The Old Three-Card Shuffle

The barge was three days out of Landfall, traveling with the current, and halfway to Southwater. The river had widened and was now twice the size as when it had flowed through the city. Earlier that morning they had passed the spot where the Liffy joined with the Wade, flowing down from Fairfield.

Fields, woods, and villages drifted by on the riverbank. The pace and mood of the journey were lazy beneath the scorching sun. The cool breeze off the water was welcome. Riki sat on the foredeck, in the shade of an awning, with a book open on her lap. The ragged fringe on the canvas fluttered, sending dancing shadows across the page. Riki considered moving slightly, so it would be less distracting, but it was not as if she was actually reading, merely turning the pages at a methodical rate.

Piercing squeals made her look up. The barge was passing a sandy spot on the bank, where five small girls were splashing naked in the water. They were the ones screeching. Beyond them lay planted fields, a collection of farm buildings, and a dirt track fading away into the distance.

Riki smiled at the girls and was about to return to her book when she heard someone approaching. The oldest of the three Sisters was coming to join her under the awning. Riki shifted to make room.

"Good morning, holy Sister."

"Good morning, Devishi Tang." The elderly woman eased herself onto the bench.

"It's a pleasant day the Goddess has sent us."

"Indeed. Though I fear, a little hot below deck. I've come to cool down for a moment."

"And I'm very pleased to have your company." Riki kept her tone just on the believable side of obsequious.

"I note you haven't visited your cousin."

Riki made a dismissive noise and held up her book, a battered, well-thumbed copy of The Book of the Elder-Ones. "Not because of the heat. I'm a faithful daughter of the Goddess. I'm here on my grandmother's orders. But were it up to me, I'd have left the family shame in the Intelligence Corps dungeon where she belongs. I certainly have no wish to socialize with her."

The Sister nodded. "Your piety does you credit. And, to be honest, your cousin isn't pleasant company."

"I don't doubt it."

"She has a crude turn of phrase and she"—the Sister hesitated— "she doesn't seem fully in her right mind. She's forever asking what's going on and insisting her name isn't Tanya. Do you know if she suffers from mental problems?"

"She's a heretic and believes their foul lies. She must have mental problems. No sane woman would credit any of it for a second."

"Maybe. But you'd think she'd know what her name was."

Riki shrugged. "Perhaps they have some depraved naming ceremony, when they renounce their old life along with the Goddess and enter the cult. She might want you to call her by some blasphemous title. If I were you, I'd ignore everything she says and certainly not ask what she wants to be called."

Again the Sister nodded. "Yes. It must be something like that." She sounded happier, as if Riki's suggestion had eased her doubts.

They sat in silence for a while longer, but then the Sister stood. "I'd better return to my watch." She started to leave.

"Holy Sister."

"Yes?"

"I'm truly sorry for the trouble you've been put to, for the sake of this stain upon my family. I feel soiled just knowing that she's so close by."

The Sister put a hand on Riki's head in blessing. "My child. No blame attaches to you. Your faith marks you as pure. Good day." She wandered back to the hatch.

Riki picked up her book. Her eyes returned to the riverbank. The playing girls were now far out of sight. Riki stared into the distance.

Several times over the previous days, she thought she had seen a horsewoman shadowing the boat. It was not unexpected. Their plans allowed for the Intelligence Corps tracking the boat, and so far, their plans were working perfectly.

 

The town of Southwater consisted of a busy port, a small temple, and not much else. It lay in the middle of an expanse of salt marsh at the mouth of the Liffy River, on a rocky islet—the highest point for kilometers around. The only way to reach it was by boat. To the south another kilometer of tidal mud, quicksand, and brackish water separated the town from the ocean. A dredged channel allowed seagoing vessels to reach the port, where produce bound for Landfall was transferred to river barges.

The town existed only to support the docks. It consisted of inns for travelers, taverns for sailors, warehouses for goods, homes for dockworkers, and a Militia station to ensure that the law was upheld. With limited space on the islet, the buildings were densely packed. None of the roads were wide enough for a horse-drawn wagon or carriage. Handcarts were the way goods were moved. Feet were the only method of transport.

The temple was positioned at the apex of the hill, overhanging the docks. In midafternoon, Riki stood on the busy quay, staring up at it. The location seemed an unlikely one for a temple—surely the town was too small to justify it. Yet it was a very good place to keep a prisoner secure. Lock down the docks, and no one could enter or leave the island, and searching the entire town would not take long.

A noise made Riki glance back. Tanya was being brought on deck. It was the first time Riki had seen her since they boarded the barge, and her first chance to assess her state in daylight. To Riki's relief, although Tanya was filthy and disheveled, she appeared unharmed. Thoughts of what the Corps might have done had been preying on Riki's mind.

Soon, the party were assembled on the quay. The Sisters set off in the lead, climbing the streets to the temple. Behind them were the Guards surrounding Tanya in tight formation, with Riki and Steph tagging along at the rear.

"Why are we here? My mom'll—" Tanya's voice rose in a whine that was quickly silenced by a slap from a Guard.

Riki kept her eyes averted, trying to appear unconcerned, although she felt a flare of anger. She had to maintain her act for a little while longer. Soon the charade would be over, and then she could flatten the next person to mistreat Tanya.

A brief period of standing around ensued at the temple gates, while the letter of introduction and explanation from Chief Consultant Bakara was dispatched to the Consultant in charge of the Southwater temple, and then they were ushered through to a small audience chamber that undoubtedly fulfilled the entire role of outer sanctum for the minor temple.

The Guards from the barge had been left in the main hall and their place taken by four members of the Southwater Company. These now stood at the rear of the room, two on either side of the doorway. Steph had also remained outside, so only Riki, Tanya, and the three Sisters were present when a short, round woman in white robes entered.

She bustled forward to greet them. "In the name of the Goddess, welcome to Southwater. I am Consultant Sharif. I understand you have someone for me to care for."

The eldest of the three Landfall Sisters nodded respectfully in acknowledgement. "Celaeno's blessing on you too, Consultant. Yes. Allow me to present Tanya, whose family would prefer if her last name was not mentioned. She has, regretfully, become ensnared in the wickedness of the heretics' lies."

Tanya broke in. "Look. How many fucking times do I have to tell you? I ain't this Tanya. And I ain't no frigging heretic. But you—"

The Sister ignored the outburst. "She is, I'm afraid, somewhat confused and argumentative."

Riki however, stared at Tanya, screwing her face in a deep frown and eventually taking a step forward to look more closely. "Um..."

"What is it, my child?"

"Are you sure this is my cousin?"

"Pardon?"

Riki turned to the Sisters from Landfall. "I admit I've never met her before, but she was described to me."

One of the other Sisters spoke up. "I did a few turns in her room, keeping watch. I must admit, she isn't acting the same. But it certainly looks like her...I think," she ended weakly.

"My grandmother said she had a faint scar on her cheek. Here." Riki brushed the side of her own face indecisively and then looked at the Sister expectantly, as if hoping to have her words confirmed.

"Oh, I um...don't remember."

"That's what I've been sayi—" Tanya was interrupted this time by Consultant Sharif.

"Do I understand there's some doubt as to this woman's identity?"

Riki gave a polite half bow. "Yes, revered Consultant. She's supposed to be a cousin of mine. But although she mostly matches the description, there's the matter of the scar. And she's possibly a centimeter or so too tall."

"This is easy to check." Sharif looked at one of the Guards by the door. "Go and find Sister McKay and ask her to escort the Imprinter in here as soon as possible. Or, if she is currently engaged in her duties, to let us know when she'll be free." Sharif turned back to the others. "We have limited requirements for an Imprinter in Southwater, so hopefully she'll be available. But if not, I'll arrange suitable facilities while we wait."

Fortunately, the Southwater Imprinter was not otherwise occupied, and soon a woman in blue entered the audience room in the company of two more Sisters. The Imprinter was a very old woman who hobbled forward unsteadily, leaning on a supportive arm. Riki guessed she had been sent to Southwater as a semi-retirement from another, busier temple. After all, how many women in the small town would want to get pregnant in any given year? However, as long as age had not damaged the Imprinter's mind, she would still be capable of reading DNA.

"You have need of me, Consultant?" the Imprinter asked once she had reached the group in the middle of the room.

"Yes. Do you see these two young women? I wonder if you could tell us how closely they're related."

"Of course, Consultant."

Riki held out her hand for the Imprinter. The ancient fingers felt loose and light, wrapping around hers. No strength remained in the grip. The mottled skin had a rough, dry texture. For three minutes, the Imprinter shut her eyes and held Riki's hand, then moved to Tanya. Her forehead furrowed, enhancing the lacework of wrinkles. After more consideration she returned to Riki and then back to Tanya again.

While this went on, the Sisters waited patiently. However, when the Imprinter returned to Riki for a third time, Consultant Sharif spoke up. "Can you tell us anything, Imprinter?"

The old woman opened her eyes. "It's very hard to be sure. I think they may have had a common ancestor, nine or ten generations ago. But I'd need more time."

"They couldn't share grandmothers?"

The Imprinter's expression eased. "Oh no. Not anywhere near that close. The two lines have been completely separate for at least eight generations."

Consultant Sharif bowed her head in gratitude. "Thank you, Imprinter. That's all we need to know. You may go."

Once the Imprinter and her two helpers had left, Sharif turned to Tanya. "So. Who are you?"

"Hoo-fucking-ray. At last. This is wh—"

"And I'd advise you to keep your tone respectful."

The implied threat stopped Tanya short. Her eyes darted around shiftily, and then she began again in calmer tones. "Sorry, Sister."

"Consultant."

"Oh yeah. Sorry, Consultant. My name's Pat Oduro."

"And why were you on the barge?"

"It was all the Corps' doing, weren't it?"

Riki looked on, impressed. She had wondered at Tanya's ability to act out the part, but so far the upright corporal was doing a good job of playing a lowlife thug. The dirt smeared across her face and the spikes of unkempt hair gave her the right appearance. When added to the surly leer, she looked surprisingly unlike herself. No wonder that the Sister who had sat watch in Landfall had been unwilling to confirm her identity.

Consultant Sharif frowned. "What did the Corps do?"

"They got me out of the lockup."

"Which lockup?"

"In Landfall. Me and my mates had been in the tavern. We weren't causing no trouble, but this other gang came on all mouthy. They started it...honest. The landlady called the Militia. And yeah, I was kicking the bitch, but she—"

"I don't think we're interested in details of how you came to be in the lockup. You can save those for the magistrate. What did the Intelligence Corps do?"

"Uh, right, Sis...Consultant." Tanya licked her lips. "I thought I'd be up in court in the morning. But I'd only been in the lockup a short while when some women turned up. They didn't say who they were, but the Militia were shit-scared of them. You could see it in their eyes, and there ain't no one who scares the frigging Militia apart from the Corps. They checked out everyone, and when they saw me, they laughed and said I'd do fine."

"Nothing else?"

"No. Just that. The Militia looked the other way when they took me out of the lockup. They dumped me in the wagon for an hour, then took me down to the docks. The agents said if I knew what was good for me I'd not say a word. So I didn't. I'm not fucking stupid. I'm not crossing the Corps. But I never thought I was going to be brought down here. My mom'll kill me when I get home. I was supposed to be—"

"I think that's enough." Consultant Sharif terminated the tale.

"I did try to say, once we were—"

"I said, that's enough."

"Oh, yeah. Right, Consultant." Tanya ducked her head sheepishly.

Consultant Sharif faced Riki. "There's clearly been some confusion. As to how to proceed, if you don't mind, I'd like a few minutes to pray for guidance. Would you be so kind as to wait for me here?"

Riki bowed. "Of course, Consultant."

Sharif's gaze shifted back to Tanya, the wrinkling around her eyes making her distaste clear. "Guards. Can you take this woman to a quiet place and make sure she stays put and doesn't cause any disturbance?"

"Hey. Ain't you going to send me back to Landfall?"

Tanya's protests were ignored, and she was bundled away. Consultant Sharif and the Landfall Sisters followed more sedately.

Alone in the room, Riki drew a deep breath. One more step complete. Soon, very soon, she and Tanya would be on the way home to Westernfort.

 

"I've reread Chief Consultant Bakara's letter and spoken to the Sisters who accompanied you from Landfall, and I now think I understand what has happened." Consultant Sharif spoke deliberately, clearly choosing her words with care. "I'm afraid the Intelligence Corps, for some reason, have declined to hand over your cousin as agreed. We must draw the conclusion that she is still in their hands."

"Some might say it was the best place for her." Riki and Consultant Sharif were the only ones in the audience room.

"Yes, Sister Rochel said you had little sympathy with your cousin."

"I'm a faithful daughter of the Goddess and a devout supporter of the holy Sisters. This heretic and I may share genes, but she's no kin of mine. Unfortunately, my grandmother doesn't see things in quite the same way."

"But you agreed to do this task for her."

"She's both my grandmother and my employer. If I wish to continue working in the family business, I had no choice."

"What were you intending to tell your grandmother when you returned to Landfall?"

Riki pursed her lips. "What can I tell her? The Intelligence Corps still have my cousin."

Consultant Sharif lifted her clasped hands to where her mouth would be, behind the mask, and bowed her head, either praying or thinking. With a decision clearly reached, her eyes returned to Riki. "I won't ask you to default in your duty to your grandmother, but as a faithful daughter of Celaeno, I'd ask you not tell anyone about this, including your grandmother or your servant, until you've first spoken to the Chief Consultant. If you're agreeable, I'll give you a letter to take to her, explaining the matter."

Riki hesitated, but then nodded sharply. "All right."

"Thank you. I believe the river barge is due to return to Landfall this evening."

"I'll not be on it. The upriver journey against the current is slow, and I've business matters to attend to. I've already sent my servant ahead to reserve rooms in the Pig and Whistle for tonight. Tomorrow, we'll take the ferry to Salsport and hire a fast carriage there."

"Very good. I'll have my letter delivered to the Pig and Whistle before sunset."

Riki gave a polite bow of acknowledgment. "What are you going to do with the look-alike the Corps gave us?"

"To be honest. I haven't given the matter much thought. She doesn't seem a suitable candidate for our facilities. The quarters were intended for a rather better class of person." The Consultant's tone made it plain that she did not relish the idea of looking after the ill-mannered lout for the rest of her life. "But if we release her, I'm worried she might talk."

"Who'd pay attention to a lowlife like her? And what could she say? Someone mistook her for someone else. I'm sure she comes out with far wilder stories when she's drunk. And if she has any sense, she'll keep quiet, what with the Intelligence Corps' involvement."

"There is that."

"If you want, I'll take her back to Landfall with me. I think the holy Sisters put up with her quite enough on the way here. I imagine they were looking forward to a calm return journey, without the foul-mouthed obscenities."

"It's considerate of you to offer."

Riki smiled. "But if you want my best advice, I think she's already had far more attention than she warrants. Dump her with the town Militia. I'm sure there's room in the lockup. It's where she belongs. If the local magistrate can't sort the case out, she'll have her sent back to Landfall."

"Yes." Sharif drew out the word, thoughtfully. "Yes, I think you're right. An easy solution. The town lockup."

 

The Pig and Whistle was the most expensive inn at Southwater, but seeing that it was owned by the Coppellis, room rates were even less of an issue than normal, and members of the wealthy family were rarely bothered by cost. The entrance hall of the inn was lined with dark wood paneling and smelled of spice, but Riki did not have long to admire it. Noting the good cut and material of her clothes, a member of the staff descended on her almost before she was inside the door.

"May I help you, madam?" A sickly sweet smile split the porter's face.

"If you could. I sent my woman along earlier to reserve rooms. My name is Devishi Tang."

"Ah, yes. Please follow me."

"You could just give directions."

"No, no. Let me show you the way." The woman bobbed and nodded all the while she was speaking, with the inane smile plastered across her lips.

Riki followed after, thinking about the recent display of sycophantic groveling that she had put on for the Sisters and Consultant. Maybe it had not been as exaggerated as she had thought. The porter was taking the act into a completely new realm. Riki wondered how rich, stupid, and arrogant the inn customers had to be before they took it all at face value.

The porter soon stopped outside a door on the second floor. "Here you are, madam. And if there is anything at all I may do, please, there's a bell inside that you can ring."

"Thank you."

The porter opened the door and then ducked back out of the way for Riki to enter. "There you go, madam."

"Thank you."

"It will be my privilege to help in any way I can."

"Thank you."

"And if—"

"Yes. Thank you." Riki shut the door firmly.

Soft laughter came from the other side of the room. "What's wrong? Don't you like having your ass kissed?"

Riki turned around, grinning. "No. At least, not by strangers."

"I'll make a note of that."

Devishi Tang was sitting in an overstuffed chair. Her clothes were of everyday appearance and mud stained from travel, making her somewhat out of keeping with the rest of the room, which was luxurious to the point of opulence. Clear glass windows offered views over the port. Thick rugs covered the floor. The furniture was well crafted and clearly made to last for generations. The Coppelli employee, Steph, was also present, hovering in the background.

Riki dropped into an empty chair.

"How did it go at the temple?" Devishi asked.

"Completely to script. Tanya should be dumped in the Militia lockup any time now. You're going to get a letter tonight, to hand-deliver to the Chief Consultant before you tell your grandmother that the Sisters lost Tanya."

"Great."

"Yup. And do you know what's even greater?"

"No."

"I can take all this off." Riki stood up again and stripped off first her wig, then the embroidered burgundy jacket and blue silk shirt, before starting to untie laces on the padding. Steph hurried over to assist.

"I've brought some unexciting clothes for you and Tanya to wear. They're in the bag over there." Devishi pointed to a worn holdall in the corner.

"Thanks. When did you get here?"

"Just before midday. I left the carriage at Salsport." Devishi stretched out her legs, yawning. "Anything else I need to know?"

"I think we've got a Corps agent as a tail."

"They're nosy little buggers, aren't they?"

"She might follow you back. Is she likely to hear that you drove down if she starts asking questions in Salsport?"

"No. The carriage and horses are in a family stable. No one will spill anything."

Riki glanced at Steph, who was currently loosening ties in a businesslike fashion. She was typical of the Coppelli employees Riki had met in Landfall, competent, loyal, and silent, unless she had something important to say. But of course, Isabel Coppelli would not surround herself with unreliable, loose-mouthed fools.

In a few more seconds, Riki was down to her underwear. She grinned her thanks to Steph and then knelt to rummage through the bag Devishi had brought. Suitably sized plain cotton shirt, trousers, and lightweight boots, all in neutral colors, were folded at the top. Meanwhile, Devishi had also started undressing and replacing her clothes with the far more costly outfit that Riki had just removed.

"I've booked you a room at the Old Tin Dog, down at the east end of the harbor. Give them the name of Babs Dunning," Devishi said once both women were seated again.

"Okay."

"But I think you might want to stay here and eat in this room with me and Steph. I can guarantee the food will be better. And there'll be less chance of you being spotted if you wait until after dark to slip out."

"You've talked me into it."

"And while I remember." Devishi went to another bag. "Here's a Militia release warrant for a Patricia Oduro."

Riki took the offered sheet. The last time she had seen it, the paper had been blank, except for Tanya's two fingerprints in faint boxes at the bottom. Now an official signed and stamped release warrant had been filled in around them, asserting full payment of all fines owning. Yet another example of penmanship from Isabel's skilled forger.

"Now for dinner." Devishi looked down at herself and sighed. "I guess since I'm the one wearing the clothes, it's my turn to be groveled over."

 

Tanya kept up her litany of complaints as the four Guards hauled her through the doorway of the Militia station. "I can't stay here. My mom'll frigging—"

"Shut up." One of the Guards slapped the side of her head.

Tanya flinched away, ducking her ears below shoulder level. The repeated blows would have been annoying, except they proved she was not dreaming. Grandma Izzy's plans had worked. In just a few more minutes she would be out of the Guards' custody. Not by escaping, but by duping them into relinquishing her. Not yet free, but one huge step closer.

The militiawoman on duty at the station sat up straight. Judging by her bleary eyes, she had been sleeping. "What's up?"

"We've got a customer for your lockup."

"What's she done?"

"Drunk, abusive, and fighting."

"In the temple?" The militiawoman sounded astonished.

"Nah. Back in Landfall."

"So what's she doing down here?"

"The Consultant wanted to talk to her."

"Why?"

The Guard sergeant leaned over the seated militiawoman. "Her holiness didn't tell me. And I didn't ask. Now are you going to open your lockup so we can put her inside? Or are you going to sit here asking pointless questions all day?"

"But what are we going to do with her?"

"Hang on to her until your magistrate next calls by. Or until someone comes to claim her. Assuming anyone wants her."

"The magistrate ain't due for three weeks." However, the militiawoman had given in to the pressure and was on her feet, slipping the key to the lockup off the chain on her belt.

"Then you're going to have plenty of time to get to know her well."

The door swung open and Tanya was shoved inside. She landed on a pile of damp straw that was, presumably, her bed. The door thudded shut and the key turned in the lock. The sound was one that Tanya was getting to know well.

She looked around at her new quarters. The lockup was three meters wide and maybe four long. A piss bucket stood in the corner, though judging by the smell, most occupants had made other arrangements. Tanya's gaze drifted up. At the top of the wall was a small barred window, twenty centimeters square. Through it she could see a patch of blue sky. Tanya smiled. If nothing else, it was an improvement on the Corps dungeon.

 

Even at sunrise at the start of a perfect summer's day, the salt marshes presented a bleak, cold picture. Intelligence Corps Lieutenant Maz Turan stared across the expanse of reed beds, mud, and oily water. The breeze carried the smells of salt, rotting plants, and tar. She shivered and turned her attention to the dockside.

Various craft were making ready to depart, long, flat river barges and tall-masted cargo ships. Porters were trundling back and forth with their handcarts. However, the boat that interested her was the small rowing skiff that ferried foot passengers to Salsport. At three kilometers away, the village marked the nearest point on the mainland.

Several passengers were already seated, including the Coppelli grandchild, Devishi Tang, in her distinctive burgundy jacket. The servant was beside her. Maz Turan climbed down into the boat and took her place in the stern. This was the first time she had seen Devishi Tang up close. It was only by checking the log at the Pig and Whistle that she had found out her name.

Once the barge had passed the last town on the Liffy and Turan had known for sure that her quarry was going on to Southwater, she had ridden ahead and arrived several hours before the barge. She had followed the party to the temple gates and seen the Sisters and their Guards return to the docks. She had then followed the servant to the Pig and Whistle and got back to the temple gates in time to tail Devishi Tang also going to the inn. And now she was going to sit in the ferryboat back to Salsport with Tang and her servant.

One of the oarswomen dropped into the skiff, making it rock wildly. Her colleague loosened the moorings and threw the ropes to her before following. They took their seats and pushed off from the quay.

Lieutenant Turan leaned back, as if enjoying the sun on her face. Her eyes drifted to the temple above the town. She was pleased to be on her way back to Landfall, able to make a full report.

The heretic had been taken into the temple and left in the custody of the Sisters there. Asking questions would be a waste of time. On past experience, the Sisters would deny all knowledge. Colonel Zelenski would not be happy with the news. There was no hope of reclaiming the heretic for the Corps to question, although on the plus side, there was no chance of her ever escaping. It was a mixed result, but one thing was for certain—Tanya Coppelli would never be seen or heard of again.