Alexey Pehov - Shadow Prowler

“I see that your nocturnal stroll has not damaged your appetite, so perhaps it’s time we sat down at the table and thanked Sagot for another day of life?” said For, putting the book down and getting up out of his chair.

“When did you start reading old books on magic?” I wasn’t aware that my old friend had developed a new interest.

“I wasn’t really reading it,” For said with a shrug as he walked toward the table. “Merely a cursory valuation of the goods. You could get three or four hundred for both books. I can suggest a buyer; I still haven’t lost my old contacts.”

“I don’t need gold just at the moment,” I muttered, sitting down at the table.

The warm rays of the setting sun pierced the elegant wooden lattice on the windows like lances and fell on my face. The evening sky was blazing like incandescent steel.

“But you hold on to the books in any case, someday I might have to sell them,” I said.

“All right,” For agreed with a nod.

He had an interest in the deal as well-twenty percent of the selling price. The money would always come in handy for Sagot’s shrine.

“But just what do you think you’re doing sitting there? You ought to wash your hands at least, you dirty swine, honestly!”

“I washed my hands, I washed my hands,” I growled, but I got up obediently and went to the washstand.

I really was dirty, and I needed a wash. I only grumbled for form’s sake, because of the hellish tiredness that I still felt even after sleeping all day long.

“And have a shave while you’re at it! You look like a real bandit, kid!” For’s voice said behind me.

I mechanically ran one hand over my three-day stubble.

“It’ll do as it is. I’m not going to the royal ball, after all!” I snorted, lowering my hands into the water. “There’s no time. I still have to deal with a whole gang of horse breeders.”

“Well, you know best. Anyway, tell me what it was like in there. We ought to record it for the chronicles and future generations.”

“So you’ve become a chronicler as well now? The things you discover about your old teacher!” I said, going back to the table.

“The old knowledge is slipping out from our world very rapidly. A lot has already been lost.” For sighed. “You must agree that your story could help a lot of people, especially as this is primarily for the chronicle of the shrine of Sagot.”

“I have no objections,” I said with a shrug. “Why not? You don’t mind if I talk and eat at the same time, do you?”

“Of course not, kid, of course not. Carry on, and after your story, I’ll tell you a bit about the papers you retrieved.”

“Is there anything important in them? I just grabbed what was there at hand.”

“There is, but we’ll get to that later, there’s no hurry. Come on then, don’t keep me on tenterhooks.”

He didn’t have to persuade me, especially since I had plenty to talk about and a lot of impressions to share. And I needed to get it all out, otherwise my adventures that night could easily drive me mad.

I started my story from the moment I first arrived at Stark’s Stables. For listened without speaking-my teacher had always been a good listener. To judge from his face, what bothered him most were the thieves who had been hired by some unknown individual. He didn’t seem particularly impressed by the Jolly Weeper or the long-dead archmagician.

“Someone’s following the same road as you are, kid. True, he’s always too late, but how long can that go on for? How long can you go on making a fool of the Master by keeping one step ahead of him? I made inquiries, looked through our archives. Not a thing. Not a single mention. As if he didn’t even exist and all this was just a fantasy of yours.”

“Oh yeah?”

“You just eat that roll. I believe you. But what amazes me is that such secrecy is possible. Something always has to surface somewhere.”

“But not this time.”

“Right. It’s not the Nameless One, but I think you’ve already realized that. The wizard from the Desolate Lands doesn’t have the power to release all the demons. So who is this Master, if he possesses such great might, long life, and extensive knowledge?”

“A god?” I chuckled.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Although… he is worshiped and served by all different sorts of people. Let’s try pulling on that chain. The Duke Patin, no mean figure in Valiostr, served the Master. So does Markun and, consequently, at least half his henchmen in the guild as well. Who else? Magicians? Royal officials? Courtiers? And this… emissary of yours. What worries me is that it’s not at all clear what this Master wants. And he has as many worshipers as you could wish for. The servants of the Nameless One are caught pretty regularly, but so far they haven’t caught a single one of the Master’s minions.”

“They’ve never even heard of them.”

“Exactly. And that indicates highly organized contacts, a secret conspiracy, and other such arrangements that make it possible for sects to survive when they’re not welcome in this respectable kingdom of ours. Things look bad, kid.” For shook his head. “I’ll keep on thinking and searching, and maybe I’ll dig something up in the archives. And in the meantime I’ll give you a piece of good advice.”

“For free?” I asked, chuckling mischievously with my mouth full.

“Well, I’m not Sagot, am I, to go taking gold pieces from you! You are my pupil after all.”

“Well, thanks for that, at least.”

“You’re welcome. Especially since you’re not the only one who’s been left out of pocket for receiving our god’s advice,” For said with a sudden chuckle.

“I don’t believe it,” I said, leaning back in my chair and looking hard at him. “Are you really hinting that…”

“That I’ve talked to him, too? Yes, it happened. And I had to pay out a gold piece, too.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Well…,” For began reluctantly, chuckling. “I had a talk with him just before I met you and Bass.”

“Oh!” I said, beginning to realize what he was about to say.

“Yes, ‘oh’ indeed! Sagot advised me to take you both on as pupils! It wasn’t even advice. Once he had his gold piece, he told me who he was and simply ordered me to do it. So that was how it happened. Although it seems like he was a bit off target with Bass.” He frowned. “Anyway, I shouldn’t have brought it up. What were we talking about?”

“Advice.”

“Well then, this is my piece of free advice for you: Don’t leave matters to the mercy of the gods, go and see this Bolt. If the old man recognized the ring that the thieves showed him we’ll find out who this influential figure serving the Master is.”

“It’s too late now,” I said, glancing out of the window at the darkening sky. “The library’s closed, I’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

“Better not. I doubt if the old man ever leaves. He probably sleeps there. Better call round to Grok Square before you get on with your business. I think he’ll open the door for you. No point in putting it off. The Master is playing his own game, and all we know about it is that he wants to kill you, which makes him too dangerous by half. And it seems to me that the last thing he wants is for Harold to go after that Horn.”

“You’re thinking about him ordering the papers to be destroyed and telling the duke to influence the king?”

“Uh-huh. I think the order to influence Stalkon was to try to persuade him that it’s pointless going into Hrad Spein. Or simply to get rid of His Majesty.”

The clearer the situation became, the less I liked it. “All right, I’ll think about it,” I said as I watched For suddenly get up from the table and go into the next room.