City of Towers_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [49]
“What did you do to me?” he asked.
Bal took a slow sip of tal, watching Daine closely. “The chilling touch is my inheritance. It is a gift that I share with Rasial Tarkanan.”
“Tarkanan …” Lei breathed in sharply. “You’re aberrants!” She pushed her chair back from the table.
“I am blessed, child of Cannith,” Bal said. His voice was level, but his eyes glittered. “Shall we compare the power of our gifts?”
Zae giggled in the shadows of the table, her rats chittering beside her.
“Lei!” Daine barked. “Calm down! What are you talking about?”
Lei took a deep breath and pulled her chair back up to the table. “What do you know about the War of the Mark?” Daine shrugged.
“Halas Tarkanan was the mightiest of the aberrant lords. When the pure lines sought to cleanse the darkness, it was Tarkanan who organized those who bore aberrant marks into an army.”
Bal showed his teeth. “‘Cleanse the darkness.’ A pleasant way to talk about murder.”
Lei glared at him, and for a moment Daine thought she was about to draw a weapon. “The aberrant marks are dangerous to body and soul! Fire, darkness, death … these are not forces the living were meant to channel!”
“And yet we do. You fear what you cannot control. You build. I destroy.”
“Enough!” said Daine. The pieces were beginning to come together. “You said we could help each other, Bal. What is it you want?”
“Rasial is one of us, and he’s missing. He returned to the city two days ago, but in that time he hasn’t been seen. We are concerned that he has placed himself in danger, and we wish to find him before he is harmed.”
Daine wished Jode was around. Reading faces wasn’t his specialty. “Why do you think he’d be in danger?”
“Rasial was working in the shadows. We know he wasn’t telling us about some of his activities. We have our suspicions. Which leads me to ask: Why are you looking for him?”
“We were hired by the Windguard of Daggerwatch. They want him back for the upcoming race, and no one knows where he went.” Daine had spent the last ten minutes coming up with this story, and he cursed Jode for not being around. Lying was not something Daine did well.
“Daggerwatch?” Bal considered this. “So. The guardsmen of Daggerwatch hired a group of Mourners to do their work?”
Damn! Daine thought. If only they’d had time to buy new clothes. Lei spoke before he could answer. “I believe they gave us the job on my account,” she said. “I may be from … the Mournland, but I am of Cannith first and foremost. And I am of an age to be betrothed. I believe the commander hoped to win my favor by offering this work to my friends. And to be honest, I believe that he enjoys ordering a former Cyran captain about like a paid dog.”
Bal nodded slowly. “I suppose he might, at that. But Rasial won’t be coming back to your employers. Rasial Tann is dead. He is Rasial Tarkanan now, and his place is with us.”
“I understand,” Daine said. “But surely you understand that the longer we continue the investigation, the longer we get paid. Perhaps we can help you. We’re new in the city, and we could use a few friends. If we discover any more information, I’d be willing to pass it along—for the proper considerations.”
There was a pause as Bal drank the last of his tal. Finally he set the mug down. “Very well, Mourner. Prove your worth. You can contact me through the Illian Apothecary in Dragon Towers.”
He pushed back his chair and stood up. Beneath her table, Zae was carrying on a quiet, animated discussion with two rats and a mouse. In unison, the rodents disappeared into the folds of her cloak.
“Before you go,” said Daine, “is there anything you can tell us that could help us find him?”
Bal paused. “I believe he was dealing with someone in this district. But I don’t know who.” He nodded to Zae, and they moved for the door. “Perhaps we’ll meet again, Mourner. Next time, I’d think carefully before you draw your weapon.”
Daine stared at him, face grim. “Next time, surprise won