Dangerous Games: Forgotten Realms (Netheril Trilogy Book 2) by Clayton Emery

Author:Clayton Emery [Emery, Clayton]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780786963928
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2012-09-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

A hand clamped over Candlemas’s mouth, jolting him from a sound sleep, terrifying him. The huge hand pinned his head, rendering him powerless as a child. As he blearily fought for breath and vision, he saw that there were several people hovering around the big canopied bed. Were these assassins?

“Can you remain quiet?”

The voice and barbarous northern accent were familiar, and Candlemas nodded. His heart continued to race, though, as if it would never slow down.

Dragging himself upright, he saw it was indeed Sunbright. With him were a scruffy, short, one-eyed woman with an elven cast to her, and four filthy children dressed in rags and carrying satchels. Questions overrode indignation, though Candlemas pulled the blanket around his ample middle. He slept naked, while these intruders were villainously clothed and armed.

“Where have you been?” the pudgy mage whispered.

“Adventuring.” Sunbright talked in a whisper as well. He sat on the edge of the bed and it creaked under his weight. The elvish thief stroked the bedposts and made glowing stripes that cast a wan light.

“I see you’ve been treated well,” the barbarian said, “Can you have food fetched? The children are hungry.”

“What?”

Candlemas rubbed his eyes. He noticed that Sunbright had a few new, livid scars and wounds wrapped in dirty bandages, but was otherwise the same.

“Who are these people?” he asked, “How did you get in here? What have you been up to? How have you managed to survive in this city without any money or contacts?”

Sunbright answered with a snort, then, “Get some food and we’ll tell you. It’s an interesting story. And I’m hungry too.”

Grumbling, Candlemas tugged on a robe and rang a bell. While the visitors hid, he ordered a night maid to fetch a platter, enough to last him all day if necessary. She left without a word, returned shortly with a silver platter heaped with loaves of bread, cheese, wine, fruits, cold sausage, raw vegetables and sauces, even delicate jam tarts.

Sunbright and the rest came out of hiding, the children gazing wide-eyed at the food. When told to dig in, they ate like wolves. Sunbright stuffed cold roast into a hollowed loaf and tore off chunks with strong white teeth.

Candlemas took mulled wine, sat in a wing chair, and said, “Now will you tell me what you’ve been up to?”

Sunbright told him, leaving out nothing. The list of dead guards made the mage shake his head. When the barbarian had finished, Candlemas related some of his work, marveling at the contrast between them. Sunbright battled spidery trackers and killer guards in the sewers while Candlemas perched in luxury and explored esoteric magic. It was hard to believe they spoke of the same city. Candlemas didn’t mention Aquesita.

The northerner nodded at Candlemas’s observations, as if they confirmed his own suspicions. He picked up a bottle and smashed the neck against the table edge, for he didn’t recognize the enchanted corkscrew next to it.

“So this Karsus is the wild-eyed nit who pitched me out into the street?

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