Darkvision - Bruce R. Cordell [49]
Ususi said, "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Then I won't tell you where to find the mine. If I'm not with you, there's no chance you'll get into the heart of the mine, anyway. You need me."
Iahn said in his no-nonsense manner, "If you come, I can't guarantee you'll survive. You'll be safer here."
"If I don't come with you, how can I be sure you're holding up your end of the deal? Besides, I already told you-my family is leaving no stone unturned in searching for me. If I can get out of the city, they'll never find me-I'll be safer if I'm not here."
Ususi thought the mine was likely a fortified Datharathi holding, where Eined might be more easily recognized than in the thronging streets of Vaelan, but she held her tongue. Regardless of the vengeance taker's ability to discern betrayal, the wizard hoped Eined's appearance wasn't evidence of an elaborate conspiracy meant to snare her and Iahn.
Iahn said "Very well. You're with us."
Ususi frowned, but Eined smiled.
The vengeance taker continued. "We have little time to waste, Eined. Are you ready to leave immediately? I'd like to go straight to the docks."
"Yes. I travel light these days."
* * * * *
The sun glistened on the waves rolling in toward the pier.
Iahn bartered for passage across the Golden Water to Huorm. The smell of fish mingled, not unpleasantly, with the salty tang in the air. Iahn was relatively new to wide bodies of water, but he was coming to enjoy the broad vistas he'd experienced since leaving Deep Imaskar.
Yonald, ship steward for Smoke and Fire, named a ridiculous price for passage.
Iahn merely shook his head. He said, "We'll pay you one quarter of the price you've named now, and that amount again when we safely reach the opposite shore."
Eined, in her hood, and Ususi, still in the disguise Iahn had fashioned for her earlier, stood nearby. Dockworkers rushed back and forth, loading and unloading crates and barrels from the holds of the half dozen merchant ships tied up along the pier.
The wizard noticed several people whose backs were not bowed beneath the weight of crates. They were moving along the dock.
"Iahn," Ususi said, stepping to the taker's side, "look!" She gestured down the pier where the stone causeway met the shore. Haifa dozen men and women strode purposefully toward them, shoving aside dockworkers with disdain.
The one in the lead, a burly red-haired man, yelled, "Eined Datharathi! We have a writ, signed by Xaemar Datharathi of Datharathi Minerals, that remands you into our care! Surrender yourself!"
Eined gasped and stepped behind Iahn, so that the vengeance taker momentarily occluded her from the approaching group. Eined whispered, "Zel probably stationed men at all the city exits! I should have guessed he'd do that. Damn! I wish we had splurged and chartered an airship!" The vengeance taker said nothing, merely watching the men as they approached, confident their purpose would be revealed shortly.
The redhead halted, facing Iahn and Ususi, and he looked at Eined. "Please come with us, Madam Datharathi. For your own safety. You're sick, and your family wants to help you."
"Help me? I don't need their kind of help!" Eined's voice quickly rose in pitch. Iahn could tell she was scared. She didn't need to be.
The vengeance taker looked the red-haired man in the eye and said, "This woman has secured our services for all her needs. If she is unwell, we will see to her health. If she has other concerns, they will be met. Leave. You are distressing our patron."
The man shook his head. "Sorry. We've got our orders direct from the top man in Vaelan. You have no standing here, outlander."
"I give you one warning," said Iahn. "If you and these others do not vacate this pier immediately, I shall judge your presence to be a threat to our patron, and take appropriate steps to eliminate that threat. Permanently."
The redhead crossed his arms and moved his feet to a wider stance, a clear challenge to Iahn's pronouncement. A woman with a nasty