Arwin Tsocco and his guests crossed the border into Kelvon, and they stoppe

evening meal, the three men found themselves sharing the common room with a party of Carrow merchants whose wagons, they'd seen on the way in, were

s around a small table in the corner of the room. Arwin went to the bar and brought back three standards of ale which dripped froth down their sides as he placed them on the table. The Bri

e thing I've learned is that you can judge a country by the beer it serves.

he floor with a headache," replied Arwin with a grin. The merest hint of a smile appeared on the Br

ohol of any kind still left him feeling a bit queasy, like eating rancid fruit, but he made himself drink half the glass anyway, not wanting to be

es of its muzzle as it tried to drink it, making its companions roar with laughter. All except one, presumably its father, who glared at his friends until they slapped the half human bear on its hairy back and a

t time in Kelvon?"

ut the tankard down. "Forgive me for saying so,

ed over by a Council of Barons. Thirty years isn't long enough for Kelvon to have made much of an impact on the local culture. Only about a q

They thought the Empire would feed them if they joined. The Barons tried to oppose it, but they were dragged out of th

er. "That's the lesson for rulers everywhere. Feed the people first. Everything else

nd anything else, to every other part of the Empire wi

can

food. Free movement of people is another benefit of being part of the Empire. Any of these peopl

ple of Farwell welc

making sure they're happy to stay here. That's how the Empire works

want to be part of the Emp

their best farming land to us fifty years ago and tell themselves that we stole it. They refuse to acknowle

a better name for it than the Twe

onsolidated regions of Barrow, Tippl

mpler to just call them the Tweenlands. Serio

empire," said Arwin. "They want an empire of

years Carrow has been shrinking. They've only become a threat to us now because they've converted to a total war economy. They'

not be completely human yet, but there's nothing wrong with your

sked Arwin. "

erhear. "Maybe they're unwilling dupes of the Radiants," he said. "Being driv

an empire," said Malon

have in mind for us," said Arwin. "The

ping the rest of us under control. All the human world becoming a prison with the Carrowmen as the guards, making sure science and technology never rises abo

ow might be able to take down Helberion but they're just

e," said the Brigadier. "Have there been any natural

that even King Nilon would willingly collaborate with Radiants to enslave humanity. I

e the next focus of our concern. We need to know more of what's going on there." He turned to face the former amba

e you're right. When we reach Farwell we can see whet

ound to see what was going on. The small group of locals was glaring at the guardsmen. One of them leaned over to whisper something to another, making him chuckle, but not in a nice way. One of

?" The Brigadier

eping force, they get on well with the

t locals the

ted anywhere in the Empire. Their leader has the look of a Kurstian to him. I would g

glancing at the locals as if afraid that they might resent him for associating with them. The Brigadier got up and walked over to

stop here every time we travel between your countr

e over. It was the father of the half raised bear, the Brigadier

e west?" asked t

sts plotting and causing trouble. The army's cracking down on them

the escort rider. "We were thr

en given the job of calling on people who can't pay their taxes. They k

cekeepers, not debt collectors! They

e's tax enforcers now. They say they don't like the job but they do it none the less. The guy giving them the

taxes?" asked the Brigadier, a co

ore looked over at him. "They've been recruiting new guardsmen too. The kind of people who like having power ov

fect?" said t

e for trouble, said he wasn't going to run his country that way, so Skelby h

's Sk

oke up one morning and found ourselves living in a police state. It never used to be like this. Everyone was happy, the guards were easy going. T

man that King Leothan kept out of positions of authority at all costs. The kind of man who would deliberately stir up trouble just so he could beat someone to a pulp while arresting them for 'disturbing the peace'. Almost certainly bigoted against foreigners and deeply in love with his weapon of choice. Probably a cudgel of some kind. The Brigadier could tell instantly that there would be no reasoning with this man. He would take a

backpedal. "People are having to tighten their belts to

at him. "What's you

ve to give y

cudgel, as the Brigadier had suspected, and it had proba

e Captain of the gua

replied Ludger, not taking his eyes

enough, Ludger

arning glare, then moved away to rejoin his fellows. The escort rider shook his h

, whose side would you have

my business. It's their job

g the peace. That wa

can't get involved in civilian

wn table, then on an impulse went over to where the guards were standing. Ludger gla

e Captain. "I want to let you know that I appreciate the good job you do. You risk your lives to keep ordinary pe

an't do our jobs without the support of the locals." His eyes turned to Ludger, an

is attention on the Captain. "Weyland

s hand and shook it. "Pleased to meet you. I'm guessing you're Helberian, an

he drinks arrived and the guards took one each. The Ca

ind of b

sn't out to steal your export markets. Now that we're at

ore and more of the troops station

ann and

ers, let alone go off and get involved in a foreign war. We couldn't get involved even if..." H

f you wa

ubles here at home.

rite Helberion off just yet, not if I know the King. Carrow wants a war because they th

nce away from the other patrons. The Brigadier nodded and they went to sit there. Once they were away from

Separationists are getting bolder, more vocal. More and more people are saying they'd be better off outside the Empire, and the more the Empire clamps d

e guard, surely. Peo

he guard are locals, you see. They have sympathies with local grievances. The army, though, come from all parts of t

g to happen here too,"

ll, no-one really knows

he guard. People like Ludger. People who like bullying people around, who get drunk on having power over others

overnment is behind this? Stirri

ng up the people against the government and firing up the governmen

ze power! You're talking

ad. "I wanted to warn you to be careful," he said. "It's people like you who are the real threat to this person. The old school, genui

the uninform." The Brigadier could tell from his voice that he was deeply unhappy about it. It's Forrt. Th

lly assimilate. No matter how nasty and brutish they are, if they're surrounded by good, decent guardsmen they'll act the same way, outwardly at least, and the plot to throw the country into chaos wi

ther direction. If there are enough of them that they dominate the culture of the

e were a lot of

rrt will be wanting to promote them fast. Ludger is already bucking for Sergeant.

ed by decent men who set the moral compass of the guard. Ludger and his like will have to suppress their baser selves in order to fit in. You may think

You're the Brigadier, aren't you? The Brig

f them are exa

the heart of the problem? I know that the problems you're facing i

man. I'm hoping to meet with the Emperor himself. If this is indeed a coup in the making, he's the one person we

he's so insulated in that palace of his that he doesn't know what's r

me, keep up the good work, and be careful! I wouldn't p

. Thank you, Brig

be overheard, he repeated the conversation to Arwin and Malone. The former ambassador cursed u

t's just the normal jostling for power and influence that takes place in