When he reached the open area around the well, a line of six people stood waiting for a turn to fill their canteens or water skins. Shade would happily settle for a couple dippers to drink. The line shuffled forward slowly, until the woman ahead of him stepped up.
The Water Clan member looked into the well and shook his head. “The level’s dropped too much. You’ll need to go to one of the other wells. This one needs six hours to refill.”
The woman grumbled, but soon moved off. The father and son behind him followed her and soon Shade and his mark were alone in the clearing.
Shade staggered forward and fell to his knees. “Please, I don’t think I can make it. Just a couple swallows?”
The Water Clan member sneered at Shade. “High and mighty Sun Clan warrior can’t make it a quarter mile to the next well? Pitiful. I suppose I can’t have you dying in front of me.”
He turned to fill the bucket from whatever remained in the well.
The moment he turned away, Shade lunged, slapped his left hand across the man’s mouth, and dragged the dagger across his throat. He’d done it so many times over the years, the motions were engraved on his memory.
The man fought for a few seconds, but Shade controlled him, always being careful to keep from getting any blood on his stolen robe. When he’d bled out, Shade dropped him to the ground.
“Hey! You there!”
He turned to see a man in an unmarked robe standing at the edge of the clearing. He was hunched over and leaned on a cane. This might work to Shade’s advantage.
Without a word Shade sprinted out of the clearing toward the Sun Clan’s area. The old man would never be able to keep up. All Shade had to do now was plant the bloody knife in the tent he hid behind a couple days ago.
No, not in it. No one would be that stupid. He’d bury it behind the tent, good enough to be convincing, but not so good that anyone searching would have trouble finding the murder weapon.
He’d made a good start, but there was much left to do.
Just as the tent city had open areas for wells, markets, and pretty much every other thing you could think of, they also had an area called the Circle of Justice. Shade kept his distance, just another face in the large crowd that had gathered to watch the Sun Clan warrior he framed face his trial and execution. Shade kept his attention on one knot of people a little angrier than the rest. It was made up of members of the Water Clan, including a very angry young man who glared daggers at the Sun Clan gathered as far as they could get from the Water Clan.
Shade grinned behind his face covering. The next phase in his plan crystallized in his mind. After the trial, revenge would be a dish best served hot. A murmur ran through the gathered nomads. One of the groups parted and the Sun Clan murderer was dragged into the clearing, his arms and legs bound in heavy rope. Behind him came four older nomads, their faces bare and solemn. These were the clan elders that ran the city. Each wore a robe entirely woven from thread dyed in their clan’s color.
“People of Tower City,” the elder in Sun Clan red said. “A horrible crime has been committed in our community. One of our water monitors has been brutally murdered.”
“By your clansman!” the young man shouted.
“We have spoken with Karn at length,” the elder said. He seemed willing to overlook the young man’s outburst. Wise, by showing sympathy he would earn some goodwill. “He was on patrol when the attack happened. Alone.”
“So you have no one to speak in his defense!” the son said.
“Please, Atar,” the water elder said. “Let him speak, then you may have your say. Your father wouldn’t want you to put on such a display, not even for him.”
The Sun Clan elder nodded toward his Water Clan counterpart. “No, no one can speak for him. Though given where he was last seen, it’s not possible for him to have made the trip to where the murder happened. We will not rest until the true murderer is found, but Karn could not be responsible.”
One of the Sun Clan warriors drew his dagger and cut the bound man free. Karn rubbed his wrists and stood. He stared at the sand, but to Shade, the tension and anger in his body were obvious.
And he wasn’t the only one. It looked like all the Water Clan could do to restrain Atar.
“Would anyone like to speak?” the Sun Clan elder looked over at his three companions.
The Earth Clan and the Shadow Clan elders both bowed their heads.
“I would like to thank the Sun Clan for their handling of this matter,” the Water Clan elder said. “I have listened to all the interrogations and found no fault with their honor when dealing with one of their own. The Water Clan accepts Karn’s innocence and will do all it can to aid in the search for the true killer.”
“Well spoken, old friend,” the Sun Clan elder said. “We all stand as equals in this city and the death of any of us is a wound to every clan, but an innocent man must not be made to suffer for the acts of another. The true killer will be found and will face justice.”
“You wouldn’t know justice if it punched you in the face!” Atar shouted before turning and stalking off. Four others followed him a moment later.
Shade melted away from the gathering and fell in twenty yards behind the Water Clan members. The other four caught up quickly to Atar and they started talking. Shade was too far away to hear what was said, but assuming they were all Atar’s age he could guess. Probably lots of talk about payback. Hopefully, anyway.
A few minutes later they reached the Water Clan’s neighborhood and Atar’s group ducked into an open tent. It had a sign outside with some of the squiggles that passed for writing among these people. Jax’s spell didn’t allow Shade to read the words, but the smell of fry bread and beer wafting out told Shade everything he needed to know. They’d gone for a drink.
Perfect. If there was one thing that made revenge easier it was alcohol. Now to get them good and riled up. He ducked into the tent and sighed in relief. Getting out of the sun knocked about twenty degrees off the temperature. But a new problem presented itself. Everyone had their hoods down. Shade’s skin was entirely too pale and his features too fine to pass for a local.
He shrugged and settled for pulling down his scarf so he could drink. Ambling across the common room to a makeshift bar with a trio of barrels behind it, Shade took a seat on one of the three-legged stools in front of the bar. Atar and his friends were drinking deeply and muttering amongst themselves. He’d give them a couple more rounds to get properly lubricated before making his move.
“Another round!” Atar called.
The barman dipped mugs into the barrels and set them one after another on the bar. Shade reached into his pouch and placed half a dozen chits on the bar. “This round’s on me.”
The barman glanced at him, shrugged, and pocketed the money. “Drinks are up!”
One of the men rose and came to the bar. When he started to pay, the barman shook his head and pointed at Shade. The young man glanced at Shade who nodded.
“Why buy our drinks?” the young man asked.
Shade nodded toward Atar. “I witnessed that travesty of justice earlier. Your friend isn’t the only one that’s been victimized by the Sun Clan. That plus a show of respect for the dead are why I paid. Please enjoy and offer my condolences to Atar.”
“I will. Thank you.”
Shade nodded again and return to his warm, bitter brew. Thank the gods he didn’t have to drink this crap on a regular basis. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to down more than a few mouthfuls before his mark got curious.
When the third round was called for Shade had drunk half a mug. This time Atar himself came to collect. He leaned on the bar and looked at Shade.
“Rin says you paid for our drinks to honor my father. I thank you for that in his name and my own.”
“My pleasure,” Shade said. “What happened in the circle was a disgrace. I promise you, if a Sun Clan member had been killed, whoever they accused would be dead and their blood soaking the sand as we speak.”
“The north,” Shade said. “My clan lives at the very edge of the desert, where it merges with the savanna. It is a good place, with much game. My family warned me not to go south to the city, that nothing good would come from it, but my curiosity got the best of me. I should have listened.”
“Will you join us for a drink and share your story?” Atar asked.
“I wouldn’t intrude in your mourning.”
“You wouldn’t be intruding and my friends would like to hear your story as well.”
Shade bowed his head. “Then I’d be honored. My name is Hon and I am pleased to meet you.”
They made the short trip back to the table and Shade took the only empty seat. They clunked mugs and drank. Well, the others drank, Shade let the nasty brew slosh against his lips, but only swallowed half a mouthful.
When the mugs had been slammed down Atar said, “Continue your story, please.”
“I left home with many pelts to trade. I had some small success, selling a handful of skins before a gang of Sun Clan warriors cornered me and demanded a tax. They took all the goods I had left and walked off laughing. When I reported it to the ones in charge, I was told that I had no witnesses to back up my claim. They dismissed me and that was it. I’ve only survived because of the chits I made on those first few sales. I would happily see them pay for what they did, but this is not my city and I don’t know anyone who would help me seek justice.”
Shade forced himself not to smile. That wasn’t a bad story, even if he did say so himself. Now he just had to wait and see if it was good enough.
Atar clapped him on the shoulder. “You are no longer alone, my friend. We also seek justice. Will you join us in our quest?”
“I will.”
“Then tonight justice will walk the streets of Tower City.”
Before Atar could drain his mug, Shade said, “Not tonight, my friend.”
Atar frowned. “And why not? Justice delayed is justice denied. My father’s soul screams for blood.”
“I understand,” Shade said. “But it screams for the blood of his killer, not the blood of his son. Tonight, the elders will expect you to do something like this and will be waiting. Drink, mourn, and make no more mention of justice. Let them see you broken and beaten. Tomorrow night, we will meet here again as if to drown our sorrows. When our enemies lower their guard, then we strike.”
Atar slowly smiled. “You are a hunter indeed. It shall be as you say. The gods smiled when they put you in my path.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Shade raised his mug. “To your father.”
Chapter 8
Night time was the best time for murder, at least in Shade’s considerable experience. He sat at the bar beside an overstuffed satchel. Rondo had helped him make disguises for tonight’s mission, crude robes with a red stripe on them. There wasn’t a blanket left on the ship, but if this worked, it would be worth it. They looked enough like Sun Clan robes to let them pass casual inspection, especially at night.
He’d been nursing a mug of bitter beer for twenty minutes in the empty Water Clan tavern when Atar and his friends finally showed up. They spotted him at once and nodded toward the tent flap. Shade payed his tab and joined the others outside. A single lantern hung outside the tent provided enough light to see.
The night air felt wonderful compared to the day’s heat. “You’re late,” Shade said.
“Our honored elder”—the sneer was hidden by Atar’s scarf, but Shade could hear it in his tone—“wanted to give me a lecture about justice and the law, as if that will bring peace to my father’s soul. I listened and nodded along like a good boy. By the time the old man ran out of breath, the time of our meeting had already passed.”
“A few minutes one way or the other is of no consequence. I’ve had a busy day.” He passed out the disguises. “These will let us walk right into the Sun Clan’s neighborhood with no one the wiser.”
Atar looked at the robe with distaste. “I want the bastard to know who’s killing him.”
“I understand,” Shade said. “But if you can’t reach Karn, you can’t kill him. Tell him who you are when you strike if you must.”
For a moment Shade feared the proud young man would refuse, but at last he threw the robe over his head. With everyone properly dressed, they set out for the Sun Clan’s part of the city. The streets were quiet and dark after the sun went down, though the glow of an occasional lantern filled a few of the tents they passed.
Things changed when they reached the target neighborhood. Patrols of armed Sun Clan warriors walked the streets in pairs. One carried a lantern and the other kept a hand close to his sword. The first patrol gave them a passing look and a quick nod. Shade kept his daggers drawn and hidden inside the sleeves of his robe. While he wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone that got in the way, he’d prefer to reach Karn’s tent peacefully. A trail of bodies would be awfully easy to follow.
“They seem nervous,” one of the Water Clan youths said.
“Imagine what it was like here last night,” Shade said. “I’ll wager they checked everyone, maybe even forcing them to show their faces.”
“It is well that we took your advice,” Atar said. “Though the delay pained me, as you said, revenge is difficult if you can’t reach your enemy. Is it much further?”
“No, but let’s walk past once just to be sure Karn is home. I wouldn’t put it past the cowards to set a trap for anyone with the courage to do what was right rather than simply follow their orders.”
The others muttered amongst themselves. The arrogant youths probably never considered the possibility of a trap. There was nothing wrong with enthusiasm, but amateurs were still amateurs.
“How do you know so much?” Atar asked.
“As I said, back home I’m a hunter. Animals aren’t all I hunted. When trespassers entered our territory or, gods forbid, one of our own went rogue, the clan looked to me to track them down and bring them to justice. While hunting in a city like this is different, the principles are universal. We’re coming up on it now.”
A Sun Clan warrior stood on either side of Karn’s tent flap. They glared as Shade and his companions walked by.
“Don’t look back,” Shade said. “Just keep going. We’re going to need a distraction.”
When they were out of sight of the guards Shade stopped. Assuming Karn was actually in the tent, he needed to draw those guards away. That might be very easy or very hard depending on their discipline.
“What did you have in mind?” Atar asked.
“I’ll raise a ruckus a street over. You keep watch here. Assuming the guards respond, attack as soon as they leave the tent. You won’t have long before they return so be ready.”
“I will be,” Atar said. “Thank you, my friend.”
Shade smiled behind his scarf and nodded. Leaving his dupes behind, he melted into the night. Moving silently in the dark, Shade ghosted over to the next street and searched for a lit tent. This would be the perfect chance to test the fire response system the city had set up. When the final phase of his plan went into motion, it would be important to know how it worked.
A little over two minutes later he spotted what he was looking for. Shadows played across the wall of a tent directly ahead of him and no guards were visible in any direction. He adjusted his robe so his hands were free and rapped on the board every tent hung up outside to serve as a knocker. A voice from inside grumbled, and a moment later the flap was pulled back.
A man without his robe or scarf glared out at Shade. “What do you want so late, clansman?”
“Nothing important.” Shade drove both daggers through his chest and into his lungs so any shout would be nothing but a bloody gurgle.
He let the dead man fall and brushed the flap aside. His target lived alone from the looks of the tent’s interior. That was good. Not that Shade had anything against killing
women, but if he could avoid it, he preferred to.
A small oil lamp burned on a low table. A quick search turned up a flask of oil which Shade splashed around the tent as well as on the outside walls of the neighbors’. When he didn’t have a drop left, he smashed the lamp and ducked outside.
The dry canvas went up in a hurry and soon the nearby tents were burning as well. Nodding to himself Shade shouted as loud as he could, “Fire! Fire!”
Then he ran back toward his dupes, not all the way, just close enough that he could watch both the attack and the response to his fire. He settled into the deep shadows of a handy tent. Flames were already blazing skyward. From his left the two guards came running by. Clearly the fire was a higher priority than protecting Karn.
He listened for a shout or scream from Karn’s tent, but there was only silence. Either Atar and his friends were better killers than Shade thought, or something had gone wrong. On the fire side, locals were rushing to scoop sand on the rapidly spreading flames. A few strategically located fires might do his work for him.
From the opposite side of the city came a blue glow. Shade shifted to get a better look. Three figures were rushing toward the blaze. Each of them had a giant sphere of water floating over their head. When they got close, they stopped and waved their hands. The water rushed out and blasted the flames with the precision of master archers. In less than a minute the blaze was out. Only a handful of tents were lost.
The response impressed Shade. Could they handle multiple fires at the same time? He didn’t know. Depended on how many wizards they had. The water wizards all wore robes colored over fifty percent blue. That would make them easy to spot.
When there was nothing more to be seen at the fire, Shade retreated toward the target tent. He froze a few steps later. His dupes were in the hands of a trio of Sun Clan warriors, being led toward the tower. While he didn’t care one way or the other about the men’s fate, he didn’t want them talking about him either. A rescue was in order and quickly.
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