The City of Towers: The Dreaming Dark - Book I (39 page)

“You would be Daine?” she said.

“That’s me.”

Daine stood up. He lowered his sword but not his guard. He had been expecting a courier, but after Jode’s death he couldn’t be sure of anything.

The courier’s eyes flicked down to take in the Deneith symbol at the pommel of Daine’s sword, and she nodded. Apparently that had been mentioned as an identifying feature. She produced two objects from her satchel—a small leather pouch and a sealed letter—both of which she handed to Daine. Opening the pouch, Daine dug out a double crown and pressed it into her palm. A moment later she had vanished.

“What was that?”

Lei said. She had just finished with Daine’s armor. The links were thinner than they had been, but at least it would cover his torso.

“Orien courier from Alina.” He shook the pouch. “We’ve
got a purse of silver sovereigns. That should help buy the time of the goblins. I guess we’d better pay off Dassi as well.” He broke the seal on the letter and unfolded the parchment; the message was written in an elegant, flowing script.

With the passing of my former employee, you are to find the goods that he was carrying, regardless of what shape they may take. As these goods may be removed from the city, if you cannot resolve this matter within two days I shall have to consider our new partnership to be a failure, which would be a tragedy for both of us. Good luck
.

“Anything?” said Lei.

“Not really. Alina wants the shards, ‘regardless of what shape they may take,’ and if we can’t settle the matter in a few days, she may get … upset.”

“And this is a concern?”

“She’s hired us for this job because she needs outsiders. I don’t think that the same restrictions would apply to disposing of ineffectual employees.”

“I see.”

“You said you’re about done for the day, right?”

Lei nodded. “I could perform minor repairs, but that’s about it. I need rest.”

“What about that wand—the one that destroyed that thing in the sewer?”

Lei reached into one of the side pocket of her pack and produced the wand. She tapped the row of dragonshards running along the shaft. “Lightning discharge, powered by the embedded shards. But it’s drained. It’s going to take time for the energy to build up again.”

“So if we’re looking for a fight,” said Daine, “we should wait until morning.” He paused, thinking. “A lot will depend on what we find out from Rhazala. For now … empty out your pack, Lei. I want to see what else we’ve got available.”

“All of it?”

“Yes.”

She shrugged. It took a few minutes to pull everything out. Daine had forgotten how large the central compartment really was. But his memory had been correct, and he smiled. “All right, Lei. Here’s what I want you to do.”

Ten minutes later, Pierce, Rhazala, and Daine were back on the streets of High Walls. The goblin and the warforged flowed across the streets like shadows. Despite his bulk, Pierce had been built for reconnaissance, and he moved with a fluid grace the bulkier warforged warriors couldn’t match. Next to his companions, Daine felt clumsy and loud, as if he were a bear hunting in the company of panthers.

After five minutes Rhazala came to a stop. “Somewhere near the center,” she said, pointing.

“You’re sure?” Daine said.

“Yes, yes. The tunnel comes up underneath. Runs through Khyber’s Gate, just like the tunnel of waste and water. And a bad place it is below there. The quiet folk have lost scouts in that region before. Usually they lose to eaters or the red jackals, but there are worse things in Khyber’s Gate, and I believe this is where at least one may live. The quiet folk, they won’t go near to it.”

“Very well. Good job, Rhazala. Here’s your payment.”

He had tied the pouch of coins around his neck, but when he reached up he found it was gone. Turning, he saw that Rhazala was holding it out to him. She showed him the two sovereigns in her left hand.

“I only took for my services,” she said smugly. “This time.”

Daine sighed and took the purse. Rhazala smiled and bowed, and a moment later she was gone. Daine blinked. Was her disappearance the work of her skill and his own exhaustion, or was magic involved? Whatever the answer, she was nowhere to be seen.

Daine shook his head. “Let’s go, Pierce. I don’t want to take this any further without daylight on our side, and I could use a good night’s rest.”

“As you wish, Captain.”

The two began walking back towards the Manticore. Daine studied his warforged companion for a moment. “You all right, Pierce?”

“Captain?”

Daine gestured vaguely. “Well, with Jode … you know, it’s just got me thinking about the troop. You’ve served with me since I first accepted my commission. You’ve been everything a commander could ask for in a soldier, and you’ve never let me down. You’ve followed my every order without question, and I’ve come to rely on that.”

“I am gratified to hear that, sir.”

“But … we’re not in the army anymore, Pierce. I’m not your captain anymore. I’m just your companion, your friend.”

“I understand, but I am most comfortable operating under a military chain of command. You had a life before you entered the Cyran army. I did not. I was forged with the knowledge of war burned into my mind, and I was on the front lines within a week of my … birth, if you can call it that. War is in my nature, and it will always be part of how I view the world. As long as you will have me, you will always be my captain.”

“You served in the guard more than four times as long as I did. Don’t you feel that you should be the one in charge?”

“You don’t understand, Captain. Humans are born without a purpose. You must find your path in life. I was made to accomplish a specific task, and I have always known the nature of that task. I was not made to lead, and I have no desire to try.”

Daine shrugged. “Fair enough. But Pierce … humans often think they know what they’re supposed to do with their lives, and they aren’t always right. Just because someone’s told you what your purpose is supposed to be … are you sure it’s the truth?”

“I was born of design. I was made to excel at a specific task, and I would never be able to be as successful in another field. Is there a point to this discussion?”

“I was just thinking about the sphinx again. She said that you don’t know your purpose yet.”

“It seemed to me that you gave little credence to her words.”

“I didn’t—at the time But now …” Daine shook his head. “After what we’ve seen tonight, I can’t help but wonder about the other things she said.”

Pierce remained as impassive as ever. “If I have another purpose, it may become clear in time. Until then, I am content.”

“Very well. But Pierce, you don’t talk much. I understand if you just don’t have much to say. But if there is ever anything I can do, I want you to tell me.”

“As you wish.”

Daine studied Pierce, but the warforged had no expression to read. Daine still felt that there was something that Pierce wasn’t talking about. Perhaps it was Jode’s death. Daine had sent Pierce to watch Jode, and the warforged might be blaming himself for the death of their friend. I’ll just have to watch and wait, Daine decided.

The first bell of the new day was ringing when they returned to the Manticore. Daine was exhausted. It had been a long day, and the coming dawn promised to be even more dangerous. The thought of bed—even a wretched pallet on the floor—called out to him.

At this hour, Daine assumed that the common room of the Manticore would be empty, but he was mistaken. A single man was sitting at one of the tables, watching the door and drinking from a chipped mug. As Daine and Pierce entered the room, the visitor set down his mug and rose from his chair.

“It’s about time you arrived, Daine. And what trouble have you been getting into now?”

It was Grazen ir’Tala, Captain of the Sharn Watch.

G
razen ir’Tala was dressed for battle. In place of the green and black leather of the Sharn Watch, Grazen wore a beautiful chainmail shirt. The links were coated with black enamel, and it was so finely crafted that it made no sound as Grazen rose from his chair. If anything, the armor seemed to absorb the sounds of his movement. Grazen wore a belt of black leather, and like Daine, he was armed with a longsword and dagger. Beneath his armor, he wore a black silk doublet and breeches, with gloves and boots of dark leather. His flowing darkweave cloak was darkness given solid form. He was a vision of elegance in the squalid surroundings of the Manticore, but his hand was on the hilt of his sword, and Daine knew how quick and deadly that blade could be.

“Captain Grazen, what an unexpected surprise,” Daine said. “What brings you to our humble home so late? Or is it now considered early?”

Pierce still had his bow in his hands. If it came to it, Daine knew that Pierce could aim and loose an arrow before Grazen could close the distance between them. But he still wasn’t sure what to make of Grazen’s presence. Were they going to be arrested again?

Grazen looked at Pierce, obviously evaluating the threat posed by the warforged archer. Finally he sat down again. “Join me, won’t you?” he said, gesturing at a stool across the table.
“I brought a skin of Iltrayan down with me, along with a good loaf of bread and a few strips of smoked tribex. I don’t imagine you’ve had many feasts in this charming little inn. As I recall, you always enjoyed a good Iltrayan.”

Daine studied Grazen carefully. Finally he turned to Pierce. “Why don’t you check on Lei? I can handle this.”

“As you wish.”

After Pierce had disappeared up the staircase, Daine pulled out the stool and sat down. Grazen produced another mug and placed a sack upon the table. As promised, it contained bread, cheese, and a skin of the finest wine Daine had tasted in five years. For a few minutes, Daine focused entirely on the food. He knew Grazen would get to the point sooner or later, and finally he did.

“I know what you’ve been doing, Daine.”

“Then you’re one step ahead of me.” Daine tore off another chunk of bread and looked at it. “Have you ever been to one of those gnome restaurants where all they serve is bread and water?” He placed a strip of smoked tribex on the bread and took a large bite, chewing thoughtfully.

Grazen watched him and said nothing.

“So tell me,” Daine said. “What have I been doing?”

“Working for Alina Lyrris.”

“What could ever drive me to do that?”

“That’s the question. After all your years of service to Cyre, are you going to become a mercenary now? My sword suits you better than I thought.”

Daine’s fingers tightened around his mug. “Watch your words, my friend.”

“And what sort of a friend would I be if I did? I offered you a job, Daine, a chance to work for the Watch. The pay might not be much, but it would be an honest living.”

“From what I’ve heard of Sharn, there’s little honest about the Watch.”

Now it was Grazen’s turn to scowl.

“Besides, I served
Cyre
. I spent the last six years fighting Brelanders. What could possibly bring me to risk my life defending them?”

“What could possibly bring you to work for Lyrris?”

“I asked you first.”

Grazen drained his mug and set it down. “Fine. Let me talk straight with you, Daine. Out of respect for the friendship we had in the past, if nothing else. Whatever Alina has you searching for. When you find it, I want you to bring it to me.”

“I don’t know what—”

“I’m willing to match whatever she’s paying you. I’ve come into quite a fortune through my marriage, and I can do it. Whatever it is. Whatever the price.”

“I don’t understand. Why would you be interested?”

“Because whatever it is she wants … I don’t want her to have it. Do you need a better reason?”

“Grazen, look. Even if I was working for Alina—”

“Don’t lie to me, Daine. You were never very good at it, and I hate to see you lying for her.”

Daine closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Fine. So I’m working for Alina. I made a deal, Grazen. I agreed to do a job. Are you asking me to break my word? I thought you believed in honoring commitments.”