Old Man's Ghosts (6 page)

A baby in need was enough – it should be enough to anyone, and would certainly be for her mother, but in the privacy of her own head Kesh had been thinking of the child as a little girl. Lady Kine was a Wyvern so any child of hers and Narin’s would be little darker than Kesh’s adopted sister, Emari. The combination of the two was such a powerful compulsion, Kesh hadn’t even had to think when Enchei outlined his plan to her.

Before Teike could respond, Irato ducked his head back through the door. ‘Kesh, there’s some kid here with a message.’

‘From Enchei?’

‘Some weird old man is what she says. “The egg’s hatched and she’s learned to fly.”’

Kesh nodded, a nervous lurch in her stomach for all she’d been expecting this moment. She steeled herself and looked up at her mother. Teike managed to give her a smile and kissed her daughter on the cheek.

‘Go. Do everything a big sister would.’

There were tears in both their eyes as Kesh ran to fetch her bag and coat, but with the anger between them diffused the burden on her heart was a fraction lighter.

From the Harbour Warranty it was a short journey to the tavern in neighbouring Tale where Narin’s closest friend, Enchei Jen, lived. The aging veteran-turned-tattooist proved to not be at home, according to the maid who answered the door and gave Narin her prettiest smile as she invited him in to wait. Just that small moment of flirtation was enough to send Narin’s mood spiralling down and he gave a gruff refusal before heading up to the waters of the Crescent in search of a boat to take him across.

Elevation to the rank of Lawbringer had brought Narin more than just authority and some of it he could do without. Women who knew him in some small way were suddenly interested in him, more than a year after the day Narin stopped trying to bring such a thing about. Even ambitious minor officials attempted to cultivate his friendship now the Emperor himself had learned, however briefly, Narin’s name and deeds during the summer.

A brisk breeze skipped off the Crescent as he reached its shore and found a boat to take him across. Narin pulled the collar of his white jacket as high as he could against the chill and watched the other traffic on the wide body of water that surrounded the Imperial Island.

The high prows of House Dragon barges surrounded him, starkly red and black against the dull colours of winter, while a handful of merchant ships were dotted amongst the main traffic of Crescent boatmen who transported most of the city’s goods. On every berth post the constellations of Lady Sailor or Lady Navigator were carved, the largest hung with offerings of broken oars and worn-out tools.

Narin’s thoughts returned to Kine and the knot of anxiety behind his eyes tightened a fraction further. She was so close to her due time – it could be any day, Enchei had told him – but still they’d been unable to extract her from the palazzo that had become a prison for her in recent months.

I know he’s as good as his word,
Narin reminded himself privately, while the young boatman behind him sang out disjointed bursts of prayers and songs that they all used to warn each other of their presence. He hardly noticed the babble of voices, having lived in the city all his life, but still found it hard to concentrate on either of his problems for any length of time.

Enchei’s as good as his word,
Narin repeated over the cacophony of fears and questions in his mind.
He promised he would do this and he’s as good as his word.

It was hard to doubt anything Enchei said nowadays. Narin remained in awe of his grey-haired friend, who’d proved his Astaren background as he repeatedly saved Narin from the goshe. The old warrior had promised he would effect Kine’s escape from the Vanden family palazzo, but nothing had been possible until Lord Cail Vanden had retired for the winter to his estate with the bulk of his warrior caste attendants.

As they arrived on the far bank, Narin tossed the boatman a coin and was on his way before the man had caught it. One benefit of his elevation had been the increase in pay, of course – Lawbringers often needed to be able to support a family, and bribery or corruption among public officials was a capital offence. Like many Investigators and Lawbringers, Narin had found little time for interests beyond his work, however, let alone vices, so barely knew where to spend the money.

In the end, Enchei had done that for him – helping himself to a large chunk of what Narin had managed to save with only a few vague promises in explanation. Narin’s only objection had been that he wasn’t party to Enchei’s plans, but the tattooist was determined to insulate his friend from whatever was going to happen.

Perhaps was happening tonight
Narin realised with a jolt – his heart lightening at the idea even as he felt a pang of fear at what might go wrong.
Lord Vanden left the city two days ago – Enchei must be about to put his plans into motion.

He crossed the Strandway that skirted the island shore, studded with great blackened lamp-posts that loomed threateningly in the grey morning light, and headed in to the interior. Up ahead the vast unreal walls of the Imperial Palace dominated the entire island – situated on a low hill and far bigger than the varied palazzos and towers that skirted it.

Narin wound his way towards the palace, cutting confidently through the narrow streets of the low-caste areas that sat like a tangle of threads on the fringe of the more ordered streets. Within a hundred yards his surroundings had graduated from servant housing to merchant dwellings, with the homes of the nobility visible behind. Before long, he found himself at a sprawling network of workshops and offices where much of the city’s administration was housed, one corner of which was occupied by the Imperial tattooists.

Here the carvings on posts became the quill constellation of Lord Scholar, adornments subtly added to gates and flagpoles bearing the Emperor’s sun device. It was an ancient practice, co-opted from their pagan past if Enchei was to be believed, with trades invoking their patron Ascendants. Narin knew it was frowned upon at the Palace of Law, but the novices did it all the same and he instinctively tapped the symbol as he entered the tattooists’ courtyard.

Before he could reach the door, the principal administrator had spotted Narin’s approach and emerged to greet him in typical fawning fashion. The man was of the religious caste, a black collarless robe hanging from his shoulders, but he still bowed low to Narin, who returned the greeting in similar fashion. Perhaps ten years older than Narin, the administrator was a paunchy local who waddled like a lord around his small domain.

‘Lawbringer Narin, am I correct?’

‘You are. Administrator Serril, is it?’ He received another bow at that and continued. ‘My friend Enchei has spoken of you often.’
Albeit never in favourable tones.

‘And a fine tattooist he is, despite his eccentricities.’

Narin smiled at that. ‘Well, he cannot help being a damned heathen I suppose – is he here?’

‘I’m afraid not,’ Serril said, with a shake of his near-hairless head. ‘He was scheduled to work today, but has not seen fit to make an appearance.’

That brought Narin up short, words catching in his throat for a moment. ‘Not appeared?’ he said with a cough. ‘Then that might be my fault, I’m afraid. I’d asked a favour of him and it may be he’s already engaged on the task at hand.’

‘I understand, Lawbringer, but he fails to show due consideration for his duties,’ Serril chided. ‘If he is out on business of yours, you might remind him he is not employed by the Lawbringers.’

Narin had already known that Serril was a humourless man, but hearing his tone now it was clear Enchei would never be too encumbered by duty shifts. He could barely muster the required deference for the legendary Lawbringer Rhe himself – a self-important minor official would be beyond his powers.

‘I will instruct him to be more mindful,’ Narin said smoothly, recently-learned habits of diplomacy serving him in good stead as his mind raced down another path. ‘Thank you for your time, Administrator.’

He bowed low and turned his back, as desperate to be away as he was not to watch Serril preen at the respect he’d offered. Narin was only craftsman caste, but now he was a Lawbringer he carried some ghost of the Emperor’s own authority in his wake. It was a strange combination – he was expected to be servile, but officials treated such due deference as a currency all of its own.

Today, however, Narin didn’t care. Not with the news that Enchei was absent from work. As disrespectful as the man was, he wouldn’t offer Serril an easy opportunity to exert his modest authority – not without good reason anyway.

Is it today? Has it happened already? Where should I go, home? No, the Palace of Law – if Enchei is looking for me he’ll leave a message there. Stars in Heaven, all this time and still I’m not prepared for what’s coming.

As the north wind blew hard over the city and the morning continued grey and cold, Narin forced himself not to run down the handful of streets that took him to Lawbringer Square. Over the whistle of wind a temple bell tolled distant and dismal – a deep rolling tone that gave Narin some idea of the hour as he crossed the busy paved expanse and raced up the steps to the Palace of Law.

As he entered, he caught sight of a grave-looking Investigator loitering near the front. The young woman jerked as she saw him and started forward, but not before a broad figure detached from the shadows to one side and approached Narin. In his keyed-up state Narin almost drew his sword – his hand was on the hilt before he recognised the man looming forward and realised this wasn’t some poorly-timed vengeance, but a killer with a message.

‘Irato!’ Narin gasped, releasing his sword. ‘Are you looking for me?’

Behind the former goshe, the Investigator stiffened and Narin made a placating gesture. He didn’t know her well, but she was a highly-strung warrior caste who wouldn’t have taken kindly to one such as Irato loitering.

‘Thank you, Investigator, he’s with me. You can go now.’

‘As you wish, Lawbringer Narin.’ She gave a curt bow and, with one final look of suspicion at Irato, left them alone.

The palace’s enormous entrance hall was bustling now the morning was well advanced, so despite his desperation to hear what Irato had to say Narin hustled the man back out into the chill air of the square. While there were still plenty of people around, they were all intent on their destination and it was simple enough to find space to talk.

‘Enchei sent you,’ Narin stated, seeing Irato’s poise of readiness and focus.

The former goshe was rarely animated without a set task to perform. The fact that he looked ready for a fight, his brawler’s build accentuated by a thick fur coat that hung down to his knees, meant something had happened.

Irato nodded. ‘She’s out.’

‘Out? She’s safe? Where is she?’

‘I’ll take you.’

Narin nodded. ‘Wait, is she with Enchei? Rhe’s expecting me to find him this morning and report back.’

‘Was there when I left, tending to Dov.’

‘Dov? Who in Pity’s name is Dov?’

Irato cocked his head at Narin as though he was an idiot. ‘The baby.’

The man’s words stuck Narin like a punch. ‘The baby?’ he gasped. ‘She’s given birth?’

‘He was going to grab her last night – got it all set up – but the baby started coming before he could move.’

‘Monk’s mercy! Is she all right? Are they both all right?’

‘S’pose so, they’re alive at any rate.’

Narin fought the urge to grab Irato round the throat and shake him. It wasn’t his fault, Narin knew that as well as anyone, but at times such as this his lack of interest in the world around him was infuriating. It wasn’t self-absorption, just a disconnect in his mind after the accident. The man he’d once been was gone – and good riddance by all accounts, including those of some goshe they’d interrogated – but there wasn’t quite a complete one left in his place.

‘Where are they?’

‘Harbour Warranty – I’ll take you.’

Irato didn’t wait for a response from Narin, he simply went around the Lawbringer and started walking toward the south end of the square. Narin stood there, gaping and dumbstruck for a long moment at Irato’s careless delivery of the news.

A voice inside told Narin he should be shouting for joy, but all he felt was disbelief at the news, that the day had finally come and he was so far behind the times. He stared after Irato, the former goshe entirely oblivious as he strode off, and at last Narin trotted after him.

Narin gave the almost-man an askance look. Kesh’s dog indeed. Narin had been careful not to get involved in that tense relationship. In the half year since the goshe affair, Kesh had become the sister Narin had never had, but she knew her own mind and had made it clear the situation was theirs to sort out. Given what else had been on Narin’s mind those last three celestial months, he’d been happy to let others sort it out.

Dov’s a girl’s name,
Narin realised suddenly, almost tripping as the thought struck him. He got a curious look from Irato but barely noticed as the full weight of understanding settled on him.

Gods on high, I’m a father,
he thought drunkenly.
A little girl? I have a daughter? Is this really happening?

His gut seemed to clamp with terror at the notion that something so fragile might now be dependent on him – that his one act of fatherhood had been to put his daughter in the most terrible danger, one that would likely hang over her head for much of her life. Bands of shame and guilt seemed to close around his chest, squeezing the air from his lungs – piling on to those he carried every day over the lies that had won him his position at Rhe’s side and appointment as Lawbringer.

But through those clouds shone a single ray of light and, despite it all, a disbelieving smile crept across Narin’s face. That shaft of light pierced his chest and filled his heart, branding a name into his very being.

A daughter. Dov.

Grey slabs of cloud hung overhead as they crossed the wind-swept central path of the Tier Bridge. Half a mile in length, it was one of the three most obvious ancient structures in the city, a relic of the time before human domains. Two sprays of white arcs interwove through each other as they crossed to reach the opposite bank, their smooth organic lines like some tree of the Gods tamed to purpose.

Irato led Narin up the long greyish ramp of the upper tier, preferring the longer path to struggling through the crowds filling the lower. Merchants of all kinds had premises lining the road of the lower tier, taking advantage of the fact most traffic to the Imperial district had to pass that way. As they entered Dragon District Narin couldn’t help but feel a sense of being watched by hostile eyes, though they kept clear of the streets belonging to House Wyvern.

Every brown-skinned Wyvern he saw among the darker Dragons gave him a jolt of fear, high and low castes alike. On the wide Public Thoroughfare that led down to the harbour, Narin kept the pace high and his head low, not meeting anyone’s gaze until they were out of the district and into the Harbour Warranty. There, Irato directed him into the very centre of the warranty to a tight warren of narrow residential streets and weathered, old, brick houses.

He quickly saw that Enchei had chosen well – short streets that linked tiny squares barely ten yards across where children ran in all directions and the squall of babies was audible at every third window. Irato and Narin both earned brief suspicious looks from those they passed, showing this part saw little through-traffic. Without warning, they arrived at the correct address and Irato thumped his fist on a doorway no different to all the rest. Narin had almost walked past it, heading through to the next dim archway on the other side, before he realised Irato was no longer beside him.

‘Who is it?’ asked a voice from the other side, after a moment of quiet.

‘Me,’ Irato replied simply, recognising Kesh’s voice before Narin did.

The door jerked open and Kesh’s young features appeared. ‘You took your bloody time,’ she snapped. ‘Well, get inside then.’

Without waiting, she dragged Narin forward, obvious on the street in his Lawbringer white. He found himself in a cramped room that contained just a single chair and a pair of hooked iron bars bolted to the newly-whitewashed brick wall on either side of the door. It took Narin a moment to work out what they were for, before realising Enchei had most likely added them himself. As Kesh then demonstrated, the bars could be slotted into hoops on the door – anyone trying to kick it down would have to be strong enough to rip the bolts out of solid brick.

‘Get up there,’ Kesh said impatiently, pointing towards a narrow stairway that stood just before an open kitchen door. Bizarrely, there was the rich smell of recently-fried steak in the air, but again Narin put that down to Enchei’s presence.

‘Enchei’s found time to cook?’ he muttered as he headed for the stairs.

‘Kine’s weak, she’s lost blood and is exhausted,’ Kesh snapped. ‘We’re trying to get her strength up.’

Narin didn’t have time to respond as he hopped up the stairs and almost collided with a dark-skinned figure with long loose hair. He gave a yelp, heart in his mouth, and was going for his sword even as he recognised Myken, Kine’s sworn bodyguard. It was a struggle to stop himself drawing his weapon in the face of a Wyvern warrior caste, but he realised belatedly that she would have had to be in on any plot for it to have a chance of success.

For once Wyvern honour works in my favour,
Narin realised as he lowered his hand, feeling foolish.
She’s sworn to protect Kine – Gods, she’s gone renegade from her entire nation to do it! Another life I’ve managed to mess up.

‘Siresse,’ he said with a small bow, using her formal title to try and make up for the disrespect. As always, her expression was inscrutable. Not once had the woman given any indication that she thought little of him or considered him a fool, but he was painfully aware there were plenty of times he’d given her just cause to.

‘Thank you,’ he added awkwardly. ‘For all you’ve done.’

‘My honour demanded nothing less,’ she said plainly. Without the trappings of her caste – blue braids pulled loose, red collar abandoned – he saw she was a striking woman in her own right, something he’d never really noticed in all the time he’d known her. Tall and muscular, she lacked Kine’s radiance but had a strength and assurance that was beauty of its own.

‘Still,’ he said, abashed, ‘I know what it’s cost you.’

Myken regarded him a moment longer then inclined her head to accept his thanks. ‘My Lady is in here.’

She turned and opened a narrow doorway at the top of the stairs through which yellow lamplight flooded. Narin followed as quickly as he could and felt a burst of wonder when he glimpsed Kine’s face on the other side. She occupied a bed that took up much of the room, with a battered table to the right and a raised wicker cot on the left.

Propped up by a pile of assorted cushions, Kine’s face lit up at the sight of him. It was enough to send a flush of warmth into his face. Before Narin could get inside a hand caught him by the shoulder and hauled him into a bearhug. Despite being smaller than Narin, Enchei’s strength was impossible to resist and the Lawbringer was so stunned he was unable to try.

‘Congratulations, my friend,’ the older man laughed in his ear. ‘She’s a beauty, they both are!’

Enchei released him and waved Myken away, back down the stairs. ‘You three need some time together, we’ll leave you to it.’

Before Narin could say anything he’d been shoved out of the way and the door was closing behind Enchei. He half-opened his mouth to speak, but then met Kine’s gaze again and saw the tiny bundle in her arms. That was enough to wash his mind clean and for a moment he just stood there dumbly and gaped at the pair.

‘My love,’ Kine whispered, her usual musical tones strained and weak. ‘I’ve missed you.’

He found himself at her side, moving as though in a dream, hands slipping over her cheeks as he kissed her. That touch seemed to burst a dam inside him and tears spilled down both their cheeks – the pent-up emotion of months rushing out in one go. He’d seen her only three times since she’d told him she was pregnant; precious evenings spent in a teahouse a few dozen streets away. The last of those, she’d been clearly pregnant but they had been unable to risk any more meetings since for fear of exposure.

‘How are you?’ Narin croaked. ‘Her name’s Dov?’

Fresh tears spilled from Kine’s dark eyes as she nodded. Once, she had hidden her smiles from him, taught to conceal such things from birth, but now her face shone with delight as she tugged the folds of her bundle back to show Narin his daughter’s face.

‘Her name is Dov – Lady Chance had to have been smiling down on us.’

‘You’ll get no complaints from me!’ Narin gasped, beaming even as he wept. ‘She’s well?’

Kine nodded weakly. ‘She’s well, our daughter’s strong. Stronger than me, I think. I don’t think right now I could cry as loudly as she has been!’

On cue the soft brown cheeks in her arms crinkled and Dov opened her mouth to cry. Narin hopped back, almost panicked by the realisation that he didn’t know what to do, but Kine caught his hand and brought him back to his seat on the edge of the bed.

‘Hold her,’ she whispered.

Narin slipped trembling hands underneath his daughter, the tiny bundle weighing so little in his hands.

‘She’s hungry.’ Kine’s eyes lowered. ‘I promised myself I would feel no embarrassment here, but I can’t help it.’

Narin frowned with incomprehension but, to explain, Kine opened her robe and exposed one rounded breast. ‘Your friend has had to teach me,’ she admitted, lip trembling. ‘He, ah … there’s so much I don’t know. I have hardly dared to dream of this day and now I find myself just a stupid little girl, lost in a grown-ups’ world.’

An ache of sympathy erupted in Narin’s heart as Kine reached for her daughter and together they settled Dov at her breast. Few noblewomen in the Empire would feed their own child – certainly no House Narin had ever heard of considered it usual. It took them a while to settle her, the baby seemingly unwilling to take Kine’s nipple in her mouth. After a few minutes of muffled squawks she finally lurched forward and latched on, Kine gasping at the pressure but dismissing Narin’s anxiety with a shake of the head.

‘Enchei says it will hurt to begin with,’ she explained, ‘but we cannot find a wet-nurse. I must manage myself. I must learn to care for her now I’m no longer a noblewoman.’

This last was said in such a fearful voice that Narin could say nothing in response, only slip his arms around the woman he loved and hold her for a long while. The moment was only broken when the door opened again and Enchei bustled in, giving the three of them an approving smile.

‘Enchei!’ Narin exclaimed, only to have the older man snort at him.

‘Oh shut up, nothing I’ve not seen before.’

‘And when did you become such an expert in babies?’

Enchei’s grin wavered a moment. ‘Had a family once,’ he admitted. ‘Missed enough of their childhood but I was around when they were tiny, at least. Might have been more’n twenty years ago now, but fashions change, babies don’t.’

He went to the other side of the bed and put a hand to Kine’s forehead, then pushed aside a fold of cloth to look at Dov. To Narin it looked like his daughter had a look of angry determination as she worked at the nipple, but he had no idea if that was good or not.

‘How long do you have?’ Enchei said abruptly.

Narin jerked as though only just waking and looked blankly at the man.

‘Until you need to be back at your duties? Can’t really ask your friend Rhe for the day off now!’

‘I, ah, actually I was coming to see you anyway. I can stay an hour or two I think.’

Enchei frowned. ‘See me? That don’t sound good.’

‘It isn’t,’ Narin admitted, pinching the bridge of his nose as the events of earlier intruded once more. ‘I need to ask you what you know about hellhounds.’

‘Hellhounds?’ Kine said with a gasp. ‘Narin, what sort of investigation is this?’

‘A murder. Two, in fact.’

‘Killed by hellhounds?’ Enchei said, sucking on his teeth in disapproval. ‘That’s nasty shit right there. Never come across the damn things myself, but I know something of ’em I s’pose. In the field of evil horrors at least, I got a pretty good education. They’re not good things to mess with. I take it there’s no chance of you dropping this investigation?’

Narin shook his head. ‘All the unpleasant and supernatural crime now gets put firmly in my lap, Lord Sorote’s seen to that. What can you tell me?’

‘Well, let me think.’ Enchei scratched his cheek with one ink-stained finger. ‘Hard to explain half of it in terms that’ll mean a damn to you. They’re demons – not like the things that lurk in the Crescent’s waters, more like the fox-spirits that play around in Irato’s head from time to time. In fact …’

Enchei rose and went to the door, calling for Irato to join them. Narin caught sight of Myken on the stairs, still on guard, and wondered for a moment what she would do now. Before he could think of anything, Dov made a tiny sound that dragged his attention away. He reminded himself they just needed to survive the week before any sort of plans needed to be made.

Irato appeared at the door and Enchei beckoned him in, the big fighter standing awkwardly at the end of the bed. He looked from one face to another, his expression not flickering as he saw Dov feeding at Kine’s breast, prompting Narin to again wonder just how human he was these days. For her part, Kine showed there was still much of the noblewoman inside her as she adopted the guarded, near-expressionless look high castes wore in public.

‘Got any guests these days?’ Enchei asked him. ‘In your head?’

‘Foxes?’ Irato shook his head. ‘No.’

‘Likely to see them soon?’ The fox-spirits were minor demons, beings without physical form that rode the minds of certain animals – an ability the goshe had twisted to try and create a god inside the mind of their followers using the poison Moon’s Artifice. Irato had been dosed with his own poison when Narin first encountered him and his mind was now an ideal refuge for the fox-spirits.

Irato shrugged. ‘Can’t say when, but yes. Even the white fox is barely enough for their pack-leader so it’s with me often.’

‘Ask it about hellhounds, next time whitey comes home to roost. Might be they’ve picked up a scent or encountered ’em in the past.’

‘Hellhounds? Another type of demon?’

Enchei nodded towards Narin. ‘Our friend’s on the trail of one, or so he thinks.’

‘Two people got torn apart in a Darch sailor’s tavern,’ Narin said defensively. ‘The maid survived to tell a tale of shadow-hounds, because there’s only a ladder to her attic room. Claw marks on the floor and in the street outside, what looks like a scorch-mark on the hearth that isn’t just soot.’

The two men stared at him, neither speaking as he finished. At last Enchei nodded. ‘Okay, mebbe you’re right this time. Sounds like a hellhound sure enough. Where was this?’

‘Towards Tale Warranty – tavern called the Lost Feathers.’

Enchei’s face darkened. ‘Lost Feathers?’ he repeated in a growl. ‘Damn. Brodin’s dead?’

‘The landlord? I think so, yes, his wife too. Did you know them?’

‘Aye.’ He ducked his head for a moment, mouthing something that could have been a prayer if he had been the praying type. ‘Not a man likely to get ripped apart by hellhounds – they’re not your typical sort of demon and Brodin’s never been caught up in anything like that, so far’s I know.’

‘What are they, then?’

Enchei sighed. ‘Hard to explain to you. Calling ’em shadow-demons is right enough. Remember the fox-spirits when they were outside a body? Looked like the ghosts of wolves surrounding the creature whose mind they were riding, but their claws were made of more’n just light?’

Narin nodded hesitantly. He’d not seen as much of the fox-spirits as the others during the spring, but it had been enough to follow what Enchei was describing.