Surrender to the Will of the Night Read Online Free Page B

now, those two. What’s wrong with Jaime?”
    “He’s much too impressed with King Jaime. He worships the man. And thinks the rest of the world should join in.”
    That brightened the old man’s evening. He said, “Sounds like an opportunity.”
    “As may be. …”
    Madouc invited himself into the Captain-General’s bedchamber. He glared around suspiciously. “Who are you talking to?”
    “Madouc?”
    The chief lifeguard had suffered this before. “Gerzina heard voices.”
    “Did any of them yell for help?”
    “No, sir. But it’s a given that the man we’re protecting doesn’t have the God-gifted sense to call for it.”
    Hecht was irked. But did not have the strength of conviction to tell Madouc that he was wrong or was getting above himself.
    Something had to be done. They were too much at loggerheads, letting personalities get in the way of common sense. Someday he would bring Madouc’s worst fears to fruition by thoughtlessly disdaining the man’s advice. Meanwhile, Madouc exaggerated every slight in his own mind.
    Friction. It had to be overcome. Somehow. Madouc was a good soldier, wasted in his current assignment.
    “If you were Master of the Castella Commandery, Madouc, what job would you see yourself best suited to do?”
    “Sir?”
    “If you could pick your job, what would that be?”
    Hecht did not expect an answer. Unless as some formula. The Brotherhood of War had countless rules they did not share with outsiders.
    “Given a choice, I’d master one of the commanderies in the Holy Lands.”
    “And protect pilgrims? Interesting. Have you asked?”
    “The Brotherhood has begun to turn its face westward. Maybe because the west has begun to turn away from the Holy Lands. You and I have been involved in two crusades, now. Neither overseas.”
    Madouc’s anger at his principal had transformed itself into anger at his own order.
    “Have you asked?”
    “No.”
    “You should. A man ought to do God’s work in a way that comforts his soul. He’ll do a better job.”
    Madouc had nothing to say about that.
    “I suppose I ought to start getting ready.”
    “Sir?”
    “Letter from the Empress. Commanding me to attend her in privy audience. After the evening meal. That’s all I know.”
    “There’s one thing you need to address. We caught that man Bo Biogna trying to sneak in here. I know you go back a way so I’ll defer to your judgment. He’s been asking a lot of questions about you, here, in Hochwasser, and elsewhere.”
    “Principaté Delari warned me about this. Principaté Doneto considers me a traitor to his personal cause. He wants to find something bad about me from before we saved him that first time in the Connec. I’ve given him no ammunition since. Except by faithfully serving each employer instead of being his secret agent.”
    “Will he find anything?”
    “I doubt it. I never stayed anywhere long. As soon as I got up a stake, I headed farther south. Well, wait. I did steal a sack of turnips once, right after I started. Some bullies took my knife and cheese. …” He stopped. Madouc was astonished, hearing him open up. “Where is Bo? I know exactly what he was up to.”
    ***
    “Hard times?” Hecht asked when Biogna came in. Bo was never a big man. The rags he wore hung loose. Hecht recalled them when Biogna filled them out.
    “Yeah, Pipe. How’s it going?”
    “You’ve lost weight.”
    “Been going some cold, harsh places.”
    “So I hear. You know you got Madouc’s guys all flustered.”
    “I just wanted to see Joe. I heard he was here with you.”
    “I thought so. I sent for him. You’ll understand if we don’t give you the run of the place. These others don’t know you like I do.”
    Biogna’s gaze turned furtive for a moment.
    Hecht asked, “You run into anything interesting up north? Like wild riders with animal skulls braided into their hair?”
    “Nothing that outrageous. Just the Night being busier than it used to. You’d better carry some