Taltos

by Steven Brust

  “You heard him, boss. Let’s get out of here.”

  I stood there yet another minute. I wanted to be home, but the notion of just saying good-bye to Morrolan and walking away, well, I don’t know. It didn’t feel right.

  I’ve spent many fruitless minutes since then wondering what would have happened if the breeze hadn’t shifted just then, bringing with it the tang of salt and the smell of seaweed.

  Dead bodies and seaweed. I chuckled. Yeah, this was a place where that phrase was appropriate. Where had I first heard it? Oh, yeah, the bar. Ferenk’s. Drinking with Kiera.

  Kiera. Right. That. It just might do it. If there was only a way ...

  Witchcraft?

  I looked at Morrolan and Aliera.

  “It’s crazy, boss.”

  “I know. But still—”

  “We don’t even know if we’re on the same world as—”

  “Maybe it doesn’t matter.”

  “What if it does?”

  “Boss, do you have any idea how much that will take out of you?”

  “They’ll have to carry me back.”

  “If it doesn’t work, they won’t be able to.”

  “I know.”

  Loiosh shut up, as he realized I wasn’t really listening to him. I dug in my pack and found my last kelsch leaf.

  Aliera said, “What is it, Vlad?”

  “An idea for getting Morrolan out of here. Will you two be willing to carry me if I can’t walk on my own?”

  Morrolan said, “What is it?”

  “Witchcraft,” I said.

  “How—”

  “I’m going to have to invent a spell. I’m not certain it can be done.”

  “I am a witch. Can I help?”

  I hesitated, then shook my head. “I have one more kelsch leaf left. I’m going to chew on it myself in order to get the energy to do the spell. If you help, who will carry us both out?”

  “Oh. What is the spell intended to do?”

  I licked my lips, realizing that I didn’t want to tell him.

  “Why not, boss?”

  “He’ll just say it can’t be done.”

  “Well, can it?”

  “We’ll find out.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve always wanted to test myself as a witch. Here’s my big chance.”

  “Boss, I’m serious. If you put that much into it and it doesn’t work it will—”

  “Kill me. I know. Shut up.”

  “And with the amount of energy you’ll have to pour into it you won’t be able to stay awake. And—”

  “Drop it, Loiosh.”

  To Morrolan I said, “Never mind. Wait here. I’m going to find a place to set this up. I’ll probably be near the Cycle, so stay away from there; I don’t want anyone around to distract me. When I’m done, if it works, I’ll find you.”

  “What if it doesn’t work?”

  “Then you’ll find me.”

  * * * *

  Bribing Treffa had cost quite a bit, as had the soundproofing spells and the escape, since I dealt directly with a sorceress who worked for the Left Hand, rather than going through Feet. Why? I don’t know. I mean, after hiring me, he wouldn’t turn around and shine me after I did the job. If word of that got around, no one would work for him again. But on the other hand, this killing was Morganti. If he had the chance to cleanly dispose of me by having a teleport go wrong, he probably wouldn’t take it, but why tempt him?

  In any case, by the time all was said and done, I’d spent a great deal, but I still had a great deal left. I decided not to live it up this time, because I didn’t want to call attention to myself. I didn’t want to leave town for the same reason. This killing made quite a splash, and that made me nervous, but I got over it.

  So far as I know, no one ever found out I’d done it. But once again, there were those who seemed to know. One of them was Welok the Blade, who was about as nasty as they come. I started working directly for him a few weeks later, doing collecting and trouble-shooting and keeping an eye on his people. I carefully set aside the money I’d earned, determined to invest it in something that would keep earning for me. Maybe even something legitimate.

  About a month after I started working for Welok, I was visiting my grandfather in South Adrilankha, and I met a human girl named Ibronka, who had the longest, straightest, blackest hair I’d ever seen, and eyes you could get lost in. I still hadn’t made my investment.

  Oh, well.

  * * * *

  After going this far, I couldn’t back out. The three of us were going to leave together or not at all, and now there was a chance of success. If I’d wanted to pray just then, I would have prayed to my grandfather, not to Verra, because his guidance would have been more useful.

  I didn’t think he’d ever tried inventing a spell, though. Dammit, if sorcery worked around here, Morrolan could have simply caused the thing to appear from my flat. But then, if sorcery worked we could have just teleported out of here. No point in thinking about that.

  I selected a spot facing the Cycle. Why? I’m not sure. It seemed appropriate, and the apropos is a vital thing to a practicing witch.

  I started chewing on the leaf while I meditated, relaxing, preparing myself. When it had done as much for me as it was capable of, I spit it out.

  I took my pack off and opened it, then sat down. I wondered if the gods would stop me, then decided that if they were looking at me, they would have done something as soon as I began laying out the implements of the spell. It was amusing to be out of their sight, yet right in their backyard, so to speak.

  I studied the Cycle and tried to collect my courage.

  Waiting would just make things more difficult.

  I took a deep breath and began the spell.

  Chapter 17

  I have a vague memory of a little girl shaking my shoulder, saying, “Don’t fall asleep. You’ll die if you fall asleep. Stay awake.”

  When I opened my eyes there was no one there, so it may have been a dream. On the other hand, to dream one must be sleeping, and if I was sleeping...

  I don’t know.

  Flap flap, peck peck.

  I knew what that was. My eyes opened. I spoke aloud. “It’s all right. I’m back.”

  I don’t think I’ve ever had to work so hard to stand up. When I’d finally managed, I felt the way Aliera must have, and I really wished I had more kelsch leaves to chew on. The world spun around and around. Don’t you just hate it when it does that?

  I started walking, then heard something, very distant. It gradually got more urgent in tone, so I stopped and listened. It was Loiosh, saying, “Boss! Boss! They’re back the other way.”

  I got myself turned around, which wasn’t as easy as you might think, and stumbled off in the direction Loiosh told me was the right one. After what seemed like hours I found them, sitting where I’d left them. Morrolan noticed me first, and I saw him moving toward me. All of his actions seemed slowed down, as did Aliera’s as she rose and came toward me. I started to fall, which also seemed to happen slowly, and then the two of them were supporting me.

  “Vlad, are you all right?”

  I mumbled something and held on to them.

  “Vlad? Did it work?”

  Work? Did what work? Oh, yes. I had more to do. Wait, the vial ... no, I had it in my hand. Good move, Vlad. I held it up. A dark, dark liquid in a clear vial with a rubber stopper.

  “What is it?” asked Aliera.

  Formulating an answer seemed much too difficult. I gathered my strength, looked at Morrolan, and said, “Bare your arm.”

  “Which one?” he asked.

  I shook my head, so he shrugged and bared his left arm.

  “Knife,” I said.

  Morrolan and Aliera exchanged looks and shrugs, and then Morrolan put a knife into my left hand. I gestured for him to come closer and, with some hesitation, he did.

  I forced my hand to remain steady as I cut his biceps. I handed the vial to Aliera and said,
“Open.” I couldn’t bring myself to watch her, though I did curse myself for not having had her open it before I cut Morrolan.

  I have no idea how she managed it without letting me fall, but she did, and after a while she said, “It’s done.”

  I grabbed Morrolan’s arm and held the vial against the cut. I told him, “You’re a witch. Make the liquid go into your arm.”

  He looked at me, puzzled, then licked his lips. I suddenly realized that he was deciding whether he trusted me. If I’d had the strength, I’d have laughed. Him wondering if he should trust me! But I guess he decided to, and he also chose to assume I knew what I was doing. More fool he on that point, I thought to myself. My eyes closed. Aliera shook me and I opened them. When I looked up, the vial was empty and Morrolan was holding it in his hand, staring at it with a mildly inquiring expression. I hoped Kiera hadn’t needed it for anything important.

  “Let’s go home,” I said.

  “Vlad,” asked Morrolan, “just what was that?”

  “Home,” I managed.

  There was a pause, during which they might have been looking at each other. Then, each with an arm around me, we set off for the woods.

  * * * *

  I can’t recall making a decision to set up on my own. I was in a certain situation, and I got out of it the best way I could.

  The situation?

  Well, when the war between Welok and Rolaan finally ended, there were a number of shakedowns. Nielar, my first boss, got rid of most of what he owned because he would have had to fight to keep it and didn’t think he could manage. I respect that. Courage is all well and good, but you can’t earn when you’re dead, and it takes a certain kind of intelligence to know when to back off.

  I had many different employers in the months after Nielar, but when everything settled down I was working for a guy named Tagichatn, or Takishat, or something like that; I’ve never been able to get his name exactly right.

  In any case, I never liked him and he never liked me. Most of my earnings were straight commissions for collections and such, and those came pretty rarely around then. I did a few assassinations for people to whom my reputation had spread, which kept me living comfortably, but assassinations also pull in a lot of pressure; I like to have income that comes from things that aren’t quite so risky.

  I could have left and found employment with someone else, but I’d only been around for a few years by then and I didn’t know that many people. So the best way out of the situation turned out to be killing Tagijatin.

  * * * *

  Keep walking. Stay awake.

  A dim glow seemed to come from the ground, or perhaps from the air around us, I don’t know. It was almost enough light to see by. How long were we walking through that forest? Who can say? My time sense was completely screwed up by then.

  Stay awake. Keep walking.

  From time to time we’d stop, and Aliera and Morrolan would have a hushed conversation about which way to go. I think they were afraid we were walking in circles. When this happened Loiosh would say, “Tell them that way, boss,” and I’d gesture in the indicated direction. I guess by this time they were trusting me. The gods alone know why.

  At one point Morrolan said, “I feel odd.”

  Aliera said, “What is it?”

  “I’m not sure. Something strange.”

  “Vlad, what did you give him?”

  I shook my head. Talking was just too much work. Besides, what had I given him? Oh, right. The blood of a goddess, according to Kiera. Why had I done it? Because the only other choice was letting Morrolan die.

  Well, so what? What had he ever done for me? He’d saved my life, but that was because I was working for him. Friend? Nonsense. Not a Dragaeran. Not a Dragonlord, in any case.

  Then why? It didn’t matter; it was over. And I was too tired to think about it, anyway.

  Keep walking. Stay awake.

  Later, Aliera said, “I’m beginning to feel it, too. Want to rest?”

  Morrolan said, “If we stop, Vlad will fall asleep, and we’ll lose him.”

  That seemed like sufficient answer for Aliera, which surprised me. But then, why were they working so hard to save me? And why had I been so certain they would? They were Dragonlords and I was a Jhereg; they were Dragaerans and I was human. I couldn’t make it make sense.

  Aliera said, “How are you feeling?”

  I couldn’t answer, but it turned out she was speaking to Morrolan. He said, “I’m not certain how to describe it. It’s as if I am lighter and heavier at the same time, and the air tastes different. I wonder what he gave me?”

  “If we get out of this,” said Aliera, “we can ask him later.”

  Stay awake. Keep walking.

  The woods went on and on and on.

  * * * *

  Killing Tagichatin may have been one of the easiest things I’ve ever done. For someone who accumulated enemies as quickly as he did, you’d think he’d have taken some sort of precaution. But he was new at running an area, and I guess he was one of those people who think, “It can’t happen to me.”

  I got news for you, sucker: It can.

  He always worked late, doing his own bookkeeping so he could be sure no one was cheating him out of a copper, and I just walked in one day while he was poring over the books and crept up on him with a stiletto in my hand. He didn’t notice me until I was right in front of him, by which time it was much too late. No problem.

  By the time his body was found, I’d already moved into his office. Why? I don’t know. I guess I just decided I’d rather work for me than for anyone else I could think of.

  * * * *

  I can’t recall when we left the woods, but I do remember being carried through a cave. Morrolan tells me I pointed the way to it, so I don’t know. The next clear memory I have is lying on my back staring up at the orange-red Dragaeran sky and hearing Morrolan say, “Okay, I know where we are.”

  A teleport must have followed that, but I have no memory of it, which is just as well.

  * * * *

  Kragar joined me right away when I took over from Tagichatin and, to my surprise and pleasure, Nielar showed more loyalty to me than I would have expected from a former boss. Of course, I had some problems getting started, as there were several people in my organization who had trouble taking an Easterner seriously as a boss.

  I changed their minds without killing any of them, which I think was quite an accomplishment. In fact, I didn’t have any major problems running my area—until a certain button-man named Quion had to ruin it all.

  * * * *

  Sethra Lavode, the Enchantress, the Dark Lady of Dzur Mountain, studied me from beneath her lashes. I wondered why she hadn’t asked what I’d given Morrolan, and decided that she either guessed what it was or knew I wouldn’t answer. I was feeling belligerent, though I’m not sure why. Maybe it had something to do with having been assisted out of the Paths of the Dead by Morrolan and Aliera, I don’t know.

  These two worthies were watching Sethra’s face as they concluded the tale. We were sitting, quite comfortably, in the library at Dzur Mountain. Chaz served wine and blinked a lot and loudly sucked his lips.

  “I am pleased,” said Sethra at last. “Aliera, your presence is required by the Empire.”

  “So I’m given to understand,” said Aliera.

  “What are the rest of us, roast kethna?”

  “Shut up, Loiosh,” I said, though I tended to share his sentiments.

  “And, Vlad,” continued Sethra, “I am in your debt. And I don’t say that lightly. If you think this can’t help you, you are a fool.”

  Morrolan said, “She speaks for me, also.”

  I said, “That I’m a fool?”

  He didn’t answer. Aliera said, “I owe you something, too. Perhaps someday I’ll pay you.”

  I licked my lips. Was there a threat in there? If so, why? They were all looking at me, except for Chaz, who seemed to be looking for insects in a corner. I didn’t know wha
t to say, so I said, “Fine. Can I go home now?”

  I recovered most of the money Quion had taken, so I guess that worked out all right. I don’t think it’s hurt my reputation any. I’ve seen Morrolan a couple of times since then, and he’s okay for a Dragaeran. He suggested getting together with Sethra and Aliera a few times, but I think I’ll pass for the moment.

  I told Kiera I’d lost the bottle, but, oddly enough, she didn’t seem disturbed. I never have told Morrolan what was in it. Whenever he asks, I just smile and look smug. I don’t know, maybe I’ll tell him one of these days. Then again, maybe not.

  END