Jewels of the Dragon by Allen Wold

Author:Allen Wold [Wold, Allen]
Format: epub
Published: 2009-11-06T09:00:00+00:00

"We appreciate your position," Rikard said before Darcy could speak,

"but I don't think you'll have any ethical conflicts. In any event, my name is Rikard Braeth, and I'm looking for my father."

"Braeth. I've heard the name, I think. Wasn't there a Gesta some thirty years ago with that name?"

"That was Arin Braeth, my father. He left home about thirteen years ago, came here, lived in the city for two-thirds of a year, then disappeared. You may have known him then."

"I see." Davinis's cordiality visibly cooled. "Yes. Arin Braeth. Yes, I do know the name. But don't you see, if he disappeared, either he died or went underground of his own accord. If he died, I can't help you. If he chose to drop out of sight, I wouldn't help you if I could."

"What if he disappeared against his will?"

"I don't know that."

"Look, Msr. Davinis, my father came here to recover a fortune of some kind, specifically so he could come back home with it. I have reason to believe he thought he'd found it.

"Now, I don't want to take his fortune away from him, if he did, or force him to return home, or even to get unpleasant about his leaving in the first place. I just want to find him and find out what happened to him. If he's dead, I'd like to know that, see his grave if it can be found. If he's alive, I just want to see him, hear his story, tell him mine, and let him make his own decision as to what he does next."

Davinis leaned back in her chair. "It seems to me that he's already made his decision."

"I don't believe that. If you knew him, even if only by reputation, you know what kind of a man he was. He was not the kind to quit, or give up, or avoid trouble. I knew him quite well, even though I was only a kid when he left. If he didn't come back, with or without the money he hoped to find, it could only be because he's dead or is being kept somewhere against his will."

"I can see that you believe that. Nevertheless, it's not necessarily true."

"I know. But think about it. You heard of him when he was out making a name for himself. He came here openly. He lived in the city openly for over half a year. In your business you know the comings and goings of people. You would certainly have heard of his arrival, even if you never offered to do business with him. You would have heard about it when he disappeared. If he's dead, if you know that, what harm to tell me?"

"None at all, I guess."

"Exactly. Then, since you won't tell me, I can only assume that he's still alive and that you know that he is."

"That doesn't mean I know where he is."

"Of course not. But I think you do, or at least have an idea. Must you protect him even from me?"

"Yes.

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