by Brian Keller
After lunch, in the Smithy, Cooper asked Master Loril about targets, “Sir, I’d like to be able to practice with my chain knife in Advanced Combat class, but Mister Skran is concerned that I will ruin the targets.” Master Loril chuckled as he pictured the sight and replied, “And he is right. That knife is designed to rip and shred. If we used a wooden target, the target would survive longer, but you’d be forever sharpening the blade…” Master Loril pointed at a circular target used for archery, “Try that one.” As Cooper walked up within a few paces of the target, he pulled the rolled chain from his belt and began whirling the knife in a tight circle. He whipped the blade around in a final arc and flung it into the target. The blade disappeared into the bands of coiled straw. Pulling the blade out caused the barbs to tear out some of the straw, but overall it didn’t look much worse for wear. Master Loril smiled, “I’ll get a few of these set up in the Training Room. That should ease Skran’s worries.”
In Scenarios class, Mister Ysel remained true to his intent. Though Cooper wondered about the propriety of having a dog in the room for Miss Eiler’s favorite setting, the dinner party. Cooper couldn’t help chuckling to himself as he wondered whether dinner parties were truly such dangerous and morbid events, considering how many mock-ups they attended here; all ending in death. Cooper had drawn the dagger card.
He gave the dog a scratching behind the ears just before he walked to the table and simply but surreptitiously switched matching glasses with his victim. Cooper had almost made it out of the room when he heard his victim spit and exclaim, “What the he-! Aw, dammit.” Cooper had laced the wine with a significant portion of lemon juice. In his mind that was to simulate a fast-acting poison. While everyone was looking around the room for someone to confess to the killing, Cooper strode boldly away without saying a word. The dog had watched Cooper’s every move but never twitched. Perhaps the animal had accepted the ear-scratching as a kind of bribe.
Cooper brought his new chain knife to Movement Class. Upon inspecting and admiring it Master Brais’ only comment was, “It’s beautiful, but of course you cannot use it against your classmates.” As his teacher raised an eyebrow at him, Cooper replied, “Of course, sir. That’s why we made this as well.” He held out the length of chain with the weight attached. “Is this suitable, sir?” As Master Brais inspected Cooper’s blunted chain weapon, one of the Enforcer students, Cooper thought his name might be “Wesil”, approached and gestured toward Cooper’s chain knife, “Can I take a look at that? Would you mind?” Cooper shrugged, “Sure, just be careful. Master Loril put the edge on that. It’s sharp everywhere except the grip.” As Wesil turned the blade over in his hand he let out a low whistle. He let the blade drop and held it suspended by about sixteen inches of chain and let it swing back and forth. The blade rotated a few times until the chain unwound and settled into a neutral position. Wesil was obviously admiring the weight and balance, “I’ve never seen anything like this. I wonder what something like this would cost?” He let it swing a few more times, then whirled it around twice before relaxing to let it hang loosely again. “I have a little money on account, but I doubt it would be enough to pay for anything like this.” Cooper felt a flash of disorientation as he took in a quick gasp of air, his thoughts came at him in a jumble, “On Account! Master of Coin. The Master of Coin’s doorman! A thin, grey man! The thin, grey man he’d seen in the Dregs was the same man that answered the Master of Coin’s door when Cooper visited him over a year ago!” Cooper tried to hold himself motionless. If he tried to move, he’d surely stagger or fall. He felt he might need to sit down. His knees didn’t seem to want to support his weight. Master Brais noticed Cooper’s change in posture, “Are you alright, Cooper? You suddenly look unsteady.” Cooper tried to shake it off, “Must’ve been something I ate, sir. It’s already going away.” Cooper’s mind was still reeling… who could he tell? He wasn’t about to start casting accusations about the Master of Coin’s house man! He’d already made himself look like an idiot in front of Felis and Miss Camilla. He wasn’t about to do that again.
Master Brais held his weighted chain out to him, “This should be fine to use in class. Just don’t wrap it around anyone’s neck. I can think of several ways that could go very badly, very quickly.” Cooper had to steady his voice as he took his weapon from Master Brais’ hand, “Thank you, sir. I’ll remember that.” Thoughts continued to race through Cooper’s head, “Even if the doorman is the same thin, grey man (and I’m almost certain he is), that doesn’t mean the Master of Coin knows what he’s doing. He is the Master of Coin, after all. He’s a trusted member of the Master’s Council!” So many thoughts in his mind all at once and he still had to pay attention to his surroundings since Wesil was handing his chain knife back to him. Cooper S-rolled the chain, sheathed the knife and tucked the chain through his belt. Wesil was still staring at the weapon as if it was made of gold and encrusted with jewels. It was enough to distract Cooper for a moment, “You could always ask Master Loril about it. He helped me make this one.” Wesil nodded, barely taking his eyes from the weapon. It almost made Cooper feel a little uncomfortable, but maybe it was only because he was so distracted by his recent realization. The thin, grey man. He knew he needed to do something about this, but what? He couldn’t just start pointing fingers at the Master of Coin or his staff. He needed some time to think.
Thinking would have to wait. Master Brais had ordered everyone up onto the Trap. Tonight’s games were about to begin. Cooper learned quickly that while striking someone with a weight on a chain certainly hurt, it had almost no chance of dislodging anyone from the netting. Then he tried using the chain to capture a classmate’s ankle and discovered that, while it worked, he had to quickly release the tether or risk being dragged off his feet as his classmate fell. Cooper had to acknowledge that the blunted version just wasn’t granted the same respect as the sharp one. However, he found satisfaction in the knowledge that the chain hadn’t broken when it intertwined itself in the netting as his classmate fell. Two classmates had to come untangle the boy to get him free.
Later that night, as Cooper stared at the ceiling in the sleeping bay, he considered what he knew as well as what he didn’t. He felt certain that the thin man he’d seen in the Dregs, speaking with Egil’s House Father, was the same thin, grey man who’d answered the door when Cooper had visited the Master of Coin’s home in The Grid. Cooper was thinking, “It’s possible, but certainly unlikely, that two such thin, grey men were at work developing schemes against the Guild.” What Cooper couldn’t be sure of was whether the Master of Coin was involved or merely unaware that his doorman was behind the deaths of a few score members of the Guild. Cooper recalled his visit with the Master of Coin as a rather unpleasant and awkward experience; but the fact that he didn’t like the man didn’t make him guilty. He tried putting himself in the place of the “mastermind”. If he were merely an employee of the Master of Coin, would he still be able to accomplish all that had been done? But without knowing the amount of information and coin the thin man had available to him, there was no way to determine that. As he fell asleep, his last thoughts were that as much as he wanted to suspect the Master of Coin, he didn’t have sufficient grounds to accuse the man.
Chapter 38
The following morning Cooper woke early and went through his morning routine; privy, clean up, stretching exercises until the breakfast bell rang. The entire time he was going through all the information he knew, re-arranging it, looking for anything that might be considered irrefutable. As the bell rang, he remained frustrated with the knowledge that all he had was suspicion and conjecture. He needed more information. As he walked to the dining hall he asked himself, “Who should I talk to about this? He’d already damaged his credibility with Miss Camilla and Felis. Master Loril? His smithing teacher would just tell him to leave it alone. Master Worthan? Maybe, but what good could it do to tell the aging teacher of first-year students? Master Brais was still trying to reconcile losing two students
during one of his classes. His other teachers had specialties so far removed from this problem set that they’d likely have little insight. He needed Utsef! The problem was that Utsef was several days’ ride to the west and north. He’d already gotten a few of his friends in trouble by asking them to follow along with one of his plans. They all could’ve died, or been executed. He wasn’t about to risk that again. He knew he shouldn’t go alone, but the information could bring an end to the killings. It was worth the risk.
Cooper was most of the way through his breakfast when he realized that the best way to slip out of the Guild, and past the soldiers who were keeping the Guild house under watch, was to assume the role of Courier again. It certainly wouldn’t be an excuse for missing classes, but at least it would provide something close to a reason for being away from the Guild house for an extended period. Cooper was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard Kolrem and Birt talking about him. Birt had asked Kolrem, “Do you ever wonder where he goes when he looks like that?” Kolrem replied, “I used to, but after we went out and killed those Dregs boys, I don’t ask. I just wait for him to come back. If it’s something he wants to share, he will.” The two boys shared a laugh. Cooper replied, “I’m right here, you know.” Birt chuckled, “Sure, now you are! You didn’t seem to notice when Kolrem stole a slice of your bacon a minute ago.” Cooper rubbed his forehead, “Nah. He always does that. I just steal one of his after he comes back with ‘seconds’. It’s almost like we have an understanding.”
Cooper knew that if he was absent from classes he’d be missed, but more so in his first two classes. Miss Camilla looked for him every morning and he and Kolrem were still acting as archery assistants in Mister Skran’s class. Admittedly, his assistance was needed less and less as the weeks passed, but his absence would be obvious. He’d need to wait until lunch time to put his plan in motion.
The next two classes found Cooper being more distracted than not. As he walked out of Miss Camilla’s classroom he tried to remember what material she’d taught, but couldn’t. He hoped he’d at least taken some worthwhile notes. In Combat class, Cooper prevailed on Kolrem to spar with him. He needed something to bring his focus back to the present, rather than the barrage of ‘what if’s’ assaulting his consciousness. He threw himself into his attacks so violently that after ten minutes Kolrem disengaged saying, “Alright. I’ve had to tap into my Talent for the last five minutes, just to defend myself. What’s up?” Cooper shook his head, “There are some things on my mind that won’t leave me alone. Sparring with you allows me to get away from that for a few minutes.” Kolrem shuffled his feet as he grumbled, “Great. Assuming I survive it.” Kolrem waited to see if Cooper had more to say. He didn’t. Cooper gave his friend a look of appreciation, “Thanks. I think I’ve got things sorted out.” He pulled the chain from his belt and unsheathed the blade of his chain knife, “I’ll go tear up some of the targets that Master Loril provided. If someone needs help with archery, let me know. In a few minutes I’ll likely welcome another distraction.” Kolrem wanted to help his young friend, but he also knew that if Cooper wasn’t saying more, it was because he wanted it that way.
During lunch, Cooper left the table as if to go back for seconds. He didn’t return and he was nowhere to be seen.
In the Scribe’s storefront, Mister Garus inquired, “What are you doing here?” Cooper lied, “I made some mistakes and have been sent here to get a taste of what might be in store for me if I don’t pay more attention.” Mister Garus gave him an almost apologetic look accompanied by a predatory smile and moved forward as if to console him, but something in Cooper’s gaze made him reconsider. Mister Garus moved back to his table, keeping an eye on Cooper but thankfully leaving him alone.
After several minutes a man entered, stating he wished to have a message written and delivered. Mister Garus took the man’s details and the fee, then directed the man to Cooper’s table. Cooper pulled a sheet of parchment in front of him and dipped a quill as the man seated himself across from him. Cooper paid little attention to what the man was telling him, he simply transcribed. It was something relating to this man being late on his rental payment and expecting to pay it as soon as his merchandise arrived. The old man told him, “Sign it ‘Cecil LeGaffrey’, that’s me.” Cooper paused, but only briefly, thinking, “Cecil?” The recipient’s address was in Lakeside. When they’d finished, Cooper read the message back to the man, who assured him that he was satisfied with it. Cooper then read the recipient’s name and address back to the man. The old man confirmed the information was correct. Cooper filled out the tag with the recipient’s name and address and thanked the man for entrusting him with his message, “We’ll be sure to see it delivered immediately.” The old man thanked him, stood and left the storefront. Cooper could feel Mister Garus watching him but felt certain that he hadn’t noticed that Cooper had palmed an extra address tag. Cooper took the message to the counter, rolled it up and slipped it into a copper tube and then secured the address tag. He then wrote the recipient’s name in the next blank space on the delivery log. Cooper slipped a Courier sash over his shoulder, stating, “I’ll make the delivery myself. No need to pull a student out of class. Besides, this message is going all the way to Lakeside. It isn’t safe out there.”
As Cooper left the Guild house, several soldiers pulled themselves erect then relaxed when they saw he was a kid with a gold sash and a copper tube. He made no obvious effort to study his surroundings but within the first block, he’d noted several of the soldiers who were posted, watching. They could have been mistaken for City Watch except for having different armor and displaying vigilance rather than relative disinterest. Once Cooper had walked a couple blocks, he saw no more soldiers. He’d heard that the army was intending to contain Guild activity, but Cooper felt certain that the Guild house had plenty of exits that he hadn’t yet learned of.
The address for the message he carried took him to an expansive estate that was on the banks of the Kairnlag Reservoir, otherwise known as The Lake. Cooper felt certain that this owner must be particularly interested in keeping the channels of the Whitefoam clear of debris. Any blockage of water leaving the reservoir could result in his estate being flooded. Cooper displayed the copper tube to the guard at the gate, who waved a hand, indicating Cooper should go inside. As he walked up the graveled lane he admired the trimmed hedges and manicured fruit trees. Sounds off to one side pulled his attention in that direction and he noticed a large kennel with four dogs pressed up against the fence. They weren’t barking but their behavior and the sounds they were making indicated they wanted out. Whether this was to greet him or do him harm was uncertain and he felt no interest in learning which was true. He wondered whether he’d have even paid so much heed to the dogs if it weren’t for Mister Ysel recently including animals in his classes.
Cooper knocked on the door to the large house and when the door opened he announced, without fanfare, “A message for Bolin Soriu, Esquire.” Cooper had wondered whether Mister Soriu was the son of a knight, or a Baron’s grandson, or just an appointed councilman. It didn’t really matter to him, but he couldn’t help being a little curious. The doorman asked, “Shall I deliver it to him, or must he be disturbed to receive it himself?” Cooper thought for a moment. Considering the content of the note, and the fact that Mister LeGaffrey was already in debt, Cooper saw no need to further agitate the situation, “Please deliver it to him. Thank you.” The man held out a pair of copper coins, which Cooper accepted with a bow of his head. He was a few steps towards the gate by the time he heard the sound of the deadbolt on the door being locked in place.
Once Cooper stepped outside the walls of the estate, he pulled off the sash, rolled it up and stashed it inside the tube. He then slid the tube into a pants pocket on his right side. The pocket wasn’t deep enough to contain the entire tube, but he’d certainly notice if it fell out. He’d taken up a vantage point where he could watch the front of the Master of Coin’s house, but still be concealed by t
he steady flow of traffic moving past him. After a couple of hours, he’d wished he’d had the foresight to buy a loaf of bread and a skin of water, or watered-down wine. He considered asking one of the passing kids to take some money to bring him some, but he knew he’d never see them or the coin again; besides, if kids were moving around in this part of the Grid, they were already in someone’s employ. They didn’t have time to run errands for him.
Cooper hadn’t forgotten what it felt like to be hungry, and he certainly didn’t enjoy re-visiting the sensation. The sun was almost down and the traffic on the street had slowed to the point that it really provided no concealment for him. He’d almost decided to back away and find a new spot where he could watch while waiting for the shadows to deepen, when the Master of Coin’s front door opened. It wasn’t a thin, grey man that stepped out through it and onto the cobblestones of the street, it was Jarell, Master of Coin.
