Xarcon knelt at Bowe’s side. “How do you feel?”
“Like I was just thrown off a building,” Bowe said.
“Sounds like you’re fine. Come on—we have to get out of here. This is no time to be lying around.” Xarcon helped Bowe to his feet.
A bloodied Dulnato was climbing out of the circle, and marshals were beginning to converge on Xarcon and Bowe. Some of the street performers disappeared around a corner, and Bowe and Xarcon sprinted after them. They only stopped to catch their breath when they were halfway to Bellanger Mansion. No one had followed them.
“Now, how in Helion’s shadow did you appear out of nowhere like that just in time to save me?” Bowe asked.
* * *
Inside the mansion, Sorrin waited for them. He let out a long sigh of relief. “Thank the Guardians. You made it.” A smile began to form on his face, then died. “Edison?”
Bowe shook his head. “Dulnato killed him.” He shuddered. “I’m not sure his body is in one piece anymore.” A thought hit him. “We left Thrace behind.”
“I told him that if things went badly he was to disappear discreetly,” Sorrin said. “Hopefully he did that.”
“What just happened?” Bowe asked. Edison’s death was only now beginning to sink in. Numbness permeated Bowe’s chest. Another friend had died on his watch.
Sorrin sat down on the bottom step of the stairs. “I suspected something was wrong the moment we stepped into the Brow. There’s normally one marshal standing guard there, but today there were four. Also, Legrand was wearing that scarlet outfit, as if he wanted to contrast it against your azure one. I figured Legrand knew we were coming and had something planned. As soon as he mentioned the mystery fighter, I was certain.”
“Why didn’t you warn me? Why didn’t you warn Edison?” Bowe asked. Surely they should have been able to prevent it.
“I knew Legrand wasn’t going to just let all of us walk out. I figured that he didn’t care about me, so if I could get away, I could do something to help. I told Edison when he went to get his gear that I suspected a trap, but he had to go through with it. The Greniers hunt down those who agree to a fight in the Eye and don’t turn up.”
I should have tried harder to persuade Edison not to fight in the first place, Bowe thought.
“So I had to hope that Edison could escape the trap by winning his fight. I also feared Legrand wouldn’t be inclined to just let you out of the Brow, Bowe.”
“He surely wasn’t.”
“We couldn’t openly attack the Brow. And Sindar wasn’t around; I doubt he could find a way to sneak in there, in any case. That left Xarcon, and I didn’t trust my bad leg in a footrace, so I waited here, hoping that his ingenious plan would work.”
“I would appreciate more warning next time I’m pulled off a ledge like that.”
The door opened and everyone collectively held their breath. Thrace walked in. Bowe rushed over, and, to Thrace’s obvious surprise, threw his arms around him and hugged him.
Bowe released him and stepped back. “Sorry about that. I guess I couldn’t handle losing another one of you guys today, and I’m glad you’re okay.”
Thrace face was stone. “Dulnato had no right.” His hands were balled into fists, the knuckles white. “He won the fight; he didn’t have to chop up Edison’s body.”
“Dulnato will get what’s coming to him,” Sorrin said.
Maybe what’s coming to him is a life of luxury and ease as an ascor, Bowe thought. Wasn’t Dulnato the kind of person the Green Path was designed to reward? On the other hand, Dulnato might have picked up too many enemies.
“I’ll go and see how the boys’ training is getting on.” Thrace stalked out to the central courtyard. Bowe didn’t envy the escay who had to face him on the training grounds today.
“I don’t understand how they knew we were coming,” Sorrin said.
Bowe sighed. “Legrand told me. It was Glil. He wanted to go back to Zidel, become his Defender once more.”
Sorrin jumped to his feet. “That little weasel. When I get my hands on him…”
“He was just doing what he thought was best. For himself.” Bowe wasn’t angry about what Glil did, just sad.
“He sold Edison’s life, and almost yours, too, for a chance to get one step farther along on the Path. Maybe not even a step—Zidel will never name him chief Defender. All the while pretending to be our friend. Perhaps you can forgive him that, but I surely can’t.” Sorrin left, slamming his palm into a wall.
Bowe realized he should be angry about it. Glil had betrayed them all, and it had led directly to Edison’s death. But what Sorrin had said made him realize why he wasn’t. It wasn’t his fault—it was the Path’s. Following the Path rewarded monsters like Dulnato and turned people like Glil into turn-cloaks.
“Sorrin’s right,” Bowe said. Bowe had always thought Xarcon to be even-tempered, but he was anything but right now. Tension quivered through Xarcon’s body, anger reverberated in his voice, and fire burned behind his eyes. “Dulnato killed Edison in a fair fight. But what Glil did—betrayal from the shadows—that is the worst thing anyone could do.” Xarcon curled his fingers around an imaginary neck. “If I get my hands on him, he’ll be praying to Helion for a quick death.” Xarcon wasn’t much bigger than Glil, but, in that moment, Bowe had no problem imagining Xarcon tearing him limb from limb.
Chapter 17
7 Days Left
Bowe was descending the stairs in Bellanger Mansion when a street urchin ran past him. He looked around. “Do we let them run around here now?” he asked, though there was no one there to answer him. He waited until the urchin ran back down the stairs and out of the mansion, and then finished descending. Then Sindar arrived.
“I presume he had a message for you?” Bowe asked.
“Your roof rat wants to meet me.” Sindar trudged down the stairs.
“Why does Iyra want to meet you?” Bowe felt a sudden pang.
“Not sure. The message wasn’t specific. Just that she needs me. I might as well see what’s going on.”
“Wait, I’m going with you.”
Sindar shrugged and led the way outside. The sun had set, and Helion was high in the sky.
“I don’t think we should help Iyra,” Bowe said, walking alongside Sindar. “We’ve had a good partnership, but I don’t want to maintain it. The brotherhood won’t escape the Path if we are considered too close to the escay.” Sindar didn’t know she was in the Guild, of course, just that she had helped him sell the garnets.
“I thought you liked the girl.”
“No, I don’t.” The words tumbled out of Bowe’s mouth a little too quickly. “She’s an escay. I found her useful to me.”
“You don’t remember what you said when you were in that fever, do you?”
“There’s more?” Surely admitting that he’d worked with the Guild had been the worst of it.
“You said you loved the escay girl.”
“Infernam’s balls! I didn’t.” Bowe stumbled and almost fell. “Well, I know you all thought I was speaking the truth, but I couldn’t have been. I don’t even like her.”
Sindar smirked. “I saw the way you looked at her. That’s why I asked the question. No need to be ashamed.”
Bowe spluttered. “I never… I don’t know what you are talking about. And if I did, of course there would be a reason to be ashamed; I’m not a pervert.”
“‘Pervert’ is just what the ascora call it; they don’t like their menfolk to venture downtown. Have no doubt that many of the older Greens have visited courtesans. All of the ascor themselves, no doubt, have tried out an escay or two in their time.”
“What about you?” Bowe’s throat was dry.
“I prefer ascor women. But I’ve had a sweet escay girl or two. I haven’t had to pay, mind you.” The memory of Sindar touching Iyra’s shoulder and her smiling at him rose in Bowe’s memory, and he felt sick. “They are generally dirtier, but who doesn’t like getting down and dirty
once in a while?” Sindar gave an earthy laugh.
Bowe smothered his sudden inclination to hit the thief. He decided to change the subject back to his original purpose. “I don’t think we should be helping Iyra anymore—do you agree?”
Sindar stopped and looked at him. “I think you’re a sucker for her charms and will end up agreeing to whatever she wants. But yes, I’ll follow your lead.
“I guarantee that won’t happen.” Bowe looked around. “So where exactly are we going?” They were heading in the direction of the docks.
“Helion’s teeth, we’re nearly there!” Sindar lowered his voice. “We’re heading to a clandestine meeting; we shouldn’t be standing in the middle of the road gossiping like newsbards. Come on.”
He guided Bowe to the side of the street and into the shadows. From there, Bowe followed Sindar down a series of alleyways, keeping close to the walls all the way. The streets were deserted. Other than one child peering out of a window, they saw no one.
Once they had reached the edge of the docks, Sindar ducked into a doorway. Most of what appeared to be a warehouse was shrouded in darkness, but a torch hung in a bracket just inside the door.
Iyra was there to greet them. “Why did you bring him?” she asked Sindar.
“He insisted on coming,” Sindar said. “I think he wanted to see you. Ouch!” Bowe had thumped Sindar on the shoulder.
“Well, we better get on with it, then.” Iyra looked up at the loft, then turned and spoke into the darkness behind her. “It seems safe. Come out.”
Bowe tried to follow Iyra’s gaze to the loft, but couldn’t see anything except for a window leaking purple light onto a railing. Were they being watched? When Bowe had helped the Guild, he’d only ever seen Iyra; he had no idea what shadowy figures lurked there. He had definitely been right to stop helping them. Even though, as he’d told Xarcon, he’d come to accept that the Guild wasn’t evil, that didn’t mean he had to keep associating with them.
A large man walked into the torchlight. He reminded Bowe of Drakasi even before Bowe noticed the large sword strapped to his waist. His features looked…different; in this light, however, Bowe couldn’t figure out exactly how.
“Allow me to present Washima,” Iyra said.
“It’s an honor.” He had a deep voice with an unusual accent. Washima folded his palms together with his forefingers touching his lips and bowed his head toward Sindar and then Bowe.
Bowe felt an urge to bow in response but stopped himself. Outlanders weren’t allowed to stay in Arcandis, so this man could only be the spy who had escaped the Jarindor ship, leading to the seizure of his crewmates. “We’re not going to help you,” Bowe said. “Iyra, our deal is over. I’m not even getting money from you anymore.”
Iyra frowned. “There is no more money—I told you that. Once you were able to pay off the Raines—and the word spread that it was because of the ruby garnets—Stenesso put a stop to any of the Grenier marshals or ascor buying garnets. It was a good plan while it lasted.” Iyra advanced on Bowe. “Did you think I was stealing your portion?”
Bowe didn’t like having her so close. Those smoky gray eyes caught his gaze and wouldn’t let go. He took a step back. “No, I didn’t think you were stealing it. I just thought you were giving it to those servants and fighting apprentices who turned up at the mansion. As payment.”
“No, I told you they wouldn’t require any monetary payment. Don’t you remember anything?”
“It would appear not.” Bowe scratched the side of his head. “When did you tell me all this?”
“It was just after you’d recovered from the poison. Or, at least, I thought you’d recovered.”
“Did I seem happy?” Bowe asked.
“Yes, I guess so.”
“Aha!” Bowe exclaimed. “That doesn’t sound like me at all. I must have still been fevered. Anything I said then shouldn’t be taken seriously.”
“You said you’d save the escay I sent to you.” Iyra’s eyes narrowed and she moved closer to Bowe. “You seriously can’t remember? You’re not just having fun at my expense? Because this isn’t the time.”
“It certainly isn’t. Time is running out,” Washima’s deep voice said.
“I said I’d save—” Bowe gulped and stepped back. “So that’s why they’re all there.”
“Did you think the girls just loved cleaning broken down old mansions? And that the boys wanted to get beaten black and blue by one of your Deadbeats?”
Now that Iyra mentioned it, the girls did work with an unusual intensity. They must think they are cleaning for their lives. “So you believed this uncommonly-happy just-out-of bed patient when he promised to save virtually the whole of Helion-bathed Arcandis from the Infernam? And you got others to believe it, too?” Bowe’s voice had adopted a high-pitched edge. Why did he have to sound hysterical whenever he tried to be forceful?
Iyra advanced toward Bowe once again. “Are you saying you can’t save them?” She took a step with each word, causing Bowe to retreat farther into the shadows. “Or that you won’t save them?”
Now that was forceful, Bowe thought. “I’ve promised to save nearly everyone else—why not them, too?” Iyra looked ready to advance on Bowe again, so he raised his hands in surrender. “I’ll do my best. I haven’t figured out exactly what I’m going to do yet, but when I do, I won’t forget the escay.” The beginnings of a plan had started to form in Bowe’s mind, but he hadn’t yet figured out the details.
Bowe moved sideways to get around Iyra and returned to the torchlight, where Washima and Sindar waited. I told you so, Sindar’s smirk said.
Sindar had nothing to smile about. Bowe wasn’t giving in to her. He had previously agreed to help the escay at the mansion; he’d just forgotten about it. He hadn’t agreed to help Iyra any further. “We’re not helping the spy.” Bowe glanced at Washima. “No offense. I’ve enough on my plate without committing treason, as well.”
Washima bowed his head again, and Bowe had to stop himself from mirroring the gesture. Why was it so addictive? And why was Bowe apologizing to Washima, an enemy to Arcandis?
“I don’t need your help.” Iyra rejoined them by the doorway. “I need Sindar’s.”
“I agreed not to help without Bowe’s say-so,” Sindar said. “Personally, I think he wants to be persuaded.” Sindar jiggled his eyebrows. “If you know what I mean.”
Bowe thumped him on the shoulder. “It’s a pity I didn’t figure out how tiresome you were, Sindar, before you joined the brotherhood.”
Iyra glanced up at the window up by the loft. “Helion has set. We don’t have too much night left. This is what will happen now: Washima will explain to Sindar the plan, and I’ll explain to Bowe why he has no choice but to help us.” She grabbed Bowe by the arm. “Come this way.”
A flash of anger coursed through Bowe and he shook her hand away. “Don’t lay your hands on me.” He’d come here to assert his authority, not be pushed around by this infuriating escay. “Remember who you are and who I am.”
Iyra and Washima shared a silent glance. Then Iyra said quietly, “Please come with me.” She led him into a corner.
“Don’t stand too close,” Bowe said, raising his voice so Sindar could hear. He didn’t want more insinuations from the thief on the way back. The darkness hid Iyra’s face, which was good, but it accentuated Bowe’s awareness of her, which wasn’t. She smelled musky and wholesome and…nice. Helion, even his nose betrayed him! Why couldn’t he get rid of these blasted feelings about her? She was an escay, and he wasn’t a pervert.
“I understand that your emotions are a bit raw. I heard that one of your friends died yesterday,” Iyra said. The voices from across the room rose and fell as Washima’s deep voice was interspersed with Sindar’s higher pitched one.
“I don’t need your understanding,” Bowe spat out. “And I don’t apologize for any of my actions. What was that glance you shared with Washima?”
“What? Nothing, nothing.”
&n
bsp; “If ever a glance spoke volumes, that one did. Don’t take me for a fool.”
“Fine.” Iyra’s voice rose in anger. “Washima hasn’t met any ascor, and asked me what they were like. I told him I’d only met their sons—the Greens. I said that those I knew seemed normal, but there was always a black thread running through them. A sense of superiority and a disdain for the lives of others. Especially when it came to escay. You were polite and considerate all along, so Washima didn’t see what I was talking about until you blew up on me when I touched your arm.”
“Of course we are superior.” Bowe’s own voice rose in anger. “Of course ascor are superior to escay. In birth and in breeding, all the way to our bathing habits.” Bowe made a significant sniff with his nose, turning it into a liar.
“Bathing habits?” Iyra’s voice was like the ice of cold fury. “You’ve got to be kidding me. We don’t all have time to powder our noses before the nightly ball. Some of us have to struggle to eke out an existence with the pittance of resources that the ascor leave the escay.”
“We give you too much if you still have time to form organizations like the—” He paused, lowering his voice. “Like the Guild.”
Iyra seemed about to explode, then stopped herself and took a breath. “This isn’t the time for arguing about that.” Her voice was calm, but Bowe could still sense her anger. “We need your help. I’m willing to put up with your insults to get it. Don’t think I’ll forget, though. We have a copy of the key to the brig of Peace Bringer. Sindar is the best thief I know, and the only one used to getting past marshals on a consistent basis. Plus, he can swim. Washima is explaining the layout of the ship to him right now.”
“He’s wasting his breath. I never should have gotten involved with you people. I’m not going to stand for any further treason. Why should I be helping outlanders over my own people?”
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