“I hope this was worth it,” he whispered.
Rayen shrugged. “If it wasn’t, then it’s only been a waste of time, nothing more.”
With that, she jumped, landing on the side of the road, and backed up along the wall, waiting for him.
Daniel chuckled to himself. He Slid, not quite as comfortable jumping from a height as Rayen. Out on the street, they started toward the building. He glanced around, and when they finally reached the building, he hesitated.
There was no sound of music, nothing that gave off the sense of a tavern. He didn’t even notice any voices. No murmuring or shouts or calls, or anything that would suggest there was activity within.
Daniel glanced over to Rayen before taking her hand. Then he Slid.
Emerging on the other side of the door brought him into a dimly lit room. A couple of lanterns hung on hooks from posts around the room. A haze of smoke filled the space, and there was a hint of an aroma with it, one that left him thinking of spice and cinnamon rather than burning firewood. Some of the smoke drifted out of the hearth itself, but most of it seemed to be coming from vents cut into the floor. It was almost as if the occupants of the room wanted the smoke.
It certainly provided a masking effect. He tried to See through the smoke, but other than making out the faint shapes of various forms, he wasn’t able to tell all that much. He had a sense of how few people were here, but even that was difficult.
“Can you make out much of anything?”
“Not really,” she said.
“Have you seen anything like this before?”
“Like smoke?”
“Smoke used to conceal people inside the tavern.”
“There are many ways people conceal themselves in places like this,” Rayen said. “Sometimes they prefer smoke, sometimes they use abilities like I have, and other times they simply dress themselves differently. If nothing else, this is exactly the kind of place we wanted to find.” She held on to his hand, weaving through the smoke, managing to avoid bumping into anyone.
Daniel tried to see through the smoke, but it seemed to have a weight to it, almost as if it were designed to be difficult to see through. Not just to see through, but to navigate through as well.
They reached a table and chairs, and Rayen helped him find his way so he could sit. Taking a seat, he put his back to the wall, mimicking what Rayen had done in the last tavern. She shot him a look of annoyance, and he grinned.
Leaning toward her, he lowered his voice. “If we can’t see or hear anything, what sort of benefit will we gain by coming here?”
“Probably none, other than we should be able to determine whether there is anyone here that we want to see.”
They had already seen the man entering, and now Daniel wondered if they’d be able to follow him if it came down to it. More than that, could they figure out if there were any others here they should be tracking?
“I might have to use the shadows to see if I can’t disperse some of the smoke,” she said.
“Do you think you can?”
“The shadows aren’t responding as well as they should.”
It was strange, but Daniel could detect the same thing. The stone outside had disrupted the shadows, but while there was the stone in the walls surrounding them, the shadows should be able to work inside, not limited by whatever was taking place within the walls.
How much of it was from the smoke? Even though he wasn’t able to penetrate the shadows, he had to wonder if there was something within the smoke that made it difficult to see through them.
Regardless, it suggested whoever was here had familiarity with the shadows—and they knew how to overpower them.
As he leaned over to say something to Rayen, a figure appeared before them. Daniel could make him out as little more than a darkness that formed within the smoke, but this figure sat at the table with them.
“You’ll find your ability is limited here,” the man said. He had an accented voice, and his words were slightly clipped, giving a strange contour to them.
“And what ability is that?” Daniel asked.
“Not yours. Hers.”
Daniel looked over to Rayen. Shadows coalesced around her, sweeping outward, but they faded rapidly as they met whatever strange resistance was formed by the smoke.
“As I said,” the man said.
“Who are you?”
“The better question is who are you and why are you here?”
“We’re just passing through,” Rayen said.
“Indeed? An odd location for one like yourself. Then again, as you aren’t the first person to have visited Keyall with your particular abilities, I’m not altogether surprised.”
Daniel sat up, leaning toward the man. Even as he did, he couldn’t make him out any better than he had before. “Who do you know who visited here with these abilities?”
The man said nothing. “As I said, you’ll find your abilities are not quite as effective here.” He started to get up when Daniel surged toward him, Sliding. When he grabbed the man by the wrist, he Slid him from the tavern, emerging on the street. He waited a moment for Rayen to follow, concerned she might hold off, but she stepped out into the night only a few moments after he did.
Out in the street, he was able to make out the man more clearly. He was thin, dressed in a long cloak, and the jewelry on his fingers spoke of wealth, though it was gaudier than anything Daniel would have preferred.
It was the man they’d followed. Daniel had not gotten a good look at him, but he was certain this was the same person.
“Interesting,” the man said, looking around. “You were able to take me out here that quickly?”
“Who are you?” Daniel asked.
“You might find that Keyall is less than welcoming to strangers who attempt to assault individuals within the city.”
“And you might find we aren’t forced to stay here for whatever justice you might exact. Who are you?” Daniel said again.
The man’s gaze drifted past him and over to Rayen. He studied her for a long time, and after a while, he smiled. “You look like her.”
Daniel frowned. “Who does she look like?”
The man sniffed. “Don’t play games. If you’re with her, I suppose you can’t help it. Regardless,” he said, waving his hand.
Rayen started to smile. “You know Carth.”
The man nodded. “I know her. It’s been some time since I’ve seen her, but I know her.” He looked around the street, frowning. “Come now, before the constables decide to make their presence known.” He started off, unmindful of the fact that he put his back to two people he didn’t know, and seemingly unconcerned about how Daniel had simply dragged him from the tavern.
He glanced to Rayen. “Do you think we should follow?”
“If he knows Carth, he can provide us information about what we’re looking for.”
“Or he has a grudge against her, and he’s using this as an opportunity to pay it back.”
Rayen smiled. “You really do think like her.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“She sees danger in every shadow, sort of like you appear to.”
“Only she can see deeper into the shadows than I can.”
“With practice, I suspect you’ll be able to see deeper into the shadows, too.” They followed the man as he turned a corner, and Daniel reached for the hilt of his sword. He didn’t know if this man would attempt anything or whether he would guide them someplace dangerous, but the street opened up, and a massive estate spread in front of them.
Daniel blinked. “This is your place?”
“It is now,” the man said. “Keyall is uniquely situated. We have merchants come from all over, which means that trade comes from all over. When you learn to maneuver it, you gain skill.” He flashed a smile. “With skill comes wealth.”
The man reached the gate leading into the estate grounds and nodded to the guards standing on either side of it. The wall surrounding t
he estate seemed to be made of the same dark stone, which made Daniel question whether they would be able to Slide beyond here if they went inside.
So far, he hadn’t seen any reason to believe that the stone would prevent him from Sliding, but if it did, he wanted to be prepared. He still could fight if necessary, and he doubted they would have any way to keep him from Sliding if it came down to it, but it was much better for them not to need such defenses.
Rayen grabbed for his hand. As they walked through the gate, shadows continued to swirl around her, but as soon as they were through, they spread out, stretching across the ground. She relaxed, letting out a pent-up breath.
The man guided them up to the main entrance to the estate, and once there, he paused, glancing over his shoulder at them. “There’s no need to fear.”
“We’re not afraid,” Daniel said, though he suspected that wasn’t completely true. Rayen losing her abilities in this place would make her nervous. The Great Watcher knew it made him nervous.
“Why don’t we have a drink, and then we can talk?”
“Maybe we can talk first,” Daniel said.
The man grunted. “So direct. There is advantage to taking one’s time and enjoying the experience.”
He pulled open the door. A grand hallway opened up in front of them. Portraits hung on the wall, one of the man they were with, and another of an older gentleman. They faced each other, and there were similarities in their features. Both wore the same style of dark cloak that this man wore, and the older man had a cane, whereas the man they were with carried a walking stick that was pointed at the end, almost like a sword. Would he have that on him now?
He guided them up a wide staircase, turning down a carpeted hall, and reached another door at the end of the hall. Once there, he stepped inside, waving his hand with a flourish. “Take a seat. I will see that you are brought wine, and then we can talk.”
The man closed the door, leaving them for a moment. Daniel looked around and noticed they were in a massive library. Shelves lined the walls, books stuffed within them. There were globes and spyglasses and other items of intrigue resting on many of the shelves. He wandered over to one shelf, scanning the titles, curious what sort of books a man like this would have. Many of them seemed to be in a different language, though the titles he could understand suggested they were historical documents.
“How do we even know this man knows Carth?” Daniel asked, looking at the shelves. “What if he’s only encountered someone with the shadow blessing and not someone like her—or you—who’s shadow born?”
“I suspect he’s actually met her.”
“Why is that?” Daniel asked, pulling a book off the shelf. He glanced at the cover, realizing that it was a story about Asador. It would be interesting to learn more about the history of Asador, though it would be intruiging to learn about many different histories. With everything he had been experiencing, having a greater knowledge of the past would be beneficial.
“Look,” Rayen said.
Daniel pushed the book back into its spot on the shelf, staring at the others around it for a moment before turning back to Rayen. She was leaning over a table.
An ornate Tsatsun board rested upon it.
35
Daniel
The door opened as Daniel was holding on to one of the Tsatsun pieces, rolling it between his fingers, marveling at the quality of the piece. They were made of the same stone as the walls, polished, and the detail was incredible. Rayen had tested the pieces to see whether she could use her shadows on them, but she found she could not. Even the game board seemed to be made out of the same stone—at least partly. The darker squares were the stone, whereas the lighter squares were a polished marble. The entire thing suggested incredible wealth.
“Ah, I see that you have found the board.”
Daniel glanced at Rayen before setting the piece back down where he’d found it. It was a game in progress, and he didn’t want to disrupt it, though from the way he could see the game playing out, it would not take long to end it. One side was far stronger than the other.
“How do you know Carth?” Daniel asked.
The man pulled a bottle of wine from his pocket and grabbed three stacked glasses from the other. He set them on another table and began filling them. When he was done, he turned back to them, offering both Rayen and Daniel a glass.
He took it but was hesitant to do so. The other man watched them for a moment before tipping his own glass back and swallowing. “Not poisoned, if that was your concern.”
“A little bit,” Daniel said.
“If you are anything like her, then poison won’t work on you anyway.”
Daniel stared at him. “How do you know her?”
“I was here when she was. My role was a little different, and my hair not so gray,” he said, touching his hair and smoothing it back. “And I don’t think she cared very much for me at first, but the more we got to know each other, the better we got along.”
“That still hasn’t answered my question.” Daniel held the glass of wine in one hand, staring down at it, swirling it. It was a deep red, and while he wasn’t a wine connoisseur, living in the Elvraeth palace had taught him about such things. He brought it to his nose, sniffing it, noting various hints of flowers within it. There was an edge of cinnamon, a spice that reminded him of what they’d noticed in the smoky tavern.
“I told you I was here when she was here.”
“Why was she here?” Daniel asked.
“Are you the only one who speaks, or does her daughter speak as well?”
Daniel glanced at Rayen. Carth and she had similar features, but as far as he knew, they were not related.
“You have her eyes and her nose. Even her hair. When I saw her last, she styled hers much like you do.”
Rayen smiled tightly. “She is not my mother.”
The man brought his hand up to his mouth. “No? My apologies.”
“There’s no need for apology. It would be my honor if she were, it’s just that she is not.”
“Regardless, you are as lovely as she. The two of you…” He waved his hand from Daniel to Rayen.
They shared a glance. This was not the kind of man he had expected.
“Who are you?”
“Why, I am Alistan Rhain. I would have imagined Carth had told you about me.”
“Carth doesn’t speak of her time in Keyall,” Rayen said.
“Perhaps that’s for the best. It was part of the agreement.”
“About that,” Daniel said, glancing from Rayen to Alistan. “Why?”
“Carth did not make many friends when she was here. It’s surprising, considering how she saved us, but not all see it that way. I suspect even she doesn’t see it that way. She had a unique experience within the city, having spent considerable time in our prison.”
“Your prison?”
“Indeed. As you can see, we have a particular gift with suppressing those with her ability.”
“How?”
Alistan eyed him for a moment. “Carth really didn’t say anything?”
Daniel shook his head. “I’m sorry, but she did not.”
“A shame. I thought perhaps I meant more to her than this.”
“The fact that she hasn’t said anything doesn’t mean that you didn’t mean anything to her,” Daniel said. “When it comes to Carth, my experience has been she shares only what is necessary and protects those she cares about.”
“Ah, in that I suspect you are right. My experience with her has been the same. Why, I know how much it troubled her when she lost that friend of hers while she was here.”
“Who did she lose?” Rayen asked.
“Perhaps it was before your time. It was a man, an albino, who went by the name of Boiyn. She was quite fond of him, and I know that she was most distraught when the Collector caused his death.”
“The Collector?” Daniel asked.
Alistan smiled. “Another story Carth has kept to herself? I su
ppose that’s just as well. The Collector caused enough trouble over the years. It was most fortuitous Carth arrived willing to take on the challenge.”
“Why was Carth here?” Daniel felt as if he were talking in circles, and he glanced at the wall of books before looking down at the Tsatsun board. So far, he hadn’t taken a drink, and it seemed almost as if the man wanted to talk him into doing so.
That couldn’t be coincidental.
It was a delaying tactic, but why? What did he hope to accomplish by delaying Daniel from asking the questions he wanted to ask?
Was there someone else here?
He took a step toward Rayen, prepared for the possibility that they might need to escape. He tested his ability to Slide, starting to do so before withdrawing. Thankfully, that capacity remained intact. Whatever this stone did to eliminate Rayen’s ability with shadows, it did not do the same with his control of Sliding.
“As I said, she came to deal with the threat of the Collector. It disrupted her trade, and it placed those she cared about in danger. She is most particular about those she cares for.”
“That has not changed,” Rayen said.
“You haven’t asked why we are here,” Daniel said.
“Must I ask?” He glanced from Rayen to Daniel. “You’re here for the same reason many others have come to Keyall, and fortunately, none have succeeded.”
“What reason is that?”
The man tapped his chin and then took a slow drink of his wine. “To find our secret.” He glanced over at the Tsatsun board. “Would you care to play a game?”
Daniel glanced over at Rayen. “Stay near me,” he whispered.
She nodded, and when he took a seat—purposely choosing the weaker side of the board that had already been played—Rayen rested her hand on his shoulder.
“Why don’t we finish this game?” Daniel said.
“This game? It’s already ended.”
“Has it?” Daniel said.
“Perhaps you won’t be much of a challenge,” the man said, smiling. “And here I thought that you knowing Carth meant you might know her most favored game.” He looked up and met Rayen’s eyes. “You, in particular. I would have expected she would have taught you the intricacies of the game.”
The Coming Chaos Page 34