by Brian Keller
*****
Jarell had arrived early and had been waiting for Yoren Aporigh, observing the meeting site from a concealed spot nearby. He had plenty to think about to fill the time, “At least the Talmet assassination was successfully completed. There’s some small satisfaction to be gained from that.” Lord Talmet had responded poorly when Jarell paid him a visit last week. The wealthy merchant and nobleman had decided that he was strong enough to sever ties with him, despite the fact that he’d maintained Jarell as a silent, investing partner for several years. Jarell even had documents that displayed their agreements. Lord Talmet had scoffed at Jarell’s threats to expose their dealings, “Do what you will,” the nobleman had said, “Come out of hiding, if you dare. From what I understand, to do so would simply result in your immediate, and not unpainful death. Now leave, before I have you thrown out, or contact the Guild myself and turn you over to them.” As Jarell quickly left, the man’s son, Penton, had stopped him for a few quiet words. The boy expressed that he’d be only too happy to honor his father’s existing agreements, Jarell need only pave the way. He’d even included a small pouch of gemstones to ‘sweeten the deal’. Jarell considered that with the Talmet’s shipping capabilities in his grasp, he could begin to hold the Lukasi ‘merchants’ at a healthier distance. Too many things had the potential to exceed his control with regard to that relationship. It was only a matter of time before the traders from Lukasi violated the terms of their agreement and began to introduce their drugs to the citizens of Paleros. For that matter, it was possible that they had already done so. That would result in a mess that Jarell had no desire to clean up.
Jarell watched as an armed and lightly armored man entered the shell of the building that had been designated as the meeting place. The man searched the remains of the building thoroughly before he spoke. His eyes scanned his immediate surroundings, “I can only assume you can hear me. My employer sent me here. He regrets being unable meet with you but he has been unavoidably detained.” Jarell was thinking, “This is an unacceptable deviation from the plan. If Yoren couldn’t make the meeting, he would simply let me wait, and wait. He wouldn’t have sent someone to apologize for him. This man was sent for a different purpose.” Jarell climbed down from his hiding place to confront the man. As soon as he revealed himself, the other man’s demeanor changed. His posture took on a swagger and his right hand never drifted far from the pommel of his sword. It appeared to be specially forged, not one of those blades issued to City Watchmen. The man took a deep breath and looked upward in an effort to recall a message he obviously had been ordered to commit to memory, “My employer mentioned that I should inquire after any possible involvement you might have in, or knowledge of, how foreign drugs are coming into the Waterfront…?” Jarell limped a step or two to one side. If he wasn’t still trying to get this damnable wound to close up, he might consider wiping that self-assured look off the man’s face. He had to consider that if this man was in Yoren Aporigh’s employ, he was likely to be formidable. Perhaps there was another way…
Jarell asked the man, “Would you mind a short walk? I’ve been cramped up for over an hour waiting for Yoren to arrive.” The other man grunted, “One place is as good as another, but why walk anywhere else? We’re already here. Let’s talk here.” Jarell shook his head and pointed a finger at the man, “You’re here to get information from me. I don’t see how you might provide me with anything I want. We can talk while we walk, or not at all.” The sellsword shrugged, “That’s fine then. You walk on ahead of me.” Jarell kept an eye over his shoulder as they walked. He had no intention of simply presenting his back to this man. He needed to string the man along for the equivalent of a city block, so he asked, “If Yoren is concerned with smuggled drugs, then I’d advise him to look closely at Lukasi ships entering the bay displaying flags from Caldori; but that might not be the only way they’re coming in.” The sellsword was nodding his head at the right times, but Jarell could tell that the man wasn’t really interested in the conversation. Jarell continued, “Has he considered how the Guild might be involved?” The sellsword merely grunted. It sounded vaguely negative but Jarell assumed that the man had no knowledge of Yoren’s suspicions or plans. This man was sent here with only the most basic of instructions. Jarell kept asking questions; anything to keep the man’s mind engaged as he kept walking further into the Ruins, “You say that drugs are already coming in through the Waterfront? Is it one drug? Or several different drugs?” The sellsword’s eyes kept searching their surroundings, as if suspecting Jarell to be leading him into an ambush. As soon as Jarell stopped speaking he said, “Ok, you’re done leading me around. I don’t know what you’re up to, but I think I’ll pass along the rest of my message right here.” Jarell began walking backwards, away from the man, as the man spoke. He noticed a movement, to his left, at the edge of his view. He glanced in that direction but there was nothing there. The sellsword noticed something too but apparently had reached the same conclusion Jarell had. He began to glance nervously about, then drew his blade and walked quickly in Jarell’s direction. Jarell shifted to his right several steps as he asked, “So this is the rest of Yoren’s message?” As Jarell continued to step sideways the man was grinning, “Actually my employer asked me to inform you that, how did he phrase it? Yes, ‘Your usefulness to the Crown has come to an end.’ For my part, I was thinking that simply putting my sword through you would be just as effective; but with less conversation.” Jarell smiled and raised his eyebrows slightly, “I don’t suppose I could just offer you a pouch of coin and gems and you could just go back and tell Yoren you’ve completed your task?” The man smiled and slowed his steps, “You can offer. How much are we talking about?” Jarell flicked the pouch at his belt and frowned, “Probably enough for you to stay drunk for a year or more and still buy a small house here.” The man cast his eyes around, “Here? In case you hadn’t noticed, we’re in the Ruins. We left Batter’s Field behind us some eighty meters back.” Jarell nodded, “I know.” He watched as a cloud seemed to gather behind the man and then coalesce. The man chuckled, “So I’m supposed to see that look on your face and look behind me, right? Nice try.”
Both men heard the rasping chuckle from behind the sellsword. It sounded like sheets of paper rustling in the wind, or the sound of dry leaves being crushed underfoot. The sellsword expelled a breath and it left his mouth visibly as a cloud of chilled vapor. Even Jarell felt everything grow cold as the sellsword abruptly turned to face whatever was behind him and in that moment everything that the man thought he understood about life and death changed. His scream lasted four seconds and in that time all shreds of life left his body.
Jarell had heard his men tell stories of how so many of the slaves had died, and he’d even personally heard a few of the screams, but he hoped he’d never again witness a man die that way. He wondered whether he’d ever sleep soundly again. Perhaps he would, but only once he’d left this city far behind him. He’d made his decision. Never mind the Talmet’s, or his far-reaching plans; it was time to leave. He just needed to gather his remaining wealth and convert it to gold and gems; something portable. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of days. In that time he might even consider returning to this spot and taking a closer look at that man’s sword… but probably not.
*****
Cooper had stayed up for several hours last night, and ended up with almost a half dozen wads of crumpled paper beside his bed. He’d finally settled on a design for ‘his’ token, “Simplest is best”, he’d decided. The diagram in his hand depicted two coins, one lying flat and the second almost flat, but propped up on the first. He had drawn out and rejected over a dozen ideas. The last idea to be rejected showed three interlocking circles, a representation of Master Worthan’s planning diagram. Cooper rejected it only because the image of the coins coincided with some of the lines in the Kinsman poem. Shortly after he’d announced that he would contract as The Kinsman, Master Worthan had provided him with a copy of the enti
re poem.
He seeks you where you’re hiding,
No matter where you go.
Wherever cruelty dwells,
The Kinsman always knows.
Fighting fire with fire,
Not pure of heart nor soul,
Bringing justice with him,
With eyes as black as coal.
With darkness in his heart,
But a beggars only friend,
Watching over you and I,
The Kinsman’s kith and kin.
With eyes as dark as night;
On your corpse he leaves your toll
One copper for your passage,
Another for your soul.
It’s said that blades can’t kill him,
Nor can an arrows flight,
He’s gone before you’ve fallen,
A whisper in the night.
It’s said he knows what’s needed,
Some say he’s called by strife;
He brings the dark for those deserving.
The quick release from life
It’s said he comes from common folk,
And heeds the proper call;
He chooses if you see him,
He chooses if you fall.
It’s said only Time can kill him,
and when his own soul lifts,
it goes and finds another,
to pass along his Gift.
Cooper had memorized the poem within a few readings of it. He’d hummed his way through it twice as he walked to the Smithy. When he got there, Master Loril was working with Dailen, showing him some advanced techniques. Cooper moved off to the side of the room and sat on a bench to wait. Master Loril glanced up, “Be right with you, Cooper.” His eyes flicked down to the paper in Cooper’s hand, “Is that what I think it is?” Cooper grinned, “I won’t pretend to know what you’re thinking, sir. But it probably is.”
When he handed the drawing to the large man, he looked at it, turned it over and announced, “It only looks right from one angle. Are you sure this is how you want it?” Cooper hadn’t really thought about that, but stated, “Coins have faces on them. Those only look right from one angle…” Master Loril nodded, “True. But from other angles, they’re still recognizable as faces. And it doesn’t matter what angle, everyone knows what coins look like.” Cooper’s expression became concerned and Master Loril hurried to say, “It doesn’t really matter, I suppose. You can make your token from any image you want. But most tokens I have made are viewable from any angle, on purpose.”
Cooper was frowning. He muttered, “I was trying to keep the token image simple.” Then his tone became hopeful, “Sir, what if I changed the angle of the coins? Making the one that’s propped up face out more? Then putting the vague image of a face on it…? Making it more obvious that they are coins” Master Loril was listening intently, “Well, that might certainly do it. They are coins after all, and that would certainly identify how the token is intended to be oriented, and it would provide something that makes it instantly recognizable… coins rather than a series of circles that only look like they overlap correctly when held the right way.” Cooper took out two copper coins and laid them down, one propped on the other, with the top one facing towards them. He stepped back and gestured towards them as he faced the big swordsmith, “That. Centered in a field of black lacquer. Do I need to draw it again?” Master Loril laughed briefly but managed to say, “No need, Mister Cooper. I think I have it clearly enough in my head.”
Chapter 26
With assignments complete, the temporary exclusion from classes was no longer in effect. Miss Camilla’s Anatomy class was nearly complete when she informed them that the class they were attending was Basic Anatomy. Depending on how well they had memorized the material, and how well they understood the ways that bodily organs and organ systems worked together, they might be able to challenge the Advanced Anatomy test. If they passed, they’d be awarded a passing grade for the class. Otherwise, they’d be attending the Advanced class. She assured them that it wasn’t a long class; most completed it within six months… or eight, if they hadn’t been paying attention in Basic Anatomy. Kolrem began studying harder, but Cooper wondered if he might not simply attend the Advanced Anatomy class without challenging the test. When he voiced this thought out loud, Kolrem started shaking his head, “Why would you choose to attend a class that you might avoid?” Cooper replied, “Just because I can probably pass the test doesn’t mean I know everything that I could learn in that class. Besides, from what Aden has said, Advanced Anatomy also discusses poisons and how they affect the body. In other words..-” Kolrem cut him off, “Got it. You want to know how all that works. Don’t fault me if I’m satisfied to let others mix up poisons and antidotes for me. They’re the specialists. I don’t enjoy leaning over a bottle of bubbling liquid.” Cooper winked, “Now that’s not entirely true, is it? I seem to recall you leaning over a kettle of stew on more than one occasion with a smile on your face.” Kolrem had the good humor to see how Cooper had played with his words. Chuckling, he answered, “Fine. But that’s hardly the same thing.”
Both Cooper and Kolrem had successfully tested and passed Mister Skran’s Advanced combat class. Cooper still spent an hour or two each day working on a few better-known sword styles, and both Cooper and Kolrem spent at least a half hour each day on archery or thrown weapons.
The training room somehow seemed more empty and he realized that was because Loryn and two or three other students had gone. Cooper recalled, a few weeks ago when Loryn had come to find him. Her expression was somewhere between excitement and dread, “They’re sending me away!” she said. Her voice expressed the dread, but her eyes glinted at the upcoming adventure. Cooper smiled, “Give Utsef my regards when you see him.” Loryn grinned, “Tell me about him!” He shook his head, “Nope. He’s someone you need to meet for yourself.” Her face had shown her disappointment and he’d added “Besides, any description I might give will either seem pale by comparison, or it’ll make you worry more than you should. Just be prepared for anything, and pay attention. Your lessons start the moment you enter the forest.” Loryn replied, “I spoke with Trea awhile ago, after she came back with that caravan from the Broken Lands, and she said that she’d heard a couple of the younger tribesmen talking about Utsef. It seems that Utsef has become an almost mythical figure. For several years, he had been a goal for many boastful young men; some kind of Rite of Manhood task.” She’d deepened her voice comically, “I shall prove my bravery by returning with the head of the traitorous Utsef!” They shared a chuckle and Loryn continued, “Apparently that practice has become less popular over the years. Either tempers have cooled, or maybe it’s the fact that anyone who has gone in search of Utsef has either come home empty-handed, or hasn’t come home at all.” She had paused and then asked, “Can you tell me about the forest, at least?” Cooper took a deep breath. The description would take a few minutes.
