Steven Brust - Hawk

Eventually Third Floor Relic got its answer: Bristoe-Camfor’s future brother-in-law killed him in a dispute over table settings for his sister’s upcoming wedding. The ring, they assumed, had been taken from the body by a passing stranger, and there was nothing to be done except wait and hope that it would turn up somewhere.

Now, here’s what really happened: The business with the Dzurlord’s future brother-in-law was nonsense. The murder and robbery had, in fact, been planned and executed by a Jhereg-one of the very rare instances of the Organization killing any Imperial representative of any kind. There were personal motives involved, and special circumstances that I won’t go into, and, though some years ago I did learn of the whole thing, there were a lot of details I never discovered, such as exactly how they managed to conceal it from the Empire.

I learned about it at all because I know Kiera, and Kiera knows everything. The point is, the ring had vanished, and, while the Jhereg were happy to have it remain missing, it didn’t matter, because no one knew where it was.

Well, not no one.

* * *

He turned a little pale. “I-”

“Careful, Athek. If you lie, I’ll be unhappy.”

He swallowed, and shut up. He looked like he had no intention of speaking. Ever again.

“Obviously,” I said, “you know which ring I’m talking about.”

He nodded.

“And obviously,” I went on, “since everyone knows it’s on the waves, you have some idea which wave it’s on.”

He hesitated, then nodded again.

“And for one last obvious statement, you have a reason for not wanting me to have it. Perhaps, if you tell me what that reason is, we can work something out.”

I gave him my warmest, friendliest smile.

“My lord,” he said, which was respectful but not responsive.

“Go on,” I suggested.

He seemed incapable.

I said, “Did someone tell you not to give it to me?”

He shook his head.

“Did someone tell you to keep it hidden?”

He shook his head again.

“Go ahead, Boss. Ask him if it’s physical, magical, or spiritual.”

“Shut up, Loiosh.”

“Is it being held by someone you’re afraid of?”

He nodded.

“Yes for a copper.”

“Shut up, Loiosh.”

“Is it a Jhereg?”

He nodded again.

“Yes for two-”

“Loiosh!”

My next question was, “Does this Jhereg scare you more than I do?”

He had to consider that. It took him some time. I started to feel a bit jealous.

“No,” he said at last.

“So, who has it?”

He clamped his mouth shut, as if daring me to pry it open. I considered doing just that.

I had to decide carefully what to do next. Putting too much pressure on Athek would piss people off; but, to the left, how much more could they do to me than they wanted to already? I thought it over, while he stood there, waiting to see what I’d do.

I knew very well that mere possession of the thing was a capital crime. So did he, and, maybe, so did the person who had it. I know you’re asking yourself why, if the thing was so dangerous, and if Athek knew who had it, did whoever it was let Athek live? I asked myself the same question. I mean, it’s true: You don’t go around casually shining people like him-they always have protection or they wouldn’t be in business. But still, this was a dangerous secret.

Unless the guy who had it didn’t know Athek knew he had it.

Yeah, that would account for everything. Well, for him not wanting to tell me and him still being above the Falls, at least. So, someone who might have it, someone scary, someone Athek would know had it, someone who didn’t know Athek knew he had it.…

“So,” I said. “The Left Hand of the Jhereg puts in an appearance, does it?”

He didn’t answer; but the look on his face was answer enough.

Yeah, had to be the Left Hand: the sorceresses. They wouldn’t know how Athek operated, about his contacts among all things jewelry-related. They’d see him as merely a corrupt merchant. And he, of course, would be terrified of his own knowledge-afraid someone would let it be known that he had information that could get him killed.

And here I was, right on schedule.

“Who in the Left Hand?” I said. “Now that I know, you might as well-”

“I don’t know,” he said.

“How did you find it?”

“The Imperials questioned me, made me look for it.”

“Sorcery?”

He nodded. “I have a thing for jewelry. I can find it when no one else in town can. I could find a-”

“Yeah, I know. So you found it?”

“I found it. Got a face and a location. I didn’t get a name, but I recognized her as Left Hand.”

“Then why didn’t you tell the Imperials?”

“It didn’t seem safe.” He sniffed. “And besides, I didn’t like how they asked me.”

I nodded. You don’t survive as a cleaner for the Jhereg if you’re weak.

“I can’t protect you from the Left Hand,” I said.

“I know.”

“But they can’t protect you from me, either.”

He considered that for what seemed a very long time. I let him think. At last he said, “All right. Make me an offer.”

“Twenty.”

“Thirty.”

“Done.”

I passed him over enough money to keep a family eating well for several months, and he said, “Unless they’ve moved it, it’s in the back room of an inn at the very end of Western, in the false back of a three-shelf bookcase.”

Well, that ought to be precise enough. “Any traps or wardings on the false back?”

“None that I saw, but I wouldn’t recognize any.”

“Yeah, all right.”

Loiosh and Rocza checked the street, and I went back out there and down the street to the tunnel into Kragar’s office, where I found Deragar hanging around.

“Need something?” he said.

“There’s an inn at the tail end of Western.”

He nodded. “Black Rose,” he said. “It’s a Left Hand place.”

“Yes,” I said. “Can you check it out for me?”

“What do you want checked?”

“How hard would it be to get me a minute alone in the back office?”

He nodded. “There’s going to be sorcery.”

I fished out my purse and handed him fifteen gold imperials. “That’ll do it,” he said. “Should I have some food sent in before I go?”

“That’d be great.”

“See you soon, then.”

Half an hour later there was ginger-roasted kethna, wine, and Forbidden Forest soup, and I was feeling fairly good about life.

“So, you trust this guy, Boss?”

“You think I’ve been poisoned? I feel fine.”

“Oh, now is a good time to ask.”

“Kragar trusts him.”

A couple of hours later Deragar was back. “You get it?” I asked him.

“When it’s open or closed?” were the first words out of his mouth.

“Whichever is easier.”

“Open, then. That gets rid of everything at the entrances and windows, and eliminates the passive sorcery detection.”

I nodded. “I’m listening.”

He unrolled a piece of paper, and held it spread open on the table in front of me. It had a detailed drawing of what I assumed was the inside of the Black Rose. “The two Xs are sorceresses, keeping a watch on the office door at all times. There’s no window into the office, so the front and back doors are your only way in. The back door is locked and sealed-sorcerous seal and alarms-except for deliveries and special requests.”

“Two sorceresses,” I said. “Are you sure you didn’t miss one?”

He looked at me.

“Good answer,” I said. “All right, go on.”