'Be careful, she whispered. You'll wake them up!'
'Oh, piddle pooh, the Favorite saidalthough he did whisper. You could shout at the top of your voice and those old gas bags would never wake up.'
'Just the same, Nerisa said, I wish you'd be more quiet. I'm used to working alone and loud sounds bother me.'
'You're a pretty good little thief, dearie, Gundara said. But I bet you wish you had me around all the time. You'd be rich! We'd steal everything that wasn't nailed down.'
'Riiight, Nerisa said, bending down to pick up the book.
It was thin and seemed to contain so few pages Nerisa feared Safar would be disappointed. The leather was cracked and old, but from the light Gundara gave off she could see the worn image of a four-headed serpent.
'That's Asper's book all right, Gundara said. There's probably not more than five or six in the whole world. He preened, proud of his work.
She started to fish a treat from her pocket to reward him, when he suddenly saidquite loud'You shut up, Gundaree. You couldn't of found it if it were on fire. So there. Don't you call me that! Shut up, you hear me? Shut up! Shut up! Shu'
Nerisa clamped a hand over his mouth, cutting off the rest.
'Stop that, she said. Or I'll wring your neck. I swear I will.'
When she took her hand away Gundara hung his head. He kicked at the floor with his elegant little foot. I'm sorry, he said. He just gets me soooo mad, sometimes.'
'Just don't do it anymore, Nerisa said. Then she gave him the treat.
Gundara grinned and gobbled it down. I like you, dearie, he said. I hope Safar gives you a nice little diddle after he gets the book.'
'Don't talk like that, Nerisa said. It isn't nice.'
'But it's what you want, isn't it? the Favorite teased. A big old sloppy kiss and then get diddled all night.'
Nerisa tucked the book away with the stone idol. That's enough, she said. And if you say one word like that to Safar, I'll, I'll… never speak to you again. See if I don't.'
Apparently this was a greater threat than a neck-wringing, for Gundara instantly apologized and said he'd never, ever do such a thing. Then he led the way back to the library door, shrunk down to flea size again and they slipped out into the corridor. After an hour of creeping about in the dark, Nerisa sprinted through the big main gate and headed down the broad avenueleap frogging from shadow to shadow as she made her way back to Safar's place.
She arrived just as Kalasariz and his men were dragging Safar down the stairs.
It was a night of terror in Walaria. Kalasariz men swept through the city, breaking down doors and hauling frightened young men into the streets where they were beaten and questioned under the shuttered windows of their families homes. Then they were taken to the spymaster's torture rooms where they were questioned further and forced to sign confessions. There were about fifty in all, although less than half were acquainted with Olari. The others were innocent, but had been marked for seizure by Kalasariz informers who did a record business that night collecting bribes from enemies of the young men and their families.
Justice was swift. There was no trial, nor were any of the condemned present when a High Judge sentenced them to death. The mass execution was set for the following daywhich happened to be Founder's Day. Town criers went through the city, shouting the news of the executions and posting notices listing the names of the condemned and their crimes.
At the top of the list was the name of the ringleaderone Safar Timura, foreigner.
At the bottom of the list was the name of one of his dupesOlari, citizen.
'Apparently I misjudged my family's influence, Olari said.
Safar wrung out the rag, freshened it from the pail of cold water and wiped the blood from Olari's face. He had been beaten so badly his head was swollen to half again its size.
'You always were a master of understatement, Safar said.
Other than the bruises he'd suffered when he was captured, Safar was unscathed. For some reason he hadn't been tortured and his confession'an unsigned document with Kalasariz sealhad been good enough for the High Judge.
'The real pity of it is, Olari said, I'm not even getting any credit. I'm to go down in Walarian history as a mere minion.'
'And I the minion in chief, Safar said. On the whole I'd rather pass on the honor. But Kalasariz was quite insistent. You know how persuasive he is.'
'My father most likely paid a handsome sum to have me listed as a dupe of your devilish tongue, Olari said. Protecting the family honor and all that. Stupid, I guess, is better than king of the traitors.'
The two young men were in the company of six other youths, all suffering from the ghastly work of the torturer. They were slumped in the center of the cell, barely able to chase away inquisitive insects and rats. All eight of them were to be beheaded by Tulaz, the master executioner. The others, crowded in nearby cells, would be parceled out in lots five or less to ten other executioners.
'There is one consolation, Olari said.
'What's that? Safar asked. I could use a bit of cheering up.'
'I'm to go last, Olari said. Which means whether Tulaz succeeds or fails, I'll be remembered. If he strikes off my head with one blow, I'll be helping him break his record. If not, why I'll go down in the wagering books as the one who ended Tulaz remarkable streak.'
Safar laughed. It was a bitter sound. I wish I could be there to see how it turns out, he said. Unfortunately, I go first.'
Olari tried to laugh. A sharp pain in his ribs turned it to a low groan. When he'd recovered, he shook his head, saying, I always was'
His words were cut off by a coughing fit. Safar held him until it stopped. Then his companion spit blood into the pail. There was a plop as one of his teeth fell into the water.
He looked up at Safar, grinning a bloody grin.
'What I was trying to get out before nature so rudely interrupted me, Olari said, was that I've always been a lucky dog.
'And it looks like that luck is going to stick with me until the very end.'
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
'You're too tense, the trainer complained as he kneaded the massive body stretched out before him. Can't get the kinks out less you relax.'
'Slept like shit, Tulaz said. Don't know what's wrong with me. I al'ays sleep like a babe. Specially afore a work day. But it weren't like that last night. Kept dreamin about this little fiendish thing. Body like a man, face like a toad. Kept on sayin''Shut up, shut up, shut up!'
The trainer's brow knotted in worry. The executionsmoved to the main arena to handle the Founder's Day crowdswere less than an hour away. All his savings had been risked on the outcome.
'Bad luck, a dream like that, Tulaz went on. Got me all out of sorts, it did. Can't figure out what I done to bring it on.'
'You purged yourself like I tole you? the trainer asked, pummeling Tulaz thick body.
