Part 8 (2/2)

Alkoryn nodded again. ”You can see see the tension now, those of us who know what to look for. The City Guards are always on the alert, and they've taken to traveling in groups of five, instead of the usual pairs. The order restricting riding gives the Watch greater mobility, and lessens the chances of troublemakers getting away, but honest people feel it's too severe.” the tension now, those of us who know what to look for. The City Guards are always on the alert, and they've taken to traveling in groups of five, instead of the usual pairs. The order restricting riding gives the Watch greater mobility, and lessens the chances of troublemakers getting away, but honest people feel it's too severe.”

”Can't make the n.o.bles walk, I suppose,” Parno said.

”That would make them more trouble, not less,” Dhulyn said, her eyes round and innocent in her scarred face. Both men smiled.

”There was a riot in the Calzos district two months ago, and the City Guards were overwhelmed. The Tarkin sent the Guard from the Carnelian Dome and the crowd dispersed. There were delegations to the Tarkin after that and things looked to be getting better, but every time the violence dies down for a few days, something happens that starts it up again. Things are now at the point that only the presence of the Carnelian Guard will convince people to disperse.”

”Let me guess,” Parno said. ”Something to do with the Marked or with these New Believers we've heard about.”

”What haven't you told me?”

Parno looked at Dhulyn, and she nodded. ”There was a fire in Navra,” she said. Alkoryn Pantherclaw's face grew grimmer and grimmer as she told the story, and he was silent a long while when she finished.

”I did not realize it had spread so far. There have been fires here as well and, I think, worse things. Nor is there doubt in anyone's mind that the new sect of the Jaldeans are behind it,” Alkoryn said. ”But proving it's a different matter. Even those who don't follow the Sleeping G.o.d are being turned against the Marked, being told that they profit from the misfortunes of others.”

”Well, so do we if it comes to that,” Parno pointed out.

”Yes,” Dhulyn said. ”But we risk our lives doing it; that may keep us safe a while longer.”

”Oh, in public and during the day the New Believers preach tolerance and understanding, pleading with the Marked to come to their shrines for guidance and cleansing.” The old man shook his head. ”I see from your faces you've been told what this cleansing means.”

”All this turmoil, at least, should mean we'll find plenty of work, once we've delivered our charge.”

”Don't count your money yet,” Alkoryn said. ”There's been no new hiring of Mercenary Brothers for weeks, and some long in guard service have been let go.”

”All these problems, the City Guard confounded, and no work for Mercenaries?”

”Nothing overt has been either said or done,” Alkoryn said. ”But again, this is nothing new in our history. There are changes coming, with these New Believers, and it won't be the first time that as a Brotherhood we ride them out, rather than fight them out.”

”And the Marked?”

”We've a little something in hand for them, never fear. When you've finished with the Tenebro girl, I will have an a.s.signment for you myself. But tell me, you heard nothing of this in the West?”

”Not in the court of the Great King,” Dhulyn said. ”There are Marked there, of course, but very few, and well-respected.”

”As bad as it is here in Imrion, this whole eastern end of the world is like kindling awaiting the match. Kondria has warned the Tarkin that if there are any further attacks on the Marked, it will withdraw its emba.s.sy.”

”That means war.”

Dhulyn shot a glance at Parno. Was there worry in his voice?

”And if Kondria is drawn into a religious war with Imrion, their allies will follow,” Alkoryn said. The look he gave them was grave. ”The Tarkin, and his hold on Imrion, is all that keeps the east from bursting into flame.”

”If the east is burning, it may attract the attention of the Great King,” Dhulyn said. ”And bring the rest of the world into the conflict.” She frowned down at the table, tracing her finger along a sh.o.r.eline drawn in deep sea green. She froze.

”With things so uncertain, perhaps you should consider moving your maps,” she said. Parno looked at her, eyebrows raised in inquiry, but she moved her head minutely, side to side.

”What Dorian has said of you is true,” Alkoryn said after a short silence. ”Your intuition is superb. It is, indeed, part of my plan to move these records to a safer spot.”

”I would start moving them now,” Dhulyn said, gesturing around her. ”I think you are so used to them, my Brother, that you don't realize how much packing all this will take.”

”You may be right.”

”In the meantime, since Imrion is not yet at war, we'll take the little Dove to Tenebro House . . .” Dhulyn let the words fade away as Alkoryn held up his hand.

”The day's well advanced. Wait until morning and take no chances. And in the meantime, I have something here that may be of use, though it cannot leave this room.” He twisted in his seat and reached over the low back of his chair. Dhulyn automatically noted that the old man was still limber enough to perform such an action. After a moment's hesitation he selected a bundle of thin parchments rolled together and tied with a wide blue ribbon. This he untied and spread the curling papers, turning brown around the outer edges, flat on the map that covered the table. Parno pa.s.sed over several stone weights from his side of the table.

Floor plans, Dhulyn realized. Layer after intricate layer of floor plans.

”Incredible,” Parno murmured, pulling one sheet closer to his side of the table. The house was a maze. Halls that went nowhere, others that simply turned back on themselves, forcing the uninitiated to travel in circles, fake walls, secret pa.s.sages, more stairwells than normally appear in a handful of buildings.

”Built in the time of Jorelau Tarkin,” Alkoryn said. ”And reflecting the paranoia of that day.”

Dhulyn tapped the corner of one sheet, where the mark of House Tenebro was clearly drawn.

”How is this possible?” she said, smiling her wolf's smile.

Alkoryn shrugged. ”Over the years many Brothers have served as guards and instructors in Tenebro House. We have three there now, as it happens. For that reason, I will ask you to exercise the greatest care while you are on their premises.”

Dhulyn nodded, her eyes still on the plans. Mercenary Brothers might find themselves on opposite sides on a battlefield, but anywhere else they took care of one another.

She looked up from the drawings. ”Is the old Bootmaker's Inn still in business?”

Alkoryn nodded. ”You might as well leave your horses here, however. You won't be riding them, and it will save you their board.”

”Let's hope that's all we have to worry about,” Parno said, still studying the floor plans of Tenebro House.

Six.

”DO I HAVE HAVE TO RIDE?” Mar asked from her seat on the windowsill. The Bootmaker's Inn had been almost full, and they had ended up all sleeping in the same room, though not, this time, in the same bed. TO RIDE?” Mar asked from her seat on the windowsill. The Bootmaker's Inn had been almost full, and they had ended up all sleeping in the same room, though not, this time, in the same bed.

Wolfshead looked up from lacing the cuff of her leggings. ”Of course not, if you don't wish it,” was all she said.

”Then I don't wish it,” Mar said.

Wolfshead nodded, straightened to her feet, plucked her sheathed sword off the bed, and hung it on her belt harness. ”Not that comfortable riding yesterday?” she asked.

Mar shrugged. ”Maybe if I'd been dressed differently. I kept thinking people were looking at me and wondering what a girl dressed in a shop clerk's worn-out clothing was doing on a horse.” She looked up to find the Wolfshead watching her, head tilted to one side.

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