Wild Card (7 page)

If I didn't have any luck, Janek said to tell Karst to expect a visit from him. A visit from a chief watcher would be unwanted, even though Nathrach wasn't being accused of anything. No other casino owner in town would want a chief watcher to be seen on their doorsteps, and I was counting on the goblin and his elven manager not being an exception.

Of course, if things went smoothly, I wouldn't mention Janek's name at all. I was relatively optimistic; even though at the moment I couldn’t recall the last time any of my investigations had gone off without a hitch.

I was going to Sirens because even though Tamnais Nathrach hadn't kidnapped those children, chances were good that he'd know about a dark mage in town with a mini-demon sidekick. To me, it was only logical that if Nathrach was trying to avoid sullying his respectable reputation, he could hardly do so without knowing who he needed to avoid. And if Nathrach's past reputation was as depraved as I'd heard, he'd know what the kidnapper had planned for the eight children who were magically gifted beyond their years—and how and why I'd heard a child crying coming from Sethis Mortsani.

Those children’s bodies would begin to die tomorrow morning. That meant we had less than twenty-four hours to find the kidnapper and reunite the children’s souls with their bodies. I didn't begin to understand how that worked, but that part wasn't my job. That was up to Malina Adler, two of her nachtmagus friends, and the healers who'd worked the stasis spells.

Nathrach had been chatty enough with me last night. I was hoping for more cooperation this morning, even though my waking him up at one o’clock in the afternoon would be like him showing up on my doorstep at one in the morning. I would not be amused. In fact, the only thing I’d be inclined to do would be to shut the door in his face.

I didn’t have much of a plan for getting Lorcan Karst to wake up his boss for me other than to speak honestly about how there was no time to waste. I also didn’t know much about Karst other than Nathrach had hired him away from the Duke’s Palace, which used to be the top casino until Sirens opened; and that only meant that Karst could be persuaded with money.

Making a living as a seeker meant I’d never had an abundance of money on hand. And if I had, bribery wasn’t my thing. Even with all the criminal types I dealt with on a daily basis, I still liked to believe that most people were decent at heart and wanted to do the right thing.

I really didn’t have time or patience for Lorcan Karst to be today’s exception.

It turned out I didn’t need to worry about how I was going to convince Sirens’ manager that my problem was his concern.

Tamnais Nathrach himself was standing at Sirens’ dock entrance, signing for what looked like a shipment of wine.

Either Nathrach hadn’t been to bed, or he simply liked to wear black. Or maybe he was one of those people who could get by on next to no sleep.

When he finished signing for the delivery, he looked directly at me, as if he’d known I was standing there the entire time. Though I couldn’t say for certain since he was wearing a pair of round, dark-tinted spectacles against the reflection of the afternoon sun on the canal.

He passed the paper back to the delivery guy without looking away from me, then walked down the dock to the pier where I stood.

“Another visit, Mistress Benares?” He gave me an open, welcoming smile. “And to think I dreaded having to be awake at this hour.”   

“Master Karst isn’t working today?”

The goblin’s smile faded. “He is, but he’s on an errand for me. So you’re here to speak with Lorcan?”

“Yes and no. I would’ve been trying to talk him into waking you up.” I hesitated. Here went nothing. “I need a favor.”

Nathrach’s grin was slow and dangerous. “Favors among goblins are not lightly given.”

“How about to an elf?”

“Rarely, if at all. However, that would depend on the favor.” His grin got a little more dangerous. “And the elf.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have used the word “favor.”

“I need information—and I believe you’re quite possibly the best source I know.” 

“But we only just met last night.” I heard the amusement in his voice. “We hardly know each other, and here you are asking favors.”

“I realize that—”

Nathrach held out his arm courtier-style. “What I meant was why don’t we get to know each other better, then you may ask your favor. To begin with, I insist that you call me Tam.”

I hesitated, then placed my hand over his, feeling more than a little silly being escorted like a highborn lady, especially while wearing my leathers.

I didn’t feel nearly as silly once we stepped inside Sirens. You wouldn’t know it was a bright, sunny day outside from the nearly pitch dark on the inside.

I thought the lights would be turned up in a casino during the day. Apparently not in a casino owned by a goblin. Heck, Nathrach didn’t even take his dark spectacles off until we were halfway across the main floor. Even once my eyes adjusted, I could barely see where I was going. Good thing Nathrach didn’t have that problem.

“Kells, would you have tea and refreshments sent to my office?”

I didn’t see who Nathrach was speaking to until he moved. Damn. You knew it was dark when you didn’t see a hobgoblin standing—though it was more like looming—less than ten feet away.

Kells inclined his head, turned, and stepped through what must have been a doorway next to where he’d been working behind the bar. I say “must have” because I hadn’t seen that, either. 

The goblin mage’s office was on the first level, down a hallway, behind the nightclub’s main bar.

Nathrach seated me in one of two plush chairs across from his desk. Rather than sit behind his desk, he took the chair opposite me.

While I prided myself on my ability to quickly adapt to a changing situation, I didn’t expect to be sitting next to a very much awake, alert, and even playful Tamnais Nathrach. Though the playful part might come in handy when I essentially told him that I’d come to him because of his previous vast experience being in league with the forces of evil. At least that was how it’d probably sound when I tried to explain it. A diplomat, I was not.

That’d squash the playful right out of him.

“You seem hesitant, Mistress Benares. I assure you whatever you have to ask, I will have heard it before.”

“Oh, I seriously doubt that. It’s rather personal.”

He smiled slowly. “For you or for me?”

“You.”

“You continue to intrigue me, Mistress Benares.” 

Those kids didn’t have time for me to work my way up to this. I simply came right out and told him everything I’d heard from Janek and Malina this morning, and what I’d heard coming from Sethis Mortsani last night. As I did, I saw Tamnais Nathrach’s sense of play go bye-bye.

“Those children have until sunrise tomorrow for us to find their souls,” I said, “and we have no idea of where to start.”

“‘We’ as in you and the city watch.”

“That’s right.”

“And they didn’t come to question me themselves.”

“I thought you might be more willing to help if someone other than a watcher asked. It’d be less. . . official that way.” But it was plenty awkward.

“So you’re a private investigator who also works with Mermeian law enforcement.”

“Not all of them; I just help Janek Tawl from time to time.”

“The chief watcher of the Sorcerers’ District.”

I didn’t see what any of this had to do with finding those missing souls. I bit down on my growing impatience. “He’s good people, who right now is trying to save the lives of eight innocent children.”

“And because I served as Queen Glicara Mal’Salin’s chief mage, you thought I’d know all about stealing souls.”

This was going downhill fast, and gaining speed with every word. I sure as heck wasn’t going to try calling him “Tam” now.

“I’m not saying that you’ve ever stolen a soul, or ever would. You’re a dark mage; you’ve made no secret of that. . .” I groped for words that wouldn’t make the hole I’d done a fine job of digging for myself any deeper, but those words had vanished quicker than Tamnais Nathrach’s goodwill.

If he hadn’t had anything to do with his wife’s death, I could hardly blame him for getting defensive. He’d lost his wife, his job, and his home. That had to have left a wound, and now here I was in his office throwing salt at it.

“I merely thought you might know
something
that could help us find those children’s souls. I’m not implying or accusing you of anything. You’ve left your past behind. All I want to know is, do you know who would do this, how, and why. Knowing the answer to any of those could help us find those kids.”

Nathrach’s black eyes were on mine. He didn’t move. He didn’t speak. His expression didn’t change. I resisted the urge to say anything else. I’d stated my case, then pulled my foot out of my mouth. I’d done all I could do. So I gave back what he was giving me—a silent stare—though I hoped mine looked less antagonistic than his did.

“The witnesses saw a dark-robed man,” Nathrach said at last. From the flatness of his voice, I wasn’t sure if it was a question, a rhetorical statement, or what.

“Yes, but no one saw his face.”

The goblin mage waved his hand dismissively as if that were unimportant. “The creature with him was knee-height.”

“Correct.”

“A volak,” he said.

“A what?”

“A volak. A minor demon. Challenging to call, but once here, easily lured into service with the right bait.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Fermented human, elven, or goblin entrails is a favorite, but merely pickled will suffice for some.”

I felt my lip curl. Kells hadn’t made it in yet with tea and refreshments, and as of right now, I’d rather do without.  

“Volak are especially talented in acquisitions,” Nathrach added.

“Meaning stealing.”

“Souls, to be precise. Though the mage controlling it must offer continuous rewards.”

“More pickled entrails?”

“No.” I got another flat look. “Do you truly want to know?”

“Probably not. Just curious.”

“Curiosity is an admirable trait—when it is not ill-advised.” He sat back in his chair. “The volak did the stealing. The mage, the collecting.”

“For what reason?”

The goblin paused.

“Oh, come on,” I blurted. “You can’t stop—”

“I can, and for the safety—and continued survival—of you and your watcher friend, it would be best if I did not say more.”

“They’re children,” I said quietly.

I didn't need my ears to know what word the goblin spat to himself. Tamnais Nathrach might be wicked, but he wasn't completely without morals. I could work with that.

He exhaled in exasperation. “It’s a game, Mistress Benares.”

“A
game
?”

Nathrach held up a hand. I shut up. Yes, it’s possible.

“A game that began in Regor entirely too many years ago,” he continued. “When it was outlawed there, and in any other kingdom where it had spread like a sickness, it went underground, sometimes literally. Now it is held once a year, with a maximum of ten players, in a highly secret location, and always in a different kingdom than the year before to avoid detection.”

“What kind of game involves stolen—”

“The game itself is quite common. Your cousin and Lord Mortsani were playing it upstairs last night. The difference is what they gamble with.”

That took a minute to sink in because my mind, morals, and every shred of decency I had didn’t want to believe any living being would. . .

Disbelieving words eventually made it out. “They gamble with the kidnapped souls of children.”

“Among others.”

“The bastard’s stealing children’s souls to use as chips?” My voice rose; I let it.

“The chips used in the game itself will be the same as are used in any other casino. The souls will be cashed in prior to the game, and the player will be issued chips in accordance with the value of the souls they brought with them.”

My rage continued to build. “Let me guess, magically gifted children are worth more.”

“They are second in value only to full mages.”

“So this mage and his demon buddy are gathering souls to take on vacation with him to play cards with the boys.”

“I believe that he is already in his vacation destination.”

I blinked. “The game’s
here
? In Mermeia? How do—”

“I was awake this morning for a reason. Late last night, I received a warning that a certain individual had arrived in the city.” He paused. “He has been well-known in the past for organizing and running this particular game.”

“So more children are going to go missing.”

“I don’t believe so. I think your soul thief is merely a local who requested to join the game at the last minute. The game master arrives when the game is imminent. He arrived late yesterday afternoon. You said that eight children have been taken?”

“That’s right.”

“The minimal number of souls a player must bring to the table is five.”

“The bastard picked up a few extra.”

“From what you have told me, I can deduce ‘the bastard’s’ name—Sethis Mortsani.”

“Son of a bitch!”

“And he acquires yet another name,” Nathrach noted mildly. “I do not know the legitimacy of his birth or the moral character of his mother, but considering the child’s cries you heard last night, combined with stealing his wife’s jewelry but not selling the large stones, Lord Mortsani is looking for a larger payout than he can get at any casino in this or any other city.”

“Mortsani’s so far in debt, he’d have to be turned loose in the goblin royal treasury to pay everyone back.” I nodded in realization. “He needed a game with higher stakes. He had the ring last night.” I froze. “Are you saying he has those kids’ souls locked in the stolen gems?”

“That is precisely what I’m saying. It’s my understanding that any jewel larger than five carats will suffice. There are dark mages in Mermeia capable of the spell necessary to enable a jewel to hold a soul. The organization running the game wants the souls, but a valuable container is a desirable bonus.”

“Who’s this organization?”