City of Ruin - Mark Charan Newton [88]
‘I see the predicament,’ Nelum said. ‘Can I enquire as to the nature of this rumour?’
The question lingered in the air.
Brynd said, ‘His accusations are of a personal nature.’
‘Which are?’
‘Suggestions of my affiliations with – I don’t need to tell you it’s utter rubbish of course – other men. Personally I suspect it’s merely an excuse for his gang not to fight alongside us.’ He gave a confident laugh. ‘But the problem is how to deal with things should such lies destabilize all we’ve been working towards. The guy is phenomenally well connected, and controls a large number of men.’
Nelum’s face remained expressionless, until Brynd could no longer bear to look at him. Rubbing his hands for warmth, he strolled a few paces away.
Eventually, his lieutenant spoke tentatively. ‘Such things . . . well, they happen in the armies, don’t they? I mean to say, that men bed with men when they’re abroad, so I’ve heard . . . Nothing is ever said of it the next day.’
‘I know that, you know that – nearly every soldier who’s been signed up for more than a year knows that it happens,’ Brynd growled, glaring at Nelum.
Nelum’s silence was intense.
‘These rumours are serious, enough to destroy the good name of the Night Guard, and that could rupture all our plans and defences.’
The lieutenant remained utterly expressionless, his breath clouding before his face. ‘It has not happened yet, has it? I say we take this man out.’
Brynd said, ‘He told me there are others who know about it, and that if he disappears, someone else will spread the false news.’
‘The fellow might be bluffing.’
‘But what do you think about it?’ Brynd turned to face him again, eager to gauge a reaction. It seemed important for any kind of response. ‘I know you’re a man with a passion for the Jorsalir teachings that don’t exactly welcome such doings. I need to ensure these lies don’t get out.’
‘None of my business what a soldier does in his or her spare time.’ Brisk tones, bitter feelings – all suggesting that he knew Brynd was lying. ‘You’re known as one of the ablest fighters in the service, and we all have to persevere despite whatever has been impugned.’
Brynd’s control snapped and he slammed his lieutenant against the wall, glaring. Nelum didn’t flinch. The two soldiers were assessing each other, waiting for the other’s next move. ‘They are rumours, OK? I told you only because I valued your fucking advice.’
The sloshing of the water down in the harbour seemed to bring Brynd back to his senses. He released his grip, muttering an apology, and rested his hands on the parapet, facing the coast.
‘Indeed. We should therefore prepare ourselves for different scenarios,’ Nelum continued, ignoring the incident, ‘but I think we should counter by circulating rumours of our own that there’s a move afoot to smear the honour of senior soldiers. We could suggest that it comes from enemy agents working for the invasion force, in order to weaken our defences.’
‘Good thinking. I don’t want to let this business interfere with our plans. Fucking hell, I’ve a city to save.’
‘You’ve a city to save?’
Things were happening in the gaps between their sentences. ‘We’ve,’ Brynd corrected himself quickly. ‘You think I should face Malum. If anything then happens to me, then I want you to take my place. I’ll want you to succeed me as commander of the Empire’s armies. I can assemble the appropriate documentation, but how would you feel about such a role?’
Shit, did he say all that now simply to obscure his guilt, to win the man over? Brynd’s mind began bubbling with paranoia.
‘Sir . . . of course,’ Nelum breathed. For a moment this normally verbose individual couldn’t seem to find words. ‘It’s overwhelming, and an honour . . . but you’re still here, still the most senior officer outside of Villjamur.’
And don’t you forget it. ‘Thank you for your time, lieutenant.’
*
‘Oh, sure, totally fuck that. We’ll just take the money and kill him, right?’ Malum grunted. ‘I mean, simple plans are always the most effective.’
JC laughed aloud, then the others – ten in all of the Bloods – joined