Masquerades - Kate Novak [68]
The croamarkh heaved himself to his feet and glowered down at the swordswoman as he growled, "In all my life, I've never had so disrespectful a hireling."
"Or, I'll wager, one with an eye for detail equal to your own," Alias answered.
"Detail? What detail?" Luer demanded, leaning over the table toward the swordswoman.
"The Night Masks used a smoke powder explosive last night. Recently you caught House Urdo attempting to smuggle smoke powder."
"We confiscated that shipment. The Night Masks did not get it," Lord Luer snapped.
"Not that shipment, but no doubt there have been others you've missed. That's why you've finally decided to hire a mercenary, someone for whom you did not have to be fully accountable. Fourteen years ago, the Night Masks were just an annoying thieves guild, so you ignored them. In the past few years, however, smoke
powder has become less rare, like Amnite sugar cubes. Ordinary thieves can do more damage with it than powerful wizards can with fireballs. You realize that more and more smoke powder is being smuggled in. Whether it's brought in by House Urdo or House Anybody, you can't afford for the Night Masks to build a reserve, because if they do, it's just a matter of time before they start deciding who the next croamarkh will be. With the right threats, they might convince some of the houses to vote for a compromise candidate-Haztor Urdo, now wouldn't he be perfect. His father certainly stands behind him."
Luer Dhostar waved his finger in Alias's face. "You take care of the Night Masks. I'll take care of the merchant houses," he said. "Victor will see that you receive your full retainer today so that there will be no more discussion of broken contracts." The croamarkh motioned with his finger from his son to the door. "That will be all," he finished and sat back down in his chair.
Alias rose and followed Victor to the door.
"Durgar," the croamarkh said, "please assign some members of the watch to escort this not-so-common sell-sword back to her hotel with her retainer. We wouldn't want her robbed."
"Yes, Your Lordship," Durgar replied. He opened the door and followed Victor and Alias from the room. Once he closed the door, Victor clapped Alias on the shoulders. "You were wonderful," he said. "Wasn't she wonderful, Durgar?"
Durgar raised an eyebrow, but did not reply.
"I've never seen anyone square off against Father as well as you. Fifteen minutes ago, he was threatening to fire you, now he demands you remain. You should be a merchant. Shouldn't she, Durgar?"
"Considering that House Dhostar is paying her a hundred times the salary of a guard of the watch, she certainly has the financial outlook," the priest replied dryly.
"House Dhostar isn't paying me to be a watch guard. Your Reverence," Alias retorted. "They're paying me to bring down Night Masks. As to your father's firing me,
Victor, it wasn't likely. He knows that if he did, and I continued to catch Night Masks, he couldn't take the credit for it."
"That may be so, but he was sorely tempted," Durgar said as he motioned for Alias to climb the staircase to the next level. "The noble merchant houses are sacrosanct as far as Lord Luer is concerned, as well he should be."
Alias turned and climbed the stairs backward as she looked back down on the priest and Victor behind him. "Are you saying you approve of freeing Haztor Urdo, Your Reverence?" she asked with some surprise. "I would have thought you of all people would expect the law to apply to all."
"I am a pragmatist, young woman. I understand the importance of bending some laws so that society remains orderly. The croamarkh is elected the first among his equals, his equals being the other noble merchant lords. Some nations obey their monarch because they believe he has a divine right to rule. Tyrants hold sway with armies or fell magic. Here in Westgate, the croamarkh rules by the consent of the noble merchant houses. He needs their