“About six feet tall, lean, probably about my age.”Understanding flooded Fox’s face. “You think they looked likeus.”
“They were close enough to fool Rhendish’s clockworkguards.”
Fox laughed and shook his head. “Are all dwarves thissuspicious?”
“I prefer to think of myself as analytical. And yes,dwarves tend to be analytical. Humans, on the other hand, tend tobe emotional and impulsive.”
“I prefer to think of myself as instinctual,” Foxsaid.
“Have it your way. But I noticed you haven’t broughtthe elf this far into the tunnels. You haven’t shown her thetrove.”
Fox rolled his eyes. “I’m not a perfect idiot, youknow.”
“That you’re not.” The dwarf stopped pacing andclapped Fox on the shoulder. “But only because nobody’sperfect.”
Chapter Seven: Shoddy Workmanship
For nearly four years now, Avidan had harbored nothought of leaving the warren of rooms and tunnels he knew as theFox Den. He had no aversion to the larger world; the thought ofventuring out into it had simply never occurred to him.
But something very similar to curiosity began to stiras he followed Fox and Delgar through an intricate maze of tunnelsand secret doors.
The hidden web Delgar had created was nothing shortof marvelous. In addition to clearing ancient dwarf-built tunnels,the dwarf had made use of human constructions, such as the culvertsbelow the streets for rain run-off and the cellars of houses builtclosely together. He’d dug small tunnels connecting these cellars,and fashioned doors that seemed to disappear into the stonewalls.
For the first time Avidan realized how Fox was ableto procure any materials he requested. Now that he thought aboutit, the herbs and minerals and oils he was putting into the elf’srose daggers would require a small fortune.
Or access to the workrooms of Sevrin’salchemists.
This, too, was a fascinating thought. He’d never beenparticularly impressed by the northern alchemists. His own work wasfar more advanced. But the most recent assortment of materials Foxbrought him showed a certain amount of sophistication.
“I suppose much progress can be made in one hundredyears,” he murmured.
Delgar glanced back over his shoulder. “I haven’tbeen at it quite that long, but thanks.”
Avidan saw no reason to explain that he spoke ofalchemy, not excavation. He followed Fox and the dwarf up a flightof rough-hewn stone stairs and waited while Fox tinkered with awood-and-wire mechanism. After a few moments, the young thief swunga flagstone portal to one side.
The two friends crawled through the opening. Foxreached down to help Avidan up.
He stood and dusted himself off. The flagstone provedto be part of the stone paving separating a large hearth from theroom’s wooden floor. Fortunately for them, the warm summer nightmade a fire unnecessary.
Avidan surveyed the private supper room Vishni hadrented in what he’d been told was one of Sevrin’s better taverns.The walls were paneled with smoke-darkened wood. A garish tapestrydepicting a dragon hunt covered one wall, adding color andsubtracting from Avidan’s estimation of the owner’s taste. Bluelinen draperies softened the open windows. The room was hardly whathe had been accustomed to in his youth, but the furnishings wereadequate and the food plentiful.
The small table held a large bottle of wine and aplatter of bread, cheese and fruit. Fragrant steam rose from abasket of savory hand pies. Smoked fish had been cut into neatslices and arranged on a plate. Three chairs and place settingsstood ready.
“There’s no need for you to talk much,” Fox said,repeating words Avidan had heard and ignored several times now.“Let the other alchemist do the talking. Learn as much as you canabout him.”
“You need have no concerns about the conversation. Nodoubt we will find much to discuss.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” muttered the dwarf.
“No going off on tangents,” Fox said. “And for thelove of a thousand tiny gods, don’t offer to treat him for thepox.”
Avidan’s brow furrowed in puzzlement. “Why would I dothat?”
The dwarf and the thief exchanged a quick, worriedglance. Fox cleared his throat. “We’ll hold onto the alchemistuntil after the dagger is retrieved, so you don’t need to worry toomuch about what you say to him. Just make sure you don’t give himreason to leave the room or raise an alarm. Vishni will give you asignal if you’re heading into dangerous waters.”
“I believe the plan is for her to kick me in theshins.”
Fox shrugged. “It’s best to keep these thingssimple.”
Avidan accepted this with a nod and took his place atthe table. “I am ready.”
The dwarf glanced out the window. Twilight fadedtoward dark. A lamplighter sang the hour as he went about hiswork.
“Ready or not, we have to leave,” Delgar said. “We’llbe waiting in the tunnel and we can come if you need us, but onlycall as a last resort. Revealing this tunnel would lose us a bigsection of the city.”
“I am well aware of the risks attending thismeeting,” Avidan said with simple dignity. “As I’m aware how theserisks might be compounded by the participation of someone who is,as I believe the expression goes,
A wave of chagrin swept Fox’s face. “Listen,Avidan-”
He cut the young man off with an upraised hand. “Ihave long been aware of your opinion. It could hardly be otherwise,given how you found me. And in all candor I cannot dispute yourconclusion.
“But this task I can do,” he said firmly. “Go now,and leave me to it.”
The two friends exchanged another troubled glance,but they left the room without further comment.
Avidan poured a little wine and sipped. To hissurprise, the rich taste of pomegranate liqueur slid across histongue. He had not tasted this treasure of Veldoon since-
He stopped this thought before it could lead him ontodangerous pathways. He could not afford to think about those lostyears, not if he hoped to play the part of a sane man.
A woman’s laughter rang out in the hall beyond thesupper room. The door opened and Vishni swept in on the arm of thealchemist she’d hunted and charmed.
As always, Avidan could see through the illusionVishni wore to the reality beneath. The experience was a bit likelooking through a very solid rainbow. Tonight she chose to appearblond and blue-eyed and buxom-the quintessential northland woman,everything a visitor to Sevrin might hope to find in a temporarycompanion.
The man with her was somewhat less than averageheight, by the standards of Sevrin, and slightly built. He wore hisglossy black hair neatly combed and oiled. His skin had been warmedby the southern sun to a color just short of brown. His nose wasthin and aquiline, his eyes an unusual shade of light graysurrounded by a darker ring.
Looking upon him was like gazing into a mirror.
Avidan rose and spread both hands palms up in theVeldooni gesture of greeting.
The alchemist started when he saw Avidan. “I did notexpect to meet a countryman.” His gaze swept Avidan’s simple bluetunic. “And a brother of alchemy, as well!”
Avidan glanced at Vishni. “I am equallysurprised.”
“A pleasant surprise, I trust.” The Veldooni manbowed. “Shavin Insa’amid.”
“An honor, Master Insa’amid.” He returned the bow. “Ifollow the Sevrin custom of a single name. Avidan.”
The man’s dark brows rose. “A common name among myfamily, though I have not heard it elsewhere.”
“Shall we sit?” Vishni said. “I’m famished, and thoselittle pies smell wonderful.”
They took their places around the small table. Vishnikept up a spate of entertaining chatter as she poured
