The Howling Delve - Jaleigh Johnson [49]
The door to the tavern burst open, and Rays Bladesmile stormed out, the aforementioned ale stteaming from his chin.
His eyes barely cleared the depths of theit sockets, Kali noted, in a face that more resembled a skull, emaciated and paste white from too much time spent indoots licking the bottom of a tankard. Bladesmile stared angrily around the street as if searching for a fight. When none materialized, he tottered toward an alley, pulling at his breeches' strings as he went.
Kali followed at a discreet distance. He didn't want the inebriated Bladesmile's wrath turned on him.
The roofs of the adjacent buildings overhung the alley in a crooked arch that swallowed light. Aromas of piss and garbage filled the air. Kail stopped at the alley's mouth, waiting in amused silence as Lord Rays added his own offering to the bouquet.
"You wanting to hold it for me, lad?" Rays muttered without looking up.
"Ah, no, thank you," said Kail.
"Hmph. Then what does Lord Morel want here, at the height of a business day? Yes, I know you," he said, at Kails suiprised look. "You can expect all the Bladesmiles to matk your face."
"Actually, I was looking for Rays Bladesmile."
Rays retied his breeches, adjusted himself, and sptead his hands in a ready swagger. "Well, you've found him, lad, in all his glory. What can I do for the last scion of Morel house?"
"Just Kail, I think, for meetings in back alleys," Kail said with a laugh. "I sought you out to discuss the debt my father owes the Bladesmiles."
"If that's so, you should have known you'd need to speak to Lord Rhor. The debt was substantial enough that accounting for it and any interest accrued-trust that there'll be plenty to spread around-will fall to him and those immediately undet his eye."
"Yes, but I'm most interested in the sums already transferred to your family, the debt repaid in the fotm of mercenaries," Kali said. "I understand you are still considered the master armsman for the Bladesmile family."
"Gods, you want to talk true business." Rays gave a mock shudder. "Good thing I've already begun drinking. Yes, I'm still head of Rhor's companies, for as long as he deigns to put up with me." He nodded at the inn. "Join me in a bottle, and I might even tell you how much I despise the arrogant bastard."
"Another time, I'd like to hear it." Kali smiled. "Today I'm expected to return to Morel house. I'm hosting a gathering tomorrow evening for some old friends of my father's. Hopefully, by night's end, they will be my friends."
"By that, you mean you hope they won't foreclose on you in the manner of Shilmistan wolves. They're all coming for you, one way or another, and not just the Bladesmiles. Plenty of other families'll turn up claiming 'old' or 'half-forgotten' debts that are neithet. They wouldn't mind taking those markers out of a fotmet adventurer turned man of business."
"Then it's fortunate I'm more the adventuter and less the businessman," Kali said. His smile had steel in it.
Catching the look, Rays laughed. "Well, you won't get trouble from me. As you said, your father paid some of his debts in men, and I'll be damned if Rhor didn't cheat him something grievous in that deal. He added a fair number of seasoned fighters to my company. I've seen none finer. No, I've no complaints against your father, no matter what people said about him."
"And these-my father's men-do they serve the Bladesmiles still?"
"They do."
"I see." Kail took in a breath, pausing to consider his next words. "I wonder… what a man would have to do to reacquire such fine and loyal warriors."
"The price would be high," Rays warned.
"And worth every copper," Kail said quietly.
Overhead, a familiar cry rang out. Kali lifted an arm as the goshawk glided easily between the narrow buildings and alighted upon his gauntlet. "Welcome back," he said.
"Impressive." Rays scrubbed at the black stubble on his chin. "Is she one of Dhairr's?"
"No," Kali said, "but my father's aviary is extensive. I have not taken a full inventory, but I know