‘I take it,’ said Vint, ‘that is why the stonemasons have been gouging deep holes in the stonework behind the gates?’
‘It is. You will see many such activities in the days to come. Try not to be curious.’
Vint laughed. ‘Easier said than done, my lady.’
‘I know. I remember the silly mind-games Giriak used to play. One of them involved not thinking about a donkey’s ears for ten heartbeats. It was impossible. Even so, you must try. Also warn all the men along the north wall: any sudden headaches or feelings of warmth in the skull are to be reported and the men questioned. I tend to think the Daroth will concentrate on officers, but I could be wrong.’
‘How many fighting men will we have, Karis?’ asked Necklen. ‘Already the numbers listed for the refugee columns have reached ten thousand, and they are still rising. Councillor Pooris says he and his department are weighed down by the requests.’
‘The closest estimate is fifteen thousand fighting men,’
said Karis. ‘We should outnumber the Daroth by three to one. However, that statistic is meaningless, since our troops will need to be spread around the four walls. It is likely we will be evenly matched on the north wall.’
Brune brought in several trays of meat, bread and cake, and a large flagon of red wine.
‘Prentuis fell within a day,’ said Necklen. ‘One blood-filled, terrible day!’
‘This is not Prentuis,’ said Karis. ‘And they were not led by me.’
The logistics of the problem had initially excited Pooris. Several thousand refugees to be shepherded to the city of Hlobane, just under 300 miles south-west, and then a further 410 miles south and east to the port city of Loretheli. The problem was now much greater, and Pooris sat with Niro and a score of clerics in the hall above the Great Library, frantically trying to collate statistics.
Fourteen thousand people had now declared their wish to leave Corduin, almost 20 per cent of the adult population. The Duke’s riders had made a score of hazardous journeys south with messages to and from Belliese, the Corsair Duke, who had demanded five silver pieces for every refugee, a further ten for any who wished to be transported on to the islands. The sum was not extortionate, but was now coming close to emptying the treasury.
Considering the fact that there were more than 10,000 mercenaries now in Corduin who demanded payment on the first day of every month, the problem was serious indeed. Without the windfall of the executed Lunder’s fortune, the project would never have been begun. Even with it, Pooris now doubted whether the city’s finances would stretch far enough.
The spidery figure of Niro loomed over his desk and Pooris glanced up. ‘There are not enough wagons, sir,’ said Niro. ‘Not by half. The price of those there are has trebled already. It will rise higher.’
‘How many have we purchased for movement of food and silver?’
‘Thirty, sir. But the main holding yard was broken into last night, and five were stolen. I have placed extra guards there.’
‘Were our wagons marked as ordered?’
‘Yes, sir. A yellow strip hidden by the rear axle.’
‘Order a full search. When the wagons are found the owners are to be hanged.’
Niro hesitated. ‘You are aware, sir, that they will have been sold on in good faith? The people who now have them will not be the thieves.’
‘I am aware of that. Before they are hanged they will be questioned as to those who sold them the vehicles. Anyone named will also be hunted down and hanged. We will leave no-one in any doubt as to the severity of punishment should such thieving continue.’
‘Yes, sir.’ Niro moved away and Pooris leaned back and rubbed his chin. The bristle growing there surprised him. How long had he been in the building? Fourteen hours? Eighteen?
A young cleric approached him and bowed. Pooris was so tired he could not remember the man’s name. ‘What is it?’
‘A small problem, sir. We have run out of red wax for the Duke’s seal. There is none to be found anywhere.’
Every official refugee was to be given a note of authority stamped with the seal of Duke Albreck, and each, upon presentation of the seal, was entitled to remove from the treasury a sum not to exceed twenty gold pieces –
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