Deathstalker 03 - Deathstalker War

word had got out, inevitable in a city like Mistport, and there was pandemonium in the streets. People were shouting and running, brandishing weapons that ranged from energy guns to generations-old blades, handed down through families for just such a day as this. Some made bold speeches of defiance, while others prophesied doom, and would-be warriors and refugees tried blindly to push each other out of the way. Street barricades were already going up here and there, causing unfortunate bottlenecks of desperate people.
    Pickpockets and cutpurses were having the time of their lives. This was Mistport, after all, and neither invasion nor sudden death could be allowed to get in the way of turning a quick profit. Steel kept his head down and bulled
    his way through.
    When he finally got to the Blackthorn Inn, in the heart of Thieves Quarter, the place was already packed to overflowing, with lights blazing from every window.
    It couldn't have looked more like a target if it had tried. Most of the Council had beaten him there, but were too busy shouting and screaming at each other to acknowledge his arrival. Typical, thought Steel, and left them to get on with it. He pushed his way wearily to the long wooden bar. He felt in need of a stiff drink, and to hell with his ulcers. Cyder, the tavern owner, was helping to dispense drinks at the bar, alongside a sepulchral bartender, and Steel ordered several large brandies from her, in the same glass, on the grounds that it might be some time before he could slip away to order more. Cyder poured the brandies into a large silver tankard with only the slightest of winces, and smiled broadly at Steel.
    "If I'd known the emergency Council was going to be this good for business, I'd have volunteered long ago."
    "Now that is typical of you, Cyder," said Steel. "The whole city is about to get trashed, and us with it, and all you're worried about is your profit margin."
    Cyder batted her eyes at him. "A girl has to look out for herself."
    "Please don't do that," said Steel. "On you, it looks unnatural."
    Cyder shrugged. "Whoever's in charge of Mistport, people will still want to drink. And soldiers' money is as good as anyone else's."
    "Assuming they don't burn the Blackthorn to the ground for harboring the emergency Council," said Steel, taking a large gulp from his glass.
    "Damn," said Cyder. "I hadn't thought of that. Why did you choose my place anyway?"
    "Because it's central. Because no one will be looking for the Council in a dive
    like this. And because you know practically everyone in this city. A perfect combination. I'd order some more barrels brought up from the cellar, if I were you. People are going to be rushing in and out of here like their pants were on fire, once the Council gets its act together, and they're probably all going to want large drinks. Imminent danger and the chance of sudden death will do that to you. I don't suppose there's any sign of Donald Royal yet?"
    "Not so far. But he's an old man, and it's a long way to come for him. Even if he can get through the madness in the streets."
    "Damn. He's the only other person on the Council I can trust to do the right thing. I'll bet you there are some damn fools already talking about negotiating a surrender with honor."
    "Look on the bright side," said Cyder. "At least this time we don't have to worry about Typhoid Mary running loose."
    "No," said Investigator Topaz coldly. "You don't."
    Steel and Cyder both looked around sharply as Topaz and Mary made their way through the crowd to join them at the bar. People moved quickly to get out of the way of the two women. Even the danger of an invasion hadn't blinded them to common courtesy and the need for self-preservation. Steel gave them his best professional, everything's-under-control smile, but neither of them looked in the least impressed, so he dropped it. Cyder glared at Mary, one hand rising unconsciously to the thin scars on her face, legacy of their last meeting, when Mary had nearly killed Cyder with a single deadly song. Cyder never had been one to forgive or forget.
    Steel decided he'd better get the ball rolling before things started getting seriously out of hand. "About time you got here, Investigator. I'm putting you
    in charge of the city Watch, as from this moment. You know more about how the Empire fights, and how best to face them, than anyone else. Give whatever orders you feel necessary, requisition anything you need, and we'll argue about it later. I