Steven Brust - Hawk

“Very kind.”

“Very lucrative. So lucrative, in fact, that in gratitude, you’ll cancel all the ill-feelings directed toward me.”

He studied me. After most of a minute, he said, “That would have to be extremely lucrative.”

“It is.”

“Tell me.”

“What if you could listen in on psychic communication?”

His eyebrows went up. “That would be useful.”

I continued. “What if you could sell that service?”

“Well, yes. That would be lucrative.”

“What if you could also sell the service of preventing it?”

“Well, all right. You have my attention. You can do that?”

“I think so, yes.”

“You think so?”

I shrugged. “If it turns out that I can’t, you haven’t lost anything.”

He said, “There would need to be proofs. A lot of proofs. Enough so that I’m not only convinced it works, but that it wouldn’t be possible to fake it; and then I’d need some independent verification on that. From a sorcerer I trust.”

“That’s more or less how I figured it.”

“How long will it take to set up your proof?”

“A few days.”

“I can’t guarantee your safety in that time.”

“You mean you won’t.”

“That is correct.”

I nodded. “I don’t expect any reward until I’ve delivered the technique, and proof that it works. If someone manages to nail me before I’ve done that, tough luck for both of us. I just want your word that, if I deliver, you’ll take the price off my head.”

“Is there a catch?”

“You mean, like, it’s so hard to do it’s impractical? Or it would alert the Empire, or, I don’t know, some reason why you’d regret the deal after you made it?”

“Yeah.”

“Then no catch. That’s part of the deal. You judge if you’re happy with it.”

“You’d trust me with that?”

“That’s the other reason I came to you.”

He nodded. “You have my word.”

“Good, then.”

“A few days, you say?”

“If I’m not killed setting it up, a few days should do it.”

“What will you need for the test?”

I shrugged. “Someone not in the room to communicate with someone who is in the room. Someone he-you-can communicate with, which means you’ll have to know him, I suppose. I shouldn’t know who that is, or who you’ll be talking to. Any of you. We’ll want two or three tests so you can be convinced. Sorcerers present, so they can see what I’m doing well enough to duplicate it. Probably better in an area that isn’t too crowded. And we’ll-”

“Why?”

“My lord?”

“Why somewhere deserted?”

“Not deserted. It doesn’t have to be deserted. But the fewer people speaking psychically, the cleaner the test will be.”

“And the easier?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe.”

“So then, somewhere just a bit out of town?”

“Yeah. And that way it isn’t in someone’s territory, which might be a good idea politically. For me, an ideal location would be comfortable, out of town to cut down on unknowns, but not too far out of town because I have to walk. West or north would be better than east because it’s easier to get to. But none of those things are required. You pick the place.”

“What about protection?”

“For me? None. Your word is good.”

“All right. What else?”

“Nothing. What do you need?”

“As you say, at least three tests, with three different people.”

“All right.”

“In addition to those tests, I’d like one where I’m sending the message instead of receiving it. Is there a problem with that?”

“No, should work just as well.”

“Good.”

“What else?”

He frowned. “Let me consider.”

“Take your time,” I said. “This is the first safe place I’ve been in in some time.”

He chuckled. Then he said, “All right. I’ll find a place. And if it works, you’ll be clear-no, I’ll go further. It’ll be strictly hands-off of you, family, and friends, as long as you don’t do anything else unseemly.”

“More than reasonable,” I said, because it was.

He nodded. “I can’t do more than that; you’re on your own getting there.”

“Yeah, so you said.”

He tilted his head and studied me. “I like you, Taltos. If I could give you a few days of safety, I would. But, this may shock you, there are some who are not only greedy, but don’t like you.”

“And yet, I’m such a pleasant fellow.”

“I have to do a balancing act. If this comes through, it won’t be a problem to have your name taken off the shine-on-sight list. But I’ll need at least two other Council members to witness the demonstration. If I know them, they’ll want to be there in person. I would.”

“Sure.”

“And that means they’ll need to feel safe.”

“I understand that.”

“Would you consent to a hostage?”

There were only two possible hostages. “No,” I said.

“I didn’t think so.” He considered some more. “All right. First of all, your, ah, winged friends can wait in the street, or above the street. In any case, outside of the room until we’re finished.”

“Boss! Don’t you-”

“Done,” I said.

He gestured toward Lady Teldra at my side. “And you will leave that outside.”

“No,” I said.

“Deal-breaker,” he said.

“You know enough about weapons like this to know that just isn’t going to happen.”

“I trust you,” he said. “Probably exactly as much as you trust me. And that means not enough to put you in a room full of people you hate and let you keep a Great Weapon.”

“So, you don’t mind sending us out of the room, but-”

“I don’t mind putting you exactly where I need you to be, no. Now shut up.”

“What about this,” I said. “You’re going to need sorcerers in the room anyway.”

He nodded, listening.

“Think one of them could find a bonding spell strong enough to keep her in her sheath? We’d just need an hour or so.”

He frowned. “A spell strong enough to keep it sheathed if, um, if it doesn’t want to stay that way? If the sorcerer is good enough, and takes enough time, yes, it should be manageable.”

“Good,” I said. “Ask your people. You must have some who know what they’re dealing with and can give you a straight answer.”

“And you’d go along with that?”

“Yes.”

He nodded. “I think we can manage that.”

“Good, then. Is there anything else you want?”

He considered, then shook his head.

“You’ll get back to me when you’ve settled on the place?”

“I will. Presumably a message delivered to your friend Kragar will find you.”

I nodded.

“And you know how to reach me when we’re ready. I’ll need thirty hours’ notice, no more.”

“Good, then.” I stood up.

He smiled. “Vlad, it will be good to have you back in the Organization.”

“I can hardly wait myself,” I said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“By all means,” he said.

I stood, bowed, and headed out the door.

My back itched all the way to the street, but Loiosh and Rocza were keeping watch. As I passed through the gate, I caught the eye of the short guy who’d been there before. I thought about asking how his friend was, but there was no way to do so without making it seem like I was sneering, so I just kept walking.

“Boss?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you really do that? What you told the Demon?”

“Daymar says I can.”

“But can you?”