City of Towers_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [85]
“Welcome,” a voice said.
She could understand! She knew these words! Then she saw the fear in the stranger’s eyes and realized who it was that had spoken.
The skinless man had come into the room. His hood was thrown back, revealing the raw muscle that covered his face. “I wasn’t expecting visitors,” he said, “but this is a most welcome surprise.”
The visitor said something in return, but his words were still a chaotic blur of sound.
“I’d be happy to explain,” her master said, slowly moving closer. “But there are better places for it. You’ll come with me, I trust?”
She couldn’t let it happen. She pushed the visitor as hard as she could, and he went staggering for the door. But he seemed to understand, and as soon as he caught his balance he ran.
But it wasn’t enough. The skinless man cracked his arm like a whip, and a tentacle of flesh flew forth from his sleeve. The glistening tendril wrapped around the visitor’s ankles and pulled him to the floor. Her master called out, and one of the claws came through the door. There was a brief struggle, but the outcome was never in doubt.
“Take him below,” her master said.
The claw threw him over her shoulder and carried him off.
The skinless man turned to face her, his mad eyes glittering in their deep sockets. “And you … I suppose I’ll have to think of something new for you.”
His laughter echoed in her ears as he turned to follow the claw.
The common room of the Manticore was nearly empty. Dassi the innkeeper had provided Daine, Pierce, and Lei with a battered deck of cards, and they’d been playing three stones for the length of a bell.
“He’s an hour late,” Lei said, crossing the king of fire with the alchemist.
“So?” Daine said. After a moment’s thought, he picked up the alchemist of fire and replaced it with one of his water cards. “Jode’s dealt with Darguuls, Valenar warriors, agents of the Citadel. What are you afraid of?”
“Well, for a start, most basilisks have two eyes. So who’s got the other one?”
“Good point.”
“Where did he go, anyway?”
“It must have been something Alina said. I remember he had a strange look on his face at one point … Aureon’s blood! I can’t remember what it was.”
“Could he have gone back to see her?” Lei drew a card.
“It is unlikely,” Pierce said. “I was able to follow him for a short time, and he moved directly to a lift. It departed before I reached it, and by the time it returned the trail was impossible to follow.” It seemed to Daine that Pierce had been slightly distant since they met up at the Manticore, but as always it was difficult to read the moods of the warforged.
“Do you think that he came back here?” Lei asked.
“There’s no way to know, my lady.”
“I’m not a Cannith anymore, Pierce,” Lei said. “I don’t have a title.”
“You will always be my lady,” the warforged said.
Lei smiled. “At least I still have that.” She considered her cards and then looked up. “You know, I’ve never actually asked you, Pierce, when were you constructed?”
“I was part of the second legion, my lady, forged in the nine hundred and sixty-eighth year of the kingdom.”
“That’s when I was born!” she said. “The second legion … so Aaren d’Cannith himself would have worked on you.”
“I never learned the names of my creators,” Pierce said. “Is this of interest?”
“I don’t know. The sphinx asked you about it, didn’t she? Maybe that’s what she meant when she asked about your parents.”
“I suppose. And have you had any insight about your brothers?”
“No, that still doesn’t make any sense.”
“And I still haven’t lost anything,” Daine pointed out. “Perhaps she was just playing games.”
“It’s certainly possible,” Lei said. “But what are the stakes? Who’s she playing against?”
“Three stones is normally played for silver,” Pierce said. “And yet we are playing with no coins. Is the satisfaction of victory not sufficient reward?” He drew and then started a cascade, covering the board with water cards. The others sighed and threw down their cards.
Greykell showed up as the fifth bell was ringing. “Well met, my friends!” she said, driving the air from