City of Towers_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [111]
Daine sighed and took the purse. Rhazala smiled and bowed, and a moment later she was gone. Daine blinked. Was her disappearance the work of her skill and his own exhaustion, or was magic involved? Whatever the answer, she was nowhere to be seen.
Daine shook his head. “Let’s go, Pierce. I don’t want to take this any further without daylight on our side, and I could use a good night’s rest.”
“As you wish, Captain.”
The two began walking back towards the Manticore. Daine studied his warforged companion for a moment. “You all right, Pierce?”
“Captain?”
Daine gestured vaguely. “Well, with Jode … you know, it’s just got me thinking about the troop. You’ve served with me since I first accepted my commission. You’ve been everything a commander could ask for in a soldier, and you’ve never let me down. You’ve followed my every order without question, and I’ve come to rely on that.”
“I am gratified to hear that, sir.”
“But … we’re not in the army anymore, Pierce. I’m not your captain anymore. I’m just your companion, your friend.”
“I understand, but I am most comfortable operating under a military chain of command. You had a life before you entered the Cyran army. I did not. I was forged with the knowledge of war burned into my mind, and I was on the front lines within a week of my … birth, if you can call it that. War is in my nature, and it will always be part of how I view the world. As long as you will have me, you will always be my captain.”
“You served in the guard more than four times as long as I did. Don’t you feel that you should be the one in charge?”
“You don’t understand, Captain. Humans are born without a purpose. You must find your path in life. I was made to accomplish a specific task, and I have always known the nature of that task. I was not made to lead, and I have no desire to try.”
Daine shrugged. “Fair enough. But Pierce … humans often think they know what they’re supposed to do with their lives, and they aren’t always right. Just because someone’s told you what your purpose is supposed to be … are you sure it’s the truth?”
“I was born of design. I was made to excel at a specific task, and I would never be able to be as successful in another field. Is there a point to this discussion?”
“I was just thinking about the sphinx again. She said that you don’t know your purpose yet.”
“It seemed to me that you gave little credence to her words.”
“I didn’t—at the time But now …” Daine shook his head. “After what we’ve seen tonight, I can’t help but wonder about the other things she said.”
Pierce remained as impassive as ever. “If I have another purpose, it may become clear in time. Until then, I am content.”
“Very well. But Pierce, you don’t talk much. I understand if you just don’t have much to say. But if there is ever anything I can do, I want you to tell me.”
“As you wish.”
Daine studied Pierce, but the warforged had no expression to read. Daine still felt that there was something that Pierce wasn’t talking about. Perhaps it was Jode’s death. Daine had sent Pierce to watch Jode, and the warforged might be blaming himself for the death of their friend. I’ll just have to watch and wait, Daine decided.
The first bell of the new day was ringing when they returned to the Manticore. Daine was exhausted. It had been a long day, and the coming dawn promised to be even more dangerous. The thought of bed—even a wretched pallet on the floor—called out to him.
At this hour, Daine assumed that the common room of the Manticore would be empty, but he was mistaken. A single man was sitting at one of the tables, watching the door and drinking from a chipped mug. As Daine and Pierce entered the room, the visitor set down his mug and rose from his chair.
“It’s about time you arrived, Daine. And what trouble have you been getting into now?”
It was Grazen ir’Tala, Captain of the Sharn Watch.
Grazen ir’Tala was dressed for battle. In place of the green and black leather of the Sharn Watch, Grazen wore a beautiful chainmail shirt. The links were coated with