Masquerades - Kate Novak [38]
"That was our impression," Alias said, not yet prepared
to explain about the saurial paladin's shensight. "Tell me more about him."
"When Kimbel first came to Westgate, he called himself an adventurer. He wasn't the sort that kills monsters in their lairs, though. He was the sort that breaks into castles and tries to kill croamarkhs."
"He tried to kill your father?" Alias asked with astonishment.
"Yes. Poisoned all the watchdogs and got as far as father's bedroom door, but he got unlucky and tripped on a cat. He killed eight men before the rest of the guards managed to bring him down. He claims he was hired by the Night Masks, but he didn't know enough about them to betray them. Father decided he was too useful to waste with an execution. We had a geas cast on him. He's magically compelled to serve our family and constrained from harming anyone with Dhostar blood or in Dhostar employ. Father expects him to complete the terms of service due us by the eight men he killed, such terms to be served consecutively."
Victor scooped up a handful of pebbles and began tossing them in the water. "It sounds awfully creepy, I know. It is awfully creepy. He can't break the geas, but still, he's a killer. And there's nothing in the geas to protect people who aren't part of our trading house. Who knows what he does when he's out of sight? Father says Kimbel serves as a good warning to others, though I suspect Father also keeps him near to show people he's not afraid of assassins. I wish he wouldn't." Victor tossed the rest of the stones in the water all at once.
Dragonbait had been right. Alias realized. Victor was like her. He defended the croamarkh just as she had once defended Finder, defying his reason to quell his heart. She knew exactly how Victor felt, and she found herself sympathizing with the young merchant despite her dislike of his father.
They came to the end of the peninsula, which ended in a knob-shaped quay of stonework. Beneath the harbor light-house, guards in Westgate's insignia patrolled the flagstone plaza in rigid geometric formations. The lighthouse was an
ancient, conical tower built of mortared stone with an external staircase spiraling up its side. Sailors called it the Westlight, and "seen the Westlight" was used throughout the Inner Sea nations to mean that a person had reached land or safety.
Victor nodded to the captain of the guard, and the three were allowed to approach the lighthouse without challenge. Feeling suddenly lighthearted, Alias dashed up the structure's stairs without stop until she reached the walkway at the top. She looked first out to the sea, letting the breeze ruffle her hair until Victor and Dragonbait finished the climb.
"Are you always so energetic?" the merchant lord asked as he stood clutching his side and gasping for breath.
Alias smiled, but did not reply. She studied the light in the center of the walkway-a polished brass framework surrounding a floating marble sphere, which, even in the daylight, shone brightly enough to be noticed far out to sea. "There's a continual light spell cast on the marble?" the swordswoman asked.
Victor nodded. "There are also protections to keep the magic from being dispelled by accident or to keep others from destroying it. The bronze frame can be used to hold up colored screens so we can send coded messages to ships at sea-fire, plague, send help, and so on."
Alias nodded and turned to look back out across the harbor and the city. Victor moved to stand beside her. "There's no better place to start to get oriented." He pointed leftward, out across the bay at various landmarks. "There's the River Thunn. Between the river's east bank and the city wall is Castle Malavhan. Just across the river from that is Castle Vhammos. It was once the royal castle. Those four clustered due south of us are Castles Guldar, Athagdal, Thorsar and Urdo. They were all built at the same time by rival architects from different nations.
"The building in the center of the market is called the Tower. It serves as the city's registry