The Wise Man's Fear (48 page)
Read The Wise Man's Fear Online
Authors: Patrick Rothfuss
Tags: #Mercenary troops, #Magicians, #Magic, #Attempted assassination, #Fairies, #Fiction, #Fantasy, #General, #Heroes, #Epic
I sighed. Ordinarily I would have avoided the subject, but Mola tended to be insistent about this sort of thing, and I desperately needed her help for tomorrow’s plan.
“Devi used to be a member of the Arcanum,” I explained. “I gave her some of my blood as collateral for a loan at the beginning of the term. When Ambrose started attacking me, I jumped to the wrong conclusion and accused her of malfeasance. Our relationship went sour after that.”
Mola and Fela exchanged a look. “You do go out of your way to make life exciting, don’t you?” Mola said.
“I already admitted it was a mistake,” I said, irritated. “What else do you want from me?”
“Are you going to be able to pay her back?” Fela interjected into the conversation before things became heated between Mola and me.
“I honestly don’t know,” I admitted. “With a few lucky breaks and some long nights in the Fishery, I might be able to scrape enough together by the end of the term.”
I didn’t mention the whole truth. While I might have a chance of earning enough to pay Devi back, I wouldn’t have a chance in hell of making my tuition at the same time. I didn’t want to spoil everyone’s evening with the fact that Ambrose had won. By forcing me to spend so much time hunting for a gram, he’d effectively driven me out of the University.
Fela tilted her head to one side. “What happens if you can’t pay her?”
“Nothing good,” Wilem said darkly. “They don’t call her Demon Devi for nothing.”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “She could sell my blood. She said she knew someone willing to buy it.”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t do that,” Fela said.
“I wouldn’t blame her,” I said. “I knew what I was getting into when I made the deal.”
“But sh—”
“It’s just the way the world works,” I said firmly, not wanting to dwell on it any more than necessary. I wanted the evening to end on a positive note. “I, for one, am looking forward to a good night’s sleep in my own bed.” I looked around to see Wil and Sim nodding weary agreement. “I’ll see everyone tomorrow. Don’t be late.”
Later that night, I slept in the luxury of my narrow bed in my tiny room. At some point I stirred awake, dragged into consciousness by the sensation of chill metal against my skin. I smiled, rolled over, and slid back into blissful sleep.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Fire
I
PACKED MY TRAVELSACK carefully the next evening, anxious that I might forget some key piece of equipment. I was checking everything a third time when there was a knock on the door.
PACKED MY TRAVELSACK carefully the next evening, anxious that I might forget some key piece of equipment. I was checking everything a third time when there was a knock on the door.
I opened it to see a young boy of ten or so standing there, breathing hard. His eyes darted to my hair and he looked relieved. “Are you Koath?”
“Kvothe,” I said. “And yes, I am.”
“Got a message for you.” He reached into a pocket and pulled out a bedraggled piece of paper.
I held out my hand, and the boy took a step back, shaking his head. “The lady said you’d give me a jot for bringing it to you.”
“I doubt that,” I said, holding out my hand. “Let me see the note. I’ll give you ha’penny if it’s really for me.”
The boy scowled and grudgingly handed it over.
It wasn’t even sealed, just folded over twice. It was also vaguely damp. Looking at the sweat-soaked boy, I could guess why.
It read:
Kvothe,Your presence is graciously requested for dinner tonight. I’ve missed you. I have exciting news. Please meet me at the Barrel and Boar at fifth bell.Yours,DennaPstsrpt. I promised the boy ha’penny.
“Fifth bell?” I demanded. “God’s black hands! How long did you take to get here? It’s past sixth bell already.”
“That en’t my fault,” he said, scowling fiercely. “I been lookin’ all over for hours. Anchors she said. Take it to Koath at Anchors on the other side of the river. But this place en’t by the docks at all. And there en’t any anchors on the sign outside. How’s a one supposed to find this place?”
“You ask someone!” I shouted. “Black damn boy, how thick are you?” I fought down a very real urge to strangle him and took a deep breath.
I looked out the window at the fading light. In less than half an hour my friends would be gathering around the fire pit in the woods. I didn’t have time for a trip to Imre.
“Right,” I said as calmly as I could manage. I dug out a stub of pencil and scratched out a note on the other side of the piece of paper.
Denna,I’m terribly sorry. Your runner didn’t find me until past sixth bell. He is unutterably thick.I have missed you as well, and offer to put myself entirely at your disposal at any hour of the day or night tomorrow. Send the boy back with your response to let me know when and where.Fondly,Kvothe.Pstcrpt. If the boy tries to get any money off you, give him a sharp cuff round the ear. He’ll get his money when he returns your note to Anker’s, assuming he doesn’t get confused and eat it along the way.
I folded it over again and pressed a blob of soft candle wax over the fold.
I felt my purse. Over the last month I’d slowly burned through the extra two talents I’d borrowed from Devi. I’d squandered the money on luxuries like bandages, coffee, and the materials for tonight’s plan.
As a result, all I had to my name was four pennies and a lonely shim. I shouldered my travelsack and motioned for the boy to follow me downstairs.
I nodded to Anker standing behind the bar, then turned to the boy. “Okay,” I said. “You bollixed things up getting here, but I’m going to give you a chance to make it right.” I pulled out three pennies and held them out for him to see. “You head back to the Barrel and Boar, find the woman who sent you, and you give her this.” I held up the note. “She’ll send back a reply. You bring it here and give it to him.” I pointed to Anker. “And he’ll give you the money.”
“I en’t an idiot,” the boy said. “I want ha’penny first.”
“I en’t an idiot either,” I said. “You’ll get three whole pennies when you bring her note back.”
He glared at me, then nodded sullenly. I handed him the note, and he ran out the door.
“Boy seemed a little addled when he came in here,” Anker said.
I shook my head. “He’s witless as a sheep,” I said. “I wouldn’t use him at all, but he knows what she looks like.” I sighed and put the three pennies on the bar. “You’d be doing me a favor if you read the note to make sure the boy isn’t faking.”
Anker gave me a bit of an uncomfortable look. “And what if it’s of an, um, personal nature?”
“Then I’ll dance a merry little jig,” I said. “But between the two of us, I hardly think that’s likely.”
The sun had set by the time I made it into the forest. Wilem was already there, kindling a fire in the wide pit. We worked together for a quarter hour, gathering enough wood to keep a bonfire burning for hours.
Simmon arrived a few minutes later dragging a long section of dead branch. The three of us broke it into pieces and made nervous small talk until Fela came out of the trees.
Her long hair was pinned up, leaving her elegant neck and shoulders bare. Her eyes were dark and her mouth was slightly redder than usual. Her long black gown was gathered close at her narrow waist and well-rounded hips. She was also displaying the most spectacular pair of breasts I’d ever seen at that point in my young life.
We all gaped, but Simmon gaped openly. “Wow,” he said. “I mean, you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen before this. I didn’t think there was any further for you to go.” He laughed his boyish laugh and gestured at her with both hands. “Look at you. You’re incredible!”
Fela flushed and looked away, obviously pleased.
“You have the hardest part tonight,” I said to her. “I hate to ask, but . . .”
“But you’re the only irresistibly attractive woman we know,” Simmon chimed in. “Our backup plan was to stuff Wilem into a dress. Nobody wants that.”
Wilem nodded. “Agreed.”
“Only for you.” Fela’s mouth quirked into an ironic smile. “When I said I owed you a favor, I never guessed you’d ask me to go out on a date with another man.” The smile went a little sour. “Especially Ambrose.”
“You only need to put up with him for an hour or two. Try to get him into Imre if you can, but anywhere at least a hundred yards from the Pony will do.”
Fela sighed. “At least I’ll get dinner out of this.” She looked at Simmon. “I like your boots.”
He grinned. “They’re new.”
I turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. Mola was the only one of us not here, but I heard murmured voices mixed with the footsteps and gritted my teeth. It was probably a pair of young lovers out enjoying the unseasonably warm weather.
The group of us couldn’t be seen together, not tonight. It would raise too many questions. I was just about to rush out to intercept them when I recognized Mola’s voice. “Just wait here while I explain,” she said. “Please. Just wait. It will make things easier.”
“Let him pitch a twelve-color fit.” A familiar female voice came out of the darkness. “Let him shit out his liver for all I care.”
I stopped in my tracks. I knew the second voice, but I couldn’t put my finger on who it belonged to.
Mola emerged from the dark trees. At her side was a small figure with short strawberry-blond hair. Devi.
I stood stunned as Mola came closer, holding out her hands in a placating gesture and speaking quickly. “Kvothe, I know Devi from a long while ago. She showed me the ropes back when I was new here. Back before she . . . left.”
“Expelled,” Devi said proudly. “I’m not ashamed of it.”
Mola continued hurriedly. “After what you said yesterday. It seemed like there was some misunderstanding. When I stopped in to ask her about it . . .” She shrugged. “The whole story kind of came out. She wanted to help.”
“I want a piece of Ambrose,” Devi said. There was a weight of cold fury in her voice when she said his name. “My help is largely incidental.”
Wilem cleared his throat. “Would we be correct in assuming—”
“He beats his whores,” Devi said, interrupting him abruptly. “And if I could kill the arrogant bastard and get away with it, I would have done it years ago.” She stared flatly at Wilem. “And yes, we have a past. And no, it’s none of your business. Is that enough reason for you?”
There was a tense silence. Wilem nodded, his face carefully blank.
Devi turned to look at me.
“Devi.” I made a short bow to her. “I’m sorry.”
She blinked in surprise. “Well, I’ll be damned,” she said, her voice sharp with sarcasm. “Maybe you do have half a brain in your head.”
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