Digger came to check on Jaul. The dwarf frowned to see the pawnbroker still there. That’s right, thought Chant, eyeing the greasy dwarf. Jaul and I are family, and I’m not letting you or this organization turn us against each other again.
A tug on Chant’s sleeve turned out to be one of the musicians. “What?”
“Someone’s looking for you.” The musician pointed at a pale man with tattoos the color of ash.
“Waukeen’s empty purse!” Chant said.
Jaul glanced at the stranger. “Who’s that?”
“Demascus!” Chant called, and waved the deva over. Behind him came Riltana. The pawnbroker grinned. Both were dripping wet. The storm must still be howling outside. “A reunion,” he said. “Digger, ale for my friends.”
He opened his mouth to ask Riltana how Carmenere was, then closed it. Sometimes he could manage tact.
Jaul eyed the damp strangers.
“Jaul, meet Demascus and Riltana. And this is Jaul, the apple of my eye.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Demascus, and offered a hand. Jaul didn’t react for only a moment, just long enough to be rude, then shook.
Riltana nodded and said, “Hey kid, nice to meet you.”
“Chant,” said the deva, “It’s great to see you again. It’s been too long.”
The pawnbroker smiled. “Decide to try your hand at some games? I can steer you to a couple of tables that aren’t fixed. And how’s my cat?”
“No games today,” said Demascus. “And Fable is settled in well. A little too well. I think she believes
“Actually, I have something I want to talk to you about,” Demascus said. “Fairly serious … is there anywhere we can talk?”
Riltana let her gaze rest on Jaul for a couple of heartbeats, just long enough to imply his son’s presence was an annoyance.
Jaul stiffened as he realized he’d suddenly become the odd man out. Sharkbite! Not when he’d just made so much headway!
Chant raised his hand and said, “Demascus, I have no secrets from my son. What’s on your mind?”
Demascus frowned. “Chant. This is sensitive material. I trust you and your son can keep it confidential?”
Chant glanced at Jaul, who licked his lips and nodded. Chant was already regretting his words. Of course the boy couldn’t keep a secret. Why, just-
“Great.” Demascus leaned in, and Riltana followed his lead. “There’s been a mining disruption,” said the deva, “and the Throne of Majesty is concerned it’s actually a covert attack by a foreign power. Queen Arathane is desperate for some actual intelligence at the mine site before the Four Stewards force some sort of military action based on fear, not facts.”
“News to me,” said Chant. His mind automatically started a list of people who’d pay good coin to hear it … He pinched off that line of thought. Demascus was his friend, and this particular secret was not his to sell. Old habits were hard to break.
“What kind of mine?” said Jaul.
Demascus raised a finger to acknowledge the question, but continued on his original tack. “Here’s the thing. We found documents that suggest Raneger is somehow connected to the mining disruption. Know anything about it?”
Chant stroked his chin. Mining? “No. Master Raneger has his fingers in a lot that goes on in the city, legal and less so. But I don’t think he’s got the infrastructure to support that sort of operation.”
“A mining disruption-what’s that mean?”
Chant glanced at his son. The boy was persistent. “Jaul’s got a point. What’s this really about?”
“A mine operated by the Crown has gone silent. It’s a secret excavation, so I’m not surprised you haven’t heard of it. But Raneger may have.”
“What kind of mine?” said Chant.
Demascus leaned even closer and said, “Arambarium.”
Arambarium? Sounded like a mineral he should know about, but he was coming up blank.
But Jaul was nodding. “Master Raneger was talking to some people about arambarium a few tendays ago.”
Chant and Demascus speared Jaul with surprised looks.
“Who was Raneger talking to?” said Riltana.
“Not sure-I caught it in passing. But I remember they said ‘arambarium’ because it was a new one on me. It stuck with me.”
“Anything else?” said Demascus.
“Something about moving the goods through some warehouse. But our game was over, so I took off.”
Chant looked at his son, an odd feeling in his stomach. “You play games … with Raneger? In his receiving room?” The idea of Jaul having such a casual relationship with the low-down snake made his blood run cold.
Jaul shrugged. “He gets lots of visitors, some of them pretty odd. I’m usually the least impressive person in Raneger’s court. Except at cards.” He chuckled. “Raneger likes cards. And I’m pretty damn good, Pa.”
“Jaul,” said Demascus, “Can you get us a meeting with Raneger?”
“Probably.”
Chant opened his mouth to protest, then closed it. Then opened it again and said instead, “What if this arambarium is a secret we’d rather Raneger didn’t know that we knew? It could be dangerous to question him on the topic.”
Riltana slapped Chant’s shoulder, “Then I guess we better be ready to fight, huh?” She grinned.
Jaul clapped his hands and shook his head. “Don’t worry. I’ll tell Raneger you’re with me.”
Raneger’s dim receiving room was vast, supported by a double row of marble columns, with a pool recessed in the middle of the floor, giving the air a moist, dank quality. Sometimes the crime lord invited the keepers of fighting drakes and sword moths to provide bloody sport. Other times he hosted musicians, or elaborately costumed dancers, or even the occasional jester.
Chant particularly hated jesters. He was glad to see none were in attendance. However, the rest of Raneger’s “court” was present as Chant and his friends were ushered in. Chant recognized several faces among the varied bunch of bootlickers, bounty hunters, and other scoundrels seeking the crime lord’s favor. What kind of secret monger would he be if he didn’t?
Ah, but who’s this? A man stood before Raneger, tall and kingly. A gemstone was bound on his brow like a crown. But if he was slumming in Raneger’s court, the man was probably a fell dignitary of a foreign power. The symbol of a dark skull on a gold disc on the man’s belt cinched it-the fellow must be some kind of Zhentarim mercenary or captain.
“Until next time, Lord Numegista,” Raneger said to the man. “I look forward to your next visit.”
Chant’s ears pricked. What an odd tone. Raneger actually sounded respectful!
The stranger swept out without so much as a glance in their direction. His green eyes were fixed on some internal question. When he had some time to spare, Chant decided he would put out feelers. It might be interesting to know who Numegista actually was. A Zhent able to command the deference of Akanul’s most accomplished crime lord was someone Chant should know, too …
Raneger motioned them forward. Jaul moved to the edge of pool-it seemed the crimelord never left his aquatic basin. Chant and the others followed, though not as close as his son.
“Jaul, you didn’t mention we’d have guests,” said Raneger. “I suppose you have a good reason to disturb my court?” The waters of Raneger’s pool sloshed against the sides.
“Disturb? But I thought …” said Jaul, and swallowed. The young man mopped at his brow, surprise evident on his face.
“You thought what, whelp? That because I show you more favor than most, that you can abuse my trust and bring beggars to my pool?”
Jaul opened and closed his mouth, apparently speechless.
