Wild Card (8 page)

There was another pause, though it was shorter this time. Nathrach realized that he’d told me too much to stop now.

“The Khrynsani. You’ve heard of them?”

“Oh yeah.”

The Brotherhood of the Khrynsani was a not-so-behind-the-scenes instigator of every act of goblin aggression toward elves since. . . well, since a monk somewhere started writing that stuff down. They were an ancient goblin secret society and military order, with even more outdated beliefs. Goblins were meant to rule, and anyone who didn’t agree was meant to be enslaved or killed. Unfortunately, those who had an opposing opinion included every other race. Even more unfortunate was that the Khrynsani had what no group of megalomaniacal nutcases should have: power, money, and influence. Some of the most powerful families of the goblin aristocracy were secret Khrynsani members.

“So in addition to starting wars,” I said, “they collect souls.”

“As currency.”

“To buy what from who?”

“Knowledge and favors—from archdemons.”

I froze. The Khrynsani were going to give those children to archdemons? Oh, hell, no.

My reaction wasn’t lost on Nathrach. “I quite agree. It is among the vilest acts one being can perpetrate against another. The head of the Khrynsani started the game. Stealing the souls of children is right up his dark alley.”

I scowled. “What’s he look like?”

“He won’t be here.”

“You’re sure?”

“Sarad Nukpana would see this gathering as beneath him.”

“Never heard of him.”

“Pray that you never do.”

“Where’s the game being held?”

“They would want privacy, security, and a location where it wouldn’t be out of the ordinary to see goblins.”

“The Goblin District.”

“A logical choice.”

“That’s not a small island, and we don’t have much time. You’ve lived in Mermeia for three months. . .”

“Now you’re asking me for more than information. You’re asking for involvement.”

“I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to it, and neither would Janek. The city watch has plenty of goblins and mages, but a mage with knowledge of the Khrynsani would certainly be welcome. I’m not asking you to put yourself at risk. If you have any idea of places where they could be, Janek and his people will take it from there.”

“And you.”

“And me. If they try to take those gems and run, I can track those children’s souls.”

“The city watch has seekers.”

“They do, but I’m better than they are.”

“Beautiful and modest.”

“I don’t see myself as either one. As to me being better, it ain’t bragging if it’s true. And I’ve already linked to the child in the ring. It’s a little boy—a little boy I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure wakes up tomorrow morning in his own bed with his parents by his side. I have a client who paid me to retrieve her property, property that now has children’s souls imprisoned inside. In my mind, that gives me multiple clients: the one who paid me in gold, and the others who are pro bono—those kids’ families.”

Nathrach shook his head. “You don’t understand, Mistress Benares. The Khrynsani mage running the game is Sarad Nukpana’s second-in-command, Pavane Taregani. He will personally take possession of the jewels once they are cashed in. In fact, he will probably leave soon afterward, leaving others to oversee the game. He would have brought ample gold to pay the winner. Nothing your city watch has can go up against him, or those he brought with him, and survive. What I’ve observed thus far of the watch, even from those whose magic leans toward the dark. . . they are competent, but hardly impressive.”

“Then help us.”

“To do what? Paint yourselves as a target for retribution? Because I guarantee that nothing will draw Khrynsani vengeance to this city faster than attempting to stop this game. If that happens, there will be nothing the watch of this city could do to protect its citizens.”

“So you believe we should just sacrifice the lives of the few to ensure the safety of the many.”

“You say you’ve heard of the Khrynsani, but you do not know them. I do. I know them because I know their leader. I know what they can do because I’ve experienced what they’ve done.”

I took a not so wild stab in the dark. “Your wife.” I kept my voice soft and respectful, as if she was in the room with us. For Tamnais Nathrach, she probably always was.

“Yes. Among others who had the misfortune of being close to me. With more to come—including any who they perceive to be a threat to them or their plans.”

“Those are the kind of people who
need
to be stopped,” I said quietly.

“I do not disagree. The Khrynsani are like a nest of vipers. If you decide to strike them first, you must be prepared to be faster and utterly merciless. If you do not kill them all, you will not live to get a second chance. The Khrynsani perpetuate evil on a daily basis—hourly even. I am hardly in a position, nor do I feel the desire, to launch a crusade against them. They will come here for one night, play their game, and they will leave.”

“Taking the souls of eight innocent children with them, children whose bodies will die at sunrise. Not to mention the souls the other players will bring with them.”        

“What would you have me do, Mistress Benares? If I don’t go after them, they won’t come after me.”

“You’re the only one I know who could help.”

“Know?” He barked a laugh. “You know me? If you
truly
knew me you would not put yourself in the same room with me. You do not know who I am, and you have no idea of what I have done.”

“And I don’t care. You left it behind. That tells me you don’t like what you did, either. Yes, the Khrynsani murdered your wife. They got what they wanted—you out of their way. Looks to me like they’ve already won.”

“I’m alive.”

“Yeah, you are. Tell me, what kind of life is it?”

“Nothing I say will dissuade you.”

“Then why are you trying?”

“To keep the best this city has from being slaughtered—or worse, from having their souls taken prisoner as well.”

I hadn’t thought about that. When a dark mage of Tamnais Nathrach’s skill said we were in way over our heads, I believed it. But it wasn’t going to stop us from—

“It won’t stop you,” the goblin said, as if reading my mind. He may have. Or my face was an open book; yet another reason I didn’t play cards.

“No, it won’t, and it can’t. We have to try.”   

“I cannot offer assistance beyond that which I have already given.”

“Then I won’t ask it again.” I stood to leave. Nathrach stood with me. “Thank you for what you were able to tell me. It will help.”

“Do you even know what a Khrynsani mage is capable of?” he asked softly.

“Trading the kidnapped souls of innocent children to demons for knowledge no mortal should have is as bad as it gets. So I’d imagine they’ve got the entire spectrum of evil pretty much covered.”

Nathrach gave me the faintest of smiles, but there was no humor in it. “Pretty much. And exactly what can you do that would keep them from killing you—or worse—when they discover you’re there?”

I swallowed. “When. . .?”

“Oh, yes. When. Mistress Benares, you have no idea what you’re going up against.”

I stepped around him and opened the door. “I don’t see it as a choice.”

*

Just because I didn’t see it as a choice didn’t mean I wanted to do it.

I was scared. Terrified, actually.

There, I’d said it.

Tamnais Nathrach had said I didn’t know him, and he was right; I didn’t. But I’d always thought of myself as a good judge of character. The goblin dark mage was no coward.

Refusing to get involved in this wasn’t an absence of bravery; it was a profusion of good sense. There came a time when the only thing you could do was run—or as Phaelan would call it, beat a tactical retreat. I could only imagine what the Khrynsani had done to force Nathrach to abandon those he loved, his post, his queen, and his people. His making a tactical retreat—whether temporary or permanent—wasn’t for me to judge. I felt a little guilty for some of what I’d said to the goblin mage, and after this was all over, I’d apologize.

If you live long enough
, said the pessimist that had a permanent residence in my head.

Tamnais Nathrach hadn’t been able to narrow down any further where the Khrynsani would be hosting their card game, but he’d given me plenty.

Best of all, what he’d told me had matched the intelligence that Janek had gotten through his counterpart in the Goblin District. I had no reason to believe that Nathrach had been anything but totally honest with me, and I was glad I wasn’t going to have to waste any valuable time convincing Janek.

The chief watcher had put together a team and a plan.

There were goblins on the city watch, most assigned to the Goblin District. Janek and his counterpart there were good friends, and he had a team that would be perfect for tonight’s activities. I presumed that meant they weren’t bothered by going up against Khrynsani. Part of the reason the Khrynsani had to be a secret society was that unless you were a goblin from one of the wealthy, old-blood families, you hated the Khrynsani and everything they stood for. The goblin watchers were probably looking forward to tonight’s raid and rob.

Some quick reconnoitering and discreet questioning by those goblin watchers had netted us our most likely target—a town house that backed up to a canal overlooking the Daith Swamp. Not exactly what you’d call prime real estate, but for hosting an illegal card game, it was nearly perfect. The neighborhood had seen better days, but it wasn’t completely run-down. The house was canal front and swamp back, offering easy access and quick exit.

There was one hole in Janek’s plan. He needed coverage on the canal between the town house and the Daith Swamp, coverage that wouldn’t raise suspicions. The launches the watch used were easily recognized, and the kind of men and women who chose watcher as a career would have trouble disguising themselves as anything else. Their presence would scare away the players before they even arrived. I knew someone who could have men in boats who wouldn’t look suspicious because they wouldn’t be seen; and if they were seen, they’d look perfectly at home on a backwater canal next to a swamp.

That same someone had dreamed all his life of robbing a casino—and had stubbornly refused to sit this one out, volunteering both himself and his crew.

Janek wasn’t particularly fond of Phaelan’s proposed solution, but with no time left to arrange for anything else, he knew he didn’t have a choice.

Being a pirate involved a pretty straightforward approach to stealing. You made the target ship stop either by intimidation, cannon fire, or both. You boarded. You took. My cousin was a very good pirate. Plus, the Benares bloodline covered the complete thievery spectrum—pirates, highwaymen, con men, gamblers, lawyers, bankers—basically any profession that involved parting people from their money. Cross-training was encouraged. 

Therefore it was a given that since Phaelan loved to gamble, he couldn’t help casing every casino whose doors he’d darkened, including Sirens. It wasn’t that he planned to actually rob any of them; it was merely his way of having a little harmless fun and staying in practice.

When I told him what we would be doing, he was thrilled. When I told him who we’d be doing it to, his enthusiasm waned. Unfortunately, it didn’t go down far enough for his survival instinct to kick in.

I knew the reason. Me.

We were only cousins, but we’d been raised as brother and sister, and Phaelan wouldn’t abandon family—well, at least not most of them. Part of me was grateful; the rest was worried sick about getting him killed or worse.

“Stealing a fortune in jewels from the Khrynsani.” It was the third time Phaelan had said it, at least out loud, as if voicing aloud that he—a man who was terrified of high-powered mages—would be taking jewels from under the collective noses of the blackest of the black magic brotherhoods would somehow make it less suicidal.

“For the last time, you’re not stealing them; and no one’s keeping the jewels, there are souls inside. You’re watching my back and
only
watching my back—and I don’t want you even doing that.”  

“Those watchers sure as hell won’t have your back,” Phaelan muttered. “Not that I’d trust them to do it.” 

“Janek’s assured me he’s put together a team of the best of the city watch, including mages who combat black magic on a daily basis. If Janek trusts them, so do I.”

Since Mermeia was a favorite with mages in retirement, the watch had to be ready for anything, anytime. I didn’t know if Janek’s mages were of the dark variety, but if they fought as dirty as I’d heard, I couldn’t imagine them being anything less.    

Phaelan scowled. “Watchers and dark mages.”

“But they’re all on
our
side.”

“If you say so.”

We grew some uncomfortable silence.

“You don’t have to do this,” I said quietly. “I’d really rather you didn’t.”

“I promised to help you nail Sethis Mortsani. He’s still running loose, meaning I haven’t done my job yet.”

“Mortsani is the least of my concerns.”

We both knew who had the most of my concern.

“Not only am I in,” my cousin said, “you couldn’t keep me out.”

*

Phaelan was bristling with pointy steel.

It wouldn’t do him any good against the Khrynsani, and he would be ill-advised to point it in the general direction of the city watchers with us. Some things you did simply to make yourself feel better, and if wearing enough steel almost to make him clank made my cousin feel safer, then so be it. To tell you the truth, Phaelan armed to the teeth at my back made me feel better. A little.

I had only my usual throwing knives, a pair of long daggers up my sleeves, and my two swords strapped over my back. I wanted to be light enough to use what had often been my most effective defense.

Fast feet.

After
I had a bag of soul-filled gems. 

Truth was, I didn’t have any big guns when it came to magic. Even though I’d never faced any Khrynsani, I kept telling myself that they couldn’t be much different than any other powerhouse mage I’d gone up against in the past. Admittedly I’d never taken on that many, but those that I had had one thing in common.