by Lisa Shearin
“I’m not opposed to a little extra protection,” I said. “The only way I can protect myself from Nukpana and his like is by running or using the Saghred, or more accurately, letting it use me. It happened last night, and I never want it to happen again.”
“Then we’re in agreement. I’ll have a few of my men keep you under surveillance.”
“A tentative agreement,” I clarified, like I could stop him from having me followed. “I have family and friends who I won’t endanger any longer. Some are capable of protecting themselves; some are not. Nukpana wouldn’t hesitate to use them to get to me. I can’t allow that to happen, either.”
“The young spellsinger?” Eiliesor asked.
I nodded. I didn’t like the way Sarad Nukpana had looked at Piaras last night. I liked it even less knowing what I knew about Sarad Nukpana.
“I can provide protection.”
“Thank you,” I said, and meant it. “My family is taking care of it. But I do appreciate your offer.”
“I appreciate your cooperation.” His voice was oddly gentle. At least he seemed to realize that he had just turned what was left of my life upside down. I think he expected a fight from me. I would have liked to have given him one, but the truth was I needed to save my fight for when it was really necessary. Sarad Nukpana was out there.
“I’ll meet you tonight at a nightclub called Sirens off Heron Row in the Sorcerers District,” I told him. “Do you know it?”
“I do.”
“I’ll be there at nine bells.” I managed a grin. “With a few family members, of course.”
“Of course.”
I had one more question, but was more than a little embarrassed to ask.
The Guardian sensed my dilemma. “Yes?”
“How do I get back to where I am?”
I heard voices talking.
At first there was one, then I could distinguish two. Thankfully, I knew them. It meant I was waking up in the same place where I had fallen asleep. I liked it when that happened.
“Let me get this straight,” Phaelan was saying. “You tackled Chigaru Mal’Salin, kicked his guards, and later decked a sentry?”
I slowly opened one eye. The other side of my face was still firmly buried in the pillow. Phaelan was grinning from ear to ear. From the other side of the cabin, Piaras’s own expression was a perfect match as he nodded.
He was sitting cross-legged on Phaelan’s bunk. The bruise was fading nicely, the swelling all but gone. It looked like Phaelan’s ship’s healer had been in while I slept. Considering what had happened last night, he looked amazingly calm. While I still had the urge to keep him safe, I no longer felt as much of a need to protect him, if that made any sense. The Piaras who woke up on the Fortune was a more mature version. He wore it well.
So much for the kid being scarred for life.
Then I remembered where I had been, whom I had seen, and how I had seen him. I sat up, gasped and pulled my own covers up under my chin.
“What is it?” Phaelan wasn’t sure whether he should be alarmed or not.
“Nothing.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing.”
I glanced under the blanket, and breathed a quick sigh of relief. At least I wasn’t naked under the covers.
“Determined Guardian?” Phaelan chuckled, misinterpreting my reaction entirely.
“No.”
“Didn’t he try to contact you?” Piaras asked.
“He didn’t have to.”
Phaelan’s eyes went wide. “You contacted him?”
“I didn’t mean to, but I did.”
“Well, was he expecting you?”
I had an entirely welcome flashback to the sight of Mychael Eiliesor naked in bed. I felt myself flush. “I don’t think so.”
Phaelan noted my reaction and his grin turned wolfish. “Sounds like you had yourself some fun, cousin. Good girl.”
“Did not.”
The grin grew wider. “Liar.”
“Well, are you meeting him?” Piaras asked.
“I suggested tonight at Tam’s club. It’s public enough. I told Eiliesor I’d be there at nine bells, but I’ll be there earlier. After last night, I want to have a little talk with Tam about Ocnus and a certain goblin spellsinger.”
I looked out the porthole next to my bunk. It occurred to me that I had no idea how long I had been asleep. The low clouds outside didn’t help my guesswork any.
“What time is it?” I asked Phaelan.
“Just past two. You slept through lunch.”
Lunch. There was another wonderful idea. It ranked right up there with the promised safety of a certain Guardian’s protective custody. Custody that I’d turned down. I sighed and tossed back the blanket. While safety would be nice, I’d settle for lunch.
“Do you think you might be able to trust the Guardian?” Piaras asked. He sounded hopeful. So was I.
“I just might.”
Chapter 15
Phaelan and a few of his more socially presentable crew were my chosen escorts for the evening. I knew they wouldn’t be much of a deterrent if we ran into Sarad Nukpana, but everyone else we encountered suddenly preferred to be on the other side of the street. When we got to Sirens, Phaelan and two of his crew came inside with me and made themselves at home at the bar; the others stayed outside and covered the exits. Considering the way my luck had been running lately, it wasn’t all the precautions I wanted to take, but it’d have to do.
I thought I had arrived with plenty of time to have a heart-to-heart talk with Tam, but apparently I’d have to get in line. A reunion was underway in my favorite booth. Tam and a certain elven Guardian were chatting away like old friends.
I sauntered over. “I see you boys know each other.”
Neither looked guilty at being seen with the other, nor did they look surprised to see me. Normally, I’d smell a setup, but I was the one who suggested the meeting place, and it definitely hadn’t been under compulsion. But something was going on here, and I suspected it had everything to do with me.
“I know Paladin Eiliesor tolerably well,” Tam said with an easy smile. “The good Guardian helped me out of a sticky situation once.”
“And Primaru Nathrach once assisted me with a minor inconvenience,” Eiliesor said.
“Tonight, Mychael and I are sharing war stories,” Tam offered, his grin widening until his fangs were showing. “Raine Benares war stories.”
“Though Tam has more to share than I do,” Eiliesor said.
“But yours hurt more,” Tam countered. He looked at me, his expression pained. “You didn’t really kick him there, did you? I’m certain that wasn’t called for.”
“It was completely called for,” I assured them both, pulling a chair up to the end of the booth and sitting down. And I was thinking about doing it again.
“I have some questions for you,” I told Tam. “I was going to speak with you alone, but since you and the paladin seem to be such good friends, I’m sure you won’t mind if I just ask them here.”
Tam knew I was not amused, and I was rewarded with a flash of uncertainty in his dark eyes. Seeing them here together had thrown me a sharp left hook. The least I could do was return the favor.
I pushed on, not giving either one of them a chance to respond. “Has Paladin Eiliesor told you how I spent last night?”
“No, he hasn’t,” Tam said, his eyes on mine. “And you left before I returned. Kell’s explanation of your whereabouts was hardly enlightening.”
I looked at the stage, even though I already knew what was there—and who wasn’t. The musicians from the day before were playing, but one of them was conspicuously absent. I wasn’t surprised.
“Your new spellsinger isn’t here,” I noted.
“It’s early yet,” Tam said.
“Then he’s performing tonight?”
The goblin’s dark eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Of course. It’s the busiest night of the week.” He paused. “Why wouldn’t he?”
>
I shrugged. “I just thought he might have somewhere else to be. A second job, perhaps.” I watched Tam’s face carefully. “He didn’t show up last night, did he?”
The goblin’s uncertainty was blooming into something else, something darker. “No, he didn’t.”
“Did he tell you why?”
“I haven’t seen him—or you—since yesterday afternoon.”
“I was unavoidably detained, thanks to your missing spellsinger.” I kept my voice low. I wanted answers, but I didn’t want everyone in the place to know my business. “We were in an alley last night. He had a dagger aimed at Piaras Rivalin’s ribs.”
Tam went utterly still. “Perhaps you should tell me about your evening.”
“Perhaps you should tell me what the hell you’re trying to pull.” My voice was just above a whisper. I didn’t have to shout to attract attention. I already had it. Lorcan Karst had moved to stand a few feet behind his boss. A good manager knew the signs of trouble, and I wasn’t bothering to hide how I felt. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a pair of Guardians. I recognized the overeager, blond ax-wielder from last night. I didn’t recognize the equally large, dark-haired Guardian with him. Phaelan and his boys had left the bar and spread out to cover the Guardians.
Unless anyone sneezed, there shouldn’t be any fatalities.
Tam still hadn’t moved. “Piaras was harmed?”
“You care?”
He flinched as if I’d slapped him. “I do.”
I let out a breath, and leaned back in my chair. I released the edge of the table. My knuckles had clenched themselves white. I didn’t believe Tam was directly responsible, but when a Mal’Salin asked a favor, saying no wasn’t an option. They were Tam’s family. They were in town. And they probably had asked.
“He’s black and blue today, but he’ll heal.” The edge faded out of my voice. A little. “No thanks to your spellsinger. Or Ocnus Rancil. Or the Mal’Salin prince they’re both working for.”
That got the Guardian’s attention. “Tam, perhaps we should take this into your office.”
“I agree.” The goblin started to stand.
I stayed where I was. “I don’t. You have more than one exit from your office, Tam. I’d rather not be near any of them. I value my safety over anyone’s feelings right now.” I looked from one to the other. “I’m sure you gentlemen understand.” I gestured to the seats they just vacated. “Please, make yourselves comfortable.”
They sat.
Tam spoke first. “I had no part in whatever happened to Piaras last night.”
He didn’t mention me, just Piaras. A good sign that he wasn’t up to his neck in this, but it didn’t mean his hands were clean.
“But you knew about it,” I said.
“No, I didn’t.”
“I’d really like to believe you,” I told him. “There aren’t too many people I can trust right now. I’d like for you to still be one of them.”
His expression softened. A little. “I am.”
“Then I need you to start being honest with me.”
“Honesty is dangerous right now.”
“So are secrets.”
Mychael leaned forward. “We really shouldn’t discuss this any further in the open.”
I didn’t like it, but I had to agree with him. I waved Phaelan over.
“Would you join us in Tam’s office? Paladin Eiliesor feels the need for a little privacy.”
Tam was sitting behind his desk. I think he felt the need to have a solid piece of furniture between us right now. He knew what I’d done to Eiliesor. Phaelan let the two crew members who had come with us into Sirens know we wouldn’t be coming out for a while. They stationed themselves near Tam’s office door. I was sure they’d have plenty of Guardian company.
Tam had offered the hospitality of his personal bar, and Phaelan was taking him up on it. “Can I get you something?” he asked me.
“Sure.” A drink sounded like a wonderful idea. I was perched on the edge of one of Tam’s plush, overstuffed chairs and was feeling a little tense. Wonder why. I didn’t really think Tam had ordered me kidnapped last night, or that Mychael Eiliesor was going to do the same tonight, but caution had never been a bad thing for me.
I took the glass and a sip. The tang of Caesolian port burned with a cool fire. I had to hand it to Phaelan. When invited to help himself to a connoisseur’s private stock, he knew enough to go straight for the good stuff.
My cousin and his drink made themselves at home in another chair.
“Kell told me you went out for dessert,” Tam said quietly, his hands folded on his desk. “Would you care to elaborate?”
I looked at Mychael Eiliesor, my question unspoken, but obvious.
“Tam knows why I’m here,” Eiliesor told me.
I blinked. “He does?”
Tam was wearing a similar stunned expression. It was a look I’d never seen on him before, and unfortunately, I wasn’t in the mood to enjoy it. Apparently my involvement was news to him, too.
“Raine and I will be working together on this,” Eiliesor told Tam. He glanced at me, his eyes unreadable. “At least I hope that’s still the case.”
The beacon picked that moment to wake up and say hello. Tam’s eyes widened even farther. There was nothing like having a secret that wasn’t so secret anymore. Actually, it was a relief. And since everyone in the room knew my hand, I might as well put my cards on the table. I pulled the amulet out of my shirt.
Tam’s dark eyes were instantly riveted to my chest. It was familiar territory for them. “No,” was all he could manage.
I smiled. There was no humor in it. “Ta-da.”
“That’s impossible.” Tam found more words.
“It should be, but it’s not,” Eiliesor said.
“You knew?” Tam asked Phaelan, who amazingly enough was sitting quietly through all this.
My cousin grinned. “It’d be difficult not to. I was there when she got it.”
I stared hard at Tam. “I might ask you the same.”
“What?”
“How you knew.”
“That depends on what you mean by ‘knew’?” Tam’s response to a question was very often another question. It wasn’t one of his more endearing qualities.
“Tam,” I warned.
He glanced at Eiliesor.
“Tell her,” the Guardian said.
I set my drink aside. “Tam, I’ll make you a deal. You tell me all about yours, and I’ll tell you all about mine.”
The goblin’s lips curved into a slow, wicked grin. “And in front of everyone.”
My lips narrowed into a thin, angry line. “Just spill it.”
Tam sat back in his desk chair. “About two weeks ago, my former teacher arrived in town. She asked to meet me for dinner. Since we hadn’t seen each other in a few months, I didn’t think much of it. During dinner, she asked a favor. She needed a safehouse, something isolated and easily defensible. My family owns property that I thought would fill her needs. The other morning she was here asking to extend their stay.”
“You really need to hire a cleaning service, Tam,” I said. “Other than that, nice house, very impressive.”
The goblin raised one dark brow. “I beg your pardon?”
“Piaras and I were guests at your out-of-the-way cottage last night.”
His expression darkened. “I suspected who would be staying there, so I thought it prudent to ask her a few questions. Apparently, I should have asked more. What she did tell me, I really didn’t like, but it wasn’t enough to refuse her request. I probably should have. Was she there last night?”
“Not that I know of,” I said. “But her wards were. She left her prince in a cozy, well-protected nest.”
Tam frowned.
“Did she mention what they were doing in town?” I asked.
“She was predictably elusive on that point. Knowing about Sathrik’s visit told me that the less I knew about Chigaru’s visit, the better.”
“Did she ask anything of you other than your house?”
“No.”
“So she didn’t mention the beacon or the Saghred.”
“Not a breath. I found that out from Mychael.”
“Thanks in part to you,” Eiliesor told me, “things have moved faster than we anticipated. We’ve had to catch up. Fortunately, the Khrynsani are still a few steps behind.”
“I’m sure my former teacher thought I’d refuse to help if I knew the entire plan,” Tam continued. “She would have been right. She’s honorable and would never knowingly harm anyone, but she has the misfortune of thinking that Chigaru Mal’Salin shares her morals. I’ve met the prince, and while he’s a far superior alternative to his brother, he’s still a Mal’Salin. My teacher has been known to turn a blind eye in some instances.”
“He told me he only wants to keep the Saghred from his brother,” I said.
“You spoke with him?”
“It wasn’t my idea.”
I gave him the shortened version of last night’s events.
Tam was incredulous. “And you came walking in here by yourself?”
Phaelan cleared his throat indignantly. “Me and eight of my best men hardly constitute ‘by yourself’.”
“Could you or your eight best defend Raine from a Khrynsani attack?” Tam snapped.
“Could you get a spell past your front teeth when there’s a fist coming at it?” Phaelan shot back.
“My escort was more than adequate,” I told them both. “And Paladin Eiliesor has arranged for a pair of his Guardians to become my new shadows. The two waiting outside, right?” I asked Eiliesor.
“That was the plan.”
I spread my hands. “See, plenty of protection.”
“Why her?” Tam asked Eiliesor.
“I have a theory,” was all he said.
Since that theory involved a nine-hundred-year-old Guardian being my father, it was a theory I didn’t want to think about, so I changed the subject.
“What about your spellsinger?” I asked Tam.
