House of Lust (56 page)

“Old dump?” Clora was scandalised.

Vosgaris grinned.  “I think people would be horrified hearing you call it that.  Kastan City, the Old Dump.  There are some areas worthy of the title but it’s much cleaner and tidier in the main quarters than it is here.  Niake is looking a bit tired.  It needs a real clean up.”

“That’s our esteemed governor’s doing, Commander,” Demtro said, pulling a look of distaste.  “He’s made doing nothing an art form.  Your arrival shook things up no end, and you did the right thing getting rid of that blood sucker Prelek.  He was robbing the treasury blind right from under Extonos’ nose and he didn’t even notice.”

“He’s enjoying an extended stay in the dungeons,” Vosgaris said.  “We’re still looking for the last of the money he stole.  He gave it to one of the shadier housing lords on the south side.  We suspect Prelek wanted to get into landlording on a big scale and had bought a fair amount of stock off this man but he’s gone to ground and nobody’s saying anything.  Prelek knows nothing, naturally; he just handed the money over and there was no paperwork, of course.”

Clora shook her head.  “The south side is almost as bad as the place I grew up in, full of thieves, people crammed into poor housing and no law and order.”

“That’s going to change,” Vosgaris said with a big sigh.  “The governor has no more control over the militia and they’re going in to police that area.  We’re going to sweep the streets and alleyways and clear the scum out.  With the housing we now own thanks to Prelek – he doesn’t need them anymore, does he? – we’ll probably knock them down and build better housing.”

“What of those living in them at the present moment?  You can’t throw them out onto the streets!” Clora objected.  “They’re people and have feelings, too.”

“Don’t worry about that, Clora,” Vosgaris said.  “Part of the work will be done by these people.  We’re setting up temporary housing in an area that has no structures.  Remember those riots ten years or so ago?  They cleaned up the mess in the central section of this city but the temple that they destroyed in the south quarter was never rebuilt and it’s a charred mess of rubble and blackened beams.  That’s being cleared out and then we’ll erect wooden huts for the families.  It’ll be a squeeze but with some luck we’ll not cause too many problems.  The governor is against it, but then that’s because its actually doing something.  The city council is in favour because it means they now can collect the rents from these properties and are keen to get that going.”

“Isn’t that a civil matter and outside your jurisdiction, Vosgaris?” Demtro asked.

“Yes, but the councillors persuaded the governor to allow it to happen, especially when they told him they could make a lot of money in selling on the stock.  Evas thinks we’ll recoup the lot that Prelek stole.  In any event, I told him that my men were going in regardless, to restore law and order, and if he didn’t want to get involved then he was failing in his duty, which went down well.”

“I bet he’s scheming to have you removed.  Watch your back – I’d hate to lose you; you’re such a welcome change to the stuffy inertia in the governor’s residence.”

“Glad to bring some enjoyment to your life, Demtro,” Vosgaris smiled, then took a sip of an excellent vine fruit from Romos.

Clora clasped her hands.  “So when can we go to Kastan City?  I’m so excited by the thought of going.”

“I’ll let you know but it’ll be short notice.  Once I hear the empress is on her way then I’ll let you know.  I’ll lay the groundwork now so the palace is aware you’ll both be visiting.”

Clora beamed.  It was one of her ambitions coming true.  To her the imperial family were semi-mythical beings, even though she had met three of them.  Jorqel was her image of a prince, tall, handsome, brave, and Sannia was just a beautiful woman who was a perfect match for Jorqel.  Amne was so different – striking, scarey even, but someone to obey without question.

Vosgaris left shortly afterwards, a warm glow inside, not only from the excellent alcohol, but also from a comfortable and enjoyable evening.  He made a mental note to do more of that.  His life had been dull and sad since Alenna’s passing, and the brief liaison with Isbel had only added to the stress of life.  Not being able to have what you wanted in love was so painful.  He needed to work and have something to take away the lonely nights.

His two guards were in the shadows on the other side of the street.  Vosgaris stood in the middle of the street and waved them out.  Both remained where they were.  “Well, are you coming with me or not?”

“Sir, here, quick.”  One of the men had spoken in a low throaty whisper.  Vosgaris frowned.  Something wasn’t right.  Neither of his men had a voice that low.

“No, I’d rather you came here,” he said.  “And that’s an order.”

The two men, one clearly larger than his two men had been, advanced out into the lamplight.  They weren’t his men.  Vosgaris dragged out his sword even as the two came for him, their own blades bared.  The first, the bigger, came with his blade swinging down from high.  Vosgaris met it and stepped to one side, away from the second man who was coming at him from the left, his unguarded side.  He got a good look at the face of the bigger man, a swarthy, unshaven individual.  Typical brute, mercenary, or just a plain remover, the type employed by people the world over to dispose of unwanted or irritating people.

The second was faster and more skilled, and therefore much more dangerous.  Luckily the big man was more interested in killing than actually working as a team, and got in the way.  Vosgaris manoevered himself so that he faced the big man with his comrade blocked.  Another huge slash designed to part him from his head was blocked.  Vosgaris jumped two paces to his left and the second man now saw his chance and came at him, cutting down from over his right shoulder.

The commander met it above his head, his hilt higher than the blade, so that the blow slid off to the left.  Vosgaris was already in a position to strike at the other man, and did so, the sword arcing in under the big man’s upraised arm into his right pectoral and slicing through the padded jacket and chain hauberk below.  Spinning to give impetus to the blow, Vosgaris turned quickly, going down low.

The next blow from the second man passed over his head and Vosgaris completed his circle and rose, his blade dripping blood.  The big man was staggering away, clutching his wound, and his sword clattered to the stone surface of the road.  The second man gritted his teeth and hacked down but Vosgaris met it in front of his face and they stood there, straining, trying to push the other back.

He wasn’t interested in a fair fight or playing by any noble rule, and so Vosgaris jerked his knife free from its sheath and slammed the blade into the man’s mouth, the point emerging through the back of his neck.  Hauling the dagger free he allowed the man to collapse in the middle of the road and strode after the injured first.  He caught up with him and threw him to the ground and stood over him, the tip of his sword at the man’s throat.

“Who sent you?” he demanded.  The big man was grievously wounded, blood soaking the front of his tunic.  He said nothing.  Vosgaris leaned a little on his sword, aware that people were emerging onto the street from their houses.  The sound of swords clashing carried a long way at night.  “I asked you a question you
kroll
.  Answer it!”

The big man spat up at him, narrowly missing him.  Vosgaris leaned back.  The man was probably going to die, and killing him in cold blood in front of witnesses was not a good idea.  Kastanian society came down hard on murder, even if it was against felons.  The price of civilisation.  “They’ll probably kill you anyway – good riddance to you.”

“We’ll get you eventually, Koros scum!” the man gasped and rolled to his left and stumbled to his feet.

Vosgaris watched thoughtfully as the man weaved himself past a few startled onlookers and vanished into a side street, bouncing off the corner.  He would be dead through loss of blood in a short while.  He wiped his two blades and replaced them and turned to face the group of people, including Demtro, who had gathered around the fallen man.  “Alright, it’s over,” he said.  “An attempted murder that failed.  You can go back to your homes.”

Demtro looked appalled.  “Outside my home!  Is nothing sacred?”

Vosgaris grunted.  “Not when my men have been replaced.  Those poor souls were probably murdered.”  He looked round and spotted a narrow alleyway almost opposite, and looked into it.  Down the far end there were two shapeless bundles.  He shook his head sadly.  Killed in the line of duty, murdered by traitors.  Shame they didn’t die more honourably in battle.  Still, they would be remembered and their loved ones given a pension.  The matter remained as to who it was who was responsible for the attack.  He looked at Demtro.  “The one I let go said they’d get me eventually.”

“Leave that to me to find out – that’s my territory,” Demtro said.  “I’ll find out and give you the names and addresses.”

“Go carefully, my friend – these people have no qualms about going straight for the throat.”

“I’ve got people who are also versed in that ability.  Now go home and stay safe.”

“I’ll tell the militia to tidy this carrion up, and to retrieve the two men in the alleyway.”

He made his way back to the governor’s residence, making sure he stayed in the middle of the streets, his eyes wary and watchful.  If someone wanted to take him out with a bow then there would be little he could do.  Arriving at the residence he gave the location of the bodies to clear up to the duty officer.

The next morning after a troubled night and little sleep, and after a hurried breakfast, he barged into the governor’s office.  Evas was drinking his first klee of the day.

“Do you have any manners, Commander?” Evas complained.

“Shut up,” Vosgaris snapped and stood before him.  “Last night I was nearly murdered.  My two guards were.  I only escaped thanks to the fact I’m adept with the blade.  One of the killers escaped.”

“What?  Where was this?”

Vosgaris paced up and down.  “In a main street, right under the lamps.  They were quite confident.  Somebody does not want me here, Governor.  Can you advise me of all known organised criminal gangs in Niake?”

“Ah, I’m not aware there are any.”

Vosgaris reached out and hauled Evas out of his chair, his fist bunching the governor’s collar and tunic top.  “Now listen to me you utterly feckless nobody, its time you stopped wasting everyone’s time and started acting as you should.  I’ve already taken away your military duties and responsibilities, and if you don’t watch yourself I’ll take the civil ones, too.  Emperor Astiras wants Bathenia to become a bulwark against foreign aggression which is why I’m here, and yet I find that you’re not even capable of sorting out internal matters.  There are criminals in this city, they do operate, they are operating.  Now, names.”  He threw the red-faced and choking man into his seat.

Evas massaged his throat and tried to straighten his crumpled attire.  His advisor frowned.  “That is assault,” he started.  He got no further as Vosgaris’ fist smashed into his mouth, sending him flying back onto the rug.  He lay there, dazed, clutching his bleeding lips.

“No, that is assault,” Vosgaris corrected him.  “And more’s available where that came from.  Just keep out of this unless I speak to you.”  He looked at Evas.  “Well?  Or do I accept your resignation as Governor of Bathenia?”

“You cannot remove me, Commander,” Evas croaked, “only the emperor may do so.  I have written to him, by the way, and I am sure he’ll intervene shortly on my behalf and arrange for your removal.”

“A sword cuts both ways, Governor.  Be mindful that you don’t find you’ve grasped a weapon by the blade and not the hilt.  So –
Governor,
” he sneered at the title, “are you going to give me the names of known criminals here or not?”

“No.”  He raised a hasty hand to forestall any violence.  “The reason is that you would no doubt use your direct methods on innocent people.”

“Innocent?  Innocent?  How can a criminal be innocent?”  Vosgaris glared at the sweating governor.

Evas spread his hands.  “Innocent of the attempted murder – if indeed there was one.  Oh, no doubt you are speaking the truth,” he added hastily seeing the commander’s expression.  “But I can only take action if someone is clearly guilty of a crime, and if not, then it is unjust to arrest them.”

“You sound like a lawyer,” Vosgaris snapped, “a criminal’s friend.  Whose side are you on, anyway?”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean, Governor, is who exactly are you working for?  You’re certainly not helping suppress crime in this city, and you definitely are not working in any way to support the western defences against the Tybar.”

“But the Tybar and the empire are at peace!”

“You utter moron!” Vosgaris shouted.  “Does being at peace make them our friends?  They’re waiting their turn to invade us again, and if you run down the military forces here in the meantime then they’ll come walking in and take Bathenia against no opposition at all!  I’m utterly staggered by your idiotic simplistic frame of mind.  If you want peace then prepare for war.  People will only leave us alone if we are stronger than them.  You’re fast becoming a liability.  The emperor may well appoint me governor if you continue on in this brainless manner.  Do you understand?”

The advisor stumbled unsteadily to his feet, blood seeping through his fingers, and he excused himself.  Evas said nothing, he merely remained staring up at Vosgaris blankly.