08 A Little Hatred: Book One (The Age of Madness)

His Eminence sat behind his desk in his wheeled chair, a blanket over his knees in spite of the heat, looking even more grim, gaunt and pale than usual, which took some doing. Orso had once seen a three-day-old plague corpse with better colour to its cheeks. Standing at Glokta’s shoulder was perhaps the one man in the entire Union more hideous than he: his deputy, Superior Pike, whose entire face was obliterated by monstrous burns. Pike’s expression was hard to read, but overall the mood was far from encouraging.

As was his long-established habit, Orso began with deflection. ‘I’ve got quite the busy day, Father. If you want to see me off, you—’

‘You’re not going to the North,’ growled the king.

‘I’m … what?’ Orso was robbed of the chance to move on to evasion and forced straight to entitled upset. ‘Father, I worked for this—’

‘Other men work for things all the time! What makes you special?’

I’m the crown prince of the bloody Union! was on the very tip of Orso’s tongue, but luckily Pike spoke first, his soft voice betraying no more emotion than his burned face.

‘Your Highness, there has been an uprising in Valbeck.’

Orso swallowed. ‘Uprising?’ The word was a decidedly ugly one to use before someone of royal blood. Could Pike not have gone for something a bit more neutral, like incident? Even riot would have been preferable. Then he realised the fact that the Superior was using it, in front of a king, a crown prince and their Arch Lector, might be a good guide to the severity of the situation.

‘It is coordinated, well organised and on a considerable scale. It would appear the workers at several mills rose up simultaneously, overpowering foremen, guards and owners.’

‘They’re in control of these mills?’

The Arch Lector’s left eye began to twitch and he dabbed away a tear. ‘It would appear that they are in control of the whole city. They may well have infiltrated the town watch, too. Perhaps … even the Inquisition.’

‘They have thrown up barricades,’ said Pike, ‘taken hostages and are issuing demands.’

‘Good grief.’ Orso sank numbly into a chair. Valbeck had grown to be one of Midderland’s largest and most modern cities. Uprising was beginning to sound like a euphemism. This was a short step from outright revolt! ‘How could this happen?’

‘A damn good question!’ snapped the king, frowning towards his Arch Lector.

‘The Breakers are at the heart of it,’ said Glokta. ‘And the Burners.’

‘Who the hell are they?’ asked Orso.

A muscle was working angrily on the side of His Majesty’s head. ‘The Breakers want to force concessions from me. The Burners want to see me and the entire nobility and government of the Union hanged so they can impose a new order, probably one on fire.’

Orso swallowed again. It felt as if there was a lump in his throat he could not force down. ‘I take it their opinion of me is less than glowing?’

‘You think your mother’s a harsh critic? Wait until you hear what these bastards say about you.’

‘I have an agent in Valbeck,’ said Glokta. ‘She sent a boy back to Adua with a warning, but too late to act on, and since then … nothing. We simply have no idea of the situation inside the city.’

‘Chaos,’ growled Orso’s father, clenching his fists.

‘The success of these traitors will encourage other malcontents,’ said Glokta. ‘Other plots against His Majesty and His Majesty’s subjects. We are stretched to the limit keeping the peace. Prince Orso, yours are the only troops available.’

‘I will accompany you to Valbeck, Your Highness,’ said Pike, ‘to provide the full support of the Inquisition.’

Orso blinked. ‘But what about the North? I was—’

‘For pity’s sake!’ the king burst out with uncharacteristic violence, ripping open the top button of his braid-heavy jacket and dashing sweat angrily from his forehead. ‘Not everything is about you! The Arch Lector’s own daughter is caught up in this!’ He seemed to remember himself, cleared his throat self-consciously. ‘And many others, of course. Many sons and daughters—’

‘Wait, what?’ Orso struggled to supress a surge of utter horror. ‘Your daughter … Savine?’ Though he knew full well the Arch Lector had no others. That lump in his throat had swelled so much he could scarcely speak around it.

Glokta sagged into his chair. ‘She was in Valbeck. Visiting one of her manufactories.’ His grey lips peeled back from his ruined teeth. ‘I have not heard from her. I do not know if she is free, or a prisoner. I do not know if she is alive, or—’

‘Damn these treacherous bastards!’ burst out the king, grinding one fist into his palm. ‘I’ve more than half a mind to lead the Knights of the Body out there myself!’