‘I think you’d better be prepared for the worst, Lucas. Things could get very ugly, even with Jarret dead.’

Corso studied Kenley’s face. ‘You have something in mind?’

‘I think at the very least we should set up safe-houses around Unity. As somewhere we can retreat to if necessary.’

‘You really think it’ll come to that?’

‘Worse things have happened.’

Corso nodded. ‘You’re talking about another coup?’

Kenley’s expression was grim. ‘Just tell me one thing. Are you absolutely certain whatever Driscoll found out there wouldn’t actually be safer in the Legislate’s hands?’

Corso laughed. ‘You weren’t there in Ocean’s Deep, Marcus. It was a total travesty. I don’t think the Legislate could have botched it more if they’d tried.’

Kenley reached out and put a hand on Corso’s arm, halting him. ‘Lucas . . . were you aware Jarret was trained by Breisch?’

Corso stared at him and remembered what Hilgendorf had said. ‘You’re certain about this?’

‘Very.’

‘But Breisch never . . .’ he paused. Breisch never told me. Corso’s hands curled into fists at his sides.

‘Jarret is the kind of man who prefers not to pick on people his own size, if you follow me, Senator,’ Kenley explained. ‘He has a reputation for treachery.’

‘I know that. But Breisch . . .’

‘The old man has a strong sense of personal ethics, and he was deeply offended by the way Jarret misused the skills he’d learned. He finds people with influence in the Senate and first arranges for the murder of someone very close to them,’ Kenley continued. ‘Then he leaves just enough clues to show he was responsible, so the target winds up calling him out for a fight. Sound familiar?’

Corso heard a whine like the jaws of a trap shutting tight around him. Bull Northcutt had murdered Corso’s fiancée years before, for the exact same reason.

‘But why didn’t Breisch warn me?’

‘Maybe,’ Kenley suggested, ‘he’s hoping you’ll kill Jarret for him.’

Harsh, pumping music floated through the air towards them from the direction of the combat ring, and Corso recognized the call. He stared back towards the tent, standing further around the curve of the bay, and decided now was not the time to confront Breisch. Anyway, by now he would be waiting at the combat ring with the rest.

He turned back to Kenley. ‘Come on, Marcus. Let’s get this over with.’

They turned from the shore and headed inland, finding their way along a narrow path trodden through hardy grasses and spiny plants by decades of fighters and their audiences. Corso mentally reviewed his training as they walked. There were certain tricks Breisch had taught him; now he would have to watch out for Jarret using those same ploys against him.