City of Towers_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [64]
“Only one,” Daine sighed. He looked over at Lei. “Ready to go back to Malleon’s Gate?”
The streets of Malleon’s Gate were almost empty. Goblins were nocturnal by nature, and the midmorning sun fell on quiet streets and cracked cobblestones. The inhabitants were beginning to stir as Daine and his allies passed through the streets; a pair of goblin children peered out of a nest of garbage and cloth, and a well-dressed bugbear poured the contents of a chamberpot out of an upper window. A sweet sound filled the air—a woman’s voice raised in wordless song, filling the air with joy and beauty. Almost unconsciously, Daine began walking toward the sound, but after a few steps he found that his leg was trapped. It was Jode, who had latched onto his ankle.
“That would be a harpy,” he said, as the ethereal sound continued. “Not your best choice for a lunch companion.”
Pierce had put a hand on Lei’s shoulder, preventing her from following the sound. They listened to the enchanting melody for a few moments, before it finally faded away. A harpy took to the air from a nearby tower, a piece of dripping meat in one hand.
Daine shook his head as they began to move again. “What are creatures like that doing in a city anyway? Why hasn’t the guard done something about them?”
“You may see these creatures as monsters.” Lei remarked, “but many of them are as intelligent as you or I, and they’re just trying to survive like the rest of us.” She had caught a toe on one of the uneven cobblestones, and was using the darkwood staff to take the weight off of her right foot. “She’s found a place in this community, and I’d lay gold that she paid for her breakfast. Most of the more exotic monsters here are employed by House Tharashk, which sells their services and vouches for their behavior.”
“Outside Malleon’s Gate, maybe,” Jode said. “But remember those statues we found yesterday? I’m going to guess that the laws of the land don’t always apply in this district.”
“It’s possible. I was always told to stay out of the Gate, and I don’t think the watch would care about the death of an innocent goblin.”
“Hmm,” Daine said. “What if those statues weren’t the work of a medusa? We’ve just met someone who could turn people to stone.”
“An interesting idea,” said Jode. “But what would an old seamstress from Cyre gain from petrifying goblins?”
“What would she gain from petrifying Lei? Or me?”
“Well, she’d be able to buy your sword from the pawnbroker when you didn’t reclaim it.”
Daine touched his borrowed sword. “Don’t remind me. Aureon knows I’ve considered killing you to get it back.”
Jode flashed a disarming smile. In the distance, the harpy began to sing again. “You have to admit,” he said, “It is a lovely sound.”
“Lovely,” Daine said, scowling.
An ogress was standing at the door to the temple. She wore a black skirt and a harness of black leather studded with brass spikes. Similar bands of spiked leather were wrapped around her massive, calloused fists. She was remarkably well groomed for an ogress, especially in Malleon’s Gate. She seemed to have washed her dark hair at least once, and there was a surprising glint of intelligence in her eyes as she watched them approach.
“Well?” Lei murmured, as they came closer to the gate guardian. “It looks like we’re in for a fight after all. Think you can handle her?”
“I can’t match her strength. Let’s hope she doesn’t know what to do with it.” Daine steeled himself and stepped up to the ogress. To his surprise, she moved to the side and bowed her head slightly.
“She awaits.” Her voice was gruff thunder, almost too rough to be understood. She struck the door with a leatherbound fist. There was an echoing boom, and the door swung open. Though the sun was high in the sky, the passage beyond was filled with shadow.
“Could you be more specific?” Jode said, peering up at her knees. “Does she have a name?