Steven Brust - Dzur

“You aren’t that much of a sorcerer yourself, Vlad.”

“I have help arranged.”

“All right. But if you want a spare knife, I don’t mind—”

“No, thanks.”

He nodded. “I knew you were going to say that. That’s why I didn’t mind asking.”

“Uh huh. You hungry? I’m buying.”

“How about if I send someone to pick something up?”

“Embarrassed to be seen with me in public?”

“Wouldn’t you be?”

“Well, yeah.”

He arranged for seafood soup with sour bread from the Locket. It showed up and we ate it. I’d never eaten at the Locket, though it wasn’t far from the office. I don’t know why I’d never gotten there. Too bad; they made a good soup.

While we were eating he said, “Aren’t you going to ask me about that name you wanted?”

“You mean, you have it already?”

“Yeah, that’s really why I showed up there. Finding a shoemaker in South Adrilankha seemed like too much trouble.”

“Okay, I’m impressed.”

He bowed.

“So, who is it?”

“Nylanth.”

“I’ve heard that name. Who is he?”

“He’s on the Council. He controls part of South Adrilankha anyway, so I guess he figured—”

“What part?”

“Shipping.”

“Shipping? What is there to control with shipping?”

“Vlad, not everything shipped is exactly legal.”

“Oh. Don’t the Orca handle that?”

“Yeah. He buys Orca as he needs them. And he also runs some gambling by the piers.”

I nodded. “Okay, makes sense, then. How is he reacting?”

“To you messing up his plans? Well, if he wasn’t already trying to kill you, as was the whole rest of the Organization, I’m sure he’d start trying now. As it is, nothing much has changed.”

“Yeah, that’s the nice thing about the position I’m in: It’s hard to make it any worse.”

“I don’t think that’s true. You could make it worse. You could put yourself in the hands of a bunch of sorceresses who want to kill you; that would be worse.”

“I’d never do anything that foolish.”

“Oh. Good, then. Any steps to be taken?”

“Steps?”

“Regarding Nylanth.”

“Oh.” I thought about that.

“No,” I finally said. “Let him keep chasing me around South Adrilankha; I don’t think he has much of a role to play anymore.”

“Okay.”

We finished up, and left the crockery on Kragar’s desk. I said, “Okay, I think it’s time for me to move.”

“Just a minute.”

He closed his eyes for about a minute, then said, “I wouldn’t go out the front, Vlad.”

“Someone waiting?”

“My people didn’t see anyone, but said they can’t promise anything. Too much street traffic.”

“Oh. If there is someone waiting, the back will be covered, too.”

“Yep. Take the tunnel.”

“Excellent. Good. Perfect. What tunnel?”

“I’ve made some changes.”

“Why? I mean, why you of all people? You could walk out the front door and no one would notice.”

“I figured you might be back, and I know you aren’t teleport­ing much these days.”

“So you put in a tunnel?”

“Just a short one.”

“Where does it come up?”

“Behind the haberdasher’s just this side of Malak Circle.”

“Okay. Where does it start?”

“There was the room in the basement where an ancient people used to practice their heathen rites.”

“My lab?”

“I had no use for it.”

“I guess not. All right, lead the way.”

“Oh, Vlad—”

“Hmmm?”

“Nice boots.”

He lit a lantern and led the way down the stairs and into the basement. The musty smell and the feel of the dirt floor brought back a lot of memories. Most of my old gear was gone, but the bra­zier was still there, on its side up against the far wall. I didn’t see any doorway, so I looked a question at him.

He smirked and gave one of the sconces on the wall a twist. Nothing changed, but I heard a faint “click.”

“A secret entrance with a hidden passage with a secret latch,” I remarked. “I don’t hardly believe it.”

“I couldn’t resist.”

“Did you go all the way and kill the builders?”

“I forgot that part.”

He went over to the middle of the left-hand wall and gave it a push. It swung open without a sound. He led the way. It was narrow—just barely room to walk forward—but tall enough that Kragar didn’t have to stoop. The walls looked finished, probably with tile, and his boots went clack against the floor. When I spoke, there were echoes.

“You left the basement floor dirt, but put a floor in this?”

“Well, when you turned things over to me, I had all this money I didn’t know what to do with.”

I didn’t have an answer for that, so I shut up and followed the dancing light of the lantern he held. It seemed like a very long walk.

The tunnel didn’t branch, but led straight to a stairway, which ended in a narrow door. Kragar put his face against it.

“A peephole?” I said.

“Of course.”

He pulled on a rope that hung from the ceiling, and the door opened.

He stepped out, looked around, and nodded to me. Loiosh left my shoulder and flew out, then I followed. There was no one there.

“Thanks, Kragar.”

“Good luck, Vlad.”

I took the Stone Bridge back to South Adrilankha, feeling very exposed and vulnerable during the walk, although Loiosh and Rocza were alert to anyone even glancing at me. It was around the seventh hour when I reached the Six Corners district. I made my way to Stranger’s Road and found the same observation point I’d used before.

“Okay, Loiosh. See what’s up.”

“On my way, Boss.”

I slid back behind the corner of the building, reassured by Rocza’s weight on my shoulder.

“Nothing yet, Boss.”

“Be patient. If they noticed before, they’ll have to notice now.”

“Oh, I’m patient. How ’bout you?”

“Going crazy.”

“That’s what I figured. Uh, Boss? Mind telling me what happens when they spot you? Or is it a secret?”

“It’s a secret. I can’t trust you not to pass on the information to the Empire.”

“Right. Did it occur to you that the Empire doesn’t much care if they kill you?”

“The Empress likes me. If they get me, I’m sure she’ll wear something white. At least for the afternoon.”

“That’s a great consol—someone’s coming out.”

My stomach turned over.

“Okay.”

“Boss, can’t you just tell me generally what we’re going to do?—”

“We’re going into the house.”

“Going in? What—”

“I have a plan, Loiosh.”

“How are we getting out alive?”

“The plan doesn’t extend that far. What is the sorceress doing?”

“She’s looking around.”

“Okay”

“Should I stay here?”

“Yes. Keep watching.”

“Someone else has joined her. They’re talking. Should I get close enough to listen?”

“No. Stay where you are.”

“A third one, now.”

I took a deep breath, and sent Loiosh a mental nod.

“Three of them, Boss. Just standing on the porch.”

“All right.”

Rocza squeezed my shoulder. I turned around, and there was a sorceress behind me, about ten yards away, dressed in black and gray, holding a dagger. If the dagger wasn’t enchanted, I’d eat my new boots. I wanted to draw Lady Teldra so badly I could feel my hand twitching.