Demonbane (Book 4) (15 page)

“Vesuna’s blood! Do you even realize what you’re saying?” The Lord Mayor said. “You’re talking about a civil war here in Vorten, in the middle of Candle Ice. How is that even possible?”

“There’s no way of telling how widespread this cult is in Vorten, or even across Valmingaard,” Olan said. “It may well have been festering here for years. There may well be multiple cults working together.”

“You forget,” the Lord Mayor responded quickly, “I
live
in this city. I have seen no evidence of a cult, or worshippers of the dark gods, or any grand conspiracy. What you’re describing sounds more like a fairy tale then reality.”

“They have undoubtedly stayed hidden, my lord.” Madris lowered herself back into the chair, then cane still in her hand. “They will not reveal themselves until the time is ripe.”

“Oh?” The Lord Mayor gave a mocking half-smile. “And what time exactly would that be?”

“When they summon Indigoru incarnate,” Kendril replied. Something in his voice struck a chill in everyone who stood in the room. “Tonight.”

“Sir,” the gendarme captain said softly, “it can’t hurt to work with the Ghostwalkers for now. At least until we can establish what kind of a threat we’re dealing with.”

The Lord Mayor shot a scathing glance at Potemekin, but said nothing.

“We’ll hear back from the royal court in a few days,” Potemkin continued. “They can confirm this writ of authorization, or deny it as they please. Until then, considering what I witnessed myself with my own men, I think we might afford a little bit of caution.”

The Lord Mayor straightened, ready to answer.

A gendarme appeared at the door. “Captain,’ he said breathlessly.

Potemkin threw the man an irritated look. “Yes, Revnarik, what is it?”

“It’s Baron Dutraad,” the gendarme said. His eyes flitted nervously to the different people in the room. “One of the Ghostwalkers has attacked him, sir.”

Kendril was five steps ahead of Olan, his black cloak flapping behind him as he sprinted down the hall.

A small group of gendarmes were up ahead, crowded around a shut door to one of the manor’s rooms.

Kendril skidded to a halt, out of breath.

A shout echoed from inside the room.

Olan ran up beside the door. “Report!” he ordered to the first gendarme.

The man took a step back. “Your man has locked himself inside with the Baron. We haven’t—”

Kendril yanked out one of his pistols. He snapped back the lock and pointed the weapon at the door’s lock.

The gendarmes scurried out of the way.

Kendril fired.

The area around the lock shattered into pieces. Smoke from the firearm filled the dim hallway.

Another scream came from inside.

Kendril took a quick step forward and planted a solid kick onto the door right by the handle.

There was a sharp
crack
. The door swung inwards.

Kendril launched into the room. One of his hands reached for a sword, the spent pistol still in his other fist.

He stopped cold.

Baron Dutraad was tied to a chair. Blood streamed from his nose. There was a large red welt on the side of his face.

Joseph stood over him. One clenched fist was raised in the air, ready to descend in a powerful blow.

Kendril took his hand off the sword. “
Joseph
!”

Olan came into the room, his sword out and at the ready.

Joseph turned his head to face them. His face was filled with intense fury. “Get out!” he yelled. “Get
out
, do you hear? I’ll make him talk, if I have to beat him to a bloody pulp.”

“He’s mad!” Dutraad shrieked. “Get him off me!”

Olan took a step forward.

Kendril grabbed the Ghostwalker’s arm to stop him.

Olan wrenched out of his grasp. “Let
go
of me. It’s one of yours, of course. One of your
team
.”

“Then let me handle it.” Kendril looked back at his friend. “Joseph, this isn’t helping.”

“He
knows
,” Joseph snarled. “He knows where Kara is, and by Eru I’m tired of sitting around and waiting for him to tell us.”

Kendril pocketed his pistol and raised both his hands. “Come on, Joseph. This isn’t you. You were the one telling me that you didn’t want Dutraad tortured.”

“That was before they took Kara,” Joseph spat.

“And what if Kara was here right now?” Kendril said. He took a step closer. “Would you want her to see you like
this
?”

Joseph turned his head away.

“This isn’t the way, Joseph. Not yet, anyway.” Kendril took another step closer, then slowly put a hand on Joseph’s shoulder. “And trust me, if it comes to that, Tomas knows how to get answers better than anyone.”

Joseph slowly lowered his fist. He looked at Olan, then back at Kendril. “They don’t care what happens to her, Kendril. You know they don’t.”

Olan lowered his sword, but kept it in his hand. “We’re dealing with a possible Despair here, and you’re worried about
one
person? The whole city—”

“I’m not talking about the city.” Joseph looked Kendril in the eyes. “I’m talking about
Kara
.”

Kendril returned his friend’s gaze. “I’ll get her back, Joseph. I told you that I would.” He glanced down at Dutraad’s battered face. “But this won’t help us. If we’re going to find Kara we need to keep our heads.”

Joseph clenched his fist, but didn’t raise it again. He turned.

The gendarmes stood in a cluster just inside the door to the room.

“Get out of my way,” Joseph growled as he moved towards them.

They did.

Joseph moved out into the hall and leaned up against the wall, his face between his arms.

Kendril moved out behind him.

“I’m sorry,” Joseph said. “I lost it.”

Kendril shrugged. “Dutraad had it coming. Believe me, I wouldn’t mind carving him a new face myself.”

Joseph dropped his arms and turned, pushing his back against the wall. He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “If anything…
happened
to Kara, I…don’t—” He stopped, and looked down forlornly at the ground.

“I know,” Kendril said simply.

“We don’t have any leads, do we?” Joseph looked up at his friend. His face was shadowed from  lack of sleep. “Dutraad’s not talking, and we have no idea where Bronwyn is. And tonight’s the new moon.”

Kendril leaned up against the wall next to the scout. He crossed his arms. “That’s about the size of it.”

Joseph closed his eyes. “We have to
think
. There has to be something we’re missing.” He breathed in and out slowly. “When you hunt an animal in the wilderness, you learn its habits, follow its tracks, study its environment—” He opened his eyes. “Has anyone searched the rooms upstairs?”

Kendril thought for a second. “Not thoroughly.” He looked over at Joseph. “Now
that
would be helpful. There might be something we overlooked.”

Joseph nodded. “I’ll get on it.” He pushed away from the wall.

Olan emerged into the hall. His sword was sheathed again. “Dutraad’s furious,” he said, his eyes on Joseph. “I’ll go back and smooth things over with Potemkin and the mayor.” His gaze shifted to Kendril. “I suggest you get your
team
in order, Ghostwalker.”

Kendril gave an unconcerned lift of his shoulders. “Well I was going to let Joseph go back in there and beat Dutraad some more, but now that you mention it, maybe that
is
a bad idea.”

Olan’s face tightened in displeasure. “Watch yourself, Kendril. I’ve had just about enough of your flippant attitude.”

Kendril straightened. His voice dropped a notch. “Then maybe you should worry less about a few cuts and bruises on the precious Baron and more about tracking down the cult that is trying to usher in the
Fourth Despair
.”

Olan’s face went pale with anger. “We both know who lost the Soulbinder, Kendril. And when Despair comes on this city, we’ll both know who let it walk right in.”

A terrible expression came over Kendril’s face. He took a step towards Olan.

“Gentlemen.”

Kendril and Olan both swiveled their heads.

A gendarme had appeared in the hall. He pointed back the way he had just come. “There’s something Captain Potemkin wants you both to see.”

Chapter 9

“
When the eye closes, Despair rises
.” Kendril lowered the yellowed piece of paper. He flipped it over in his hand and examined the back. “There’s nothing else.”

“It’s enough, isn’t it?” said Madris.

Olan looked up at Potemkin. “Where did you get this?”

“It was found in the clothes chest of one of my gendarmes, over in the eastern district. My men found it when they performed a surprise kit inspection.” The gendarme captain eyed Kendril carefully. “What does it mean?”

“Trouble.” Kendril put the paper down on the table in front of him. “The gendarme?”

“Under arms,” Potemkin confirmed. “The lead officer of that barracks, Lieutenant Jajaren, has reported that the man is babbling incoherent nonsense. He keeps talking about Despair and the return of the goddess.”

“Where’s the Lord Mayor?” Olan looked about the room as if expecting the man to suddenly appear.

“He’s returned to the City Hall.”

Kendril glanced out the windows. It was already mid-morning. “The Bands?”

Potemkin shook his head. “It’s just my gendarmes for now. And…
you
.” He cleared his throat. “I should warn you, the Lord Mayor is appealing to Varnost. If he had his way, I’d be rounding up the lot of you right now.”

Madris glanced over at Kendril with a thin smile. “And you were inquiring why I didn’t use the writ of authorization before now?”

Kendril moved back from the table. “I have to ask, Captain. Are you and your men with us?”

Potemkin raised a bushy eyebrow. “
With
you? I follow the orders of my mayor and my King, Ghostwalker. The safety of this city is my primary concern, and as long as we are of common purpose in that regard, then yes, I am
with
you.” His tone softened. “As long as I am not ordered to the contrary, my men and I will cooperate with you. You have the authority of the King, which I will not question. I should warn you, however, that if the Lord Mayor receives clarification from Varnost in respect to your writ of authorization, I will be beholden to his instructions.”

“In other words,” Kendril said with a bitter smile, “you’re our friend until you’re ordered to arrest us.”

“To be fair,” Potemkin said with no trace of levity, “I’ve
already
been ordered to arrest you. But the King’s authority outweighs even the Lord Mayor’s. Make no mistake, however, if you or any of your order attempts anything to harm this city or its inhabitants, you will have to go through me and my men first.”

“How many gendarmes do you have?” Kendril asked.

Potemkin thought for a moment. “One couple hundred or so, I would guess. Spread across the city.” He grabbed his hat off the table. “Though with recent events, there’s no telling how many men we can actually trust.”

“You believe us about the cult, then?” Madris asked diplomatically.

Potemkin gave the elderly Ghostwalker a steely glare. “I believe that there
is
a cult operating here in Vorten, yes. Apparently the Lord Mayor and I are of differing opinions on that matter. As to the rest of what you’re talking about, demons and goddesses and such, I admit I have greater degree of skepticism.”

“Hopefully we won’t have to prove our point,” Kendril mumbled He picked up the message and examined it again. “We need a location.
Where
Bronwyn and her allies are operating from. If we know where they are we can hit them hard and fast.” He glanced away from the note. “But we’re running out of time.”

Potemkin looked over at Kendril and Olan. “There is one other item. I am afraid I will have to insist that you to relinquish Baron Dutraad back into my custody.  His lordship is still a man of importance in this city, and has not been charged with any crimes. I cannot allow the kind of treatment that occurred earlier to happen again.”

Olan glared at Kendril.

Kendril took a step forward. “It was a mistake, Captain, I agree. But we need—”

“That was
not
a request, Ghostwalker.”

Kendril stopped short.

Madris nodded slowly. “Baron Dutraad will be returned to your keeping, Captain. On behalf of my order, I apologize for what happened to him. I only ask that you keep him under strict confinement and close guard, if for no reason than his own protection.”

Dutraad tucked his hat under his arm. “From what I have seen, that seems a reasonable enough request for the time being.”

“Thank you.” Madris limped over to the window, and looked out over the blanket of snow that stretched out across the estate’s yard.

“The note,” Potemkin said after a moment of silence. “What does it mean?”

“
The eye closes
is the new moon,” Kendril said. “As for
Despair rises
, the meaning of that phrase depends on how much you believe in fairy tales, Captain.”

“Right.” Potemkin clicked his heels together, then marched out of the room, followed by two of his gendarmes.

The three Ghostwalkers were left alone.

“Your friend just destroyed the best chance we had to find the Soulbinder,” Olan snarled at Kendril. “If we could interrogate Dutraad—”

“We
have
been interrogating Dutraad.” Madris turned from the window and walked slowly over towards the table. “We’ve been going at him for hours with no success. What happened is unfortunate, but it hardly cripples us. I doubt Dutraad even knows where his wife and the witch are.”

“All the same,” said Kendril quietly, “I apologize for Joseph’s actions. Kara is a…close friend of his. He lost his temper. It’s not like him at all. He’s one of the most level-headed men I’ve ever known.”

“Coming from you,” Olan said with a laugh, “that hardly means much, does it?”