Dzur (22 page)

After the fowl, you know what is coming next, because it is the thing that you actually ordered-half a lifetime ago, it seems. Your or-der has been sitting in the back of the mind for the entire meal. Every sip, every morsel has been a delight in itself, and, at the same time, a preparation for what is next.

And so, of course, Valabar's makes you wait for it while you drink the wine that went with the fowl.

They clear off the table, leaving you half a bottle of wine and your glasses. Then they come by and give you a whole new setting. I can't think of any reason for them to do that unless they are deliberately delaying, building the tension. If that is the reason, I can only say it works. New plates, new flatware, new wineglasses. The sound-soft but unmistakable-of each item set on the table was like music. Or, I imagine, what music would be like to those who felt about music the way I feel about food.

"What comes next?" said Telnan.

"What you ordered."

"Oh."

He frowned. "I don't remember what I ordered anymore:' "Then you get the pleasure of being surprised."

He nodded. "That works."

"You pretty much take what comes, don't you."

"Doesn't everyone?"

"Not the way I mean it?"

"Uh. I guess I do?"

"Is that a Dzur trait, or is that just you?"

He blinked. I don't think he knew how to answer that. He eventually settled for, "Why do you want to know?"

"Good question. I'm not sure."

"You're trying to figure out what it means to be a Dzurlord, aren't you?"

"I guess maybe I am?'

Why?

"Telnan-"

"Hmmm?"

"Are you trying to figure out what it means to be a, well, a me?"

"Sure."

"Why?"

"Fair is fair."

"Oh. All right."

"I wish the food would arrive?'

"Enjoy the anticipation, my friend?'

"My favorite part of anticipation is when it's done, and the action starts."

"Ah ha."

"Hmm?"

"Just made a discovery about Dzur?"

"Oh. You still haven't told me why you care?'

"Because I don't believe you guys?'

"Beg pardon?"

"You could say that Dragaerans have been a sort of study of mine all my life?'

"Why?"

"Necessity. Survival?"

"Okay!'

"And I can make sense of most Dragaerans, but not Dzur. You seek out situations that I work as hard as I can to avoid. I can't make sense of it."

"Oh."

"Answer your question?"

"I guess. But-"

"Yeah?"

"I wish the food would get here. I like it when the action starts:'

"All right, Loiosh. Ready for another long walk?"

"We'll fly, if it's all the same to you. Where are we going?"

"Back to the City."

"Oh. Is it time for that errand?"

"Past time, I think."

"And who's going? You, or Sandor?"

"Sandor. I don't think I'd make it."

"That's just what I was thinking:'

We took the Stone Bridge across the river, which added several hours to the walk; but it wasn't like I had anything else to do. The day was chilly and the breeze stung a little, but I enjoyed walking in my new boots. When I'd left town before, with the Jhereg after me and my life in a shambles, I should have taken the time to get new boots. But now things were different. Now my life was in shambles and the Jhereg was after me. Yeah.

I did get a few glances from travelers on the Stone Bridge, but I kept my eyes lowered and nothing happened. The Stone Bridge, I've been told, is the oldest of the bridges connecting the two parts of the City. It is certainly the narrowest, and, these days, the least used. I don't know why it was put where it was, unless both parts of the City grew in different directions than anticipated.

Which doesn't make sense-you'd think that, once the bridge was up, it would determine how the City grew. But that was a long time ago, and just goes on the list of things I don't under-stand.

The bridge has always felt solid, though; what more can one ask?

I took a wide detour around the Imperial Palace-or, more precisely, the Jhereg Wing-in part because of what Kiera had said. I am not entirely free of superstition. Loiosh was merciful, and didn't make any remarks about it.

It was getting on toward evening when I struck Lower Kieron Road and my old neighborhood. The hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I could feel Loiosh become even more alert. I kept wanting to rest my hand on Lady Teldra's hilt, but managed to re-strain myself.

It was even hard not to stop outside of my old office and stare at it for a while. Again, I resisted. I went straight in; a harmless Easterner who couldn't threaten a norska, that was me. Or, rather, Sandor. I think after about two months of being Sandor I'd have to cut my throat. The proprietor of the herb shop politely asked me if I wished assistance. This was gratifying; evidently working for an Easterner for several years had left its mark. I gave him a big smile.

"I'm looking for a gift for my uncle," I said. He didn't respond at once; I suppose that wasn't all that uncommon a phrase. He said, "What sort of herbs does he usually consume?" I cleared my throat. "I'm looking for a gift for my uncle," I said again, very carefully.

"Oh!" He stared at me, but even looking couldn't see through the disguise. Which was odd; it wasn't much of a disguise. He said, "What sort of gift did you have in mind?"

"Anything you sell will be perfect."

He nodded, gave me a funny look, and said, "We haven't used that code in three years."

"Oh," I said. "Sorry. What's the-no, never mind. Excuse me." He nodded, and I went past him into the next room.

The Shereba game was going, and I could swear the same stumps were in the same chairs in the same positions with the same piles of coins stacked the same way as the last time I'd been in there. If I'd looked at their faces, no doubt I'd have seen a difference, but it wasn't worth it. The muscle-on-duty gave me a glance. I differentially pointed at the far door, and gave a sort of bob of my head. He nodded, and I passed through to the stairway.

A Jhereg I didn't recognize was leaning against the wall at the top of the stairs. I stopped halfway up and said, "Is Kragar in?"

"I think so," he said. "Who should I say-"

"Tell him someone is here with a message from Kiera the Thief." His eyes widened a little, and I think I gained some respect. His face went blank for a moment, then he said, "Bide." I nodded. A moment later he said, "Okay, go on up."

I climbed the familiar stairs, and it occurred to me that this place, that had once been my office, might be the only establishment in the Empire where an Easterner could expect to be treated politely. As a legacy, I could do worse.

I didn't recognize the fellow sitting behind what had been Melestav's desk before Melestav had succumbed to temptation. He nodded to me, and said, "It's that door. Go right in."

Yeah, I knew that door. It had been my door. I felt about a half a second of irritation at Kragar for taking my office, then realized how absurd it was. I was looking very carefully when I entered, and there he was, seated at the desk, looking at me with his general-purpose smirk, as opposed to his smirk of recognition.

"I'm Kragar," he said. "Sit down. You have a message from-"

"Yeah, I lied about that part," I said. "Mind if I shut the door?"

"Vlad!"

I took that as a yes and shut the door.

He said, "What are you-"

"Mind opening the window, Kragar?"

"Why? Oh."

He opened the window. Loiosh and Rocza flew in the window and took positions on my shoulders. Loiosh hissed a greeting at Kragar, who shut the window behind them.

"Okay, Vlad. Now. What are-?"

"You," I interrupted, "are just about the sneakiest son-of-a-bitch I know."

"Huh? What did I do now?"

"It's what you've been doing for years, and never told me about."

"Uh . . . Vlad, I'm not sure-"

"Tell the proprietor his shipment is ready, and he might need more space to store it all."

Kragar's jaw dropped, which provided me a measure of satisfaction.

"How did you . . . I don't know which question to ask first." I nodded.

"My life is often like that."

"Vlad-"

"Okay, we can get to your questions in a bit. But first, you have a job to do."

"A what?"

"A commission to fulfill."

"What commission?"

"Tell the proprietor-"

"You mean, you're serious about that?"

"What would make you think I'm joking?"

After a while, he said, "Umm, all right. You're serious. I need toVerra's tits, Vlad! You just come in here and . . . all right. Do you have a name?"

"Sandor."

"Okay, where do I find this Sandor?"

"No, no. That's my name. While I'm in disguise."

"Is that a disguise? I thought you'd just changed the cut of your clothes."

"Shut up," I suggested.

"Nice beret, though. It suits you."

"Shut up."

"Okay, well, good, now I know what to call you while you aren't answering my question."

"You mean the name of the target."

"Yeah, that would be helpful."

"It's a sorceress named Crithnak. Left Hand."

"Okay. Any other information?"

"Her sister is dead."

"Okay. Is that important?"

"I doubt it."

"What else?"

"She's very good. She managed to find me when she shouldn't have been able to."

"I'm sure he'll be terrified. What else?"

"How long have you been his contact, Kragar?"

"About, uh, ninety years, I guess."

"How did you meet him?"

"A mutual friend introduced us."

"A friend? I didn't think Aliera even liked you." He chuckled. "One for you, Vlad."

"Kragar, didn't you once tell me, in so many words, that you didn't know how to get hold of Mario?"

"Uh, I don't think I ever said that. I may have implied it pretty strongly."

"Heh."

"But I also asked him if he wanted to get involved that time. He didn't."

"Why not?"

"I didn't think to ask him. I usually don't."

"Okay"

He nodded. "Wait here. I have an errand to run."

"Yep."

I sat back to wait.

"You think he's doing it, Boss?"

"You mean, as opposed to running off to arrange to get the bounty on my head?"

"Yeah."

"I trust him. Don't you?"

"Yes, but mostly because if he doesn't get that message to Mario, Mario will kill him."

"Good point."

I glanced at the open door, and wondered if I should shut it. But, no, it wasn't my office anymore. I looked around. Yeah, I missed the place. Maybe not all that much, but I missed it.

"Okay, Vlad. Now do I get to ask questions?"

I jumped about halfway to the ceiling and glared at Kragar. "Don't ask why I've never killed you, because I don't think I know the answer." He smiled. Maybe I've never killed him because he's the only one who always knows when I'm joking.

"What about me?"

"You missed one just the other day:'

"So, where have you been, Vlad?"

"You mean, for the past few years?"

"Well, no, I meant the past few days. But I'm curious about the past few years, too."

"All over. Went back East, northwest . . . all over."

"Okay. But, these last few days-oh. You've been in South Adrilankha, walking around like an Easterner."

"Right. How have you taken to running things?"

"I like the money."

"Yeah, that part is nice. Any problems?"

"Yeah. Finding someone so stupid that he's willing to do for me what I always did for you."

"That would be tough, wouldn't it?"

He nodded. "So what's been going on? I haven't heard-"

"You've been working for Mario all this time, you sneaky bastard?"

"Well, yeah."

I shook my head. "And the worst part is, you're really enjoying it that I'm so shocked."

He smiled innocently.

"Bastard."

"Does this mean you won't tell me what's going on?"

"Do you really want to get any more involved with my affairs than you already are?"

He shrugged. "Why not?"

"Well, for starters, they'll kill you."

"Okay. What after that?"

"Chances are, that's all."

"So only one thing to worry about? That's not so many."

"How long did you say you'd been Mario's contact?"

"About ninety years, and I prefer the term `business agent.' "

"You mean, messenger."

"Something like that, yeah."

I shook my head.

"So, what's the plan, Vlad?"

I studied him for a little. He frowned. "Vlad, are you wondering if you can trust me?"

"Actually, no."

"Good."

"I know I can trust you. I'm having real doubts about getting you killed."

"Why? You never did before."

"This is different and you know it."

"What's so different about it?"

"Well, it's Morganti. And it's the whole damned Jhereg. And the Left Hand is involved. I'm gone. I'm out of here. If you're known to be in this with me, and you live through it, then you'll have to be gone, too. You can't come back from this and go on with business."

"Isn't that my decision?"

"It isn't that simple."

"Yes it is."

"Not to me."

"That's because you complicate everything."

"Oh. So that's my problem?"

"One of them."

"Going to give the whole list?"

He grinned. "Not unless you ask for it."

I sighed. "I've put things into motion that I can't control. Things have started. I-"

"Just now? With my errand?"

"A little before that, actually. It all centers around South Adrilankha."

"Yeah, I knew that part."

"Do you know why?"

He smiled happily. "Not even a guess."

"For one thing, Terion," I said.

"What about him?"

"He's pushing for the number-one spot on the Council."

"Okay. And?"

"He's enlisted the help of the Left Hand."