“Your intelligence was obviously lacking.”
Balmorlan shrugged. “The loss of life was regrettable, but unavoidable given the circumstances.”
“And now you ask me here to attempt to sell those I represent yet another disaster in the making.”
“Ah, but you came. And I can I assure you that your employers will be delighted with their purchase.”
“Their delight has yet to be seen, and I came only because I was ordered. This meeting was not my choice.” I gave Balmorlan what I hoped was an oily smile. “Though it is my choice whether or not I reject your offer.” I sat back in my chair. “What do you want? And don’t waste any more of my time. The quicker I can get off of this cursed rock, the better.”
“I’m offering them power.”
“Pardon me?”
Balmorlan leaned forward. “Power. I’m offering you and your associates a chance to eliminate those who oppose you once and for all. No more risks, just profits and unquestioned power.”
I gave him a scoffing laugh. “For once and for all and on your word. An amusing proposition, but not one I’m inclined to accept.” My humor vanished. “I require proof. Tangible proof.”
Balmorlan smiled the smile of a man with a secret. “I can provide it. Proof of how with one strike, your associates will be in unopposed possession of all southern Nebia.”
One strike. I forced my breathing to remain even. He couldn’t mean—
“I can provide this for you and your associates,” Balmorlan was saying.
“Now?”
“By this time tomorrow.”
“For a price.” I forced the words out.
“Naturally.”
The son of a bitch was selling the Saghred’s power. Power he didn’t have.
Yet.
Unless he got his hands on me, and he was giving himself one whole day to get the job done. Cocky bastard. Simply killing me wouldn’t get him the Saghred’s power. The rock was locked and guarded in the citadel. The only thing my death would do would be to let the Saghred latch on to the first mage it could lure within touching distance. Taltek Balmorlan couldn’t steal the Saghred, but he seemed confident that he could steal me.
Within one day.
I didn’t say anything. I didn’t trust myself to say anything. However, I did trust myself to put the steak knife that had found its way into my hand to good use. I toyed with the handle.
Mago cleared his throat. “Considering the history of my colleague’s dealings with you, his associates can hardly be expected to accept any claims at face value.”
Balmorlan bristled. “You’re saying that I’m a liar?”
“Not yet,” I said smoothly. “My associates now find it prudent to proceed with caution to any offer you make.” I paused. “They will only tolerate being burned once,” I said with quiet menace. “They will not allow it to happen again.”
Mago spoke. “You seem confident that you can deliver the promised results, Inquisitor Balmorlan. But you understand that we cannot share your confidence, let alone assign monetary worth to it based on a few words—”
“Meaning we want to know precisely what you’re selling,” I broke in. I knew the answer, but I wanted to hear the son of a bitch say it.
“Very well,” Balmorlan said. “By this time tomorrow, the Saghred’s power will be mine.”
I didn’t move. “From what I’ve been told, the Saghred’s bond servant is an elven seeker by the name of Raine Benares. This Benares woman is a magic user; you are not, so I fail to see how you could not only claim to possess and wield such power, but offer it to others.”
“By possessing Raine Benares,” Balmorlan replied smoothly. “My own mages will be able to wield the stone’s power through her. And best of all, my claim to the woman will be perfectly legal.”
I leaned forward, hopefully the very picture of a skeptical negotiator, not a banker about to dive across a table with a steak knife. “To claim is one thing, to gain cooperation is quite another.”
“Her cooperation is not needed,” Balmorlan said. “Once she’s in custody, I have a specially constructed cell waiting with magic-neutralizing restraints. I’ve retained the services of mages eager to taste the Saghred’s power for themselves.”
Mago’s eyes were the flat black of a shark, his voice cold. “If the woman is chained and can’t access the stone’s power, how can these mages—”
“The Saghred is hungry,” Balmorlan told him point-blank. “It’ll bond with my mages like a starving demon being offered fresh meat.” He paused and smiled. “Except in the Saghred’s case it will be fresh souls. The stone will have to be well fed before it can be properly used. We’ll feed it through the elf woman, and once the Saghred is satisfied, my mages can put the stone’s power to good use.” He tossed back the remainder of his drink. “Raine Benares is merely a conduit for souls and power. She’ll be used as long as she remains useful. You’re aware of what the Saghred can do?”
I knew the answer to that one. “I am.”
“Then you know that my offer is genuine. I’ve arranged a demonstration of the Saghred’s power that will more than prove the validity of my offer.”
Demonstration? That would be some trick since I was sitting right here.
“Where and how?” I asked.
Taltek Balmorlan grinned. “Let’s just say I’ve taken the liberty of moving your luggage from the Greyhound Hotel to a safer location.”
Chapter 8
Mago didn’t move a muscle. “Safer?”
“It’s also safe to say there will be no need to pay your hotel bill.” Balmorlan smiled, showing us his teeth.
Teeth I wanted nothing more than to knock out.
“There’s a tavern on the corner of Hobwell Street that will provide us with a splendid view and adequate protection,” Balmorlan continued. “I’ve arranged a table by the window. As soon as we arrive, the show will begin.”
“That’s nearly two blocks from the hotel,” Mago noted. His voice was calm, his posture nonchalant. He always had been a good actor.
When hundreds of lives depended on it, I could fake calm, too. “I’m not fond of surprises,” I told Balmorlan. “Just what is this demonstration of yours?”
“There will be an attack on the Greyhound Hotel, but the primary target is its occupants. At this moment, Raine Benares is in the hotel meeting with her goblin prince.”
I froze. A meeting I’d canceled to be here.
A meeting Taltek Balmorlan knew about. Who the leak was or where it was didn’t concern me, not now. Snarling and lunging across the table for Balmorlan’s throat wouldn’t save Prince Chigaru, his court, or any of the hundreds of innocent people staying or working in or around the hotel. If it was only safe outside of a two-block area, there was going to be collateral damage. A lot of collateral damage.
Balmorlan didn’t care about any of that. It was simply a way to make his point. The smirk the smarmy bastard was wearing told me that he had something we wanted, something we couldn’t resist. He was right—he had his life and I wanted to take it.
“She’ll hardly stand by while the prince, his retinue, and every other living thing inside are annihilated,” Balmorlan continued. “However, to have a chance of saving anyone, she’ll have to use the Saghred.”
Mago’s face was expressionless. “And if this Raine Benares is ‘annihilated’ along with the others?”
Balmorlan waved a dismissive hand. “She’ll be the only creature who will survive. The Saghred would hardly allow its bond servant to be killed before it has found a suitable replacement. And after having used the Saghred, my associates will see to it that Raine Benares is arrested as a public menace.” He chuckled. “Someone with that much power can hardly remain on the loose among our citizens. So you gentlemen will have your proof, while my associates eliminate a political inconvenience. And if you’re experiencing any guilt at the unavoidable loss of life, don’t bother; my associates had already planned this. It would have happened whether you had accepted my invitation or not.”