Ashes of the Sun

by Django Wexler

  She nodded. “Elariel has spies all over the city. Tiny constructs”—she held her hands a few centimeters apart—“that let her see or hear what they do.”

  “And she told you that Raskos has an agent in Yora’s crew?”

  Kit nodded again. “She hasn’t been able to catch anyone in the act, but she’s seen the reports in the Spike. Enough to be certain.” She raised an eyebrow. “So what’s it going to be? Are we going to waste our chance, or are we going to get this done ourselves?”

  Gyre took a deep breath, cold air flooding his lungs and dispelling some of the fog from his head. It had been less than an hour since he’d gotten into the cab with Kit, but it felt like a lifetime.

  The Tomb. What he’d been searching for all these years. The best chance—the only chance—at power to match a centarch’s. And it’s more than I ever imagined. He’d hoped to plunder some unknown arcana from a ruin. What a living ghoul city might offer—

  I have to get there. He knew, intellectually, that he might simply be hurrying to his death, but there was no fear, only the iron determination that had brought him this far. His scar itched, and at the back of his mind he heard Maya’s scream. I have to.

  Yora. What would she do, if he simply disappeared? Surely she wouldn’t go through with the attack. The natural assumption, if he and Kit didn’t show up at the rendezvous, would be that they’d been captured. In that case, the only logical thing to do would be to call everything off and hunker down.

  She wouldn’t go through with it. She’s too smart for that. He let out his breath. And once Kit and I have the Analytica, we can hand off the money to Yora and the others. Whatever happened in the Tomb, Gyre didn’t think he’d need a pile of thalers.

  This is the only chance I’m going to get.

  Kit was watching him curiously. Gyre squared his shoulders and met her gaze.

  “We’d better start going over the plan,” he said.

  Chapter 13

  It felt like no time at all passed between the moment Maya’s head hit the pillow and the knock that woke her. In truth, she didn’t know how long it had been—she and Beq had snuck back into the palace while it was still dark, and now sunlight was streaming in through the window. However much sleep she’d gotten, though, it hadn’t been enough.

  But we made it. Thinking of last night’s adventure made her feel giddy. We have a lead on Raskos, and what’s really going on here. Now all she had to do was figure out what to do with it.

  The knock repeated, politely, and Maya shook off her lassitude and hastily rolled out of bed. She pulled a dressing gown over her shift and hurried to the door, which opened to reveal a liveried footman with her breakfast on a silver platter.

  “Thanks,” Maya said, a little confused. Yesterday they’d left the food without waking her.

  “Agathios Tanax instructed me to say that he needs to speak with you at once,” the footman said, bowing again.

  “Ah.” Maya glanced longingly at the tray, where steam was rising from a thick slab of bread drizzled with butter and chocolate, beside eggs and vulpi fry. She swallowed and put on a brave face. “I’ll be with him as soon as I’m dressed.”

  “Of course.” The servant bowed and withdrew.

  Maya swore and pulled on her rumpled uniform, pausing only to jam a strip of vulpi into her mouth. She chewed hurriedly as she crossed the corridor to knock on Tanax’s door.

  “Come in,” Tanax said.

  To her annoyance, he was sitting at a table, working his way through his own breakfast. She tried not to stare.

  “Good morning,” he said. “I hope you slept well.”

  “Not particularly,” Maya said. “I need to tell you something.”

  “You and Beq left the palace last night,” Tanax said mildly, cutting a slice of butter-drowned toast.

  “I…” Maya stared at him. “You knew?”

  “I suspected. You just confirmed it.”

  Maya swore silently and took a deep breath. “We were never told we were confined to the grounds.”

  “Some things shouldn’t need to be spelled out,” Tanax said, and shrugged. “But I understand. Neither of you have been exposed to the temptations of the city. It’s only to be expected.”

  “The—what?”

  “You’d hardly be the first agathios to sneak out to a tavern or a brothel. I’ll have to include it in my report, but I’ll certainly encourage the Council to be understanding.”

  “A brothel?” Maya’s hand went to the Thing, a hard lump in her chest. It helped suppress her rising anger. “What exactly do you think we were doing?”

  “There’s no need to be offended,” Tanax said, cutting another piece of toast. “You’re at the age—”

  “You are one year older than me,” Maya said.

  “The point is that I know how to avoid offending our host. This is an important lesson for the two of you.”

  “That is what I need to talk to you about. Our host.” Maya paused for a moment, doing her best to regain her calm. “I have reason to believe Dux Raskos is abusing his office and smuggling dhak.”

  There was a long moment of silence.

  “That’s… not possible,” Tanax said.

  “Why not?” Maya said. “The dux has been eager to keep us in the palace since we arrived. He hasn’t asked for our assistance against the rebels, or even mentioned them. He’s worried about what might happen if we really started to investigate—”

  “Enough.” Tanax got to his feet. “Have you spoken to anyone else about this?”

  “Of course not,” Maya said. “I have no idea who we can trust.”

  “That’s something, anyway.” The other agathios stepped away from the table and started to pace. “You will say nothing, to anyone. Do you understand?”

  “No!” Maya turned to face him as he walked. “What do you mean, say nothing? We need to move quickly. The evidence—”

  “I have instructions from my master,” Tanax said. “Those instructions are very clear.”

  Of course. If Nicomidi truly was working with Raskos on something illegal, he wouldn’t want his agathios getting anywhere near it. And Tanax certainly isn’t going to listen to any accusations against Nicomidi. Maya chose her words carefully.

  “Obviously your master doesn’t know the dux is corrupt,” Maya said. “That changes the situation.”

  “I believe my master knows everything relevant about the situation,” Tanax said. “The dux has responsibilities that are not common knowledge among the public.”

  “Responsibilities like gathering a warehouse full of unsanctioned arcana to sell to smugglers?”

  “You don’t know that,” Tanax snapped.

  “And you’re making this up as you go along,” Maya said.

  Tanax reached the wall and put a hand against it. She got the sense he wanted to hit something, and hoped he would stop restraining himself. Let him put a hole in the dux’s plaster. Their eyes met for a moment, and she saw a flash of rage before Tanax visibly got himself under control. He swept one hand through his hair, irritably, and looked away.

  “I have perfect confidence in my master and his instructions,” Tanax said. “When we return to the Forge, you are welcome to take the matter up with him yourself.”

  “By the time we return to the Forge, we won’t have any hard evidence,” Maya said.

  “If necessary, a full centarch will be sent to investigate—”

  There was a knock at the door. Maya stopped, breathing hard. Tanax fixed her with a glare, then said, “Who’s there?”

  “Agathios Tanax.” The voice had the metallic quality of a Legionary helmet. “The dux requests you and your team join him at your earliest convenience.”

  “Are we due at another party?” Maya said aloud, drawing another glare.

  “No, Agathios,” the soldier said. “The dux is ready to move against the rebels, and he would like your help.”

  A quarter of an hour later, the four of them followed the white-armo
red Legionary into a sparely appointed chamber in yet another section of the palace.

  Beq was yawning, which was no surprise. When they’d collected her and Varo in the corridor, she’d caught Maya’s furious expression, but with Tanax standing beside her there’d been no chance to talk. Varo, by contrast, looked cheery and well rested and had even found time to clean his uniform.

  “Action at last,” he said. “Though I suppose you should never wish for action, since it might find you when you’re not expecting it. I had a friend—”

  “Scout Varo,” Tanax said. “This is not the time.”

  “You’re right,” Varo said, then caught Maya’s eye and muttered, “That’s just what he said, actually.”

  Another Legionary waited outside the room, offering a slight bow to the agathia when they arrived. Inside, a large circular table and a few plain wooden chairs were the extent of the furnishings. Raskos stood behind the table, looking distinctly out of place in an Auxiliary uniform. The man beside him seemed more at ease. He was large, with a gray-green beard and a receding hairline. Several more Auxiliaries waited at attention along the wall, spears in hand.

  There were several maps of varying scale on the table. The street plan of Deepfire was easy to recognize from the shape of the Pit, with the Spike on one side and the rest of the city huddled close on the other. Pencil marks showed a route to the south and east, along a road that left the close huddle of buildings and rose into the mountains.

  “Agathia,” Raskos said, with his horrifying black-toothed smile. “Honored guests. Thank you for coming.”

  “We are at your service,” Tanax said, with a bow. Maya only reluctantly followed suit.

  “There is a band of especially… persistent criminals that we have been tracking for the past few months. Smugglers and thieves. We have an opportunity to strike a blow against them that you are uniquely suited to exploit,” Raskos said. “This is my commander of Auxiliaries, Guria Fairshot. He will explain the details.”

  “Agathia,” Guria said gruffly. He pointed to the map. “We’ve let the thieves learn that we’re moving some valuable arcana from quarantine. We’re confident this is a target they won’t be able to resist, which means it’s a chance to catch them in the open.” He frowned. “Unfortunately, they’re not stupid. If the shipment is too heavily guarded, they’ll call off their attack. An ambush would be hard to conceal from the reconnaissance.”

  “But the two of you, we can hide in the transport wagon itself,” Raskos cut in. He looked immensely pleased with himself. “They will expect a handful of guards and be met instead with a pair of centarchs. I doubt they will even put up a fight.”

  “We’ll need you to prevent their escape,” Guria said. “I understand that’s within your… abilities.” Guria pushed a smaller-scale map forward. “The thieves plan to attack in the Sprayfall Tunnel, at the edge of the city. It’s a good choice, tactically—there’s nowhere for us to hide a squad closer than the tunnel entrance. But if you can seal the exit behind them, they’ll have no retreat.”

  Maya thought furiously. It has to be the rebels he’s going after. No ordinary band of criminals would be worth the risk of involving us. She glanced at Tanax, who was nodding approvingly at the map.

  “I don’t like it,” Maya ventured. “What if these thieves bring more firepower than you’re expecting?”

  “I’m sure we can handle it,” Tanax said, looking at her irritably.

  “I have every confidence,” Raskos said.

  “In any event, our backup squads will wait at the tunnel entrance,” Guria said. “If needed, they can provide covering fire relatively quickly.”

  “I said that I’m sure we can handle it,” Tanax snapped. “I understand your plan, Dux Raskos. When do you want to proceed?”

  “The wagon leaves the palace in an hour,” the dux said.

  “Then we’ll be ready,” Tanax said. He didn’t look back at Maya and the others.

  “Maya,” Beq said in a low voice. “These thieves—do you think—”

  “Probably,” Maya said, looking around carefully.

  They stood in a courtyard outside the palace, ringed by a gravel drive. A tall, stout-looking cargo wagon was being loaded with ironbound chests by a couple of servants, while a groom led two loadbirds to the harness.

  “Did you tell him?” Beq said. “About what Sarah told us?”

  “I told him,” Maya said quietly. “He didn’t think it was important.”

  “Not important?” Beq snorted. “That the dux smuggles dhak?”

  “Nicomidi’s told him to help Raskos, so that’s what he’s going to do. Nicomidi knows best, after all.” Maya shook her head. “I swear, to hear Tanax talk, you’d think the man was half-Chosen.”

  Beq smiled slightly. “I have heard you praise your own master from time to time.”

  “Jaedia’s different,” Maya said automatically, then laughed with Beq. “Jaedia would never expect me to be mindlessly obedient to a letter. She’d understand that situations can change. And if I didn’t understand why we were doing something, she’d explain it to me, not just order me to obey.” She glanced over at Tanax. “I get the sense that our training may have differed in that respect.”

  “I think you were lucky,” Beq said. “Most of the centarchs I know are bigger on obedience than explanations.” She flicked the lens back into place and shook her head. “So what are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know.” Maya glanced at the wagon. “I can’t refuse to help. Tanax would just go without me, and we’d lose any chance of getting the rebels to work with us.” She shook her head. “I need to talk to them. If their grudge is really against Raskos, maybe I can convince them I’m on their side.”

  “Be careful,” Beq said. “Tanax is eager to start something, and the rebels may be more dangerous than he thinks. Remember how much dhak and arcana we saw out there.”

  Maya nodded. “I’ll be careful.”

  “Thank you.” Beq took a deep breath. “Varo and I will be with the backup, if you need us.”

  “You be careful, too,” Maya said. “Keep one eye on Raskos.”

  Beq grinned and clicked something on her spectacles—the lenses shifted, making her eyes point in different directions. “Got it covered!”

  Maya let out a startled laugh. Beq grinned at her, her cheeks going red, which made her freckles stand out. She brushed absently at her braid, tucking away a few loose green hairs.

  “Can you actually see like that?” Maya said.

  “Oh, no. It just gives me a headache.” Beq snapped the lenses back into place. “But I’ll be careful.”

  “Maya!” Tanax said. “We’re ready to move.”

  Maya held Beq’s gaze a moment longer, then turned away, fighting down a rush of blood to her own cheeks. Not the time, Maya. Not the time. She took deep breaths as she walked across the courtyard to the wagon.

  “I know you disagree with some of my decisions.” Tanax gave her a sharp look. “But this is not the time or place for disagreement. Do you understand?”

  Maya held her tongue and gave a silent nod.

  Tanax climbed up into the rear of the wagon and bent down to offer her his hand. She ignored it, pulling herself up, and sat on one of the iron chests. Tanax sat down opposite her, arms folded across his chest.

  “Good fortune!” Raskos called from outside.

  The servants closed the back door, leaving them in warm semidarkness. Maya heard the driver whistle, and the loadbirds started forward, the wagon rocking as it rolled out onto the gravel.

  As the minutes ticked past and the wagon trundled along, Maya’s nerves were jangling. She found her foot tapping and stilled it with an effort. Tanax gave her a withering look.

  “These… thieves,” Maya said. “It’s possible I might have a contact among them.”

  “You didn’t think that was worth mentioning earlier?” Tanax said.

  “I’m not certain,” Maya said. “And I’ve already told you I don’
t trust Raskos.”

  Tanax snorted. “I’m glad I am worthy of your trust.”

  “Just listen, all right?” Maya took a deep breath. “It’s possible I may be able to talk them into coming peacefully. Can we agree that would be a better outcome than a fight?”

  “I suppose it is always better for criminals to be seen to face the Republic’s justice,” Tanax said. “But I don’t know if it’s likely. I suspect they’ll flee once they realize who they’re facing.”

  “I know. If it comes to that…” Maya shook her head. “Just promise you’ll give me a chance to talk.”

  “We’ll see,” Tanax said. “But I will do my best.”

  The darkness grew deeper, the fans of sunlight that slipped in between the boards of the wagon disappearing. Tanax sat up straighter.

  “We’re in the tunnel,” he said. He brought up his panoply field, and Maya did the same, pressing a finger against her haken. Her other hand went to the Thing. She could feel her heartbeat through it, fast but strong.

  Seconds passed in tense silence.

  “How long—” Maya began in a whisper, before the snap-hiss of a crossbow cut her off. It was followed by an inhuman squeal, then another shot.

  “Stand down,” a woman’s voice said. “Go for that sword and you’re a dead man.”

  “This is Auxiliary property,” the driver said. He sounded frightened.

  “We know.” Another woman, and this one Maya recognized. Sarah. “That’s why we’re taking it.”

  “I’m going out,” Maya hissed. “Remember, just let me speak to them.”

  “Until someone makes a move,” Tanax muttered, one hand on his haken. “I’ll be right behind you.”

  Maya was already kicking the back door open. She waited for a moment to see if the motion would draw a shot, and when it didn’t she hopped down.

  “I’m coming around the wagon,” she said aloud. “I’d like to talk.”

  The first woman spoke again. “Move slowly.”

  “There are two of us,” Maya said. She edged out to the side of the wagon, her hand on her haken.