Part 4 (1/2)

Ditani took him first to the Blue Dolphin Inn. Lebuin had never been inside it but had walked past it dozens of times on his way to the docks and his family's offices. Ditani again held the door for him as he entered. The smoke parted around him as he entered. Even through the filtering of his s.h.i.+elds he could smell the various scents of tobac. Smiling, he decided he should also get some of the better leaf today as he was running low. He took a minute to let his eyes adjust better to the dimmer room. It was much larger than he expected, taking up slightly more than half of the central section of the building, and stretching all the way front to back. A large bar stood across the back wall. Halls led off out of the room from the back right and left sides. There were three large fireplaces, now burning low. Next to the bar on the back wall was a wide table with a cloth covering that had the box symbols for card games. Some tables had a metal scissor-like apparatuses mounted in them which, observing a few of those tables with occupants, was for holding a dagger upright. Some of the other tables also had a dagger stuck right into the wood of the table.

Looking at the people sitting at the tables with upright daggers he found they all were looking back at him with a.s.sessing eyes. Not one of them embarra.s.sed and most met him eye to eye. These are Daggers for hire. I forgot the Blue Dolphin is supposed to be where the best of the Daggers hire out. Looking at the daggers in the tables he saw that they were all functional weapons, but each was very distinctive. I need to ask Dad what the protocol is for hiring a Dagger. I might need one, and I probably can afford one of the best.

Ditani motioned for him to follow and led him to the bar, where a large muscled man was talking to a couple of well-dressed gentlemen. A lady dressed more like a city guard stood in the middle of the bar facing him, leaning back against the counter with a heavy mug in one hand the other resting on the hilt of a sword. The bartender was dressed well, but his clothes had dozens of stains from the food and drink he served. Trying to not look too out of place, Lebuin sat down on one of the many stools at the bar. He then looked back around the room. The Daggers had gone back to whatever they were doing when he came in. Some were writing in journals, others had an array of objects on their tables and were using them to work on one weapon or another. Still others were just talking. It was busier than he expected for midmorning. A few people, mostly reasonably well-dressed, vacated a table after looking him over. He noticed that a group of workmen who came in behind him walked past empty tables with the dagger holders and chose to sit at the communal tables. Why not sit at the empty table? Can only Daggers sit at those tables?

Looking at the daggers, not exactly good behavior sticking a dagger into a table especially when there are empty tables with dagger holders for just that purpose. There were three empty tables with holders and they were all near one wall or another. As he watched, a well-dressed man handed a couple of bells to one of the Daggers sitting at a table with a holder near the center of the room. The Dagger and his companions stood up, taking his dagger from the holder, and they left with their employer. Immediately there was a silent exchange of looks between the Daggers at tables without holders and one stood up, pulled his dagger out of the wooden table, walked over and sat down, placing his dagger into the holder. That was interesting. There must be a ranking order. Those other empty holder tables must signify something that these others don't feel up to challenging or claiming.

”Master.” He remembered he was here for a purpose and while he had been staring at the unfamiliar room Ditani had been talking in soft tones with the bartender. ”Magus Vestul has still not been seen.”

”Let's go check the room.”

”I don't have the key.”

”Well we can still knock; won't the inn keeper open it for us?”

”No, that isn't how it works here. Blue Dolphin rooms are for key-holders only. If you don't have a room key or are a known invited guest they won't let you go upstairs.”

Thinking of Magus Gezu, he asked, ”What if Magus Vestul died in the room overnight of a heart problem like Magus Gezu?”

Ditani looked worried at the new thought. ”I don't know. It is not very likely.”

Lebuin turned around to the bar and signaled for the barkeeper to come over. After a minute he did.

”Yes, m'lord. Wha' can I getcha?”

”I'd like to speak to the innkeeper please.”

The large man stood still staring at him for a minute as if he was an interesting new insect. A s.h.i.+ver ran down his back and he strengthened his s.h.i.+eld a little more. The barkeeper's voice remained calm, even friendly. ”M'lord, I'm da inn keeper, owner an' enforcer. How may I serve you?” The last had only a slight accent.

Oh great, I have insulted one of the most influential people in the city and I have only been a Journeyman here for a few marks. Smiling as nicely as he could, he covertly pulled a chera out and placed it on the counter near his hand - and, he hoped, out of view of most of the room's occupants. ”My apologies. I am worried about a friend, Magus Vestul. He was not exactly young; is there any way to check his room to be sure he hasn't had an accident?”

The large man considered the idea for a minute. ”Wait here.” He then walked around the end of the bar, crossed the room, and went up a set of circular stone stairs which Lebuin had not noticed, as the entrance was hidden from the main door but visible from the bar. All of the Daggers watched the innkeeper as he left, then looked back at Lebuin. He felt like a specimen on display, so he casually as possible turned his back on the room and leaned on the bar. Ditani stood next to him, facing the room.

Smiling he reached for where his coin had been on the counter. He didn't take the coin. I thought bribes were common. His hand came up empty, and he looked at the bar in shock. Wait, where is the coin? Lebuin looked at the other people near the bar; none of them were close enough to have taken it. Thinking back, he mused, I'd swear on a stack of crowns he didn't reach for the coin, and no one else could have either.

He looked at Ditani, confused. Ditani stood there looking at the room. ”Do you think he'll open the room?”

”Of course, but where did my chera go?” he asked softly.

Ditani glanced at him with almost the same look as the innkeeper before answering, ”Genne took it, of course.”

Turning slightly, he was able to watch the room. As he waited, well-dressed folks came and went pretty often. Almost every merchant or n.o.ble actually walked around the room, boldly examining the daggers in the tables and the Daggers sitting at them too. ”Is that normal?”

Ditani looked at what he was watching. ”Of course. Merchants need specific services, so they have to find the right Dagger for their needs. No Dagger will ever take offense at being sized up by a client.”

The innkeeper returned. ”M'lord, ya needn't worry, yer friend ain't dead in da room. Der ain't no-un in da room. Can I getcha any ting else?”

Well, so much for an easy solution. Now what? Disappointed at the lack of a simple solution, he shook his head no. ”Thank you, no. Can you tell him Journeyman Lebuin would like to speak with him as soon as possible at the Guildhouse when he comes back?”

”O'course m'lord. Ri'after I tell im of all da udder request. Very popular, dat one. I'ave ta' charge him more nex'time.”

Now that is interesting. ”Uh, popular? I take it there are a lot of people asking to see him.”

The innkeeper looked at him for a few moments before he realized that nothing more was going to come without some coin. Sighing, he fished out another chera. This time he left his finger on it. The innkeeper smiled a friendly smile and gave him a wink. ”Ya might say dat. Been tree udders askin' after him.”

Beginning to get the feel for this, he left the coin where it was but added another one. Smiling, he leaned a little closer. ”Anyone I might know?”

”No m'lord, 'least, not likely. One was a friend o' Duke, a'nudder was a recent regular, Sula by name, and da last was a Knife, stake me rep on dat, I would.”

I know about the Duke, and what a Knife is I don't think I want to know. Maybe I can meet this Sula and we can help each other. Nodding as he added a third coin, ”Sula is a new regular? Where might I find him?”

The innkeeper's hand came down, covering his hand and all three coins. It was heavy, muscled and coa.r.s.e on the back of his hand. ”M'lord, be careful o'dat one. Ya can fin' 'er at da Temple o' Dalpha. Dats al'I can do for ya.” He turned, lifting his hand, and moved to some customers who were trying to dress well but failing miserably. Looking down, he saw all three of the coins were gone. Now that is an interesting trick.

Standing up, he motioned for Ditani to follow and he walked out, trying to look confident. On the way he took note of some Daggers he might come back and talk to later, after he had a chance to get some advice on hiring them. Both of the Daggers he was most interested in nodded politely to him as Ditani opened the door for him. d.a.m.n, how did they know I was thinking of them?

Once outside he started walking towards the docks and the main market. ”This Sula sounds like she might be able to help. We can get to the Temple of Dalpha through the market.” Ditani simply nodded and followed.

The market was as busy as always, buskers screaming their wares, merchants in booths vying for the attention of anyone who even glanced at their stalls. Temple Street was on the far side of the market, so they simply began maneuvering through the stalls on a general course for the temple district. As they moved through the market he paid closer attention to the mundane things he had never considered buying, like the leather backpacks and the more st.u.r.dy boots. I need some boots that will not wear out, but I can keep looking respectable.

As he rounded a stall he caught sight of a serviceably but beautifully dressed woman wearing a dusky brick-red cloak with a rust-colored hood and fur-trimmed collar. The woman was just turning away from him, heading down another row. Her tanned skin and curly dark brown hear were perfectly suited to the dusky colors she wore. My Lord, it can't be. That is the girl from the alley! She had already stepped out of sight with a sweetmeat in one hand and a pack swung over the opposite shoulder.

”Come on, I think I know her.” Stepping faster, he dodged around some other shoppers, not sure what he would do when he met her. But still, he knew he wanted to at least talk to her. He moved so fast Ditani was left behind. She was a few feet down the aisle when he rounded the corner. Smiling, he moved hurriedly to get close enough to say h.e.l.lo.

An explosion of light and sound hit him from behind, pus.h.i.+ng him forward violently. His s.h.i.+eld buckling under the force, he stumbled and tried to stay up. What the h.e.l.l was that? Rebounding off the girl, knocking her forward as well, he managed to regain his footing. At the same time he pushed what energy he could through his channels to recover the protective s.h.i.+eld. The sudden rush of energies was slightly more than needed, and the excess burnt as the channels allowed what they could to flow through. Turning around, he looked for the source of the force that had hit him.

Everywhere people were running and screaming, except for one man only a few paces away. The man was rough looking, wearing all black from neck to foot. He held a rod that was pointed straight at Lebuin. The man looked mad, and his eyes burned with a hatred Lebuin found hard to stand against. G.o.ds, an a.s.sa.s.sin! Panic welled up inside Lebuin as lightning leaped from the rod, striking him again. His s.h.i.+eld was not enough, and he felt like a fire had exploded inside him as the energy channel was forcibly disrupted. Worse, the energies he was trying to send through the now-destroyed channel began pooling and burning. The s.h.i.+eld was gone, and he was burning inside from energies that no longer had a place to go, as well as from the tag end of the attack that had charred his arms and chest.

The man in black looked momentarily amazed and then moved rapidly towards Lebuin. His voice was husky but chilling. ”d.a.m.n it!” was all Lebuin heard as he saw him pull a knife with the other hand and threw it into his chest.

The pain from the knife snapped something in Lebuin. Looking at the approaching a.s.sa.s.sin he released all the energies that were burning in him and connected a ley line in the air to the attack formula he had prepared before leaving the Guild, targeting the a.s.sa.s.sin. You can join me. As he started to collapse, golden energies leaped from his hands, arcing to the a.s.sa.s.sin. Some energy jumped to the rod in the a.s.sa.s.sin's hand; as the darkness came, Lebuin smiled that his last sight was of his killer exploding in flames. Screams echoed down into the dark as he fell. Faintly he heard Ditani screaming his name, then nothing at all.

Chapter 5.

Knives are out ENJOYING THE SWEET AND SALTY flavor of the sweetmeat, Ticca strolled through the marketplace. Comparing the morning's purchases against her list of needed items, she smiled. Her new pouch had two separate compartments with identical sets of items. The exception was one had practically nothing of value, while the other held the real items. She was particularly pleased with the set of journals she'd found. It would take a little work to transfer her notes but it would be worth it. The sun was warm, and all her main objectives for the day were dealt with. She considered the future. I should go back to the Blue Dolphin and put my dagger out. But I think I can afford to take a short break. After all, I have been working for years to get here. I think I deserve a break. Ignoring most of the barkers vying for her attention, she thought maybe she should get a few extra supplies now that she had a safe place to store them. Always a good idea to be prepared for having to leave on short notice.

Her eyes were slightly dazzled by a flash of bright light and her ears started ringing from a sound not unlike a near thunderclap. Something hit her hard from behind, and her skin p.r.i.c.kled at the contact even through her leathers. That feels like the magic Sula made me use. She was pushed forward with considerable force and her feet automatically shuffled, keeping her balanced. Her heart started racing as the memory of the previous evening's sneak attack made a pit in her stomach. She dropped her pack as she executed an about face into a battle-ready crouch, with knives in a defensive position.

Dagger in one hand and a knife in the other, she took in what had hit her. Instead of the expected opponent she was looking at the back of skinny, medium-height man. He was himself just finis.h.i.+ng turning around, looking away from her. His cloak was smoking slightly from whatever had happened to his back. Must have been blown into me, but by who or what?

Lowering herself slightly and stepping an inch to the right, remaining ready for a fight, she was able to see past the man who had run into her. Fifteen feet away and closing was a Knife, or at least someone who really wanted to make that impression. Except this Knife was using an ebony rod, which he pointed threateningly at the other man. Looking at the singed cloak in front of her again, she thought, This guy must be a wizard, to have withstood a surprise magical attack. That feeling when he touched me must have been his s.h.i.+elding. My Lady! This is an a.s.sa.s.sination attempt against a wizard in the middle of the market. Who would dare try this?

Nearby people began to react to the events, most bolting away screaming. The few remaining that were watching the events like a busker act changed their minds and ran too when lightning leaped from the rod, striking the wizard. The wizard was pushed further back and Ticca deftly stepped backwards with the motion to keep a workable distance between them. The hair on the back of her neck stood up and her heart started racing from being in the line of fire. This is not a good place to be. Looking around, she saw there was no cover other than tents. Those tents aren't going to stop a missed shot. Maybe staying behind this wizard isn't such a bad spot; he's holding up to the abuse pretty well. The Knife was also impressed, and actually looked mad. More than you bargained for, I bet. Now for the execution everyone always says happens when wizards are crossed.

The wizard slowly, almost arrogantly, lifted his hands. The Knife's eyes showed a touch of fear. The Knife tried to move, shouting, ”d.a.m.n it!” In a last desperate effort he threw his knife at the wizard. But he wasn't fast enough. Nice try, but I doubt anyone can move fast enough. Throwing stuff at wizards just makes them madder.