Hederick The Theocrat (15 page)

The sound of the rock scraping back from the entrance started Tarscenian into wakefulness.
He was alert and standing by the time the half-elf Gaveley entered the den. Mynx sat at
the table, her expression unreadable. Gaveley was dressed in the fashion of a pampered
noblesnowy white silk shirt, tight green leather leggings, and fawn-colored kidskin boots.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted Tarscenian. His almond-shaped, hazel eyes
flicked to Mynx, then back to the tall traveler.

Two humans, both men, stood behind Gaveley. Their manner and guise contrasted sharply with
that of the more elegantly attired half-elf. One man was nearly as tall as Tarscenian, but
far huskier; he had the crushed ear and flattened nose of someone who was no stranger to
tavern brawls. The other man was small and slight and so ordinary-looking as to be
overlooked in almost any crowdwhich was probably to his advantage, Tarscenian thought.

“What is this?” Gaveley said in a hostile voice, almost a hoarse whisper. “What is a
stranger doing here? Mynx ...” His hand went to the ornate sword at his waist. Mynx stood
to introduce Tarscenian. She sketched in the events of the afternoon and evening. “He
wishes to join us. To my mind, he has some promise. He fooled the high priest and the
temple guards handily in the refugees' quarter, Gaveley. You should have been there. Look.”

She dug Dahos's ring out of a pocket and handed it to Gaveley, who accepted it with a
half-smile. “Still,” he rasped, “you overstepped yourself in bringing him here of your own
volition.” Mynx muttered an apology, but Gaveley was already circling Tarscenian. The
older man turned with him, hand on the hilt of his sword, warily noting the position of
the other thieves.

Suddenly, Gaveley's sword was out and poised at Tarscenian's throat. “You're rather old to
take up our company, stranger,” Gaveley whispered. “Are you certain you're not a spy for
the High Theocrat? He'd love to get his pudgy hands in our coffers, I'll warrant.” He
nodded toward the two men. “Xam, Snoopcheck the area for Hederick's henchmen.”

The two left without remark. The hulk of a man, Xam, cut through the den and disappeared
through a back portal. Snoop wheeled and vanished back in the direction from which he had
come. “You understand that I cannot be too careful, old man,” Gaveley whispered.
“Tarscenian.”

There was the sound of the rock again. In that instant, Gaveley's concentration wavered,
and Tarscenian acted. His sword, held in a firm grip, swept up and clanged against
Gaveley's. An instant later, Gaveley's weapon lay discarded on the floor, and it was the
half-elf who was staring down a blade. Tarscenian's voice was edged with anger. “I may be
old, Gaveley, but I have learned much in my time.” Xam and Snoop, entering, froze.
Gaveley, held at the point of Tarscenian's sword, flicked his gaze toward the smaller man.
Snoop said simply, “All clear.” Xam nodded as well. At that, Gaveley released a breath,
stepped back from the swordpoint, and casually retrieved and sheathed his own weapon. In
the light of the lantern that illuminated the hideout, he regarded Tarscenian with a cold
half-smile. Gaveley's more relaxed attitude signaled something to Xam, Snoop, and Mynx.
All three helped themselves to the carafe of wine and took up comfortable positions around
the room, waiting for what would happen next. “We will see, Tarscenian,” was all Gaveley
said to the older man. Mynx brought Gaveley a goblet of wine and poured another for
Tarscenian. The older man refused with a shake of the head. Unlike the human thieves, who
gulped the wine as though it were water, Gaveley sipped his drink elegantly. He leaned
against a stool, glaring down at Xam and Snoop. “Report, you two,” he rasped. “I know
where to find Von Falden,” Xam said. “I expect to bring him in tomorrow.” This meant
something to Gaveley, for he gave a satisfied nod. "Splendid. Pantrev upped the bounty

to two hundred steel yesterday,“ he said in his hoarse voice. ”That was a tough
assignment. Good work, Xam.“ The bounty hunter grunted. ”Years o' practice,“ he said and
proceeded to down the rest of his wine. Gaveley turned to the small, nondescript man.
”Snoop?"

The spy shrugged. “Still looking. I know there's something up between the young lady in
question and the head of the weavers' guild, but proving it ...” He shrugged again. “Keep
at it,” Gaveley said. “It could mean hundreds of steel in blackmailfrom each of them. If
you can't come up with something solid, we can always bluff our way along, but blackmail
always has more teeth when you can offer a bit of irrefutable evidence.”

Gaveley's gaze fell on Mynx. “And you?” She smiled lazily at him. There was a casualness
between the two that suggested to Tarscenian that they'd once been much more than
colleagues. “I fulfilled my assignment, Gav,” she said archly, “as you well know. And ...”
She unfastened a pouch from her waistband and spilled its contents onto the shelf. “And I
have two purses, a copper bracelet decorated with what seem to be amethysts, three
ringsincluding the high priest's, but I suppose I really can't take credit for thatand a
hair clasp made of polished steel. Very pretty.” She fondled the last-named item. “Can I
keep it, Gav?” “And risk running into the owner?” Gaveley laughed gruffly and extended his
goblet for a refill. “Besides, Mynx, nothing could tame that lion's mane of yours.”
“Coupla hours with a comb wouldn't hurt,” the spy Snoop cracked. Mynx socked him in the
arm with her fist, then turned back to Gaveley, who shook his head. “You know the rules,
Mynx. Everything to the fence. We can't risk having our goods surface in Solace. Better
Haven or Gateway or Caergoth.” She accepted Gaveley's mandate without protest, and
Tarscenian realized the banter between the two was a longstanding routine. Then the leader
was addressing Tarscenian. “And you, old man? Now is your turn. Why are you here?” “I want
help stealing something,” was Tarscenian's curt reply. The half-elf leaned forward. The
movement parted his dark hair, revealing the pointed ears that proclaimed that his mother
or father was a Qualinesti. Gaveley licked his lips like a man about to set upon a fine
supper. “Something valuable?” he asked “Quite.” Tarscenian spoke tersely. He had no money
to offer the group. They'd not help him unless they knew the artifact was worth something,
but he had no intention of revealing just how valuable the Diamond Dragon was magically.
He described the artifact in more mundane, but financially attractive, terms. “Steel, you
say,” Gaveley murmured. “With dozens of diamonds,” Tarscenian added. “And ruby eyes.” “Too
distinctive,” Mynx said. The half-elf nodded. “It would have to be melted down. The
diamonds alone would be worth a fortune, though.” Tarscenian said nothing. He would have
to find some way to prevent the thieves from keeping the dragon artifact, but at this
point he was better off pretending his motive was the same as theirs pure greed. “What do
you want out of this, Tarscenian?” “My share of the take.” Gaveley regarded him dubiously.
“And where is this marvelous piece of jewelry?” he asked. “Around Hederick's neck.”
Tarscenian held his breath, expecting some explosive reaction. He was wrong. Gaveley, Xam,
and Snoop continued to sit stoically. Only Mynx perked up, her eyes sparkling. “What a
chance to get even with the old goat!” she crowed. “You say this piece of jewelry is
especially important to the High Theocrat?” Perhaps revenge, rather than greed, was the
tack to take, Tarscenian thought. “Tremendously so,” he said. “He's had the Diamond Dragon
with him for decades. He believes it's a gift from his gods.”

Mynx turned to the others. “Here's our chance to avenge the kender,” she said excitedly.
“But to steal something the High Theocrat always keeps on his person?” Snoop protested.
“With all those guards and goblins around? Mynx, you've got talent enough to do it,
but...” “Let me try, Gav,” Mynx pleaded. “Well...” Gaveley paused. Several emotions seemed
to be warring in his contorted expression. Finally, a bland mask dropped over his
features. “I need time to consider this. Mynx, escort the old man to his lodgings.” Mynx
looked at Tarscenian. He shrugged. “I just arrived in Solace. I have no lodgings. I'll
sleep in the woods.” “You can't do that,” Mynx objected. “The goblins can espy things in
the dark. And they'll be looking all over for you. I know where to hide you.” Kifflewit
Burrthistle leaned away from the back door of the thieves' den and considered. First the
kender had had to evade the huge man and the tiny, ferretlike one when they'd come out in
search of spiesas if Kifflewit would allow any spies nearby! Then he'd had to pick a lock
specially created by thieves to keep out other thieves. They'd set it up with a latch-pin
keyed to a needle, daubed with poison that the kender was sure was fast and deadly. But
kender grew up learning how to pick locks. One of the first sayings a young kender learned
was: “The most interesting things are behind locked doors. So get moving.” If one thing
set off kender from the rest of Krynn's creatures, it was their overwhelming curiosity.
That and a total absence of fear. So there was never any question that Kifflewit
Burr-thistle would do a little eavesdropping on the thieves. But Mynx and Tarscenian were
coming out now. Kifflewit was torn between staying at the den and hearing some more
tantalizing talk or dogging the steps of his earlier acquaintances. Excitement had
followed Mynx and Tarsceniari once before, and it might again. He'd not had as much fun in
a long time as he'd had shinnying up that rope in the refugee section. Besides, Tarscenian
might spill a little more information about that Diamond Dragon. The desirable object
certainly seemed as though it would be worth a closer look! He decided, and let the door
swing shut. Absolutely silently, of course. Few creatures can be as stealthy as a kender.
“So why don't we grab the old man now? And turn him right over to Hederick?” Snoop
demanded as soon as Mynx and Tarscenian were out of sight. “Five hundred steel for a
bounty! That's not someone I'd like to leave walking around loose. Not with plenty of
other people willing to collect that kind of money.” “Mynx'll hide him well enough.” Snoop
rolled his eyes. “But when do we turn him over and collect, Gaveley?” The half-elf didn't
answer right away. “Maybe we won't,” he finally said. “What?” Xam and Snoop erupted at the
same time. Gaveley swirled his wine in his goblet, watching the pattern form on the
chalice in the rosy light. “Not right away, at least,” he whispered. “I want to learn more
about this Diamond Dragon.” “But...” He cut them off. “We've got to be flexible to get by.
You know that.” Xam and Snoop exchanged glances. Then they shrugged. “You're the leader,”
Snoop said, and smiled ingratiatingly. “And what's more, you're usually right.” “What
about Mynx?” Xam asked. “Are you still going to hand her over, too? She's a good thief,
one of the best we've had.” “She made her choice,” Gaveley shot back. “She could have
accepted Hederick's offer, but she turned him down flat.” “She can't forgive him for
killing the kender,” Xam said softly. Gaveley fixed a hard glare on the big man. "He was a
kender. And Hederick caught him sneaking into his temple, remember. If Hederick thinks
kender don't belong in Erolydon, I'm not one to argue.

The High Theocrat offered us a lot of steel to bring in Tarscenian.“ He placed his wine
glass on the shelf next to the little statue that operated the door mechanism. ”Mynx
refused to help out of stupid sentiment. There's no room for emotion in this business.“
Snoop spoke up. ”But she's been with us for a long time___"

“She opted out,” Gaveley said stubbornly. “We can't trust her. She's got to go.” Snoop
frowned, then nodded. But Xam kept on staring at Gaveley. “But...” Xam shook his head.
Gaveley cut him off angrily. “That's enough. We'll turn them both overafter they steal
this Diamond Dragon for us. If you don't want to go along .. . Well, wouldn't it be ironic
if a bounty hunter ended up with a bounty on his own head?” They locked stares. Then Xam
lifted his huge shoulders and let them fall. “Oh, well,” he said with a sigh. “I'll miss
her.” Saying nothing, Mynx passed stairway after deserted stairway in the darkness.
Tarscenian glanced upward at the web of walkways crisscrossing overhead. Mynx answered the
unasked question. “I prefer to keep my feet on the ground when I can. Too easy to get
ambushed on the bridges.” She halted and ran her fingers back through her hair without
speaking. Her eyes were troubled. “Tarscenian, all that you said about that dragon
artifactit was all true? It's that valuable to Hederick?” Tarscenian nodded. Everything
he'd said was true; he merely had left a few things out. “I could help you,” Mynx said.
“If Gav says it's all right.” “Thank you.” “Don't thank me,” she snapped. “I wouldn't do
it for you. I'd do it for the money ... and the kender.” They continued on for quite some
time without speaking. The vallenwood canopy admitted no light from moons or stars.
Tarscenian could tell when they were passing beneath a home in the treetops only by the
slight thickening of the darkness. “Tell me about Gaveley,” he finally said. Mynx snorted.
“You saw him. He loves fine clothes, and he goes about dressed like a noblemanas if
'nobleman' means anything since the Cataclysm! But his mother was the daughter of a rich
man here in Solace, closest thing Solace has to nobility. She got in trouble with an elven
trader who was passing through, and her family cast her out.” She tried to untangle the
lapis-and-silver earring from her hair as she walked, but only succeeded in making the
snarl worse. “You know how most people treat half-elvesas not quite human, not quite elf,”
she continued. “And Gav's mother raised him to despise the rich. He loves nothing as much
as stealing from the wealthy. Not that many people in Solace fit into that category
anymore.” The thief fell silent. “And you?” Mynx gave him a hard look. “For all that it's
none of your business, stranger, I've been a thief for as long as I can remember. Joined
Gav's ring when I was ten. Before that, I was on my own. Gav took care of me and taught me
my trade. That's something to appreciate when you've got no familyor at least none that
wants to admit knowing you.” A faint snarl, quickly muffled, reached Tarscenian's ears. He
and Mynx halted at the same time. Within an eyeblink, his sword was ready, as was Mynx's
dagger. They proceeded carefully, taking as wide a berth as possible around shadowed
vallenwoods and stairways. They covered some ground without incident, and Mynx relaxed.
“Maybe we were just imagin” “Look out!” Tarscenian shouted. He whirledand dove to the
ground as a mace hurtled over his head. He heard Mynx curse and hit the ground next to
him. She rolled and was up on her feet in an instant. They were being attacked by
something, but in the dark it was hard to tell what. “What is it?” Mynx panted, peering
into the darkness, “A bear, in Solace? And with a mace?” “A bugbear,” Tarscenian replied,
moving cautiously to put the monster between him and Mynx. “Not a bear, really, although
it looks like it. More like a goblin. Smarter than it looks, but not too bright. Sees in
the darkat least, a little.” “Magic?”