Amber and Ashes - Margaret Weis [106]
Rhys turned his steps back toward Solace. Nightshade fell in alongside him.
“The sheriff didn’t say anything about wanting kender,” said the guardsman, glowering.
“He is with me,” said Rhys calmly, placing his hand on Nightshade’s shoulder.
The guardsman hesitated a moment, watched to make certain that they were on their way, then galloped back to report.
“What do you suppose the sheriff wants,” Nightshade asked, “since it’s not me?”
Rhys shook his head. “I have no idea. Perhaps it has something to do with one of the murder victims.”
“But no one knows they’re murdered except us.”
“Perhaps he has found out somehow.”
“That would be good, wouldn’t it? At least then we wouldn’t be alone anymore.”
“Yes,” said Rhys, thinking suddenly how very much alone he felt, a single mortal, standing in opposition to a god. “That would be very good.”
They found Gerard waiting impatiently for them at the bottom of the steps leading up to the Inn of the Last Home. He shook hands with Rhys and even gave Nightshade a friendly nod.
“Thanks for coming, Brother,” said Gerard. “I’d like a private word with you, if you don’t mind.”
He took Rhys to one side, said in low tones, “Do you think that kender-herding dog of yours could keep an eye on your little friend for an hour or so? I want you to come to the prison with me. It’s about a prisoner I’ve got there.”
“I would like Nightshade to accompany me,” said Rhys, thinking that if this was one of the Beloved of Chemosh, he would need the kender’s help. “He has special talents—”
“I do, you know,” said Nightshade modestly.
Both men turned and found the kender standing right behind them. Gerard glared at him.
“Oh, by private, I guess you meant private,” Nightshade said. “Anyway, I was just going to add that I don’t mind staying with Atta, Rhys. I’ve already seen the Solace prison, and while it’s very nice,” he added hurriedly for Gerard’s benefit, “it’s not some place I want to visit again.”
“Laura will give him a meal,” Gerard offered. “And the dog, too.”
The meal cinched the deal, as far as Nightshade was concerned. “You don’t need me. You pretty much know what to look for,” he said in an undertone to Rhys. “The eyes. It’s all in the eyes.”
Rhys sent Atta with Nightshade, telling the kender to keep an eye on the dog and commanding the dog, with a quiet word and a gesture, to keep an eye on the kender.
Gerard walked off, and Rhys fell into step alongside him. The two traveled in silence through the streets of Solace. It was now about mid-morning, and despite the rain, the streets were crowded. People called out respectful and friendly greetings to Gerard, who answered with a cheerful wave or nod. Idlers took themselves off at his approach, or if he came upon them too quickly, ducked their heads in guilty nods. Strangers eyed him either boldly or furtively. Gerard took note of everyone, Rhys noticed. He could almost see the man storing up their images in his head for future reference.
“You’re not much of a one for talking, are you, Brother,” Gerard said.
Rhys, seeing no reason to reply, did not.
Gerard smiled. “Anyone else would be pelting me with questions by now.”
“I did not think you would answer them,” Rhys said mildly, “so I saw no reason to ask them.”
“You’re right there. Though it’s more that I can’t answer them than I wouldn’t.”
Gerard wiped rain water from his face.
“That’s our prison, over there. Solace outgrew the old prison, more’s the pity, and so we built this one. It was just finished a month ago. I hear Lleu Mason left town this morning,” Gerard added in the same conversational tone. “You were leaving to go after him?”
“I was, yes,” said Rhys.
“Lleu appeared to behave himself while he was here,” Gerard said, casting a swift, intense glance at Rhys. “Your brother seems kind of peculiar, but no one made any complaints about him.”
“What would you say, Sheriff, if I told you that my brother was a murderer?” Rhys asked. His staff thumped the ground, sending up little spurts of mud and water every time it struck.