Read Online Heroes' Reward by Moira J. Moore - Free Book Online

“He’s threatening us . The whole of the
Triple S.”
    I hadn’t been
excluding myself from the ranks of the Triple S. I’d just meant I wasn’t the
one who’d received the threat. They shouldn’t be so quick to find fault. “And
you believe him?”
    Dunn nodded.
“Ours are not the only rights being violated. He is executing titleholders for
reasons no more worthy than that they have displeased him. He is interfering
with the guilds, controlling who they admit, what they teach, and what they produce.
He is censoring the performance of plays and music he claims are seditious. In
short, there is no one whose interests are spared his unlawful interference. It
would be foolish and irresponsible to dismiss any threat he may level at us.”
    I couldn’t believe
what I was hearing. “You’re talking about some kind of … what? … army?”
    At this point,
Regulos took control of the discussion. “We can’t rely on Gifford to behave
rationally. That was the route taken by the titleholders, and they’re being
decimated. We can’t just wait here until he’s gone through everyone else and
we’re left standing alone. As His Majesty has threatened us with his Imperial
Guard, it is only reasonable that we gather a guard of our own. To this end, we
have hired those Imperial Guards and Runners who have expressed dissatisfaction
with their occupations.”
    I wasn’t
surprised that there were Imperial Guards prepared to defect. Thatcher had been
one and he had gone astray. I was surprised the Triple S even wanted
Runners. Runners could club people into insensibility, but that was a great
deal different from engaging in battle. “And they’re supposed to stand against
the Imperial Guard and Gifford’s army?”
    Regulos waved
his hand in a dismissive gesture. “The army hasn’t been an effective institution
for decades. The monarchs have come to prefer the Imperial Guard. The cities
prefer Runners. The wealthy prefer to hire their own protection. The members of
the army do little more than strut about and harrass the residents. Certainly,
the members of the army who have joined us here show no greater knowledge or
talent than the Imperial Guards.”
    The army had
little to do. There hadn’t been a need for any kind of massive force, no enemy
that demanded it.
    “The Emperor is
gathering casters,” Regulos continued. “Westsea’s conflict with Kent
demonstrated that casters can be … versatile.”
    They could cast
spells that killed people. That was what he meant.
    “And we have
discovered than an unusual number of Shields can cast.”
    That reminded
me. “What’s going on with Shields committing suicide?” Yes, a blunt change in
subject. Maybe the surprise would result in decent answers.
    Regulos’
expression turned to stone. “That is no concern of yours.”
    Or, maybe not. “It’s
everyone’s concern. What’s the matter with you?”
    Taro leaned his
foot against mine, just a little. A signal telling me I should moderate my
tone.
    Regulos pulled
in a deep breath, clearly calming himself down. “There are no greater numbers
of Shields committing suicide than there ever were.”
    “That’s not what
the regulars appear to be thinking.”
    “We believe the
Emperor is trying to poison our relationship with the regulars by starting
false rumours.”
    I didn’t find
that difficult to believe.
    “It doesn’t help
that there are, apparently, incidents of regulars posing as Pairs and robbing
traders of their goods.”
    Ah, hell.
    “Regulars are
becoming more inclined to believe just about any story about us that they
happen to hear.”
    Damn it. Just …
I couldn’t think of anything. Just, damn it.
    “If we may
continue,” Regulos suggested sarcastically.
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Your task is to
train our casters in the techniques passed on to you by Healer Browne.”
    “You want me to
train casters to kill people,” I said flatly.
    “Exactly.”
    “To execute the
Emperor.”
    Everyone
appeared