He toppled.
Rallick stepped back, weapons once again hidden beneath his cloak. «A thousand other deaths,» he whispered, so low that only Baruk and Rake heard him, «would not have satisfied me. But I'll settle for this one.» Baruk stepped close and made to speak, but then, at a gesture from Rake, he turned to see Estraysian D'Arle approaching.
The councilman's heavy eyes held Rallick. «I might suspect,» he said «given your style, that we have witnessed an assassination. Of course, even the Guild of Assassins is brash enough to commit public murder. Therefore I've no choice but to keep such suspicions to myself. And leave it at that. Good evening, gentlemen.» He whirled and strode away.
«I think,» Rake said, his masked face swinging to the assassin, «that that was a rather uneven match.»
A rush of people closed in around Turban Orr's body. Voices shouted in dismay.
Baruk studied the cool satisfaction on Rallick's face. «It's done, Rallick. Go home.»
A large, rounded woman in a bright green, gold-trimmed robe joined them. Unmasked, she smiled broadly at Baruk. «Greetings,» she said. «Interesting times, yes?» A personal servant stood at her side, bearing a padded tray on which squatted a water-pipe.
Rallick stepped back with a slight bow, then left.
Baruk sighed. «Greetings, Derudan. Permit me to introduce Lord Anomander Rake. Lord, the witch Derudan.»
«Forgive the mask,» Rake said to her. «It is best that it remain on, however.»
Smoke streamed down from Derudan's nose. «My compatriots share my growing unease, yes? We feel the approaching storm, and while Baruk continues to reassure us, still the misgivings, yes?»
«Should it prove necessary,» Rake said, «I will attend to the matter personally. I do not believe, however, that our greatest threat is the one beyond the city's walls. A suspicion, Witch, no more.»
«I think,» Baruk said tentatively, «that we would like to hear these suspicions of yours, Rake.»
The Tiste And? hesitated, then shook his head. «Unwise. The matter is presently too sensitive to be broached. I shall remain here for now, however.»
Derudan waved dismissively at Baruk's angry growl. «True, the T'orrud Cabal is unused to feeling helpless, yes? True also, dangers abound, and any might prove a feint, a diversion, yes? Cunning is the Empress. For myself, I affirm the trust between us, Lord.» She smiled at Baruk. «We must speak, you and I, Alchemist,» she said, linking arms with him.
Rake bowed to the woman. «A pleasure meeting you, Witch.» He watched the witch and the alchemist walk away, the servant scurrying at Derudan's heel.
Kruppe intercepted a servant burdened with delicious-looking savouries.Taking two handfuls at random, he turned back to resume his conversation with Crokus. He stopped. The lad was nowhere in sight.
The crowd milled about on the terrace, some upset although the majority appeared simply confused. Where was Lady Sinital? they asked.
Some, grinning, changed the question to: Who's she with? Already a new wave of anticipation rose among the nobles. They circled like vultures, waiting for their faltering hostess.
Smiling beatifically behind the cherub mask, Kruppe raised his eyes slowly to the balcony overlooking the patio, in time to see a figure appear as a dark, feminine silhouette behind the shutters. He licked sticky sugar from his fingers, smacking his lips. «There are times, Kruppe murmurs, when celibacy born of sad deprivation becomes a boon, nay, a source of great relief. Dear Murillio, prepare for a storm.»
Sinital pushed apart two slats of the shutters and looked down. «You were right,» she said. «They have indeed retired to the terrace. Odd, with that storm coming. I should get dressed.» She returned to the bed and began to collect her clothing, which lay scattered all around it. «And what about you, Murillio?» she asked. «Don't you think your companion below is wondering where you are, dear lover?»
Murillio swung his legs over the bedside and pulled on his tights. «I think not,» he said.
Sinital shot him a curious look. «Who did you come with?»
«Just a friend,» he answered, buttoning his shirt. «I doubt you'd recognize the name.»
At that moment the door's lock snapped and the door itself slammed inward.
Dressed only in her underclothes, Sinital loosed a startled cry. Her eyes flashed at the tall, cloaked man standing in the doorway. «How dare you enter my bedroom? Leave at once, or I'll call-»
«Both guards patrolling this hallway have departed, Lady,» Rallick Nom said, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. The assassin glanced at Murillio. «Get dressed,» he snapped.
«Departed?» Sinital moved to place the bed between herself and Rallick.
«Their loyalty has been purchased,» the assassin said. «The lesson shouldn't be lost on you.»
«I need only scream and others will come.»
«But you haven't,» Rallick grinned, «because you're curious.»
«You don't dare harm me,» Sinital said, straightening. «Turban Orr hunt you down.» The assassin took another step forward. «I'm here only to talk, Lady Sinital,» he said. «You won't be harmed, no matter what you deserve.»
«Deserve? I've done nothing-I don't even knowyou.»
«Neither did Councilman Lini,» Rallick said quietly. «And tonight the same could be said for Turban Orr. Both men paid for their ignorance, alas. Fortunate that you missed the duel, Lady. It was unpleasant, but necessary.» His eyes hardened on the pale woman. «Allow me to explain.
Turban Orr's offer of contract to the Assassins» Guild is now officially cancelled. Coll lives, and now his return to this house is assured. You're done with, Lady Sinital. Turban Orr is dead.»
He turned and walked from the room, closing the door behind him.
Murillio rose slowly. He looked into Sinital's eyes, seeing there a growing terror. Undermined by the stripping away of her links to power, her once secure defences collapsed. He watched as she seemed physically to contract, her shoulders drawing inward, her hands clasped at her stomach, knees bending.Then he could look no longer. The Lady Sinital was gone, and he dared not study too closely the creature in her place.
He unsheathed his ornamental dagger and tossed it on the bed.
Without another word or gesture, he left the room, knowing with certainty that he would have been the last man to see her alive.
Out in the hallway he paused. «Mowri,» he said softly. «I'm not cut out for this.» Planning to reach this point was one thing; having now reached it was another. He hadn't considered how he'd feel. Justice got in the way of that, a white fire he'd had no reason to look behind, or push aside.
Justice had seduced him and he wondered what he had just lost, he wondered at the death he felt spreading within him. The regret following in that death's wake, so unanswerable it was, threatened to overwhelm him. «Mowri,» he whispered a second time, as close to praying as he'd ever been, «I think I'm now lost. Am I lost?»
Crokus edged round a marble pillar, his eyes on the rather short Barghast warmaiden sitting on the fountain's rim. Damn those guards at the wood's edge, anyway. He was a thief, wasn't he? Besides, they all looked pretty distracted.
He waited for his opportunity, and when it came he darted for the shadows between the first line of trees. No shout of alarm or call to halt sounded behind him. Slipping into the darkness, Crokus turned and crouched. Yes, she still sat there, facing in his direction.
He drew a deep breath, then stood straight, a pebble in one hand.
Eyeing the guards, he waited. Half a minute later he found his chance.
He stepped forward and flung the pebble into the fountain.
Challice D'Arle jumped, then looked round as she wiped droplets of water from her painted face.
His heart sank as her gaze passed over him, then her head whipped back.
Crokus gestured desperately. This was it, this was when he'd find out where she stood as far as he was concerned. He held his breath and gestured again.
With a backward glance towards the patio, Challice rose and ran to him.
As she came close she squinted at him. «Gorlas? Is that you? I've been waiting all night!» Crokus froze. Then, without thinking, he lunged forward and clasped a hand over her mouth, his other arm encircling her waist. Challice squealed, trying to bite his palm, and struggled against him, but he dragged her into the darkness of the garden. Now what? he wondered.
Circle Breaker leaned against the marble pillar just inside the estate's main chamber. Behind him guests milled around Turban Orr's body, arguing loudly and voicing empty threats. The air hung heavy over the garden, smelling of blood.
He wiped at his eyes, trying to calm his heart. It's over. Queen of Dreams, I'm done. I can rest now. Finally rest. He straightened slowly, taking a deep breath, adjusted his sword belt and glanced around.
Captain Stillis was nowhere in sight, and the chamber was almost empty except for a knot of servants outside the kitchen entrance. Lady Sinital was still missing, and confusion now seeped into the void of her absence.
Circle Breaker looked one last time at the guests in the garden, then he made his way to the doors. As he passed a long table on which sat the remnants of pastries and puddings, he heard faint snoring. Another step forward brought him to the table's end and into view the small round man seated in a plush antique chair. The smeared cherub mask hid the man's face, but Circle Breaker could see the closed eyes, and the nasal drone that matched the rise and fall of his chest was loud and steady.
The guardsman hesitated. Then, shaking his head, he moved on.
Beyond the gates now within sight waited the streets of Darujhistan, and freedom. Now that he'd begun his first steps on that path, he would let nothing deter him.
I've done my part. just another nameless stranger who couldn't run from the face of tyranny. Dear Hood, take the man's shrivelled soul-his dreams are over, ended by an assassin's whim. As for my own soul, well, you shall have to wait a while longer.
He passed through the gates, welcoming at last the smile that came unbidden to his mouth.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ravens! Great Ravens!
Your damning cawls deride histories sweeping beneath your blackened wings-
Shatter the day O flags of night, rend with shadows this innocent light Ravens! Great Ravens!
Your drumming clouds arrive swoop'd sudden sheer, hissing travails from no place t» the other-
Shatter the day, O flags of night, rend with shadows this innocent light Ravens! Great Ravens!
Your beaks clatter open disgorging the sweat of straining dismay the clack of bones promised this day-
