‘Tempus is smarter than that,’ his aide argued. ‘Do you really • think he’ll be
trusting enough to relax his guard?’
‘Of course not,’ said Jubal. ‘But Tempus has moved north to fight at Wizardwall.
I have less respect for those he’s left behind. However, their efforts to locate
old hawkmasks are an annoyance we can ill afford at this time.’
‘The rebuilding goes well. Resistance is minimal, and …’
‘I’m not talking about the rebuilding, and you know it!’ Jubal interrupted
viciously. ‘It’s those Beysib that have me worried.’
‘But everyone else in town is unconcerned.’
‘They’re fools! Not a one of them can see beyond their own immediate
gains. Merchants don’t understand power. Power understands power. I know
those fish folk better than most, because I know myself. They didn’t come
to Sanctuary to help the town. Oh, they’ll make a big show of the benefits
of their arrival to the citizens, but eventually there’ll come a
parting of the ways. A situation will arise when they’ll have to
choose between what’s good for their new neighbours and what’s good for
the Beysib, and there’s no doubt in my mind as to how they’ll choose. If we
let them get strong enough. Sanctuary will be lost when their chance
goes against the city.’
‘They are not exactly weak now,’ Saliman observed, thoughtfully chewing his lip.
‘That’s right,’ Jubal growled, ‘and that’s why they concern me. What we must do
… what the town must do, is to gain strength through our association with the
fish-folk, while at the same time blocking their growth, actually sapping their