The Containment Team (27 page)

That was just the beginning of the trap, Helam planned to make it look like Adar was behind the attacks and had his own territory attacked while he was away to cast blame somewhere else.

Lieutenant Briggs cleared his throat, but Helam didn’t look his way.

The news that Briggs had hurried back with was disturbing yet foreseeable. This was why Helam had sent Briggs to spy on Birgemat and his brigands in the first place. Adar had a tendency to break from the script and today was no exception because he’d come back earlier than planned. There had to be a way for Helam to turn Adar’s sudden changes in the plan against him; yet another thing for Helam to mull over.

“You’re sure that Birgemat is the one Adar took captive?” Helam asked.

Briggs nodded. “That stupid earring of his makes him unmistakable.” 

Helam thought it over and grimaced. “How fast can you get a warrant to Jarren?”

“Within the hour, well before they return.”

Perhaps Briggs’ fear of Adar would give Helam a way out of this mess. It was a blow to Helam’s designs that Adar had not only captured his brigands but executed them there on the spot.

It was a move of questionable legality, but chances were high that the other generals would be sympathetic to Adar and follow his example. This bold action would further expand the tension between the Radim armies and the Rarbon Council. It would also mean that the Rarbon Council would give Adar a harder first task on his path to becoming Ghar. Adar had known that when he’d decided to hold the execution in the field and probably hadn’t given it a second thought.

If Helam had been in Adar’s position, he wouldn’t have done anything to make the council assign more difficult tasks. If Helam was reading things correctly, they were running out of time.

But what’s done was done and it was further evidence of why Rarbon’s fate couldn’t be left in the hands of the Rahids.

In fact, Helam decided he would exacerbate the schism by being one of the first to follow suit and execute some brigands in his own territory. Not only would it further his overall goal of strengthening the position of the Radim generals, it would serve to make the Council even more wary of Adar and the effect he was having in Rarbon. That would guarantee Adar an almost impossible task if Helam acted within the next few days.

If Adar were to fail on his own before Helam’s machinations were complete, then it would be a matter of ending the Rahids altogether to ensure the hegemony was abolished.

Biting his lip in thought, Helam made a mental note to set up the execution and returned his focus to the problem at hand. Somehow Adar had decided to take Birgemat as his captive; he was the sole man on the team that could tie the brigands back to Helam. A coincidence to be sure, but still a concerning one in light of Helam’s concerns about having a spy in his ranks.

If Adar had any actionable information on Helam, he would have long ago done something about it. He wasn’t much for patience. Another thing that Helam should be able to turn against him given the proper preparation.

“Who will be the one issuing the warrant?” Helam asked.

“I will.”

Helam looked at Briggs appraisingly. “You sure you’re up for that?” Adar’s full attention would be turned to Briggs once the warrant came to light and by association, Helam as well. Given more time, Helam and Briggs would have been able to lay the groundwork for something more elaborate that would lead back to somebody who didn’t report to Helam, but that wasn’t an option.

There wasn’t much Helam could do to keep Adar from being suspicious of him anyway, that ship had sailed when Helam had taken advantage of Adar while he’d been drunk after his victory.

What a stupid mistake that had been. Not only did it mean that Adar was keeping an eye on him, Helam had it on good authority that Adar hadn’t touched alcohol since. Helam would have been able to do a lot more damage if Adar still had an over-fondness for wine. The information Helam had learned from Adar that night had come with a high cost and he wasn’t certain that it had been worth it.

Birgemat would talk eventually, if he didn’t spit out what he knew right away to save his own skin; either way it would be a matter of time. If Birgemat wasn’t dealt with, Helam would have to move his own plans up, perhaps even resorting to his final fallback plan.

If they moved fast though, they could plant a warrant for Birgemat’s arrest. That would connect Birgemat to one of Helam’s men but avoid giving Adar actual evidence.

“Do it. If our guy isn’t able to plant it in time, give him orders to kill Birgemat.” Helam looked at Briggs. “In that eventuality make Jarren’s death look like the work of thieves.”

“Sir?”

“How many times have I told you? You have an opinion? Spit it out.”

“We could skip the warrant altogether,” Briggs said with a stutter, he was still unused to the way that Helam did things, but he’d get over his hesitation with time. Many people in authority didn’t like their subordinates to speak their minds, but Helam had found that to be a terrible waste. He even let his men go so far to call his own ideas stupid as long as their tone and manner didn’t undermine his authority. “There would be less risk with that.”

The thought had also occurred to Helam, but he’d discarded it. His spy was too well placed to throw him away for something like this; it would be a shame to lose his inside source of information on Adar.

No, Briggs could handle the questions that would come with the warrant and so could Helam if it came to that. Helam would be taken by Melyah before he’d trust their fate to the hands of a Rahid.

“A good thought, but too dire. You have your orders.”

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