The Last Stormlord

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Scarpen Quarter Scarcleft City Scarcleft Hall, Level 2 The seneschal of Scarcleft Hall, Harkel Tallyman, was a thin, small-framed man, nondescript in appearance and deceptively harmless in his manner. As a consequence, he was often overlooked. Yet after the highlord himself, Harkel was the most powerful man in Scarcleft, maintaining his position through a network of spies, assassins, thieves, blackmailers, water sensitives and informants. Trusted with the running of the city when Taquar was absent-which was frequently-his loyalty to the highlord was unswerving and unquestioning.

It had surprised him, then alarmed him, when it took so long to find Shale the Gibber youth. He had grown unused to failure. He had been at fault, he acknowledged to himself; he hadn't taken the search seriously enough at first, assuming the enforcers would soon find one lone young man, newly arrived and naive in the ways of the city.

The last time he had been face-to-face with Taquar, he had seen a deep anger in the rainlord's eyes, the first directed his way in more than ten years. It had unsettled him. He knew Taquar better than anybody, and he knew just how utterly ruthless the rainlord could be when cold rage overtook careful strategy as his driving force.

At last, however, the fickle winds of luck were at last gusting Harkel's way, and he was relieved to be able to go to the highlord with news of Shale Flint from several different sources.

Taquar was going through a pile of paperwork when Harkel entered his room, but he pushed that aside immediately and acknowledged the seneschal with a terse nod. "What is it?"

"A possibility, lord. One of my informants saw someone who may have been the Gibber youth, Shale, some time ago at a residence on Level Ten. Unfortunately, he only realised this more recently, when he saw one of the posters. I have put a watch on the house, and one of my men is courting the maidservant."

The rainlord did not move a muscle, yet Harkel was aware of how taut he was. How close to lashing out in a lethal rage. "Go on."

"My informant-his name is Jomat-is the steward for an arta, Amethyst the dancer. I understand that my lord is acquainted with the lady."

"Watch your tongue, Harkel."

Harkel's mouth went dry. "Yes, my lord. I mean no disrespect. The young man was disguised as a Reduner. He came to Amethyst's house with a Gibber girl who is an apprentice to the outlander waterpainter Russet Kermes. Her name is Terelle. It is possible that the boy is hiding in the waterpainter's room. I have men out tracing the exact building, but I am treading carefully. The house must have been searched before, but somehow he was not found then. Perhaps he was warned. This time, we are being more careful.

"Jomat tells me that shortly after seeing Shale, the dancer wrote a letter to someone. I had men inquire at the tenth level's letter repository, and they found that it had already been dispatched to Breccia Hall, addressed to Lady Ethelva. I do not know if these two events are connected."

Taquar interrupted. "Yes. They are. Of course they are." His fingers drummed on the desk, betraying unaccustomed agitation. Taquar continued, "Someone has given him good advice. He has applied to Breccia Hall for help." Anger smouldered like a dampened fire about to break through. "I shall want everyone dead, Harkel. Except Shale."

"Including the dancer?"

"Especially the dancer. But don't you worry about her. I'll attend to that myself. First, we must make sure we have Shale safe. Do nothing until he is physically in your hands."

"I have another piece of news which may be connected. An informant in Breccia Hall sent a message to me via a myriapede rider. Highlord Nealrith has left Breccia with a small entourage. Eleven men altogether."

"Bound for Scarcleft?"

"No one knows for sure, but my informant checked the amount of water the party took with them and the gate they left by. Both fit a journey to Scarcleft. And the timing is right for them to have left in response to the letter Amethyst sent."

"Ah. When are they due?"

"My informant's messenger travelled as fast as he could, but I don't imagine that he is as much as a day ahead. It's likely Nealrith and party will arrive sometime later today."

Taquar stopped his drumming. "He will probably go straight to Amethyst. She will then send for Shale. Nealrith will wait at Amethyst's for him, and then they'll leave."

"I could have my men intercept them at the gate. On the way out, I mean."

"Don't be stupid. That's too risky. Can you have forgotten you would be dealing with a rainlord of power? No, I think it is up to me to intercept Nealrith. You must go after Shale before the two of them meet. Follow Amethyst's messenger to find out for sure where he is. Once you have Shale spirited away to Scarcleft Hall, kill the waterpainters, the messenger, anyone else who looks as if they know anything. I will deal with Nealrith and Amethyst." He smiled. "You seem to have done something right in this matter at last, Harkel. Which is well for you."

Harkel stilled the fear that soaked him. "As you say, m'lord."

Taquar smiled yet again. "It is a pity that I am not yet ready for an open confrontation with Nealrith, but nonetheless, I shall enjoy thwarting him."

"Highlord-" Harkel hesitated.

Taquar raised his eyebrows in question.

"The boy's abilities. I know he can move water-the reeves from the city's waterhall told me that much. But I need to know if he can kill… in the rainlord manner."

"No. That I never taught him. And I have reason to believe he would find it difficult. You should have no problems dealing with him." He sat down again. "Let us discuss the details of this plan, Harkel. There must be no mistake. Shale must be safe and unhurt in my hands, and all those who know about him must die." He looked up and fixed an unwavering gaze on the seneschal. "There can be no other result. Do you understand me?"

Harkel nodded calmly. "Of course, m'lord. And I apologise for my former missteps in this matter. It won't happen again."

Taquar smiled. "I'm sure it won't."

Harkel did not feel reassured.