Cinnabar shadows by Lynn Abbey

Author:Lynn Abbey [Lynn Abbey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: SF
ISBN: 9780786901814
Published: 1995-07-25T06:30:07+00:00

Chapter Nine

Pavek considered modifying Ruari’s plan from we to me. Codesh had a vicious reputation. There was no need to risk his unscarred companions exploring its alleys, looking for a hole that might lead to the reservoir cavern. No need to have them underfoot while he explored, either. But Lord Hamanu’s enforcers from the palace would come calling soon enough, and compared to the Lion-King, Codesh was no risk at all.

Dawn’s first light found the four of them tying their sandals by the front door.

“Leave that behind,” he told Ruari and pointed to the bandaged staff the half-elf had in his hand. “In case something goes wrong, that’s all we’ve got.”

“Anything goes wrong, I’m going to need it with me, not here.”

Pavek disagreed, but they didn’t have time for arguments. It was Farl’s day, and the best time to slip out Urik’s west gate would be the moment when it opened up to let the farmers and artisans of that western village into the city. The branch of the west road that led to Codesh would be nearly empty, but they’d be well out of Urik’s sight before they started walking along it.

The templar quarter was the busiest quarter of Urik at this early hour as bleary-eyed men and women got themselves to their assigned duties. White-skinned Mahtra stood out in any crowd, and any clothing that wasn’t dyed yellow was glaringly obvious on the streets nearest House Escrissar. Pavek recognized a fair number of the faces pointed their way. Surely he was remembered and recognized, too, but throughout the Tablelands, no creatures were more adept at not-seeing what was directly in front of them than a sorcerer-king’s templars. In their own quarter, templars were very nearly blind.

They were more attentive outside their quarter. Pavek told his companions to keep heads down and eyes aimed at the ground. He knew how information flowed through the bureaus. By sundown it would be a rare templar who didn’t know Just-Plain Pavek, the renegade regulator, had taken up residence in House Escrissar. This time tomorrow, he’d have a slew of friends and enemies lining up to see what they could gain or he could lose. Even now, hurrying toward the western gate, Pavek caught the occasional measuring gaze from a face that had recognized him. In a very real sense, his troubles wouldn’t begin until and unless he successfully hunted Kakzim down.

The western gate was still closed when they arrived, but it had swung open by the time Pavek had fed everyone a breakfast of fresh bread and hot sausage. Between them, Zvain and Ruari could eat their way through a gold coin every day. The stash Pavek had brought from Quraite was shrinking at an alarming rate. Grimly, he calculated they’d be bit-less in six or seven days. Even more grimly, he calculated that, one way or another, by then money would be the least of his worries. He bought more food for later in the day and struck a path for the crowded gate.

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