Erosan's Tears

by Jason Scott Gleason

  They arrived at the gates of Lord Perinor’s estate, where Drial was waiting for them. Drial smiled and pressed his hand softly into Raelyn’s, in the soft Slovani hand shake. Raelyn felt a scrap of paper folded in his palm, saw the look in Drial’s eyes as it was passed. Suddenly, Raelyn felt very nervous. What in all the hells is going on? he wondered.

  The three of them walked together toward the main hall. Raelyn excused himself to use the privy, telling the other men they would catch up. When he entered the small chamber, he bolted the door behind him, opening the small slip of paper. He had to squint in the low light. The writing was tiny and difficult to read, but it was written in precise block letters. ‘GET OUT BEFORE YOU GET PULLED IN. TRUST NO ONE. –MOUSE’

  Raelyn stood for a moment, staring at the note. Mouse, he thought. Our name for you when we were on campaign. He tore the scrap of paper into tiny shreds and tossed them down the pipe that led to the sewers beneath. Like in most wealthy households in the Nobles’ District, water was piped into the privy to carry away waste, and Raelyn knew nobody would ever again read that note. Raelyn was glad for that. What have you discovered, Astal? he asked himself. You wouldn’t use that name unless you needed me to know it was you. What have you found out that’s so dangerous? Are you even alright?

  He left the privy and walked to the main hall, still thinking about Astal. He was surprised to find all five of the High Lords there, as well as a number of others, all going over maps of the city. Apparently I’m not the only one they were looking for. Corlwyn and Archeo were in the hall, as well as the seneschals and servants. Trevan saw him and walked over.

  “What news, Raelyn?” He had the same dour expression and acerbic tone he always did while talking to him.

  Raelyn scoffed. “I should ask you that. What’s going on? I haven’t heard anything yet.”

  “Sir Rorin Bruborn was killed last night in the Wharf District,” Trevan told him. “Now the Coscan are rioting. Lord Elotarn and my father had already anticipated unrest after Sir Jonan was murdered. They sent the Fourth Division of the Regulars to Northkeep to relieve the First, but that was only four days ago. A few hours ago they dispatched riders to get them to double time back, but the First still won’t be here for another two days, maybe three if the weather doesn’t hold. In the meantime, they’re calling up the Fifth and segregating the Division. All the Coscan soldiers that muster will be sent south to our border with Shaelwyn while the Oervan will be used to support the Watch.”

  “Seems sound,” Raelyn replied, but he felt uneasy at the news. The Fourth was mostly Coscan, and all trained soldiers, while the First was all Oervan, handpicked from the best troops Galavan’s Port had to offer. He had served in the First for two years, before Lord Perinor asked him to join Perinor’s Knaves. “Are the riots that bad that we need to call in the Regulars?”

  “Not yet, I don’t think,” he responded. “But it’ll probably get worse before it gets better. There are reports of looting in the Coscan District, and Corlwyn doesn’t want to send the Watch in without the support of the Fifth, says he doesn’t have the men. I don’t blame him, either. We would suffer bad losses without real soldiers, and the Fifth’s only a reserve unit.”

  Raelyn thought about the situation, and was struck by the insanity of it. Three murders and we’re forced to impose martial law, he thought. One master puppeteer pulling the strings, and nobody knows who it is. A war being used as a cover for a war, and the most powerful men in the city being moved around like chess pieces. Meanwhile, Astal knows something that could get me killed—maybe even knows who Gray is.

  Lord Elotarn was waving Raelyn over, and he went to join the men at the table. The First High Lord of the City was dressed, in his old military uniform. His sword hung from his waist, an ancient family heirloom that was rumored to have been given to the Altorin family by Moradarn himself, in the days of the Arisen Empire. It was decorated with gold and jewels, and Raelyn wondered if it was anything more than an ornament. “Sir Corlwyn has just appraised me of the investigation. Have you had any fortune in finding the man known as Gray?”

  For a moment he considered telling him about the meeting with Genevar, but Astal’s note came to mind. Could he trust Lord Elotarn? He had asked himself that same question about Astal a few days ago, but he knew he could trust him. Astal might not tell him the whole truth—or any of the truth at all, for that matter—but when it came down to it, he would never do anything to hurt Raelyn. The only people he trusted more than Astal were Perinor and Jethu.

  Raelyn realized that he hadn’t responded, and that Lord Elotarn was looking at him expectantly. “I have some leads, but nothing definitive yet. A few people I’ve spoken to have told me they’ll ask around, but nobody knows who he is. My best hope is to meet with one of his agents and get an audience that way.”

  “And do you think you will be able to do it?” Lord Elotarn asked. His tone was grave.

  “I think so,” he replied. He wanted to be careful what he said, and how he said it. “Honestly, though, I’m not sure when. I’ve spoken with a number of people who have said they might be able to set up a meeting with one of his agents, but I haven’t gotten any definitive answers.”

  “I want names,” Corlwyn said, cutting into the conversation. “Anyone who associates with Gray or his agents is an enemy of the city, and should be interrogated immediately.”

  “Hold on a minute,” Raelyn said. “Some shop keeper who has been approached by a thug offering Gray’s protection isn’t an ‘enemy of the city’. I’m not talking about criminals who are working with Gray on robberies or smuggling runs. The people who have offered to help find him are regular people, working honest jobs. They’re terrified that if they don’t deal with people like Karduk or Gray, their homes or shops will be destroyed by their henchmen. If anything, they should be commended for putting their lives on the line to help stop a killer, not rounded up and tortured because we’re not clever enough to figure out who Gray is.”

  Corlwyn looked like he was about to say something, but Lord Teoryn cut into the conversation. “Raelyn is right.” He was looking right at Corlwyn. “My father asked Raelyn to help in this investigation because he can get information from people who won’t talk to you. If you start interrogating the people he’s asking for help, word will get out. Pretty soon we will have lost the resource we were so desperate for to begin with.”

  “I never thought we needed him to begin with,” countered Corlwyn. “Now that we know some of Gray’s associates, we need to interrogate them, and now. If we wait, who knows how many more people Gray will kill?”

  “Gray needs to be stopped at all costs,” Lord Rennard interjected. “His network needs to be dismantled. The longer he’s left alone, the more people he’ll kill, and the deeper this city will fall into chaos. We can’t run the risk that riots will lead to civil war!”

  “You’re not thinking this through!” Raelyn snapped, his patience fraying. He’d had enough of this. “If we start going after regular citizens, we’ll lose the support of the Oervan as well! We need their support to prevent civil war from breaking out! How many troops would stay loyal in the Regulars if they were being used to put down an Oervan uprising? It’s not just about me losing my credibility—it’s about the Council of Lords being able to govern! We can’t go after ordinary citizens—these people haven’t done anything wrong!”

  “Yes, they have!” Corlwyn exclaimed. He looked like he was barely holding on to his temper. “Gray is a criminal, and everybody knows it! Anyone who doesn’t come to us to help us catch these dangerous people is helping to shelter them! And the money they pay for protection is used to fund their crimes! They’re accomplices!”

  “Enough, Corlwyn,” Perinor cut in. He didn’t raise his voice, but there was steel in it. “Raelyn is right. These people are not the criminals, and will not be treated as such. Raelyn will not be compelled to reveal his sources. You have plenty of resources at your disposal without adding to the hysteria tha
t has already gripped our city. The people must see the Council and the Watch as their greatest hope, and you will not undermine that.”

  Corlwyn looked at Elotarn, his eyes almost pleading. Elotarn had been watching the exchange, and one by one, everyone looked at Lord Elotarn. Without saying a word, he’s asserting his authority as First High Lord, Raelyn thought, and was amazed by his presence. Lord Elotarn looked at everyone in turn, capturing them with their eyes. Finally his eyes settled on Corlwyn.

  “High Lord Perinor has spoken,” was all he said. Raelyn realized he had been holding his breath, and his sigh wasn’t the only one that was audible. Corlwyn looked deflated, somehow much smaller from those few small words.

  Lord Elotarn turned to Raelyn then, and said to him, “If you are able to gain an audience with Gray or one of his associates, you are to turn them over to Corlwyn immediately. They are not the ‘regular citizens’ for whom you are advocating, and Corlwyn will not be constrained in his interrogations.” His gaze was piercing. “I trust that the two of you can work together?”

  “Yes, Lord Elotarn,” Raelyn replied. Nothing more could be said.

  “Good. Now, let us turn to the matter at hand.” Lord Elotarn paused, compelling everyone by his will to focus on him. “Our fears have been realized. These murders have incited open riots, and we have started preparing for martial law. We have the First Division deploying back to the city, but it will be some days before they can take the lead on the city’s defenses. In the meantime, we are left with part of the Fifth Division and the Watch. The Watch will hold the gates while the Fifth Division musters. Once they do, we will be able to use the Fifth Division to secure the Wharfs and support the Watch. If we have not been able to restore order in the Coscan District by the time the First Division returns, they will spearhead the assault.”

  Lord Harin spoke up. “Lord Elotarn, I understand that we are in a time of crisis, but how will the city afford this? It may only take a few days to put down a riot, but it would mean having soldiers patrolling our streets for months. Our city’s coffers are low as it is, and if we call in the First and muster the Fifth, the cost of the Divisions will, what, triple? We can’t offer them rights of spoils in our own city, so we’ll be forced to pay them handsomely. As it stands now the city has too little in reserves.”

  Lord Elotarn’s eyes held a glint of contempt. “If the coffers run bare, it will fall on the Lords to provide for the defense of the city, as it always does.”

  “But, my lord,” Harin sputtered, “there are none of us here who have so much gold to spare! We cannot afford it!”

  Perinor cut in. “No, Harin, you may not be able to afford it, but I know Lord Elotarn and I can afford to do our part. The price will be heavy, but how much worse will it be to let the Coscan mob run unchecked through the city? Or worse, can you imagine the anger of an entire Division unpaid, knowing that it was your paucity that left them so? Do you think even Lord Elotarn would be able to prevent them from sacking your home in Weddleton like it was a common Vashtik farm?” Perinor snorted. “You’re one of the city’s High Lords, for the sake of Moradarn—start acting like it.”

  “Enough!” snapped Elotarn. He placed his fists on the table. “The Lords will pay the Divisions if the coffers are bare. As First High Lord, I will bear the brunt of the costs, and everyone at this table knows it. I do not relish the idea of seeing my household coffers depleted any more than you, so we will have to find some way to have the city pay for the expenses of the Regulars.”

  “I don’t know how you plan on doing that,” Lord Harin scoffed. “The citizens already complain about taxes, and the gods know we won’t be collecting anything while the city is in revolt. It would take months for our tax collectors to raise enough to pay for the soldiers—months that we don’t have!”

  “Then we will not tax the citizens to make up the difference,” Lord Elotarn replied. “We can make up the difference through trade, let the burden fall on the soldiers of those who profit from it. We shall raise the tariffs, take back the private ports. Trade is the life blood of Galavan’s Port; we should never have let private citizens purchase docks in the city to begin with. In the meantime,” he cast a pointed look at Lord Harin, “if some of us have to sell goods or lands in order to meet our obligations of our station, so be it.”

  “I will be happy to do my part,” Lord Gardwyn stated. Everyone ignored him.

  “Of course, Lord Elotarn,” Lord Harin said with a slight bow of his head. “I will fulfill my obligations as I must. And if it means that I must give up some lands to do so, then so be it.”

  Lord Elotarn nodded. “Good. I’m sure that the details of this will occupy the Council and the Chamber for many days to come, but they can wait. Our main concern for the moment is to quell these riots before we have to put down a rebellion.” He looked at the map, and began to explain the city’s defenses. Soon the other men gathered were making suggestions, discussing the defense of the gates and walls that separated the Coscan District from its surrounding districts, as well as the myriad other ways to get in and out.

  Raelyn found that he couldn’t focus on their plans. The thought of the First marching on the city made Raelyn sick. He wondered how he would have felt if he had been given those orders when he was in the Regulars. He looked around at the room, wondering how many people there had ever served in the Regulars, how many of them would understand what it would be like to be put in that kind of position.

  As he looked around the room, he realized that he couldn’t find Lord Rennard. In everyone’s excitement, he hadn’t noticed when he had left. I should have noticed it earlier, he thought to himself. Lord Rennard owns a lot of the docks and warehouses. If he had been here for that conversation, I’m sure he would have objected. Then he realized that Fethan was missing as well. He’s Lord Elotarn’s seneschal, he thought with surprise. He should be here with his lord, especially if they are discussing matters of state. The hairs on his neck started to pick up. He looked around at who was left. He counted the rest of the High Lords, Jethu, Teoryn, Drian, and all the other lords, councilmen, and attendants that he had noticed there to begin with. Everything else seemed to be in order, but something kept on scratching at the back of his mind, something he couldn’t quite place.

  All of a sudden it dawned on him that Trevan was missing as well.

  What in all the hells is going on here? he wondered.

  Chapter Eleven

  Maybe I’m getting a bit paranoid, Raelyn thought to himself as he ducked into the shadows of an alley, keeping his body low. He’d had the feeling he was being followed earlier that evening, and had spotted his tail, a short Oervan with sandy hair and bland features. He decided a wild goose chase was the best way to deal with his pursuer, and led him on a trail through the Arena District and into the Market District. He ditched him at a tavern and had to take short cuts through the alleys to head back to the Arena District, to The Siren’s Song. If I had more time I’d confront the guy, but I’m going to be late if I don’t hurry.

  He went into the alley on the side of her bar, coming in through the side entrance reserved for employees. He got a couple of looks, but nobody stopped him. It’s the only way to the tunnel without going through the front, and I need as few people to see me as possible. Whoever had set the tail on him would probably have people at his usual haunts, and this was about as usual as he got.

  When he got to the cellar, the guard was there. The Coscan looked at him and nodded, but his nod was a little too slow, his gaze not quite disinterested enough. Something in Raelyn screamed, It’s a trap! But Raelyn didn’t have a choice. Genevar hired Karduk’s thugs for security. If he’s going to hit me here, I’ll just have to be ready for it. This is my one chance to meet with one of Gray’s men. He had to trust the sword on his hip, and he was careful not to be obvious about loosening the blade in the scabbard as he stepped into the hallway.

  When he got to the end of the hall his blade was still loose, ready to be drawn. The
well dressed Coscan was at his regular position, his short sword on his hip. Raelyn sized him up as he came through the door, looking to see what he’d have to do to take him down quickly. But, unlike the first guard, nothing in this guard’s demeanor set Raelyn instinctively on edge. He relaxed a little, told him, “Ruby sent me,” and the guard pulled the chime. A few moments later, he was let upstairs.

  Ourette was at the door at the top of the stairs, waiting for him. He was relieved that it wasn’t Callais; he didn’t think he could face her.

  “Genevar is expecting you,” Ourette said, and turned to lead him up the staircase in the parlor. Raelyn saw two swords hanging on the rack, one long and one short, but he kept his buckled firmly in place. His instincts were screaming at him, and he couldn’t get the words of Astal’s note out of his mind. Get out before you get pulled in. Trust no one. This was the moment to either heed or ignore that warning. Something told him that if he didn’t run now, it would be too late to walk away from this.

  He followed Ourette up the stairs to the fourth floor, to the door of Genevar’s personal suite.

  Ourette knocked lightly, and Genevar answered, smiling. “Welcome, Raelyn. Please come in.” Her accent was thick and sweet.

  He stepped into her chamber, and she closed the door behind him. He looked around her sitting room, looking for places to hide and escape routes. The double doors leading to her bedchamber were closed, but the windows were open, as were the glass paneled doors leading out to the balcony. The air was still and the heat of the past few days hadn’t dissipated, and the only relief from the heat was the open windows.