Thread Slivers (Golden Threads Trilogy) (25 page)

Duke chewed the meat, letting the blood drip down his face for effect. He could eat as delicately as any courtier, but he was in a foul mood and it wasn’t getting any better. At times like this Ladro had to admit it was motivating to Duke’s staff if Duke let his baser instincts show a little. Swallowing, Duke said, “You have identified the various routes between the two, correct?” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes, M’lord. There are only two possibilities: the longer but safer street path, or the shorter, being a cut-through alley that went almost directly to the Dolphin.”

“Vestul was old, lazy, and probably as tired of this blasted heat as I am myself. He took the shorter route.”

“The tobacconist’s information agrees, and she was the last to see Magus Vestul that we know of.”

Standing up Duke, nuzzled his bag over his shoulder from the hook it hung on. “Take me there now.”

“M’lord, the Princes asked, most strongly, that you not involve yourself directly.”

“The Princes can go to hell. This is my friend, and I roamed this little ‘burg’s streets thousands of years before those brats were born. God damn it, I helped
build
this fucking ‘burg! If it hadn’t been for the damned climate change, this would still be my primary residence! It’s time those brat Princes learned they are not as all-fucking-powerful as they think they are! And full time this ‘burg was reminded it’s not as big as it thinks it is!” Turning, he kicked the door open so hard that it flew from its hinges and embedded itself in the far wall. “Now are you going to show me where your incompetent fools got lost, or do I have to roam the through the entire ‘burg pulling these pitiful people from their beds to get my answers?”

Realizing there was no way to stop him, Ladro stepped out into the hall, grabbing his own cloak and shooing off the staff who had come to inspect the loud noises. Duke followed him out, snarling mad, with blood still running down his chin. A few of the newer staff actually took to heel at the sight.
Lords… this will take some smoothing over later.

Together they headed towards the main doors. As they approached, the guards needed no warning to open the doors or the gate; both stood open, with eight guards at parade rest, four on each side. As Duke and Ladro exited the mansion, the guards snapped to attention. Ladro pointed at the four outside and indicated the direction they were going to take. The guards jumped into action, moving to warn off any carriages or pedestrians.

“Now see, that is damned good training, I like that.” Then, looking at the guards remaining behind, Duke bellowed, “Are you waiting for an invitation from the Princes? Close the goddamned gates and GET BACK TO WORK!” The four remaining guards leapt to comply, especially motivated since it would cut them off from Duke and his foul mood.

At least the sun has set and it is cooling, hopefully that should ease some of Duke’s mood
. Looking at his master Ladro saw anger in his eyes, and worry.
Duke isn’t used to worrying, especially about his oldest friends.
He quietly led his master through the city, with the four guards effectively getting carts and people out of their way; a few people screamed and ran, while others stood petrified at their passing. Many looked back and forth between him and Duke trying to ascertain exactly what was happening.
He’s right, this city has forgotten him.

They reached the arit and tobac shop in just over a mark.
Well, Duke at least makes the trip fast
. The blood on Duke’s chin had either dried or he had licked some of it off. Either way he had shifted to quiet fuming instead of the loud, panic-inducing fuming, for which Ladro was very happy. He pointed at the shop as they approached. “That is where the tobacconist who last saw Vestul works.”

Duke walked up to the little shop with its fenced-off patio and tables. Duke sniffed the air. “No, it can’t be!” Duke jumped the little fence easily and yelled, “Dardalph! Get your lazy ass out here, and stop making me wait!”

A muffled cry came from inside the shop, followed by a crash like a stack of plates or mugs being dropped onto a hard stone floor. A short woman, who looked more like a barrel, came running out of the café. “Duke! Gadriel’s teeth!” She ran faster than Ladro thought possible straight into Duke, slamming with an audible thud into his side. The woman immediately commenced laughing, patting his sides and hugging his front legs. Duke, in turn, lost his emotional control and was actually wagging his tail. The first two swings tossed a table into the street and some chairs towards the store.

Dodging back a little to stay out of the path of the tail, Ladro waited and watched.
Well, that is something I’ve never seen before. Wonder how long they have known each other.

She started speaking a language Ladro had never heard before. Not unsurprisingly, given his thousands of years of roaming, Duke knew the language. The two of them had an excited conversation and all the while she alternated between patting Duke’s sides and hugging his legs. All the patrons at the shop sat perfectly still, trying to not be noticed by the large intruder into their previously normal evening.

After the initial conversation started to slow, Duke’s demeanor shifted back to the fuming mood he had arrived in. The lady became serious too and give him a lot of details as she pointed at various chairs and then across the street at an alley not far down; she also mimed some things and made signs with her hands which Ladro could not comprehend.

Duke actually licked her face once before jumping back out onto the street; then he looked at all the patrons, the guards, and Ladro. “If anyone here mentions my actions I’ll use you for my next meal — especially you, Ladro.” Looking at two of his guards, he said, “You two, put that table back in her yard.”

Just ignore the threat. He really was surprised and the happiest I have ever seen him, including when I read him the letter from Vestul.

Duke moved with a purpose towards the alley and as he entered it he put his head close to the ground and sniffed back and forth. “There you are, you old bastard, now where did you go?” Duke continued to sniff as he moved down the alley, stopping from time to time to explore the wall or examine something. Raising his head, he looked at one of the rear guard. “Yilla, run back to Dardalph’s shop and ask to barrow a pair of lanterns.” The guard needed no further urging, and bolted to obey. “Good boy, that one.” Putting his head down, Duke trotted along the alley, snuffing like a bloodhound.

They had just moved through an elbow section when Duke stood straight up and sneezed. Then he put his nose down again and moved very slowly. “No! Surely not, no. How could that be? I thought a ransom or draining. No! No! Nooo!” The guard was just coming back with the lanterns as Duke sat down and jerked his head to the sky, letting out an awful howl that shook dust from the walls and caused Ladro’s ears intense pain. The guards and Ladro involuntarily pressed their hands over their ears, trying to block out some of the anguished howl.

At last, Duke looked down again at the spot he had been investigating and stood. He was angrier than Ladro had ever seen. He paced, and his mouth moved as if ranting with occasional obvious snaps of teeth like rending something apart. Ladro couldn’t hear what his master said because of the ringing in his ears, and he felt relieved by this. This was not Duke of Greyrhan, the laughing story teller and gambler; this was something fearful, something that came out of a nightmare. Duke’s teeth were bared while he paced. He snapped, he howled again, though not as loudly, and he raged. As the ringing in Ladro’s ears abated, some of what Duke was saying started coming through. Ladro wished it hadn’t, because Duke was talking in dozens of languages and Ladro was sure he was working through his complete vocabulary of profanity, curses and tortures.

By the time Ladro’s hearing was good enough to clearly make out what Duke was saying he wasn’t saying a word. Duke had sat down and was staring at Ladro and the guards with cold steel eyes. No one moved. After a while Duke snuffled the air and asked very softly, in a tone that sent shivers down Ladro’s spine, “Can you hear me now?”

Ladro nodded. Duke motioned to the guard. “Yilla, bring those lanterns over here. Ladro, take one. You stand here, next to me, and you, over there.” Yilla moved to comply, as did Ladro.

Duke then stood and went over every detail of the alley methodically. He found a grey clay pipe bowl and some brown paper, he found some violet cloth bits, he licked the wall and ground in places. He also found the scents of several people. He breathed especially deep of one scrap of violet cloth. After about a quarter-mark Duke turned and headed out of the alley, his head down, following some scent. He didn’t speak a word, and his eyes remained wide with a burning anger.

The guards and Ladro followed silently as Duke traced the scent straight to the Blue Dolphin. Duke didn’t pause, he simply walked through the doors, knocking one off its hinges and splintering the other. The sound naturally drew the attention of everyone present. No one moved. Duke stood in the doorway, smoke from the room pouring out around him to the heavens. Duke sniffed at the air, sneezed, and sniffed again.

A dozen warriors already had weapons out but held still. Duke stared at the occupants while they tensely awaited his next action. A number of Daggers who had weapons out put them away and waited for Duke.
Well at least the Daggers remember who he is.
It only took a moment before Genne reacted. Genne came out from behind the bar. “Here now, what do ya thin’ yer about?”

Duke’s eyes narrowed and he walked straight at Genne, who stood his ground. Genne was a large man, but Duke still towered over him easily by two hands. Ladro was amazed that Genne could so stoically stand, staring up into Duke’s eyes full-on. He also noticed a number of Daggers tensed, with hands on weapons, at the scene.
Guess if you have your back covered by the very best it would be easier. Still it takes courage and self-confidence to stand against Duke. Of course the real questions are: do they prepare to back Duke or Genne; if Duke is still credited with creating the Daggers; and if they remember he can command the actions of the alliance?

“Magus Vestul was my friend, and I am going to personally shred anyone I find out was involved with his murder.”

“Duke please, we don’ traffic in dat sorta work. Ya should know dat.”

“A lot can change in a few hundred years.”

Genne actually stood stiffer and taller. “Not da rules.”

“Boy, don’t talk to me about your rules! I was here when we laid them out. Someone here knows what happened and possibly why. I am going to find this person.” Duke looked at the silent room. “Daggers out, you’re hired, all of you. Find out who killed Magus Vestul in Drillian Alley. Find out why. Find out who paid for it. Twenty crowns for each answer, ten crosses a week each. Get moving!”

Ladro watched as six Dagger teams stood, pulling their daggers from the holders, each calling out their acceptance.

Duke looked at the ones who didn’t accept coldly. “Very well, each of you are to report to me personally in the morning. Any other Dagger that wishes to accept has one more day to report in.” Duke looked at Genne. “You can take damages from my counting. I’ll be back, and I expect my table to be prepared.” Turning, Duke walked out of the Dolphin. “It’s time to remind this hellishly hot little ‘burg who helped fucking build it.”

Once they were a good distance from the Dolphin, Ladro sensed Duke was in a slightly better mood. Very quietly he asked, “Sir, why didn’t you just identify the person you followed there?”

“Because someone there was smoking damned carmine-laced tobac. I won’t be able to identify any odors for at least three days; it will be at least two weeks before I can track by scent again, three or four before I am back to my full tracking ability.”

“Sir, shouldn’t we have told the Daggers where to come to report in?”

Duke actually laughed at that. “Ladro, if they can’t find me to report in, I don’t want to hire them.”

Chapter 9

Daggers in the air

A
WOEFUL HOWL RATTLED THE WINDOWS and shocked Lebuin wide awake. Sitting up, he saw in the thin light coming through the barely cracked shutters that Ditani was already peeking out the window as the howl continued.

“That sounds like it is just outside the window.”

“No, M’lord, but the few on the street are covering their ears. It must be tremendously loud out there. These are thick windows and walls.”

Getting out of bed, Lebuin stumbled to the window in the near darkness. Looking over Ditani’s shoulder he saw a few people on the street begin to run away. The howling stopped, but it was followed by the occasional bark of a dog. A sense of dread came over Lebuin.

“Do you think that has something do with us? Could it be a demon hound summoned to track us?”

Ditani slipped around him. “I don’t believe in demon hounds. Whatever it was it has stopped, and we are safer than most here. This has been a very trying day. With your leave, I’d like to get back to sleep.”

Closing the shutter tight, Lebuin moved carefully in the dark back to his bed and lay down.

One day only since I was drinking hundred-year-old sharre with the head of the Guildhouse. All I wanted was to roam the library freely, to try to find new ways to improve the independence incantations. I was such a fool to not have seen all that was there.
He traced the scar in the middle of his chest with his finger.
I almost died today. All that passed before was nothing; today I truly fought for my life. If I had given up I wouldn’t be here. Who — or maybe better, what — was that entity that helped me? I am sure I was in the ethereal realm. Was that a God? I wonder if it was Argos Himself.

Lebuin walked the day in his mind, unable to sleep.
The High Priestess used some kind of powerful artifact on me to help me live. I remember there were others there too. Powerful women. I am sure one was the High Priestess; the other that waited, perhaps that was Ticca; so who was the third powerful woman? There was a very powerful man too. This would be easier if I were still there, my mind was so clear. There were so many stories and books on metaphysical or spiritual travel and meditation in the library. I really wish I hadn’t just shoved them aside as a waste of time. If I live I can examine them and maybe find a way to purposefully move between the realms.