City of Towers_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [95]
“Your name, my lady?” he called out.
Curiously, despite the altitude, there was no wind over the deck. Whether it was an aspect of the elemental binding or the power of the ship’s captain, the howling winds spared the deck of the Pride.
“My name is Lei. I come as a guest of Lailin Calis, and I am accompanied by my servant.”
The servant studied a sheaf of parchment then brought up a small footstool to help her disembark. He extended his hand, a smile on his face. “You are expected, Lady Lei. Welcome to the Pride of the Storm.”
As they left the King of Fire, Lakashtai drew up her hood, hiding her face in deep shadow. “Tell me everything,” she said. “How did this begin? What do you know of this hostile spirit?”
“My companions and I were attacked last night on the streets of High Walls. It seemed like a simple mugging, but the leader had this strange laugh that seemed to get into my head, making it difficult to concentrate. After we’d brought down his allies, he … well, I don’t know what he did, exactly. I was overwhelmed with this rush of thoughts and emotions, as if he were pouring his entire life into me. Then we both blacked out.”
“This was almost twenty-four hours ago?”
“Yes.”
“We should have privacy, but this will have to do.”
They’d come to a building that was apparently an inn. Like many of the structures in the Folly, it was one of the strangest buildings Daine had ever seen. The walls seemed to be made of thick crystal, and the torches inside the building spread a glowing radiance across the entire structure. There were no windows, though in a sense the entire building was one large window. Daine could see people moving about inside, though the distorting effect of the thick crystal walls obscured details.
Stepping inside, they found that the entire building was made of crystal. The surface of the floors was rough, providing traction and a high degree of opacity, but floors, walls, ceiling … all were solid glass. Daine wondered how such a thing could ever be constructed—undoubtedly Lei would know. The furnishings were standard wood and brass, and would have been at home in any Brelish farmhold. Somehow, the presence of such mundane furnishings only enhanced the bizarre nature of the architecture.
A young man with long white hair approached them as they entered. At first he seemed to be wearing a simple white shirt and a pair of brown breeches, but as he came closer Daine say a faint motion in the air around him, and realized the man was also wearing a greatcoat woven from invisible cloth.
“Welcome to the Glass House, travelers,” the host said. “If you have come for the evening meal, we are serving the finest ghostfish in Sharn this evening, along with—”
“A room is all we require,” Lakashtai said. She produced a platinum coin that would have bought a month’s stay in the Manticore. “Time is of the essence.”
The host’s eyes gleamed and the coin quickly vanished. “Please, follow me, travelers.”
The walls were made of glass, but the doors were rough wood, and they almost seemed to be floating amidst the firelit crystal. The room itself was surprisingly sparse, though Daine imagined what Lei might say if she heard that he’d been in a room with a real bed. Embedded in the wall was an everbright lantern with a shutter to hide the light from sleeping eyes.
“Lie down,” Lakashtai commanded. Her words were a song, but there was iron behind the music. She drew her hood away from her face. “Continue your story. What became of the man who attacked you?”
“He fell into a coma, then about an hour ago I thought I saw him on the street. But apparently, I’d passed out and the encounter was all in my mind. We fought and I managed to defeat him, but I doubt the trick I used would work a second time.”
“The physical conflict is only a metaphor,” Lakashtai said. “But you are correct. The longer the spirit stays within you, the more power it will gain and the harder it will be to overcome. You cannot resist it forever.”
Daine nodded glumly. “I figured as much. Is there anything that can be done?”
“I have a … friend who