Thread Strands (Golden Threads Trilogy)

by Leeland Artra

  I really need to ask her how she manages that. My hair is an oily mess in just a few days.

  Illa had on a white linen tunic pulled tight, showing off her figure, over form-fitting, combed corduroy pants that showed off her legs, along with the tight-laced knee high boots. Her belt held seven knives and two odassi swords, and her boots had throwing knife sheaths on each side.

  In an innocent tone, Ticca said, “I doubt anyone will even notice the Daggers. Illa has more knives showing than anyone else, in addition to her winning smile.”

  Nigan let one loud laugh out before clamping his mouth shut and backing off, glancing at Illa, who was looking at him out of the corner of her eye.

  Lebuin looked at Illa. “Mmm… I see what you mean.”

  Illa’s eyes focused on Lebuin, going cold.

  Lebuin turned a slight shade of pink and looked back at Ticca. “Okay, meet you at the Dolphin later. Please see if you can get me some rooms near yours again, with Illa in her own.”

  Oh, he is such an easy target.

  Smirking, she nodded agreement. Lebuin motioned with his hand and turned down Silver Street to head for the Guildhouse. Illa exchanged a conspiratorial nod and smirk with her, as she followed behind Ditani.

  Illa likes it when we poke fun at Lebuin. She has become more like a sister than anyone I have ever known.

  Ticca went back to watching the roof line and alleys for spies or attackers, as they moved through the city.

  Just because we’re sure they’re gone doesn’t mean they are gone.

  The only thing moving above the roofs was the occasional cloud of bugs, or the seabirds snoozing in the midday heat. Their path took them past the workmen clearing the burned-out house and the adjacent building, which were the remains of the Nhia-Samri hidden base that she had located, and Duke had destroyed. Turning the corner onto Market Street, she spotted their destination. The Blue Dolphin Inn, Llino’s Dagger home. Her heart fluttered with excitement.

  I still can’t believe I have a permanent room there.

  She felt almost the same level of awe as her first day in Llino, approaching the legendary inn.

  The Blue Dolphin Inn was large, even at a distance—four stories in a double-V wing shape, facing the street, with a paved front patio and carriage loop. As they approached, she studied the stone platform towering over the top, with the silver steel hoop for anchoring Damega’s legendary flying ship, the Emerald Heart.

  I would like to have been here five hundred years ago to have seen the Emerald Heart. Everyone has a different description of it. But everyone agrees it was beautiful.

  She led the group around the far side of the Dolphin, to the stables nestled behind it. Stable hands rushed out to hold the horses and help, if needed. She slipped off her horse.

  What I want right now is a bath and a meal.

  Grabbing their gear, they walked around to the new front doors.

  She recalled the night Duke had destroyed the Blue Dolphin’s front doors in his anger at Magus Vestul’s death. Duke leaves an impression everywhere. Doors and buildings busted here and walls knocked down in Algan... I hope Gracia survives his visit. I would like to see it one day.

  Giggling, she pushed them open and stepped into the dark, cool interior room. There was only a small fraction of smoke compared to before the majority of Daggers had left with Duke.

  I love the smell of this place, especially, now that it is back to normal tobac.

  The room was moderately full. Only a couple of the Dagger tables were occupied.

  Business must be down, with all the Daggers out of town or working for the palace right now.

  A few merchants looked at her group.

  Must be hard for the merchants. They were so used to having access to the Daggers, as needed.

  Before her eyes could adjust to the dim interior, a booming voice bellowed out of the depths of the room. “Ticca! Oye! I’m gla’ ta’ see ya back!”

  Ticca laughed as the huge frame of a man came out from the blurry gloom of the room. Genne walked forward with a smile on his face and held his arms out. Even under the loose, food-stained clothing, she could see the muscles of his arms.

  Genne, you are one of the fittest men I know, but darned if I can see how you do it, always standing behind your bar and talking.

  “Di’ ya’ do it yet?”

  Ticca dropped her gear and grabbed his outstretched hands. “Not yet. But I did earn a bath!”

  Genne laughed. Then he looked behind her. “Dis piddly lot yours, den?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, we are still working for Lebuin. He’ll be by later. Can we talk about rooms?”

  Genne indicated her table. She waved the rest of the group to go rest. They took tables around hers and laid their daggers out flat on the tables. The expectant merchants went back to their meals, seeing no one was available for hire, a couple looking rather sad.

  She kicked her gear into the nook behind her table and then pulled her blade, letting it spin around her hand a few times before setting it down on the table. Genne took the far seat. Serving girls supplied platters of food and mugs of hyly or arit to everyone.

  “I need rooms for everyone here, plus one for Lebuin and Ditani close to mine. I also need two more rooms next to Lebuin’s, if possible; one for Nigan and Risy, and one for a friend of Lebuin’s called Illa.”

  Genne looked at the group. “Rooms I got a plenty of. Lebuin an’ Ditani can ‘ave da same as before. Der are two rooms open close. Da one ri’next is taken. The res’ will ‘ave ta room above. How long ya’ need dem fer?”

  She grabbed a strip of semi-dried meat from the platter on her table and chewed.

  “We will be here a while. So start with one cycle, maybe two. Lebuin will be paying for everything—food, stables, rooms, and my room, too, for this time.”

  Genne nodded. “I’ya figur’d dat already. I’ll see ta it, yer bath is ready.”

  “Sounds great. I’ll be back down for a real meal after.”

  Genne nodded and stood up. “It’s good ta ‘ave ya home, Lady.”

  Her heart leapt at the compliment. Shoving another piece of meat into her mouth, she stood. Grabbing her dagger, she twirled it around a few times before dropping it into her sheath.

  Genne leaned in close. “Ya know yer gonna be ‘sponsible fer a lot o’kids gut wounds wid dat trick.”

  She looked him in the eye, excited at being famous. “Ya think?”

  Genne chuckled and waved a hand at her, like she was a hopeless case, as he walked away.

  She grabbed her gear and moved towards the wide stone stairs, up to the rooms, by the bar. Her eyes finally adjusted to the light. She noted a change to the room. Next to the bar, against the back wall, was a table that had a dozen chairs around it on the room side. The wall side of the table was cut out, making it look more like a crescent moon, and piles of pillows were inside the crescent. The table had some grooves cut into it at each seat, as well as in the middle of the crescent.

  “Genne, what the devil is that?”

  Genne laughed. “Duke’s table. He asked me ta ge’ it ou’. So I did.”

  Duke’s coming back? He must be planning on staying a while.

  Ticca wondered what this could mean for her Daggering possibilities as she went up for the bath.

  - - -

  Sliding off his horse at the Guildhouse stables, Lebuin stretched.

  Riding since dawn has gotten a lot easier. Still, I am stiff and tired from it. I wonder if it will ever get easy.

  He touched the servant’s shoulder. “Please rub them down and give them some fresh water and food.” He looked at the horses. They were strong, but tired. “Loosen the straps. We’ll be here a couple of marks, at most.”

  “Of course, Milord. Um… You won’t be staying here, then?”

  Lebuin shook his head. “We are going to be staying at the Blue Dolphin, and I want them stabled there.”

  The servant nodded. “I could give them a bath and take them t
here for you. You can use the Guild carriage when you’re ready.”

  Oh, I forgot about that. I’m not an apprentice anymore. All of the Guild resources are available for my use now.

  He looked at his companions; they nodded agreement. He turned to the servant. “Thank you for that suggestion. Yes, I believe that will be perfect. Our rooms will be arranged by the time you get there. Have our packs put into our rooms.”

  The servant bowed. Nigan stepped over with a clothes brush, sweeping his arms and legs. “That certainly makes it easy. It’s nice to be your Dagger, Lord.”

  He patted Nigan on the shoulder. “Please, Nigan, call me Lebuin.” Opening his bags, he grabbed a few essentials and transferred them to his belt pouch while everyone else also organized themselves for the slight change of plans.

  Illa took a few items from her saddle pack and then stepped over to Nigan. Grabbing the brush from him, she pushed Nigan’s shoulder to expose his back, and then brushed the travel dust off of him.

  “There you go. Now please do my back.” She handed the brush back to Nigan and turned, striking a pose. Out of the corner of his eye, Lebuin saw Illa moved suggestively as Nigan’s brushing reached her lower back.

  Nigan laughed and tapped her shoulder. “Don’t play with my mind!”

  Illa turned like a striking snake, taking the brush back. She grabbed Nigan’s neck with the other hand, pulling his face close to hers. Her lips almost touching Nigan’s, looking him in the eye, she breathed in a husky sigh, “Oh, Nigan, a girl plays with your mind. A woman explores it.”

  Nigan gulped and went several shades of red before turning white. Ditani made a coughing sound. Carda stood with her mouth hanging open, staring at the pair. Still, Illa held Nigan briefly before releasing him and stepping over to Lebuin. “My Lord, your back needs dusting.” Nigan stood where Illa had left him with a glazed look on his face, blinking.

  He looks like he’s trying to remember how to think.

  Lebuin stifled his own laugh and let her dust him off. Ditani and Carda had a second brush which they used to clean each other off. The servants all giggled as they led the horses away. Nigan still hadn’t recovered as they started to head into the Guildhouse. Looking over his team, he felt pride that they all looked impressive, not only in style, but in that dangerous air any group of skilled warriors possessed.

  I left a new Journeyman and returned the same, yet very different.

  As they entered the Guildhouse, a matronly looking woman, with salt and pepper hair pulled back into a bun, stood waiting. She wore a sandy dress which was made of a blended weave. It was creased in her lap and elbow areas, showing a lot of time sitting and working at a desk. Over her shoulders, she had a light grey shawl which was likely llama hair. It looked marvelous, and Lebuin had to resist reaching out to feel it. She had a wide belt with a silver buckle, which matched well with the low-cut, brown boots.

  I know her. Um, she’s Councilor Nillo’s secretary. Her name is… Uh… Bodhma. Yeah, that’s it, Bodhma.

  “Ah, Journeyman Lebuin.” As she said that, several apprentices passing looked over all of them, each looking at a different member of his group. All of the boys practically tripped over each other, staring at Illa. The girls had the same reaction to Nigan.

  I might as well be invisible, with these two.

  Bodhma noticed the distraction and waited. Lebuin nodded and indicated the direction of Councilor Nillo’s office. “I presume you are here to direct us to Councilor Nillo’s office?”

  Bodhma nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

  Lebuin walked next to Bodhma as they moved through the halls. Several classes were in session. Just before reaching the office area, he heard a familiar, motherly voice lecturing on controlling independent streams of magic. Lebuin glanced in at the class.

  Illa and Nigan noted his expression and looked into the class room. The instructor was Councilor Crawstu, who glared at the party looking in the doorway. “Journeyman Lebuin, is there something you need?” Her tone was cold and reproachful.

  The class turned as one to look at him. Lebuin gave his best ‘happy to see you’ look at the matronly Magus. As one of the students turned to look, his stiff collar folded, revealing the heavy, copper chain of a necklace. He wore a well-tailored, thin, cream wool tunic over a blue silk shirt, with a glistening black leather belt. Every stich was even and masterful.

  Those are exquisite clothes, and perfectly arranged. Why would someone with such good taste wear such a crude necklace? That necklace has no place with that outfit. He looks about sixteen, at most.

  He looked at Councilor Crawstu. “Apologies. I was just reminded of my lessons here.”

  Councilor Crawstu’s frown turned into a small smile. “Yes, well, now, if you’ll take your nostalgic memories elsewhere, I’ll continue giving instruction on ablative shielding to these students. CLASS!” Her sharp tone snapped everyone back to looking forward.

  Taking the hint, they continued into the offices. “Um, Bodhma, who was that student, in the cream tunic with the sea-blue silk shirt, sitting near the middle of Councilor Crawstu’s class?”

  Bodhma didn’t even pause to think. “Ah, that is the son of the Most Honorable Marquis of Cawli, Lord Elan. He came here about a year ago. He is a bright student with a sharp mind, and is very strong with magic.”

  “Yes, and he has such good taste in clothing, too.”

  Bodhma rolled her eyes. “Really, he is as bad as you, Lebuin.”

  Lebuin laughed, but persisted. “Was that copper necklace around his neck his family’s crest?”

  Bodhma shrugged. “I don’t know. He always wears it, even when playing sports or swimming. I don’t recall ever seeing him without it. It does have a medallion on it. Not his family crest, though. That is a seabird. That medallion has a cat shape on it.”

  Lebuin frowned. I didn’t get a good look at that necklace Finnba wore, but I’m pretty sure it was a heavy copper chain with a medallion.

  Illa picked up on his concerns, and her thoughts were also more than a little worried. ‘My Lord, that sounds like a Nhia-Samri Magus badge.’

  ‘Yes, I agree. First thing is first. Let me establish my link to the collector. Then we will look into this. We cannot have Nhia-Samri spies in the Guildhouses.’

  It felt wonderful, stepping into Magus Nillo’s comfortable office. As untidy as it is, this place feels so right. Lebuin took in the shelves filled to overflowing with books stacked all around. All the knickknacks accented the knowledge present. The same three old, beaten-up chairs were right where he remembered. He couldn’t help chuckling at the chalkboard, standing to the side, without as much as a speck of dust on it.

  Magus Nillo gave him a warm welcome from his oversized leather chair behind the organized chaos of his desk, standing and holding out his hands to Lebuin. “LEBUIN! My Lord, I am pleased to see you.”

  Lebuin sensed Illa’s surprise and glanced back to see all of his companions were staring, awestruck by the size of Magus Nillo. Nillo towered over all of them and dwarfed Lebuin by two hands. The lion’s mane of silver hair still stood straight out, looking like a halo that fell down over his head. The pitch-black, perfectly trimmed goatee, was in stark contrast to the silver hair with mountains of muscles. As usual, he was wearing a worn and patched robe over a white linen shirt which sported a set of faded, and one new, arit stains down the front.

  Nillo is a memorable figure.

  Lebuin took the massive arms in his. “Councilor Nillo, I am very pleased to see you again.”

  Nillo nodded with a twinkle in his eyes. “I bet you are, boy.”

  Nillo looked at Bodhma. “I have a lot to talk to Lebuin about. Would you please show his,” he looked at the small group, “ah…friends to the dining area for some refreshments?”

  The golden magic collector was no longer on display.

  Where is the artifact? It has been here forever, and I need to activate my link to it.

  He looked around the office, but did not
see it anywhere. Concerned, he looked at Nillo, who was smirking at him.

  Nigan and Ditani looked at him. Doubt I need protection here. He signaled them it was okay.

  Bodhma pointed back out another door, and they started moving. Illa stepped close to him. “Lebuin, I’d like to stay, if you don’t mind.” Nigan looked over at them.

  If she stays, Nigan will want to stay, which means then Ditani will sense something is up and won’t want to go.

  He looked at Illa. “I’ll be fine. Councilor Nillo and I have much to discuss.” He also spoke to her mind, ‘I’ll stay in touch. You know we cannot be separated.’

  Illa frowned, but followed the rest out of the office. The door closed behind them. Nillo motioned to a seat. “Lord, please take a seat. May I offer you some of that fine sharre?”

  Lebuin held up his hand, casting an incantation to heighten his senses, and reached out to the surrounding area. There was no one near.

  We are alone for now.

  “I would love to have another glass of that. However, first, where is Argos’s artifact?”

  Nillo continued to smirk. His melodic voice was joyful. “Business before pleasure. You’ve grown. Come.”

  Nillo maneuvered around the desk and chairs, indicating a different door which opened by itself. Lebuin followed him through some back hallways until they came to a thick door. Nillo held up his hand and opened the door, stepping through, leaving it slightly ajar. Lebuin could hear some conversations taking place in the room.

  Lebuin heard Nillo cleared his throat to the room. “Ah, sorry folks. I need this room to myself for a few minutes.”

  The sound of chairs moving and some shuffling came from the room. Nillo’s voice came again, “Ah, Magus Oraxas, if you please, the hall door.”

  An unfamiliar voice came from close to the door Lebuin stood behind. “Oh, sorry, Magus Nillo, as you wish.” This was followed by footsteps heading away from the door.

  After a few more moments, Nillo opened the door, gesturing for Lebuin to come in. Stepping in, he found himself in a room he had never seen before. It was well appointed, with many comfortable chairs and a side board with a selection of liquors and glasses. There were tables and ashtrays around the room. Large stained-glass windows let in some of the afternoon sun. The entire room was wood paneled, with a number of half-full bookcases.