That was good. Riven had wanted to visit some taverns to see if he could pick up any more rumors. Might as well be this one.
Riven walked in and saw that the place was crowded. Gale appeared to have seated himself in one corner. There were very few vacant places but Riven managed to find one close enough to Gale to be in earshot. Gale was alone for now, so Riven ordered the first thing that caught his eye from the menu.
Riven was observing his mark very carefully. Gale appeared to have his eyes fixed on the door. Waiting for someone. In a short while, his eyes widened and a thin smile spread across his lips. Riven turned and saw that a hooded man had just entered the Bottomless Keg. The newcomer went straight to Gale and sat opposite him. His walk, his clothing and his manner all screamed Black Raven.
There was too much noise. The chatter of talk, the clatter of knives and plates.
Riven focused with all his might, closing his eyes. He did not know how, but he could always do it. In a few seconds all other voices had been pushed to the background and he could hear Gale's voice clearly.
Chapter 32
Gale suppressed a smile as he saw Balthus slip into the chair. He had known him since his days with the Black Ravens, before he started working for Garvin. Of course, Balthus had still been a novice back then, just a few ranks above the common pickpockets.
In the last eight years, Balthus had risen high. Second in command to Renal 'Heartrender', the fiercest guild-master of the Black Ravens.
It was because of Renal that Balthus was here now.
The massacre was just a day old, but Gale knew it would considerably distress Archon's underworld. And it happened in Renal's territory. Renal earned his title of Heartrender not just by being the most ruthless man in Archon. He was just one step away from being utterly paranoid. Garvin had been involved in numerous deals with the Black Ravens, notably Renal, so Gale was not surprised at all when six Ravens approached him in his inn room and said that Balthus wished to speak to him.
"Long time, Balthus," said Gale, trying to be jovial. "So what is this about? A job? As you probably know already, I'm unemployed right now."
Balthus twisted his face into a scowl.
"I'm really not in the mood for this, Gale. Renal is pissed. Four men went missing this morning. One of them was Tom."
Stinky Tom, thought Gale quietly. Of course, that was expected. It was through Tom that Garvin had obtained Toskk's services. And as for him being missing, that was highly optimistic. Dead was more likely. And in separate pieces with the sewer rats feasting on whatever the Summoner's pets didn't finish off.
"All right, then. Right to business it is. What do you want to know?"
"Everything. Renal will cut me down first and then you if he doesn't get answers."
"It would help if you tell me what you already know."
"We know it was a damned Summoner," said Balthus, dropping his voice to a whisper, "And we know Garvin stole something from him. An egg of some sort. What we want to know is why four men under Renal's command went missing the very night Garvin's entire household was murdered."
An egg of some sort. Looked like they didn't know after all.
"You know the deal Garvin approached you with a few weeks ago?"
"Yes. And I know Renal swiftly sent him away with an apology. We have enough enemies without adding a Summoner to the list."
"That's where Tom came in. He approached Garvin and said he had a freelancer who could pull the job for him."
"That's insane! He had no right to act alone! Tom never told any of us, and Renal knew nothing about it!"
Gale suppressed a laugh. Of course he didn't, you idiot. Renal would have gutted Tom without a second thought if he knew he had gone behind his back to make a deal with Garvin. Specifically one that Renal had forbidden.
By going behind Renal's back and arranging a thief for Garvin, Tom stood to make a small fortune for himself. Any usual deal would just give Tom a small profit since most of it went into the coffers of the Black Ravens.
"You'll have a hard time explaining that to the Summoner. You think he'll buy that the Black Ravens had nothing to do with the theft? Very convenient, don't you think?"
Balthus shot him a hateful look.
"It wasn't my idea," said Gale in an apologetic tone. And that was true. He had tried dissuading Garvin from the foolish act, but to no avail. "I was against it right from the start."
"What happened after?"
"Tom got this kid called Toskk. A freelancer who had outlived his stay. Tom had him think this job would set him square with the Ravens, that he was doing you guys a favor. He managed to pull off the job. We sent three men who were supposed to get the egg and kill him. Cut off the loose ends. That was supposed to be the end of it. Instead, he kills the three would-be assassins and goes into hiding."
"And Garvin's idea of finding him is to put an eight-hundred-gold bounty publicly?" asked Balthus incredulously.
Gale laughed. The bounty. That was what had doomed Garvin.
"We only put a two-hundred-gold bounty on it. To find Toskk. We never even mentioned what it was that he had. Garvin's idea was to find him first and then get to the egg after putting him on the rack. Garvin knew that the Summoner would be out looking. That's why it was set to such a low price."
"Then who increased the price?"
Gale shrugged. "I would think it was Toskk himself. Adding that Garvin was looking for an egg was a stroke of genius. It would lead the Summoner straight to the Red Parrot asking whose bounty it was. It seems that Toskk was the only one who gained anything from this whole mess. Garvin's dead. As is Tom. The Ravens are knee-deep in shit. While he's out there with an egg worth a small fortune."
"The Summoner would be after him. Not us. Garvin would have told Toskk's name before he died."
"Yes. That he would have. But the Summoner can find the Raven's guild-hall a whole lot easier than he can find Toskk."
"Renal won't like this one bit," said Balthus, staring at the table.
"Does it matter if he likes it or not? It's the truth."
Balthus shot him a look of anger and stiffened in his chair. Gale thought it would be a good idea to stop with the witty remarks.
"How the hell did you get out alive?" asked Balthus.
"Easy. I wasn't there. Unlike those other poor bastards, I knew that the Summoner was going to come. Garvin had all of us inside the house and on our guard. None of them knew anything. Only Garvin and I knew about the deal. He forbade me to tell anyone about it."
"And you left them there to die..." said Balthus. The tone implied that he was disgusted.
Gale only shrugged. Under ordinary circumstances he would have tried to save some of them. But too many of them sneaking out of the house would be too obvious to anyone watching. And the person who was probably watching was a Summoner. Betrayers to their own race, drunk with power, half insane. He had grown up hearing about the atrocities of Naxannor in Ryga. There was no way he was going to let a Summoner get his hands on him.
"I was there till the last minute. I wanted to put up a fight as well. But then I saw Garvin sending away his son. And he told him not to come home. That was when I decided to make a run for it. I made up some excuse about needing to check the guard duty and split the first chance I got. It was a close shave. I imagine I got away just moments before the Summoner came."
Balthus cursed Tom's name and Garvin's name under his breath. Gale could have cursed them too but he was happy enough to be alive this day. Balthus spoke again.
"It was an egg, right?"
Gale nodded. He doubted Balthus or even Renal knew what kind of egg it was. They'd be wetting themselves if they knew what it was, thought Gale, laughing. Balthus ignored the laughter and spoke.
"Come on, we're going to meet Renal. He wants to see you."
"What? Why me? Think the Summoner will believe me if I say the Ravens weren't involved?"
"Doesn't matter. You're coming to the guild-hall. With me. Now."
Gale looked around. The Bottomless Keg was owned by the Black Ravens. He could count at least five faces in the crowd looking at him. Balthus alone Gale could have handled. But one wrong move right now and all of them would be on him in a flash.
"Very well then. Lead the way. It's been eight years since I left the Ravens. Don't quite remember my way around."
Chapter 33
It was a small procession. In all there were nine horses and a small wagon carrying supplies. Rennar was at the head of the procession as they made their way down the streets of Bren.
The stable-master had told Azrael that Rennar's white mare was one of the finest horses he had ever laid eyes on. It was named Ruzgar—a full-blooded desert mare. He had a good collection of other desert mares as well, but had insisted that Azrael would be better off taking a normal horse.
Azrael had no objection to that.
The desert horses seemed very temperamental, even the geldings. His horsemanship was ceremonial at best and long trips in the islands were undertaken by boat. He knew riding one in battle and traveling distances by one were very different. He expected he would be sore by the end of this small trip.
Azrael had just finished meeting Doyen in one of the secret tunnels. He had spoken to Doyen and given him the good news. Rennar was leaving for Marduk and had asked that Azrael accompany him as well. It seems he was taken in by Azrael's seeming 'transformation.' For now. He had said nothing about Azrael remaining there.
Azrael wanted to broach that very topic with him, but Rennar had ignored Azrael when he waved to him at the stables a while back. He probably had his mind on a lot of things. Still, there were plenty of ways to impress him before this trip was done.
They were nearing the exit of the city walls now. As soon as they passed the gates, Azrael could see the wide expanse of the wastelands that formed southern Ryga. The heat was unbearable, but Azrael expected he would get used to it soon. As they rode slowly, most of the horsemen began to speak with each other. There was general chatter. Azrael ignored most of it, but then he suddenly saw one of the guards who was trotting next to him.
"I know you, but I don't think I know your name," said Azrael. It was the same guard he had met on the very first day. He had seen him numerous times. He, along with three more, stood guard outside of Rennar's chambers. The guard gave a weak smile and nodded.
"Jamaal, m'lord."
Azrael laughed. He knew it was just in the manner of respect but Azrael could never get used to being addressed as lord.
"So. What's with the long face? Do you hate the desert so much? I had to fight a war under these conditions if it makes you feel better," said Azrael. Not exactly, though, he thought as soon as he spoke. Central Ryga was much cooler and there were many more trees.
Jamaal appeared to be startled. Probably at such familiarity from a superior.
"No. No, m'lord...nothing of that sort."
"Tell me," said Azrael.
"Me and two of the others. We've been reassigned. We're to stay at Marduk from today."
"What for?"
"I don't know, m'lord," he said. After hesitating a while, "If I could be a little frank..."
"By all means…"
"I think it's because I've been bringing the governor too much bad news. First the mad apprentice...and then some more."
At a younger age, perhaps while still in the academy, Azrael would have scoffed at such an idea. But he had seen it happen quite a few times. Even the infallible General Albinus was prone to a few superstitions. Azrael learnt that Albinus had forbidden eating hare the night before battle because that was what he had before his one and only loss during the conquest wars. He carried that tradition into the Deckan campaign. And with each victory, his belief in the superstition was reinforced.
The same could be said of many men. They often held the blame to the bearers of ill tidings. Some in higher positions would go as far as killing the messengers if the news displeased them.
"Well, Marduk can't be that bad, now can it?"
All Azrael got was a forced smile in response.
"No, tell me. I've never been to Marduk. Have you been there before?"
"Thrice, m'lord. It's a purely military fortress. Most of it is underground and opens into the mines. Very strong, but very little to offer in the ways of comfort. It's the same food every day. Potatoes and some vegetable broth. Never too much meat there. And even at night, deep inside the fortress, you can hear the mine carts and the noise from the mining tools. Marduk never stops working. I've heard it takes a while before we can get used to it and sleep normally. But...I'm not too eager for it. The worst is the heat, m'lord. The fortress is unbearably hot. Like there's something...unnatural underneath it."
"You mean those rumors about the demons?"
There were supply chains from Bren to Marduk. Some of them had brought back news of people disappearing in the mines. And recently some creature had been caught and killed by some of the miners. Rumor had it that it was some kind of a demon. It was precisely that rumor and its effects on the miners—who had stopped working—that Rennar was now traveling to Marduk for.
"Yes, m'lord."
Azrael thought for a while. It wasn't the hardship that Jamaal minded. It was these new rumors about demons—they were enough to scare anyone. Especially after Naxannor shattered the peace and altered the balance of power in Ryga. Namoth was too far away to be felt in Ryga or Aegis, but everyone remembered Naxannor. The tales of horror even reached the Aegean Isles.
"You don't need to really worry about that. If it really was a demon, I doubt a bunch of miners could have gotten it down with their pickaxes."
"But m'lord, they say that the larger demons have many smaller fiends do their bidding. It could mean that there is one underneath Marduk. It was always hot there, but people swear that it's become much hotter since the past week. Since...the troubles began."
This was ordinary. Mass hysteria. People often noticed things and found faults where there were none to find, if they specifically looked for them. Azrael wasn't sure if it was a demon. But he thought he would try and put his companion at ease.
"I heard that Naxannor passed by Bren entirely. Only the outermost towns were attacked. Marduk and the mines were probably safe."
Jamaal didn't seem too reassured.
"This could be a new demon," he said.
Azrael thought for a while and spoke.
"Back in the academy on Aegis, we had a copy of Gameil's Life Forms in the Known Lands in the library. It was written much before Naxannor or Namoth came to our land. There are plenty of creatures in the oceans, and deep inside forests and even caves that are not commonly found where humans dwell. The jungles of Holt are a fine example of this. I've read the descriptions of those creatures, and many of them seem just as bizarre as the one the miners felled—having white skin and sharp teeth. I don't think it's a demon. It's more likely that the miners just dug too deep and alarmed some creatures that were always there to begin with."
That seemed to have gotten him thinking, but he still had that worried look. Azrael sighed. These fears were often irrational. He found that hard facts never worked when it came to removing fear from the hearts of his men. What did work was distraction.
"So tell me. Just nine guards for the governor? I heard that there were some tribes that fought aggressively against Bren. Near the outskirts."
"Oh no, m'lord. There's no danger of that. Before we hit the desert, we'll be joining up with Master Khamis and his men. They're already waiting at the outskirts, past the last town. We should be seeing them in a day at the most."
Khamis. The name sent bile rising to Azrael's throat. Of all the people he had seen in Norvind, the ones he hated the most were the nomads. Emperor Thyurin had made good use of them during the conquest wars. Just when the conquest wars were going to hell, Thyurin had allied with them and provided them arms. Their reward was gold, steel and all of the Rygan tribes to plunder and enslave. It was more than eno
ugh to turn the tide against the Rygan kingdoms. Khamis was the son of the leader of the nomads, a man called Xurukk.
"He's a good friend of the governor's I'd heard."
"Yes, m'lord. Like a son to him. The governor and his wife are without child. His wife left only a year after coming to Bren. They said she couldn't take the weather here. So, the governor looks upon Master Khamis as his own son. And the nomads as his own people."
That last line was said with much bitterness. That was something Azrael understood. Most Aegeans had a fierce sense of patriotism. It was the same reason he had been alienated by his men and his superiors in the Deckan campaign. After all, a soldier only desired to please his commander and gain his respect.
"He comes to the castle often?"
"Yes, m'lord. Master Khamis has full run of the castle, by the governor's command. They spend much time together. In the castle as well as hunting and riding. The governor's horse, Ruzgar, was a gift from Khamis. The governor has visited the slaver port on many occasions as well."
That would have stung the soldiers. No Aegean soldier would ever take a command from a foreigner. Even the lowliest of the Aegeans had some pride in him.
"What else can you tell me about him?" asked Azrael.
"He's..." Jamaal froze up, looking a little tense.
"You can tell me. I'm not exactly fond of the nomads either."
"He's cruel, m'lord. Especially to the slaves. I joined at the end of the conquest wars, but I did see my share of violence. Master Khamis, however, he takes much pleasure in what he does. The governor permits him to make an example of escaped or disobedient slaves. A few times even in the Bren market square. They don't live, but he drags their deaths out..."
Jamaal shuddered. It was nothing more than Azrael had expected from the leader of the nomads. Most of them were often seen mistreating the slaves in Bren. It only stood to reason that their leader was the worst among them. And from Jamaal's reaction, Azrael gathered that he was more discomforted by Khamis than he was by talks of demons.
Apprentice Page 20