Shadowmage

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He coughed and accepted a mug of water from Grayling. Sitting up and taking a sip, he tried opening his eyes fully, and found his senses rapidly coming back to him, though he felt quite nauseous.

'How many got out?' he asked.

'Not enough. We've counted seven in so far, but I do not expect there to be any more. There has been no word of hangings, so we are assuming the others were killed trying to escape.'

'Well,' Lucius said, then fell silent for a moment. 'It beats a noose.'

'Yes, it does. But Luber was one of those who did not come back.'

'I'm sorry to hear that.' Lucius had not known the man very well, but was surprised to discover that he was sorry. Sharing a cell with Luber, however briefly, had forged something of a bond. 'We might not have escaped at all if it were not for him.'

'Maybe,' Grayling said, watching Lucius carefully. 'Maybe not.'

Lucius returned her gaze, becoming increasingly uncomfortable. This was a moment he had been hoping to avoid for some time yet, but it looked as though there was no way out.

'Listen, you and I have to talk. What you saw at the Citadel — '

'You're a Shadowmage, aren't you?' Grayling asked, her voice low and secretive. He also detected a hint of curiosity, and maybe wonder. 'I had heard you had all been wiped out when Vos entered the city.'

'I left. But others stayed, hiding.'

'There are others?' she asked, a little too eagerly, and Lucius winced. This was not a wise conversation to have when his senses were still addled, he realised.

'I can't discuss this. But, Grayling, I beg of you — '

'It's our secret,' she said, guessing his next words. 'I know why you kept it hidden. Some of the others here are not ready to accept a wizard in the guild.'

He shook his head. 'I'm no wizard.'

'If the stories are true, you are so much more.'

'Well… some of those might have been exaggerated. Like thieves that can pass through solid walls, you know?'

Grayling nodded slowly. 'Are there others in the Hands too? No, don't answer that. As I said in the Citadel, you can count on me. Mind you, I think the others might be more ready to accept you than you think. Especially now.'

'Why, what's happened?' he asked, noting the change in her voice. He suddenly realised that the dram he had been given might well have knocked him insensible for longer than it had seemed. 'How long was I out of it?'

'Three days.'

'God.' He tried to sit up and was pleased to discover that the pain lancing his side had been replaced by a dull ache. His head still swam though, and he took another sip of water to settle his stomach. It was only marginally successful. 'Fill me in then. What's been going on?'

'They're calling it the Thieves War.'

He sighed. 'It's started.'

'In a big way. Killings have spread across the city, and regular operations have all but ceased. Thieves are going round in groups, many with orders to do nothing more than hunt down those in the Guild. They have similar teams, and have been quite successful. We've lost nearly a quarter of our number already, and many are now too afraid to leave the guildhouse. There is a lot of talk about defecting. Of course, all of that just makes this place a bigger target.'

He thought briefly of the twins, and the price they had already paid in all of this. 'What about the pickpocket teams?'

'Ambrose has completely shut them down. It's just too dangerous. However, some have decided to go freelance, and others have been killed. Magnus sent enforcers to watch over them in the Five Markets, but that turned into a running battle with the Vos guard and more Guild men.'

'Is there no good news?'

Her expression was grim. 'None to speak of. We've had our victories, but they have been too small and too slow in coming. Caradoc succumbed to his wounds, never responded to the dram. They're talking about poison now. The docks have become a complete no-go area, at least in the dark hours. The thieves we had operating there have just disappeared. Bodies were found the next day, horribly mutilated, but we can only guess as to whether they are ours. The Guild must have hired real savages for that work. I am not sure what manner of man could do something like that.'

'I think I know,' he said quietly, but ignored her searching look. 'What is the Council doing?'

'Panicking, mostly. At least, that is the word among the rest of us. Magnus told me to tell you that he is convening a council of war this afternoon, and your presence is requested if you are fit. I'm not sure though — '

'You can tell him I'll be there.'

'I thought you might say that. You do need more rest though.'

'I'll rest until the meeting. But this is more important. We're fighting for survival now.'

When he walked into the Council Chamber, Lucius' first reaction was one of alarm. The large table that dominated the room seemed empty; only four seats were occupied. Magnus took his usual place, and had been joined by Elaine, Nate and the weather-beaten thief he had come to know as Wendric. Magnus' bodyguards, Taene and Narsell were standing behind the guildmaster, and Lucius had heard they had not left his side since the war began.

With so few member of the Council remaining it would appear that the Guild had been all too successful in its murderous campaign. Lucius found himself desperately hoping that others were engaged in secret missions for Magnus, that some plan was already being enacted that would secure final victory in this dirty war.

Magnus waved him forward, but the motion was slow and weary, and Lucius could see the strain and exhaustion the guildmaster was battling. He guessed Magnus had not seen his bed for the past three days.

'Lucius, good,' Magnus said. 'I had hoped you would be well enough to join us here. Are you fit enough for action?'

'I'm ready,' Lucius said, without hesitation.

'The Hands are in need of every able-bodied thief now. I wanted you to take your place in this council of war, to advise and, if necessary, carry out the plans we make here. While you are not formally part of the Council itself, I believe that may only be a matter of time, to be resolved after this war is done. But that is something we need to set aside for now.'

'Of course,' Lucius said, surprised at the casual way the promotion had fallen into his lap. He forced himself to focus on the matter at hand.

'We have taken too many losses over the past few days, and it is clear that the Guild of Coin and Enterprise is much stronger than we gave them credit for,' Magnus said.

'That may be true,' said Wendric. 'But it may just be they were better prepared to start a war. While we were concentrating on business, they were planning this from the start, picking targets and building alliances.'

If Wendric's remarks were a reproach to Magnus' leadership, no one commented on it.

'We've got to start hitting back in a meaningful way,' Nate said. 'We've got to pick our own targets. Show the Guild we will not lie down quietly, that we are still to be reckoned with. At worse, we can slow down the assault. At best, we can deliver a killing blow.'

'Jewel,' Elaine said.

'That's right,' Nate said. 'They struck at our lieutenant, we must hit at theirs. Tit-for-tat. Loredo clearly prizes her. Removing Jewel will make him less sure, and it must at least damage his own standing within the Guild.'

Wendric cleared his throat. 'I'm… a little uneasy about that.'

'Why?' Magnus asked.

'Well… if we meet Jewel on the street, if she is struck down during a battle, that is one thing. But to plan an assassination on a woman? It seems, distasteful in a way. Beneath us.'