The Howling Delve - Jaleigh Johnson [59]
Kali saved him the trouble. "Motel would be foolish to ignore an offer of alliance, should it be extended," he said, and Marstil immediately relaxed. "Since we're speaking plainly, I confess my circumstances are such that I'm finding it difficult to pay the daily expenses of a house of Motel's stature, even so far as to be unable to pay the servants' wages or-" he stopped, as if afraid he'd said too much.
"How unfortunate." Marstil's eyes gleamed. He knew he would have the uppet hand in theit negotiations. "The outcome of this meeting will greatly affect us both, then."
"Oh, I'm certain of it," Kail said. He poured a pair of drinks from a decanter on his desk. He handed one to MarstiL "Of coutse, it hasn't been tetribly difficult to get by, considering my circumstances. Few servants remained at Morel house, even during my father's time. They were all slaughtered by assassins, you see."
The glass stopped halfway to the merchant's mouth. Amber liquid sloshed on his fingers.
"Oh, excuse me, my lord," said Kali. "I filled the glass too full. Allow me to fetch you a towel."
"Yes, thank you," Marstil murmured.
Kali opened a drawer in the desk. He tossed a black cloth to Matstil. The merchant caught it absently, and was wiping his fingers before he realized what he held. He unrolled the silk hood and let it fall between his hands, revealing two crudely cut eyeholes.
"It's not the original, I realize," said Kali. "But it matches my memories closely. What do you think, Lord Greve?"
Marstil dropped the mask and spun toward Kail in one lightning movement. His arm came around, taking the decantet off the desk. Kail dodged, and glass shattered against the wall. Marstil went for the knife at his belt, but Kali locked a hand around his wrist.
"Did you think I wouldn't find you?" he asked, his pleasant tone unchanged. "That I wouldn't know you as soon as I saw your blade? You're a fool, Marstil, a dead fool."
Marstil struggled, but he'd spent too many years away from hard fighting, and Kail was no longer a stripling boy. He held the man without breaking a sweat.
Kali eased the knife from Marstil's sheath and laid it against the merchant's throat, starting at the eat.
"Shall I give you the same death you gave het?" Kail asked. He waited for the man to answer, to plead, but saw only fear and confusion in Marstil's eyes. The bastard didn't even remember the ones he'd killed. "Gertie never saw her death coming, but you will. I'll savor that time, and the pain, until I'm ready to let you go, unless you tell me where Balram is."
"I-I have no idea." Marstil's eyes flicked to the mask and back to Kail's face. There was no lie in them, only terror. "Kortiun and I parted company long ago, when I set out to build my business. Please… listen," he said. "I h-have not been Balram's man… in years," he stammeted, swallowing against the steel at his throat. "I am a merchant now. I've made a family."
"A family," Kail echoed. "Oh, dear. That's the death card, is it? Now I'm required to have metcy." He leaned in close to the man's face. "Tell me, Marstil, do youi wife and children know how their father earned his fortune? Do they realize the manse they sleep in at night was paid for with Morel blood? If I tell them that, after I've killed you, do you think they'll forgive me? I like to believe they will." Kail pressed down, and Marstil shrieked. "What else have you got to offer me, Marstil? Please, don't mention your family to me again."
"All that I have!" The merchant trembled as a drop of blood ran down the knife's blade into his field of vision. "Whatevet you want!"
Slowly, Kali eased the knife away and lifted something in front of Marstil's eyes.
The merchant focused on Gertie's gold medallion, flecked with old blood. "Wh-what is that?"
"The symbol of our new alliance," Kail answered, putting the chain around Marstil's neck. "Your commitment to the service of Morel. The house