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Instrumentalities of the Night, was kept in the dark.
    Doneto said, "My cousin is worried about Clearenza because he
worries about everything. Too much. For him it's all personal. And an
insult to God and all the Holy Founders. All blasphemy, heresy, or
something."
    Hecht had worked for Principatè Doneto for a year. Doneto liked to
think that Hecht worked' for him still. Undercover. The Bruglioni and
Arniena families, likewise, thought they had a claim on the
Captain-General's loyalty incause he had worked for them, too. Hecht
felt he owed them nothing. He did not say so. Their silent patronage
was useful.
    He asked, "Is there some military cause for alarm? Or am I just here
because His Holiness is in a snit?" He needed to show a little respect
here. These men had known Honario Benedocto since childhood.
    Doneto nodded. "There is. The Grail Emperor is probably behind fon
Dreasser's defection. With an eye to extending his influence into the
Aco floodplain."
    "Is that more of a problem now than the last time fon Dreasser
switched allegiances?"
    For a moment the Patriarch's cousin seemed unwilling to share
secrets. Then he shrugged. 'This puts another Imperial stronghold at
our backs."
    "So. His Holiness still wants to plunder the Connec."
    The Empire had neutralized a parade of Patriarchs by forcing them to
concentrate on protecting the Patriarchal States. The spate of
cooperation during the Calziran Crusade was an anomaly. That truce
lasted only till the last Praman kingdom on the Firaldian peninsula
fell.
    "I'm afraid so."
    "Not good, Principatè." Clearenza was ideally sited for interdicting
traffic on both the central north-south military road and the east-west
highway skirting the foothills of the Jago Mountains and the Ownvidian
Knot. Nor would it be a long ride to interfere with barge traffic on
the Aco River, or traffic on the eastern military road, which swung
inland to cross the most downriver bridge spanning the Aco.
"Especially if Clearenza's neighbors harbor grievances of their own."
    Principatè Doneto appeared slightly embarrassed. Principatè
Madisetti sneered.
    Hecht asked, "His Holiness owes them money, too?"
    "
All
of them," Madisetti growled.
    "I don't want to seem defeatist. But if His Holiness won't pay his
debts, yet keeps on spending, how can he not expect difficulties? Won't
he listen to Your Graces?"
"No," Donel Madisetti admitted. "Voting for that man may have been the
biggest mistake I ever made."
    Interesting. This was the sort of news Gordimer the Lion hoped to
glean when he sent his best captain over here. Though he meant to
distance a potential threat as well.
    Captain Else Tage had been too popular with the Sha-lug.
    Principatè Doneto grumbled, "Sometimes I wish Honario wasn't family.
But he does have a flair for intrigue. He has something going in the
Connec. He says it will take care of his debts." Doneto did not sound
convinced. "And Lothar Ege's obstruction…" He stopped. Secrets escaped
even the deepest heart of the Chiaro Palace.
    Hecht wished Principatè Delari had not gone down to question the
prisoners.
    Principatè Delari had a taste for boys. His current favorite was
Armand. Armand was an agent of Ferris Renfrow. And of Dreanger.
Gordimer had presented the boy to Renfrow during one of the Imperial
spymaster's visits to al-Qarn. Armand's real name was Osa Stile. He had
been trained and rendered permanently youthful by er-Rashal
al-Dhulquarnen.
    The old man shared everything with his lover. Who, most observers
assumed, was too self-absorbed and scatterbrained to care the
slightest about things political, religious, or military. Armand just
wanted to be spoiled with sweet scents, rich foods, and pretty clothes.
    Piper Hecht saw the boy seldom and was glad of it. What had been
done to Osa Stile was too terrible. The slavery of the Sha-lug should
not be that cruel.
    Osa gave every indication of enjoying his life.
    Er-Rashal had known what he was doing when he chose the boy.
    Principatè