Guardians of Evil

by C. R. Daems

  Emmund had them wait while he talked to the innkeeper, who led them to their rooms. The dinner was good country food: roasted potatoes, mutton stew, bread, and ale. Afterward they met in Emmund’s room.

  “If we’re right, Sechael should be arriving in town tomorrow. I believe we only have a few days before the killings start. They still have to prepare a list, collect gold, and contact the assassins’ guild…” Emmund paused as if thinking. “If we’re going to stop them, we have to get ahead of their plan. We have to find who’s on the list and who the assassins are.”

  “My friends can start tomorrow. At least, we know who he’s going to visit. That should help.” Liada hated sending her friends out, especially when the people they were following were close to the priests and potentially the Quag.

  * * * *

  Emmund hadn’t gotten her or Zeph jobs here so Liada had nothing to do but pace her room. She finally decided to indulge herself with a trip to the market. She’d sent Aliy to watch for Sechael, and Tali and Kaim to Isianna’s house. Maybe someone from the assassin’s guild would show before too long and one of them could follow him.

  She knocked on Zeph’s door and they went down stairs to breakfast—a huge pile of mashed potatoes, a slab of bacon, and a strong hot cup of kafa.

  “So what are you planning to do today?” Zeph asked. “No, don’t tell me. You’re going to the market.” He grinned at her.

  Liada chuckled and took another bite of bacon. “What better way to pass the time? We have a whole day with nothing to do. At the market, we can watch the people, listen to them talk about their lives, and bargain with the vendors.”

  Zeph just shook his head.

  “What are you going to do?” she said.

  “I guess I’ll tag along. I don’t have anything else to do. Sitting around here might be worse than the markets. Maybe.”

  The market was a short walk down the street. The people they passed looked like hard-working fishermen and their families. They wore clean, worn work clothes showing signs of having been patched. Most of their houses had shingles missing from the roof and looked like they’d never been painted. A number of the houses they passed had children playing and squealing in the yards.

  The real difference between Kenttol and Llunris was the people—their heavier clothing and no tatts. She still had mixed feelings about her owl tatt. She wasn’t sure she wanted to be tattooed like Emmund, but she did like her little owl. She missed it a bit, even if she wasn’t going to tell Emmund.

  Liada began wandering through the stalls. She passed two young priests standing next to someone bargaining for potatoes. They were such young men, she was sure they had to be junior ones. It was strange only because the priests seldom visited markets. They had devoted followers who, for food and shelter, ran errands, cleaned, and cooked their meals. She wandered in their direction, stopping every few steps to look at a stall. They went to another. They seemed to be shopping but they never bought anything while Liada watched. They did, however, make small talk to the vendors. After a few vendors, she realized it wasn’t small talk; it was a well-rehearsed script.

  “How are you, Merchant?” the first priest asked while looking around at the merchandise.

  “Good, Honorable Priest,” the merchant said, his hands twitching a little.

  “That’s well. Not everyone is that lucky. There has been trouble in other towns. We’re trying to keep it peaceful in Kenttol,” the priest said in a casual voice.

  “What kind of trouble?”

  “Don’t know exactly. Probably nothing. You know how rumors are. We’re being more vigilant just in case. Hope your business is good today.”

  Then the two left the stall.

  She poked Zeph in the rib with her elbow. “What do you think about those priests, Zeph?”

  “Just friendly?” He frowned doubtfully.

  “Just friendly with a well rehearsed line of talk.”

  “But they didn’t mention the First Ones.”

  “That’s what’s so smart about it. If the priests are watching for trouble, what would people think?” She knew that most people, like Zeph, wouldn’t make the connection right away. But after a while, they would and the rumor would start. It would be from a reliable source, not the priests.

  “Maybe I should say something to the merchants.” She frowned. “Or the priests.”

  “You must be joking.”

  She shook her head. He was right. She’d come to Sechael’s attention too many times. Next time he wasn’t going to believe any stories she could make up. If the priests reported a confrontation with a girl, Sechael was bound to make the connection.

  Having made that decision, she stopped following the priests and went back to listening to the shoppers and venders. Like any small town, most of the people seemed to know each other, some by sight but most by name. In a way, it limited the bargaining as the shopper knew the vendor and the vendor knew the shopper. They each had tried all the tricks they knew and by now, they were out of them. And so was the fun.

  Zeph’s unhappy mood lightened when Liada said she was ready to leave. It was close to dinnertime so they returned to the Inn. The dinner was more country food, good and filling. When she closed the door to her room behind her, Tali landed on her shoulder. By now, she could tell each of her friends by feel.

  “I’m glad you’re back. Did you find out anything interesting?”

  “No. I went in with other people who arrived just after we got there. It was much the same as before. People gave her gold, they made a list, and a priest collected half the gold and left back towards the temple. I came back to give you the names. Aliy stayed hoping the assassin would show up.”

  “Thank you. Emmund isn’t here but I think I should try and talk to...” Liada said more to herself than to Zeph or Tali.

  “Are you crazy?” Zeph broke into her thoughts. “What if they turn you in to the priests or the police?”

  “Our friends are risking their lives and so are you just by being with me. Can I do any less?” Liada paused and looked at Zeph. She knew he wanted to say something but didn’t. “Maybe I can make a difference. If the priests win, they’ll run the three empires. We’ll all suffer under them. A lot of innocent people are going to die—and some of them might be our families. Before I found Tali, I wasn’t interested in the priests, the laws, or other people. I was ignorant and happy.”

  She shook her head. She felt like she’d aged years in the short time since she met Emmund. She didn’t know if she liked growing up, but it had happened anyway. Now she was stuck with it. “I have to try for my parents, your parents, you, and me.”

  Zeph nodded in reluctant agreement. “Maybe they’d listen to me better than you.”

  Liada squeezed Zeph’s hand. “Thanks for offering. But you know you aren’t that much of a talker. You’re better at doing things.”

  “I know,” he said with an unhappy frown.

  “Stay here so you can tell Emmund what we found out and where I’ve gone. And wish me luck.”

  Downstairs, she asked for the directions to the homes of the three people on the list. The woman was on Lake Street, which was the furthest from the temple. She decided to try there first. The house was beautiful, a two-story wood house that had odd terraces and dormers that made it interesting. She suspected that some of the interesting parts had been added over the years. It was painted in rich-looking greens and browns. Trying to look confident, she strolled past the gate into a large courtyard with a stable, horses, and a carriage well off to the side. Knocking at the door, she waited. A manservant answered.

  “The servant’s entrance is around the back,” he said with a scowl.

  “I’m here to see Mistress Ruxandra.”

  “She’s not in.”

  “Tell her it concerns her and The House of Laws.”

  “She’s not in.”

  “Do I need to tell her, when I see her, that you decide her business?”

  He gave her a hard look a
nd closed the door. Several minutes later, the door opened.

  “Follow me.” He led her down a long hallway and into a small sitting room with just a small table and three puffy-leather chairs. Liada remained standing. A few minutes later, a short woman entered the room.

  The woman was small with long black hair, a thin narrow face, and wore an ankle-length black dress. She smiled but it didn’t extend to her eyes, which seemed to dissect and categorize Liada—a no-nonsense woman by the look of her. Liada decided being direct was the best approach.

  “Sit. You have information that concerns me, young woman?”

  Young woman. When did I become young woman?

  “Yes, Mistress Ruxandra. You’re on a list made by Mistress Isianna and given to the priests.”

  “And what do you think the priests are going to do with that list?” The woman obviously didn’t believe her.

  “You and two others are on it. You three oppose the priests, don’t you? They plan to kill you and make it look like the First Ones did it. If it works, Mistress Isianna and her friends will help the priests take power.”

  Ruxandra leaned forward to look at Liada for a long moment, just staring.

  “Who are you?”

  “No one of importance.”

  “And you saw this list?”

  Tricky question, Liada mused. She didn’t really see the list, but she couldn’t say who did.

  “Not directly, but I can tell you who made it and who’s on it. You’ll have to be the judge if I’m telling the truth. And you’ll have to decide fast. They’ll act soon.”

  She listed both sets of names. The woman sat back in her chair, picked up a small bell, and rang it. The servant scurried in. “A kafa for me and...my guest.”

  The woman sat silent while she waited for their drinks. Once she’d taken a sip of hers, she continued. “The names are suggestive of a plot, but one could find our positions without too much trouble. You’ll have to give me more information.”

  “Other than that your life’s at stake, there’s not much I can tell you. I’m sorry. I live in Stonecross. By accident, I met a high-ranking Gorlack spy. I’ve traveled with him to Osshaft, Breeze Point, Hawks Point, Llunris, and now Kenttol. In each town, people donated gold and made lists. My friend from Gorlack believes the priests plan to seize power—beginning here.”

  “Why should I believe you?” The woman was tapping a finger as she assessed Liada.

  “No reason. I’ve done what I can. I thank you for listening.” Liada sat down her cup and rose to leave.

  “Wait. What are you going to do now?”

  “I’m going to talk to the other two on the list. If they listen to me, maybe when the killing starts whoever is second or third on the list will believe me in time.”

  “If I did believe you, what would you suggest I do?”

  “I can tell you what I know, but can’t tell you what to do about it.”

  The woman nodded. “It’s possible you’re telling the truth. If you’d tried to tell me how to handle this, I’d have thought you had an agenda. But now...” She leaned back and thought for a minute. “I’ll arrange a meeting tomorrow with the others. I will want you here to answer questions. Tomorrow at noon.”

  “Yes, Mam.”

  Ruxandra showed her to the door.

  * * * *

  Aliy and Emmund were waiting in her room when she opened the door.

  “Zeph said...”

  She nodded and told him what had happened.

  “You were lucky,” Emmund said. “I didn’t expect anyone to listen until someone was killed. When it would be too late.”

  “What should I tell them when they meet with me tomorrow? Better yet, would you come along?”

  “No, it would just complicate the issue and make my face too well known. Did your friends discover who the assassin is or where he lives?”

  “Aliy?”

  “Yes, he arrived pretending to be a delivery man. I followed him to 22 Docks Street, a run-down house in a poor neighborhood. He visited two other houses on the same street and returned.”

  “Tomorrow’s meeting will be the deciding factor here in Kenttol,” Emmund said. “If no one is willing to take action, it’ll fall to the priests.”

  * * * *

  “She’s only a child. Why should we believe her? Someone’s put her up to it. I don’t know or care who,” Sandoff said as he and the other man rose to leave. “You’re a fool to believe her.”

  “They’re the fools,” Ruxandra said as they left. “I’m going to act on your tip. I’d rather appear the fool than not to and be dead. But what can you do to help?”

  “My...friends will watch the assassins. We’ll warn you in time, if we can.” Liada nibbled her lip. “Can you have some police in the house?”

  “I have police contacts. I’ll send a message quietly to someone who can arrange that. Can you stay here with me until we have them in custody?”

  “Yes, let me tell my friends where I’ll be and set up a lookout. I’ll be back in a few hours. I think we have a day or two.” Liada hurried as fast as she could back to the Inn.

  Zeph and Emmund were waiting for her together in Emmund’s room and she related the details of her talk with Ruxandra.

  “I’m going to stay with her for the next day or two.”

  “Do you want me there to help?” Zeph asked.

  “You might make her nervous. She doesn’t really trust me. If I bring someone new, she’ll probably toss us both out.” Once it was dark, Liada took a winding route to Ruxandra’s house, just to be safe. This time the man answering the door was polite.

  “Mistress Ruxandra is in the study. She would like to see you.” He led her to a different room, wood paneled with a desk and a wall full of books. Ruxandra sat behind the desk looking every bit a member of the House of Laws.

  “Thank you, Carllio. That will be all,” she said, dismissing him. “Liada, what do you want me to do?”

  “I’d like to stay close to you. I know that will be inconvenient, but I can’t think of any other way I can warn you.”

  “You don’t need to be in contact with anyone?”

  “I am, Mistress. I won’t fail you.”

  Ruxandra stared at her for several minutes then shook her head.

  “I’m taking your word on the assassins, so I guess I have to trust your word for this.”

  Liada stayed in the house when Ruxandra was home and walked with her when she was out. She mostly sat in Ruxandra’s sitting room reading one of the woman’s hundreds of books. Occasionally the servant brought her a meal or a snack.

  “Now I know how the rich live,” she said to Tali, who was presently perched on her shoulder. Aliy was on Dock Street watching the assassin with his circle and Kaim was watching the house.

  “Yes, the rich live a very privileged life. But they are not content with what they have. They always want more. It was greed that started the war.” Just then, she felt the tickle that signaled Kaim’s arrival.

  “The two assassins are on the move,” Kaim whispered in a gentle breeze.

  Liada hurried through the carpeted hallway to Ruxandra’s office where she waited with the manservant.

  “The assassins are on the move. It sounds like they’re headed towards Weslorl and Sandoff’s houses.”

  “How…you haven’t left the house.”

  “My friends got word to me, but I can’t tell you how. It won’t be long now. I should know more soon.”

  “Get the guards in here,” she said and Carllio hurried out.

  Ruxandra gave her a distinctly puzzled look, but clearly couldn’t see what Liada would get from lying. Liada would have liked to stay near the woman, but she needed to be where she could talk freely so she walked back to the study. Her stomach was a knot of tension. Assassins would be in the house soon. She couldn’t sit still, so she just paced back and forth.

  An hour later Kaim showed up. “Weslorl was killed—burned to death. They doused him with alcohol a
nd set him on fire. Part of the house was burned. The priests are out in force telling everyone that it was First Ones.”

  “Which way are the assassins going?”

  “They are headed this way. They are only a few streets away.”

  Liada darted down the hall and into the office. Police guards were standing against the wall, two on each side of the office door, with clubs and swords in their hands. The drapes had been drawn across the windows so no one could look in and see them.

  Liada burst out, “Weslorl is dead. The priests claim it was the First Ones.”

  “How…who’s next?”

  “They’re coming this way.”

  “Be ready.” The woman was pale but her voice steady.

  Liada paced back and forth. She didn’t dare leave. Soon she felt Aliy brush against her.

  “They’re outside. I think they plan to enter by the back door,” she whispered.

  Liada tried to sound calm but her voice was squeaky and her hands were shaking. “The back door.”

  Liada motioned to Ruxandra to stand with her in front of the desk, so they would be easy to see from the doorway. She held her breath, trying to hear any movement in the house, but all was silence except her own fast breath. A floorboard creaked.

  The door slammed open and two men rushed in. They were only a step inside when the guards pounced. Clubs slammed down on the unsuspecting men’s heads. One managed to swing his knife but another slam of a club knocked him unconscious.

  “Sergeant Tinglen, I want to know who paid them.”

  “Yes, Mistress Ruxandra. They’ll talk. Don’t worry about that.” He gave one of the supine men a kick in the ribs.

  “And I want any priests on the streets arrested.”

  “Mistress, I—”

  “On my authority as a senior member of The House of Laws. Arrest any priest you find on the streets.”

  After police dragged the unconscious men away, Ruxandra had the servant bring them some kafa. Liada tried to sit still and wait but every few minutes she couldn’t help getting up to walk around the room. A single policeman stood guard inside the door of the room. Then she sat down again.

  What’s going on outside?

  She couldn’t stand not knowing.