Midnight Tides

‘Then the Errant looks kindly upon you,’ Udinaas said.



‘I am not surprised you might see it that way.’



‘It is a waste of time, Hull Beddict, to fashion intricate plans for restitution. What you did before, all you did before – the mistakes, the bad decisions – they are dead, for everyone but you. None of it has purchased a future claim to glory, none of it has earned you anything.’



‘Has not the emperor heeded my advice?’



‘In this war? When it suited him. But I trust you are not expecting any consideration in return.’ Udinaas turned, met Hull’s eyes. ‘Ah, I think you are.’



‘Reciprocity, Udinaas. Surely the Tiste Edur understand that, since it is so essential within their own culture.’



‘There is no reciprocity when you display expectation, Hull Beddict. Poof ! It vanishes. And that was just my point earlier: there is much that we can teach the future conquered Letherii.’



‘I am blood-bound to Binadas,’ Hull said, ‘yet you accuse me of insensitivity to the mores of the Tiste Edur.’ His expression was wry. ‘I am not often chastised in such things. You remind me of Seren Pedac.’



‘The Acquitor who escorted you? I saw her, in Trate.’



Hull stepped close, suddenly intent. ‘During the battle?’



Udinaas nodded. ‘She was in bad shape, but alive. She’d found a worthy escort of her own – I have no doubt she still lives.’



‘An escort of her own? Who?’



‘I’m not sure. Foreigners. One of them killed Rhulad and his chosen brothers.’ Udinaas collected another stone. ‘Look at that, Hull Beddict, a river of gold. Flowing into the sunset.’ He flung the stone, broke the mirrored perfection. Momentarily.



‘You witnessed that killing.’



‘I did. Whoever that foreigner was, he was terrifying.’



‘More terrifying than Rhulad’s return?’



Udinaas said nothing for a time, then he stepped away, down to the water’s edge. He stared into the shallows, saw the muddy bottom swarming with newborn eels. ‘Do you know what is coming, Hull Beddict?’



‘No. Do you?’



‘Dresh Lake. That’s what’s coming.’



‘I don’t understand.’



‘Doesn’t matter. Don’t mind me, Hull Beddict. Well, I’d best return. The emperor is awake.’



Hull followed him up from the strand. ‘Things like that,’ he said. ‘He’s awake. How do you know?’



‘A stirring in the shadows,’ Udinaas said. ‘Rhulad sets the world to a tremble. Well,’ he amended, ‘a small part of it. But it’s growing. In any case, his fever has broken. He is weak, but alert.’



‘Tell me,’ Hull said as they walked into the vast camp, ‘about Feather Witch.’



Udinaas grimaced. ‘Why?’



‘She is no longer Mayen’s slave. She now serves the Edur healers. Was that your work?’



‘The emperor’s command, Hull Beddict.’



‘You claim no influence on him? Few would believe that now.’



‘Reciprocity.’



‘And in return, you give Rhulad what?’



Friendship . ‘I do not advise him, Hull Beddict. I do not seek to influence him. I cannot answer your question.’ Rather, I won’t .



‘She affects to hold only hatred for you, Udinaas. But I am not convinced.’



‘Oh, I am.’



‘I think, perhaps, she has given her heart to you. Yet would fight it, for all the pointless prohibitions and prejudices of our people. What is the extent of your debt, Udinaas?’



‘My debt? My father’s debt. Seven hundred and twenty-two docks, from the day I was taken as a slave.’



Hull reached out and stopped him. ‘That’s it?’



‘A Beddict might well say that. For most Letherii, that is insurmountable. Especially given the interest.’ Udinaas resumed walking.



Hull came up alongside him. ‘Who holds it?’



‘A minor lender in Letheras. Why are you asking?’



‘The lender’s name?’



‘Huldo.’



‘Huldo.’ After a moment, Hull snorted.



‘You find that amusing?’



‘I do. Udinaas, my brother Tehol owns Huldo.’



‘Maybe once. As I understand it, Tehol owns nothing these days.’



Let me tell you a story about my brother. He was, I guess, around ten years old, when a family debt was purchased by a particularly unscrupulous lender. The plan was to force us to relinquish a certain holding, and so the debt was called. We couldn’t pay, not all at once, and of course the lender knew it. Now, it was at the time assumed by all that Tehol was at school every day during this crisis, and indeed, that, young as he was, he had no idea of the trouble our parents were in. Only much later did certain facts come to light. The fact that Tehol had finessed a debt of his own, over his tutor. Nothing large, but he was able to coerce the tutor into saying nothing about his absences whilst he operated a business venture of his own down at a flow-out on the river. Two employees, both Nerek, sifting sewage. This particular out-flow issued from an estate district – extraordinary what treasures could be recovered. Jewellery, mostly. Rings, earrings, pearls. In any case, it seemed there was a windfall, a necklace, and the result was Tehol and his two Nerek employees found themselves suddenly flush-’