Delver Magic: Book 05 - Chain of Bargains (23 page)

"I think you are
overreacting. The stones were meant to find you, the sword does not utilize the
same enchantment."

"Maybe, but I'd feel
better... just for now."

Holli refocused on her own
concerns and decided to allow the request. Ryson still maintained the war
blades at his hips. That would be enough for the encounter she expected.

"Very well."

Holli left the Sword of Decree
across her back and turned to the center of town.

"Let us speak with Regional
Steward Prilgrat."

Though Holli could not perceive
any dark creature's magical vibration due to the surging magical flow that
inundated Ashlan, Ryson sensed the goblin before they even entered the grand
house near the center square. The delver could smell the vicious little monster
despite the billowing traces of goblin scent throughout the city. The trail
into Prilgrat's home was strong and fresh.

It was no real surprise to either
of them that one of the dark creatures was at Prilgrat's residence, even at
such a late hour. The regional steward seemed behind every order that allowed
the goblins to run rampant across the Great
Valleys. It simply seemed odd that
the path of stench led directly through the front door. Ryson would have
guessed the creature would have been a bit more discreet.

Holli didn't bother to knock, nor
did she attempt to conceal their presence with a covert entrance. Throwing open
the front door, the two visitors barged into the house with brusque
determination, disregarding a handful of sleepy servants that attempted to stop
them. They moved through a magnificent foyer decorated with long tapestries and
striking paintings of imposing dignitaries.

Utilizing his delver senses and
sniffing out the goblin, Ryson quickly directed the way. He led Holli down a
long hall and to a closed door at the back of the house. He heard a most
boisterous conversation—the rough and raspy voice of a goblin snickering at the
jovial narrations of a very energetic human. The near rowdy dialogue seemed out
of place for such a late hour.

After Ryson nodded, confirming the
location of the goblin, Holli burst through the door into a back study. She
immediately scanned the room for any threats, but found nothing but two
occupants with expressions of good natured humor.

Prilgrat looked up at his new
guests and offered a broad smile. His teeth glistened like white pearls. He sat
comfortably in a cushioned chair behind his desk with a goblin at his side. He
didn't stand, but he welcomed both the elf and the delver. His face lit up with
apparent joy, as if greeting a long lost brother, but he couldn't hide his
condescending tone as he revealed his expectations.

"I was wondering when you two
were going to show up."

Holli said nothing in response.
She reviewed her surroundings quickly and sized up the man before him by his
physical appearance and the condition of his study. By the disarray of papers
and objects on his desk, she knew he didn't require order. Quite the contrary,
she immediately sensed the man thrived on turmoil. Not only the desktop, but
the entire room lacked organization. Prilgrat didn't depend on impressing
visitors with any display of deliberate control. Instead, he relied more an
outward show of self-indulgence and extravagance.

The walls were filled with awards
and ribbons, framed pictures and letters of achievement. Trophies and engraved
plates of every size littered tabletops in every corner. Nothing fit together.
It appeared more like a jumbled collection of old mementoes than a tastefully
displayed tribute to a man's accomplishments. Still, the assortment of
glistening objects served to disorient anyone who might be even slightly
impressed by an array of grandiose recognition.

Prilgrat held himself in the same
manner of presentation. His attire and jewelry was almost garish. It reeked of
wealth and success, but lacked any taste. His suit looked almost like that of a
ring master waiting to announce the grand finale of some elaborate circus. His
hair was long and flowing over his shoulders, but it distracted from his
handsome face. His entire appearance seemed like nothing more than a haphazard
combination of striking features seasoned with brash garments and accessories.

Holli took notice of Prilgrat's
every subtle move. Just like everything else, even his movements revealed
inconsistency. He lacked grace, but he exuded charm. Every turn of his head
appeared forced, yet he seemed at ease with himself. It was as if he knew he
moved somewhat clumsily, but it didn't distract from his self-appreciation.

Within the contradictions that
made up the steward's appearance and attributes, Holli found a connection to
the very problems she sought to solve. She found clues and clear facts, and yet
the puzzle didn't fit together. It seemed as if all the pieces were in front of
her, but for some reason they had taken on an incompatible form. Prilgrat's
physical presentation was as much an aberration as the mysteries that plagued
the Great Valleys.

As for the goblin, the smug
monster wore an elaborate tunic and stood with greater confidence than most
other goblins. It showed no malice toward either Ryson or Holli. It didn't
snarl or cower. In fact, it smiled right along with Prilgrat, but this was no
usual goblin grin. It was more of a quirky smirk, as if the creature just heard
some inappropriate remark that it found somewhat humorous. The creature
appeared equally interested in both Ryson and Holli as it shifted its focus
back and forth from delver to elf. It almost seemed to be taking mental notes
of everything it could observe.

Prilgrat ignored Holli's sweeping
glances. He knew the elf was sizing him up. Many others had done so in the past
and others would do so in the future. He had grown accustomed to it, perhaps
even encouraged it. To him, it was inconsequential. What mattered most was that
he had the elf and the delver in his study, and though it was not under the
circumstances he hoped, he would make the most of the situation.

Placing his focus almost entirely
on the elf's companion, Prilgrat directed his initial observations to the
delver.

"I imagine you were the one
causing all the ruckus in the streets. I received a report of an unregistered
delver resisting the inferns. Then again, I'm not surprised Ryson Acumen would
wish to avoid half-demons."

Prilgrat revealing Ryson's name
caught the delver off guard.

"You know me?"

The regional steward's calculated
comment succeeded in his intention. He had confirmed the identity of the delver
and had Ryson on the defensive.

"Don't be so modest. You're
nearly a celebrity."

Ryson didn't appreciate the term.
He also found a blaring inconsistency in the answer.

"How is it that you know my
name and the inferns don't?"

"Inferns are interesting
creatures. They don't follow the news. They're not up on current events, but
they do follow orders. They also take a certain pleasure in completing tasks
assigned to them. I have to tell you, they're not too pleased that you got
away. They thought you left the city. I, of course, knew that wasn't
true."

There appeared to be a hole in the
explanation, as if Prilgrat didn't really answer Ryson's question. The delver
remained unsatisfied and pressed for greater detail.

"But why did they want to
know my name if you already know who I am? It doesn't make sense."

"I appreciate that it
wouldn't make sense to a delver—you're such curious individuals." The
remark sounded like an insult framed around a compliment, but Prilgrat
continued with a pleasant demeanor. "The inferns knew you were
unregistered. They wanted your name so they could complete their duties."

"Why are you registering
delvers?"

The delver was asking the
questions, but they were questions the steward could answer. With a
good-natured demeanor, he deftly built a foundation of responses that would
justify the current conditions in Ashlan. It was what he hoped to do from the
beginning.

"Why not? You have so many
impressive qualities. Delver service might be needed in the future. Why wait
until the last moment? It's certainly not out of the ordinary. There are times
we have had to press all kinds of people into the service of the valleys. We
have conscripted young men for wars. The threats that we face now might require
individuals quick of foot and with strong senses. The delvers that live in the
valleys are expected to serve just like anyone else."

"But I'm not from the valley.
You must know that. And if you knew I was here and told the inferns, they
wouldn't have attacked me."

"Attacked you? That's not the
report I have. The inferns insist that you instigated the conflict. As for why
I didn't inform the inferns of your arrival here in the city, let's just say
that I don't reveal all of my information to underlings. That is a policy that
is often followed by leaders in every city."

Holli entered the conversation
before Ryson could respond again. She didn't wish to have the focus of their
discussion placed upon the delver. She had many questions of greater
importance, and she wanted them answered.

"So the inferns are your
underlings? Does that mean that they report to you?"

The steward shifted his focus to
the elf with casual ease.

"Everyone in Ashlan has to
report to me in some manner. I
am
the
regional steward. Even the mayor and city council must consult with me. It's
how we maintain order."

Once again, the steward did not
answer the question, and Holli wanted to understand the true chain of command
in the city.

"It seems to me the inferns
are maintaining order. Are they under your control or not?"

"I thought I already answered
that question."

"No, you didn't."

"Well, I'm sorry you
misunderstood me, but let's return to you. What is it exactly you want from
Ashlan?"

"Answers."

"Then you have come to the
right place. In fact, you should have come here first rather than skulking
about the city. I could have saved you a great deal of time."

"The time spent
skulking about
, as you put it, allowed
me the opportunity to understand the city. Questions are better asked when
there is a level of knowledge behind them."

"But partial knowledge can
lead you to unwise conclusions. If you don't talk to the right people, you
don't get the full and true story."

"And if I simply came to you,
I would have never discovered that you are behind many questionable
decisions."

Prilgrat's smile grew, and his
expression revealed good-natured surprise.

"Questionable? You're judging
me?"

"When you order land councils
to turn over farms to goblins, yes, I will judge that as questionable. You find
it unreasonable for me to question that decision?"

"I hardly believe a visitor
to the Great Valleys
is qualified to judge anything based on a few days of exploration."

Holli, becoming somewhat
frustrated at the stewards reluctance to offer unambiguous answers, decided to
move in the direction Prilgrat allowed in hopes of getting some clarity.

"Is that why you ordered us
captured? You wished to prevent us from exploring the farmlands and coming to
unqualified conclusions, so you dispatched our descriptions to town guards
throughout the region?"

"Captured? You make it sound
so diabolical. I simply ordered you held until I could speak with you."

"How did you even know we
were here?"

"I'm a regional steward. I'm
supposed to know."

"That does not answer the
question, either."

"Of course it does. I have
contacts all across the valleys. You were spotted and I thought it would be
important to meet with you."

"Spotted by who?"

"As I told your friend, I
don't reveal all my information, not to underlings and not to intruders."

"Is that what we are to you?
Intruders?"

Prilgrat's smile grew. Holli had
actually asked him to justify his assertion, and the steward was more than
willing to oblige.

"At this moment? What else
would you be?" If the steward truly considered the elf and delver
invaders, he didn't express it beyond his words. Instead, he maintained his
jovial disposition. He continued to paint a picture of marauders entering his
home, and yet he did so with a bright smile and a wink of the eye. "You
barged into my home... armed. You didn't
ask
to see me. You simply marched through my house as if it was some town hall open
to the public. You didn't even knock at my study door. You simply threw it open
as if you were nothing more than common barbarians. Thank goodness it wasn't
locked. I imagine you would have kicked it in. If you wish to maintain your
hostility to me, I can accommodate you."

"You have not seen
hostility... yet," Holli growled.

Ashlan laughed.

"Don't threaten me. It's
pointless and you don't even seem to grasp the situation. You are obviously
here to accuse me of some wrong doing, some evil intention. Well, let's have
it. What exactly have I done?"

"You are conspiring with
goblins."

Despite the accusation, Prilgrat
continued to smile.

"I meet with them openly. You
think my friend here came in the back door? Absolutely not. Every one in Ashlan
is aware of our meetings. We hold them late at night because my friend is more
comfortable at that time. Now, what exactly is the conspiracy? What crime has
been committed? What lapse in ethics have I indulged?"

"People are running from the
valleys."

"Just some of the people, and
what exactly are they running from?"

"That is what I'm here to
find out."