Book 2 Dead Man's Hand: The Knights of the Golden Dragon

by Troy Reaves

  “Please do not bother asking, sir. I needed only your consent. Trick of the trade. We must have our secrets.” Jun slipped a pair of leather slippers for his feet from under the bed and moved out to join Boremac in the antechamber. “I’ll tell you what torture is. That cold floor is torture. If they really wanted me to talk, all they had to do was make me walk barefooted in this cool dampness. Guards, I respectfully request you do not make this known to Lord Bartem. I would hate to lose my slippers.” Jun dipped gracefully in a bow to each of the guards and, much to Boremac’s shock, each man returned the gesture with a cocky salute. “I thank you good men, as always.” Jun turned now to Boremac, making a subtle dismissing hand gesture out the line of sight of the guards. “We have an understanding, sir. I do not attempt escape into the upper levels of the keep and the guards get to learn, or be entertained, while they watch over me. It is my understanding that previous prisoners have been far less... interesting.”

  “I am very interested, I can assure you, master Jun.” Boremac looked to the guards now with an open smile. “Since it appears there is an understanding between all of you and this prisoner, do us both a kindness. See about some foodstuffs that will be complimentary with the good liquor you fetch from Lord Bartem’s cellar.”

  The guards opened the heavy gate between the dungeon and the hall to the cellar, giving them time to secure the gate and hang the key on a nail nearby for that purpose. Boremac watched as the men left single file, speaking low and chuckling as they went, with their swords ringing against the stone walls of the tunnels like discordant chimes. He did not care for the situation at all, mostly he did not care for being locked up with Jun, but his present company did intrigue him. One thing was certain. This man was much more than he appeared and Boremac was also certain Jun would volunteer no more information than he wished Boremac to know.

  “Good show, Lord, or may I simply call you Boremac.” The shock must have registered on Boremac’s features, despite his efforts to conceal it. Jun giggled in that high, disconcerting tone of his before speaking again. “You are surprised, really? A man in my position has to make it his business to know many things hidden in shadow from the upstanding members of our society. You have been noted as somewhat important, more important than I have seen reason for, by people I... let us say I serve, for lack of a better term. The twins have done wonders cleaning you up for this mission but their methods are not unknown to me either. I have been waiting somewhat patiently, and suffering the ill company in this dungeon for more time than I would have wished, to make your acquaintance. I understand the master of Alchendia’s Path has favored you with his mark, yet you still have not visited the guild. Why?”

  Boremac replied, summoning all his control as he loosened his grip on his own arms crossed over the table. This was obviously important but why was a mystery at this point. “I feel that my training is not quite adequate to serve the guild just yet. The twins have taught me much but, considering the favor you pointed out, I feel I should bring more skill to the guild.”

  “This facade is well crafted, both in your word and deed, but you are by no means complete. If Lord Bartem had a bit, just a bit, more sense, you would have no doubt joined me here not long after your arrival. He is blinded by simple things, and truly dumbfounded by cunning women. The obvious escapes him because he thinks he is untouchable, not unlike yourself.” Jun punctuated his last statement by slamming one of Boremac’s own daggers into the table just before Boremac’s crossed arms. “Alchendia favors you, Boremac, but you really should repay that favor with more care of your own.”

  Boremac withdrew his blade from the table, noting that even though it still vibrated with the impact, the point had barely been stuck in the surface. He slid the blade into its hidden hilt, checking to be sure his other weapon was still sheathed before speaking. “Simple sleight of hand, although impressive, does not tell me why you are so interested in me or the twins. For that matter, does Lord Bartem have any place in your charade at all? It appears he is little more than a dupe where your plans are concerned.”

  “He is a means to an end. Once I became aware some time ago of the twins’ interest in you, I paid particular attention to their own work. They are quite brilliant, not to mention deadly, as I am sure you well know.”

  “All too well,” Boremac stated plainly while rubbing his lower back reflexively. “Your words twist as well as your hands, Jun. What is your role in my business? Do not pretend it is idle curiosity. There may be many things I do not understand but you should not make the mistake of thinking that I am stupid. Lacking in education, but not stupid.” Boremac punctuated the last words with a hard stare meant to bring some amount of discomfort to the man across from him, and failed miserably.

  Jun giggled, his words almost had a musical cadence when he spoke this time. “Boremac, you know almost nothing. You will learn quickly that where matters of this city, especially Alchendia’s Path are concerned, that is a very dangerous thing. You will go to the guild as requested, rather pointedly I might add, when you received the mark. You will find the house welcoming and more than prepared to further your limited skills. The guild will be both punishing and illuminating for you, that is most certain. Do not mistake my words for a request. My orders come from… high powers in the guild and I do not fail. It would be rather amusing to drag you in myself but I do not think there is really a need for you to test my will.” As he finished speaking, Jun placed the jeweled comb that the twins were so intent on stealing on the table in front of Boremac. Boremac managed to maintain his stony stare only by continuing to hold Jun’s eyes. “How I got the piece from under you lover’s pillow as the two of you slept is immaterial. That I was able to retrieve it should be something for you to consider. Puzzle on that, Boremac, and use it as a level of skill to aspire to while you are with the guild.”

  Boremac secreted the comb within his garments without looking away from Jun. His first thought was how miserable it was going to be with the twins when they found out what had happened. More painful than that was the realization that he would not enjoy Flora’s recently discovered favors for what he was sure would be quite some time. He tried to dampen the bitterness the ruminations brought when he addressed Jun once more, and failed. The poison of his thoughts directed toward the man leaked right to the tip of his tongue. “Wonderful, Jun. So you have effectively broken what little trust I have managed to cultivate with the twins, placed me in a rather precarious position just carrying this thing around, and I know nothing more about what you want, or even who you are, than when I sat down with you. Excuse my bitterness, bastard, but when are you going to give me some answers, maybe some help even, since you have effectively wrecked everything I have bothered to try to do.”

  It was Jun’s turn to harden. The look that he gave Boremac appeared completely alien on the man’s features but was no less effective for that. Boremac shuddered before he had the chance to deflect the gaze with one of his own. “Good, now we are getting somewhere. Boremac, your life stopped being your own some time ago, namely when the twins took you into their little partnership and decided to see what good you might be to them. Make no mistake, you are a tool to them as sure as their weapons and their wits, both of which are equally well tended.”

  “But…” Boremac started to speak and knew the futility of the gesture almost immediately. His mind was sorting out the details of his interactions with the twins, groping for a way to rebuke Jun, and could find nothing.

  “I see by the befuddled slackening of your features that you are finally thinking. Here, have a drink. I hate to see a young man so pained, really.” Jun turned to fill two mugs from a tapped cask within easy reach near his seat. “I will not claim it is a fine dark but it will serve to lessen the blow.”

  Boremac quaffed the ale quickly while Jun sipped gently at his own mug. It was easy to put the pieces together once he opened his eyes. Boremac relaxed his grip on the mug a bit as the ale infused him, wetting his mouth and softening
his tongue in equal measure. “Cannot say I blame them really. An easy mark is good to find and I made myself just that, captured in Flora’s petals as readily as you please.”

  Jun demurred at this statement, seeking to reassure Boremac the best he could. “Do not discount your skills, Boremac. Any lesser rogue would have been dead long ago. The twins do not waste their efforts. I will presume to understand Fauna’s feelings for you, that is she does openly hate you for your past sins, but I cannot claim any understanding for Flora’s… um, treatment of you. I have a great deal of knowledge concerning the motivations of many things people do but that particular area of the female dominion perplexes me as much as any other man. It is why we pursue them and, make no mistake, they know this intuitively.”

  Boremac felt a pleasant warmth as he broke into a reflexive smile, looking very much like the idiot he felt he was. “Let us raise our mugs in a toast to the mystery of the fairer sex that confuses us so readily with our complete cooperation.”

  …and with so little effort.” Jun added as the pair clinked their mugs together. “Sadly we have little time for a lengthy discussion on that pleasant subject. I need to let you know how to proceed from here.” Jun quietly summarized the details of how Boremac should spend the next day preparing to deal with Lord Bartem and the twins. Boremac found himself enjoying having an ally with all his metaphorical cards on the table, for a change, although he was undone quickly when the actual card play began. He came away from the meeting with Jun feeling that he was well prepared for returning to the waiting master of the keep.

  ***

  “…so you are saying that rotund gentleman master of cards climbed my poisonous wall, crept right in my chambers, and stole the comb intended for my bride?” Lord Bartem stared at Boremac with a look of mixed wonder and disbelief. “Why?”

  “An excellent question, Lord, and that is even stranger than the fact that he did it at all. The’merchant’ is no more a simple purveyor of goods than I am a simple farmer. He is well known among mercenaries, as well as assassins, in Verson for handling delicate contracts. It would appear your search for a proper woman for this house has upset another Lord of considerable means. I would restrict my travels for a bit, until the Lord in question has an opportunity to fill his coffers with another Lady’s dowrey. Professional courtesy restricts your prisoner from revealing the name of the hiring party that has placed a considerable bounty on your head,” Boremac paused for emphasis, “and not just your head.”

  It took all of Boremac’s restraint not to laugh as Lord Bartem’s eyes widened, the master of the house’s hands protectively retreating from the table top in the main hall to protect the lord’s jewels beneath it. “God of Light, thank you for your unyielding protection of an unworthy subject! Lord Mathos, I cannot express the depth of my debt to you. I admit my jealousy at your benefit regarding the lady I have so fervently pursued until your arrival. She could not hope to have a finer lord as the master of the house she chose to grace, and you are always welcome in mine.”

  Boremac nodded briefly. “There are some other items to address. Jun is requesting payment in the sum of the bounty on you in order to make for a peaceable reconciliation with the lord in question. I am more than willing to play a role in another request he has made. Release him to me and we will see to the details of the issue promptly on your behalf. He said you can keep the deck.”

  Lord Bartem looked confused briefly, then called to his manservant. “Bring the dueling deck!” The lord turned to Boremac as the man scurried away, removing himself from his master as quickly as possible. “You did return the deck to my servant last night, did you not?”

  “I did, or rather one of the guards that carried me to my room did at my mumbled request last night.” Boremac removed the precious cards from his tunic inside the pouch meant to protect them from the elements, setting it gingerly on the table before Lord Bartem. “Imagine my surprise when I awakened to these sitting on the pillow where my head rested all evening. I slept deeply last night, much to my lady’s chagrin, but she is not known for doing so. She has the habit of awakening me with the thought that a ghost of a mouse might be near. Terribly annoying, I hate to say.”

  One of Lord Bartem’s hands rose to the surface of the table, its fingers immediately setting themselves to work tapping on the top of the small bag holding the deck. “I am sorry for you getting tied up in all of this and you cannot leave bearing the burden of my misdeeds, not without some recompense befitting, at least in some small measure, the gifts you have given me.” Boremac moved to protest but Lord Bartem waved down his rebuttal before it could be spoken. “I insist you take the deck and its owner from my home with haste. The payment shall be doubled so that you may shower your lady with anything she may wish as apology for any disconcertion she has suffered in my home. I insist. Do not think to voice a refutation and not accept the gift. It will fall on deaf ears.”

  Boremac nodded deeply, as much to acknowledge his reticence as hide the grin he could not restrain. “I will not dishonor the master in his own house by denying your wishes, Lord Bartem. We will leave after the afternoon meal if that would be amenable to you.”

  “More than,” Lord Bartem replied. “Promeser, have three bags of silver coin prepared from my vault. What is the bounty I have earned, Lord Mathos?” Boremac relayed the amount that Jun had instructed him to use and was pleased with Lord Bartem’s response. It was exactly what Jun had predicted the night before. “Splendid! I would hope I would be worth no less. Promeser, double that amount in silver, separated into the three satchels. Once that is done, aid the Lady in preparing for her journey home. Have the house maids pack our guests’ belongings, and be sure a measure of the Fire water is well sealed and sent out with Lord Mathos and Lady Niona. The cooks are to be instructed to prepare fine meats and ale suited for travelling several days. I am assuming this will aid the speed of our mutual friend’s journey, Lord Mathos.” Boremac only nodded, able to restrain the upward turn at the corner of his lips much better this time. Lord Bartem’s manservant rushed off, after the briefest bow was performed, as if the Unnamed One itself were at his heels.

  The carriage had been loaded and Jun had joined the thieves aboard it with little ceremony. Despite what Boremac had told the twins about this extraordinary new companion, the pair had looked at him as a major inconvenience and little more. Their prize was gone, a well-made plan that took months to execute foiled, and time squandered for mere coin. Jun anticipated their feelings on the matter, sharing out the coin heavily to their advantage while only keeping a small percentage for himself. He did not bother trying to sway them with logic but waited patiently until Fauna had sheathed her daggers and begrudgingly removed the cuffs that chained Jun’s hands and feet. Jun produced two coins of Alchendia’s Path, seemly out of thin air, and held one out on open palms to each of the twins. Fauna retrieved hers first, scrutinizing it as if it might be a small poisonous spider while Flora waited and stirred only a bit, more focused on burning a hole through Boremac’s head with her eyes, or so it seemed.

  Fauna twisted the coin around her fingers, addressing Jun as if she were a snapping dog. “Seems legitimate. Cannot say the same of you, little man. I guess we are to report to the Path at once and pay our taxes. We will go when we are ready. The Path may be useful at some point.”

  When Flora reached for the coin, it disappeared as quickly and completely as it had appeared. She looked puzzled and Jun’s smile did nothing to help. The proffered coin reappeared and disappeared twice more before Jun flipped it neatly into the air toward Flora, the shock of seeing the incoming projectile causing her hands to fail her. Flora watched intently as the coin bounced on the carriage cabin floor, waiting for it to settle before bending to pick it up. When Flora’s eyes met Jun’s, they both burst into a fit of giggling. Boremac and Fauna just rolled their eyes at the other two.

  Once she had control of herself, Flora addressed Jun. “You are something, sir. What you are I cannot even begin t
o imagine but, if all Boremac has said about you true, then you are someone to know well.”

  “Alas, fair lady, it is not to be. My work here is done.” Jun leaned slowly forward and gently squeezed Flora’s free hand. A he squeezed it, a cloud of ashen smoke filled the sealed cabin. Boremac, always keen on having a way out, threw open a window to clear the air as quickly as possible. Hardly a moment had passed before he could see the seat beside him was now empty. Jun was gone with the purse holding his meager share of their gain. Nothing else appeared to have been disturbed in the coach, except the twins who were both now staring at him attempting once more to burn holes through his head.

  13

  Settling Up

  Once the three had left a well tipped driver at the edge of the city walls with instruction where to drop off their belongings, Boremac and the twins parted company. Boremac felt it best not to ask where they chose to secrete their coin and had thought it safer to take less than his due cut after they had stared so intently for the rest of the carriage ride after Jun’s abrupt disappearance. He did not see how it was his fault and they were all better off than reasonably could have been expected, but he surmised quickly it was better to attempt to secure their favor than incur their wrath. He also hoped Flora would, sooner rather than later, remember she enjoyed him. It took no time at all for him to start to miss her once he had reached the edge of the thieves’ quarter.