“These are not my people,” the man said quickly.
“Who are you?” asked Tedi.
“I am the one you came to Valdo to talk to,” the black man said nervously. “May I come in?”
“You are Strangler?” Natia asked with an air of disbelief.
“I would prefer not to advertise that.” The black man nodded. “May I come in?”
“And close the door,” Tedi replied.
Strangler nodded and shoved the dead man with his foot. He closed the door and crossed the room with his hands raised in front of him.
“These murderers are not my doing,” Strangler said as he approached the Knights of Alcea. “Headman sent a message by ship that you two were coming to see me. Had I told my men about the message, you would not have been left in confusion this afternoon. I apologize.”
“Then who are they?” asked Natia.
“I do not know the one by the front door,” answered Strangler as he moved to check the face of the other assailant visible from the main room. He used his foot to turn the second thief over so he could see the dead man’s face. That was when he noticed the other three bodies. He whistled appreciatively. “Someone certainly wanted you dead. Have you made many friends since your arrival in Valdo?
“Renzler!” scowled Tedi. “I should have known he would try something like this.”
“The gem merchant?” questioned Strangler. “He is a nasty one. Most of what he sells is stolen. In fact, we sell him quite a bit of merchandise. You must have something he truly wants.”
“I have something for him,” snarled Tedi, “but it is not something he wants.”
“Do not kill him,” Strangler advised softly. “He deals with many important people in the city. His death would cause quite a stir.”
“I cannot just let this go,” retorted Tedi.
“Of course not,” smiled Strangler as he finished examining the bodies. “Go to him and threaten him, but do not kill him. Tell him that one of the murderers lived, and you are keeping him alive to testify against him. That will shake Renzler to his boots. He will not bother you any further.”
“Eventually he will discover the lie,” frowned Natia.
“Of course,” chuckled Strangler, “but by then Renzler will understand that you are not people to be pushed around. He will set his sights on someone easier.”
“Do you recognize any of them?” asked Tedi.
“Two of them,” answered Strangler. “One of them used to work for me until he was caught cheating us. The other is an idiot who likes to bully children. Neither of them will be missed by anyone in Valdo. The other three are probably drifters. I will have my men come by before morning to dispose of the bodies. No one will know what happened here tonight. Is there somewhere where we can sit and talk?”
“The office,” Tedi responded as he pointed with his staff.
Strangler nodded, and they all moved to the office and sat down.
“Headman tells me that you are here to work on Morro’s project. Is that true?”
“It is,” answered Tedi. “I will be in charge of the project in Valdo. Natia will be returning to Giza.”
“You plan to do both cities at the same time?”
“All four cities,” Natia replied. “There are others working on the other two.”
“The project for Valdo is ambitious enough,” frowned Strangler. “To think of hitting all four cities simultaneously is beyond belief. I am not anxious to lose my entire organization. For any amount of gold.”
“I will need very little from you,” Tedi replied. “I will get the elves out of the center, and I will get them out of the city. What I need from you are distractions and some logistics help.”
“What kind of logistics?” asked Strangler.
“I need an elf to speak to those inside the center,” answered Tedi. “Someone must warn them of what is coming, and prepare them for the time of action. I also need secure routes to move the elves within the city.”
“We will not be required to mount an assault against the center?” asked Strangler.
“It would take an army to break into the center,” stated Natia. “That is not how we operate.”
“This is getting more interesting by the minute,” Strangler responded. “Do you even know what the inside of the center looks like?”
“I have toured the centers in Giza and Farmin,” smiled Natia, “and I have seen how they react to emergencies. I would like to get into the Valdo center to verify that things are similar. Can you arrange that?”
“Not in a hundred years.” Strangler shook his head. “You have been inside two of them already? How?”
“I make friends easily,” Natia smiled.
Strangler laughed. He turned his attention back to Tedi. “We can create diversions, and we can help you with logistics, but our services do not come cheaply. Can you afford to pay?”
Tedi pulled the pouch from under his tunic and slid the diamond into his palm. Strangler whistled appreciatively.
“I would wager that is what Renzler was after.”
“We showed it to him yesterday,” confirmed Tedi. “He offered us five-hundred in gold for it.”
“He would even give me more than that for it,” stated Strangler. “He was trying to steal it from you.”
“That is what we thought,” agreed Natia. “We declined to leave it with him.”
“That is a valuable gem,” stated Strangler. “I do not know if you will find anyone in Valdo who can afford it.”
“Renzler said he had one potential client,” said Tedi. “I wonder if he was telling the truth.”
“He went to a lot of trouble to get it,” mused Strangler. “And I would wager a fair amount of gold to hire those men. I suspect that he does have a client in mind.”
“Then tomorrow we will ask him,” Natia smiled mischievously.
“Tomorrow will be here all too soon,” Strangler said as he rose to his feet. “Let me send some men over to dispose of the bodies so you two can get some sleep.”
“How do we contact you in the future?” asked Tedi.
“Use the noose on your door,” suggested Strangler. “My people will know your names from this night forward. I may also stop by once in a while to see how your plans are going, if that is acceptable?”
“Certainly,” agreed Tedi.
Strangler left the suite and Natia pulled the body away from the front door. Out of habit, she searched the man’s body and found one-hundred gold on him. Her eyes brightened and she quickly searched the other bodies. Tedi watched curiously.
“Renzler is a fool!” exclaimed Natia. “He paid each of these men one-hundred in gold to attack us.”
“Sounds like he planned to pay five-hundred gold no matter which way it went,” shrugged Tedi. “Too bad for him that his plan did not work.”
Chapter 16
Gem Merchant
When dawn broke in Valdo, Tedi and Natia were standing across the street from Jewels of the Sea. They watched Renzler open his shop and then crossed the street and entered it. The shopkeeper looked at the door expectantly when he heard it open, but his jaw fell as he recognized the people who had entered. He tried to cover his surprise with a smile, but his eyes showed fear.
“Ah,” greeted Renzler. “You have decided to reconsider my offer?”
“Something like that,” Natia said cheerily as she crossed the room. “Would you care to see the gem again?”
Renzler’s eyes brightened and his stiff posture relaxed. He nodded and smiled, so focused on Natia that he did not notice Tedi stealthily moving across the room so he could block the rear exit of the shop. Natia made a show of reaching under her tunic while the shopkeeper’s smile broadened. Instead of producing the diamond, Natia’s hand came out with a knife. She quickly brought it up in a threatening manner.
“We don’t care much for people who try to kill us, Renzler,” Natia snarled. “You should have known that Sidney Mercado hires only the best to safeguard his me
rchandise. Your five hired goons will never report back to you. Your mistake is going to cost you dearly.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Renzler replied nervously. “Why would I want to kill you? It must have been someone else. I had nothing to do with it. You must believe me. There are thieves all over Valdo. It must have been Strangler and his band.”
“Really?” taunted Natia. “Won’t Strangler be interested in knowing that you are trying to implicate him in the attack?”
“You know Strangler?” stammered the jeweler.
“An old friend,” smiled Natia. “In fact, his men helped dispose of the bodies.”
Beads of sweat formed on the jeweler’s brow. He backed away from Natia and turned, only to find Tedi standing with his staff ready to strike.
“You need to pay more attention to the lady when she is speaking,” Tedi said threateningly. “She doesn’t like to be ignored.”
Renzler turned back to face Natia. “Bodies?” gulped the jeweler. “You killed them all?”
“We have learned that it is wise to keep at least one of them alive,” Natia grinned wickedly. “I think watching you swing in public might even be better than slicing you up right here. What do you think Tedi?”
“I am torn about it,” shrugged Tedi. “I always enjoy watching you work, but I like public hangings, too. It’s your call.”
“Please,” begged Renzler, “I will make it up to you somehow. It was a stupid thing for me to do. I know that now, but I could never afford to purchase your diamond, and I know someone who would pay greatly to own it. Let me live and I will make you a huge profit on the stone. I promise.”
“Who?” asked Natia.
“She would never see you,” Renzler said, shaking his head wildly as beads of sweat sprayed all over the floor. “She will only deal with me. I must carry the gem to her.”
“That will be hard for you to do with no hands,” scowled Natia. “Who is the customer?”
“She won’t see you,” cried Renzler as he backed away from Natia until he hit the wall.
Natia stepped close to the shopkeeper and raised her knife to his throat. “I will not ask that question again. Speak.”
“Queen Samir,” the shopkeeper blurted out. “She is my finest customer, but she will not deal with anyone else.”
“Why would the queen deal with someone like you?” frowned Natia. “There must be dozens of jewelers in Valdo.”
The quivering shopkeeper kept his lips closed, and Natia pricked his neck with the tip of her blade.
“I get her whatever she wants,” blubbered Renzler. “If she sees a necklace at one of her balls, I make sure that it is stolen and brought to her.”
“Won’t the victim notice the necklace at the next ball?” asked Tedi.
“Of course she will,” answered Renzler, “but who will accuse the queen of stealing it? Everyone knows that Samir gets whatever she wants. Most citizens will not wear their best jewels near her any more.”
Natia backed away from the shopkeeper, and Renzler sighed deeply and wiped the sweat from his face. His arms quivered in fear and he tried to hide them behind his back.
“How do you get in to see the queen?” Natia asked.
“I am known to the palace guards,” answered Renzler. “They always admit me. That is why you must give the gem to me. I will sell it to the queen and bring back your gold. She is the only person in Valdo who can afford the diamond. You need me.”
Natia thought for a moment while the shopkeeper tried to control his rapid breathing. Eventually she smiled.
“You are going to write a letter of introduction for me,” Natia said to Renzler. “You are going to tell the queen that I work for a special agent of Sidney Mercado and that I have the most lavish diamond that you have ever seen. You will urge her to meet directly with me and to do so immediately before someone else buys the diamond.”
Renzler started to shake his head, but Natia gave him no time to think.
“You will write this letter now,” demanded Natia. “Do so and you will live.”
“Live?” balked the jeweler. “After I write the letter you will kill me.”
“No, Renzler,” smiled Natia. “If nothing else, I am honest. You will be allowed to live, and our past misunderstandings will be forgotten, with one exception. If you try to harm me or Tedi, or our reputations, I will come back and kill you. That is my promise to you.”
Natia made a show of sheathing her knife, and Tedi relaxed his posture. Renzler looked at each of them and slowly nodded. He hesitantly moved towards the desk expecting one of them to attack him, but the Knights of Alcea remained calm. The jeweler wrote the letter and handed it to Natia.
“Thank you, Renzler,” smiled Natia. “I think if we start this relationship over again, you will find us easy to work with. Have a good day.”
Natia turned and strode out of the building. Tedi followed her closely, and the pair headed towards the Greystone Inn. Natia veered off the street and into a shop. Tedi frowned in confusion, but he followed her in. An hour later Natia left the shop wearing an emerald green gown, and Tedi’s staff sported a small green banner on one end. Natia’s pack had been shoved inside Tedi’s pack.
“I feel silly with this,” Tedi complained as they walked towards the Royal Palace.
“Hush,” giggled Natia. “It matches my gown, and I doubt that anyone in the Royal Palace is knowledgeable about Tyronian court fashion. Just walk to one side of me and a bit behind.”
“What am I supposed to be?” asked Tedi. “Am I your bodyguard?”
“You have no sword,” Natia pointed out, “and we are trying to make your staff appear ornamental. I will call you an attendant and ignore any further questions. Just follow my lead.”
“Perhaps I could just stay outside,” posed Tedi. “I trust you to sell the diamond on your own.”
“This is about more than just selling the diamond,” Natia replied. “We are getting to meet one of the leaders of the Federation. I want her to meet you, as you are the one who will be staying in Valdo. Knowing her might get you out of trouble at some point in the future.”
“Not if she thinks me a lowly attendant,” frowned Tedi.
“Then I will introduce you as my husband when we get to the queen,” shrugged Natia, “but not before. I don’t want the Federation getting their hands on your staff, and if I have an attendant, they won’t search me for weapons.”
“You are crazy,” fumed Tedi.
“I know,” laughed Natia. “Here we go. Get into position.”
Natia led the way to the gates of the Royal Palace grounds. Two guards stiffened as they approached.
“Lady Natia of Tyronia to see Queen Samir,” Natia stated with a smile.
The two guards looked at one another questioningly. One shrugged and the other turned and ran towards the palace. He said something to the door guards and promptly returned to his post. Natia pulled an emerald green fan out of her sleeve and began fanning herself as if the morning heat was stifling, which it wasn’t. The day was a beautiful cloudless morning with a nice breeze coming off the Sea of Tears. The soldiers were used to seeing visitors who affected an air of importance, and they smiled inwardly at the woman’s feigned importance. After a few minutes of waiting, a soldier ran out of the palace and to the gates.
“Queen Samir offers you her apologies,” the guard said to Natia. “Her schedule is extremely full today. She promises to try and call upon you when she visits Tyronia.”
Natia frowned and folded her fan. She shoved the fan up her sleeve and extracted Renzler’s letter. “Perhaps you could show this to her. I will continue to wait until you return.”
The soldier took the letter and glanced at it. His eyebrows rose as he looked at Natia again. Without a word, the soldier turned around and ran back into the palace. Natia saw the two guards smirking. They were trying hard not to laugh, and she didn’t blame them. The role she was playing was based on some of the pompous women she had see
n in Tagaret, and she often secretly laughed at them, but she didn’t want to be seen as a threat by any of the guards at the palace. Were she to be perceived as a threat, the decision to keep her out would be made by someone other than the queen. Nearly an hour passed before the soldier returned and nodded to the gate guards. They swung the gates open.
“The queen has managed to free up just a few moments, Lady Natia,” stated the soldier. “If you would follow me.”
The Knights of Alcea followed the soldier into the palace. They were shown to an elegant sitting room, and the soldier disappeared. Moments later the doors were opened and half a dozen soldiers entered the room. They spread out with swords drawn and stared at the two visitors. A moment later the queen swept into the room. Natia curtsied and bowed her head. Tedi bowed low in a sign of respect. Queen Samir was dressed in a beautiful yellow gown studded with jewels. The necklace, earrings and rings the queen was wearing would have fed ten-thousand people for a year. Natia scowled inwardly, but she projected a warm smile to the queen.
“What a lovely gown,” the queen commented dryly.
“Thank you for seeing me,” Natia said as she rose. “I know your time is short, but I have something that I think you might be interested in.”
“So I gathered,” replied the queen as her eyes examined Tedi. “Have your man accompany my guards to the kitchen. They will feed him there.”
“He must stay,” Natia replied. “He is my partner. Besides, Sidney Mercado requires a witness to all transactions, especially on something of this nature.”
“He does not trust you?” frowned the queen.
“He trusts me explicitly,” explained Natia, “but I am not yet a fully certified special agent. Rules are rules, Queen Samir. I take no offense from them.”
The queen looked at Tedi again and frowned. Eventually, she turned to her guards and waved them out of the room. “Show me what has Renzler so excited.”
Natia stuck her hand towards Tedi. Tedi dutifully retrieved the pouch from under his tunic and extracted the diamond. He placed it in Natia’s hand. Natia approached the queen and held her hand out. The queen inhaled sharply as she saw the diamond. She reached out and took it from Natia’s hand.
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