“I’m no accomplice! He shows up here, takesall our savings, and promises me it’s for the greater good. That wewon’t have to worry about anything in the future. That it’s worthliving in poverty today if we can live like emperors tomorrow. Idon’t know what I’m supposed to make of that. He won’t tell memore. Just says not to worry about it. I’ll have to work for ourreward, but it’ll be worth it in the end.”
“You’ll have to work for it?” Amaranthetapped her pen against the notepad. That did not sound like agambling scheme. Unless Raydevk meant his wife would have to work,taking care of kidnapped prisoners. But, no, she did not know aboutthem, and some had been missing for days, so she would have beenrecruited by now if that were her task.
“That’s what he said.”
Amaranthe leaned back. A broken springbeneath the sofa cushion prodded her in the butt. Though she fearedshe would get little more information, she spent another fifteenminutes questioning Pella.
“I’m not going to jail, right?” Pella askedwhen she walked Amaranthe to the door at the end. “Whatever he’sgotten tangled up with, it wasn’t my idea. I’m a good, loyalcitizen. I swear it. And my boys are, too. They need me.”
A guilty twinge coursed throughAmaranthe-this woman had doubtlessly committed fewer crimes thanshe had. She forced a smile and gripped Pella’s shoulder.“If what you say is true, you’ve nothing to worry about from theenforcers.”
Her husband was another matter.
The building’s parlor remained empty, soAmaranthe stopped beneath a light to check the note.
Two columns of names were written in sloppy,barely legible handwriting that an imperial code-breaker would havestruggled to decipher. She recognized three out of the five, andone of them was Sicarius.
A chill ran through her. Had Raydevk knownwho Sicarius was all the time? He hadn’t shown any signs ofrecognition when Sicarius stepped through the door. And Raydevkhadn’t been that great at hiding any of his other thoughts. Surely,he would have given something away.
Sicarius’s name was at the top of theleft-hand column, one with three entries in it. Deercrest, themissing wrestler, came under him, and Amaranthe did not recognizethe third. The top name on the second column belonged to Fasha’ssister Keisha. The other two looked like Borsk and Allemah.Maybe.
Amaranthe pocketed the note again and steppedoutside. She debated whether to wait on the sidewalk in front ofthe building, return to the hideout, or go back up to Pella and seewhat her reaction would be to the name, “Sicarius.” Her gutsquirmed, knowing she had sent him off to spy on people whoapparently wanted him for some nefarious reason.
She headed back into the building, adjustingthe stiff collar of her enforcer uniform as she climbed the stairsagain. It was scratching her neck more than she remembered-maybethe fabric was reminding her she no longer had any right to wearit.
When she reached the flat and lifted her handto knock, the door stood ajar. Strange. She would have thoughtPella would lock everything up and put the children to bed afterthe incident.
Amaranthe pushed the door open. Darknessshrouded the room, but she sensed what she would find even beforeshe brought in a lantern and searched. Pella and the children weregone.
CHAPTER 7
Basilard urged his legs to greater speed,though the darkness made the footing treacherous. He snorted. Evenby day, the footing was treacherous.
He reached the end of the swinging platforms,leaped onto the last wall, pulled himself over, and dropped theground. He sprinted the last ten meters to the finish line.
A soft clack sounded as Akstyr stopped thewatch. He held it up to one of the few gas lamps still burning.“Just over two minutes. Nice. You’re going to be a real competitor.Imagine how speedy you’ll be when it’s light enough to see.”
It will be easier to avoid the swingingaxes, Basilard signed with a nod toward the dark, deadlyshadows swaying back and forth.
Akstyr squinted, and Basilard could tell hestruggled to read the hand signals in the dim lighting. When Akstyrhad told Maldynado to take the night off, that he would work withBasilard on his “training,” Basilard had assumed the young manwanted to speak about Sicarius-perhaps he had some idea? — but thusfar Akstyr had not mentioned him. Basilard should bring it up. Thiswas his quest after all.
As if sensing his intent, Akstyr whispered,“I was thinking about that powder. If it’s what I think it is….Am’ranthe tell you the details?”
Basilard drew closer to the light, so hishand signs would be visible. Yes.
“If we could get some…”
A creak sounded behind them, and Akstyrjumped a foot, spinning in the air to face the sound. Themaintenance fellow who manned the obstacle course’s furnace strodefrom a doorway in the stone wall below the first tier ofseating.
Akstyr chuckled nervously. Basilard touchedhis arm and nodded, indicating they should walk. The man would bepowering down the engine for the night anyway, so training wasover.
You suggest finding the kidnappers andcolluding with them? To get some of the powder? The thought didnot sit well with Basilard. Though he had no reason to love theathletes attending the Imperial Games, he had no reason to wishthem ill either, and he did not care for the idea of workingagainst Amaranthe.
“No, I wasn’t thinking about that.” Akstyrsaid, keeping his voice low as they walked. “Am’ranthe wants me togo investigate apothecaries tomorrow, to see if we can find out ifa local sells the stuff and if someone suspicious has been buyingit up. If I get a chance, I’ll buy some while I’m there. Then wejust have to figure out how to use it on Sicarius, and you can…”He sliced a finger across his throat.
Basilard swallowed. Even if he was no longerthe model Mangdorian, he shrank from the idea of killing anunconscious man. But at the same time, he could not foresee downingSicarius in a fair fight. He had never even drawn blood when theysparred. Basilard had a measure of talent when it came to knives,but Sicarius had…erkt mahlay. That was the Kendorian termfor it, and one his people used as well. Literarily, snake blood.Figuratively, the ability to strike, not just with the speed of aviper, but with a snake’s utter lack of hesitation and remorse.Even knowing what he knew about the man’s crimes, Basilard wouldhesitate. He knew he would. Sicarius would not.
Basilard massaged the bridge of his nose withhis thumb and forefinger.
“You’re not backing out, are you?” Akstyrasked.
No. I’ll do it.
“Good.”
* * * * *
Amaranthe stood on top of the rail car, herback to the rising sun. A thousand metallic objects in the boneyardreflected its rays, and her eyes already ached from staring acrossthe expanse.
Clanks sounded below her-one of the menclimbing up. The others spoke in low tones around the fire pitbelow. Basilard was cooking eggs, and the appealing scent waftingup should have pleased Amaranthe, but she was busy worrying.
Books’s head poked over the top of theladder. “Breakfast is almost ready. A particularly fine one. Themen are in a celebratory mood because they got to sleep in andnobody dragged us off to exercise before dawn.”
Great. Sicarius was missing, and that causeda celebratory mood. Maybe Amaranthe should have led an exercisesession, despite his absence.
Books clambered up beside her. “No sign ofhim yet?” He nodded toward the metal-filled vista.
Amaranthe shook her head once.
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Books said. “He’salways disappearing to do…whatever it is he does when hedisappears.”
“Not when he’s on an assignment for theteam.” Amaranthe sat down on one of the crates Maldynado haddragged up while claiming that a person could stand watch just aswell sitting down as he could fully upright.