“Why?” he countered.
“Because I’d like to call you something besides ‘dwarf,’ ” she snapped. “And because it looks like we’re stuck in this together, that’s why.”
“Justikar Stoneblood,” he eventually told her, and Tazi thought fleetingly that he might be lying.
“Good,” she replied. “I’m Tazi.”
He looked at her. “I know. You announce yourself everywhere we go. How could I miss it?” he quipped and finally demanded, “Now what is it?” Tazi motioned for him to draw up a chair, but Justikar shook his head in refusal, signaling he preferred to stand.
“Have it your way,” she said. “I’ve met our new owner. It turns out that this woman is someone who has ties to my homeland. In a roundabout sort of way, I know her. Or, to be more precise, I knew of her.” Tazi paused to see Justikar’s reaction. He barely batted an eye. “She has been posing as a curio merchant in my city, but she is much more than that. She alluded to the fact that she works for the Red Wizards as some kind of recruiter.” Tazi saw that the duergar was unmoved at the mention of Naglatha’s employers.
“As you’ve already guessed, I’m sure, she wants me to acquire something for her. But, I don’t know what it is. Naglatha’s given me the night to consider my options. If I accept, she has promised to repay me by granting me my freedom and returning my gold to me.”
“And if you refuse?” Justikar asked with a grim expression.
“My continued servitude was implied,” Tazi explained. She hesitated to say anything else, but the dwarf’s unmoved expression prompted her to tell him more. “And harm to my family was more than implied.” Tazi watched the dwarf’s face to see if her words had had any effect on him.
“That’s it?” he asked brusquely.
“Yes,” Tazi said, “whatever ‘It’ is.”
“So you’re going to do it then, aren’t you?” he questioned, and Tazi could hear the undisguised disgust in his voice. Until he had asked the question, she had not fully realized she had already made up her mind.
“Yes, I am. There really was no choice.”
The dwarf snorted at her answer. “And folk say my people are greedy. Humph … People should look to their own houses for cleaning before they look to others.” With that, he turned abruptly from her and walked toward one of the small cots against the wall. But, before Tazi could say anything in response, the dwarf turned again and marched back to her.
“Are you a coward?” he demanded in his gravelly voice. “Is that it? Are you afraid to try and take back your own freedom?” Tazi was shocked silent at Justikar’s suddenly impassioned accusations. He put his fists on his hips and moved in closer. “Or is it greed, human? Is that crimson gold that glows so red too beautiful to resist? You’d sell out for a few lumps of metal?” he finished. When Tazi didn’t immediately answer him, he continued on his tirade.
“It’s true,” he admitted grudgingly, “I owe you.” The words seemed to stick in his throat. “And I hate debts.” He slammed his fist on the table where the tub of water rested. Soapy suds splashed onto the floor with the force of his blow. He faced Tazi again with a severe look fixed on his face. “I especially hate debts to humans.” She was amazed how filthy he made the last word sound.
“Aye, there is a debt between us,” he growled. “But debt or not, I am not going to stick this out with you. Whatever is between you and this woman is between the two of you. I’ll have no part in it. And that’s final.” His face was so close to Tazi’s that she could count the number of earrings that studded his left ear. After counting four of them, Tazi exploded.
“How dare you?” she shouted. “Don’t stand there and think to tell me who I am. You don’t know a thing about me, little man.” She rose to her feet slowly in an attempt to tower over the dwarf, and she could see he bridled at her last remark.
“Have I asked anything of you?” she demanded, and now it was she who stood defiant with her hands on her hips. “Have I?” she said down to him.
Justikar simply glowered back at her defiantly.
“There’s the door,” she continued and pointed to it. “If you see a chance to flee, then I suggest you take it. I wish you the best, but I won’t go with you. I have to stay here.” Tazi took a deep breath and tried to control her anger.
“My family means everything to me. You can believe that or not; that’s your choice. But it doesn’t change the fact that it is the truth. I wouldn’t do anything to knowingly jeopardize their safety.” She paused and walked away a few feet before turning to look at the dwarf.
He crossed his arms over his chest and simply kept his expression skeptical.
“I’ve seen something that makes me think Naglatha is more than just a recruiter for the Red Wizards,” she continued more calmly. “I think she is one of them. And this woman has ties to my family. I can’t risk it. Their safety means everything to me. I would walk through fire for them, and so I have to stay regardless. Even if I was to escape tonight, there is no way I could return to my home before she could have someone or something there. And I couldn’t protect them. Maybe this way I can.”
Justikar snorted at her explanation but regarded her briefly. “I understand a bit about family,” was all he eventually said. Like the veracity of his name, Tazi didn’t know whether to believe him or not.
She went over to one of the two cots against the wall and sank down wearily. “I meant it, you know,” she told the dwarf. “If you see an opening, take it. I can’t help you, but I promise I won’t do anything to slow you down. That’s the best I can offer.” And she smiled ruefully. “But I’m staying.” Without waiting for a reply, Tazi stretched out on the cot and closed her eyes.
Justikar hardly breathed as he sat cross-legged with his back to the wall on the small cot. The dwarf had held the same position for the last few hours as he strained to hear the sounds around him. The most obvious one that nearly drowned out the others was the soft snoring of the human who shared his incarceration. He shook his head slightly and was disgusted by how soundly the black-haired human slept. Not ten minutes after she had closed her eyes, her breathing had grown heavy. And now, the woman was making enough noise to rouse the dead. Humans!
He waited a bit longer, just to be certain she was not trying to deceive him, before he made his next move. When he was sure she was asleep, he uncrossed his legs and let them silently dangle over the side of his bed. He braced his hands on the wall behind him and slowly pushed against it. When his feet touched the floor, he firmly but cautiously raised his body off of the cot with excruciating care, fearful of any old or rusted bedsprings that might signal an alarm even though the furnishings seemed new and well made.
As soon as he was upright, Justikar stood motionless. With his eyes closed, he willed the blood in his veins to flow more freely through the various limbs that had stiffened up as he had kept his silent vigil waiting for the woman to doze off. He bit his lip in discomfort as the daggers and needles tingling within his muscles told him in no uncertain terms that he had restored his circulation.
Opening his eyes, he took a deep, silent breath. The duergar regarded his roommate for a moment longer. She continued to slumber undisturbed, and he wondered about her briefly and if he should do anything. If she wasn’t being duplicitous about her family and her obligation to their safety, then she wouldn’t leave and there was no point in rousing her. If she had lied and was in it for her treasure, or was simply inept, that was even more reason to let her bluster away and give him some cover. The fact that he owed her a debt gnawed at him, but he shrugged his shoulders. He owed someone else a larger one, and he could live with his discomfort at welshing on a human. He was a pragmatic dwarf, after all, and had his priorities.
When he was resolved to desert Tazi, the duergar moved stealthily across the comfortable room to stand near the only door in the chamber. He rubbed his thumbs against his fingers like one readying himself to tackle a difficult lock. Glancing back a final time at Tazi, the dwarf
shrugged his shoulders again and abandoned her to her fate. He turned back toward the door and delicately placed both of his hands to the right of it, along the wall. And he closed his eyes once more.
It was simple enough for Justikar to clear his mind even in his present situation. After years of conditioning in the Underdark where he felt little confusion and suffered from few distractions, he had almost no difficulty slipping into a light, meditative trance. Much in the same way that he could let his senses slip along rock or stone to search out their inherent weaknesses and faults, the duergar could also, to a limited extent, let his mind slip along the boundaries of other minds. Years of subjugation to illithids had left Justikar’s people with certain abilities that came in very handy from time to time against others with weaker minds. He found the bodyguards easily enough.
Cautiously at first, Justikar moved along the edge of their awareness, testing to see if their wizard master had shielded their minds or laid down any wards. He couldn’t feel anything other than their random thoughts, no matter how he probed them. He unconsciously shifted his hands’ positions and turned his focus toward the younger man.
The bodyguard’s mind was full of chatter, which surprised Justikar because he had carried himself with so much outward silence. Obviously, his master had trained his body well enough, but she couldn’t stop the noise inside his head. He would be a simple enough matter, the dwarf decided. He planted the straightforward, but effective, idea in the bodyguard’s head that his bladder was full. It was so full, in fact that it was close to bursting. With every passing moment, that discomfort grew. Justikar allowed himself a small smile when he actually heard Heraclos shift his weight from one foot to the other.
“What’s the matter?” the dwarf heard Milos ask his companion on the other side of the wall.
“I think I drank too much at my meal break,” Heraclos explained lamely, and Justikar heard him shift his weight again.
“Just go,” Milos sighed. “I can’t have you doing a jig next to me all night. Don’t take too long, or Naglatha will have your hide,” he cautioned as the younger man made a hasty retreat.
One down, Justikar thought. Now for the other one.
The dwarf shifted his stance somewhat and repositioned his hands. The remaining bodyguard was much different from the first. He was more centered and had few wandering thoughts. More disciplined than his younger companion, he would not give in to a basic bodily suggestion. The duergar was going to have to do something more challenging to distract Milos. Justikar had to strike at what he valued most.
Milos, I need you.
Naglatha? Milos questioned.
Milos!
Justikar was sweating profusely. It was difficult for him to directly speak with another’s mind. And he could sense Milos’ hesitation to desert his post even at the apparent request of his mistress. He had nearly abandoned his hope of escape until he heard the deliberate, heavy footfalls trailing away from his door. Now was his one chance.
The dwarf cautiously opened the door so as not to awaken the sleeping woman. A cursory glance up and down the hallway revealed that the duergar was momentarily alone. He slipped out into the dimly lit hallway and shut the door silently behind himself. He knew that he had a few moments at best. The dwarf couldn’t chance an encounter on the stairs with either of the Thayans, so he ducked into the next room down from his and hoped that because it was unlocked, it meant that no one was renting it. No sooner did he close the door than he heard one of the bodyguards return. Justikar was too tired to try and mentally check which one. After another moment, the first bodyguard was joined by the second.
“Where did you go?” he heard Heraclos ask his companion.
“None of your concern,” snapped Milos.
In the darkness of the empty room, Justikar leaned his head against the door and stifled a chuckle. He could only imagine what kind of reprimand Milos had received when he disturbed his sleeping mistress. Fools in love, he mused delightedly, always have a weak spot.
The duergar moved quickly over to the window and threw open the sash. From the view of a garden, he could tell that room faced the back of the inn. In the blink of an eye, he dropped over the side and shimmied his way expertly down the vine-covered wall. He jumped the last few feet, melted into the nighttime shadows and was gone.
“Where is he?” Heraclos shouted at Tazi. He did not display any of the restraint he had shown her the day before. Dressed in the same style of clothing as yesterday, he had roused Tazi from a troubled sleep and yanked her to her feet by fistfuls of her leather vest.
“I asked you a question,” he demanded, still shaking her.
“Again?” Tazi mumbled. “Can’t a body get any sleep in this country?” She could see the bodyguard had very little use for her sarcasm this morning.
“Where did your little tunnel rat disappear to?” he screamed.
Tazi looked past his shoulder to Justikar’s vacant cot. It was neat and empty, as though he had never lain there. Milos flipped the flimsy bed onto its side with his scimitar and scowled. Sometime during the night, it appeared the duergar had managed to slip out of the room past Naglatha’s bodyguards after all. Good trick, Tazi thought. Our room has no windows and only one door. And, presumably, these two were on guard. She smiled broadly and remained silent.
Heraclos released her abruptly. Tazi suspected he was going to pay for the duergar’s escape and didn’t want to risk increasing Naglatha’s wrath by damaging Tazi as well. He scowled at her and motioned toward the door.
“Naglatha has requested your presence in her chamber. Move,” he ordered, and Tazi could see he was struggling against the urge to take out his frustration at losing the dwarf on her. He shoved her toward the door when she didn’t move fast enough to suit him.
“Tsk,” Tazi clicked her tongue at him and brushed some imaginary mark off her shoulder. “It wouldn’t do for Naglatha to see any new bruise on me, now would it?”
Heraclos was in her face in one stride. “Trust me,” he whispered through clenched teeth, “I can give you some bruises where she would never find them. Don’t push me.” Tazi decided not to. She was escorted to Naglatha’s room without incident. Only Heraclos accompanied her. She figured Milos would try to track Justikar down. Though he had been less than an ideal companion, Tazi hoped that the dwarf would be successful if for no other reason than she hated the idea of slavery. Luck to you, she said in silent prayer. May the wind be with you and the devils off your heels.
Heraclos pulled Tazi to a halt in front of the door to Naglatha’s chamber. He composed himself and raised his hand to knock on the oak door. But, as soon as he raised his fist, a woman’s voice bid them to enter. Tazi could see that Heraclos was not surprised by the omniscient invitation, and that just added to Tazi’s belief that Naglatha was not just a recruiter on the Red Wizards’ payroll with some minor, arcane abilities.
Heraclos opened the door and ushered Tazi inside. As soon as she crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut in Heraclos’ face. Tazi jumped slightly at the crash. From the opposite side of the door, Heraclos twisted the doorknob once and, when it didn’t give, he released it. Tazi assumed he would stand guard on the other side or, if Naglatha was a wizard of no small ability, he might join Milos in searching for Justikar knowing she could protect herself in this instance. Either way, it wasn’t Tazi’s concern. She turned to Naglatha.
Once again, the woman was impeccably groomed in fine linens and perfectly coiffed. Her room had been cleaned and Tazi could see that most of Naglatha’s personal property had been collected and packed up. Only a few items remained scattered about. Tazi assumed Naglatha wanted to move out within the next day at the latest.
“Yes,” Naglatha answered Tazi’s unasked question, “we are preparing to leave soon whether we find your industrious companion or not.” She smiled at Tazi’s surprised look. “Of course I know he’s flown the coop. But he’s not the only one who has flown away,” she added mysteriously. “And, since I
see you are still here,” she paused to stare hard at Tazi, “can I safely assume you accept?” And Naglatha held out her hand questioningly.
“Yes,” Tazi said through gritted teeth. “How could I possibly refuse?”
Naglatha laughed deeply, “Exactly. We both know that you couldn’t. Now, please eat,” she invited and stood aside to reveal her small table that was now laden with a veritable feast. There were plates of meat, cheeses and fruit piled high. A wrapped bundle steamed slightly, and Tazi could smell the fresh-baked bread from where she stood. There was also a small pot of tea. Try as she might, Tazi could not keep her stomach from growling insistently at the smell of all the food. She could see Naglatha waiting for her to make a move. Considering how she had not even heard the duergar leave the room, Tazi knew she was low on reserves and she needed to maintain her strength. She remembered something Cale had told her years ago in his room at Stormweather Towers.
“Only a fool refuses out of pride what he desperately needs,” he had said.
Without hesitation, Tazi pulled out a chair and seated herself. As she grabbed an empty plate and began to fill it with a large selection of the rich food, she invited Naglatha to join her.
“Aren’t you having any?” she inquired.
“I’ve already broken my fast,” Naglatha explained. “However, if you need me to prove that the food is safe—”
“No need,” Tazi informed her. “Since I seem to be so important to you, I know my safety is assured until I disappoint you.”
“You are clever, aren’t you?” she complimented Tazi.
“You’d be surprised,” Tazi said between mouthfuls.
“I certainly hope so.”
While Tazi ate as much as she could without becoming ill, Naglatha returned to her desk, and Tazi could see she was finishing some correspondence. By the time Tazi was sopping up the last juices from the meat with a piece of bread, Naglatha finished her letter and sealed it. She placed the missive in a small satchel near her desk and removed Tazi’s worn sack from the same bag. As Tazi wiped her fingers clean on a crisp linen cloth, Naglatha stood beside her and dropped the sack abruptly into her lap.
The Crimson Gold Page 11