The Lord of Frake's Peak (The Bastard Cadre Book 4) Page 5

  Obdurin said, “Marlan has agreed to join Rarick in the assault on Peak City. I’d be surprised if there weren’t Damarians here in Turintar.”

  One of Gordon’s bondsan stood at the exit from the alley. He held a fist up above his head, and everybody stopped and waited as the bondsan melted into the shadows.

  In the quiet, voices carried from the street beyond.

  “Yeah, but if he were the one out here wandering around looking for shadows maybe he’d realize what a monumental waste of time it is.”

  “I didn’t know you were such a busy man,” a second voice said.

  “Busy enough that I’d like to be the one who decides how I waste my time.”

  “So quit. It’s not like you need the money anymore.”

  A dog growled in the alley behind them, and everybody turned in surprise.

  Rapta moved first, gliding forward he dropped to one knee and held out a hand. In a quiet voice, he said, “Here, boy. Ain’t nobody going to harm you.”

  Doran was close behind Rapta. Unexpected shadows followed her and Vincent shuddered involuntarily.

  Still crouching Rapta edged forward. The dog growled again.

  “Come on, boy. Got a nice treat for you,” Rapta said.

  “Here puppy,” Doran whispered.

  The dog stopped growling. Rapta continued to hold out his hand, and the dog came forward sniffing. When the dog’s snout was almost touching Rapta’s hand, the hand snapped forward and caught the dog’s muzzle, holding it closed and pulling the dog closer. Rapta’s other hand came up from inside his coat. The blade reflected sunlight for an instant before it was thrust into the dog’s chest.

  The dog died silently, and Rapta wiped his blade on its fur.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” Doran said.

  “Hush, girl,” Rapta said. “Those patrolmen ain’t gone yet.”

  Doran clenched her small fists together and advanced on him.

  Rapta grinned at her. “What do you reckon this is, a family outing to—“ He stopped as a knife appeared against his throat.

  Behind the knife, Pete said, “If you so much as twitch, I’ll cut you from ear to ear.”

  The voices of the patrolmen on the street were fading now.

  Rapta asked, “What is this? Do you lot think you can just get rid of me now that my job is done?”

  “No,” Lord Obdurin said. “I assure you, I have no intentions of getting rid of you.”

  “Excuse me if I don’t feel reassured,” Rapta said. “You should know I’ve got insurances in place. This thing ain’t going down without me.”

  “You didn’t have to kill him,” Doran said. The shadows in the alley gathered around the girl.

  “Are we really going to let this whole thing go south over some stray mutt?” Rapta asked. “If it had barked, those guards might have come a looking. Whether we can deal with them or not ain’t even a question, but sooner or later somebody would have missed them, and that’d put this little escapade at risk, and seeing as how I don’t get paid until after the deed is done, I ain’t letting that happen.”

  Doran advanced a step on Rapta and Pete. Shadows swirled around her.

  Rapta tried to pull away, but Pete held him.

  “Stay very still,” Pete said.

  “You can’t threaten me,” Rapta said. “If you were going to do it, you’d have done it by now.”

  “He’s not threatening you,” Corsari said. She moved closer to Doran but stopped before she reached the agitated shadows clustered around the girl. “He’s trying to protect you. As long as Doran thinks there is a chance Pete will kill you, she’ll hold them back.”

  Doran stared at Rapta, and Corsari had to raise her voice to get the girl’s attention. “We have to go to the palace, Doran. Remember? If we can get to the palace, we can stop the war, and people won’t have to fight anymore.”

  Doran frowned. The shadows around her had settled now, cast by people who weren’t there.

  “We have to let him go, or we won’t be able to get to the palace,” Corsari said.

  “My friends can take him,” Doran said.

  “No, they mustn’t, sweet child.”

  “It’s worse when animals go. At least people can ask their questions, why? Animals can’t do that. With animals their pain and confusion can’t be channeled into questions. It feels...” Doran trailed off.

  “We have to go to the palace, remember?”

  Doran nodded her understanding, and the shadows around her receded. She stared at Rapta and said, “You still shouldn’t have killed him.”

  When Doran turned her back on them and walked away, Pete asked, “Is it safe to let you go?”

  “Aye. As long as I get paid, it’s safe.” He watched the girl’s back.

  Lord Obdurin said, “You will be paid when I return to Frake’s Peak.”

  “It’s almost like you don’t trust me,” Rapta said, but his tone was hushed, and his eyes stayed on Doran.

  “I don’t expect to see you again,” Lord Obdurin said and continued down the alley.

  “Aye, you’re welcome,” Rapta muttered before leaving in the other direction.

  Vincent watched Rapta retreat. The bald man glanced back as he left the alley and then he was out of sight. Vincent looked at the place where Pete had appeared behind Rapta.

  Where did he come from?

  Pete adjusted the laser-cutter he wore strapped across his back as he walked past Vincent.

  What is he? Vincent wondered, remembering how Pete had snuck up on him in the barracks. He looked again at the place where Pete had appeared. There was nothing there to hide him. It was just another shadowed patch of alley.

  6

  A Good Man

  Vincent caught up with the rest of the company and glanced at Pete who studiously avoided him.

  At the end of the alley, they crossed a main street and returned to the secluded side ways of Turintar.

  Vincent went last, behind Corsari, Doran, and Fahlim. The girl leaned against the older woman as she walked.

  Vincent waited until they were some distance away, then whispered to Fahlim, “What is she? Was that sorcery?”

  Fahlim nodded. “Yes, she’s a natural. Born with it, the poor thing.”

  Surprised by the sympathy in the immortal’s tone, Vincent looked at him. “Why did Obdurin bring her?”

  “For her talent.”

  “She doesn’t seem stable,” Vincent said.

  Fahlim smiled. “Yes, and stability is such a highly prized commodity in this company, isn’t it?”

  Vincent grunted. A singularity of purpose. That’s what Walden had said.

  “She has a talent, just as we all do, and Lord Obdurin may be able to make use of it,” Fahlim said. “That is why she’s here. That is why we’re all here. So that Lord Obdurin can make use of our talents if he needs them.”

  “What about Sorros? Why did he bring him?”

  Fahlim said, “For the same reason.”

  “Can Obdurin trust him?”

  “Yes, very much.”

  “How do you know him?” Vincent asked. “Have you worked with him before?”

  “Not exactly. There is a bond between immortals, not a bond as the bondsan know it, but a shared knowledge that connects us. This knowledge has power over some of us—”

  “Immortals war with each other.”

  “They do. Between Cherry and I, this shared knowledge does nothing more than make it possible for us to recognize each other for what we are.”

  “Cherry?”

  “Yes.”

  “She’s immortal?”

  “Of course she is, are you blind? Anyway, there are no words for this. The shared knowledge I have makes me trust Sorros d’Shan in a way that is difficult to explain.”

  “Try,” Vincent said.

  Fahlim glanced at Vincent and asked, “Why do you suppose Lord Obdurin brought you?”

  Vincent stiffened at the question. “He needs capable men.”
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  “That is true, but of all the capable men he could have brought, why do you suppose he brought you?” When Vincent didn’t answer, Fahlim continued, “After all, you’re hardly likely to make this little company more stable, are you?”

  “I’ll do what’s required.”

  “Of course you will, but you must have noticed how unsettling your presence is.”

  Vincent grunted. “Men like Pete treat everybody like they’re the enemy.”

  Fahlim laughed. “Except, of course, the enemy. He treats them like honored comrades to be chopped down and revered. It’s not just Pete though. Ulri’s cadre is here in Turintar, waiting for us.” When Vincent didn’t say anything, Fahlim continued again, “It’s inaccurate to say they have divided loyalties where you are concerned because they don’t. When they served your father, they served him completely. Your father made them who they are, and they would have willingly died for him, were, in fact, eager to do so several times from the stories I’ve heard. But the instant Obdurin killed Benshi and put Rhysin’s heart on his wrist and claimed dominion over them their loyalty was transferred completely. If Lord Obdurin had ordered your death, they would have volunteered for the honor of cutting your throat.”

  “I know all this,” Vincent said.

  “Of course you do. You know, I think they would have preferred it if Obdurin had ordered them to kill you. It would have made things cleaner. They’re not the brightest cadre, and their primitive brains wouldn’t have been forced to deal with abstracts or questions of ethics. Of course, Obdurin wouldn’t be Obdurin if he made things easy for people, would he?”

  “He seems like a good man.”

  “Yes, he does, doesn’t he? You know, I think it’s his biggest fault. It makes him reluctant to really play the game. He has been plotting and scheming for years, but even now, on a day when he must play the hand he’s accumulated, he hesitates. Like Sorros, I’m interested to see how far Obdurin is willing to go. I do hope he doesn’t disappoint.”

  “You make it sound like it’s all a game,” Vincent said.

  “Why, dear Vincent, that’s exactly what it is. Tell me, do you think Walden thinks Obdurin is a good man?

  “They’re old friends aren’t they?” Vincent asked.

  “I believe so, and yet very soon Walden will attempt to wrestle Maiten’s heart from Lord Rarick’s wrist at Lord Obdurin’s insistence.”

  “They’re trying to end a war,” Vincent said.

  “Obdurin is only acting to prevent his own destruction then?” Fahlim asked.

  “Lord Rarick is as bad as my father ever was. Walden will make a better Chosen.”

  Fahlim chuckled. “I’m afraid one avatar is much the same as another.”

  “That’s not true. Obdurin is nothing like Benshi,” Vincent said.

  “In which direction were your father’s ambitions?”

  “He wanted to destroy the other Chosen and rule Newterra.”

  “Why do you suppose we’re here in Turintar now?” Fahlim asked.

  “Lord Marlan is planning to join the attack against Frake’s Peak.” Vincent recognized the trap in Fahlim’s questions, so he tried to turn the subject, “Why are you telling me these things?”

  “Pay close attention to what happens today. When we’re done, tell me again that this is merely a defensive move on Obdurin’s part. As for why I am telling you this, I like you, and I wouldn’t want an impressionable young man like you to be led astray.”

  “Why are you really telling me?” Vincent asked.

  Fahlim sighed with exasperation then said, “Very well, Pete was right when he said you have a connection to the Gods, though you may not admit it or wish it were so. Through your father, the Gods know you.”

  “So?”

  “So,” Fahlim said, “If you ever decide to embrace that kinship, I’d like you to think of me as a friend.”

  “I won’t.”

  “I’m hurt!”

  “I won’t embrace anything to do with the Gods,” Vincent said.

  “Of course not.” Fahlim smiled and then added as though it were an afterthought, “What do you suppose you’re doing now, working for Lord Obdurin? Think on it.” Fahlim stopped in the side street they were passing through and exclaimed, “Urchins!”

  The party stopped. Two small faces peered up at them from the shadows of a doorway.

  “Don’t fear, children.” Fahlim crouched so that he was on eye level with the children. “Lord, I will ensure these two are taken care of. Proceed, and I will catch up with you.”

  Focused on his destination, Lord Obdurin nodded and advanced.

  When Doran lingered, Fahlim said, “Hurry along, girl. You have a war to stop, remember?”

  Doran nodded and resumed walking alongside Corsari. The older woman placed a hand on Doran’s shoulder but looked back at Fahlim with a worried expression.

  Vincent watched them go but made no move to follow the rest of the company.

  “I got ‘em,” Pete said as he emerged from the shadows.

  How does he keep doing that? Vincent wondered.

  “Pete, I am perfectly capable of taking care of two street urchins,” Fahlim said.

  “I know exactly what you’re capable of.”

  “Oh, I very much doubt that, my simple-minded friend.” Fahlim rose awkwardly from his crouch. “I can see you’re going to be difficult about it, though, and frankly, after all this hiking around and listening to young Vincent’s talky talk I don’t have the energy to argue with you.”

  Pete watched Fahlim without saying anything.

  There was only the three of them and the children in the alley. Fahlim started to walk away and said, “No mistakes, Pete.”

  Pete watched Fahlim go.

  “Are you coming, Vincent old friend?” Fahlim asked.

  Vincent shook his head. It was hard to tell in the darkness of the alley, but he thought the children were about the age his daughter would have been if she hadn’t died in the Cleansing.

  Pete glanced at Vincent, then turned to the children. “Have you two got somewhere safe to hide?”

  They looked at each other, then back up at Pete. One of them nodded, and the other scowled. They’d been hiding in a doorway when the company went past and Fahlim spotted them. The door behind them was closed and looked solid. They had no way of getting past Vincent and Pete if the door didn’t open.

  “It’s all right, I ain’t going to hurt you,” Pete said. “Are you hungry?”

  They both nodded this time. One of them, a girl, said, “We used up our last nutri-vials four days ago.”

  The other, a boy, said, “We can’t find any more. It used to be easier.”

  “Are you on your own then?” Pete asked.

  A chill at the question swelled in Vincent’s chest, and he resolved to stop Pete if he made a move to hurt either of the children.

  “There are some other kids,” the boy said.

  “But they don’t share good,” the girl said.

  “Tell you what,” Pete said. “I’ve got a job for you too.” He fished inside his jacket and pulled out a string of eight nutri-vials. Pete glanced over his shoulder at Vincent and said, “Yours too, Green.”

  Surprised, Vincent handed his own store of vials over. Back at Frake’s Peak, Pete had played the part of quartermaster and ensured everybody, including Vincent, was provisioned for the trip with equipment, currency, and emergency supplies. Vincent had been surprised by Pete’s organized approach then, but he was more surprised now.

  Pete held the two strings of nutri-vials up in one hand, and two sets of eyes looked hungrily at them. “Can you see this alley from your hiding place?”

  “Yes,” the boy said. “It’s just up—” he tried to point but the girl thumped him in the side.

  “It’s all right,” Pete said. “I don’t need to know where it is, so long as you can watch this alley for me and keep out of sight, can you do that?”

  They both nodded eagerly.

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sp; “All right, then. Keep out of sight and stay alert. I’ll come back tomorrow with more of these.” He passed a string of vials to each child. “Tomorrow you can tell me how many people you see after we’re gone, all right?”

  The girl examined the vials she held, but the boy had already popped a vial from the plastic string holding it in place and inserted it into his leg.

  “Can you do that for me?” Pete asked.

  They both nodded again and chorused, “Yes.”

  “Good kids. Go on now.”

  They scurried past. When they were gone, Pete took the lead. “Stop gawking and move, Green.”

  “That was generous of you,” Vincent said.

  “It don’t matter,” Pete said. “Those vials don’t come out of my pay packet.”

  “They trusted you,” Vincent said, surprised that anybody could trust the gruff man before him.

  “Kids are stupid like that. Silly buggers’ll trust anybody who notices them and doesn’t try to hurt them.”

  “You would have made a good father,” Vincent said.

  “No. I ain’t fit to be a father. That bastard Benshi saw to that.”

  Vincent swallowed, feeling somehow responsible. “Still, most people wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of making up a job to keep them safe and then paying them for it.”

  “Yeah, well I ain’t most people, am I? Giving them a couple of vials we don’t need anyway is a better option than cutting their throats.”

  Vincent’s earlier chill returned. The only reason he’d stayed was to make sure Pete didn’t harm the children. Had Pete figured that out? “Why do you say that?”

  Pete stopped and turned to face Vincent. “What do you think your fat friend would have done?”

  “Fahlim?”

  “Aye, Fahlim.”

  “I don’t know, I—”

  “I hate to ruin such a lovely romance just when it’s blossoming between you two, but he would have killed those kids the second Doran was far away enough not to know. They’re just kids. Their lives might be fucked, everyone’s is after the Cleansing, but that don’t mean they can be butchered ‘cause they’re inconvenient and might tell somebody they saw us.”

  Ahead of them, Obdurin and the rest of the party had gathered at the end of the alley.