Masquerades - Kate Novak [115]
This site is now under the jurisdiction of the watch," the priest declared. "As such, you may not explore it without an official escort. And since I neither expect nor will allow any of my own people to attempt any magical entry that might endanger their health, we will wait until low tide, when the door can again be opened."
That won't be until hours after midnight," Mintassan growled.
"We can't get in, they can't get in," Durgar pointed out. "I plan to station men in hiding about the bridge and the shore. Perhaps we will catch some Night Masks attempting to enter."
"I don't think that's likely," Alias argued. "As elaborate as the water trap was, I can't imagine that it didn't also include an alarm to warn the Faceless, wherever he might have been at the time."
"Well, we shall see," Durgar said. "If, a half hour after low ebb, no one has appeared, then I shall go in with my men. I'd appreciate your presence at that time as guides," he said, addressing both Alias and Dragonbait.
"And can I come, too?" Mintassan asked, imitating a schoolboy begging a favor of an adult.
"If you choose to bring another advisor," the priest said to Alias, eyeing Mintassan somewhat disapprovingly, "that's your business. You, though, woman," he addressed Jamal, "have no business here."
"Jamal's advice, Your Reverence, has been crucial in helping me locate this lair," Alias argued.
"That may be," Durgar replied, "but, as she is not known for her discretion, she is not welcome. As you will recall from your discussion yesterday with the croamarkh, your employer, there are more serious aspects to these investigations than feeding the curiosity of theatrical vagrants."
"Theatrical vagrant. I like the sound of that," Jamal said with mock indignation. "Certainly a step up from being a lackey to the likes of Haztor Urdo." She sneered.
Durgar's eyes narrowed, but he did not reply to the actress's implied insult.
"We'll be back at low tide," Alias said. Mintassan reached for her hand, no doubt prepared to whisk the two women and the saurial away with magic, but Alias said, "I'd like to walk." She proceeded down the bridge with Jamal at her side.
"Very well," the sage sighed, and took a position alongside Dragonbait, following the two women.
As they strode through the streets, Mintassan began expounding on the varying legends about quelzarns. Dragonbait listened intently, eager to learn all he could about a creature he might battle again, but Alias drifted back a few paces to apologize to Jamal for Durgar's insistence that she be left out.
"Don't give it a second thought. I certainly haven't," the actress reassured her. "Besides, I'll squeeze the story of your expedition out of you later."
Alias felt another twinge of guilt, reminded of how she'd kept secret the croamarkh's key. The loyalty she felt she owed Luer Dhostar as an employer remained intact only because she hoped, for Victor's sake, that the croamarkh had a good reason for possessing the key to the Night Masters' lair. She felt a stronger loyalty, though, to Jamal, and not just for all the advice the woman had given her. She was still haunted by the phantom memories of a mother who looked just like the actress. In addition, the connection Jamal had to Finder Wyvernspur made Alias feel a certain warmth for her. She wanted something to make up for the key that stood between them.
"Lord Victor's invited me to a masquerade ball tomorrow night," she confided. "Dragonbait and I."
"My goodness, how egalitarian," Jamal said with a grin. "I wonder what he's playing at?"
Alias shook her head. "He's not playing at anything. He just likes my company."
"A likely story," Jamal retorted, her tone laced with dramatic suspicion.
"I suspect I'll need a fancier gown from all Victor said about this event."
"Definitely," Jamal agreed. "Fortunately, I know a dressmaker who owes me