Liavek 8

by Will Shetterly

  At that point, a short woman in a shapeless cloak entered, holding a glass of pale wine. She had an attractive V-shaped face and amazing blue eyes, and when she pulled the hood back her hair was the startling light color of the Farlands.

  "I'm the Margrave of Narnitalo," she said, sitting down next to Rye.

  "Cheeky. I own this place."

  "Rye. Good day, Narni."

  She started. "You know me?"

  "I've seen you many times at your Temple. I pull—pulled a footcab. I had no idea you worked for Dashif, though."

  "Oh." She bit her lip. "Did you work for him, then?"

  "I spied for him, especially along Wizard's Row. I also ran errands. I don't know how they found out about me."

  Cheeky spoke up. "They've broken His Scarlet Eminence's codes, and Dashif's. They know all of us by now except me, and I doubt that I can last long. That's why I've brought us together. I hope they don't know all of his means of getting messages to his agents. If they do, Arenride or one of his men is liable to show up."

  Narni shuddered. Rye made no response.

  The curtain parted again, and an old woman entered, nodded to those assembled, and sat down next to Cheeky, across from Narni. She sipped from a steaming cup of kaf.

  Narni studied her and frowned. "Aren't you Myglynn? Didn't you clean the Levar's chambers at the palace?"

  "Indeed, mum, I am."

  "I had no idea—"

  "Ah," said Rye. "I've heard of you. I've carried messages all over the city that originated with things you've discovered. I'm Rye."

  "Narni."

  "Cheeky."

  "How are you getting along?" asked Narni.

  "Not well. I've been discovered by Arenride, and I've been in hiding for a week. He wants to arrest all of Dashif's agents, and I'm too old for prison, and I don't know how to get out of the city."

  Narni nodded. "Nor I. I've tried. They killed Bilthor when he tried to sneak out one of the secret ways, and they almost caught Gerin at Drinker's Gate."

  "Almost?" said Rye. "He escaped?"

  "So I've heard. He led them a merry chase through Old Town, but—"

  "And a merry chase it was indeed," said a tall, very dark-skinned gentleman in a yellow silk dress robe and gold-laced sandals, who carried a walking stick in one hand and a brandy snifter in the other.

  Cheeky said, "You are Gerin?"

  "I am."

  "Yes," said Myglynn slowly. "I've seen you around the palace, haven't I?"

  "Quite, madam," said Gerin. He sat down next to her and addressed the woman at the opposite end of the table, "You, I know, are Cheeky, our gracious host. These others I'm afraid I don't know."

  "Narni."

  "Myglynn."

  "Rye. I've heard of you. I believe you were involved in blackmail for Dashif?"

  Gerin sniffed. "I should prefer to say that I gathered information from those not disposed to give it—"

  "That's what I did, too," said Narni, her odd blue eyes twinkling.

  "—and that I did these things for the good of the city."

  "The city," said Myglynn, her gnarled hands clenching, "no longer appreciates our actions."

  "Well, certainly the Three Sisters don't."

  "I wonder," said Rye, "which one actually wants us imprisoned. It must be one of them: Arenride wouldn't go after us on his own, and I doubt the Levar cares."

  "Probably Geth Dys," said Narni, who always followed politics closely. "His whole church has hated Dashif for a long time. Something about a message they were trying to send the Levar that he intercepted."

  "Yes," said Rye. "I think I heard something of that." He sighed. "Well, there are worse people to be facing than Arenride. He's honest."

  "Does it matter?" said Narni.

  Rye shrugged.

  The curtain moved once more, and a plump, middle-aged woman came in. She carried a small glass of whiskey with water and sat somewhat hesitantly next to Myglynn, across from Gerin. Myglynn smiled and said, "Teci, aren't you?"

  "Why, yes, how do you know?"

  "I've bought peaches from you, many times."

  ''I'm sorry. There are so many—"

  Gerin said, "You worked in the market, didn't you? Amassing information?"

  Cheeky said, "Yes, I recognize the name. You were Dashif's first choice for everything that happened anywhere near the market, or among the merchants, or—"

  "Oh, posh," she said, blushing. "I just listened to gossip and passed it on to him."

  "And," said Gerin, "occasionally put out a word or two that he wanted spread?"

  "Well, maybe. But who are all of you? I got a message from the bird, which I didn't think anyone knew about, but—"

  "I sent the message," said Cheeky.

  "Very well, and I certainly recognize you, dear, and I love this place. And of course, I've seen the Margrave of Narnitalo in the market. I remember her the day of the Massacre, talking to those two nice young—"

  "There is no need to discuss it," said Narni.

  "All right, dear. But I don't know the rest of you."

  "I am Gerin."

  "Rye."

  "Myglynn."

  Cheeky cleared her throat. "Well, then, since we—"

  The curtain moved once more, and a large man entered. Very large, the sort of man who must be careful with his hands lest he crush anything he takes into them. His skin was pure ebony, his robes were white, and well, if not finely, made. His hand dwarfed a large goblet of water.

  Cheeky said, "Ynnd i'Drssail. I've seen you in here with your men and heard you called by name many times, but, by the Daughter, I had no idea you were one of Dashif's."

  "Ah ha," said Myglynn. "So this is the Caravaneer. Sir, I've heard the late Count speak of you highly."

  The one called Ynnd looked at all of them, his eyes narrowing. Then he said, "You, Rye, I know, but I do not know what you are doing here."

  "I worked for Dashif, as, I'm certain, did you."

  "Dashif. Yes." He pronounced the name oddly, with the accent on the second syllable. He shrugged. "I am a trader. I sold him information. I'd have done as much for anyone. Now I find that this has made me a criminal, and I am hunted and unable to leave the city. I do not understand why."

  "That," said Cheeky, "is why we're here."

  "I do not know most of you."

  "Call me Cheeky. This is my establishment."

  He bowed his head.

  "We seem," she went on, "to be short one chair. If you would move to the back and wait, good sir, I will fetch another. "

  Ynnd moved to the back of the room as she'd asked, then said, "How may I trust all of you, when goodman Rye is the only one of you I've seen, and I did not know he was one of Dashif's trusted men?" He spread his palms.

  Gerin shrugged. "My dear sir, how may any of us trust any of us? We all know for whom we worked; it was hardly an occupation to inspire trust, was it? But there you have it. I am Gerin."

  "I am Myglynn."

  "Teci."

  "I'm the—mmm, just call me Narni."

  Ynnd frowned. "I have heard of you. Dashif spoke your name once, as the one to whom I was to have a certain note sent concerning a Zhir emissary."

  "Oh, that came from you?"

  "Indeed."

  He bowed to them, his fists before him. "The bird reached me," he said, "when I had never thought to see it, yet I feared at first to answer it."

  "I was pretty scared, too," said Teci. "But what else could we do? Every day, I heard of someone else being captured and put in prison, or even killed. We have to do something. Where the devil is Cheeky, anyway?"

  Narni said, "I hope she has—well, here she is."

  Cheeky returned, carrying a chair. She frowned, looking at the rather cramped room. Gerin stood and said, "Allow me to assist you."

  "Thank you, Gerin, but perhaps it would be easier to simply rotate a chair down, rather than passing it over everyone's head. I'd hate to have anyone damaged."

  When this wa
s done and everyone was at last seated, Myglynn sipped at her kaf and addressed Cheeky. "We need to know—"

  "Ah. Of course. Why I've called you here. It is very simple. I have a boat which is large enough to brave the Sea of Luck, but quite likely small enough to escape detection. That is hard, you know. The harbor is lousy with naval vessels."

  Ynnd's eyes narrowed. "All of that is not for us, is it?"

  "I don't think so," said Narni. "I think the Three Sisters are worried about the Zhir."

  Rye said, "You'll need help handling this boat? I warn you, I'm no sailor."

  "I am," said Cheeky. "Unskilled hands will be fine. I only need three or four of you to help with the boat, but I will turn no one away"—she smiled here at Myglynn—"and the boat is large enough for passengers. Food is prepared; I only wanted to find three or four who could help and would under no circumstances turn me in. That was why I found all of you, who are in the same predicament."

  Ynnd nodded slowly. "I have never been on the sea, yet I think I can do what is needed. I will help you."

  Myglynn frowned. "I can hardly help steer a boat. I am thankful that you will allow me to escape with you, but why did you ask me?"

  Cheeky shook her head. "You don't understand. The birds were set up by Dashif as a means to reach as many of his agents as he could in case of some dire need. They fly about, and anyone recognizing their flying pattern signals them in the proper way, as all of you did, and then they are able to take the message. I had no idea to whom the messages would go. I merely hoped that Arenride hadn't learned of the method, so they would only go where they ought to."

  "Is there any way to know if they have?" asked Rye.

  "Indeed yes. The birds return, and either the message has been properly acknowledged, or not. An agent of Arenride might be able to read the message, but I doubt he would know how to return it to its sender."

  Narni nodded. "So you were able to know, if not exactly who, then how many of us were going to show up."

  "That is correct," Cheeky said cheerfully. "There were five acknowledgments. Therefore, there were five messages received by agents of Dashif."

  "But, good heavens," said Gerin. "Then one of us—"

  "Exactly," said Cheeky, still smiling. "One of you is in the service of the Regents, and is only here to betray the rest of us. Would anyone care for another drink?"

  After a moment's silence, Gerin took a sip of his brandy and said, "Charming."

  Narni said, "I am not unarmed."

  "Nor am I," said Rye.

  "I am," said Gerin. "Completely unarmed." He smiled as he said it, and his eyebrows twitched.

  Ynnd flexed his powerful hands and said nothing.

  Teci said, "What shall we do? Are they going to come in and arrest us all?"

  Cheeky shook her head. "I doubt it. Not before they find out what we're up to. They're probably hoping to find and catch a few more of us."

  "But Arenride," continued the fruit-vendor. "His agents may be outside."

  "Oh, I'm sure they are." said Cheeky. "But they don't know where we're going, and I certainly don't intend to leave by the front door."

  "Then how?" asked Rye, coolly.

  "We shall see," said Cheeky.

  "With all due respect," said Gerin. "Needn't we come up with some method of determining which one of us is working for the Sisters?"

  "Why'?" asked Cheeky. "We are now waiting for the tide to be in, which shouldn't be much longer. Then we, as a unit, will leave here by a secret exit and go down to the boat. If any of our party attempts to leave, or to signal anyone, we shall kill him. We are, after all, six to one. Then we will set sail and eventually achieve freedom, and then go our separate ways. At this time, Arenride's agent will be free to return to his master."

  Rye smiled and nodded, as if he appreciated the humor of her plan.

  Teci shuddered. "I'm scared," she said.

  "I'm afraid," said Rye, "that we cannot allow you to leave."

  Cheeky's eyes grew wide, as if it had never occurred to her that someone might think that she worked for the Regents.

  "What we need," said Gerin, "is for Rikiki to appear, as he is supposed to have done for the slaves in Gold Harbor, and part the Sea of Luck again."

  Cheeky shrugged. "That shouldn't be necessary. Besides, we are going to Gold Harbor, not escaping it."

  Myglynn said, "I wish there were a way to know which of us—" She stopped as if she couldn't bring herself to say it. For a moment she looked very uncomfortable; her breathing quickened and she held her hand to her chest. The others looked at her, worried, but at last she smiled and shook her head. "I don't know what that was," she said weakly, "but I didn't like it." Then, as if embarrassed, she dropped her eyes to her lap. Her coffee was almost gone.

  Narni suddenly said, "Mightn't the agent have a magical means of signaling for help?"

  "Possibly," said Cheeky. "But while I was out of the room getting the chair, I had Ried, my magician friend, raise a quick but effective spell to prevent any such communication. We will all be gone by the time it fails. And, I'm sorry to say, so will this tavern." She sighed.

  "What do you mean?" said Teci, hoarsely.

  "I mean," said Cheeky, "that as we leave, the tavern will be quickly evacuated, and Ried, to whom I have just given a large sum of money, will blow the place to bits. This will help cover our escape, as the authorities will believe that we have all died, perhaps in a struggle with their agent."

  This time Ynnd laughed aloud. "Was this planned from the beginning?"

  "Hardly. I arranged it when I went out for the chair."

  Still sitting, Ynnd bowed very low, as one who acknowledges a well-placed stroke. Upon raising his head, he came fully to his feet, a knife in his hand that was as long as a normal man's forearm. There were gasps from around the room, but no one moved.

  "You!" said Narni. "But—"

  "No. I am not a traitor. But I will share no boat with an enemy. I will learn now who he is, and he will die."

  "Just exactly how," said Narni coldly, "are you going to learn that?"

  He frowned. "It cannot be the lady who has called us here, for she would not have told us of the spy; she would only have the guards waiting to arrest us. That leaves six. I know it is not me—"

  "But I don't know that," said Rye, and he was suddenly holding a small, compact wheellock pistol. Before anyone could move he had wound it, and the barrel was fixed at Ynnd's head. They glared at each other, scant inches apart, Ynnd towering over the shorter man, but the pistol looking very large, indeed.

  "So, it is you," said Ynnd, growling. He didn't drop his knife, merely stared, his dark eyes burning.

  "I think it's you."

  Myglynn shuddered, clenched her fists, and seemed to try to draw into herself. Narni turned pale. Gerin and Cheeky sat, apparently unmoved.

  Teci said shrilly, "This is stupid. Rye, put that thing away before it goes off. And you, Ynnd, stop waving that around or you'll cut someone. If anyone has any good ideas on how to find out which one of us—" She stopped suddenly and stared hard at Cheeky.

  "What is it?" said Ynnd.

  Teci shook her head. "I have to think." She closed her eyes for a moment, during which time Rye and Ynnd continued to face each other down, neither of them moving. Teci opened her eyes again and stared hard at Cheeky. "You've taken care of everything, haven't you?"

  "Yes," said Cheeky, "except the problem of convincing all of you that I have."

  ''I'm convinced, dear," said Teci. "Is the tide in by now?"

  "I think it is."

  "Then give the signal and let's go."

  Cheeky nodded, stood, and stuck her head past the curtain for a moment, then returned and nodded again. The wall directly behind Ynnd opened, revealing a ladder to what had to be an underground path. Still, Ynnd and Rye didn't move.

  Teci said, "Do you both agree that two of us aren't likely to be agents of Arenride?"

  Ynnd nodded grudgingly, but Rye said, "Why
not?"

  "Oh, come now," said Narni. "At this rate we'll all be working for the Three Sisters except you."

  "Very well, then," said Rye. "What of it?"

  "Well," continued Teci, "I say that it is neither of you."

  "As do I," said Cheeky.

  "Is that enough?" said Narni. "Can we leave?"

  "How do you know?" said Rye.

  "The building is being evacuated," said Cheeky calmly. "In just a few minutes, it will blow up. Shall we leave?"

  Rye growled, lowered his pistol, and let the lock unwind. Ynnd put his knife away, then turned and took the ladder down. Rye followed him, then Narni. At that point, there was a sudden cry. "Excuse me, but I seem unable to move from this chair."

  Cheeky turned. "It's not your fault, my dear Arenride. It's the nature of the chair."

  The one who had been called Gerin relaxed. "Ah. You recognized me, then."

  "No, deduced it. I'm afraid I haven't time to talk now, however. I'm sorry."

  She quickly vanished down the ladder, followed by Myglynn, who moved very fast for all her age. Teci was last, and when the fruit-vendor reached the bottom, Cheeky pulled a rope and the door closed above them.

  "This way," she said. "Quickly," and they set off down a long, low, sloping dirt hallway. They had only gone a few score of feet when they were rocked by an explosion above and behind them. There was hardly a pause. Narni and Rye both squeezed Cheeky's shoulder as they made their crouching way toward the waterfront. Other than that, there was no mention of the tears Cheeky shed for the tavern that had meant so much to her for so many years.

  •

  The friendly tide took the dinghy out as the last rays of the sun turned the water to blood. The oars, wielded by Ynnd on one side and Teci and Rye on the other, made almost no noise. Cheeky stared forward, on the constant lookout for other ships, ships that might contain those with orders to detain and arrest renegades from the late Count Dashif's private network of informants, spies, and blackmailers.

  When, after a long time, they reached the small, single-masted skiff in which they hoped to cross the Sea of Luck, they raised sail, and Cheeky directed them away from Liavek and toward safety. They didn't breathe easily until they could no longer see the lights of the harbor.

  "You knew who it was when you first left the room, didn't you?" said Narni.