in.”
“You whine like a child,” Zusa said, looping her dark purple wrappings about her neck. She’d been half-naked when he entered their room, so he dressed with his back to her as she slowly covered her body.
“That must take forever to put on,” he said after stealing a glance to make sure she was decent.
“It was part of our punishment,” Zusa said, grabbing another roll and pressing it against her chin. “The idea was that with how much time it would take, we would be more able to resist our womanly urges.”
“It work?”
The wrappings covered her face, cheekbones, and forehead, with only a long gap across her eyes.
“There are many ways to find pleasure, even fully clothed. Trust me. We faceless women discovered them all.”
Haern felt himself blushing, and tried to change the topic.
“Where is it we should go first?” he asked.
“The docks.”
“Any particular reason?”
Zusa smiled at him; her lips might have been covered, but he could tell by the way her eyes sparkled.
“I will explain when we arrive. Now let us hurry. Alyssa said we will be allowed to come and go as we please, but I still think it best we don’t let many know of our presence here.”
Haern inched open the door and looked out. The hallway was dark and empty. The entire mansion had been laid down for rest, the sun long set. Nodding to Zusa, he pulled his cloaks tight about him and led the way. They kept to the servants’ side, since they were closer to their exit. When they were to leave, a burly man stood on the opposite side of the door, his arms crossed. A wicked scar ran across the bridge of his nose. He was past his prime years, but still looked like he could tear Haern in half with his bare hands.
“You’re blocking the way,” Haern said, keeping his tone flat. “Move?”
“You’re that Watcher guy, aren’t you? Laurie said you’d be coming.”
“Kind of him. Care to do as he says?”
Instead, the man drew an enormous sword off his back. It had to weigh a ton, but he handled it with ease.
“They tell me you weren’t the one who killed Taras,” he said. “But I saw the symbol. You might not have done it yourself, but that don’t mean you’re innocent. I fought that Wraith bastard. If the rumors about you are even half-true, this guy’s still better.”
“We don’t have time for this,” Zusa whispered behind him.
The man let out a roar, as if he were trying to be intimidating. Haern winced, but only from the heavy stench of alcohol that assaulted his nostrils.
“Who are you?” Haern asked.
“Torgar. I’m in charge of Laurie’s mercenaries, as well as keeping the family safe. If it were up to me, I’d have you hanging outside the-”
He suddenly tensed, and his jaw dropped a little. Zusa stood before him, her knee rammed into his crotch, her left hand holding his neck to keep him steady. Her dagger pressed against his abdomen, just below his leather armor.
“Move,” she breathed into his ear, just before kicking his chin when she back-flipped. Torgar dropped to his rear, his stunned look giving way to anger
“You bitch!”
Zusa blew him a kiss as she ran on. Haern followed, offering the mercenary a sympathetic shrug.
“A little harsh,” he said as they vaulted the walls of the Keenan estate.
“The oaf thinks with pride and alcohol. I have no patience with either.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
They kept to the shadows as they hurried down the street toward a main intersection leading to the docks. Their first obstacle was one of the three walls, its gateways well-lit and carefully guarded. They slunk to the side of a home and peered around.
“Doubt they’ll let us through,” Haern said. “Not armed and dressed like this.”
“We could take them out. Not fatally. Don’t give me that look.”
Haern glanced at the wall. It wasn’t that tall, and with so many homes built up against it, just maybe…
“Follow me,” Zusa said, interrupting his thoughts. She ran until out of sight of the gate, then turned and vaulted high into the air. Haern could hardly believe what he saw. She landed atop the roof, without needing to grab hold or climb up. Without slowing, she took two more steps and jumped again, catching the top of the wall with her fingers. Climbing up, she then leaned back down and offered her hand.
“Jump or climb,” she said.
He took his own running leap, caught the roof with a hand, and used it to pull himself up. As for the wall, he jumped toward it, kicked off with a foot to lift higher, and then caught her hand. With minimal effort she pulled him up, and together they overlooked the docks.
“You need to teach me how do that,” he said, shaking his head.
“Run fast, then jump. I didn’t think it was difficult.” She pointed. “There.”
“What am I looking for?”
“You’ll know.”
Haern followed her finger, then saw a trio of men lurking in an alley. They certainly looked up to no good. Nearby torches burned, lighting up taverns that bustled with activity.
“What is your plan?” he asked. “Do we assault random thugs and hope one of them knows the Wraith?”
Zusa rolled her eyes.
“Sometimes I wonder how you achieved as much as you have.”
“A lot of luck was involved.”
She drew her daggers, twirling them in her hands.
“This Wraith sent you a message for a reason. I say we send one in return. Let him know you’re here in Angelport. Let him find you, instead of us finding him.”
A grin spread across Haern’s face. At least in this, he felt right at home.
“Those thieves,” he said. “They’re about to have a very bad night, aren’t they?”
Zusa shot him a wink.
“Lead on, Watcher.”
Haern dropped from the wall onto a roof, rolled to the street, and shook off the jarring landing. With Zusa following, he weaved toward the taverns. He stayed close to the walls, and peered around corners to ensure they never saw his approach. The three men were all heavily tattooed, but most striking was the sword blade across their right eyes, stretching from chin to forehead.
“Do you know what it means?” Haern whispered.
“I don’t,” said Zusa, shaking her head.
Haern shrugged, then resolved to watch. The men kept their attention focused on the nearby taverns. They were waiting, and Haern was patient enough to find out just what for. He would not murder men in cold blood for standing in a dark alley, despite the short swords they carried. He needed intent. He needed proof.
“They wait for a victim,” Zusa said. “Perhaps we should give them one?”
Haern shrugged.
“Wait here.”
He looped around back, so that the three would not see his approach. Pulling down his hood, he turned a corner, making it seem as if he’d just come from one of the taverns. Walking with an uneven gait, he purposefully stumbled closer to their alley while making sure his sabers remained hidden by his cloaks. The outfit would label him an outsider, and he hoped that would help convince the men to make their move.
Crossing the alley, the three men stepped out, their short swords drawn.
“Don’t seem from around here,” said the biggest of the three. Haern turned his head aside, not wanting them to get a good look at his face. As they neared, he tugged his hood lower, as if he were scared.
“Visiting friends, that’s all,” he said, doing his best to sound afraid.
“Then come over here and hand over what you got,” said another, stepping quickly to cut off Haern’s retreat. “You need to pay to stay safe in this town, stranger.”
