I finally recognized him. Anyway, I found out that he's working with the Zhentarim, and I think he was behind me stea-uh, behind the theft of the Alabaster Staff, and I think either the Tiamatans have hidden it somewhere or, more likely, the Zhents have it.'
Demok looked genuinely surprised.
'He's a Zhent?' he asked, leaning forward. 'How?'
'Well, the, uh, people who made me… you know… they had this map of Wing's Reach. They said they got it from the city archives, but it had all the recent additions, so it was a new map. And it had the location of the Alabaster Staff marked on it. That meant someone was a traitor. And they said as much, but they didn't know who it was, because it was this 'friend of a friend' sort of thing.'
Kehrsyn bit her lip as she considered what to say next.
'I figured it was the Zhentarim,' she continued. 'From everything I've been hearing, they're working hard to worm their way into Unther, and despite what I said back in Wing's Reach I can't see anyone selling out to the pharaoh. The question was, who? I figured it was someone high, because they knew about the staff's hiding place. That meant it was you or Ahegi, most likely. I chose to try Ahegi first, because I figured it'd be harder to get something past you. And to be honest, I wanted it to be Ahegi, because he'd been giving me butterflies every time I saw him.
'So I find out. I write this note like I think maybe the Zhentarim would write it, and I sneak in and leave it on his bed. And for some reason he goes to talk to Massedar first, maybe to tell him he's leaving the building or something, and he goes all the way across town in a real hurry to a ship.'
'A ship,' echoed Demok, unable to follow Kehrsyn's train of thought.
'Don't you see? When the people came here and took all the bodies away-oh, wait, you weren't here. See, this used to be where the thieves' guild was, and-never mind, it's not important right now. But these Tiamat guys came in the middle of the night, and they took away all these dead bodies, and the guy in charge said they were going to leave them on the Zhentish ship. So these guys gave the Zhents all kinds of dead bodies! So that's why I think either Tiamat is helping them or the Zhents are using them, too.'
Demok narrowed his eyes and asked, 'Did they say which ship?'
'They said it was called the Bow Before Me.'
Demok nodded again, running a thumb across his lower lip, and said, 'It's in port, all right. It's tied up at the Long Wharf.'
'Yes!' said Kehrsyn. 'That's where Ekur went when he read the note. He went to the ship on the Long Wharf.'
'When he got back, he ordered you killed,' concluded Demok. 'Makes sense.'
'Yeah, maybe he spotted me shadowing him. I'm not as good as you are.'
Demok ignored the comment, causing Kehrsyn to wonder if he thought anyone was as good as he was.
'So Ekur,' said Demok, 'an ex-Gilgeamite, has embraced Bane, Lord of Darkness.'
'That sounds bad,' said Kehrsyn.
'Worse,' said Demok. 'Devoted my life to fighting them. Had a hunch they were holing up here. Wondered if they were in Wing's Reach, the way the house rose to prominence.'
'Is Massedar in danger?' asked Kehrsyn.
'Only if Ahegi finds out we know. I'll speak with Massedar directly.' He rose and grabbed his swords. 'You wait here.'
'Please be careful,' said Kehrsyn. 'And tell him I'm fine.'
Demok left, heading into the rain without acknowledging her request.
Demok recovered his horse and rode back to Wing's Reach, taking a circuitous route in hopes of avoiding the house guards. The horse balked at galloping in such dim light, but Demok's continued prodding kept its pace high. He was concerned that Ekur, thinking his cover blown, might try to assassinate Massedar.
He reached Wing's Reach, left his horse in the stable, and struck the stable boy to awaken him.
'Saddle,' he barked, and strode into Wing's Reach.
He vaulted up the stairs three at a time to the third floor, where he went directly to Massedar's quarters. He pounded loudly on the doors.
'Whatever it is, it shall await the morning,' came a sleepy and very irritated voice. 'I have had my fill of interruptions.'
'Demok, sir,' said he. 'Important!' he added, then pounded again.
Massedar muttered as he arose, the emotion, if not the exact words, clearly audible through the doors. At last the door creaked open and Massedar's face, at least a vertical quarter of it, appeared at the door.
'Speak thou thy tidings,' he commanded.
'Ahegi, sir,' said Demok, in a low, urgent voice. 'Kehrsyn has proof he's a Zhent. The traitor we've suspected.'
Massedar's sleepy eyes awoke at once, burning with fires of indignation. He pulled the door open wider and looked as if he was going to shout but fought back the impulse. Instead, he closed his eyes, clenched his fist, and drew in a deep breath through his nose.
'Ahegi…' he said, in a voice of resignation.
'Kehrsyn says he's Ekur of Shussel. Ex-Gilgeamite overlord.'
'Truly is she more… more valuable than pearls.'
'Where there's one priest, could be others.'
'No,' Massedar said, 'there are no others.'
'Certain?'
Massedar nodded and said, 'Ahegi hath been in my employ these… thirteen, fourteen years… from the beginning. The others have I myself recruited, and none be so lettered as he.'
'Best to keep quiet, anyway,' said Demok.
'Well spoken, for perhaps he hath adherents of his own.' Massedar shook his head, clenching and unclenching his fist. 'He, a traitor. That provideth how the thief so well knew where to uncover the Alabaster Staff. Surely the black hand holdeth it now. Would that I knew what other poison and slander he hath spread amidst this house. He hath betrayed everything. The memory of his deity incarnate, the future of his people, and the trust of his benefactor. All these hath he yielded up to the hunger of a foreign god. Such bitter news must I endure. Where is Ahegi at this hour?'
'Hunting Kehrsyn.'
'Seeketh he to still her tongue ere it can uncover his treason. Thus hath he pronounced his own doom,' said Massedar, and though his voice was calm Demok noticed that his body trembled. 'Find thou him, Demok. Do thou whatsoever thou must, to slay this wayward kin-seller who playeth the harlot to foreign gods in our ancient empire. Slay thou him ere his tongue might wag, seeking to poison thee against this house, even me. Only ensure thou that the head remaineth attached to the body, and the mouth and brain save thou undamaged. The fate of the rest I leave in thy hands and whims, if they be fast and sure. When thou hast finished, then shalt thou bring the body unto me. Thence shall we divine where his cabal hath placed my Alabaster Staff. Go thou now, to the kill.'
'Pleasure, sir,' said Demok, bowing ever so slightly as he turned away.
Kehrsyn huddled by the fire, wrapped in her blankets. Occasionally she turned her clothes over or rotated them around to expose fresh portions to the fire. She smiled as she saw them slowly drying. They would feel good to put on, nice and warm and dry.
A knocking at the front door sent her scrambling for her rapier before she realized that, of everyone she'd seen come and go, only Demok would have the consideration to knock. She chuckled in relief and embarrassment, quickly gathering her blankets around herself as he entered.
'Hi,' she said. 'I didn't expect you back so soon. Is everything all right?'
'Yes,' said Demok with a dangerous smile. Though his cloak hung limp and dripped rainwater, his eyes had a satisfied gleam like that of a cat. 'I am to kill Ekur.'
Beside the fire, Kehrsyn closed her eyes in thanksgiving. Massedar had heard her story, and her life had been spared.
'Well,' she sighed, 'I for one won't shed any tears when he dies.'
