Viper's Kiss - Lisa Smedman [35]
Somewhere outside, a horn sounded three times: the morning call to prayer for Helm's faithful. The rogue ignored it.
"How do I contact you?" Arvin asked.
"Enter any tavern and make this sign," the rogue instructed. With a finger, he rubbed first the inside corner of his right eye, then the outside corner.
Arvin smiled to himself. It was one of the first words in silent speech the Guild had taught him.
"When you see someone make this sign," the rogue continued, making a V with the first two fingers of his right hand and drawing them along his left forearm from elbow to wrist, "you'll know you've found us." He paused. "Do we have an agreement?"
Arvin nodded. "It's certainly a tempting offer," he said. "I'll let you know." He set the pouch back on the barrel-carefully, so none of the diamonds spilled.
"May I go now?"
The rogue opened the door and stepped away from it. As Arvin walked past him, he moved his hand to the hilt of his dagger. "Just remember," he warned in a low voice. "We'll be watching you. Don't cross us."
Arvin nodded. The rogue wasn't telling him anything new. If Sespech's rogues' guild was anything like Hlondeth's, Arvin's every move would be marked.
It had been bad enough, finding Zelia in Sespech.
Now he had a second reason to watch his back.
Arvin went directly to Dmetrio's residence. There was no need to be secretive about his destination-not when the local rogues' guild knew who he was. The meeting with its two representatives had taken only a short time; the sun had risen, painting the winter sky a dull white, but it was still early in the morning. The same two militiamen were still on guard duty outside the residence. The younger man was yawning widely-and being glared at by his sergeant.
"Good morning, Rillis," he called to him. "Don't they ever let you sleep?"
Rillis grinned through chattering teeth. "Soon, I hope. The watch change-"
The sergeant jabbed him with an elbow. "Quiet, soldier,' he snapped. Then, to Arvin, "I suppose you expect to see the ambassador now?"
Arvin nodded and pulled out his letter of introduction.
The sergeant took it. "I'll let him know you're here."
After a few moments, he returned and opened the gate. "This way," he instructed.
As Arvin stepped through the gate, he heard rapid footsteps behind him.
"Vin! I am so sorry!"
Startled, Arvin turned and saw Karrell hurrying toward him. She slipped her hand under Arvin's arm, grasping him firmly by the elbow. "Please do not be angry with me, Vin," she said, tugging him toward the front door of the residence. "I did not mean to sleep so late. When I saw that you had left without me, I hurried here as quickly as I could." She tugged Arvin toward the residence.
The sergeant quickly blocked their way. Rillis was slower to react; he'd been gaping at Karrell. Belatedly, he stepped forward and held up a hand.
Karrell beamed a smile at him. "Was Ambassador Extaminos kept waiting?" She loosened her cloak, as if to cool down from her run. Rillis's eyes lingered on her breasts, which rose and fell as she panted. "No, lady. He has only just been summoned."
Arvin glared at Karrell.
She gave him a coy smile. "Come, Vin. Be thankful it's me who is accompanying you, and not that blue- tongued she-demon. She'd only embarrass you in front of the ambassador."
Arvin tensed at the thinly veiled reference to Zelia. He wished he'd had the cleric lock Karrell up last night, when he had the chance. What now? If he protested, she would alert Zelia to his presence in Ormpetarr.
"It's all right," he told the sergeant. "She's with me." He pinched Karrell's arm, however, as they walked toward the door. "An introduction," he gritted under his breath. "No more. Then you go."
She nodded.
Rillis unlocked the front door with cold-stiffened fingers and ushered them through. He was about to close it again when the sergeant motioned him inside. "Go ahead, Rillis," he said. "Warm up a bit."
Rillis grinned then followed Arvin and Karrell inside. They stepped through the door into a wide, semicircular