Free the Darkness (King's Dark Tidings Book 1) (20 page)

Rezkin shook his head. “It does not matter if they think it
is important so long as they
observe
. When I need information, someone
will have it. As far as reading ability, they will learn. The fact that many of
them cannot read at the moment may actually be of benefit. They will be
accustomed to memorization, which is a
Skill
not as easily developed.
Besides, you seem like a knowledgeable man – more so than I would have
expected from the Second of a thieves’ guild,” Rezkin replied.

Adsden nodded with a pleased smile and pushed off the
doorframe. The swordsman who had been standing beside him looked on anxiously
as the Second crossed the room. “That is true,” Adsden said as he stopped by
the silver tray containing the crystal goblets and decanters and poured himself
a drink. He lifted the glass in question toward Rezkin, which the young warrior
declined.

Adsden felt an atypical desire to impress this dangerous
young man. “Apparently, one of my ancestors was a scribe or clerk, or something
of the sort, who learned to read,” Adsden explained. “The skill has been passed
down to each generation since, with varying degrees of success. My own father
was not a very good reader, to be honest.

“When I was a young boy, I was fascinated by books. The
unfathomable knowledge contained within a single bookseller’s shop was
remarkable. Breaking into that shop every night so that I could hide in the
attic and read to my heart’s content was how I began my career as a Sneak.
Eventually, the shop was not enough. I wanted more. So, I practiced sneaking
into building after building until I had enough skill to gain access to the
Library. I certainly never had the gold to
pay
for a membership, nor did
I have a sponsor. The librarians and archivists are highly protective of their
books. Security is surprisingly tight at the Library. Anyway, I eventually
started sneaking into the homes of the nobility to check out their private
collections as well.” Adsden shrugged and said, “Maybe I grabbed a few things
of value on my way out. It is not a particularly exciting tale, but I did
become a highly skilled Sneak.”

The young warrior nodded and observed, “You have the
talent
?”

Adsden looked into the swirling burgundy rose wine and
considered his answer. Finally, he looked up and confirmed Rezkin’s suspicions.
“Not enough to become a mage, but it is specialized. I have a small amount of
skill in manipulating wards, although not enough to actually produce or break
them.”

“A valuable
Skill
for a Sneak. I take it few are
aware of your abilities?” Rezkin asked.

“No, it is not something I share. These two,” he said,
nodding to the men by the door, “I have worked with often and are aware of my
talent
.
A few others do, as well, but not many.”

“I may have use for your
Skills
as a Sneak at some
point,” the newcomer stated, “but right now I have more need of your education
and refinement. What I am proposing for the Serpent Guild will be most
successful under the leadership of an intelligent, educated man. It will be
your
job to make sure things are running according to plan.”

Adsden grimaced. “About that…you said you did not want us
targeting
respectable
people. With all due respect, I find it difficult
to comprehend exactly what
you
would find respectable.” This last he
said with a noticeable glance at the body on the floor. Taking a deep breath
and steadying his nerves, he forged ahead.

“You speak of honor and respectability, yet you seek to
build a criminal empire and slaughter any who stand in your way. You do not act
like the average thief. You have the knowledge of a businessman, the plans of a
criminal mastermind, the actions of a cold-blooded killer, and the words of
honor like those of a knight. In short, you are a conundrum, and I am not at
all confident in my ability to predict your desires.” As he said this, he
anxiously palmed a dagger from his sleeve in preparation for defending himself
from reprisal for the offensive remarks.

“Your assessment is apt,” the young man stated, surprising
the Second. “I am many things. You can put away the dagger, but please feel
free to continue holding it if it makes you feel safer. It is a false sense of
security, I assure you.”

A flash of heat and excitement flooded the Second at the
newcomer’s unconcealed threat, and he suddenly felt the need to rise to the
challenge. He did not want to be seen as weak before this young man. His voice
dropped in dark defiance as he asked, “And, what if we decide to simply
continue doing things as we have been?” A slight tendril of fear mixed with the
excitement surging in his veins. It was a feeling to which Adsden was
unaccustomed. He was typically one of the most skilled men in the room, and the
most intelligent, as well. This strange man’s confidence and utter lack of
concern for Adsden’s actions, which would be considered hostile by any sane
man, chilled Adsden to the bone.

“I may have overestimated your intelligence, Adsden. I
thought I already made myself clear on this point,” Rezkin replied with a
raised brow.

The interloper’s calm demeanor unnerved the Second. He
appeared to have absolutely no compunctions with leveling threats in the middle
of the Serpents’ Guildhouse with nothing but a terrified boy for support. “And,
we have,” Adsden quickly assured the new leader. “But, you understand, I have
to ask,” he said with a nod toward the men standing at the door. Both men
shifted nervously as they glanced back and forth between the Second and the
stranger. “If I do not at least make an effort, the others will talk, and
people will question my decision to acknowledge you as Leader.”

“Either of you two care to protest?” the interloper asked.

The swordsman glanced at his companion. “No, sir. If Adsden
says we follow you, then we’ll follow you. Don’t matter to me whether it’s you or
him,” he said with a lift of his chin toward the dead man. “Seein’ as how I
don’t know you, I can’t say you’ll be better, but at least you seem to have
some skill to back you up. You didn’t have no problem dealing with Urek, but
that ain’t sayin’ much. The only reason we didn’t do something sooner was cause
of the marquis. What do you plan to do about
him
?”

Rezkin shrugged off the man’s concern as he replied, “The
marquis is not a problem. I have everything I need to keep him in line. Let us
get to business.”

“Might I suggest that for our first order of business we
take care of
him
,” Adsden said, indicating the corpse. In truth, Adsden
was very concerned about the marquis’ reaction. Urek had never shared with
Adsden how exactly he kept in the marquis’ good graces, but he was not
surprised to hear the stranger’s earlier assertion that it was some sort of
blackmail. That the young man claimed to know the secret did surprise him.

“Fine. Have him removed,” Rezkin ordered. “In fact, deliver
him to the marquis. Put him in a wagon with a wreath.”

“A wreath, sir?” asked the swordsman. “Like…flowers?”

“Yes, a large arrangement of white lilies with a single
crimson rose in the center,” Rezkin stated.

“That is very…specific,” observed Adsden. “Does it have some
meaning?”

“The marquis will get the message. If he is smart, he will
stay out of our way.”

“If he is not?” asked the Second.

“Then he will be dead. I have no problem with removing the
marquis. In fact, I may still do so. His son is a far better man, and would do
the position justice. For now, though, Addercroft may be of use to us,” the
warrior explained.

The three guild members glanced at each other in
astonishment. Finally, Adsden cleared his throat and attempted to broach the
concern lightly. “You speak of killing the marquis as if it is nothing more
than culling a diseased horse from a herd. A
marquis
!”

“Do not concern yourself with the marquis. I am leaving
soon, and I need to make sure things are running smoothly,” Rezkin replied.

“Wait. You just took over five minutes ago, and you are
leaving?” Adsden asked in astonishment.

“I told you that I do not have the time or desire to be
Guildmaster. I leave that in your capable hands,” the strange young man
replied.

“But, how will you know we are doing as you ask?” asked the
new Guildmaster.

“Because you know if you do not, it will be the end of you,”
the stranger replied as he held Adsden’s gaze in a deadly stare so cold Adsden
thought for certain he could see his breath in the air.

“Today, you were smart enough to be accommodating,” Rezkin
continued. “You wanted something from me, and I provided. I was able to simply
walk in and assert my authority. Do not delude yourself into thinking I could
not have done so without your cooperation. If you turn on me, you
will
suffer – each and every one of you,” Rezkin said as he met each man’s
eyes.

Adsden had to focus to stop his hand from shaking so that he
would not spill the wine from his goblet. He mentally derided himself for such
foolishness. Never had any man gotten to him in such a way. It was terrifying
and enthralling, and Adsden realized he did not want the alluring young warrior
to leave. The new Guildmaster’s eyes slid over to the younger Diamond Claw who
was still trying to blend in with the wall. He glanced back at the new leader
and wondered about their relationship.

Rezkin caught Adsden’s questioning glance at the young
Sneak. “Ah, yes. Perhaps I should introduce you to the young man over there.
That is Benni. He is to apprentice with the Serpents. Choose someone
Skilled
who is also capable of teaching.”

Adsden glanced back at Rezkin in surprise. “But, he is a
Diamond Claw!”

“He is one of
my
personnel,” Rezkin replied with a
pointed look that warned the man against challenging him further. When the
challenge did not come, he continued. “He has excellent potential as a Sneak,
but his advancement in the
Skill
has been limited since he has surpassed
his guildmates’ abilities.”

“I see. I will see to his training myself,” Adsden replied
with a slight, courteous bow. Poor Benni looked like a doe caught in the
hunter’s sights. His face had gone pale, and Rezkin thought the young man might
have forgotten to breathe. In truth, Adsden was simply relieved that the young
man’s accompaniment of the new leader was of an official capacity and not
because he was the warrior’s
companion
.

The new guildmaster looked back at the stranger known as The
Raven and decided that
warrior
was indeed an apt description, but only
in part. The stunning, yet imposing, young man was so much more than that. He
wanted to pursue the line of thought further. He wanted to find out if The
Raven would be receptive to him, but this was not the time. Adsden had never
revealed those particular proclivities to his guildmates, and doing so now
would only cause undo upset.

Rezkin pulled a folded parchment from his tunic and held it
in offering to the new Guildmaster. Adsden strolled forward curiously and
collected the proffered article while maintaining steady eye contact with The
Raven. He made no effort to conceal his interest as he did so. Either the man
would feel the same and return his sentiments or he would not. Adsden walked a
razor’s edge every time he revealed himself to a subject of interest, and this
was perhaps the sharpest, but he knew from experience that even dull blades
could cut deep.

Adseden wondered if there might be some information or
personal connections he could exploit to gain the young man’s compliance. The
young warrior looked to be maybe three or four years younger than Adsden’s
twenty-eight, although he did not appear to be the least bit impressionable.
The thief was not above using coercion to gain what he wanted, though, and
maybe by doing so he could claim the upper hand from the younger man.

The Raven’s cold, stoic gaze was unchanged, and Adsden saw
neither acceptance nor rejection in the younger man’s eyes. Pulling his eyes
from the man’s icy gaze, he unfolded the paper and read through several lists
written in impeccable script. One was a list of targets, a second for material
goods to be
obtained
, and a third for specific information he desired.
The fourth was the shortest and contained a few names of individuals and Houses
that were not to be touched. Perhaps these were the personal connection, Adsden
thought.

The Guildmaster was curious about those under The Raven’s
protection, but he was even more considerate of the targets. He would never
have even considered attempting several of them. The old adage,
Don’t bite
off more than you can chew
, applied to thieves as well as anyone. Some of
these were very high Houses, indeed, and would surely have wards. In fact…

“You want us to rob a Temple of the Maker?” he asked in
shock before he could stop himself. For a man who spoke of respectability and
honor, this made no sense. Adsden was once again confronted with the terrifying
possibility that this homicidal man was insane.

“You do not strike me as a particularly religious man,” The
Raven observed.

“And, you would be right, but there are limits to what any
man will do,” Adsden argued.

The Raven looked thoughtful, as if he was actually trying to
think of what his own limits might be. For the first time in his life, Adsden
considered that the sentiment might not be true. Finally, The Raven released a
slight breath of exasperation as he said, “Do not concern yourself with the
morality of the act. It is not a true temple. It is a front. Its true purpose
is to serve as a processing and distribution center for
ink
.”

Adsden’s brows shot up. Of course, The Raven was not
referring to the ink wielded by scribes to battle their pages.
Ink
was
the street name for the costliest and most rampant intoxicating and energizing
drug. The cities had been overrun with the stuff for the past five years. The
poorest wretches would simply drink a watered down version of the dark purple
fluid that truly had the look of ink. The effects would last for less than a
day. Those with the money and dedication to the substance, however, would use
the purer compound to tattoo intricate designs on their bodies. The effects of
the drug would last as long as the color, fading gradually over about a week.
It was not uncommon to see people with multiple tattoos in various stages of
fade
.
The more one
inked
, the more one needed.