City of Towers_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [75]
“It’s possible they have some sort of leverage over him, that he didn’t have a choice in the matter,” said Daine. “If they are interested in the shards, I’d say that the odds are good that he’s already passed them along.”
“Agreed.” Alina swirled the liquid light about in her long glass. “Rasial is a secondary concern, Daine. I want my shards back. If you are correct and these makers-of-monsters already have the shards, I want to know what they plan to do with them—or what they’ve already done. That is what I’m paying four hundred dragons for—the shards themselves, or whatever is left of them. Rasial can rot.”
“Any ideas on where to look? Our leads came to nothing.”
Jode looked thoughtful, but it was Alina who eventually spoke. “You’re sure that the people who attacked you were all Cyrans?”
“Absolutely. Well, except for the changeling.”
Alina pondered. “Whoever is making these … aberrations would need to include space for the patient to recover—not to mention binding tables and a system to preserve living elements. You couldn’t do this in a tent or a single room. If your people really are operating out of High Walls, I would think the only place they’d be able to fit such a workplace would be down below, in the Cogs.”
“What might we expect to run into if we find more of them?”
“I couldn’t say. The basilisk eye is quite ingenious. I’ve never met anyone who could accomplish such a transfer. If that level of skill can be relied upon … well, a harpy would be a good source for wings—and perhaps you could even find a way to steal its voice. The breath of a dragon, a unicorn’s horn, the shroud of a displacer beast … a fascinating concept, really. They say changelings are the children of humans and doppelgangers. Can you be certain your changeling was born that way?”
Lei frowned. “It’s possible, but I still don’t see—”
“You are from the House of Making, Lady d’Cannith,” Alina said. “You weave magic into stone and metal. Your enemy—our enemy—seems to do the same with flesh and bone. You may wish to find out why, how, and who. And I might pay you for this information. If there is a new player on the board, I should wish to know about it—and all the more reason for using you, my outsiders. But for now, I want my dragonshards. I suggest you act quickly. If these people are performing magical experiments, it may soon be too late to recover them.” She produced a small purse, which she threw to Jode. “I think you’d better keep this one, Jode.”
The halfling nodded.
“Now please get on with it. Time is running out.” She walked over to one of the mirrors. A moment later she passed through and disappeared.
“She didn’t seem so bad,” Lei said. A gnomish child ran past them, twirling a hoop of cold fire.
“Did you notice the new bird? The purple one?” Daine remarked to Jode.
Jode nodded. “Q’barran nutcatcher, I think. Very exotic.”
“So?” said Lei.
“Oh, nothing.”
“There’s something I need to do,” Jode said, and Daine was surprised by his serious tone. “I had a thought while I was listening to Alina, and … well, it’s something I need to do alone. I’ll meet you at the Manticore at the third bell.”
“No,” said Daine. “It’s not safe, especially if those … things were after you. What’s on your mind?”
Jode shook his head. “This is something I have to do myself. You need to trust me.”
“Trust isn’t the issue.”
“After all we’ve been through, you know I can handle myself alone. I’ll stay out of sight.”
“We don’t know how many more of these freaks are out there, what they look like, or what they can do. I’m sorry, Jode, but—”
“Dasei!” Lei shouted. A moment later, she was running through the crowd.
“Dolurrh,” Daine cursed. “Come on! Quickly!” He dove through the crowd after her. As he ran he slipped his dagger out of its sheath, holding the blade close against his forearm.
“Dasei d’Cannith!” Lei