Land’s End and his claim on the title had not been upheld by the crown, the title and estates being given to Locklear’s father. But as a reward for service done the crown in a bit of black murder few besides James knew about, Bram had been set up as a very wealthy farmer with his wife Lorri. By the time James reacquainted himself with them, they had trading concerns down into Great Kesh, and finally, after years of work, James had an agent in the palace of the Empress.
James said, “I have someone as highly placed in the palace staff as possible without trying to recruit a trueblood.” Both Arutha and Gardan knew that recruiting any trueblood Keshian to service for a foreign power would prove impossible. “The difficulty is sifting through rumor and gossip looking for useful information.
“Here’s what we know,” said James, knowing both men had read every report he had prepared. “There are factions within the trueblood community with differing loyalties to various claimants to the throne. The Empress has a daughter—now widowed—who would normally benext in line, but for reasons we don’t know yet is not openly acknowledged. She has a younger brother who is very popular among the leadership of much of the military. The Empress also has a granddaughter, who is very young, but a marriage to the right leader would create even more division among the factions.”
“Civil war,” said Gardan. “If the Empress doesn’t clean up the question of succession before she dies, Kesh could be shattered.”
Arutha nodded. “The Confederation is always looking for an excuse to rebel, and nothing would suit them better than the Royal House of Kesh being torn apart.”
James said, “I’m still waiting for copies of the last year’s communications between our Ambassador and your brother, Highness.”
Arutha nodded. One of his frustrations was that while he had a great deal of autonomy in dealing with the Western Realm, the Kingdom was still ruled from Rillanon, a city thousands of miles away. And while Kesh often sent envoys and ambassadors to the Western Realm as a concession to necessity, Arutha had no formal reciprocation. And for reasons not clear after years ruling Krondor, he still had trouble getting copies of communications between the Isles’ Ambassador and the King. “You’ll have to wait longer, I’m afraid. By the time you return from Kesh, I expect you’ll have better information than Lord Dougrey.” The Kingdom’s ambassador to Kesh was a minor Earl with a talent for entertaining and a lack of other gifts. “For he has been recalled by the King, so when you get there, you’ll have to rely on your agent in the palace, and your own wits.”
James sighed.
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