The Shattered Land_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [68]
Get in line, Daine thought. “I understand.”
Hassalac wasted no more words on them, turning his attention to the dragon scale. Daine followed Lakashtai into the main chamber, where Kess was waiting.
“Whenever you are ready, I will arrange for your escort to the surface. Take as much time as you wish. Although,” he lowered his voice and glanced at the back of his master’s throne. “I think you would be wise to act swiftly.”
Lakashtai spent little time examining the various treasures on display in the cavern. There were a number of worn statues, and a pockmarked spearhead that must have belonged to a giant; it was nearly two feet long, and the tip was stained and black. She devoted a few minutes to studying a chunk of crystal the size of Daine’s head. She refused to speak or to acknowledge Daine’s questions, but it had been less than a quarter of an hour when she summoned Kess and asked to leave.
As before, one of the lizard guardians led the way through the maze of tunnels. Daine tried to see if he could remember the way out, but passages kept branching, and he quickly lost track.
“Well, that was worthwhile,” he said to Lakashtai. “After all, we only killed a priest and robbed a temple, and what did we get? To leave with our lives. Sovereigns be praised.”
Lakashtai said nothing, but Daine had spent enough time with her to spot the faint smile.
“What? You’re not disappointed?”
“Be silent,” she said, though her tone was gentle. “You should be grateful to Master Hassalac for sparing you after you harmed his guard. Merely meeting him was honor enough for the price that we paid.”
“… Sure.”
Eventually, they came to the gate of shadows. “You go,” rasped the guardian.
Daine turned to Lakashtai. “So. There’s a good chance your friends are waiting for us out there.”
“Agreed.”
“You’re always appearing out of nowhere—is that some sort of a kalashtar trick?”
“It is a discipline I have learned, yes. I can cloud the perceptions of others, so they overlook my presence, but I cannot extend this shield to protect you.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Daine said. “Supposedly I’m the one they’re looking for, so hopefully they won’t even care if they do see you. Now, I want you to go through first. Do … whatever it is you do. Get away from the doorway. Count to ten, slowly, and then start screaming at the top of your lungs.”
“Screaming?”
It was hard to imagine the serene kalashtar in a panic, but Daine didn’t want to argue. “Yes. Scream. Murder, fight, thief, whatever. Draw a crowd. They’ll focus their attention on me, trust me on this. As soon as there are enough people around, we break off and head for the Ship’s Cat together. This isn’t an assassination; they want me alive. As long as there are people around, they can’t grab me.”
“As you wish.” Lakashtai gave a slight bow to their reptilian escort. She walked into the shadow and disappeared from view.
Daine smiled at the guard. “Well, thanks. You’ve been a great help. Let me see if I have something for you …” He fumbled with his leather pouch, and produced a pair of copper coins. “Here,” he said, tossing them to the guard.
The creature let go of its halberd with one hand to catch the coins, but Daine had deliberately thrown too low, and the coins clattered to the floor. The guard bent over to pick them up.
And Daine charged.
He slammed into the creature with all the strength he could muster. The lizardman was far stronger than Daine, but he was caught completely off balance. It fell, tumbling backwards—and the two of them went through the gate together.
The moment of transition was unpleasant, but Daine held his focus with grim determination. The next thing he knew, he was in Stormreach, the sun bright overhead. The guardian was sprawled on the ground, and nearby a woman was screaming.
Luckily for Daine, the guard had dropped its halberd in the melee, but the creature had long talons and jaws that looked strong enough to bite through bone. It rose to its feet with a roar. Daine ducked under the first swipe, but the second caught