Bargain Read online

  “That was different.” Athala said with a shudder.

  She had spent the last month trying to forget her time alone with those giant rats. Or when she and her friends had to flee through the sewers to avoid the guards. And their capture. The way Ermolt had fallen apart when he killed that Auernheim guard. Or the look on Elise’s face when she was pleading with Ydia. And she definitely didn’t want to think about Ingmar and his knives. Or the way his blood had been warm and sticky against her face. Or how for one brief moment, she’d been glad to see him dead.

  Elise looked at her curiously but Athala shook her head. “The sewers in Khule had been out of use for ages. These sewers will still be active. And, er, fragrant.”

  Elise chuckled and patted Athala on the arm. She stood from the table and walked back over to her pack. “Their security is beefed up to deal with a guild of professional thieves,” Elise said, going back to digging through her supplies. It looked like she was taking inventory. “We have to do the unexpected in order to get around that. And if we go quickly, they’ll be focusing on the fairgrounds, not on the back hallways.”

  “Still...” Athala trailed off, looking over the map. “It’s possible that the sewers could be sealed off somehow to keep the Overseers out. And as you said, there’s likely to be traps. But barring anything like that, I can’t see any problem with your plan. Besides the smell, that is.”

  “Anything they put down there to keep out thieves isn’t going to do well against Ermolt’s hammer.” Elise shrugged and wrapped a bit of gauze that had come loose into a coil. “If there are any obstacles we can’t deal with, we will have a few days to come up with a new plan. The Overseers have an attack on the festival planned. So I figure we’ll go early, see if we can’t figure this out. If not, we have some time to figure out a new plan before we need to use their distraction.”

  “Whatever we do, stealth will be the most important part,” Athala said. “We’re here to fight and kill a dragon. We need to make sure that’s all we have to deal with. A swarm of Conscripts is going to turn a fight that’s already against us into a hopeless effort.”

  “You don’t need to tell me that.” Elise looked over her shoulder with a smirk. “I’m not the one who responds to every challenge by yelling at the top of my voice.”

  “Well, if our plan is to start this tomorrow, do you think we should go and find him?”

  Elise was quiet for a moment before she shrugged. “You’re right. If we don’t fetch him now, he’ll stay out all night.” Elise started stuffing things back into her bag. “And as much as it pains me to admit it, I’m sure we could benefit from his input on the plan.”

  “You think he might have actually gotten some useful information?” Athala chuckled and gathered her notes together. She didn’t put them away, since she’d just have to pull them out again when they found Ermolt. But it was still nice to have them in a neat little pile. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell him you said so.”

  “It’s not that,” Elise said. “I think he might know his own limitations better than we would. If we need to get him some manner of tool to deal with steel bars or however else the sewers may be secured, we should be ready to do so first thing in the morning.”

  “Then I suppose we need to try and pick up his trail,” Athala said. She pushed her chair away from the table and stood with a stretch. “Where do you think we should start?”

  “We’ll just ask around.” Elise laughed. “I’m sure a man as tall as a horse buying drinks and making friends will not be difficult to find.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Elise wasn’t surprised to find her assumption had been correct.

  While it had been a little slow going at first, it eventually became quite easy indeed to find out what bars Ermolt had been in. Most of the staff remembered him fondly, often clearly remembering where other patrons had suggested he continue his bar crawl. Those who didn’t remember immediately had their memories jogged by a few coins greasing their palms.

  But as dusk turned to night, Elise found herself growing frustrated. Staff and remaining patrons at the establishments they tracked him to recounted stories of Ermolt, and every story riled her more than the last.

  Elise and Athala had been working hard all day: researching, taking notes, asking the right questions, and potentially risking their necks with the Overseers. But meanwhile the third of their little group had been throwing what limited funds they had at buying an ocean of beer so he could drunkenly tell his favorite barbarian myths. It wasn’t fair, and as they moved from establishment to establishment, Elise realized just how angry the whole thing made her.

  However, when they arrived at The Silent Spoon, a tavern that sat just outside of what could be called the “district” that surrounded the Temple, Elise’s mood changed. And dramatically at that.

  The bar was much like the others from the outside, but the resemblance changed once they entered. Or tried to enter.

  The interior of The Silent Spoon was a mess.

  Broken furniture was strewn across the tavern, and what wasn’t in splinters across the floor was embedded in the walls. They couldn’t even easily make it in the front door—there was a table embedded into the wall next to the door that stopped the door from opening all the way. Elise and Athala were forced to squeeze around it. The wizard had an easier time of it.

  “I hope you don’t mind standing,” a barkeeper said without looking up. The man was on the shorter side but was frail and thin, with a wiry beard and hunched shoulders. He was behind a bar that spanned the left side of the tavern. The man was currently leaning forward on his elbows with his face buried in his hands. Around him were more bits of furniture, broken tankards, mugs, and steins, and what looked like splatters of blood.

  Elise was stunned.

  The whole place looked like something out of a guard’s worst nightmare. “What happened here?” she asked breathlessly as she crossed to the bar. She had to pick her way over chunks of furniture and was even forced to duck under a chair that was stuck, feet-first, into the ceiling.

  “Nothing!” The man looked up with a smile that did nothing to hide the despair in his eyes. It was obvious he’d been crying, but had long stopped. “Nothing at all. Nope.”

  “What do you mean?” Athala said, spinning in a tight circle with her arms wide. “It’s pretty obvious that something happened.”

  “I’m guessing it was the Overseers,” Elise said. She grimaced when the barkeeper flinched. “And what—you’re too afraid of them to go to anyone for help.”

  “I don’t want any trouble from them. It’s bad enough that the Conscripts come here. Having the Temple looking over my shoulder makes it hard enough to do business, but now this?” He slumped back down against the bar and began picking at a rag that was nearby. “I sometimes think I should just sell the place. Take what I can get and leave town.”

  “That’s the easy way out,” Elise said. She tossed a handful of coins on the bar. The man perked up at the sound of them, but then eyed her suspiciously.

  “What do you want?”

  “It’s nothing more than a contribution to help you find a better life.” She looked down at the piles of wood at her feet. “Or refurnish, whichever you decide on.” Elise paused and flashed the man a charming smile that felt dead on her lips. “But, if you wanted to earn the coin somehow, there is something you could help me with.”

  The man narrowed his eyes at her. “Oh, so are you one of them then? Here to buy my loyalty and silence? I won’t be bullied by the likes of Merylle Callac, and you can tell her that.” He stood up tall and Elise admired his ability to locate his spine.

  “I’m not an Overseer,” Elise said with a sigh. “My companion and I are new to town. All we want is some information. Please.” She caught his eye and he flinched. “Tell me exactly what happened here.”

  The man seemed to deflate before her eyes. He picked up the rag and ran it through a pile of beer, smearing the liquid more than mopping it up. �
�Night started like any other, yeah? Couple of regulars, some new sailors I’d never seen. Generally a quiet night. Until the big man came in.”

  He paused and Elise nodded for him to continue. “He was one of them northern barbarians. Proud of it too. He paid for a round of drinks for the whole bar, and told us all about an old northern legend. Some Hero of Klav fellow and the revenge oath against his cousin and all that.”

  The man paused again as if he were trying to remember the tale. Elise rolled her wrist to speed him along. She’d heard the story before. Plenty of times.

  “I mean, don’t get me wrong. It was a fine tale. A bit fantastical. But he told it ‘cause he said he wanted to try and calm us all down. Apparently he had a rough time before getting a proper drink. People are always worried about him, thinking he was going to pick a fight or go berserk just because of his heritage.” The man shrugged. “Guess it worked. Everyone, even those who are the usual troublemakers gave a listen. When the story was done he bought the next two rounds for everyone and settled in talking to folk, making friends, and generally livening the place up.”

  Elise met Athala’s eye. The wizard looked confused and Elise shared the sentiment. How could a peacefully drunk tavern entertained by one of Ermolt’s tall tales turn to... this?

  “I’m going to take a wild guess that this barbarian was somehow involved with this whole mess?” Elise gestured to the destroyed bar.

  “Well,” the man said, tugging at his beard. “In a way, he was, but not in the way you might be thinking. A group came in looking for him. Wanting to ask him questions. But not the way the guards do. Probably interrogation, more like. The kind they do with knives and such.”

  Elise looked back to Athala immediately. The wizard was grimacing and had placed a hand over her stomach. Elise noted it was the hand with the little circular scar on it. Her vision became tinted with red.

  “The Overseers, eh? Did they say anything else?” Elise asked, putting a hand on the bar to lean closer.

  “Said something about people in town asking questions.” The man looked fearful for some reason, and Elise realized she may have been glaring. She forced herself to relax, and immediately the barkeep continued. “I didn’t hear much of their conversation. Once I saw them beat down the young Conscript the giant was talking to, I ducked behind the bar so as not to be a part of it.” He sighed and rubbed a hand across his face. “I don’t blame the barbarian too much. He tried to talk them into having a peaceful chat, but once threats came into it—something about other friends of his in town—he rose like an enraged bear.”

  The man gestured around the room. “I’ve never seen a brawl like that, and I hope I never do again. Normal brawls, there’s two groups fighting. This was one group fighting, one group just trying to get out the door, and one man in the middle of that maelstrom, turning my furniture into kindling.”

  “Nobody was trying to help him?” Athala asked. “I thought you said he was making friends.”

  “In Jalova, there’s two kinds of friends. There’s friends, and then there’s friends who’ll stand up to the Overseers for you.” With a sigh, the man finally started collecting the coin Elise had offered for the information. “The second kind is a rare thing indeed.”

  “And so what happened?” Elise asked as she watched the coins disappear into the man’s apron pocket. “In a fight between a bunch of thieves and Erm—a barbarian, I know where my money goes.”

  “I will admit, from back here, it sounded like a pretty even fight,” the barkeeper said. “But when I peeked over the bar after the first table was thrown, I saw the Overseers starting to draw steel. The big man didn’t seem to have anything besides what wasn’t nailed down in here.” He shook his head.” Fight went on a bit longer after that, but it was only a matter of time. Once you run out of furniture I guess it’s time to give up.”

  “Was he hurt?” Athala asked. Elise looked at the spots of dried blood that were splattered around in various places.

  “No. Well, they took him alive, I mean, so I guess it would be more accurate to say if he was hurt, it didn’t happen here.” The man let out a shaky breath. “Their lady leader was with them. Merylle. She paid for the damages before they left with him, so I’m not completely ruined, but I wish I could have done something. He seemed a good sort, and he probably doesn’t deserve whatever they’re doing to him.”

  “If they paid for the damages, why are you so distraught about this?” Athala asked, looking up from a mess on the floor she’d started pawing through.

  “It’s not about the money. It’s about the peace of mind.” The barkeep sagged back down to the bar. “Knowing that at any moment, the place could be decimated because those thugs want something from one of my patrons. Or I could be shaken down by the Temple because someone saw a shady man with a cloak drinking here once. This used to be a nice town. I just keep thinking I should leave and find somewhere that still is.”

  “Do you know exactly what they wanted with the barbarian? Or where they took him?” Elise pressed.

  “I don’t know for certain,” he said with a guilty smile. “But if he’s a prisoner, they’ll likely have him in that big keep on the hill. If they weren’t going to lock him up for their questions, I would hope they’d have just sat down and had a drink with him like he asked.”

  Elise nodded. The train of logic was sound, and while she hadn’t taken a close look at the keep in the Overseer’s District, she knew exactly where it was. “Thank you for your time,” Elise said, trying to keep her tone even. Inside she was a ball of fury, but it wasn’t directed at this man. It was directed at the people that had taken her friend. “We appreciate your cooperation.”

  She stepped back from the bar and wordlessly signaled to Athala. The wizard stumbled to her feet and hurried across the room to meet up with Elise. The two of them picked their way among the rubbish once more.

  “Good luck,” the barkeeper called after them. “Come back sometime. Maybe I’ll have chairs for you!” He lowered his voice to a grumble that Elise could just barely hear as she held the door open for Athala. “Or maybe just more kindling.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Athala followed Elise in silence. It was easy to see the Conscript was irritated. Saying something might turn that frustration from the Overseers, and Athala was the next nearest target.

  The Conscript first led Athala back to the tavern where she fetched her gear. Athala helped Elise into her armor—a new set of chainmail that fit loose across the Conscript’s chest but was able to be secured with leather belts. A gold and white tabard was thrown over it to help disguise the metal. This one didn’t have the sigil of Ydia on it, which Athala thought was smart. From what the barkeeper had said, it was likely the Overseers knew of Ermolt’s companions, but they didn’t have to announce themselves so clearly.

  “Do you need to pick up anything?” Elise asked after her armor was on and Athala’s only answer was a firm shake of her head. She didn’t really pack for Jalova with plans to infiltrate the headquarters of the Nether-blessed Overseers. What would one even pack for that, other than an entire army of Ermolts backed up by just as many wizards and Clerics?

  Athala swallowed hard as Elise grimly fetched her mace and shield. The Conscript bound the two weapons—shield to her left arm and mace to her left hip—as Athala fetched her traveling cloak and bundled up in it. She then helped Elise into her own.

  Gloom hung around them like dense fog.

  They were walking into their deaths.

  Nothing she could say would change that.

  When Elise was fully prepared, the two women made their way through the streets of Jalova in the direction of the Overseer’s District. Elise walked firmly and surely, with her head thrown back and her cloak billowed out behind her. She cut a figure that inspired fear in those around her.

  As they traveled through the murky lamp-lit streets of Jalova, Athala was able to pinpoint creatures of the night that lurked just out of sight. She assumed s
ome number of them were bandits. Had Athala been alone, she would have rushed back to the tavern immediately with a flock of brigands on her heels. But with Elise close by, the criminal elements of the night kept their distance.

  From the corner of her eye, Athala could see Elise’s jaw working. She was grinding her teeth, no doubt frustrated about either Ermolt’s situation, or the delay and complication this was causing. A good night’s sleep was out of the question, even if they did happen to survive this crazy attack on the Overseer’s Keep. Which meant they’d need to spend all of tomorrow lying low before they could try to go after Sirur.

  After blocks and blocks of silence, Athala finally realized she would need to help Elise release some of this anger before they got to the Overseer’s District. Too much anger would make the Conscript likely to be overly forceful with anyone who stood in her way, and that would mean dead Overseers. While Athala wasn’t convinced that was a bad thing in general, a trail of dead bodies would definitely complicate their attack on the Temple.

  Athala chewed on the inside of her cheek. How in Ydia’s name was she supposed to do this? Athala picked up her pace to walk next to Elise instead of trailing behind her. The Conscript looked over and saw her friend was struggling to keep the pace and so slowed down slightly. “Sorry,” Elise said distractedly.

  “It’s okay,” Athala replied. She swallowed hard. “And don’t worry, Elise. We’ll get him out of this. Perhaps we’ll even still have plenty of time to go and deal with the dragon tomorrow.”

  “It’s not about that,” Elise snapped before shaking her head. “I don’t care about Sirur. We’ll figure something out.” The shift of her eyes after saying so told Athala it was a lie, but Elise continued. “And while I’m worried about Ermolt’s wellbeing, that’s not exactly anything new. He’s always in danger.” She sighed heavily and slowed her pace a bit more, much to Athala’s relief. “I just don’t get it. His attitude. He thinks he’s this colossus, this great, legendary... thing. And so he doesn’t understand what it means to be careful. To be quiet. Of course, why would he need to? Nothing can stop him—he’s Ermolt the Destroyer!”