Pathfinder Tales - Shy Knives

by Sam Sykes

  The hiding place in question was a narrow passage between two old, stone buildings to the west of his dwelling. Sometime far in the past, the entrance to the passage had been bricked up to make the two structures seem one. The only way to still reach it was from the roofs above, which was how Daryus had stumbled on it in the first place. He had not expected to have to slide into it, nor had he expected the skeletons with the telltale chips in their ribs indicating death by sword. Now, though, what had been an unfortunate chance discovery was proving to be of use.

  For most people, the time needed to dispose of one body, let alone three, would have been measured in hours. Daryus managed to remove the first two in such quick order that he surprised himself. Only then did he realize just how well he had eased into his current life. His earlier existence suddenly seemed farther away than ever.

  Gritting his teeth, Daryus returned for the last. Not once had he seen anyone on the street, but he doubted his luck would hold much longer. With growing impatience, Daryus returned to the scene of the struggle … and found no trace of the last corpse.

  What he did find was a small and curious-looking animal sitting near where last he had seen the body. The long, sinewy mammal licked one of its forepaws, upon which Daryus noted small bits of dark moisture.

  The brown-furred creature raised its head to look at him. Daryus had not seen many weasels in this region, but knew what they looked like. This one was average in size and slightly wide in the mouth. There was nothing out of the ordinary about it save that its left eye seemed injured and twisted shut.

  Without warning, it scampered over to Daryus and started up his leg. Thrusting the dagger in his belt, the former crusader seized the vermin by the scruff of the neck and brought it to eye level.

  The weasel wrinkled its nose, but otherwise didn’t react. It seemed perfectly at ease dangling several feet above the ground as it stared with the one eye at Daryus.

  A quick survey of the area revealed no sign of either the intended victim or the last body. Daryus knew he had risked himself far too long for what he now felt was no good reason. Indeed, he began to wonder if perhaps he had been set up by someone intending either robbery or vengeance. Perhaps he had been the target all along.

  Remaining wary, Daryus abandoned the area, taking what precautions he could to keep from being followed by anyone. If in fact he had been set up by a rival, or had simply become the object of some thieving gang’s attention, he didn’t want company joining him at home.

  Not certain what else to do with the weasel, Daryus set it down and started off. He didn’t get far before realizing that the creature was following close.

  Daryus waved it off, but the weasel continued to follow. Its lack of concern for the dead or missing assassins suggested it hadn’t been a pet of theirs. Yet if it had belonged to whoever had cried out—assuming there had actually been someone in the first place—Daryus wondered why the animal’s owner had left it behind.

  Daryus’s abode was little more than a shack attached to the back of a warehouse. In the early days of the city, the shack had probably acted as the warehouse guard’s quarters. The warehouse had changed hands and functions over the generations, becoming now the front for a merchant of disreputable means. Daryus paid the man’s scarecrow of a daughter a month’s lodging at a time. He knew that they also saw him as an unpaid guard for their goods, for if something happened to the warehouse, then Daryus would lose his dwelling and the money he had paid out that month.

  Other than a creaking oak bed with a blanket to act as mattress, the lone room had only two other pieces of furniture. The well-stained table and accompanying bench were where Daryus spent his time when not sleeping. A half-empty bottle of foul-tasting red wine that reminded Daryus of the swill he had once drank in faraway Sauerton sat atop the table, looking inviting despite his familiarity with its sharply acidic taste.

  Just as he shut the door behind him, the weasel slipped through into the room.

  “No you don’t!” He made a swipe for the sinewy creature, but the weasel twisted out of range. It darted to the bench, leapt atop, then made its way to the table and the waiting wine bottle.

  Daryus pursued, only to pull up short as the weasel suddenly turned its one-eyed gaze back at him. The stare was so intense that the renegade crusader almost expected the animal to talk.

  Which it did.

  “You save Toy’s life!” it piped in the voice Daryus immediately recognized as the one calling for help. “You save Toy’s life, but now we must beware! They will seek to obey their master’s will! They will come again with more! We must leave this city!”

  Daryus reached for his sword. “What are you?”

  Toy impatiently shook its head, its single open eye never leaving Daryus. “No time to waste on foolish questions! Must act! Must act before he acts!”

  “Who?”

  The weasel hissed. It reared, revealing that it was definitely male. “An evil walking on two legs! An evil that will now come looking for both of us, Master … unless Toy and Master stop him first!”

  And then, without warning, the weasel opened his other eye as well—an eye simultaneously of fire and ice, blood red and bone ivory.

  A demon’s eye.

  The Pathfinder Tales Library

  Called to Darkness by Richard Lee Byers

  Winter Witch by Elaine Cunningham

  The Wizard’s Mask by Ed Greenwood

  Prince of Wolves by Dave Gross

  Master of Devils by Dave Gross

  Queen of Thorns by Dave Gross

  King of Chaos by Dave Gross

  Lord of Runes by Dave Gross

  Pirate’s Honor by Chris A. Jackson

  Pirate’s Promise by Chris A. Jackson

  Pirate’s Prophecy by Chris A. Jackson

  Beyond the Pool of Stars by Howard Andrew Jones

  Plague of Shadows by Howard Andrew Jones

  Stalking the Beast by Howard Andrew Jones

  Firesoul by Gary Kloster

  Reaper’s Eye by Richard A. Knaak

  The Worldwound Gambit by Robin D. Laws

  Blood of the City by Robin D. Laws

  Song of the Serpent by Hugh Matthews

  Hellknight by Liane Merciel

  Nightglass by Liane Merciel

  Nightblade by Liane Merciel

  City of the Fallen Sky by Tim Pratt

  Liar’s Blade by Tim Pratt

  Liar’s Island by Tim Pratt

  Liar’s Bargain by Tim Pratt

  Reign of Stars by Tim Pratt

  Bloodbound by F. Wesley Schneider

  The Crusader Road by Michael A. Stackpole

  Death’s Heretic by James L. Sutter

  The Redemption Engine by James L. Sutter

  Shy Knives by Sam Sykes

  Forge of Ashes by Josh Vogt

  Skinwalkers by Wendy N. Wagner

  Starspawn by Wendy N. Wagner

  The Dagger of Trust by Chris Willrich

  About the Author

  Sam Sykes is the author of the fantasy novels The City Stained Red, The Mortal Tally, and An Affinity for Steel. For more information, visit samsykes.com or find him on Twitter at @SamSykesSwears.

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  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Notice

  Inner Sea Region

  Taldor

  1. Sociality and Shackles

  2. Bathwater Deals

  3. Cold Coffins for Rich Men

  4. Digging with Our Hands

  5. Well-Dressed Blades

  6. Hoofbeats

  7. Centaur Politics

  8. Steel Whispers

  9. Drinking Solution

  10. Silk
-Collar Jobs

  11. A Rogue’s Diplomacy

  12. Perfumed Shadows

  13. Scars Left by Thin Knives

  14. Empty Bottles

  15. Knocking at the Back Door

  16. Bloodlines

  17. The Father of Fiends

  18. Safehouse

  19. The Sound of Thunder

  20. Skulkers

  21. Back-Alley Lullabies

  22. A Late Winter, A False Spring

  23. Into the Maw

  24. And Down the Gullet

  25. Stains on the Carpet

  Glossary

  Excerpt from Pathfinder Tales: Reaper’s Eye

  The Pathfinder Tales Library

  About the Author

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  PATHFINDER TALES: SHY KNIVES

  Copyright © 2016 by Paizo Inc.

  All rights reserved.

  Paizo, Paizo Inc., the Paizo golem logo, Pathfinder, the Pathfinder logo, and Pathfinder Society are registered trademarks of Paizo Inc.; Pathfinder Accessories, Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, Pathfinder Adventure Path, Pathfinder Battles, Pathfinder Campaign Setting, Pathfinder Cards, Pathfinder Flip-Mat, Pathfinder Map Pack, Pathfinder Module, Pathfinder Pawns, Pathfinder Player Companion, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, and Pathfinder Tales are trademarks of Paizo Inc.

  Maps by Crystal Frasier

  A Tor Book

  Published by Tom Doherty Associates

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  First Edition: October 2016

  eISBN 9780765384348

  First eBook edition: October 2016