“You’re right. I’ll be back soon.” Carnack grabbed his silver-headed cane and shuffled out the door, pausing only to flip the closed sign on his front door.
The tip of the cane tapped on the cobblestones as he made his way across town. The woman he needed to speak with lived a damnably long way away. But for what the Dark Sages paid him, Carnack would’ve walked much further than across town.
The alert had arrived only four days ago. Any mention of Dragonspire Village should be brought to the attention of the local overseer with all haste. No reason why – there was never a reason why, which annoyed Carnack. He preferred giving orders to taking them and ignorance always galled.
In his ten years as a lookout for the group, he had only reported to his overseer twice. She always received him with the utmost courtesy and respect, listening to his report and thanking him without giving the slightest clue what the information meant.
And that suited Carnack. Despite his curiosity, getting any more deeply involved with the shadowy group didn’t appeal to him. Better to take their money, keep his ears open and mouth shut.
A few streets from his destination a pair of urchins went running past, shouting and laughing. He raised his cane, but they were gone before he could swing. Little monsters. Their parents should keep them under control, especially in this part of the city.
His overseer, Melody, lived in the wealthiest section of the city. The buildings were all brick with slate roofs. Clear, perfect glass windows allowed an unobstructed view of the people passing by or lingering in the many parks. It was all a little too fine for his tastes. And the rents, gods above, he’d be bankrupt in a year if he moved his business to this neighborhood.
Melody worked out of a club called The Gilded Swan. It catered to the richest of the rich, providing nothing but the best in food, drink, and whatever else they wanted. Out of curiosity, Carnack had inquired about the cost of joining. Ten thousand gold scales a year for a junior membership. Madness, but if you could afford it, why not?
The club sat at the corner of Diamond and Pearl streets. As he approached, the doorman eyed him with a sneer. Even the servants, in their crimson silk and velvet uniforms, thought they were better than him. Carnack wanted to wipe the smug look off his face with the butt of his cane, but in addition to greeting guests, the doorman served to keep the riffraff out. And he was quite good at it from what Carnack had heard.
Tapping his way up the freshly painted steps, Carnack kept his temper under tight rein. He stopped a few feet from the doorman who asked, “Can I help you?”
“Carnack to see Melody.”
“Is that name supposed to mean something to me?”
Carnack shrugged. “I have business with your boss. If that was any of your concern, I doubt you’d be out here sweating in a velvet doublet. Now go tell her.”
The doorman’s face worked as he weighed seeing Carnack off with a good thrashing against what might happen if he really did have business with the club’s owner. Caution won out and the doorman nodded before ducking inside.
He wasn’t gone five seconds. “If you’re here to pester Mistress Melody, you’ll wish you hadn’t.”
Carnack shook his head. “You don’t get to make many threats, do you? You’re not very good at it.”
The better part of five minutes passed before the door opened again, this time revealing the stunning figure of Melody herself. In the ten years Carnack had reported to her, she didn’t appear to have aged a day. Her long, silky black hair didn’t have a strand of gray. Her flawless curves were toned and lush. There had to be magic involved.
She smiled. “My dear Carnack. It’s been far too long since you paid me a visit. Come in out of the sun.”
“Thank you, Melody.”
Carnack gave the doorman a long look as he walked inside. The man was sweating from more than the heat now. Treating an acquaintance of the owner the way he just did was a good way to lose his job at best and his life at worst. His life literally rested in Carnack’s hands and he knew it. It was a sweet feeling.
Inside, the club was cool and dim. White marble tile covered the entrance floor and a pair of imperial era statues holding swords to form an arch led to the lounge. Melody guided him to a side door behind which waited a narrow, spiral staircase. They clanked upstairs to her utilitarian office. Melody sat behind an oak desk and pointed at the hard chair in front.
Carnack sat and cleared his throat. “I have news.”
“So I assumed. Tell me.”
“Three people entered my shop an hour ago to sell an old coin. They said they found it in Dragonspire Village.”
Her expression hardened. “Do you believe them?”
“I can’t imagine why they’d lie about such a thing. Besides, when you hired me, you made it clear my job was to bring the information and that your people would decide what to do with it.”
“That sounds like something I would have said when I was younger. Describe them.”
Carnack did so. When he finished, he added, “They’re coming back tomorrow afternoon to resume negotiations for the coin.”
“Very well. I’ll have orders for you before then. Is there anything else?”
“No.”
“The usual messenger will be by tomorrow morning. You may go.”
Carnack rose and offered a polite bow before withdrawing. He retraced his steps and went outside. The doorman looked at him with nervous eyes. Carnack smiled an evil little smile and continued on without a word.
Let him worry for a while. It would be a suitable punishment for his rudeness. The thought of the doorman trembling in his shoes sustained Carnack all the way back to his shop.
Chapter 3
Graywalk Academy was the biggest collection of buildings in the city and, according to Silas, the most prestigious school in the Kingdom of Carttoom. The buildings were all made of stone in the imperial style and covered with ivy. The red tile roofs shone in the sun. Between the buildings were open parks with fountains and marble benches.
A wrought iron fence surrounded the campus. Thirty feet tall and topped with spear tips, it looked well suited to keeping the commoners out. The only way in was a gate wide enough to allow a wagon to easily pass through. Four men dressed in red-and-gray livery and carrying swords and halberds guarded the entrance. None of them looked to be in a great mood.
The rich and powerful sent their kids here to study and more importantly make connections with their peers. The school was one of a handful of places where the future rulers met and mingled. At least class seemed to be in session so none of the high and mighty were outside to trouble them. At least as far as they could see from outside the fence. Unfortunately, the history professor they wanted to talk to was probably in class as well.
“Have you ever been here?” Yaz asked Silas.
The wizard shook his head. “Too tempting to start throwing lightning bolts at the smug bastards. I prefer the rougher parts of the city. A lot less attitude to deal with.”
“It’s beautiful though,” Brigid said as she looked through the fence at the grounds.
Yaz couldn’t argue with her on that. He’d never seen a more stunning place. “Where will we find the history department?”
“Beats me,” Silas said. “But there has to be a reception area. Maybe a guard can give us directions.”
They went up to the gate and one of the guards, a man in his midthirties missing his right eye stepped out to meet them. “Do you have business here?”
“We do,” Yaz said. “The coin collector Carnack advised us to consult with your history department in regards to an ancient coin we found. It’s from the Kingdom of Terra. If you could direct us to the right building, my friends and I would be grateful.”
“Let me see the coin,” the guard said.
Yaz pulled it out of his pocket and held it up. The guard reached for it and Yaz snapped his fingers shut. “Look with your eyes, not your hands. May we enter?”
The guard chewed his l
ip then said, “Very well, but don’t trouble the students. The history department is in building four, ground floor. You’ll want Professor Anna-Maria, she’s… very popular.”
Yaz put the coin away. “Thank you very much. We’ll be as quick as we can.”
The guard waved at his fellows and the gate was opened. Yaz led the way up a crushed-gravel path toward the collected buildings. An imperial numeral marked each of them and Yaz angled over to number four.
A heavy oak door was closed but unlocked. Inside, a foyer held a board that listed the room numbers and the professors leading each class. Professor Anna-Maria was in room three. A wide hall led out of the foyer deeper into the building. Room three was on the left.
Yaz entered a packed room. Probably fifty students filled the space and all eyes focused on the front where perhaps the most beautiful woman Yaz had ever seen stood at a lectern. The professor was young, maybe midtwenties, with short dark hair that stopped just above her shoulders. Her bronze skin was without flaw and her scholarly robes did little to disguise the figure underneath.
“Don’t drool,” Brigid said in a harsh whisper.
Yaz closed his mouth and they found an empty spot against the back wall.
“The Kingdom of Aqua launched a secret spell developed over a decade, the most powerful ever cast, at their enemies in the Kingdom of Terra,” Professor Anna-Maria said. “The counterspell cast by Terra struck seconds later. Both kingdoms were destroyed in the worst magical cataclysm in history. It would only be equaled centuries later on the Day of Mad Dragons. I can see you all wondering what this has to do with the here and now. Does anyone know?”
Someone off to Yaz’s right raised his hand and said, “Don’t count on wizards to protect your kingdom?”
“No, without wizards, one side or the other would have lost instantly with no hope of a counterattack. Anyone else?”
After a few seconds of silence Yaz raised his hand.
“What are you doing?” Brigid asked.
“Earning good will, I hope.” When the professor pointed at Yaz he said, “If you have a powerful weapon don’t keep it a secret.”
There was a round of laughter at Yaz’s expense.
“Interesting answer,” the professor said. “Would you care to elaborate?”
“If each side knew that the other had a weapon capable of such destruction, they wouldn’t have dared use it knowing the result would be their own death. If each believed their own spell was unique in its power the desire to wipe out their enemy would prove overwhelming. By keeping their ultimate spells a secret, they sealed their own doom.”
“Impressive reasoning, young man. That’s all for today, class dismissed.”
The students filed out, more than one shooting an ugly look at Yaz. Let them glare. He only needed to convince the professor to help. What the students thought didn’t concern him in the least.
“You have a knack for making friends,” Silas said.
“Says the man I first met tied up on the ground in a bounty hunter camp.”
Silas snorted as the last student closed the door. When they were alone Yaz and his friends walked up to the front of the classroom.
The professor gave them an appraising look. “You aren’t my students. I knew that the moment you gave an intelligent answer to my question. So who are you?”
“I’m Yaz, this is Brigid and this is Silas,” he said, pointing at his companions in turn. “We were told you could help us with a historical matter.”
“Oh?”
Yaz retrieved the coin and set it on her lectern. “We were hoping for any information you could offer on this—”
She gasped and snatched it up. “Do you know what you have here? This is a first dynasty Kingdom of Terra coin. It’s regarded as the rarest coin in the world. There are only four known examples in Carttoom. One is on display in a museum in Port Steel. Another is part of the royal treasury. The third is owned by the richest man in the city, Sir Parnum. And the last is owned by a former ruin explorer named Randall Cobb. He’s a merchant now and carries it as a good luck charm.”
“I know Randall Cobb,” Yaz said. “He visits the village once a year to sell silk and lace. I sold him a dozen wolf hides two years ago. He must have dropped it.”
“Doubtful,” Anna-Maria said. “No one just drops a coin worth hundreds of gold scales. Where did you say you found it?”
“Dragonspire Village,” Yaz said. He took a breath and decided to trust her. “Brigid and I were born there and after a brief journey we returned to find the valley empty. Randall must have been in town on his annual visit when whatever happened, happened.”
Anna-Maria caressed the coin in a way that made Yaz envious. “When you say empty, what, exactly, do you mean?”
“Just what I said. There wasn’t a person present from one end of the valley to the other. No bodies, no blood, no sign of battle. It’s like they turned into a gust of wind and blew away. My parents and Brigid’s parents are among those that vanished.”
“Obviously they didn’t simply disappear,” Anna-Maria said. “Someone must have taken them.”
Yaz shook his head. “Two hundred and fifty-three men, women, and children lived in the valley plus however many visiting merchants and those wishing to consult with the sages. Who could have taken that many people without a fight? And why didn’t they steal anything of value? There wasn’t a book out of place in the tower library or a weapon missing from the armory.”
“I have no answers.” She reluctantly handed the coin back. “I can tell you the coin is genuine and worth a fortune. If you want a little unsolicited advice, go to Randall’s estate in Fort Kane and talk to his family. They might know something.”
Yaz accepted the coin and offered a polite bow. “Thank you for speaking with us. You’ve been a great help.”
Full red lips parted slightly when she smiled. “My pleasure. I can’t tell you how sick I get of talking to rich fools and fending off their constant advances. I swear, every word I say goes in one ear and out the other. I know the little shits just take my class so they can stare at my chest, but still, you’d think at least one of them might care about history.”
Brigid stomped out of the classroom ahead of Yaz and Silas. Her jaw ached from grinding her teeth. Yes, fine, Anna-Maria was pretty, beautiful even, but wasn’t Brigid every bit as attractive? Did Yaz look at her like that because she was a scholar as well as beautiful? That was something Brigid would never be. She could barely write the alphabet much less discuss history in an intelligent way. Maybe it was stupid to think someone as smart as Yaz would be interested in her.
She was so focused on her thoughts that Brigid almost walked smack into a student standing in the middle of the hall near a couple others leaning against the wall. Who stands in the middle of the hall blocking everyone’s way? Muttering to herself about boys in general, she moved to go around him.
The guy grabbed her arm and Brigid finally looked at him. He had short, blond hair, blue eyes, and a square, smooth jaw. He was only a couple inches taller than her, but Brigid was tall for a girl. Maybe that’s why Yaz preferred Anna-Maria. She was a little shorter than him.
She dismissed the stupid thought at once and glared at the boy holding her elbow. “You want to let me go?”
“Calm down, beautiful. We should get to know each other better. What’s your name?”
“My name is none of your concern.” She jerked her arm free of his grasp. “Excuse me.”
She took a step and he moved to block her. “That isn’t a very nice way to act. Do you know who I am?”
“No, and I don’t care either. Get out of my way before I lose my temper.”
He smiled and chuckled, looking back at his friends. “I’d better be careful. She’s going to lose her temper.”
They laughed and her anger grew. If these were supposed to be the next generation of nobles, it was no wonder Silas hated them. Yaz and Silas had caught up to her. Having them to watch her back eased her
nerves. Since she wanted to avoid a scene, Brigid tried once more to escape.
Once more he moved to block her, putting his hands on her shoulders. Her knee came up hard into his groin.
He collapsed, knees pressed together, writhing in pain. He couldn’t say she didn’t warn him. His friends pushed away from the wall.
“Need a hand?” Yaz asked.
“No, I’m good.” Brigid tightened her grip on her walking stick and looked hard at the approaching boys. “Whatever you’re thinking, reconsider.”
They froze, looking from her to their moaning companion. The wheels turned behind their eyes and the pair backed off. Part of her was relieved and part disappointed. Thrashing the fools would have been a pleasant release, but probably brought more attention than they really wanted. If Anna-Maria had to deal with pigs like this every day, it was no wonder she enjoyed talking to someone like Yaz.
They hurried out of the building and off campus. When they’d put some distance between themselves and the academy Brigid asked, “What now?”
Silas sighed. “We’re not selling the coin, are we?”
“No,” Yaz said. “It’s our ticket to speak with Randall’s family. Besides, it’s not really ours.”
“Carnack’s not going to be happy,” Silas said. “Are we going to tell him?”
“Your call,” Yaz said. “I doubt I’ll ever see the man again, but you’ve done business with him.”
Silas rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I really don’t want to listen to his griping. I’ll have a message sent over in the morning. It’s not like we made any promises so he can’t complain too much.”
“When are we leaving?” Brigid asked.
“First light if that’s okay?” Yaz said.
“Works for me,” she said. “We’ve still got a few hours before dark. Should we explore the city?”
The Mysterious Coin Page 2