City of Towers_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [107]
Daine glanced at Rhazala. She pouted and finally produced a crown for Hzag, who scampered back down the tunnel. “When do I get more money?” Rhazala asked. “Why? Have you already spent all mine?”
Rhazala showed no signs of shame. “You shouldn’t have made it so easy. Someone else would have taken it if I hadn’t. You’re lucky. If not for me, who’d be paying the quiet folk now?”
Daine decided not to argue the point. “Where does the waste in this tunnel come from?”
Rhazala looked around and spotted a few worn markings on the wall. “High Walls and Khyber’s Gate.”
“Two districts through this one tunnel?”
“Khyber’s Gate is under High Walls,” Rhazala said. She used her hands to indicate multiple levels. “It’s like the Cogs, but there’s not really any business there. Just rat’s markets and people fearing the light. It’s wider than High Walls, and it goes deeper than even here, down to old places where even the quiet folk won’t go.”
“And where’s the nearest passage to the surface?”
“Not far. Want to go?”
Daine thought for a moment. “Do you know where it comes out?”
“No, but someone does, I’m sure. Shall I find out?”
“Show us the way back first. Then find out and meet us at the Manticore in two hours. If it turns out to be dangerous, we’ll want Pierce along. I’ll have your gold, I hope.”
“If you have the gold, I’ll have your information,” Rhazala said, beaming.
“Lead on, then.”
The tenth bell was ringing when they returned to the streets of High Walls. Rhazala had stayed below to investigate the tunnels.
“How are you going to pay her?” Lei asked.
“Let me handle that. What was your thought on the missing dragonmark?”
“I should examine Jode and see what he can tell me. I’ll need to make a divining rod. I should warn you, though, I can’t do many more infusions tonight.”
Daine nodded. “I know. We’ll need to be careful. But I’ll never be able to sleep until we’ve done all we can.”
Sorrow crossed Lei’s face. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep in any case. It’s … I keep trying to forget about it, to think that he’ll be waiting for us at the Manticore.”
Daine put his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t give up hope. If anyone could find a way to swindle the Keeper of Souls, it would be Jode.”
She nodded, but she had no cheerful words.
Pierce was waiting in the common room when they arrived. “Ca—uh, General Daine, my lady Lei. I have seen no signs of Jode, and Mistress Dassi says that he did not return in our absence.” He paused. “What became of your armor and clothing, captain?”
Daine and Lei looked at one another. “Jode is dead, Pierce.”
“I don’t understand.”
“That’s what the goblin needed to show us. She found Jode’s body down in the sewers.”
Pierce was silent for a moment. “Was he attacked by our enemies from yesterday evening?”
“It seems likely. The sewer was fed from High Walls. But we don’t know how they found him or why they killed him. Yesterday they seemed to want him alive.”
“Perhaps he did not have what they were looking for.”
“Perhaps.” Lei said.
Pierce was silent again. His metal face gave no hint of his emotions. Finally he said “There is no war here. This death has no purpose.”
“That may be where you’re wrong,” Lei said. “One of you, help me back to our room.”
“Pierce, go with her. I have something else to attend to.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Once Lei and Pierce had left, Daine found the innkeeper, Dassi. “Where’s the nearest message station?”
“Halfstone Street in Black Arch, General.” She smiled sweetly. “Has there been any progress on establishing your credit?”
“Perhaps,” he said. “I’ll tell you when I get back.”
Black Arch housed the garrison of Tavick’s Landing. It was the most austere district Daine had been in yet. Located on the ground and close to the gates of Sharn, it was even more heavily fortified than Daggerwatch. It didn’t take long for Daine to find what he was looking for—the crest of House Sivis, hanging from a gilded board over a large black door.
Even late at night, the message station was a bustle of activity. Gnomes were scurrying about and the air was