The wounded elf made no sound, but his wide eyes signaled his surprise. He edged between Radu and the wall as his companion got on his feet and stalked the swordsman's other side, trying to flank him again.
Radu feinted toward short sword, then made a blinding series of cuts toward the rapier, beating the lighter blade out of line. He cut twice past the elf s failed defense, drawing blood at wrist and cheek. Then he turned his back mockingly and walked away, his sword held low by his side. The elf with the short sword took the bait, slashing at Radu's calf. From the seats above, Darrow heard no warning of the attack, not even the shush of sand. But Radu heard something, for he leaped above the cut and stabbed down, pinning the elf s hand to the sandy floor. The elf choked back a cry.
The second elf struck at Radu's back, but the swordsman had already twisted aside. The thin blade pierced his short jacket, and Radu pinned the sword to his side with his left arm. Standing still, he slashed at the elf s face, cutting away one emerald eye and making a horror of the once-perfect face.
Now the elf screamed.
Radu released the elf with the rapier and darted away just in time to avoid a clumsy but powerful stab from the short sword. That elf screamed a string of sibilant words and charged recklessly toward Radu's exposed back. Radu whirled aside again, flicking his blade like a switch as his furious opponent rushed past. A hank of black hair floated away from the elf s head, and a bloody ear hit the sand. That elf added his voice to the screaming. Radu fell toward the elf with the rapier, his long sword catching the slenderer weapon in a crude parry. With his other hand, he grasped the elf s wrist and guided the slender blade into his brother's heart.
Radu released the surviving elfs wrist and walked away.
With his one eye, the elf stared into the face of his slain companion. He sagged to his knees, and his companion fell with him. The dying elfs last breath blew trails in the blood on the other's ruined face. The survivor embraced his dead companion.
Across the fanged pit, Radu produced a silk handkerchief and wiped the blood from his sword.
"Splendid!" cried Stannis, clapping.
Darrow added his applause, careful not to clap more loudly than did his master.
In the ring, Radu fetched his scabbard and sheathed his sword. Again he turned his back on the surviving elf, walking toward the exit. The elf rose slowly, drawing the rapier out of his companion's corpse. Radu showed no sign of noticing.
Darrow stepped forward involuntarily, opening his mouth to shout a warning. Stannis stopped him with a gesture.
Radu walked heedlessly past the armed elf, never glancing in his direction. Darrow stared in awe and horror as the elf braced the rapier's point against his breast, set the hilt upon the floor, and impaled himself.
"How delicious!" cried Stannis, opening the gate for his brother with a wave of his hand.
Darrow felt his gorge rise, and his mind whirled to imagine what passions could impel the elf to kill himself rather than seek revenge.
As Radu emerged from the stairway, Stannis turned to Darrow. "How did he know, you wonder?"
Darrow nodded mutely.
"Among my brothers many remarkable talents," said Stannis, "is a keen awareness of when he has won."
Darrow never asked Stannis about cooking for the prisoners, but after another month had passed, he simply assumed there was no objection. His master was far more interested in the state of the house, often praising Darrow for the good work he had done to clean the place.
Twice each tenday, Radu visited Stannis. The brothers made no effort to keep their conversations from Darrow, who brought his former master tea to drink while the Malveen brothers discussed the twin ledgers that detailed their public and their clandestine businesses. Laskar Malveen was head of the family, Darrow knew. From what he heard from Stannis and Radu, it seemed Laskar was only dimly aware that the family fortunes swelled as a result of the second set of books. Radu insisted on maintaining the obfuscation, while Stannis often complained about his isolation.
"Wouldn't it be lovely to have the whole family together again," said the master. "I do so miss my other brothers."
"You will abide by our agreement," snapped Radu. "Stay away from them. And whatever you are doing to Pietro, stop it."
"Whatever do you mean, dear brother?"
"The nightmares," said Radu.
"Merely inspiration for his paintings," said Stannis. "If I cannot enjoy his company, at least let me act as an anonymous patron of his burgeoning talent."
"They are becoming a scandal. You must stop it immediately."
Stannis sighed. "Very well. But you do a great disservice to the art community."
"If we are to recover our rightful position in Selgaunt, Laskar and Pietro must remain unsullied by the work we must do. Should we be caught, only you and I will take the blame."
"Yes, yes, I've heard it all before. It's all so dreadfully tedious. There's so little to do, confined as I am to the bay and the house." He made another exaggerated sigh and glided around the table to look over Radu's shoulder as his brother wrote. "I know, why don't you take your exercise tomorrow? It has been tendays since you last visited Fer-rick's."
Radu ignored the suggestion. "I saw him on the docks yesterday," he said.
Darrow stood no more than six feet from him, yet Radu did not even nod in his direction.
"The market is closed at night," said Stannis. "And I can hardly rely on my creatures to fetch everything I require. Unless you would like to go to the market for me, of course."
"Someone will spot him coming in here." Radu laid his pen beside the inkpot and stood away from the desk.
"Darrow is careful not to be seen. Aren't you, my boy?"
"I am, master."
Radu turned to look directly at Darrow. His eyes were as black and as fathomless as a serpent's. Darrow found strange solace in the belief that he would be dead before he ever realized Radu had chosen to strike at him. He returned Radu's gaze without challenge.
Radu must have sensed something in Darrow's meek attitude. "You have refreshed the wards," he said. It was not quite a question.
"Yes, O my brother," said Stannis. At first Darrow thought he was mocking Radu, but the peculiar formality did not seem to irritate the swordsman.
"Alarm spells at the perimeter of the courtyard."
"As you wish, O my brother."
Radu looked from Stannis to Darrow in one last moment of consideration. "I will decide how we deal with Rusk. No arguments."
"But I need him for my plan to…" He saw the resolve in Radu's eyes and sighed heavily enough to move the golden links of his veil. "Alas, I shall miss him. Still, it is good enough that Talbot Uskevren is cursed as he is. With any luck, he will lose his temper and kill Thamalon. Or perhaps the older brother. Maybe we'll be lucky and he'll murder the whole wretched clan."
"Perhaps," said Radu, "but you will do nothing to endanger our family."
"Yes, O my brother," said Stannis. Darrow could almost hear him smile beneath the golden veil.
Chapter 4
Alturiak, 1371 DR
In the pre-dawn darkness, Tal pushed through the bedroom window as quietly as he could. It was much harder than when he was a slim boy and could find his way into any nook of the great mansion. At nineteen, his broad frame was bigger than the narrow aperture, and he had to squeeze his shoulders as tight as he could bear to force his way through. The wooden panes creaked, and Tal paused to listen. Hearing no sound of approaching guards, he pressed his way through.