That place turned out to be a recessed doorway at the corner of one of the buildings. It was a crumbling pile, and Aquint guessed the place was abandoned. From here, he and Cat could observe the whole weedy lot.
The time for the rendezvous was creeping closer.
Today, Aquint was armed. He had a short Felk sword under his cloak. The hard length pressed against him, bringing him no comfort. He didn't like weapons any better than he ever had, but if the Minstrel did show up, things were liable to get sticky.
The possibility of capturing the Minstrel still put a thrill into Aquint. Handing the Minstrel over to Abraxis would be a boon to his career. It would surely mean he would be allowed to conduct his operations against the Broken Circle some while longer. The more time Aquint spent in Callah, the better. Occupied by the Felk or not, this was home and it was also far away from the war.
He and Cat waited, silently. The day's grey drizzle continued to sift down. Aquint watched the passersby in the street.
Finally, the time had come. Aquint glanced to his side and realized with a start that Cat had vanished. He shook his head. The boy had a knack for stealth that was almost eerie. Probably he had slipped off to his own vantage place, so that the two of them could watch the lot from more than one angle. Aquint probably should have thought of that himself. Wherever Cat was now, he was well hidden.
At that moment Aquint saw Radstac approaching, walking along with that affected limp. She came up to the edge of the lot and halted.
Aquint didn't watch her as she stood there waiting. Instead, he swept the area continuously with his eyes, his heart beating hard again. He looked for any male bearing any resemblance to the Minstrel's description. He took into account the many possible disguises the man might attempt. He also watched for the woman from the tavern, who Radstac had described very adequately.
As for other members of the Broken Circle who might show up today, they could be anybody.
Aquint put his hand into his cloak and gripped the short sword's hilt. He continued to study the scene keenly.
Radstac, apparently impatient, stepped out into the lot. Aquint muttered a silent curse. The instructions had been to remain still. She moved deeper into the weeds, looking around. As he'd promised, she didn't see him, and it was a near certainty that she wouldn't see Cat either.
No one else entered the lot. No one appeared to be lingering nearby the scene. Aquint sighed, disappointed. He hadn't had any right to expect much from this, but he had been hoping nonetheless.
Suddenly, Radstac, half obscured by the tall weeds, gave a yelp and dropped from view.
Aquint started, grip tightening on the sword handle. Had she merely tripped and fallen? Or, had someone been lying in ambush for her out in those weeds?
He hesitated. She didn't stand back up. Something was wrong. He didn't see Cat emerging from wherever his hiding place was to come to her aid. That wasn't surprising. Aquint gritted his teeth. Once he exposed himself, this operation was through. But Radstac had demonstrated loyalty, sticking to her assignment even though Deo had abandoned his. Aquint had to go make sure she was all right.
He broke from the recessed doorway at a fast trot. The ground was uneven, and the dirt had turned to mud. He nearly stumbled as he approached the spot where Radstac had fallen. With an unhappy grunt, he loosed his sword, swinging its unfamiliar weight.
Aquint cut a swath through a clump of weeds. With a final leap he came down on the place where Radstac had disappeared, expecting to find her lying on the ground. She wasn't there. He halted, stunned.
'Let go of that sword.'
Aquint turned sharply, and squinted into the drizzling rain. Deo was standing about ten paces off, a crossbow against his shoulder, the bolt aimed directly at Aquint's chest.
'Let go of it,' Deo repeated.
'
'They may or they may not. Either way, you're running out of chances to drop that weapon peaceably, before I have to skewer you.'
Aquint lowered the sword but didn't yet let it go. Hot anger welled up inside him. He glared venomously at Deo.
'You traitorous bleeder.'
A hard smile touched Deo's mouth. 'That's a word I've heard bandied around quite a bit lately. Traitor. A very flexible word, I think. Tell me, do you think it might just apply to you as well?'
The anger went suddenly white hot. Aquint wasn't one to let himself be provoked, but the insult cut too deep. Without thinking, he was raising the sword and taking a first step toward Deo.
Suddenly a hand locked over his wrist and a fist sailed in from the edge of his field of vision and smacked his jaw. It was just hard enough for him to loosen his grip and stagger back a step. The short sword was snatched from his hand.
When he turned, rubbing his jaw, he saw that Radstac now held it.
'Traitors...' Aquint said. He felt genuinely betrayed. After all, he had rescued this pair from whatever military disciplinary action awaited them after their unauthorized arrival here in Callah. He had entrusted these two with the responsibilities of Internal Security agents.
'You wanted to meet the Minstrel,' Radstac said. 'We're taking you to see him.' From her pocket she pulled a strip of black cloth.
Here in the middle of the lot, they were screened from the street by the weeds. No bystander was going to come to Aquint's rescue. He had no choice but to submit.
He saw the tiny flash of movement, but did not let his eyes betray it. Radstac was coming toward him with the blindfold. Deo was still holding the crossbow on him. Aquint had seen the figure moving behind Deo.
Radstac halted sharply, turned, and shouted, 'Behind, on your right, low!'
With horror-wide eyes, Aquint watched Deo pivot tightly and fire the crossbow bolt. It twanged keenly, and Aquint heard the sound of the bolt striking something soft.
Radstac stuck the point of the sword against his ribs to keep him from running heedlessly toward Cat. Her hard, scarred face showed no emotion as she handed him the blindfold and told him to put it on. Numbly, he did so. She told him to pull up the cloak's hood once more, and he obeyed. She gripped one of his arms, and Deo came to take the other.
In lockstep they led him off. Aquint couldn't bring himself to ask if Cat was still alive.
DARDAS (4)
Anticipation and gleeful joy sharpened his senses to knife-edge keenness. Unfortunately, it was daylight and Weisel had control of the body, so there wasn't much Dardas could do to physically celebrate.
Still, the news of the rival army coming to meet them was absolutely thrilling.
This Isthmus was mustering up armed, organized resistance to the Felk conquest. Finally! Now, Dardas would have a genuine war to fight. And there was nothing better in life than war.
However, it seemed that it would probably take some convincing to persuade Weisel of that fact.
'I want reports, damnit!' Weisel snapped. 'I want
Fergon, his personal aide, winced. 'Yes, General. The Far Speak scouts are sending them as quickly as —'
'Not quickly enough!' Weisel cut him off. 'I want to know what's happening with that army out there every single moment. Is that clear?'
'Very clear, General.'
Weisel dismissed him curtly. Fergon saluted and hurried off on horseback.
