The Ruby Guardian soa-2 Page 3

  Bartimus loved those chairs, with their deep cushions and matching footrests, but he had not been invited to sit, so he stood in a corner, leaning against a bookshelf and watching enviously.

  I need to get a chair like those for my own rooms, the mage thought. Good for reading.

  "Well, I expected the Mestels to jump at any chance to upend the Matrell household. Obiron the bastard became quite an insult to his half-brother Aulaumaer Mestel, because of all the success House Matrell enjoyed. Old Manycoins has always wanted to see Obiron's descendants dropped right back into the sewers whence they crawled, a fitting end to their upstart ways. So yes, Falagh was eager to get in good with his great uncle by contributing to the downfall of House Matrell."

  Grozier nodded and shrugged.

  "And yet you are still unhappy," the Grand Trabbar said reproachfully, replacing the statue and turning to face his accomplice. "Our army is in the field, sweeping all rivals out of the Nunwood. Sufficient funds are in place now to control the logging industry. We can move forward with our plans, but you sit there and brood."

  Grozier snorted as he took another swallow from his mug, then he set the vessel down rather abruptly upon a side table, sloshing some of the dark liquid onto his hand. "That whelp Matrell has ruined my reputation in the city," the man said in disgust, rising and beginning to pace. "I went from being the architect of a magnificent business alliance, standing on the verge of greatness, to a near-prisoner in my own estate, all in a matter of three days. Now next to no one will consider doing business with House Talricci. All the creditors are demanding immediate payment for my other ventures."

  "A minor setback, nothing more," the Grand Trabbar replied, moving to sit in the other comfortable chair. "With such a sizeable army already in our control, these new funds are more than enough to keep the mercenaries loyal to us for the entire campaign year. Remember, it is not a simple plan we've constructed, and you must have patience.

  "We've made it seem like the city of Reth has finally thrown down the gauntlet at Hlath, indeed all of Arrabar, over logging rights. You know that soon enough, Hlath will be forced to respond. All we need now are to get the druids angry enough at both sides to divert the Emerald Enclave's attention from anything else. With a full-scale war raging all along the coastal border of the Nunwood, our own lumber operations elsewhere will be in high demand. Your coffers will begin to fill to overflowing soon enough with the high price of lumber, and when that happens, the creditors will be clamoring for your investments once more. Nothing remains frozen for long in the business dealings of Arrabar."

  Grozier snorted. "That's easy for you to say," he replied dryly, still pacing. "Your role in all of this has been carefully cleansed so no taint is visible. Underlings stepping beyond their bounds, business associates blundering without your knowledge. The whole city isn't clamoring for your head on a pike right now."

  "You're fortunate your head is not already on a pike," the priest scolded, folding his fingers in his lap. "You could still be locked in the cells at the bottom of the temple. At least here, you are safe and untouchable. You have doubled the guards, as I suggested?"

  Grozier waved the question away impatiently. "Yes, yes, the estate is safe. No one is going to slip onto the grounds without being seen. And Bartimus here has even established some magical alarms to inform us if someone tries anything more subtle."

  "Then all you need to do is be patient until the furor dies down. None of the other Houses in the city truly care what you have done. They only cry for justice to keep attention away from their own dealings, equally questionable operations that should not suffer the harsh glare of public scrutiny. You're simply the news at the moment, nothing more."

  "I suppose you're right," Grozier said at last, slumping down into his chair once again. "But it burns me nonetheless. I do not take well to humiliation. House Matrell needs to feel a little of that for a change."

  "And they will; I assure you," Grand Trabbar Lavant said, leaning forward and placing a hand upon his ally's arm. "They will have their due. We will make sure of it."

  "But how?" Grozier asked, looking disgusted once more. "Hetta's brood seems to have nothing better to do than to attempt to spy on us and everything we have in motion. And I cannot believe that Kovrim Lazelle hasn't proven to be more of a thorn in your side."

  "Do not worry about Kovrim, or Vambran," Lavant said coldly. "I already have signed the orders to have them both shipped on a mercy mission to a sister temple in Cimbar. With Kovrim away on campaign, he can't snoop around in my affairs. Once Mestel's 'friends' deal with the two of them, they won't be a problem any longer."

  "Good," Grozier said, though he still sounded grumpy to Bartimus.

  "You will also be glad to know that my latest divinations seem to confirm what I foresaw the last time we spoke. Everything is falling into place for even more support for our cause."

  "Truly?" Grozier asked, an eager gleam appearing in his eyes. "And you have the backing in the temple to take advantage of it?"

  "I believe so," Lavant replied. "We will know soon enough. In the meantime, we must get a better handle on what House Matrell is up to if we hope to take advantage of any weaknesses. Divide and conquer is our motto, but even with Vambran and Kovrim out of the way, Hetta and her gaggle of women can still be a problem. We need someone on the inside to convey information back to us on what, exactly, they are planning, so we can mete out suitable counter-strokes."

  Grozier began to nod even before the priest was finished. "Yes, I have been thinking about that. I think I know just who will help us."

  "I thought that might be your answer. Will she cooperate?"

  "Oh, yes. I'll insist on it." Grozier answered, smiling for the first time all evening.

  Darvin Blackcrown stared down at the lights of the city from his perch atop the vine-covered walls of Academia Vilhonus in the Governor's District. From such a vantage point atop the bardic college's main library, he could observe much of the lower city, all the way to the docks, as well as the Generon to the north. In contrast, Darvin's own hiding spot was deep within the shadows of two eaves of an upper floor of the building. No one would think to look up from the library grounds some forty feet below, but even if one did, one would see nothing but shadows.

  It was Darvin's favorite retreat, that spot atop the library, and he rested there against the steeply sloped roof, content. He kept his feet braced against a crumbling chimney and reclined against the tiles-still warm from the sun despite the nighttime hour-just staring down at the city. No one could bother him there.

  Are you alone? came a voice in Darvin's head.

  So much for not being bothered, the man thought wryly.

  Yes, he replied, glancing over at the Generon for a moment.

  You haven't visited in several days, the voice said, a hint of irritation present.

  Darvin sighed but tried to keep his own irritation out of his thoughts. I've been busy, he responded. Too many people looking for me.

  Do the others suspect anything?

  No, Darvin answered. Talricci still trusts me. He has no idea.

  Good. The voice was silent for a few moments. Are their plans still moving forward?

  As far as I know, Darvin replied. They went to meet with the Pharaboldis tonight, trying to convince the woman to help them.

  Excellent, the voice said, and pleasure radiated through the mental connection. And how are you staying useful to him? How are you making sure he needs to keep you around?

  Darvin nearly laughed out loud. Don't worry about that, he replied. Keeping the Matrell family off his back is work enough. I'm making myself very useful.

  All right, the voice replied. Stay close, but don't let him suspect. I need to know if there are any more snags.

  Have I let you down, yet? Darvin asked, feeling a little put out at being tutored like a schoolboy. Don't worry; Lavant is keeping things right on schedule. And he knows I report it all back to you.

  He'd better. This
will all fall down on his head if it doesn't work.

  Darvin shrugged. If you say so. Is there anything else?

  No. Just don't be a stranger.

  Darvin smiled. I sort of thought you wanted to keep your involvement with this a secret.

  I do.

  Then trust me to stay away when there's a chance someone might follow me.

  All right. I'll check with you again in a few days.

  Fine, Darvin replied, but the mental connection was already gone. Darvin sighed and glanced back over at the Generon again.

  Then the man the rest of the world knew as Junce Roundface settled his head back onto his interlaced fingers and began once more to watch the city below.

  CHAPTER 2

  10 Mirtul, 1373 DR

  Mulled wine sprayed over Xaphira Matrell as a hurled mug shattered against the wall just behind her, but the woman ignored it. Even the slightest distraction would likely earn her a split lip or black eye. The hulking dock worker who had cornered her needed little excuse to take a swing, and from the size of him-he was easily a head taller than she-any punch that connected would definitely leave a mark. As it was, the bald fellow was grinning stupidly, flashing a smile that showed several missing teeth. He had both meaty fists up and clenched, eager to fight. He seemed oblivious to the rest of the tavern brawl raging behind him. Xaphira eyed the brute warily, balanced on the balls of her feet, watching for that first sign, that first flicker of flexing muscle, that signified an attack.

  It had been about a dozen years since Xaphira had last visited The Silver Fish, and the rathrur hadn't changed much in all that time. It still stank to high heaven, the drink was still watered down, and brawls were still a regular occurrence. For a moment, the mercenary officer wondered if even the patrons were the same since the last time she had paid a call to the place.

  Now I remember why I haven't come in so long, Xaphira thought wryly, twisting and easily ducking beneath the first great sweeping punch delivered by her foe. The regulars never were much for welcoming outsiders.

  Xaphira saw a second punch coming and sidestepped again, letting the huge fist rush past her cheek before she stepped inside the man's reach and planted a solid jab right into his nose. She heard the snap of crunching cartilage from the blow, but his head did not otherwise move much. The woman danced back out of reach again as her adversary blinked a couple of times. A trickle of blood appeared from one nostril, but he didn't seem to notice.

  Waukeen, he's big, Xaphira thought. Why did he pick me?

  If anything, the fellow seemed to smile all the more. He took a step toward her, swinging again.

  Xaphira ducked to avoid the punch and glanced out at the rest of the room. Everywhere, men and women were scuffling. One stocky woman, still wearing her blacksmith's apron, grabbed a younger man by his collar and belt-a stable groom, judging from his clothes-and sent him flying through the air to crash into a table where several other patrons were laughing. The table collapsed from the blow and sent drinks flying.

  Recovering her balance, Xaphira stood upright again and watched as another dock worker grabbed up a wooden bench and lined up for a swing against the back of her own foe. Moments before, the two of them had been sharing frothy tankards and laughing uproariously at the crude song the minstrels had been performing.

  Stupid bards, Xaphira thought, grimacing in disgust as she watched the bench shatter across the back of the behemoth in front of her. Half the crowd always loves their songs, and the other half hates them. No better way to start a fight than to let a musician sing. And these two don't even need that much of an excuse, she realized, watching as the big fellow blinked in confusion at the new attack, half turning to see what had hit him. His former drinking partner just let out a joyous shriek and grabbed another bench.

  Seeing her chance, Xaphira went very low and launched herself into a roll that moved her out of the corner and past the two dock workers. The maneuver got her out of the immediate confrontation between the pair, but it also put her into the middle of the common room and the fracas roiling throughout it. In one smooth motion, the woman tumbled into a crouch and came up on her feet. She found her balance just in time to spot another body flying through the air directly toward her, a skinny runt of a man with bushy muttonchop whiskers.

  Xaphira could not react quickly enough to completely evade the living projectile, though she altered her center of balance just enough to avoid taking the worst of the collision. As the pair of them went down, Xaphira spied the blacksmith back along the skinny man's path, laughing as she finished the follow-through on her throw. Then the mercenary officer and the man were in a heap on the floor of the rathrur.

  Grimacing in frustration, Xaphira rolled out from beneath her counterpart and dodged sideways. The man struggled to his hands and knees just as a table came crashing down on top of him. She heard him grunt in pain as the heavy table knocked him flat, but she didn't stay to share in his fate. She kept on rolling until she was well out of the way then sprang to her feet again, looking for shelter from the rapidly expanding brawl. By that point, most of the patrons had either succumbed to the commotion or where in full riot, and platters, mugs, benches, and chairs flew in every direction. Xaphira spotted a relatively quiet corner near the stage. At the moment, it was occupied by the three minstrels, who cowered behind a half wall where a door led into a private section of The Silver Fish. She darted in that direction.

  One of the three musicians saw her coming and let out a shriek. He fumbled for something in one of the voluminous sleeves of his gaudy shirt, producing a dagger just as the mercenary officer arrived. The bard clumsily jabbed at the woman, who narrowed her eyes as she shifted her weight enough to evade the ill-aimed blow. Xaphira then drove the heel of her palm against the back of the fellow's balled fist, shoving the dagger right along the path it was already taking, giving it enough extra momentum that she easily embedded it into the wood of the half wall.

  "Fool bard," Xaphira muttered to the man, who stared at her wide-eyed. "Don't you know the difference between a tavern brawl and a real fight?" When the terrified fellow didn't respond, Xaphira made a sweeping gesture with her hand out toward the middle of the taproom, where the fisticuffs was still in full rage, though she never took her eyes off her counterpart's. "Do you see anyone else with real weapons in hand?"

  The bard gave one quick shake of his head.

  "That's right. At the moment, it's just a bunch of idiots having fun the only way they know how. But the moment you draw steel in here, all the rules change. And you're not ready to play by those rules, believe me. Now keep your head down before you get it taken off by a table."

  Xaphira turned away from the minstrel and back toward the fighting. Beside her, the musician swallowed hard and shrank back even further into the corner, almost seeming to try to hide behind her. Snorting once in disgust, she scanned the perimeter of the room until she spied what she was looking for.

  A middle-aged man stood leaning on the railing of the second-story balcony that ran along the entire length of the opposite side of the common area. He was watching the commotion with a bemused smile on his clean-shaven face, holding a mug of something as he rested his folded arms on the balustrade. His thick, curly brown hair was thinning a bit on top, and his skin was ruddy and wrinkled from long hours in the sun. The laces of his tan shirt were loosened, and the fabric was faded in certain spots, showing the darker outline of an absent breastplate. The blade on his hip showed a well-worn grip, a pair of sapphires set in the pommel. Xaphira remembered it, and him, even after almost twelve years.

  Quill. You've hardly changed at all, she thought.

  When the man noticed he had caught her eye, his smile deepened, an expression of genuine joy, and he casually raised his mug in a toast and gave Xaphira a nod. The woman returned the smile and began to map out a way to reach him.

  Unfortunately, the stairs were on the far side of the room, which meant she would have to cross through the middle of the fight.
Her original behemoth of an adversary was still clumsily sparring with his drinking mate, both of them with sloppy grins on their faces. From the look of things, the rest of the room had all but given up tangling with those two, for numerous groaning or comatose bodies had formed a rough ring around the pair. Everyone still standing wisely chose to remain well back of the makeshift barrier.

  Shrugging her shoulders, Xaphira stood and began to sprint forward, headed directly toward the second fellow, who had managed to find yet another intact bench and was happily swinging it from side to side, keeping his larger companion at bay. When he saw Xaphira approaching, he set himself and drew the bench back, ready to swat at her with all he had. The mercenary gauged the distance, and when it looked about right and the brawler began to swing, she leaped high into the air.

  As Xaphira sailed across the open space toward the two dock workers, she kicked out with both feet, planting them directly on the surface of the bench. The jolt of her weight and momentum reversed the bench abruptly, sending it back into the wielder's face. She had anticipated the shift, and she kicked hard off the bench, sailing to her right and landing on a table.

  But she didn't stop there. Without pause, she launched herself across the table and up, angling her body toward a large post along one side of the room, one of a series of columns that supported the ceiling high overhead. With yet another great kick, she managed to push off the column, driving herself higher into the air, up toward the balcony of the second floor. As she reached the balustrade and planted her feet along the edge, she reached out and grabbed for the top of the railing.

  Her momentum failed her there, though, and her fingers barely brushed the smooth wood without managing to get a grip. Xaphira felt herself beginning to teeter back away from her perch, and she was just beginning to windmill her arms and twist her body back around to recover some semblance of dignity with her fall, when she felt a hand close tightly on her wrist. She felt the tug of being pulled upright and spun back to face her rescuer.