Page 79 of Company of Thieves
“Our agreement is for me to take Prussia once we have William’s forces out of the country—”
“And just how do you expect to claim Prussia when the imperator allows William to defeat you and the Black Hand?”
Etienne smirked. “That won’t happen. Not with the imperator’s forces behind us. This is my chance to remove the empire once and for all.”
“Oh?” Alan cocked an eyebrow. “And are there Moghuls in Prussia now, ready to help you? William is on his way to clear out the Black Hand, and given that you’ve fought against him for more than ten years without defeating him, I don’t see that you will do so with only your mad bunch of revolutionaries at hand.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Etienne sneered.
“No? During much of the past ten years, I supported you, doing my part to bring down an empire that I no more think should hold Prussia than you do, and yet now you believe that you can simply take it from William?”
“Your father’s forces—” he started to say, his brow furrowed.
“Are in Buda, where they will stay.”
“We have an agreement!”Etienne shouted, his face red. “Your father signed it.”
“And it’s worth only the paper it’s on,” Alan said, waving a dismissive hand. “I’m sure the imperator will have some sort of an excuse why he cannot send troops to aid you with the coming battle in Posen, but if you are willing to believe that, then we have little to discuss. William is on his way; once he has wiped out the Black Hand in Prussia, he will turn his attention to Hungary. I will not see my men caught in the middle of what is sure to be a bloodbath. Come, Hallie.”
He put his hand on my back, turning me and taking three steps before Etienne stopped us. “How do I know you are speaking the truth? You could be trying to sow dissent between your father and me. Or are you working for William?”
Alan looked back at Etienne. “Do you honestly think that’s likely? He has a bounty on Octavia’s head. My loyalties lie with her Company of Thieves, not with the empire that I have worked so hard to break.”
Etienne made an annoyed gesture. “What do you gain by turning me against your fath—” He stopped, his eyes widening. “Ah, I begin to see. You wish to be imperator in his place.”
Alan said nothing, just looked at him.
“I have to give it to Alan,” I whispered to Zand, who was now slightly behind where Alan stood facing Etienne. “He’s a damned good bluffer. Remind me never to play poker with him.”
“He’ll take you for everything you’re worth,” Zand said with a wry twist to his lips. “I’m lucky that in the past he’s felt guilty of bankrupting me and returned my property.”
Etienne eyed Alan for a few minutes before saying, “Very well, I will hear your proposal.”
“It is quite simple. Marry Constanza yourself,” Alan said, taking me by surprise.
I had a moment of appreciation for just how devious his mind was. If Etienne married the duchess, that took her out of his father’s grasp, and eliminated his potential claim on Prussia. It left Etienne to be dealt with later, but William himself said the revolutionaries were of secondary importance.
Etienne was silent for a moment, clearly thinking about that. “And if I do so, what will you ask of me?”
“Withdraw your forces in the Hungarian empire,” Alan answered. “The people are not pleased with the imperator, and he does not have the strength of numbers to keep Turkey under his domain and deal with insurrection in Hungary and Austria. If the Black Hand is removed from those regions, the people will revolt and overthrow the scant forces the imperator left.”
“Ah, that is how you are thinking,” Etienne said slowly, his voice filled with pleasure. “It is true that without my members, control would slip through your father’s fingers. If I do as you ask, and you claim your father’s throne, you must cede to me the Hungarian empire.”
Alan inclined his head. “I have no desire to rule it.”
“Oh? You are not very like your father.” Suspicion was once again evident in Etienne’s voice.
“No, I am not. I am newly wed, and my wife is in a delicate condition. I have fought for the Moghul empire my entire life. I am not getting younger, and wish to enjoy the time that remains me in the company of my wife and what children we are blessed with. The days of Akbar are in the past.”
Etienne’s gaze slipped toward me. “I will need a guarantee that I can trust you. Your woman—”
“My wifeis not an object to be passed around,” Alan snapped, his voice now filled with anger. “Nor do I offer a guarantee for my behavior. I amnotmy father. When I give my word, I keep it. Either you will recognize that, or we are through here.”
I expected the volatile Etienne to get his knickers in a twist over that, but to my surprise, he shrugged. “Your reputation is not tarnished with betrayal, as is your father’s. Very well. I will wed Constanza, and you will remove your father from power, following which you will recall Moghul troops, what remain of them, from the Hungarian empire. Do we have an accord?”
“We do,” Alan said, and the two men shook hands.
Without another word, he put his hand on my back and escorted me from the church, Zand and Az falling in behind us.
