The General, who had been standing silently the whole time, snapped his mouth shut, took a deep breath and stood to stiff attention. 'I am a simple soldier. Of course I will obey any order from his Majesty, or his Majesty's chosen representative. If the order is to hold Dagoska to the last man, I will give the last drop of my blood to do it. I assure you that I knew nothing of any plot. I acted rashly, perhaps, but at all times honestly, in what I felt were the best interests of—'

Glokta waved his hand. 'I am convinced. Bored, but convinced.' I have already lost half the ruling council today. To lose any more might make me look greedy. 'The Gurkish will no doubt make their assault at first light. You should look to our defences, General.'

Vissbruck closed his eyes, swallowed, wiped some sweat from his forehead. 'You will not regret your faith in me, Superior.'

'I trust that I will not. Go.'

The General hurried from the room, as though worried that Glokta might change his mind, and the rest of the Practicals followed him. Vitari bent and lifted Vurms' fallen chair and slid it carefully back under the table.

'A neat job.' She nodded slowly to herself. 'Very neat. I'm happy to say I was right about you all along.'

Glokta snorted. 'Your approval is worth less to me than you can ever know.'

Her eyes smiled at him above her mask. 'I didn't say that I approved. I just said that it was neat,' and she turned and sauntered out into the hallway.

That only left him and Cosca. The mercenary leaned against the wall, arms folded carelessly across his breastplate, regarding Glokta with a faint smile. He had not moved the whole time.

'You'd do well in Styria, I think. Very… ruthless? Is that the word? Anyway,' and he gave a flamboyant shrug, 'I look forward very much to serving with you.' Until such time as someone offers you more, eh, Cosca? The mercenary waved a hand at the severed head on the table. 'Would you like me to do something with that?'

'Stick it on the battlements of the land walls, somewhere it can be easily seen. Let the Gurkish understand the strength of our resolve.'

Cosca clicked his tongue. 'Heads on spikes, eh?' He dragged the head off the table by its long beard. 'Never goes out of fashion.'

The doors clicked shut behind him, and Glokta was left alone in the audience chamber. He rubbed at his stiff neck, stretched his stiff leg out beneath the bloody table. A good day's work, all in all. But the day is over now. Outside the tall windows, the sun had finally set over Dagoska.

The sky was dark.

Among the Stones

Among the Stones

« ^ »