Lord of Order by Brett Riley (the reading list book TXT) 📕

For when?

Tomorrow night, or the day after. She says she’s got friends in Washington. I want to test that one more time, right now, before we go too far. If you can find out what they’re doin at the river, we can compare it to what she says.

She knows about Willa, Hobbes said. Might tell us the truth about this just because she knows we can double-check her.

As long as she’s alive, we’ll have to watch our backs. But if she’s stupid enough to lie, we can put her behind us for good. You took a bullet to get her outta the tower. If the time comes, you’ll be first in line to put one in her brain.

Hobbes said nothing. He looked troubled.

Could be he’s lost his taste for that kind of justice. And I can’t blame him, now that we’re on the other end of it. Or maybe it’s the whole shebang—Rook, Royster, the uncertainty. That last part should work itself out soon enough.

Troy planned to ask the envoys about the confrontation on the bridge, and that conversation would tell him much he needed to know.

McClure had already faded into the gathering shadows when Troy and Hobbes untied their horses and rode back toward the Temple.

May have to fracture somebody’s skull if they try to pull rank, Hobbes said as the church loomed ahead.

When they entered the building minutes later, the personnel milling about quieted and turned to watch them. He and Hobbes nodded at the staff and tipped their hats. Everyone looked pale and nervous. No eye contact. Shifting from foot to foot. Forced smiles on reddened faces.

Like horses just before a big storm hits, Hobbes muttered.

They climbed the back stairs and found Troy’s office door open. Royster sat behind the desk. Clemens and Benn had taken the straight-backs. Dwyer stood at ease behind the deputy envoys, while Jerold Babb flitted at Royster’s right hand. As Troy and Hobbes entered, Royster looked up and smiled. Troy and Hobbes positioned themselves to Clemens’s left, thumbs in their gun belts. Intensity boiled off the deputy envoy, despite his blank face.

He’s the most dangerous, Troy thought. Even if we killed every Crusader who outranked him, he’d hound us to the ends of the earth.

I’m happy you’re here, said Royster. I was going to send for you.

Glad we could spare you some trouble, Troy said. We need to talk about Ernie Tetweiller’s horse.

Royster chuckled and flapped his hand. The animal in question has been returned.

Troy gritted his teeth. He wanted to nail that flapping hand to the desk. That’s all well and good, as long as you understand that my people should be treated with respect.

As Babb’s face reddened and he began to sputter, Clemens snorted and stood. He tried to edge past Hobbes, who stood his ground. Over Hobbes’s shoulder, Clemens said, Are you giving orders to Matthew Rook’s envoy? Because if you are—

Oh, sit down, Aloysius, said Royster. This isn’t a schoolyard game of King of the Mountain.

Hobbes coughed and cleared his throat. Aloysius?

Clemens sat, his face red.

Royster sighed. I apologize for Mr. Clemens’s temper. It is, perhaps, his least admirable quality, though I have found it useful on occasion. I assume you meant no disrespect to us.

Troy looked him in the eye. None. I just want to make sure it goes both ways.

Gabriel, for heaven’s sake, Babb said.

Pipe down, Jerold. This ain’t your department.

Clemens sat stone-faced, staring straight ahead. Benn had regained his composure. Dwyer, monolithic, stood with his arms crossed. The Crusade’s rules of order dictated only Troy and Royster should speak, given their ranks. The others should have remained silent and still, like children in church, unless called on. Clemens had broken that rule and would probably pay for it somewhere down the line. Royster did not strike Troy as a man who would forgive any sin, even a political one. And if he decides to gut-shoot Clemens and dump him in the landfill, I bet folks will line up for the privilege of pullin that trigger.

Royster held his hands out, palms up. Respect earned is respect given, he said. I assure you both I and my men will treat you and yours as your position and service merit.

That’s good. For starters, you can leave our mounts alone.

New Orleans is full of horses. Why, we could slaughter half of them to feed our prisoners, and you’d still have more than enough.

Is that a threat? Troy studied Royster a moment. Folks earn their horses here. Takin em ain’t any way to repay loyalty.

Royster laughed and slapped the desk. Oh, Lord Troy, you look so serious. Such concern for beasts of burden. I’m afraid the best I can do is pledge to disrupt your people’s lives as little as possible. Though under the circumstances, little is a truly relative term.

A generous pledge, Babb said, giving Troy the stink eye.

Troy shrugged. A pledge was not a vow or a promise. Royster had chosen his words carefully so he could renege without sinning. Not a good sign, but exactly what Troy had come to expect. Now for the real test.

I reckon that’ll have to do for now. But since we’re talkin about my people and their lives, maybe you can tell me what’s goin on across the river. I hear you got the Troublers sittin in the streets. You plan to keep em there?

Royster’s smile faded. He sat back and folded his hands across his abdomen, looking from Troy to Hobbes. He even glanced at his deputies and Dwyer for a moment, a sure sign he expected trouble.

I should like very much to know the name of the person you talked with, he said.

Don’t recall, Troy said.

Babb clucked his tongue and wrung his hands as Royster frowned. My orders come from Matthew Rook himself, the envoy said. The Troublers will remain where they are until more troops arrive. At that time, we will begin sequestering the prisoners in existing edifices and erecting