"d.a.m.n it, Ladro, find my friend!" He bit down hard on the leg of mutton in front of him, breaking the bone with an audible snap.

Having been Duke's long-time personal secretary meant he was entirely used to and unruffled by abusive language or violent displays of power. Having served Duke since a boy, Ladro was in tune with his master's moods, tactics, and most importantly, likely targets for his teeth. "M'Llord, we have been unable to locate Magus Vestul. By all accounts he simply disappeared between the tobacconist and the Blue Dolphin. What we need to discover is why so many competent agents have also disappeared."

Duke chewed the meat, letting the blood drip down his face for effect. He could eat as delicately as any courtier, but he was in a foul mood and it wasn't getting any better. At times like this Ladro had to admit it was motivating to Duke's staff if Duke let his baser instincts show a little. Swallowing, Duke said, "You have identified the various routes between the two, correct?" It wasn't a question.

"Yes, M'lord. There are only two possibilities: the longer but safer street path, or the shorter, being a cut-through alley that went almost directly to the Dolphin."

"Vestul was old, lazy, and probably as tired of this blasted heat as I am myself. He took the shorter route."

"The tobacconist's information agrees, and she was the last to see Magus Vestul that we know of."

Standing up Duke, nuzzled his bag over his shoulder from the hook it hung on. "Take me there now."

"M'lord, the Princes asked, most strongly, that you not involve yourself directly."

"The Princes can go to h.e.l.l. This is my friend, and I roamed this little 'burg's streets thousands of years before those brats were born. G.o.d d.a.m.n it, I helped build this f.u.c.king 'burg! If it hadn't been for the d.a.m.ned climate change, this would still be my primary residence! It's time those brat Princes learned they are not as all-f.u.c.king-powerful as they think they are! And full time this 'burg was reminded it's not as big as it thinks it is!" Turning, he kicked the door open so hard that it flew from its hinges and embedded itself in the far wall. "Now are you going to show me where your incompetent fools got lost, or do I have to roam the through the entire 'burg pulling these pitiful people from their beds to get my answers?"

Realizing there was no way to stop him, Ladro stepped out into the hall, grabbing his own cloak and shooing off the staff who had come to inspect the loud noises. Duke followed him out, snarling mad, with blood still running down his chin. A few of the newer staff actually took to heel at the sight. Lords... this will take some smoothing over later.

Together they headed towards the main doors. As they approached, the guards needed no warning to open the doors or the gate; both stood open, with eight guards at parade rest, four on each side. As Duke and Ladro exited the mansion, the guards snapped to attention. Ladro pointed at the four outside and indicated the direction they were going to take. The guards jumped into action, moving to warn off any carriages or pedestrians.

"Now see, that is d.a.m.ned good training, I like that." Then, looking at the guards remaining behind, Duke bellowed, "Are you waiting for an invitation from the Princes? Close the G.o.dd.a.m.ned gates and GET BACK TO WORK!" The four remaining guards leapt to comply, especially motivated since it would cut them off from Duke and his foul mood.

At least the sun has set and it is cooling, hopefully that should ease some of Duke's mood. Looking at his master Ladro saw anger in his eyes, and worry. Duke isn't used to worrying, especially about his oldest friends. He quietly led his master through the city, with the four guards effectively getting carts and people out of their way; a few people screamed and ran, while others stood petrified at their pa.s.sing. Many looked back and forth between him and Duke trying to ascertain exactly what was happening. He's right, this city has forgotten him.

They reached the arit and tobac shop in just over a mark. Well, Duke at least makes the trip fast. The blood on Duke's chin had either dried or he had licked some of it off. Either way he had shifted to quiet fuming instead of the loud, panic-inducing fuming, for which Ladro was very happy. He pointed at the shop as they approached. "That is where the tobacconist who last saw Vestul works."

Duke walked up to the little shop with its fenced-off patio and tables. Duke sniffed the air. "No, it can't be!" Duke jumped the little fence easily and yelled, "Dardalph! Get your lazy a.s.s out here, and stop making me wait!"

A m.u.f.fled cry came from inside the shop, followed by a crash like a stack of plates or mugs being dropped onto a hard stone floor. A short woman, who looked more like a barrel, came running out of the cafe. "Duke! Gadriel's teeth!" She ran faster than Ladro thought possible straight into Duke, slamming with an audible thud into his side. The woman immediately commenced laughing, patting his sides and hugging his front legs. Duke, in turn, lost his emotional control and was actually wagging his tail. The first two swings tossed a table into the street and some chairs towards the store.

Dodging back a little to stay out of the path of the tail, Ladro waited and watched. Well, that is something I've never seen before. Wonder how long they have known each other.

She started speaking a language Ladro had never heard before. Not unsurprisingly, given his thousands of years of roaming, Duke knew the language. The two of them had an excited conversation and all the while she alternated between patting Duke's sides and hugging his legs. All the patrons at the shop sat perfectly still, trying to not be noticed by the large intruder into their previously normal evening.

After the initial conversation started to slow, Duke's demeanor shifted back to the fuming mood he had arrived in. The lady became serious too and give him a lot of details as she pointed at various chairs and then across the street at an alley not far down; she also mimed some things and made signs with her hands which Ladro could not comprehend.

Duke actually licked her face once before jumping back out onto the street; then he looked at all the patrons, the guards, and Ladro. "If anyone here mentions my actions I'll use you for my next meal - especially you, Ladro." Looking at two of his guards, he said, "You two, put that table back in her yard."

Just ignore the threat. He really was surprised and the happiest I have ever seen him, including when I read him the letter from Vestul.

Duke moved with a purpose towards the alley and as he entered it he put his head close to the ground and sniffed back and forth. "There you are, you old b.a.s.t.a.r.d, now where did you go?" Duke continued to sniff as he moved down the alley, stopping from time to time to explore the wall or examine something. Raising his head, he looked at one of the rear guard. "Yilla, run back to Dardalph's shop and ask to barrow a pair of lanterns." The guard needed no further urging, and bolted to obey. "Good boy, that one." Putting his head down, Duke trotted along the alley, snuffing like a bloodhound.

They had just moved through an elbow section when Duke stood straight up and sneezed. Then he put his nose down again and moved very slowly. "No! Surely not, no. How could that be? I thought a ransom or draining. No! No! Nooo!" The guard was just coming back with the lanterns as Duke sat down and jerked his head to the sky, letting out an awful howl that shook dust from the walls and caused Ladro's ears intense pain. The guards and Ladro involuntarily pressed their hands over their ears, trying to block out some of the anguished howl.

At last, Duke looked down again at the spot he had been investigating and stood. He was angrier than Ladro had ever seen. He paced, and his mouth moved as if ranting with occasional obvious snaps of teeth like rending something apart. Ladro couldn't hear what his master said because of the ringing in his ears, and he felt relieved by this. This was not Duke of Greyrhan, the laughing story teller and gambler; this was something fearful, something that came out of a nightmare. Duke's teeth were bared while he paced. He snapped, he howled again, though not as loudly, and he raged. As the ringing in Ladro's ears abated, some of what Duke was saying started coming through. Ladro wished it hadn't, because Duke was talking in dozens of languages and Ladro was sure he was working through his complete vocabulary of profanity, curses and tortures.

By the time Ladro's hearing was good enough to clearly make out what Duke was saying he wasn't saying a word. Duke had sat down and was staring at Ladro and the guards with cold steel eyes. No one moved. After a while Duke snuffled the air and asked very softly, in a tone that sent shivers down Ladro's spine, "Can you hear me now?"

Ladro nodded. Duke motioned to the guard. "Yilla, bring those lanterns over here. Ladro, take one. You stand here, next to me, and you, over there." Yilla moved to comply, as did Ladro.

Duke then stood and went over every detail of the alley methodically. He found a grey clay pipe bowl and some brown paper, he found some violet cloth bits, he licked the wall and ground in places. He also found the scents of several people. He breathed especially deep of one sc.r.a.p of violet cloth. After about a quarter-mark Duke turned and headed out of the alley, his head down, following some scent. He didn't speak a word, and his eyes remained wide with a burning anger.

The guards and Ladro followed silently as Duke traced the scent straight to the Blue Dolphin. Duke didn't pause, he simply walked through the doors, knocking one off its hinges and splintering the other. The sound naturally drew the attention of everyone present. No one moved. Duke stood in the doorway, smoke from the room pouring out around him to the heavens. Duke sniffed at the air, sneezed, and sniffed again.

A dozen warriors already had weapons out but held still. Duke stared at the occupants while they tensely awaited his next action. A number of Daggers who had weapons out put them away and waited for Duke. Well at least the Daggers remember who he is. It only took a moment before Genne reacted. Genne came out from behind the bar. "Here now, what do ya thin' yer about?"

Duke's eyes narrowed and he walked straight at Genne, who stood his ground. Genne was a large man, but Duke still towered over him easily by two hands. Ladro was amazed that Genne could so stoically stand, staring up into Duke's eyes full-on. He also noticed a number of Daggers tensed, with hands on weapons, at the scene. Guess if you have your back covered by the very best it would be easier. Still it takes courage and self-confidence to stand against Duke. Of course the real questions are: do they prepare to back Duke or Genne; if Duke is still credited with creating the Daggers; and if they remember he can command the actions of the alliance?

"Magus Vestul was my friend, and I am going to personally shred anyone I find out was involved with his murder."

"Duke please, we don' traffic in dat sorta work. Ya should know dat."

"A lot can change in a few hundred years."

Genne actually stood stiffer and taller. "Not da rules."

"Boy, don't talk to me about your rules! I was here when we laid them out. Someone here knows what happened and possibly why. I am going to find this person." Duke looked at the silent room. "Daggers out, you're hired, all of you. Find out who killed Magus Vestul in Drillian Alley. Find out why. Find out who paid for it. Twenty crowns for each answer, ten crosses a week each. Get moving!"

Ladro watched as six Dagger teams stood, pulling their daggers from the holders, each calling out their acceptance.

Duke looked at the ones who didn't accept coldly. "Very well, each of you are to report to me personally in the morning. Any other Dagger that wishes to accept has one more day to report in." Duke looked at Genne. "You can take damages from my counting. I'll be back, and I expect my table to be prepared." Turning, Duke walked out of the Dolphin. "It's time to remind this h.e.l.lishly hot little 'burg who helped f.u.c.king build it."

Once they were a good distance from the Dolphin, Ladro sensed Duke was in a slightly better mood. Very quietly he asked, "Sir, why didn't you just identify the person you followed there?"

"Because someone there was smoking d.a.m.ned carmine-laced tobac. I won't be able to identify any odors for at least three days; it will be at least two weeks before I can track by scent again, three or four before I am back to my full tracking ability."

"Sir, shouldn't we have told the Daggers where to come to report in?"

Duke actually laughed at that. "Ladro, if they can't find me to report in, I don't want to hire them."

Chapter 9.

Daggers in the air A WOEFUL HOWL RATTLED THE WINDOWS and shocked Lebuin wide awake. Sitting up, he saw in the thin light coming through the barely cracked shutters that Ditani was already peeking out the window as the howl continued.

"That sounds like it is just outside the window."

"No, M'lord, but the few on the street are covering their ears. It must be tremendously loud out there. These are thick windows and walls."

Getting out of bed, Lebuin stumbled to the window in the near darkness. Looking over Ditani's shoulder he saw a few people on the street begin to run away. The howling stopped, but it was followed by the occasional bark of a dog. A sense of dread came over Lebuin.

"Do you think that has something do with us? Could it be a demon hound summoned to track us?"

Ditani slipped around him. "I don't believe in demon hounds. Whatever it was it has stopped, and we are safer than most here. This has been a very trying day. With your leave, I'd like to get back to sleep."

Closing the shutter tight, Lebuin moved carefully in the dark back to his bed and lay down.

One day only since I was drinking hundred-year-old sharre with the head of the Guildhouse. All I wanted was to roam the library freely, to try to find new ways to improve the independence incantations. I was such a fool to not have seen all that was there. He traced the scar in the middle of his chest with his finger. I almost died today. All that pa.s.sed before was nothing; today I truly fought for my life. If I had given up I wouldn't be here. Who - or maybe better, what - was that ent.i.ty that helped me? I am sure I was in the ethereal realm. Was that a G.o.d? I wonder if it was Argos Himself.

Lebuin walked the day in his mind, unable to sleep. The High Priestess used some kind of powerful artifact on me to help me live. I remember there were others there too. Powerful women. I am sure one was the High Priestess; the other that waited, perhaps that was Ticca; so who was the third powerful woman? There was a very powerful man too. This would be easier if I were still there, my mind was so clear. There were so many stories and books on metaphysical or spiritual travel and meditation in the library. I really wish I hadn't just shoved them aside as a waste of time. If I live I can examine them and maybe find a way to purposefully move between the realms.

The bed moved slightly, and a m.u.f.fled crashing sound woke him up. Lebuin sat up, realizing he had fallen asleep again. Ditani was sleeping and everything was quiet again. He listened and didn't hear anything more. Someone must have dropped a tray in the hall. Laying back down he was glad to find sleep came easily.

Someone was knocking on the door to his chamber, except this was an annoying person who didn't stop and in fact alternated the loudness of the knock. "I'm sleeping, go away."

Someone moved inside his room, alarming him. Lebuin rolled over and opened his eyes, trying to strengthen his shield, except there was no shield to strengthen. What happened to my shield? To answer that his mind groggily recalled the events of being stabbed, wearing an old sack shirt and purposefully rubbing river sludge on his fine boots. His hand came up and found the scar on his chest. Sitting up fully awake now, Lebuin saw he was in the room at the Blue Dolphin and not his chamber at the Guildhouse. He had on a loose pair of brown pants and a soft, carefully patched cotton shirt lay on the floor next to him. His boots were cleaned but would never again be the same. His emotions stirred inside and oddly he felt a deep sense of joy at the lessons in front of him. Smiling, he touched his ruined boots. This is all I have to protect myself, simple cotton clothes and dirty leather boots, just like the majority of the rest of the world. Yet I feel a joy, like I am finally on the right path.

Ditani had gotten out of his bed and walked to the door. "Who is it?" he asked softly to whoever was still knocking.

"Ditani, open up, this tray is heavy!" That voice, it's the Dagger I thought I dreamed. Ticca, she said her name was Ticca.

Ditani opened the door and Ticca strolled into the room wearing a light green, soft cotton tunic over a pair of black leggings. On her wide belt were more knives than he could count at first glance; somehow they were arranged so as to be complimentary to her look. Ticca's boots had changed into shiny black, very expensive-looking but functional riding boots. Her dagger was still set in the front of the belt at an angle, to allow motion while keeping it as straight as possible. This lady has some very good taste; she manages to look dangerous and casually put together and yet still would fit in with any group of royals. She was carrying a large tray of food which included a carafe being kept warm with a small candle and five mugs. Ticca put the tray down on the table, poured a mug of arit and grabbed a roll from the stack. She turned towards him and he smiled thanks, reaching out his hand. Instead of handing the roll and arit to him she sat down, picking up the mug and taking a drink of it herself.

"M'lord, I should warn you, I don't do domestic stuff. So don't expect it."

Ditani quickly made up for Ticca's lack of service by putting a mug on the night stand next to Lebuin and handing him a roll and some cut fruit. "Master, you should eat."

"Ditani, please just call me Lebuin, you too, Ticca." His voice matched his oddly joyful mood and he chuckled. Taking a bite of the roll he was surprised with its quality.

"Well you two, while you slept some rather odd things have been happening. None of it good, I think." Looking at Ditani, she added, "And you should have been a bit more precise in your details. Vestul didn't just come down here to meet a duke; he came down here to meet the Duke."

Ditani looked confused. "I'm sorry, I don't understand. I never meet the duke, and I think I told you everything."

Looking at Ditani like he was hiding something, she swallowed some more arit. Taking a bite of her roll, she stared waiting for something. Ditani ate some fruit and was avoiding looking directly at Ticca. A few minutes of increasingly uncomfortable silence pa.s.sed as they all ate breakfast.

It was Ticca who relented first. She sighed and then continued, "Right, well, now we know Vestul came here to meet the Duke. So now we need to move out of here as fast as possible, before things get really ugly. We three will be leaving early this evening, so we have about three marks' travel time before dark."

Ditani was looking at her with a blank face and Lebuin decided to help out. "Ticca, I am sorry, you are moving a bit fast and I am not fully awake yet. Who is this duke and what is going to get ugly?"

Ticca looked at both of them for a moment before shrugging. "Short version for now, if we live another day we can talk more over the campfire. Did you two hear a strange noise last night and a crash sometime after?" Seeing that they both nodded, she continued, "Well, the howling was obviously Duke. I can say this because Genne is right this minute having two brand new doors put on the front of this inn to replace the two that Duke decided were in his way, and waiting to open them would take too much time. Word is he just walked through them as if they were not there, shattering one into small kindling and breaking the other in half, as well as ripping it and part of the door way clean off the building. Duke then had a fairly short argument with Genne, which technically he won, but Genne will debate that endlessly, so don't mention it in his presence. He then calmly announced he was p.i.s.sed off, which was really no surprise, and that he wanted answers about who, why, and how Vestul was killed. He placed a bounty of twenty crowns for each answer and he hired every Dagger in the room at ten crosses a week."

The arit he just swallowed went down the wrong way at that last statement. Coughing, he put the mug down. "Wait, he offered a bounty of twenty crowns and hired every Dagger in the room? Who is this Duke, and what is he the Duke of to have so much coin? Is he a Magus? I mean, how did he destroy the doors?"

Ticca shook her head. "Lebuin, listen to me. This isn't a man. This is a creature that calls itself Duke. It is ancient in the extreme. It talks, it gambles, it drinks, it claims to be one of the oldest creatures in the world, second only to the G.o.ds themselves, and it also claims it was human and a real duke a very long time ago. About five hundred years ago Duke left Llino for Greyrhan far to the north. But for thousands of years prior, Duke roamed these streets and also most of the kingdoms around here, conducting his business of smashing things he didn't like and acquiring things he did. As I recall, he had something to do with the Night Market too."

Lebuin remembered an old tale. "Wait, I recall a legend that Damega had a companion called Duke that was a wolf larger than any horse. Didn't they have a fight over something, and Damega killed it?"

"Not exactly. Damega and Duke did do a number of things together; in fact they worked together to build this very inn as the first Dagger Home. Duke taught Damega the Dagger code and morals and together they established the Daggers as we are today. But each had his own agenda and they finally had a pretty bad falling out. Duke left for the north and hasn't been seen since. There are some stories that Duke did show up for the war to help defend the kingdoms. This makes sense because he is part of the covenant that created these kingdoms. In fact Duke is the alliance's military commander as well as the most senior Dagger commander. But I haven't heard anything other than stories on that side."

Ditani leaned forward. "So this Duke was the wolf we heard howling last night?"

Ticca nodded. "I knew your Duke was looking for Vestul since he missed the meeting, as I ran into or pa.s.sed some of his agents making the same inquiries I was. I guess he got tired of waiting in the back of the wagon and decided to get directly involved. I'd bet a cross that that howl was him finding Vestul's ashes in the alley. He then came straight here to hire a real army. I don't know how Genne could stand up to a horse-sized talking wolf that was looking to rend someone into small bits for a feast. I think whatever is going on here is going to turn into an open conflict with Daggers, Knives, and who knows what else, taking out whole buildings." Pointing at the door, she said, "Ditani, would you mind letting them in, please."

Ditani looked at her for a moment. "Let who in?"

A knock sounded on the door. "Why, our escape plan help of course. I took the liberty of hiring a couple of guard Daggers who like fights. They have been running some errands for us this morning."

Ditani got up and went to the door.

Before he got to the door Ticca warned, "Please don't let on we know anything about anything. They are trustworthy, but temporary help at best."

Ditani nodded, as did Lebuin. Then Ditani opened the door and two Daggers dressed pa.s.sably well, if a bit rustic, wearing brown leggings wrapped with leather cross straps, knee high riding boots, light brown cloaks, and long cream-colored cotton shirts over mail coats with leather capitano hats. They both had knives and swords on wide belts. The taller was cleanly shaven while the shorter sported a neatly trimmed box beard. They both looked like they had recent haircuts. The larger one's clothes looked new, yet as if he slept in them and they had a ruffled, unkempt feel. They both wore a dagger on the front of their belts as Ticca did. Their daggers were a matched set with wide winged hand guards, hilts wrapped with blacked iron cord, and simple circular pommels. Overall the effect made Lebuin think of the warriors in sporting games or of hardnosed guardsmen who wouldn't take any backtalk. They smiled and put down their packs in the middle of the floor. The larger one spoke first. "Journeyman Lebuin, I am Risy, Dagger in your service. This is my partner."

The shorter Dagger did a half bow. "Journeyman Lebuin, I am Nigan, Dagger in your service."

Ticca smiled, pointing at the food and extra mugs. "Thanks boys, and help yourselves. Did you get everything done?"

They took seats at the table. Risy answered while pouring out two mugs of arit. "Indeed we did, everything you asked for is in our packs. We already dropped off our own sacks in our room upstairs. Your horses will be in the stables later today as per your instructions, and a bath is being drawn for me so I can apply the dye. Hope the herbalist got it right, I'd hate to end up looking like a ripe cherry." Both men chuckled at that.

Lebuin looked at them and then at Ticca. "Ticca, what exactly do you have in mind?"

She looked at him for a moment. "Isn't obvious? You four are going to switch places. We'll let the Knives attack Hair...uh...Nigan, and Risy here, while I escort you safely out of town on your mission."

"How exactly are we going to trade places? We don't look anything like them."

Ticca leaned over and opened one of the packs, then the other. Finding what she sought, she pulled out a wig that looked exactly the color of Risy's hair and tossed it to Ditani. "Try it on."

Ditani caught it, and after a moment of examining it pulled it on over his head. Except for the skintone he did look reasonably like Risy, and the wig had been cut to match Risy's hair, or perhaps the other way around.

"I get it; Risy is going to color his skin. But..."

Ticca held up her hand. "We have the whole day to go over the details while I get you two ready. In the meantime, I need you to write that letter you mentioned last night and a couple of others which we'll leave with them."

"Do we really need to get out so fast?"

"With Duke hiring an army to hunt down and kill some Knives, and with Knives trying to put a blade between your shoulders or poison in your drinks, yes, I would say we should get out of here as fast as possible without leaving a trail. If we go take care of your mission it will give things time to cool here." Looking at the other Daggers, she added, "Which reminds me, are you sure you don't want to take up Duke's coin?"

Nigan and Risy both shook their heads no. Risy answered, "No, thank you. I'll enjoy springing a trap on a Knife, or three, doing this; the all-out fight doesn't sound like a good idea to us. He is the Supreme Commander and all, but we aren't at war. Besides, I don't like dogs, and so working directly for a ten-foot-tall wolf just isn't a reasonable choice for me."

Nigan nodded. "That goes double for me."

Ticca stood up and went to the desk, pulling out paper, ink, and a pen. "Lebuin, if you please, I need you to write a few letters. One to your father as you planned, except the stated destination should be Breorchy, and you want to leave tomorrow afternoon, even if you need to divert a smaller merchant ship. Then you need to write a very short note to your father telling him to pretend Nigan is you and to see them off on the merchantman, and a third letter to the Guild. It should indicate that you are following a solid report on an odd type of magic by a shaman near Breorchy that comes from some papers you got from Magus Vestul's notes."

Lebuin looked at her for a moment. "Breorchy? I thought we..."

Ticca cut him off. "Yes, Breorchy, because that is exactly the opposite direction from where we are really going."

Looking at the two new Daggers, he thought, I get it, she is planting false information everywhere. Breorchy is actually only slightly off-course from Algan, but should these two get caught and forced to talk the lead would still be wrong. She must have studied a lot of strategy to be able to come up with cunning stuff like this. I need to pay attention; this is a far better education than any day sitting in a cla.s.sroom just reading about tactics. He stood and went to the desk and began to write.

"I a.s.sume these are going to be delivered by Risy and Nigan, acting as Ditani and myself?"

"Nope, we will send the notes via two of the many urchins downstairs that hang out for just such messenger duties. The introduction note, that they'll carry themselves."