As they crossed the room, James attempted to identify those who were worthy of notice, deserved attention as dangerous, were merely functionaries, or were purely there for decoration. Like every other human environment, the palace of the governor was a place full of connections, hierarchies, and perquisites. Sometimes titles and offices revealed key elements of those relationships, but more often they didn’t. His first visit to Rillanon with Prince Arutha to see his brother King Lyam had taught young Jimmy the Hand, then freshly minted Squire James, that some advisors are listened to more closely than others, that some nobles have more influence and power than others of the same rank.
By the time they reached the governor, who stretched out his hand and took Jazhara’s, James had garnered a good idea of who he could ignore, so that he could pay more attention to more important players in whatever game was coming their way.
The governor, Hamet Kazani iben Aashi, bowed just enough to be respectful, and not an inch more; there was no deference towards Jazhara. ‘Welcome, Lady Jazhara. I am a great admirer of your uncle. How is Lord Hazara-Khan?’
‘Well, last I heard, Governor, and I have no reason to expect otherwise.’
James resisted the urge to smile at her use of his office title, rather than the general honorific of ‘my lord’, for Governor Aashi was a commoner who had elevated himself by wit, skill, and a ruthless, murderous ambition. James had read every document on him before leaving Krondor, and had concluded the governor was effectively the King of Durbin, given how little imperial oversight came from the City of Kesh. He was a man who was jealous of his position and all the trappings of his office. And therein, James thought, might lie his vulnerability.
The governor said, ‘Would you please present to us your companions?’
Again, James resisted an urge to laugh. Jazhara might be someone to whom he must show deference, but the two minor knights from the Kingdom were men he could pretend to ignore; or at least, he could ignore the introduction just made by his own Master of Ceremony.
Jazhara said, ‘Sir William conDoin—’
At the mention of William’s surname, the governor’s attention shifted, and James realized that this had thrown him off balance, just a little. ‘ConDoin’ meant a relative of the King of the Isles, and no matter how distant that relationship was, the bearer would always be a man of some importance.
‘—And Sir James Jamison.’
The governor threw James a perfunctory smile and nod, then turned his attention back to Jazhara and William.
James listened as the governor chatted with William, pausing occasionally to smile in James’s general direction, but James could tell he had already consigned James to a ‘not very important’ role in his mind. Perhaps the lady had two lovers, or a lover and his friend, but whatever that relationship might be, the governor was concentrating on people he considered important, those who might be used to his advantage, or who might somehow pose a threat. To be inconspicuous was exactly what James wanted. He would endeavour to fade into the background as best he could through the evening, so that by dawn tomorrow, if all went well, the governor wouldn’t even be able to remember what he looked like.
Now, the governor took Jazhara by the arm and steered her towards a large table that had been surrounded by couches, in the Quegan manner. James thought this a bit odd, but as Queg was merely a week’s sailing to the north, he presumed the governor had visited, liked their dining style, and installed it in his own court.
A regal-looking woman stood before them and the governor made introductions. ‘My dear, this is the Lady Jazhara, Sir William and—’ he glanced over his shoulder a little, ‘—and Sir James, from Krondor.’ To his guests he said, ‘My wife, Lady Shandra.’
James and William bowed slightly, while Jazhara extended her hand and the Lady Shandra took it. ‘We are honoured to have you in our home,’ she said.
She had been a stunning beauty in her youth, James decided, for despite the grey in her hair and having gained a little weight, she was still a striking figure. She had dark eyes and full lips; her face was slightly lined, but she used powder and rouges to good advantage. But beneath the striking exterior, there was something else. The subtle way her husband’s behaviour had changed told James that while the governor might rule the city of Durbin and the surrounding environs, Lady Shandra ruled this house. And something else was causing James’s ‘bump of trouble’ to itch. For no reason he could name, he marked this woman as dangerous.
A servant escorted them to their places, and James reclined on one of the couches. After finding a comfortable way to lie and accept titbits from passing trays, he found himself next to a young traveller from somewhere in the heart of Kesh, a dark-skinned man who looked more like a warrior than the merchant he claimed to be. James assumed he was one of the governor’s agents and guarded his conversation accordingly.
The dinner proved tedious: as James had anticipated, the companion on his left attempted to gain information about why the lovely Lady Jazhara was in Durbin – not the most direct route to see her family, should she be travelling into the Jal-Pur – and what could James tell him about the young knight travelling with her: how closely was he related to the royal family? The attempts, being clumsy, were easily evaded. James stuck to the prepared story: Jazhara was travelling this way because of some minor family business in the city, and because her family was in residence at an oasis closer to Durbin than Shamata, and because rumours of raiders in the eastern Jal-Pur made this route more prudent. As for the good-looking young knight-lieutenant, he was a very distant cousin to the prince and king, bearing a name but little rank, wealth or influence. However, the Lady Jazhara and he had formed a very close relationship.
When the meal was over and the three of them were safely back at the Jade Monkey, in Jazhara’s room, James looked at her and said, ‘First, did you sense any magic?’
‘Something,’ she said, looking uneasy. ‘I couldn’t put my finger on it, as it was unknown to me. It was either a long way away, or close and subtle – I’m not sure which.’
‘Assume close and subtle, to be on the safe side,’ said James. He was silent for a moment, then added, ‘Could it have been demonic?’
Jazhara was thoughtful for a few seconds. ‘Perhaps. I have little experience with demons or their magic. The one encounter under that inn in Krondor was the only time, and while I watched the priest banish the demon . . .’ She shrugged. ‘It’s a bit like listening to someone speak in a language you can’t quite understand.’
James shrugged. ‘I have a bit more experience, I’m sorry to say. Demons have been showing up from time to time since I first took service with Arutha.’
William had heard some of these tales. He asked, ‘Anything we need to watch for?’
James shook his head. ‘I don’t know. After that run-in in Krondor I asked a bit here and there from some of the clerics inclined to talk about the subject. The Order of the Shield of the Weak at the Temple of Dala have collected quite a bit of demon-lore. All I know is, the ones I’ve run afoul of are big and nasty. That one we saw in Krondor was a tiny thing compared to the monster that showed up at Sarth when I was travelling north with the prince.’ He paused as if remembering. ‘Something one of the prelates said back then . . . I may be suffering from faulty recall, but I seem to remember that some demons are from another plane.’
William nodded. ‘What they call the lower hells.’
‘Whatever that is,’ said James. ‘But others are made, conjured out of dead body parts and the like.’
Jazhara shuddered.
‘And some are invisible,’ added James. ‘I must poke around. You two need to look like illicit young lovers stealing away for an impromptu assignation disapproved of by both your families.’ He grinned. ‘Or at least by your nations.’
As Jazhara’s family was a powerful one in Kesh and William was related to the royal house by adoption, it wasn’t far from the truth. ‘I’ll have Gina fetch you up some wine.’ Jame
s stood up. ‘I’m going back to my room to take a nap. I need to be out tonight and have to be seen here and there a little tomorrow.’ He reached for the door. ‘Try to look convincing.’
William blushed as the door closed and Jazhara tried not to laugh. At last she said, ‘What have you told him?’
‘About us? Nothing, really, but Jimmy has his ways of finding things out, and if there was a rumour about us in Stardock, he’ll have heard it by now, have no doubt.’
‘We should talk,’ said Jazhara.
William’s brow furrowed. ‘I thought we had.’
She smiled. ‘So did I.’ She paused. ‘I didn’t realize for a long time how much I’d hurt you, William.’
It was obvious he was uncomfortable with the conversation. But he returned her gaze and nodded.
She sighed, moved in towards him and put her arms around his waist. Laying her cheek against his chest, she said, ‘I know you think I toyed with you, but that wasn’t the truth.’
‘What was the truth, then?’ he asked quietly.
She was silent for a long moment, then said, ‘I did love you, William, in my way. I was older, true, but I was also young and without much experience.’ When she looked up at him he saw a slight sheen of moisture in her eyes. ‘I did love you.’
He felt his chest tighten. ‘I know I was only a boy, or so you thought, but I . . .’
‘What?’
He gathered her close. ‘I knew other girls after you left.’ Slightly bitterly he added, ‘I’m Pug’s son. Any girl at Stardock . . . you know?’
‘I know.’
He sighed. ‘But there was no joy in that. The simple truth is, I love you, have always loved you and will always love you.’
She tightened her grip around his waist. ‘I loved that boy,’ she whispered. ‘And when I finally found you again, you’d become a man.’
Suddenly she rose up and kissed him, deeply and long.
William awoke to the sound of James clearing his throat. Jazhara’s head was on his chest: they were both under the blankets of the narrow bed. Looking towards the door, he saw James leaning in with a bemused smile. ‘Ah . . . when you’re ready. My room.’ He closed the door.
William looked at Jazhara for a moment, then both began to laugh. He pulled her close and kissed her and she responded for a moment, then pushed him away. ‘James is waiting.’
‘Let him wait.’
But Jazhara rolled away from him. In doing so, she almost fell out of bed, which resulted in more laughter. ‘Later, we have ample time later.’
He watched her as she dressed, admiring every curve of her body. ‘We have a lifetime.’
She halted for a moment. ‘Really?’
William sat up and reached for his trousers. ‘Since I left Stardock I’ve had a couple of . . . encounters. And my affections for Talia were real, but there’s only you, Jazhara. There has never been anyone else.’
She pulled her tunic over her head. Then she came and knelt before him. Cupping his cheek in her hand, she said, ‘Last night was . . . amazing.’
‘But . . .?’ He tensed, as if ready to pull away.
‘There is no “but”, William. I loved you as a boy. I think now, as a man, you are more than I expected.’
He studied her face, then said, ‘When you’re ready, I will speak to the prince.’
Her eyes widened. ‘To Prince Arutha? About what?’
‘We’re both in service. We need his permission to wed.’
‘Wed!’ she exclaimed. ‘Are you daft?’
He grinned. ‘If I am, it’s you who make me so.’ He let her go and grabbed his tunic, then paused. ‘Or are you saying no?’
‘I’m not saying yes,’ she returned. She sat on the bed next to him, pulling on her boots. ‘I’m not saying no, either.’
He laughed. ‘Five years it’s taken for me to break through that barrier.’ He stood and gathered the rest of his gear, then looked at her as she pulled on her second boot. ‘You might as well relent. I will have my way in this.’
She couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Well, if that’s the way it is going to be, you can stand before both our families and explain how this is all going to work out with everyone’s blessing.’
He was too happy to consider just how difficult that was likely to be. ‘Seriously, you are the only woman I have ever loved. The only woman I ever will love.’
‘And I love you, William, son of Pug.’
He opened the door. ‘I can hear my father now: “I wanted you to be a magician, not to marry one.”’
She laughed, stepped across the hall, knocked on James’s door and went in.
James grinned at them. ‘I can’t say you underplayed your part as illicit lovers.’
Before they could speak, he went on, ‘I don’t care. What you do is your own business, and my only advice is, don’t let your feelings get in the way of our work for the prince. Though I hope this removes that annoying awkwardness between you.’ He glanced from face to face, then sighed. ‘Or doesn’t make it worse.’
‘We’re getting married,’ William said.
‘I haven’t said yes!’
James held up his hand. ‘What did I say about not caring?’ He shrugged. ‘Well, good luck, you two.’ Then he turned solemn. ‘I’ve spent a long night following up on some leads and I’ve come to a conclusion.’
‘What?’ asked William.
‘There is no Crawler.’
Jazhara stared at James. ‘I don’t follow.’
‘If I were a stranger in Krondor, poking around the way I have been, one of two things would have happened by now.’ He held up one finger. ‘Either I would have found evidence of who was in charge of the different gangs and who they worked for, or,’ he held up a second finger, ‘I’d be dead, because someone would have tumbled to the fact I was poking around before I noticed.’ With a grin he added, ‘The first is rather more likely than the second.’
‘So, what have you found?’ asked William, sitting on the bed beside James as Jazhara pulled up the single chair.
‘Nothing. There’s nothing going on in Durbin to suggest there’s any sort of organization of criminals here, like the Mockers, or the Ragged Brotherhood in the City of Kesh.’
William laughed. ‘Perhaps it’s because everyone in Durbin is a criminal?’
Jazhara threw him a dark look.
James said, ‘Well, Willy, as much as we love to malign this fair city, that may not be far from the truth. The Captains of the Coast are pirates, but all carry marques from the governor, making them “merchant privateers”, whatever that means. And the Kingdom’s navy is content to ignore them as long as they don’t trouble Kingdom-flagged ships. Let them annoy the Quegans and the merchants of the Free Cities, and look the other way at the rare transgression against the Kingdom, and we have peace on the Bitter Sea, or at least what passes for it.
‘And there are the merchants’ societies, all of them secret, and some guilds, and all of them have people working in the governor’s customs house and the like, but nothing on enough of a scale to cause the status quo of business in Durbin to be upset. So if there’s a dominant criminal gang worth the name in this city, I’ve not found it.’
‘I don’t understand,’ said Jazhara. ‘Everything we’ve uncovered said there was Keshian complicity in the Crawler’s activities.’
William said, ‘You don’t suppose your uncle . . .?’
She looked embarrassed. ‘My uncle is a very powerful man. He’s the de facto ambassador to Prince Arutha’s court in the west, but the rumours about him being the head of imperial intelligence . . .’
‘Which does not exist,’ said William and James simultaneously.
Jazhara said, ‘What?’
‘Old joke in the prince’s palace,’ said William.
‘Very old joke,’ said James. ‘Your uncle is undoubtedly the master of the Empire’s spy network, but he’s so gifted we can’t even prove that the network even exists.’ He stood up and looked at William.
‘However, everything we do know about Keshian intelligence tells us they wouldn’t be that artless. No, Lord Hazara-Khan has nothing to do with the Crawler; I’d stake my life on it.’
He moved to the door and opened it for them, indicating their meeting was at an end. ‘You two, run off and shop or eat in a public place or do whatever it is you’d expect a pair of runaway lovers to do. You have two more days to linger in Durbin before the governor becomes suspicious about your tale about travelling to see your family, Jazhara.’ He grinned. ‘I’d tell you to try to be convincing, but I guess we’re long past that.’ As the pair reached the door, he added, ‘You might spend some time thinking up what you need to tell your families and the prince.’ With a grimace he added, ‘It’s at times like this I’m rather pleased I don’t have a family.’
They left and he threw himself across the bed. The last remark made him think that the only person he ever needed to convince of anything was Prince Arutha, which at times was probably worse than having an angry father.
He rolled over on his back, kicked off his boots, and was asleep in minutes.
• CHAPTER SIX •
Ambush
JAMES JUMPED FROM THE ROOF.
The sound of boot heels on tiles echoed behind as he struck the cobbles below, rolled and came up running. He’d have a nasty bruise on his shoulder to show for this night’s foray into the seediest part of town, but it was better than a broken ankle with three murderous thugs only seconds behind him.
He gained a few more seconds as they hesitated at the roof’s edge. A nasty cracking sound and a howl of pain told James one of the three had indeed jumped and broken an ankle or leg. The others had most likely grabbed the eaves, hung from them, then dropped.
Jimmy and the Crawler Page 5
