The City of Towers

CHAPTER 44

Alina was waiting for them in the room of mirrors. Today she was dressed in a gown of black and gold, with amethyst-tipped rods tucked through her golden hair. Daine idly wondered if these were pure decoration or if they might be magic wands. It would be just like Alina to wear a mystic arsenal as a form of decoration.

“I trust you come to me with results, Daine?” she said. There was a silver-scaled serpent wrapped around her left wrist, and she idly scratched its chin. She wore a platinum ring on each finger, each one set with a different gemstone or dragonshard. “Or is this yet another plea for gold?”

Daine reached into his belt pouch and produced a small cloth bag. He set it down on the table and slid it toward her. “I believe this is what you sent us to find.”

Alina held her wrist up to her hair, and the tiny viper slithered off her arm to coil around one of her long hair rods. She picked up the bag and carefully spread its contents out across the table. There were two large chunks of dark crystal lined with deep blue veins, a host of smaller shards; and two glass vials, corked and sealed with lead. The vials were filled with a shadowy fluid, and the lid of each vial was marked with a complex symbol-similar to a dragonmark, but matching none of the twelve known marks.

Alina picked up one of the vials and examined it carefully.

“The people who stole your goods and killed Rasial had developed a process to remove dragonmarks,” Daine explained. “That’s supposed to be the essence of the dragonmark-at least, an aberrant dragonmark. I have no idea what you’re supposed to do with it. Since the people who’d stolen it hadn’t done anything with it, it may well be dangerous.”

“Fascinating,” said Alina. She glanced over at Daine. “And the tools they used in this extraction procedure?”

“It was a rough fight, Alina. We were almost all killed, and I’m afraid the workshop was destroyed in the battle. You said to recover whatever was left of your shards. You didn’t say anything about limiting property damage in the process.”

Alina shrugged. “I’m sure there was nothing that could be done. A tragic loss, however.” She studied the vial more closely. “I suppose that this battle occurred after your visit to Councilor Teral’s tent in High Walls?”

“It’s good to know you’re keeping an eye on us.”

Alina smiled. “I always like to watch my investments. You know that.”

“If you’ve been keeping such a close watch on us, I suppose you already know about Jode.”

Alina set the vial down and placed a hand over her heart. “Yes. Daine, I am sorry. He will not soon be forgotten, and I can only give thanks that the rest of you survived the experience.” She glanced down at the two dark vials. “What intrigues me is the fact that these villains preserved these aberrant dragonmarks but let Jode’s mark slip through their fingers.” She glanced up at Daine, her violet eyes cold in her otherwise perfect mask of sympathy. “Surely a fool could see how valuable the essence of such a mark might be.”

Daine said nothing, and Lei spoke on his behalf. “There could be any number of explanations,” she said. “Perhaps the process hadn’t been perfected and they failed to capture the mark. Perhaps they already put it to use, though I still don’t know how you’d apply it.”

Alina studied Lei, and for a moment she said nothing. Lei found the experience disturbing. Alina was the size of a human child, but it was hard to reconcile that with her elegance and intelligence. From the way Daine acted around her, it was clear that Alina was dangerous, but Lei still hadn’t learned what made her such a threat.

Finally Alina spoke. “True. That is ever the way with magical experimentation, and I suppose that it’s for the best. If someone did find a reliable way to remove and transfer the powers of a dragonmark, what would happen to our civilization? Certainly, if I could buy a dragonmark, I would, and I’m certain I’m not alone. As you’ve already seen, there are those who would be more than willing to kill to obtain the power.” She smiled at Lei. “How lucky for you, my dear, that the workshop was destroyed.”

Daine shivered. He knew that Alina’s minions would be searching through the wreckage beneath High Walls before the day was done. He hoped he and Pierce had done enough damage to render the workshop useless-though somehow, remembering the inhuman thoughts that had flowed through his mind, Daine thought the technique might require the touch of the mindflayer.

“In any case, you have completed your task, and at a terrible cost. How would you like to receive your payment? In coin? Jewels? A letter of credit?”

“Actually, Alina, I have a favor to ask.”

Alina’s eyes glittered in the light of the amethyst fire. “A favor? Well. What can I do for you, Daine?”

“I imagine that when it comes to matters of business, you have a few connections in the city.”

“Indeed.”

“Well, I was wondering if you’d take a portion of our payment and help us purchase property in Sharn.”

Alina arched a perfect eyebrow. “A piece of the tower? A costly proposition.”

“I’m interested in a place in High Walls.”

Alina’s face was as expressionless as ever, but Daine could feel her sneer. “Well, yes, that I could arrange. Do you want a hole in the wall or something vaguely bearable?”

Now Daine could feel Lei’s stare. “Bearable. As good as we can get. No lice.”

“A tall order in High Walls,” Alina said. “But one I can accomplish.” She considered for a moment, then reached through one of the mirrored walls. When her hand emerged, she was holding a small casket. She handed it to Lei. “A respectable home will be expensive, even in High Walls. But here, my lady Lei, a hundred platinum dragons for you and your friends. Hopefully you can find some little luxury amidst the squalor your captain has chosen for you.”

Lei took the casket but said nothing.

“And as for you, Daine, I’m sure that you can imagine my surprise when I found an heirloom sword in the hands of a pawnbroker. I was even more surprised by the condition it was in. The pommel had been badly damaged. I had it restored to its original condition, and I thought that you might want it back.”

She reached into the mirror again and pulled out a long sword. Daine’s sword. But it was almost unrecognizable. The blade had been sharpened and polished to a mirror finish, but what drew the eye was the hilt. When he had served in the guard, the pommel of Daine’s sword had been worn down, devoid of any detail. Now the hilt was as polished as the blade, and the pommel was glittering black and silver, engraved with the watchful eye of House Deneith.

“I’m sure that your grandfather would be proud to see it back in your hands,” said Alina, smiling slightly.

Daine took the sword without a word. Lei and Pierce looked at him, but it was clear from his expression that this was not the time to ask questions.

“It will take a few days to locate an appropriate property,” Alina said. “I’ll arrange for rooms at the Silver Tree for the interim. It’s just down Prospers Street.”

“We still have our room at the Manticore,” Daine said.

“Daine,” Alina said reprovingly. “Won’t you allow your companions a chance to see the best that Sharn has to offer before you settle down in the depths? Enjoy a few days of luxury, at least. Consider it a gift.”

“I told you before, Alina …” Daine paused and turned away. He looked at Lei. “Fine. We’ll be leaving, then.”

“I’ll be in touch when I’ve located your new home. And I was very pleased with the way you handled yourselves. All of you. I’m sure I’ll have more work for you soon. Until then …” She gestured, and the mirrored door drifted open. “You know the way out.”

“‘I’m sure I’ll have more work for you soon.’” Daine fumed as they made their way through the relentless cheer of the streets of Den’iyas. “Whether you like it or not.”

Lei caught him by the arm and pulled him to a halt. “High Walls?”

He looked away. “You said you were willing to stay in the city for a time. I thought we’d be able to get the most for our gold in High Walls.”

“I told you before, Daine. Cyre was your home, not mine. I only lived there.”

“You were born in Cyre, Lei. You fought at our side. Your parents died there.”

For a moment, there was a flash of real anger and he thought he might have pushed her too far. “And you!” she said. “How do you explain this?” She slapped the pommel of his sword. “Is there something we should know, Daine with no name?”

“Do we need to have this conversation in the street?”

“I want answers. Now.”

“Fine,” Daine said. “I was born into House Deneith. My father is General Doran d’Deneith of the Blademark. This is my grandfather’s blade, and yes, I removed the sigil when I joined the Cyran Guard.”

“Do you have-?”

“The Mark of Sentinel? No. I failed the Test of Siberys, much to the disgust of my father.” Lei looked away, embarrassed.

“But that was only one of many disappointments and far from the worst. You see, I cared. I wanted to believe in what I was fighting for, to believe that I was actually serving a noble cause. But when your family business is built on selling your sword for gold, caring is a crime. You fight for anyone with the gold, and you do whatever you’re ordered to do.”

His tone had become more intense with each sentence. Lei still wouldn’t meet his gaze.

“For a time, I played the part of the good son. I served a wealthy client of the house, and I did whatever was asked of me. I saw things-and did things-that will haunt my dreams until the day I die. Finally I couldn’t stand it anymore. I renounced my birthright and turned to something I did believe in-the nation of Cyre, the nation that had sheltered me since I was a child, whose values I admire to this day. Perhaps I wasn’t born a citizen of Cyre. But in my few years of service, I learned more about morality and friendship than I ever did as a child of Deneith.”

“Daine …”

He took a deep breath. “And the irony? Look what it got me. I threw away my inheritance for a land now dead. It seems my father was right after all. Live for the moment. Take your satisfaction from the work, not the master.”

“Daine, enough!” He just looked at her. “Fine. I didn’t know. Obviously I have a lot to learn-and obviously, you’ve been keeping a lot of secrets from us.”

Now it was Daine who looked away.

“But what does this have to do with now? With a life in High Walls?”

“Greykell was right. Cyre is gone, and we need to move on. And I admit it, you deserve better than you’ve received these last few years.”

“I know that.”

“But High Walls still feels as close to home as we’ll find here. I know it’s not what you’re used to, Lei, but a hundred dragons won’t buy a mansion in the clouds.”

Lei sighed but acknowledged the point.

“I don’t know what happens next. I was fighting for a cause, and that cause is gone. I’m a soldier. I’m not some sort of refugee caregiver. I’m not going to start wandering around like Greykell, helping people find work.”

“But …?”

“I don’t know,” Daine said. “Teral was a strong figure in the community; I’m sure there’s going to be chaos with him gone.”

“Greykell can handle it.”

“Possibly. But what about Teral’s other followers? I’m not going to become a caretaker, and I’m not asking you to help. But I am a soldier, and if I can help to protect these people, I will.”

“I was created to protect the people of Cyre,” Pierce rumbled. “I will join you.”

“This wouldn’t be a constant commitment, Lei,” Daine said. “But we’d be there if Greykell and her militia needed help. In the meantime, we look for other work. Look for something to believe in. For a cause worth fighting for.”

Lei pondered for a moment. “Why do I hear Jode when you’re speaking?”

Daine thought about Jode, about the halfling who let a young goblin steal their gold. “Because you know he’d say the same thing.”

“Fine,” Lei said. “But I’m sick of sleeping on moldy, hard pallets. We’ve got a hundred dragons to spend: I expect a good bed.”

“As you wish.”

“And I never want to see a bowl of gruel again.”

“No complaints here.”

“Well then, let’s get back to the Manticore. If we give her some gold, do you suppose Dassi can get some real meat for dinner? After gruel, lizard is next on my list of forbidden foods.”

Lei linked arms with Pierce and Daine, and they walked to the lift that would take them home.

Later that night, Daine excused himself and returned to the dusty room. Rummaging through his pack, he found the leather-wrapped bundle he’d hidden that morning and carefully unwrapped it. Inside there was a small bottle made from thick crystal and sealed with lead. The fluid inside was a luminous blue, and the mark pressed into the seal was as familiar to him as a friend’s face-the Mark of Healing, the mark of Jode.

For a few minutes he sat alone in the dark, holding the bottle and staring into the glow. Finally, he wrapped the bottle up and placed it back in his pack.

“Good night, old friend,” he whispered.