The Shattered Mask: Sembia: Gateway to the Realms, Book III (Sembia Gateway to the Realms 3) by Richard Lee Byers

Author:Richard Lee Byers [Byers, Richard Lee]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780786957002
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2010-04-12T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

Bileworm had spent much of his existence in proximity to colossal fortresses built of iron, basalt, and sorcery, but even he had to admit that the playhouse called the Wide Realms presented a pleasing spectacle, if only in a tawdry, terrestrial sort of way. The entrance to the theater, a ring-shaped structure with a tiring house and stage at the rear and a pair of multi-level galleries curving out and around to meet at the gate in the front, shone like a jewel in fields of magical light, as did the gaudy pennants flying and banners hanging from the thatched roof. The humbler patrons had all packed inside prior to the start of the performance, but a few aristocrats were still arriving, pulling up in their carriages, on horseback, or strolling behind torch-bearing linkboys in scarlet capes. Music, the declamations of the actors, and, periodically, applause, cheers, laughter, catcalls, and booing, drifted up through the open space in the center of the building.

Of course, Bileworm hadn’t come to admire the view but to scout the disposition of the enemy, and having accomplished his task, he supposed he’d better return to Master and report. He turned and skulked along the rooftops, a shadow moving virtually invisibly against the night sky, until, lengthening and then shortening his leg, he stepped lightly down into the alley where the wizard and his mortal henchmen waited.

Garris Quinn, clad tonight in a plum-colored hat with an upturned brim and yellow plume, a loose, thigh-length mandilion overcoat in the same colors, and baggy galligaskin breeches, glanced around, discovered Bileworm leering at his elbow, yelped, and recoiled.

Not the least bit startled by his aide’s outburst, or at least not betraying it if he was, Master casually turned toward his familiar. “What have you learned?” the masked wizard asked.

“They’re guarding the lad,” Bileworm said, “just as you expected. They have warriors hiding in four buildings adjacent to the Wide Realms, six to ten in each detachment. I imagine other guards are waiting inside the playhouse.”

“Thank you for giving us the benefit of your tactical expertise,” said Master, a hint of impatience perceptible in his tone. He’d been out of sorts since Thamalon Uskevren’s eldest boy had escaped him earlier that day.

“Then it’s a trap,” Garris said uneasily.

Master sighed. “I’m surrounded by strategists, it seems. Naturally it’s a trap. Did you think that with young Talbot’s parents missing, and his brother already assaulted, his retainers would let him wander off to do his acting unprotected? But we’re going to trap the trappers.”

Garris nodded. “All right. Do we attack?” The bravos massed behind him stirred.

“Not yet,” said Master. “Since I want to neutralize all the warriors outside without giving any of them a chance to warn their compatriots inside, Bileworm and I will attend to that particular chore by ourselves while you fellows wait here.”

The spirit sniggered. “I thought you promised I could take it easy from now on.”

“All you have to do is lead me to the guards,” Master replied, “so it shouldn’t tax your stamina unduly.

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