“Is this your news, General?” Eles says. “Another Aydeni detained?”
“No, but it shows the pattern of escalation that leads to my news. And I bring terrible news.” He raises his voice. “We haven’t struck back because proof was tenuous and the costs of responding far outweighed the losses suffered. But they’ve struck at our wallets now. And our hearts.”
He pauses for effect—and to cue Rego to enter. The wispy man stops on the threshold so the guard can’t close the door, and Herse says, “The Shield’s wolf pack was attacked and destroyed by Ayden. They murdered two owners from the Shield, Mulcent and Sumpt, as well as Solet, a Hero of Hanosh.”
His words carry into the waiting area. Livion hears gasps, jabbering, and then footsteps as many leave to spread the word. Eles is about to tell the guard to stop them when the chairs and tables scraping in the chamber make him hold up his hand to keep the company representatives in place. They squirm and pout, worried someone else is already taking advantage of the news. Rego walks to the seat beside Livion, and the guard closes the door.
“This accusation,” Eles says, “should have been conveyed in private.”
“It isn’t an accusation,” Herse says.
“Your proof?” Ject says.
“One of my patrols was told about two galleys wrecked on a beach near the Ynessi border. They investigated. At first they thought it was a dragon attack. However,” Herse pulls a folded piece of paper from his pocket, “I received word not two hours ago that my men captured one of the attackers. He was Aydeni, badly injured, and hiding in the woods, abandoned as lost. He was questioned, and he revealed their orders: destroy Hanoshi shipping.”
“Where is this man?” Eles said.
“The man didn’t survive the questioning,” Herse says. “His wounds were considerable. We were lucky to find him alive.”
Ject says, “As much as I appreciate the general’s yeoman investigative work, we must give careful consideration to any response.”
“I share the general’s concerns,” Herse says. “Our evidence, however alarming, is scanty. I would be happy to seek further proof, as well as indications of future Aydeni attacks, but I thought it better to address the Council now, with facts that are likely accurate when we might do something about them rather than later, when the facts may be more solid, but obsolete.”
Eles can’t decide if he’s looking at feed or feces. He says, “Let’s hear from our sea general.”
Prieve stands. He is the third of the city’s three generals, commanding the sea guard and the piers in the Harbor, that is, anything touching water.
As old as Eles but more robust, Prieve maintains a pre-League bearing. Livion’s even heard him use the old courtesy words, such as “please.” He knows everyone who has ever docked in the Harbor by name, and he’s been tested. He’s arbitrated countless disputes because no one disputes his fairness. Since the rowers’ guild was broken, he has even tried to improve the prisoners’ lot. This has made him few friends among the shipowners and low people, who see a hard bench as a criminal’s due, but every sailor and petty trader respects him, and he can collaborate with Herse and Ject, whom the Council keeps otherwise at odds.
Prieve says, “My patrols have made no reports about privateers or wrecks between here and Yness.”
Herse says, “How many ships traveling that route have not arrived as scheduled?”
“Five,” Prieve says. “Solet’s three. The Shield’s Hopper, four days late. And City United’s Harbourcoat, two days overdue.”
Eles recognizes a representative from City United standing near the wall. “We give our captains three days’ leeway,” the woman says.
“That’s why you’re a minor company,” someone says.
“You’re just petty,” she says.
Eles’s glare peels smiles off a dozen faces. “Noted. Can the councilors from the Shield explain the absence of the Hopper?”
“Our junior will address this question,” Chelson says. He nods to Livion.
Before he can stand, Ject says, “Is the general insinuating that Ayden sank these other boats as well? Two days is hardly a delay. Nor is four. Ships serve at the mercy of the sea and storm and trade. They aren’t public carts traveling upcity.”
“We have to be on our guard,” Herse says. “The general for the Guard hasn’t seen what I’ve seen in the field. I mean to stop any threat long before he has to buckle his boots.”
Eles says, “The Council recognizes the junior from the Shield.”
Livion stands. As he does, Rego whispers to him through his hand, “Two heroes lost already. A third would galvanize any city.”