Thread Slivers (Golden Threads Trilogy), page 16
Lebuin’s blank look told her he had never heard of that. Not really surprising, and, unless you work with Daggers, it won’t really make sense. Ditani didn’t say anything but he didn’t have the blank look that Lebuin sported. Her Uncle’s voice reminded her, ‘There are only two kinds of people that understand Daggers: Daggers, and the enemy; everyone else has a second-hand opinion.’ “M’lord, you may relax; a Dagger Home is guarded by all the Daggers who live and hire out of it. It will not be violated for fear of retribution. The last Knife who tried to kill in a Dagger Home was sent back in multiple small boxes and that launched an all-out attack by every Dagger in all the lands in every city against the Knives’ Guild. Their entire Guild was nearly destroyed and most of the best Knives were dead before they apologized and swore to never again violate a Dagger Home. No soldier, Blade, Knife, guard, or spy will be anything but polite and respectful of privacy inside a Dagger Home.”
“Are you saying Daggers are better than Blades, spies and Knives?”
“Most Daggers will tell you that Daggers are the best there are. It’s true that Daggers are forged over years of training and experience; however, there are masters of other professions just as cunning, experienced and deadly. There are many more Daggers than there are of any other mercenary for hire. Also, Daggers have an ancient, traditional tie to each other. Our trainers instill a deep love of being a Dagger as well as a total commitment to the Dagger ideals of honor, courage and commitment. Daggers are more than friends or family, we are united by our commitment to each other and a history older than you would believe, going back into the time of legends. The soldiers, guards and Blades respect each other and talk about being a band of brothers. But Daggers mean it. We have a code, we have our secrets and we look out for each other. All others know this and tread lightly because of it.”
Lebuin still looked unconvinced, but he walked over and sat down. As he took the mug of arit offered by Ditani, he stared at her. “You killed the mugger in the alley last night in mere seconds. You probably killed the Knife in the hospice too, didn’t you?”
“How do you know about the alley?” She didn’t bother to confirm the latter.
Looking a little embarrassed, he took a drink before answering. “I was watching from the Guild library. I was going to help, but you killed him before I could cast a single spell.”
Ditani was looking back and forth between them. “You mean you knew her before today?”
Lebuin nodded. “I knew of her, that is why I chased her in the marketplace. I wanted to meet her, I thought …” he trailed off and didn’t continue.
Amused, Ticca prodded, “You thought what, M’lord?”
Lebuin leaned back. “Well, I thought maybe I could introduce myself, I really hadn’t thought much past that. It’s just you dress so amazingly, and the way you went from victim to assailant… I knew you had to be something special. I felt a strong need to meet you. I was more right than I knew.”
Ticca’s cheeks felt warm and she knew she was blushing. She noticed Ditani had an odd look on his face, and was covertly taking in the size of her room. You know what this room and that table mean, don’t you, old man? Why are you hiding it? “Thank you.” Time for work, concentrate on the problem. “We have a murky situation. Let me summarize it and if anything is missing we’ll all add in the missing pieces we know, nothing held back, no secrets, your lives may depend on it, agreed?”
Both men looked down and thought about it. They have almost the same habits, and given their features, they might even be family, Ticca mused. Finally, they looked at each other and said, “Agreed,” in turn, Lebuin first. Agreed as far as you are willing to go, at least. Hopefully what you hold back won’t be too critical. Ticca thought about it for a moment then looked at Lebuin. Digging into what she knew about the Guild from her training, she filled in a few gaps in what Ditani had told her earlier.
“You just earned your badge of Journeyman, and have to go work in the field for some time looking for interesting ideas or uses for magic, you have some more important or powerful rival at the Guild who is hiring Knives to do what he cannot be caught doing himself. You never expected to be out in the world, and haven’t prepared for it in any meaningful way.”
Lebuin nodded. “Magus Cune isn’t hiring Knives, he placed a sizable bet that I would survive with a ‘lower class person of influence’.”
“Which has the same results, just this would at least look like a friendly gesture. If you don’t know the person is disrespectable or criminal, really a sinister move, cunning, too… and you,” she continued, looking at Ditani, “just swept into town a couple of days ago with your master, and planned to have a pre-arranged meeting with a Duke about something, but he never told you what… Your master disappeared, without a trace, missed the meeting, and now has you, Lord Lebuin, and agents of this Duke out scouring the city looking for him.”
Ditani nodded. “All of those things are true, and Master Lebuin offered to help, as he is in need of a path and hoped Magus Vestul might provide some guidance.”
Interesting that you admit that you knew Lebuin’s motives were not entirely altruistic. “Got it. Now as to myself, I have been working here at the Blue Dolphin for about six cycles for various merchants. I just finished a commission for my previous patron last night. Which, by the way, was why I was attacked and had to kill the Knife in the alley; he was involved with that affair and was going to try to capture and kill me. I was planning on taking some time to relax, when you were nearly taken out by that Knife in the market. From there I think we know the events pretty clearly.”
“All except what you were doing today, and what happened to the Knife in the hospice.”
“Yes, M’lord, true. Well we fought, he lost. I back-tracked the Knife to the location of his commission, and then I verified that this place was being watched by the elements who sent him. I pretended to be wounded so they would underestimate me.”
Both Lebuin and Ditani leaned back in their chairs to consider that information. Ditani broke the silence first. “You haven’t mentioned what you found out about Master Vestul.”
“Ah, yes. Well I did track him. He did everything he told you he was going to do. Then on his way back here he was killed by a Knife, and his body was disposed of using Night’s Fire.”
Something passed over Ditani’s face. He doesn’t look very surprised. Ditani’s features degraded as he took in the news, shifting to looking stricken. Covering his face, he sobbed quietly with tears spilling down his cheeks. Lebuin put his hand on the other man’s shoulder and simply waited. Lebuin suddenly looks very wise. These are a strange pair. The fresh recruit officer taken under the wing of the old sergeant friend, that’s the basic relationship. But, there is more here. Ditani wept harder and fuller when he though Lebuin was dying, and this display for Magus Vestul is more like weeping for a friend who died after a prolonged illness. Not unexpected, but still hard to take.
After some time, Ditani regained his composure and sat drinking his arit and eating a pastry while Lebuin and Ticca swapped details of their recent experiences.
“I understand why you took those boots off the man, but I can’t figure out why you just left them at the hospice.”
Pointing at her boots that she still wore, she asked, “What are you talking about? These are the boots here.”
“No, they can’t be. The boots you had on in the hospice were patterned shades of grey that would have matched that cloak the attacker was wearing perfectly. These boots are amazing too, but they are tan and brown fur, which is a good match for what you have on now.”
Ticca looked at the boots. Could they have yet another marvel? First they fit, then they climb, then they heal, then they move as silent as bare feet, and now he is saying they change to match what I am wearing? Lady, where did these come from?! Taking them off, Ticca tossed them to Lebuin. “You’re the wizard, can you tell me? I swear these are the boots I took off the man, the same boots I have been wearing since last night.”
Lebuin caught the boots. “These feel unbelievable…” He looked them over closely. “They are amazingly clean considering you have been wearing them around town.” He turned them over and examined the making. “I didn’t realize we had the same-sized feet.” He slipped them on and stood.
“You’re right, they are amazing to wear.”
Ticca was watching in shock as the now obviously larger boots shifted almost imperceptibly to a darker shade of brown, matching well with the pants Lebuin was wearing. Oh my, they do change to match. I hope I can get them off him now.
Lebuin sat back down and took them off easily, handing them over as if he handled such marvels every day of the week. I guess he is used to these kinds of things.
“Truly useful.” He watched her closely as she put them back on. “Must be a simple spell based on coloration sampling. They also have the same cleaning incantations I use. The resizing to match the wearer is a really interesting trick. When I get my powers back I would love if you’d let me examine them a little more closely.”
“Only if you promise to not harm them. They might be simple for you, but to me they are a Godsend and I thank the Lady for them.”
“Oh of course, I just need to walk the enchantments for a few weeks to see if I can understand what they are doing, and possibly to learn a new pathway. That man who attacked you was certainly well-equipped. Do most Knives have cloaks that blend with shadows, boots like this, and burn to nothing when killed?”
Ticca snapped straight up, spilling some arit. “What do you mean burn to nothing when killed?”
“Well after you left, something in his pouch caught fire and it spread to consume his whole body. Leaving just the cloak, which being magical in nature might be a bit harder to damage than ordinary items.”
“He had Night’s Fire in his pouch? Is that what was smoking?”
“I’m sorry but I thought you said fire in the night earlier. What is Night’s Fire?”
“It’s a tool used by Knives that burns only the victim and any organic items, leaving almost nothing but some ash which is easily blown or washed away.”
“Interesting, must be a rather unique set of chemicals. I’d love to get a sample. But, yes, I believe you describe exactly what happened.”
Ditani had been staring silently past them both for some time. Standing up, he pointed and asked accusingly, “Where did you get that pouch?”
Looking back at her bed, she saw her pouch was sitting on the far side by the armoire. “I got that from the same Knife that attacked me last night. Same man who had these boots and the cloak Lord Lebuin has hidden in his room.”
Ditani rushed past her and picked up the pouch, examining it carefully. “This is Master Vestul’s pouch. I have put it away for him many times.”
Standing up, Ticca stepped over and looked at the pouch in Ditani’s hands as if new again. “Well it was on the Knife that I killed, he must have taken it from Magus Vestul when he killed him. I am very sorry, as he was a Knife, I figured there was zero chance of anything valuable being returned to a proper owner. So I took what I thought might be of use.”
Ditani looked at the boots. “Those must be Magus Vestul’s, too! They were a gift from an old friend of his. He treasured them and always put them up neatly.”
Looking down, Ticca nodded. Damn. Well they were nice while they lasted. I can’t keep them, though. “That explains why the Knife was so well-equipped; he had just taken all the best a powerful wizard had to offer. Ditani, I am truly sorry. These then belong to Vestul’s kin, or to you as his servant.” Taking the boots off, she held them out to Ditani.
Ditani looked at her for a moment and she could see in his eyes, he knew the code she had to adhere to. He shook his head and looked down to hide a smile of satisfaction. “Magus Vestul had no kin in the world and they would better serve you.” He held out the pouch. “This pouch included. So by the right of blood revenge I give them to you freely. They are yours.”
He is an odd fellow, for sure. Thank you, Lady, I really didn’t want to lose these, and he has given me a clear conscience in keeping them. Ticca slipped the boots back on. “Thank you, truly. Yet I am still confused. I don’t understand how a Knife could kill such a powerful wizard. Until today I thought, like everyone, that you were mostly invulnerable to weapons.”
Lebuin was quiet for a few minutes and then he said quietly, “There are ways to penetrate a mage’s defenses.”
Ticca took the pouch back to the chair and cautiously opened it to the compartment with the papers. “If this is Magus Vestul’s pouch then these are his notes, or letters, or something. They might give us a clue as to why he was targeted... for Ditani’s sake.” Handing them to Lebuin, Ticca sat down as he started to examine them.
Ditani sat back down too and looked over the papers with Lebuin. “These are the letters from the Duke. The others look like the master’s quick notes, the ones he took before he would commit more careful notes to his research journal.” As Lebuin moved through the papers, obviously able to read what they said, Ditani looked startled. “And those are the notes that Magus Gezu had me take to Master Vestul a few years back.”
Lebuin looked up. “Well, these are intriguing hints at some significant discoveries. The letters from the Duke indicated Magus Vestul was coming here to share his latest research with the Duke for safety. Don’t ask, I don’t know what that means. It is just that the Duke in one letter agrees to ensure their safety. These papers were going to be handed over to the Duke.”
“What about Master Vestul’s key? He put it in the pouch when we left in the morning.”
Ticca shook her head. “It isn’t there now, most likely; it was left in the alley where the Knife burned up. It couldn’t be destroyed by Night’s Fire.”
Lebuin shook his head. “No, it wasn’t there. The rain washed the ash away almost instantly and I took the cloak. Are you sure it isn’t stuck in a seam?”
Ticca shook her head, then stopped. I didn’t pull everything out of the vial compartment. “No, not exactly, but I didn’t search completely.” She covertly shifted to the vial compartment while putting the pouch on the table between them. Opening it, she pulled the vial case out, as well as a few scraps of paper; and there under the paper was a Dolphin key similar to her own. Holding it up triumphantly, she exclaimed, “And here is his key then, as it isn’t likely to belong to the Knife. Problem is we don’t know the code to get in.”
“I do,” Ditani said.
Chapter 8
Keys open paths
TICCA AND LEBUIN BOTH LOOKED at Ditani for a moment before asking simultaneously, “Should we go in?”
Lebuin asked, “Would Genne care if we looked in that room?”
“Genne has a hard policy about spying and thieving, M’lord.”
Lebuin looked uncomfortably at Ditani. “Weren’t you staying with Magus Vestul here?”
“Yes I was, in Magus Vestul’s room.”
“Ditani, that is perfect! It isn’t stealing, or spying because it was a shared room, and Magus Vestul is dead. You said he didn’t have any relations that would claim his legacy, right?”
Ditani looked pained. “Master, he was more to me than just an employer, I knew him well and we grew to be good friends... to speak so plainly of his murder.” Ditani’s eyes watered as he spoke.
Need to pull him along a little. Assuming a commander’s mannerisms, but with a gentler voice, “Ditani, wouldn’t your friend desire that we live to find the meaning to his death?” Waiting for him to mull it over, she kept her eyes firmly on him. Ditani nodded finally, looking her in the eye. For a moment she thought she caught a flash of light deep in his eyes, like a wolf’s reflecting the light, and they were slightly larger than normal now that she was looking into them.
Ditani’s voice trembled, but he answered, “Yes, Magus Vestul outlived all his relations and he had no children I am aware of.”
Oh, this will kick him. Self-interest is usually a good motivator. “Well then, it isn’t thieving to enter your room and take your stuff. It also isn’t thieving to claim any remaining personal belongings, as you were his servant and without an heir, a personal servant may claim everything. Congratulations, Ditani, you just inherited the entire legacy of a great wizard.”
Instead of looking excited by the news, as she expected, Ditani looked scared. “Ticca, Master, no. I couldn’t claim it all. I would be afraid to approach any of his research, and I wouldn’t know what to do with his library. I do not want for much and have no need of his wealth.”
What kind of servant would deny what is likely a small fortune? Looking at Lebuin to see if he was thinking the same, she saw he wasn’t. Lebuin’s eyes were lit like the noon-day sun.
Lebuin’s eyes gave away that his mind was racing with possibilities. “Well then, Ditani, perhaps you would grant me what you don’t desire. This could resolve many issues for me. I would be immeasurably helped by his library. I could even ensure his legacy of knowledge is not lost and complete what work he started but now will not be able to complete. I would of course give him full accolades with the Guild. His name would not be forgotten. Where is his research?”
If he follows through with the credit, it would be a good legacy. I hope we can trust this wizard.
“Master, everything save what was intended to give to the Duke is at his home in Algan. I know how to open it physically, and with his death, many of his magical protections should be gone as well. Perhaps with you to investigate it would work well. My wife will not believe our good fortune.”
Lebuin truly smiled deeply for the first time. Lady, he is a handsome man when he smiles. “Ticca, Algan is leagues away up river, too far for Magus Cune’s ally to continue attacking. If we can get there, all this mess could blow over, and I can find everything I need for years to come. There is even a Guildhouse there, so I have no need to return to Llino for some time.”
