The Vondish Ambassador

"Oh," Emmis said. He swallowed.

"Don't worry," she said. "I always have to go in first, after all – if there's any danger, it'll probably get me before you even take the first step. And I didn't get any notes wrong on the first three, did I?"

Emmis acknowledged that she had not. Still, his enthusiasm for the journey home was somewhat dimmed, and he was relieved there would be no other stops along the way.

He was also glad Ithinia hadn't told him any of this before they walked through the first three fissures.

"We gave Morkai of Crooked Hill an enchanted flute twelve years ago," Ithinia said, as she scooped chilled melon from her plate. "To use if anything ever threatened the towers and he couldn't contact us by other means." She thrust a well-filled spoon into her mouth.

"So he was working for the Guild, and he betrayed you?"

"Not exactly," Ithinia said, pulling out the empty spoon. "He was a member of the Guild, like every wizard, and because he lived right below the towers we asked him to let us know of any threats, and we gave him the flute. We had plenty of spells in place to warn us of trouble, but a human observer may work when magic doesn't. He wasn't working for us, in the sense of having any regular duties or being paid; he just had instructions to let us know if anything went wrong, and we gave him the flute and a few other things to that end."

"He lives near them? I didn't even see the towers while we were there," Emmis griped.

"The New Castle was in the way," Ithinia said. "If you had gone around it you would have been able to see the tops of the towers in the distance; they're a few miles northwest of the city."

"That fortress thing?"

"That's the New Castle, yes."

Emmis nodded. "I was surprised you didn't do anything more to Morkai," he said. "I mean, if he betrayed the Guild's trust, and then hired an assassin…"

"More?" She put down her spoon and turned to stare at him.

"Well, you broke that dagger, and obviously that hurt him somehow, but…"

"Emmis," Ithinia interrupted, "there was a piece of his soul in that dagger. We destroyed it. He'll never get it back. He'll never be able to perform magic again – not any magic, so far as we know, and certainly not wizardry. He'll never again be whole."

After an awkward moment of silence, Emmis said, "Oh." He suddenly took an intense interest in slicing the pear on his plate.

That, he thought, explained that. Changing the subject, he asked, "Are your gargoyles getting any supper? Do they need to eat?"

"What, Glitter and Old Rocky? No, they're fine; they live on magic."

That led to a harmless and interesting discussion of animation spells, and the odd uses some people put them to, and the rest of the meal passed cheerfully enough.

After di

Finally, though, servants appeared to escort the guests to their quarters for the night.

"We're staying?" Emmis asked, as the travelers gathered by the door to be sorted out. He had somehow missed that decision.

"Yes," Lord Ildirin told him. "Ithinia says we'll leave for home in the morning."

Emmis nodded happily. He turned to Lar. "I'll be glad to get back to Through Street, won't you?"

Lar frowned uneasily. "Actually," he said, "I won't be going back. My job in Ethshar is done – as much by the rest of you people as by me, but done. Tonight I'm going back to my own room in Semma Castle, and I'm staying there. Lord Sterren agreed."

"Oh, but…" Emmis stopped.

That was that, then. His brief career as a diplomatic aide was coming to an end. It would be back to the docks, loading and unloading cargo, for him.

"And I just got the embassy properly furnished," he said.

"You can live there if you want," Lar said. "But I'd think somewhere closer to the water would be more reasonable."

Emmis shook his head. "I can't afford the rent there, even if I wanted to," he said.

"Yes, you could," Lar said. "But Shiphaven or Spicetown would probably be better."

"I think you misjudge how much a dockworker makes," Emmis said. He wondered whether his old room near Canal Square might still be available.

"Dockworker?" Lar sounded genuinely puzzled.

Emmis let his a

"I know you did," Lar said, "but didn't Lord Sterren or Lord Ildirin talk to you?"

Emmis blinked. "Talk to me about what?"

"They agreed you would be the best man for the job," Lar said.

"Yes, we did," Lord Ildirin interjected, coming up behind him, "but we hadn't spoken to him yet."

Emmis turned to the old nobleman. "About what?"

"About your new job, should you accept it." His mouth twisted wryly. "I had reservations about your age, but Lord Sterren pointed out that he's been Regent for more than two years now without causing any disasters, and he's no older than you are. The ambassador and Guildmaster Ithinia both consider you trustworthy enough for the position."

"What position?"

"Customs inspector. It will be your responsibility to ensure that no warlocks board any ship bound for the Vondish coast. You will have guardsmen working under you – I'm not sure how many, we'll see how it goes – and will be given full authority to search any vessel in Ethsharitic waters, from Shiphaven to Seacorner."

"But… warlocks?"

"You will employ magicians as needed; we can discuss your budget for that later."

"I…"

"Your experience on the docks should be very helpful," Ildirin continued. "I'm sure you know a good many tricks about hiding things aboard ship."

"A few," Emmis admitted.

"And your pay will be six bits a day, in silver."

"A round," Emmis said automatically.

Ildirin smiled a humorless smile. "Six bits," he said. "If it works out well for a year, perhaps it will increase to seven."

"Six bits," Emmis agreed. "Thank you."

That was when a footman in red and gold appeared and said, "Lord Ildirin? Your room is ready."

"We can continue this discussion in the morning, my lad," Ildirin said. "I'm sure it will work out well for all concerned." Then he turned and followed the footman down the corridor.

Emmis watched him go.

"You could stay here, if you want," Lar said. "I don't know what Lord Sterren has pla

Emmis glanced at him, startled. "No, thank you, sir. I'm an Ethsharite."

"So was Sterren, and look where he is now."

"I think being a customs inspector sounds far more appropriate for me, sir."

"As you please, then." He held out his hand. "I know where my room is, and I don't need an escort to get there, so I'll be going now. May you live long and well."

Emmis took the hand. "If you're ever back in Ethshar…"

"I'll make sure to see you."

Emmis watched the Vondish ambassador walk away, until a footman with an abominable accent said, "Emmis of Shiphaven? Your place is ready."

Emmis smiled. "I'm sure it is," he said.