Part 35 (1/2)
”Then who is in charge?” the commander demanded, rising to his feet, his ale forgotten.
”No one, sir,” said the spy. ”The city is in chaos.”
”Well, well.” The commander chuckled. ”Perhaps Mina was right, and prayers are answered after all. Gentlemen,” he said, looking around at his officers and staff, ”no sleep for us tonight. We ride to Sanction,”
One down, thought Gerard to himself, tramping off behind the commander's aide. One to go.
Not the easiest, either, he thought gloomily. Hoodwinking a half-drunken commander of the Dark Knights had been goblin-play compared to what lay ahead-extricating one kender from the herd. Gerard could only hope that the Dark Knights, in their infinite wisdom, had seen fit to keep the kender gagged.
”Here they are,” said the aide, holding up a lantern. ”We have them penned up. Makes it easier.”
The kender, huddled together like puppies for warmth, were asleep. The night air was cold, and few had cloaks or other protection from the chill. Those who did shared with their fellows. In repose, their faces looked pinched and wan. Obviously the commander wasn't wasting food on them, and he certainly wasn't concerned about their comfort.
The kenders' manacles were still attached, as were their leg irons and-Gerard breathed a hefty sigh of relief-their gags were still in place. Several soldiers stood guard. Gerard counted five, and he suspected there might be more he couldn't see.
At the bright light, the kender lifted their heads and blinked sleepily, yawning around the gags.
”On your feet, vermin,” order the Knight, Two of the soldiers waded into the pen to kick the kender into wakefulness. ”Stand up and look smart. Turn toward the light. This gentleman wants to see your dirty faces.”
Gerard spotted Ta.s.slehoff right away. He was about three-quarters of the way down the line, gaping and peering about and scratching his head with a manacled hand. Gerard had to make a show of inspecting every single kender, however, and this he did, all the while keeping one eye on Tas.
He looks old, Gerard realized suddenly. I never noticed that before.
Tas's jaunty topknot was still thick and long. Gray streaks were noticeable here and there, however, and the wrinkles on his face were starkly etched in the strong light. Still, his eyes were bright, his bearing bouncy, and he was watching the proceedings with his usual interest and intense curiosity.
Gerard walked down the line of kender, forcing himself to take his time. He wore a leather helm to conceal his face, afraid that Tas would recognize him again and make a glad outcry. His scheme did not work, however, for Ta.s.slehoff shot one inquisitive look through the eyeslits of the helm, saw Gerard's bright blue eyes, and beamed all over. He couldn't speak, due to the gag, but he gave a wriggle expressive of his pleasure.
Coming to a halt, Gerard stared hard at Tas, who-to Gerard's dismay-gave a broad wink and grinned as wide as the gag would permit. Gerard grabbed hold of the kender's topknot and gave it a good yank.
”You don't know me,” he hissed out from behind the helm.
”Ofcourseldont,” mumbled the gagged Tas, adding excitedly, ”Iwa.s.sosurprisedtoseeyouwherehaveyoubeen-”
Gerard straightened. ”This is the kender,” he said loudly, giving the topknot another yank.
”This one?” The aide was surprised. ”Are you sure?”
”Positive,” said Gerard. ”Your commander has done an outstanding job. You may be certain that Mina will be most pleased. Release the kender immediately into my custody. I'll take full responsibility for him.”
”I don't know . . .” The aide hesitated.
”Your commander said I was to have him if I found him,” Gerard reminded the man. ”I've found him. Now release him.”
”I'm going to go bring back the commander,” said the aide.
”Very well, if you want to disturb him. He looked pretty relaxed to me,” Gerard said with a shrug.
His ploy didn't work. The aide was one of those loyal, dedicated types who would not take a c.r.a.p without asking for permission. The aide marched off. Gerard stood in the pen with the kender, wondering what to do.
”I overplayed my hand,” Gerard muttered. ”The commander could decide that the kender is so valuable he'll want to take him himself to claim the reward! Blast! Why didn't I think of that?”
Ta.s.slehoff had, meanwhile, managed to work the gag loose, dislodging it with such ease that Gerard could only conclude he'd kept it on for the novelty.
”I don't know you,” don't know you,” said Ta.s.slehoff loudly and gave another conspiratorial wink that was guaranteed to get them both hung. ”What's your name?” said Ta.s.slehoff loudly and gave another conspiratorial wink that was guaranteed to get them both hung. ”What's your name?”
”Shut up,” Gerard shot out of the corner of his mouth.
”I had a cousin by that name,” observed Tas reflectively.
Gerard tied the gag firmly in place.
He eyed the two guards, who were eyeing him back. He'd have to act quickly, couldn't give them a chance to cry out or start a racket. The old ruse of pretending to find scattered steel coins on the ground might work. He was just about to gasp and stare and point in astonishment, readying himself to whack the two in the head when they came over to look, when a commotion broke out behind him.
Torchlight flared up and down the road. People began shouting and rus.h.i.+ng about. Doors slammed and banged. Gerard's first panicked thought was that he'd been discovered and that the entire army was turning out to seize him. He drew his sword, then realized that the soldiers weren't running toward him. They were running away from him, heading for the road house. The two guards had lost interest in him entirely, were staring and muttering, trying to figure out what was going on.
Gerard heaved a sigh. This alarm had nothing to do with him. He forced himself to stand still and wait.
The aide did not return. Gerard muttered in impatience.
”Go find out what's going on,” he ordered.
One guard ran off immediately. He stopped the first person he came to, then turned and pounded back their direction.
”Malys is dead!” he shouted. ”And so is that Mina girl! Sanction is in turmoil. We're marching there straight away.”
”Malys dead?” Gerard gaped. ”And ”And Mina?” Mina?”
”That's the word.”
Gerard stood dazed, then came to his senses. He'd served in the army a good many years, and he knew that rumors were a copper a dozen. This might be true-he hoped it was-but it might not be. He had to act under the a.s.sumption that it wasn't.
”That's all very well, but I still need the kender,” he said stubbornly. ”Where's the commander's aide?”
”It was him I talked to.” The guard fumbled at his belt. Producing a ring of keys, he tossed them to Gerard. ”You want the kender? Here, take 'em all.”
”I don't want them all!” Gerard cried, aghast, but by that time, the two guards had dashed off to join the throng of troops ma.s.sing in the road.
Gerard looked back to find every single kender grinning at him.
Freeing the kender did not prove easy. When they saw that Gerard had the keys, the kender set up a yell that must have been heard in Flotsam and surged around him, raising their manacled hands, each kender demanding that Gerard unlock him or her first. Such was the tumult that Gerard was nearly knocked over backward and lost sight of Ta.s.slehoff in the mix.
Bleating and waving his hand, Ta.s.slehoff battled his way to the front of the pack. Gerard got a good grip on Tas's s.h.i.+rt and began to work at the locks on the chains on his hands and feet. The other kender milled about, trying to see what was going on, and more than once jerked the chains out of Gerard's grip. He cursed and shouted and threatened and was even forced to shove a few, who took it all in good humor. Eventually-he was never to know how-he managed to set Ta.s.slehoff free. This done, he tossed the keys into the midst of the remaining kender, who pounced on them gleefully.
Gerard grabbed the bedraggled, disheveled, straw-covered Ta.s.slehoff and hurried him off, keeping one eye on Tas and the other on the turmoil among the troops.
Tas ripped off his gag. ”You forgot to remove it,” he pointed out.