City of Towers_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [101]
Dantian stiffened but did not swerve from his course. “Your presence is causing discomfort to my other guests, and I am afraid that I must put the needs of the group above those of a single guest—especially one in such reduced circumstances.” He gestured, and two armed men in Lyrandar livery stepped forward. “My guards will escort you and your servant to the foredeck. Kadran will see to it that your belongings are returned and that you have transportation to …” He raised an eyebrow. “High Walls, I believe?”
A small crowd had gathered to observe the scene, and a chuckle ran through the masses at this.
“That’s very kind of you, Lord Dantian,” Lei replied. “It’s good to know that House Lyrandar drives its guests home when it drives them away.”
Lailin rose to join her, but Lei pushed him back down. “There’s no need for you to get involved in this,” she said quietly. “Thank you for the help. Pierce, let’s go.”
The guards led them up the stairs and out onto the main deck. The guests who had been talking beneath the rings had left, and the deck was deserted. Lei looked up at the rings of fire and clouds, and for a moment her thoughts were lost in the swirling steam.
“Look out!” Pierce’s voice tore her from her reverie.
The warning came in the nick of time, and she threw herself forward just as she felt the point of the blade touching her back. Spinning around, she saw Pierce facing the two guards who had drawn their blades.
The shorter guard was carrying two daggers. He was the one who’d tried to stab her and failed. He cursed. “Deal with the ‘forged! I’ll finish her.”
Pierce moved forward in a blur of motion. He grabbed the smaller man, pinning his arms with a grip of steel. But before he could crush the breath from his foe, the second guard stepped up. This man was tall and lanky. While he had a short-sword in his right hand, it was the left that he brought to bear, laying his palm on Pierce’s back. The warforged stiffened, let go of his victim, and staggered back a step or two, obviously in great pain. But he’d bought Lei a few moments, and she’d put them to good use. Both guards were wearing chainmail, and as they struggled with Pierce, she’d whispered to the metal of their armor and swords, recalling the heat of the shaping forge. Even as the man with the dagger turned to her, the links of his armor began to glow. He cried out in agony as the searing heat from his daggers raised blisters on his hands. Dropping the weapons, he tore at his armor, trying to tear free before his clothes caught fire.
The other guard had escaped the effects of the enchantment, but he had problems of his own. Pierce was back on his feet, and for all that he was unarmed, his fists were stone and steel. Even as the lanky man made a quick thrust at Pierce, the warforged knocked the blade aside and landed a powerful blow on his jaw. Blood spattered across the deck and the man staggered back.
Lei stepped up to join Pierce, ready to strike. But when their opponent rose to his feet, he turned away and raced for the railing. Pierce charged after him, but too late. The scrawny guard leaped the rail in a single bound and went tumbling over the edge.
Even as Pierce peered over the edge, more Lyrandar guardsmen were running toward them. Within seconds, a half-dozen swordsmen and a pair of crossbowmen had surrounded them.
“Don’t move!” the sergeant cried, his face livid.
Lei just stood, her hands facing out, as the chief servant came running from the foredeck. The smell of burned flesh filled the air. The dagger-wielding guard had succumbed to the terrible heat and was either unconscious or dead.
“What is going on?” the chief servant cried.
“You tell me,” Lei said coolly. “This man and his companion just tried to kill me. If that’s what you have planned for me, then let’s get it over quickly.”
The burned man was lying face down, and the chief servant turned the body over. Lei was surprised. His features were nothing like the man who had attacked her. The