Masquerades - Kate Novak [62]
A panicked grumbling spread among the Night Masters.
Throughout the reports the Faceless had remained silent. He interrupted the grumbling now, commanding, "Order." The tone of his metallic voice was cool. Thank you for your reports," he said. "Is there any other business?"
Gateside rose to his feet, rather quickly for a man of his portly size. "Any other business!" he cried out in a strangled voice. "In two days, this common little sell-sword has laid waste to years of profitable operations. Everyone here, even Enforcement, is taking this on the chin. Take is down, and we're being hissed in the streets by rabble. And you ask if there's any other business?"
A hush fell over the room as the other Night Masters waited for the Faceless's reaction. The Night Mask lord allowed the silence to grow longer, increasing not only Gateside's, but all the Night Masters' uneasiness. "You needn't be so perturbed, Gateside. Within a few days, the matter will be under control."
"The only way you're going to get the matter under control is to whack this Alias. I say we hire an outside professional."
"Really?" the Faceless replied with a bone-chilling tone. "If we attempt to 'whack' the swordswoman and we fail, we will have enhanced her legend, making our agents fear her more. If we succeed, Jamal will make a martyr of her, and the rabble will turn on our agents more ferociously than ever. It may take us years to return to our current strength. Only a fool would implement such a heavy-handed, unoriginal scheme."
The blood drained from Gateside's face so that his exposed chin was as white as his mask. He mustered all the courage he possessed and asked, "But you do have a plan, don't you?"
"I do," the Faceless replied, drumming his fingers on the arm of his chair in irritation.
"I ask that you share this plan with us," Gateside retorted, then softened his demand by adding, "respectfully."
"Request denied," the Faceless responded, then added in a tone dripping with sarcasm, "respectfully."
Gateside raised his voice so that it echoed off the stone walls surrounding the Night Masters. "And what am I supposed to do while I wait for this mystery plan of yours to take effect? She's biting into my profits." The normally emotionless professional manager of the Gateside district had become an angry, bellowing merchant.
The other Night Masks shifted uneasily. No one shouted at the Faceless with impunity.
"I suggest," the Faceless replied coolly, "that you suspend all activities in your region for a few days. You will lose fewer resources that way."
Gateside's pale skin turned an apoplectic scarlet. His eyes widened with astonishment, and his mouth moved for several moments before his words could come out. "If I call off my boys, I won't have any resources in a few days. This little witch is not going get tired and move on. She's dangerous!" Gateside was screeching now. His voice had climbed several octaves.
"I'm growing tired of your hysterical impatience," the Faceless snapped, and the other Night Masters drew their chairs back from the table as if their lord had just drawn a weapon.
"And I'm tired of your arrogant inertia. I'm not going to sit around on my nether cheeks while Dhostars' little dol-lymop rips my operation to shreds!"
"Enough!" the Faceless growled. He rose to his feet, pointed at Gateside with a ringed finger, and uttered one word, "Kreggarish!"
A field of energy rippled across the room, and Gate-side's mask began to glow; the white porcelain shined golden from something beneath the mask.
Gateside fell forward across the table, screaming in agony. Enforcement and Thunnside, who flanked him at the table, rose from their chairs quickly and backed away. None of the others came to the portly thief's aid. A few touched their own masks nervously, though they knew