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Paran stared at his hands. «I want to know when High Mage Tayschre
«Agreed.»
«Very well, High Fist. As far as this present situation is concerned, however, I'd rather Sergeant Whiskeyjack remained in command.»
Dujek asked, a grin in his voice, «Whiskeyjack?»
«Accepted,» the sergeant answered. He smiled at Paran. «Welcome aboard, Captain.»
«Enough?» Dujek asked.
«We'll speak again after it's all done,» Whiskeyjack said. «Until then, High Fist, success.»
«Success, Whiskeyjack.»
The threads of light faded. As soon as they were gone Kalam rounded on his sergeant. «You old bastard! Fiddler told me Dujek wouldn't hear any talk of revolt! Not only that, the High Fist told you to walk after this mission.»
Whiskeyjack shrugged, removing the strange contraption from the table. «Things change, Corporal. When Dujek got the Adjunct's word on next year's reinforcements, it became obvious that someone was ensuring that the Genabackan Campaign would end in disaster. Now, even Dujek won't tolerate that. Obviously, plans would have to be revised.» He faced Paran, his eyes hardening. «I'm sorry, Captain, but Lorn has to live.»
«But the High Fist-»
Whiskeyjack shook his head. «She's on her way into the city, assuming that she and the Imass succeed in freeing the Jaghut. The Tyrant will need a reason to come to Darujhistan, and we can only assume that, somehow, Lorn will be that reason. She will find us, Captain. Once that happens, we'll decide, what's to be done with her, depending on what she tells us.
«If you challenge her openly, she will kill you. If necessary, she will have to die, but her demise will be subtle. Do you have problems with any of this?»
Paran released a long breath. «Can you at least explain why you went ahead and mined the city?»
«In a moment,» Whiskeyjack said, rising. «First,» he said, «who's the wounded man?»
«Not wounded any more,» Mallet said, gri
Paran also rose. «In that case, I'll also explain everything. just let me go downstairs and retrieve my sword.» At the door he paused and turned to Whiskeyjack. «One more thing. Where's your recruit, Sorry?»
Kalam answered, «Missing. We know what she is, Captain. Do you?»
«Yes.» But she may not be what she once was, assuming Shadowthrone didn't lie. He thought to relate that part of his story, then dismissed the notion. He couldn't be sure, after all. Better to wait and see.
The burial chamber proved to be a small, nondescript beehive tomb, the low dome constructed of roughly dressed stones. The passageway leading to it was narrow and less than four feet high, sloping slightly downwards. The chamber's floor was of packed earth and in its centre rose a circular wall of stones, capped by a single, massive lintel stone.
Frost-crusted objects lay on this flat surface.
Tool swung to the Adjunct. «The object you seek is called a Fi
«Your Otataral sword will deaden its aura. Not completely… The Fi
She sca
As its ice coating melted, she saw that it was not perfectly round. She polished the blackened surface and studied it closely.
«I believe it is an acorn,» Tool said.
Lorn nodded. «And it's the Fi
The Imass shrugged in a clatter of bones. «The Jaghut are odd people.»
«Tool, they weren't very war-like, were they? I mean, before your kind sought to destroy them.»
The Imass was slow to reply. «Even then,» he said at last. «The key lay in making them angry, for then they destroyed indiscriminately, including their own.»
Lorn shut her eyes briefly. She pocketed the Fi
«Yes, Adjunct. Even now the Jaghut Tyrant stirs.»
CHAPTER NINETEEN
But someone died here alas. Who drinks of this now and then and stirs the ashes of thine own pyre?
Maker of Paths, you were never so thirsty in youth:
Old Temple Sivyn Stor (b.1022)
«This isn't right, meese,» Crokus said, as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. «We can't just hide in here for ever.»
Apsalar said, from the window, «It's almost dark.»
Meese crouched once again to check the trap-door's lock. «We're moving you again, after the twelfth bell. Irilta's down below, getting details.»
«Who's giving these orders?» Crokus demanded. «Have you found Uncle Mammot yet?»
«Relax, lad.» Meese straightened. «No, we ain't found your uncle. And the orders come from your protectors. I won't answer any questions about who they are, Crokus, so save your breath.»
Apsalar shifted position by the window to take in Meese. «Your friend's been a long time,» she said. «Do you think something's happened?»
Meese looked away. This girl was sharp. Of course, Meese had known that the first time they'd met, and old Chert had found out the hard way.
«Not sure,» she admitted. She bent to unlock the trap-door. «You both stay put,» she ordered, glaring at Crokus. «I ain't going to be happy if you do something stupid. Understand?»
«Yes.»
The boy looked glum, his arms crossed. He watched as Meese opened the trap-door and climbed down the ladder.
«Close this up after me,» she said, from below, «and lock it. Wait to hear from either me or Irilta, got it?»
«Yes.» Crokus strode to the square hole in the floor and stared down at Meese. «We got it,» he said, grasping the door. and swinging it shut. Then he locked it.
«Crokus,» Apsalar asked, «why did you kill a guard?»
This was their first time alone since entering the city. Crokus glanced away. «It was an accident. I don't want to talk about it.» He crossed the room to the back window. «All these people trying to protect me,» he said. «Makes me uneasy. There's more going on than just an order for my arrest. Hood's Breath, the Thieves» Guild takes care of such things, that's why they get ten per cent of every job I do. No, none of it makes sense, Apsalar. And,» he said, as he unlatched the window, «I'm sick of everybody telling me what to do.»
She came to his side. «Are we leaving, then?»
«Damn right. It's already dusk so we'll take the rooftops.» He pulled and the window swung inward.
«Where?»
Crokus gri
Apsalar's brown eyes searched his face. «What do you want to do?» she asked softly.
He looked away, concentrating on propping up the window. «I want to talk to Challice D'Arle,» he said. «Face to face.»
«She betrayed you, didn't she?»
«Never mind that. Are you staying here?»
«No,» she said, surprised. «I'm coming with you, Crokus.»
The power of her Warren bristled on her body. Serrat sca