Pug and Magnus followed, Magnus telling Martuch when he was clear of the ladder. The warrior and the two Lessers followed, and when all were above ground, the trapdoor was replaced.
It was evening, but enough was going on in the city that two warriors riding as if on urgent business would hardly be noticed. Martuch had been adamant about the need to be into the palace and out again before dawn. He had given Pug explicit instructions on how to reach the most likely location to find Nakor and Bek: the recruits’ barracks.
Pug and Magnus mounted behind the two warriors and held tightly as the war-trained varnin were unsettled by the additional weight on their backs. Martuch and Hirea moved off at a brisk pace, for two riders in the middle of a supposedly empty orchard at this time of day might arouse interest.
They rapidly made their way to the first tunnel into the city proper and if anyone took note of their passing, it was not apparent. Quickly they moved down busy boulevards, though they were less crowded than would be usual. The recent Great Culling had taken its toll. While death was a constant in Dasati life, there was a hint of anticipation and anxiety in the air, that somehow the Culling was but a foreshadowing of more troubles approaching.
When they had first come to this realm, Pug had noticed that many Deathknights would venture into the evening without benefit of armour, preferring comfortable robes and riding on less temperamental mounts than war-varnin. And many more ladies of the Dasati thronged the streets, moving freely from one location to another, from those places designated for food and beverage, akin to the Midkemian inn or restaurant, and places reserved for Lessers of particular skill groups, the closest thing the Dasati had to shops; but tonight there were hardly any women in sight and no man was abroad who wasn’t wearing armour, save for Lessers following Deathknights.
Of Deathpriests and Hierophants he saw none. All were busy and that was another sign that something important was underway. Pug didn’t know if it meant preparation for the invasion of Kelewan – though he thought the leaders of the great houses and the societies would be given some warning to muster – or perhaps another Culling, should the Dark One need more death-magic to create more portals.
As they reached the precinct whose entrance was closest to the quarters likely to house Bek and Nakor, Martuch and Hirea reined in their varnin. Martuch spoke without looking back. ‘We will take backstreets and circle the precinct. We will return here at sunrise. If you are able to, be visible and we will stop as if you belong to us and have you follow behind. If not, we will pause. Speak to us if you can and let us know what you need. If we do not find you…’ He let the thought go unfinished. Pug knew what he meant.
‘If we don’t find you,’ he said softly. ‘We will find our own way back to the Grove.’
Hirea said, ‘Good fortune.’
‘And you,’ answered Pug.
When the two riders had departed, Pug said, ‘Magnus?’
‘Here, Father,’ came a voice to his right. Magnus reached out and made contact.
‘We need to stay close to the wall. One touch by even a Lesser and we are undone.’
They hurried into the tunnel, past a series of closed doors and curtained windows.
‘Everyone seems to be keeping out of sight,’ said Magnus softly.
‘That’s to our benefit,’ answered his father.
Down the long hallway they scurried. The corridor Was wide enough for half a dozen riders to pass shoulder to shoulder, but it was deserted. Pug worried that it was so quiet someone might hear the sound of their passing, but he pressed on. There were no guards anywhere to be seen which seemed very strange, but then Pug remembered he was not dealing with human rulers here. Even the Emperors of Tsuranuanni or Great Kesh had over the ages been confronted by ambitious nobles and threats from within as well as by enemies across their borders. But here, the TeKarana commanded almost universal obedience – the only exception being the White – such a minority as to be no more than a myth to the masses of the Dasati Empire. When the vast majority of males in the population are under arms and loyal to the point of fanaticism, security becomes an afterthought.
Martuch had given him precise instructions on how to find the new recruits’ barracks and they soon reached the first dormitory. But once through the door they realized the enormity of the task, for arrayed on each side of the aisle in which they found themselves were hundreds of bunks, in which sleeping Dasati youths rested. How to find Bek?