CHAPTER FORTY ONE

OUT OF THE EMPIRE

In Nadim, capital city of the Sei, it was common knowledge among those who were alert to such things that the warlord Zhak Zoaden was mounting an expedition to cross the formidable Futchung Mountains.
Aravi Valtrern, merchant, gossip-monger and survivor, had for years made it his business to know what was going on; he also knew that beyond the mountains lay the abandoned imperial possessions of Laifya; Laifya his homeland. He hurried to Zoaden's palace and offered his services as guide.
He told the official who eventually interviewed him that he knew the route through the mountains, and that he had had dealings with the mountain tribes without whose co-operation a crossing of the Na Pass would be impossible. All of which was true, both in the generally accepted sense and in his own, private one.
"Truth" for Valtrern was anything which it was useful to him if others could be made to believe, and if his claims about knowing the Na Pass and the local tribes made it possible for him to get away from Nadim, they were undoubtedly true. He needed to leave, and he needed to leave in a hurry.
Over the years he had been obliged to devote much time and energy to avoiding painful encounters: in every quarter of the city were women, young and old, who had thought that his protestations of love and fidelity were true, in the generally accepted sense; more numerous still were his creditors, and more dangerous than either were those whom he had swindled. So far he had survived relatively unscathed, but his safety was now very much in the balance because, in addition to all his other difficulties, there was the delicate question of a murder. According to his own definition of "truth," he knew nothing about it, but a growing number of people were unwilling to believe him.
Zoaden's expedition had come at just the right moment, and he was soon being introduced to Chaldez, on whose behalf it was being raised. The prince was accompanied by Dan.
Chaldez had learned a Laifyan dialect from Meryn, the rope-maker's daughter he had once been in love with, and he immediately tried it out on Valtrern, who laughed and interrupted, speaking Sei. "There are many dialects," he said. "If I may say so, sire, very few people know this one you were speaking. It is only spoken in one of the smallest provinces. I understand a little of it, but that is because I travelled so widely."
Chaldez eyed Valtrern with some distaste. He was a man in his late 40s, short, corpulent and completely bald. His greying beard was cut very short, and he smiled when he spoke. "You say you have had dealings with the mountain tribes. Is it just the once that you have crossed the Na Pass?" he asked.
"Three times, sire. It is fair to say, I think, that I am highly respected in the region. The Zewgam of the Stachaxi people - that is the name they give their paramount chief - is a personal friend."
"When did you make your last crossing?"
"Just eight years ago, sire. Things will not have changed in that short time."
Reluctantly Chaldez informed Zoaden that the Laifyan should be taken on as guide. He disliked and distrusted him, but he knew that it was essential to have a guide, and where in Nadim would he find another? Valtrern would have to do.
The Laifyan was not the only volunteer attracted by the coming expedition; Chaldez and Dan were practically besieged by the younger sons of the aristocracy, anxious for adventure and the spoils of war. Chaldez weeded them out by instituting the peculiar rule that he would have no slaves in his company; attendants must all be free men. Many a disappointed young man returned disgruntled and bewildered to his father's estates.
The expeditionary force, some 300 strong, left Nadim towards the middle of the ninth month of the year. It included 50 mounted riders and 150 foot soldiers, while nearly as many craftsmen, cooks, attendants and drivers brought up the rear with the mules and pack-horses of the baggage train.
Its route took it across the arid and sparsely-populated Harwardi Plain, and during the next 20 days Chaldez had ample time to consider what lay in store for him. He sat on his horse, scowling morosely at the desolate horizon, his spirit dragged down by a sense of impending doom. From eating his meals in silence he graduated to eating them alone; he spoke only when he had to, and increasingly the day-to-day decisions were taken by Dan.
Dan came up beside him and for a while they rode in silence. Chaldez resented him being there and did nothing to acknowledge his presence. Dan said "I've spoken to that man Valtrern. He says it'll be another eight days before we reach the Kis."
Chaldez stared ahead. "So?"
"We follow it up into the pass. He says it's an easy climb but I don't believe him."
"Then perhaps we'd better turn back now?"
"That's not what I meant."
Chaldez was silent and it was Dan who spoke again. "We've known all along this is no game. We'll be lucky to get half these people over the mountains."
Chaldez turned in his saddle. "Half of them?" he shouted. "What use are a 100 men to me? What use are 200 men to me? I need 20,000! This whole thing is just madness. By the gods, I wish I had taken Zoaden's offer."
Dan was perplexed. "He offered you more men?"
Chaldez was impatient. "No no," he snapped. "He said he'd give me Hizattia. He said he'd make me Nwodek."
"When?"
"I don't know. A while ago."
"I meant, when would he make you Nwodek?" He paused. "Anyway, that's nonsense - Hizattia's not his to give."
"When he's Mo Wa he'll do what he likes."
"He's that ambitious? You did right to turn him down. He might never be Mo Wa, and even if he were he'd probably give out the nwodeks to his own family. They always do."
Chaldez shrugged. "He'll be Mo Wa all right. There's no one to stop him; and I'd have made sure he kept his promise."