City of Towers_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [45]
“Death?”
“During the last race, it seemed that Rasial might bring home a second victory for the Hippogriff. He was neck to wing with the Pegasus rider, and closing in on the Hollow Tower. Then his mount died. Just like that. Rasial was almost killed. He broke free from the saddle with just enough time to use his token of the winds, but another moment and he would have been nothing but a stain.”
“How did the Hippogriff die? Was it poison?”
“Well, the poisons used in the race are very weak. The goal is to give the rider a chance to slow down his enemies, not to kill them outright. Rasial’s mount may have been hit—by the Gargoyle, I think—but the crossbow and bolts are presented to the racing authorities at the start of the game, and the riders are carefully searched for contraband before the race. Of course, there wasn’t enough left of the body to do any sort of testing. But from what I’ve heard, according to Rasial his mount simply died without warning. Healthy one moment, dead the next.”
Lei nodded.
“Even though no one knew exactly what happened, it seemed clear enough that it was the work of one of the other seven beasts, and the Hippogriff Windguard was investigating it. Then, a week later, Rasial lost another mount—this time during the Kelsa Chase, a race with far lower stakes. The exact same thing, only this time he couldn’t get free in time. Luckily, it was a low altitude race, but he still broke his leg.”
Daine noticed a motion near the wall. There was a rat in the shadows, watching him. Daine was surprised to see rats in a place as stylish as the King of Fire. There was a pair of dice on the table, and he slipped one into his palm. With a quick motion he threw the die at the rat, striking it dead center. The rodent squeaked and scampered out of sight. Smiling, Daine turned his attention back to the conversation.
“Were any of Rasial’s opponents in this Kelsa race people who had ridden against him in Eight Winds?” Lei asked.
“Just one. Mulg Oranon, a hawk rider. But even the Hippogriff Windguard couldn’t find anything suspicious.”
“What happened next?”
“Rasial recovered from the injury, but he never returned to the races. There were rumors, but … well, it’s better not to say.”
Lei rubbed his hand. “Oh, come now, Dek. You know you can trust me.”
“They say he got involved with the Tarkanans, which doesn’t make any sense. He was a Gold Wing! But that’s what I heard.”
“Tarkanans?” Lei asked.
“A group of thieves and assassins. I don’t know much about them and I don’t want to. If you want someone dead by morning, the Tarkanans can make it happen. What Rasial could possibly have in common with those cutthroats, I couldn’t tell you. As far as I know, he never killed anyone, even in his tenure with the Watch. But last I heard, he’d been seen in their company.”
“Where could we find these Tarkanans, Dek?”
“Look. As a friend, I don’t know what your interest is here, but you don’t want to cross the Tarkanans. Whatever it is, just let it go.”
“Don’t worry, Dek. We’ll be all right. Where can we find them?”
Dek shivered, and for a moment his features shook like jelly. “I don’t know. Honest I don’t. I follow the races. I’m not a thug. I’ve heard … I’ve heard they’re somewhere in Dragon Towers, in the Central Plateau. But it’s not worth it. There are some things better left alone.”
“That’s enough,” Daine said, standing up. “We need to get moving, and we’ve got something to work with.”
“Thank you so much, Dek,” Lei said, with a brilliant smile. “I knew I could rely on you. If we ever can afford to put money on one of the races, we’ll certainly come to you.”
“Oh, my pleasure,” Dek said. “Anything for a friend. Here, I suppose you’d better take these back.” He tossed Daine the coins he’d been given earlier and smiled. “I’ll see you around.”
Watching Daine and Lei enter the inn, Pierce clung to the scant shadows of the alley, his mithral plating blending into the darkness. He had been built to serve as a scout and skirmisher, and a talent for stealth had