Bez quelled the murderous forces seething inside his weapons and lowered them to point at the ground. But at that moment, a cordial greeting was beyond him. Maybe it was because, though they d scoured the country from Immilmar east to the mountains, he and his company hadn t found a trace of any of the sundry bands of undead witches, werewolves, and what-have-yous that were supposedly wandering around committing atrocities. Whereas it seemed the Shou only had to dispatch one lone phantom to locate a flying vessel with minimal difficulty. In a better mood, Bez might have found some humor in that, but for the moment, it aggravated his frustration.
And perhaps that was why he examined the merchant s words in his mind, and, began to doubt. Immilmar is west, he said, and, responding to his suspicion and hostility, the potential for more lightning and searing, heart-stopping chill quivered inside his blades. Your ghost, or whatever it was, slunk down from the east.
Dai Shan s slight smile didn t waver. Naturally, the shadow couldn t just travel to you in a straight line, he said. It had to wander back and forth before spotting you at last.
When I said it was coming down from the east, Bez persisted, I meant, sneaking down from the spot where the Storm is moored. We ve been carrying a stowaway ever since we left Immilmar, haven t we? One emplaced to spy on us or worse. He raised the rapier and dagger, and his silent command made their magic flare anew. Taking their cue from him, Olthe and Melemer dropped back into fighting stances.
Dai Shan took a nonchalant step back.
I implore you, he said, consider that I m not really here. If you destroy this thing, all you ll do is bring our parley to a fruitless and premature end.
Bez sneered. And why, merchant, would I want to talk to a false friend who snuck a horror aboard my ship?
Dai Shan s smile widened just a bit. Stalwart captain, had you not opted to make yourself the foremost soldier of the age, I m confident you would have won equal distinction as a poet or a player, for you unquestionably have the requisite flair for the dramatic. Things that rise from shadow have their appetites, and I won t insult your intelligence by suggesting otherwise. But I never let this one slip the leash, and even if I had, how could one little phantom truly threaten a warrior who s fought giants and malebranches in his time?
Bez smiled a grudging smile. It always feels strange to talk to you, Shou. I think it s because I m used to being the glib one. Do you swear the shadow was only aboard to spy and give you and me a way to talk if need be? You didn t plan anything worse?
August warlord, in my father s sight, I swear it, Dai Shan replied. May I also point out that, if my poor intermediary s presence on your vessel was inappropriate, at least you re rid of it now. It won t survive to board a second time.
Bez extinguished the power burning in his weapons and slid them back into their sheaths. All right. Forget it for now, if only because you re right. I can t thrust a sword into the real Dai Shan across the length of this wretched country. So what do you want, anyway?
I want you to return to Immilmar to pick me up.
Why?
Well, that s the part that s slightly awkward. I ll explain when my true self is aboard the skyship. Until then, I m asking you to trust me.
Bez snorted. No offense, merchant, but that s not going to happen. I offered to work with you, not blindly carry out your commands.
But, stalwart and sagacious captain, surely you see that the real problem is my inability to repose complete and utter faith in you. If I told you now where you ought to sail and why, perhaps you would simply do so immediately without bothering to collect me. And then how could I convince the hathrans that I played even a minor part in the achievements that will follow?
Bez grunted. I ll think about it, he said.
Dai Shan frowned ever so slightly. It was about as much of a display of sincere emotion as he ever permitted himself. In its way, his face was as much of a mask as any the witches wore.
Obviously, the little Shou said, I understand why such a shrewd leader of men prefers to weigh his decisions carefully. But if we lose our means of communication before you say yes or no, that will leave me in an awkward and ambiguous position.
Bez sneered. That s your problem, he said.
Indeed it would be. As your problem is chasing a quarry you haven t caught and will never catch without my guidance. Clearly, you realize it, too, or you wouldn t be meddling with a demon trap in the middle of a frigid night.
We re looking for clues that will lead us to the enemy.
Master strategist, wily tactician, scourge of the Dragon Coast, I have the utmost respect for your intelligence. I ask you to respect mine as well. Plainly, you paid attention to the tales of the durthans and their ilk breaking open the old Raumathari menhirs. Frustrated by your inability to locate the actual foe, you ve decided to open a stone yourself, kill whatever s inside, and carry the carcass back to Immilmar as a trophy.
Just for amusement s sake, let s say you re right. What of it?
If I may be forthright, it s a weak ploy. It may slightly elevate Yhelbruna s opinion of you, but it won t convince her you ve made any fundamental progress toward accomplishing the task she set us. Whereas if you honor my request
All right! Bez snapped. I ll come for you. And if it turns out you re wasting my time, well, you ll be in reach of my blades then, won t you?
Indeed, Dai Shan said. Until I see you next. He bowed deeply, and his body broke apart and disappeared, like it was crumbling into a dust so fine the eye couldn t see it.
After a moment, Melemer chuckled. I like that one, he said.
Bez grinned. You would, he replied. You both have weasel blood flowing in your veins. But don t get too attached to him.
So, Olthe said, nodding toward the monument.
We re giving up on this?
No, said Bez. We re already here. And whether the idea s a weak ploy or not, I don t feel like going back to the Iron Lord and the Wychlaran empty-handed.
Fair enough, the priestess said, frowning.
The only problem I see is that while we don t know if those miners down there have noticed any undead lurking about, someone probably has noticed the Storm sitting on the mountainside. What if the villagers figure out that we freed the demons ourselves? What if they send word to the Iron Lord? I admit, it s unlikely
More than unlikely, said Bez, impossible. The fiends are going to prove just what a terrible threat they are by wiping out the village. Well, technically, we re going to do it for them, but I m sure that if they knew, they d appreciate our efforts on their behalf. Then, after we finish the miners, we ll crack open the trap, kill its prisoners, and take their heads.
NINE
A griffon is about to fly down among us! Aoth shouted in Elvish. Don t shoot at him! He s Jet, my steed that I told you about!
Everyone stood and waited for the creature to appear, and shortly thereafter, Aoth pointed with his spear and said, There. Then an enormous shadow swept over the snowy ground.
Jet swooped to the ground. Heeding Aoth s warning, no one attacked the griffon. But some of the stag warriors couldn t resist the impulse to raise their weapons.
Jet looked them over and snorted. Relax, he rasped, I m not going to hurt you. Now, if you were centaurs or maybe not. I ve seen things lately that put me off horseflesh.
So you told me, Aoth said. He advanced, scratched among the feathers atop the griffon s head, then lifted Cera out of the saddle and gave her a hug.
The Stag King strode up to them, and to Jet, with no apparent hesitation. Either he was confident the griffon wouldn t lash out at him, or he was simply unwilling to act timidly.