Betrayal

Chapter 3

Carrot strode up the steps of the Patrician's Palace and entered, unannounced. Drumknott met him in the anteroom, somewhat surprised to see him again so soon.

"Captain Carrot..." he said. "I didn't realize you had an appointment with his Lordship?"

"I don't," said Carrot. "But I think he'll want to see me all the same."

Drumknott smiled pleasantly. "Well, it is rather late in the day, captain. Perhaps it could wait until tomorr—" He suddenly became aware that Carrot was staring at him, and that he didn't look happy. Drumknott blinked and pushed back his spectacles with a finger, deciding, wisely, that trying to stop him probably wasn't a good idea. "One moment, captain," he said. "I shall inform his Lordship of your arrival."

Carrot smiled. "Thank you Drumknott. That's very reasonable of you."

-o0o-

Vimes grabbed his coat and left his office. He dropped Carrot's keys into his pocket as he descended the stairs. He gave orders to Captain Noakes to take charge while he was gone, and then he left the building, heading for Carrot's place.

-o0o-

The Patrician was sitting at his desk, going through the remainder of the day's formalities, when Drumknott's head appeared around the door.

"Milord?" he said politely.

"Yes, Drumknott," said the Patrician, without looking up. "What is it?"

"Er, Captain Carrot is here, milord, he wishes to speak with you. He's waiting in the anteroom."

The Patrician raised an eyebrow. "Captain Carrot?"

"Yes, milord. He said it was important, and couldn't wait."

The Patrician paused for a second, and then continued to study his paperwork.

"Er, shall I tell him you're busy, milord?" said Drumknott, anticipating his reply.

"No, Drumknott. If Captain Carrot says it's important, then I think you'd better show him in, don't you?"

"Of course, milord."

Drumknott glided out of the room.

And Carrot strode in.

"Ah, Captain Carrot," said the Patrician, giving him a thin smile. "What a pleasant surprise."

"Glad you think so, sir."

The Patrician stood. "Please..." he said, motioning to the chair in front of his desk. "Take a seat."

"I'd rather stand, sir. If it's all the same to you."

The Patrician gave him a small nod.

"So, captain. What can I do for you?"

"I think you know why I'm here, sir," said Carrot, looking him directly in the eye.

The Patrician met his gaze, unflinching. "Yes, captain..." he said. "I believe I do."

-o0o-

Vimes stood outside Carrot's lodgings searching in his pocket for the key. It was almost dark now, and the murky evening light meant he'd be able to let himself in without being noticed. He unlocked the door and entered, and then sat on the bed, waiting for Carrot to return...

-o0o-

Captain Carrot of the City Watch and the Supreme ruler of Ankh-Morpork stood facing one another, each man obviously unafraid of the other. The contrast in the two men was quite striking. Regardless of the differences in physical appearance, however, both men had one thing in common. It was a man named Samuel Vimes...

The Patrician was the first to speak.

"So, captain," he said. "I assume the commander has sent you here to speak with me?"

"Actually, no, sir," said Carrot. "Commander Vimes doesn't know I'm here."

"Really?" said the Patrician, quite taken aback. "But he did inform you of our little discussion this afternoon?"

"Yes, sir, he did."

"And the matter has been dealt with, I trust?"

"If you mean has it changed anything between the commander and myself, sir, then no."

Vetinari eyed him, carefully. "Are you telling me you would deliberately disobey an order, captain?"

"I wasn't aware that it was an order, sir."

Vetinari considered him for a moment and then turned towards the window. He hadn't been expecting a confrontation, much less from Carrot. He would need more time to think about this sudden, unexpected turn of events.

Carrot assessed the situation and recognized the signs: Vetinari wasn't a man to lose his composure, but this was as close as he was going to get. He took a deep breath and pressed forward, determined to see this through...

"Sir, why are you doing this to the commander?" he said.

The Patrician suddenly turned. "I beg your pardon?"

"Well, it's obvious to me that you care for him as much as I do—"

"You presume rather a lot, young man," said Vetinari, a little testily.

Carrot knew he was skating on thin ice.

Vetinari continued, "You know, secrets can be a dangerous thing to have, captain," he said, meaningfully.

"Yes, sir..." said Carrot, spotting the veiled threat. "But everyone has secrets..."

"And what is that supposed to mean, exactly?"

"Well, I talk to people," said Carrot. "It's amazing how much they can tell you without actually saying anything at all..."

Vetinari glared at him.

Carrot smiled innocently. It was the sort of smile that managed to look both friendly and menacing at the same time. It said: "Two can play at this game."

Vetinari turned away from him suddenly and returned his gaze to the window. He clasped his hands behind his back; Carrot couldn't help noticing his knuckles had turned white.

A long moment of silence followed, in which the only sound that could be heard was the ticking of the clock.

Carrot licked his lips nervously, grateful that Vetinari had his back to him. He'd found a chink in Vetinari's armour, and in an effort to save his commander, he had risked everything on it...

Finally, Vetinari spoke.

"It appears I have misjudged you, captain," he said.

Carrot let his breath out slowly. "Could be, sir," he said. "It's a mistake a lot of people make."

"Indeed."

There was another long moment of silence.

"Well, it appears this discussion is over, captain," said Vetinari, turning to face him again.

"I take it everything's... settled, then?"

"It would appear that way," Vetinari conceded. "Seeing as I no longer have a choice in the matter."

"No, sir. Thank you, sir."

"I do trust, however, that you know the meaning of the word 'discretion', captain?"

"Yes, sir. Of course, sir."

"Well, if there's nothing else..."

"No, sir."

Carrot turned and saw himself out.

Vetinari stared after him for a long time when he'd gone. He couldn't imagine why he'd ever thought Carrot was simple. He was far from it. The young man didn't miss a thing. He took in everything and there it stayed, just waiting for a chance to re-emerge...

Vetinari returned his attention to the window.

The sky outside glowed an eerie orange, the effect of hundreds of lights coming on all over the city. People everywhere were getting ready for bed. Sleep, however, was the last thing on Vetinari's mind. How could he possibly sleep knowing he had failed? He knew how important Carrot had become in Vimes' life, and his motive for wanting to end their relationship was purely selfish. Carrot had been right; he did care for Vimes. He'd wanted to end their relationship not because he thought it was wrong, but because it wasn't him.

-o0o-

Drumknott went about his business in his room, ironing and laying out his clothes for the morning. Finally satisfied that everything was in order, he ran a bath and got ready to retire. He would be returning here to sleep later, as he always did, quietly slipping from the Patrician's bed and returning to his own. Vetinari had always preferred to sleep alone, if the man ever slept at all.

He began wondering, vaguely, what Carrot had wanted to see the Patrician about, and if he would be stopping by for a chat like he always did. Carrot was asking some strange questions about the Patrician lately, but he knew there was no harm in answering them. After all, it was only Carrot...

-o0o-

Carrot arrived back at his lodgings and let himself in.

Vimes jumped up when he saw him, looking concerned. "Carrot! Where have you been? I've been worried sick about you!"

"Really, sir?" said Carrot, smiling.

"Yes," Vimes admitted, looking slightly embarrassed. "Really."

"I've been to see the Patrician," said Carrot. "We had a little chat."

Vimes' face turned white. "You did what?"

"It's okay, sir. Everything's been sorted out."

"Sorted out? But, how...?"

"I'll explain later," said Carrot. "The important thing is, Vetinari can't touch you anymore, and he knows it."

"But Carrot! How can you be sure of that?"

"Let's just say Vetinari has a little secret of his own. I'm just playing him at his own game."

"I-I don't understand."

"Well, I took a chance, and it paid off."

"You took a chance?" said Vimes, suddenly regaining his senses. "Carrot, are you mad? What if it had gone wrong?"

"It would have been the end of my career, probably," Carrot admitted. "But I couldn't just let you—"

"Carrot, you idiot!" Vimes bellowed. "You can't go around risking your career for my sake!"

"I considered it worth it, sir."

"But you could have lost everything, Carrot! And for what?"

"For you, sir," said Carrot. "And for us... if that's what you still want, of course."

Vimes stared at him; furious at him for being so reckless, knowing that he ought to grab hold of him and shake some bloody sense into him. Instead, he reached out and pulled him close, hugging him tightly.

"Oh, Carrot," he said, fighting with mixed emotions. "Promise me you won't do anything like that again."

Carrot didn't answer, knowing he'd do anything to protect his commander. Instead, he squeezed Vimes a little tighter; it seemed to suffice as a reply.

They finally broke the embrace, and Vimes looked up into Carrot's face, knowing there was no longer any doubt in his mind about his feelings for him. He smiled, somewhat resignedly, and ran a hand through his hair. "Er, do you mind if I stay for a bit?" he asked, a little awkwardly. "I could, er, do with the company?"

Carrot smiled at him, the look on his face said: "Did you really need to ask?"

He pulled Vimes closer...

And, some time later...

Carrot lay back on the bed. Vimes moved over and lay his head on Carrot's large expanse of chest, smiling as Carrot's arms closed around him and his face nuzzled into his hair.

"So, are you planning to tell me what Vetinari's little secret is, then?" said Vimes, still smiling.

"Well, you're never going to believe this," said Carrot. "But he and Drumknott are, you know..."

Vimes lifted his head and looked at him. "No?" he said, flabbergasted. "Really?"

Carrot nodded.

"Well, I'll be... But then, why did Vetinari insist we end our relationship?" said Vimes.

"Why do you think?"

"It's obvious, isn't it? The man hates me."

Carrot searched Vimes' face, looking for an indication he might be joking. He wasn't. Vimes genuinely believed that Vetinari hated him, when Carrot knew the complete opposite was true. It amazed him how this man lying in his arms could believe himself so unworthy of anyone's love.

"Well, it doesn't matter what he thinks anymore," said Carrot. "We're still together, and he can't change that."

Vimes lay his head on Carrot's chest again. "Carrot..." he said, a little uncertainly. "Everything will be all right, won't it?"

"Yes," said Carrot, wrapping his arms around him, almost protectively. "Everything will be all right. I promise."

Lying in the warmth of Carrot's embrace, Vimes could almost believe that was true. For as long as he could remember he'd been looking out for other people, and now, someone was actually looking out for him...

'...Quis custodiet ipsos custodies?' Vetinari had once asked him. 'Who guards the guards?'

'That's easy, sir,' Vimes remembered replying at the time. 'We guard one another...'

He smiled.

Maybe today wouldn't be the worse day of his life, after all...

-o0o-

The End.