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

This information was, to say the least, as useful as it was unexpected, but Orso kept his face carefully blank. He acted as if he had drawn a winning hand at the gaming table, and now had only to drag the biggest bets possible from the other players.

Malmer knows he has little left to bargain with. Offer him too much and he will become suspicious. He feared you would attack at once. Now he fears you will surround the city and starve the Breakers out. He expects you to be an arrogant liar. My advice is to treat him with honesty and respect. To seek a peaceful solution and avoid bluster. But to firmly refuse any demands and make him aware that you know time is on your side. If you were to offer amnesty for the Breakers, I believe he could be persuaded to surrender. He knows that is more than he could hope for.

The Breakers’ demands were laid out next: changes to labour laws, controls on wages and the price of bread, sanitation and housing, things Orso scarcely understood, let alone could grant.

Superior Pike held out his melted glove of a hand. ‘May I, Your—’

‘You may not.’ Orso folded the paper, sharpened the crease in it with his thumbnail and slipped it inside his jacket.

Then he smiled – always begin with a smile – and he leaned towards Malmer as though sharing a confidence with an old friend. As though the fates of thousands in no way hinged on their coming to an agreement.

‘Master Malmer, I judge you to be an honest man, and I want to be honest in return. It would be easy for me to offer you the world, but I do not wish to insult you. The truth is, the Closed Council is in no mood to negotiate and, even if I agreed to all your demands …’ He spread his hands in the same gesture of cavalier helplessness he used with jilted lovers, frustrated creditors and outraged officers of the law. ‘I’m the crown prince. There would be nothing to stop my father or his advisors refusing to honour my promises. I suspect, frankly, that’s the very reason they sent me. And I suspect, frankly … you’re well aware of that.’

‘Then why are we even here?’ snapped Heron.

Forest had managed to crank his scarred face a notch graver. ‘Troops stand ready to move into the city at your order, Your Highness—’

‘The very last thing we want is further bloodshed, Colonel Forest,’ said Orso, giving him the calming palm now. He had enough calming palm for everyone. ‘We are all citizens of the Union. We are all subjects of my father. I refuse to believe we cannot find a peaceful solution.’

He might not have spent much time negotiating for hostages, but at convincing people he could be trusted, whether in a gaming hall, a lady’s bedroom or a moneylender’s shop, he had almost bottomless experience to draw on. He softened his voice, he softened his face, he softened everything. He held Malmer’s eye and made himself all syrupy sympathy.

‘I am aware that the author of this unfortunate situation … was Superior Risinau. I note that he has not come forward to negotiate, however. Perhaps as the danger grew, his commitment to his own cause shrivelled?’ Did Orso detect the slightest twitch on Malmer’s stony face? ‘I know that type of man. Let us be honest, I have often seen him in the mirror. A man who makes a mess and leaves others to mop up.’

Nobody leaped to his defence, which was disappointing, but nor did they leap to Risinau’s.

‘I understand what it’s like …’ he gave his three opponents each a sympathetic look, ‘to be left with the blame. I appreciate that those of you still in the city are those who chose to stay and try to salvage the situation. The authors of this disaster will be tracked down and punished, of that I assure you.’

‘Of that there is no question,’ hissed Pike.

‘But I have no interest in punishing you for their crimes,’ said Orso. ‘My concern – my only concern – is the safety of the men, women and children of Valbeck. All of them, regardless of where their loyalties may have lain. I can bring your demands to my father. I can relay your demands to the Closed Council. But, in the end, you and I both know I cannot promise to meet them.’ Orso took a long breath and gave a long sigh. ‘I can, however … promise you amnesty. A full pardon to every Breaker who surrenders themselves and their weapons by sunset tomorrow, along with all your hostages, unharmed. Supplies of food will then immediately be allowed into the city.’

‘Your Highness,’ broke in Pike. ‘We cannot allow traitors to—’