A Dance of Chaos: Book 6 of Shadowdance (9 page)

Z
usa walked through the dark streets, doing her best to ignore the tiny worm of nervousness swimming around in her belly. She’d endured the strength of the underworld a thousand times before; becoming part of it should prove no more daunting, nor dangerous. Finding a member of the Sun Guild was hardly difficult. Someone who might be able to induct her? That was a different matter. She needed someone she could impress, someone who would put her in a position of significant worth instead of on her back in a brothel or picking people’s pockets in the marketplace.

To her right she passed two men quietly talking with one another at the entrance of an alley, one of them holding a dim lantern. Their clothes were new, and they bore the mark of the Sun Guild on their breasts. No good, thought Zusa. She needed to find men and women from Mordeina, members of the Sun who would have no idea who she was. Zusa very rarely interacted with the guilds, but after so many years protecting Alyssa, there was still the odd chance someone might recognize her face despite the rather drastic change in her clothing.

Continuing, she kept her head up and eyes alert. Should anyone spot her, the confidence in her posture would do wonders to keep her safe. Thugs sought out downcast gazes and hunched shoulders, not those who moved without fear of their surroundings. She spotted another group, this of three, but one of them had a spider tattoo across the center of his face. Telling herself to remain patient, she shifted east, toward where the houses were finer and the streets more evenly paved.

At last she spotted a group of three huddled under a lamp, laughing and joking with one another. Their clothes were worn, their left ears decorated with several rings, and most importantly, all three sported the wide-brimmed hats currently in fashion in Mordan. They were selling something illicit, crimleaf most likely. Zusa strode up to the three, and their laughter died as they spotted her approach.

“Which guild did you used to belong to, sweetheart?” said the biggest of the three, a burly man with a dark-gray beard. He alone appeared armed, with a long sword strapped to his waist. Appearances were deceiving with the others, of course. Zusa had no doubt they kept slender daggers hidden somewhere on their persons.

“No guilds,” Zusa said. “But I am hoping for the Sun Guild to be my first.”

More snickering. The middle man gestured to Zusa’s daggers.

“Are you any good with those?”

“I wouldn’t wear them if I wasn’t.”

The bearded man crossed his arms, and while the others appeared amused, he looked mildly interested.

“Show me,” he said.

Before the man could draw his own sword, Zusa’s dagger was at his throat. For good measure she pointed the other toward the snickering man, the sharp tip an inch from poking into his stomach. All three swore.

“Not bad,” said the bearded man. “And gods damn are you fast. What’s your name, girl?”

“I’m no girl.”

“My apologies. Your name, milady?”

There was an edge of sarcasm to his voice, but at least Zusa was making progress.

“Are you capable of bringing me into the guild?” she asked, pulling back her daggers and jamming them into her belt.

“No, I’m not.”

Her turn to smirk.

“Then you don’t get to know my name,” she said. Deciding that being quick might not be enough, she chose to use another weapon in her arsenal. She locked her gaze on the bearded man, letting a soft smile spread across her lips. When she spoke next, she curled her fingers around the man’s face and delicately drifted them down to his neck. “But I wouldn’t mind knowing yours.”

“And why’s that?” he asked, eyebrow lifting.

She leaned in closer, opened her lips so that her warm breath softly blew against his ear, but then pulled back instead of whispering. Her eyes flicked away, just for a moment. Flirty, risky. As if he intimidated her the tiniest bit.

“No reason,” she said, flashing him a smile while tilting her head to one side.

His sudden laugh sounded hearty and honest.

“The name’s Hal,” he said. “And you’ve certainly made this night an interesting one.” He turned to the quiet man who’d said nothing, only watched. “Alex, take our mystery woman to see Ridley.”

“You think it’s a good idea?” Alex asked, then, turning to her, “I mean no offense, of course.”

“I’m sure none is taken,” said the bearded man. “And yes, I do think it’s a good idea. Our little woman here seems capable with both blade and beauty. Ridley should appreciate us sending him such a fine recruit.”

Alex shrugged.

“Your call, not mine. You can take the heat if she wastes Ridley’s time.”

Zusa smiled at him as sweetly as she could.

“Would you be my escort, dear sir?”

It earned her a laugh, and shaking his head, Alex turned up the street and led her north.

“You can cut the act,” he said. “I’m not the one you need to impress.”

Zusa’s smile faded, and she dropped the flirtatious tone.

“And I take it Ridley is?” she asked.

“Ridley’s as high up as you may ever meet,” Alex said, running a hand through his long brown hair as he talked. “Impress him and you’re set. Claim all you want you’ve never been with a guild, but the way you dress and carry yourself says otherwise. Don’t worry. It don’t matter who you used to be with. I was a member of the Serpents before Muzien arrived. Thankfully he’s shown no bad blood toward anyone, regardless of who they once served, not even the old Spider Guild members. So if Ridley asks you who you once worked with, just tell him the truth. It’ll be better for you in the long run, all right? Telling lies is a good way to find yourself facedown in a ditch somewhere, choking on your own tongue.”

“I’ll keep it in mind,” Zusa said, walking alongside him.

She could only guess where Alex was taking her. Along the way she debated whether to use an alias when she met with Ridley. To the bulk of the city, Zusa did not exist. She was an oddity to those who worked in the Gemcroft mansion, and only a few, like Victor, knew how dangerous she truly was. For Muzien to know about her, he’d have to have looked extensively into Alyssa’s history. In some ways he seemed like someone who would do that, but on the other hand, if the elf did not think of Alyssa as a threat, he might not have done but the most cursory of digging.

Of course, if he’d done extensive research, he might recognize her on sight, making her name of little relevance when he could just look upon her face.

Alex took her to a nondescript home, stopping before its unguarded door. The front had a single window, and through its dirty glass she saw the light of a candle burning within, obscured by the thick curtain blocking the entirety of the window. Above the door, small but finely cut, was the symbol of the Sun Guild. Despite the lack of any lamps or torches, the symbol seemed to shine in the moonlight. Alex knocked on the door, waited a few seconds, then knocked several more times. When the door cracked open, he stepped back and bowed his head in respect.

“Someone wishing to join the guild,” Alex said to whoever was within.

“Send him to the recruiters,” said a rough voice within. “It’s their job, not mine.”

“It’s a her,” Alex said, and there was no hiding the sudden nervousness in his voice. “And she’s … unusual. I figured it best you meet her.”

The door swung all the way open, and out stepped a stocky man with short hair and pockmarks on his face. He glanced Zusa up and down, seemingly unimpressed.

“Ridley,” he said, not offering his hand.

“And I am Zusa. I wish to become a member of the Sun Guild.”

“Why us?” Ridley asked.

“Because there is no one else, not anymore.”

The man cracked a half-smile. Leaning back against his door, he crossed his arms and seemed to regard her a second time. Beside her Alex fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable and wishing to leave.

“In that you’re correct,” Ridley said finally. “And we did it through sacrifice and determination. We did it shedding blood, not through luck and laziness. If you accept the symbol of the Sun, you’re devoting your entire life to our cause. Every breath of air you take into your lungs, every beat of your heart in your chest, it is done to further the servitude to the whole. Members of the Sun will become your family, your friends, your entire reason for existing. If you are willing to embrace our teachings, if you are willing to bleed for us, and die for us, then you will share in the tremendous wealth and power we wield, wealth and power that grow every single day. Is this something you’re still interested in joining?”

It was bondage, Zusa realized, a unique form of it, perhaps, but bondage nonetheless. The chains were made of gold and blood, and they would have her enter it willingly, but that mattered little in the end. She had a feeling Karak would be proud.

“I am,” she said, standing tall and meeting Ridley’s eye when she answered.

Ridley scratched the side of his face, clucked his tongue.

“Alex says you’re special,” he said. “Prove it. Kill him.”

Alex paled.

“Wait, what did—”

No hesitation. No second thoughts. To show humanity or hesitation would only betray her. She drew her dagger and cut across Alex’s throat before he could try to defend himself. As the blood flowed, Zusa slid to the side, avoiding its spray. To the ground Alex dropped, clutching at his throat as he made noises that might have been attempts at words. Zusa refused to look at him, instead watching Ridley. If the man held the slightest sympathy, he did not show it. A special kind of monster, Zusa realized, but when she looked to the body she felt no remorse, either. How different from him could she truly pretend to be?

“You’ve killed before,” Ridley said, tilting his head to one side, analyzing her, judging her. “Did you belong to one of the former guilds here, or are you a mercenary?”

“A mercenary,” Zusa lied. “From Angelport. I’ve come here for work, and for coin. The Sun Guild seems the perfect fit.”

“You are a killer then? Not a thief of coin but of blood?”

It might take her down a dark road, but she knew it best suited her skills.

“I am,” she said.

“So be it. Follow me. Your test isn’t over just yet.”

Without waiting for a response, he left his home, assuming it was his home, and began backtracking along the route Alex and Zusa had taken. He walked with a purpose, and a distant dread built in Zusa as she anticipated the reason. Behind them Alex’s body remained, though she had a feeling members of the Sun would deal with it shortly … which meant Ridley’s home was being watched at all times.

Back to that lamplit street corner they went, halting a hundred feet away. The remaining two men saw Ridley and Zusa approaching, and they stood up straighter, with Hal nodding in greeting.

“Your speed is great,” Ridley said, softly at first so only she could hear. “But let’s see how you handle a more prepared enemy. Todd! Hal! This woman comes for your life. Defend yourselves!”

Zusa drew her daggers as the two men readied their blades. Hal looked calm, but Todd reckless and angry. Instead of rushing them she slowly approached, each step measured. She wanted to frighten them with her certainty. She wanted to unnerve them with her lack of fear. Taking a cue from Haern, she leaned forward, letting her cloak wrap about her. Halfway between them she crouched down, tensing the muscles in her legs in anticipation of her charge.

“Is Alex dead, too?” Hal asked as he held his sword with both hands.

“He is,” said Zusa.

“Then it’s on my head. You better kill me, girl, or I’m taking every bit of my guilt out on your corpse.”

Zusa smiled.

“Consider it done.”

She burst into movement, a charge at Todd instead of Hal. Fear was in the smaller man’s eyes. There’d be no competition, no dance, no risk of his plunging a blade in her back with a coward’s bravery. Just a quick death. Todd swung at her, as did his fellow rogue, but Zusa rolled to one side, recovered her footing, and then lunged. Her daggers found purchase, plunging through Todd’s ribs. Driving the weapons harder into him, she pushed him back, then retreated when Hal’s long sword slashed for her neck. She twirled so she could set her feet and reposition her blades. In came the bearded man’s thrust, but he’d rushed the attack in hopes of catching her unprepared.

With a simple twist and shift of her left arm, she parried the attack wide. Having overextended himself, there was nothing he could do, not compared to Zusa’s speed. A step, a thrust, and to the street he dropped, blood gushing from the hole she’d opened in his chest. Steeling her heart against his cries, she stood above the dying man with her daggers in her hands. Despite the sudden fight, despite her pounding heart, they did not tremble.

Behind her Ridley clapped.

“Well done,” he said. “Not even a challenge, I daresay. You will be a fine addition to our guild.”

Zusa watched the man die, saw the life leave his eyes as he breathed his last. He was scum, she told herself. Just a foe worthy of death. The lives she saved by bringing Muzien to justice easily outweighed a few dead guild rats. Easy, cruel words, and she repeated them in her head so no guilt might dare surface within her breast.

“They broke the rules,” Ridley said, coming up beside her and seeing how she focused on the dead man. “If you were an assassin, they’d have brought you right to my doorstep instead of a recruiter’s. For such a mistake, they deserved death.”

“Even though I’m not an assassin?” she asked.

Ridley grinned at her.

“Oh, you’re an assassin, just our assassin now. Besides, I wanted to see how well you killed men you’d spoken with. So far, so good. Come with me. It’s time to make your entrance official and get you your star.”

Back north they walked, again leaving the bodies where they lay.
Is all of Veldaren their personal burial ground?
thought Zusa grimly.

At first she thought they were going back to Ridley’s home, but instead he veered west, through a row of carefully lit stores. At the far end he stopped and gestured at the door of what seemed a simple little shop. With a gentle push, the door cracked open.

“Through here,” he said. “Know that once you enter, your life is sworn to the Sun.”