Diversity Is Coming

by Nicolas Wilson

  ***

  The silence between them was heavier the next morning. Kohau didn’t bother to try and talk this time. He was too caught up in his thoughts to make the effort. His mental puzzles kept him busy enough that he barely noticed when they reached the city. Thankfully his horse was trained well enough that it followed Yelve without any direction from him. It came in handy when he started to gawk about at the strange surroundings.

  She led them along a few twisting lanes that meandered along the edge of the city. Kohau blinked as they came to a stop outside a rather nondescript building. It looked more like a rundown meeting hall than a mercenary’s guild. He was glad at least that Yelve was between him and the small handful of men lounging near the door.

  "Careful lads; looks like we've got us a proper guard here."

  "I'm here to see Hauber."

  The man who had spoken got to his feet with a lazy stretch. "He doesn't speak to just anyone who wanders through town. You can tell me what you want, and I'll see if it's worth passing on."

  "Jask, take a walk." An older man stood in the doorway, his grizzled face a carefully composed mask. "You and your friend had best come inside for a drink, child of scale."

  Hauber wasn’t quite what Kohau had been expecting. The office they followed him to was lined on three sides with floor to ceiling book shelves. He couldn’t help but frown when he took in how dusty and disused the various tomes and scrolls appeared. It made him yearn for the library back at the temple and their clean orderly collections. The wall behind the large desk was a mess of maps and other papers – some being held up by a random assortment of knives.

  "It's been a long time Yelve. What brings you to Usha?"

  "Disturbing reports I hope you'll tell me aren't true. Because I'm sure you know the consequences of Usha turning against the people of Leistros." She tossed the bit of fabric onto his desk. “Six deaths so far, Hauber – three of them children. My blades are hungry, and you’re looking somewhat appetizing.”

  "I can safely say that none of my people were stupid enough to join up with the raiders. And none from the other houses either as far as I know." Hauber held his hands up. "I would be the last person who would ever cross the temple. You know that."

  "Do you know who, or where these raiders are from?"

  “You know about as much as we do, considering how long it takes a messenger to get to us compared to the temple. Though now that they’re attempting to pull us in, I might have to pay more attention.”

  They were interrupted by a young man bringing a tray of mugs and a pitcher with foam dripping down its sides into the room. “Fasser, you hear anything about these raiders in Leistros?”

  “Traveler at the Cabbage last night mentioned seeing lights in some of those old ruins. But that could be just about anyone from treasure hunters to kids out for a bit of fun.”

  “Ruins?” Kohau sat up, his interest piqued.

  “Not much to see really but a few bits of crumbling walls here and there.” Fasser pointed to a spot on one of the maps on the wall. “About here or so, southeast of Usha, towards the lake.”

  Kohau scrawled a few quick notes in the notebook he’d been keeping in his pocket. Flipping through the pages, he stopped at the bits of maps he’d copied from the cartography collection at the library. It was hard to resist the urge to leap from his chair in a victory dance. The ruins fell just about where he suspected Ancient Kalta had once been. Yelve gave him a questioning look over the rim of her mug, but he merely shrugged in reply. He turned back to his notes as she gave Hauber her attention again.

  “Their target was Elder Fornoth.”

  “Damn.” Hauber’s mask finally fell away, his grim expression only a shade or two less imposing than Yelve’s. “And they tried to make it look like my guild was involved. Fasser, go tell Shanel I want to see her. I swear to you we had no part in this Yelve.”

  “I believe you. I’ve had long enough for my anger to cool.” She set her mug down on the desk. “Good thing Gallane and Usha are a few days' ride apart, or this conversation might have been a great deal messier.”

  Hauber drained his mug. "You two look like you could use some rest. Head on down to the Dancing Boar. If you tell them I sent you Mathi should give you a decent rate for a room."

  "Thank you."

  "Anything to keep my head on my shoulders."

  Kohau ducked his head as the man winked at him.