Rik shook his head. He was not quite sure that he wanted to tell the big man that Lady Tamara, daughter of the former Chancellor of Sardea liked to hang out in riverside taverns dressed as a man. “No, I just know him. Wait here, I’m going to have a word.”
“Just leave me on my bloody own then,” said the Barbarian.
“Drink my beer.”
“As you command, sir.”
Rik tapped the black-clad youth on the shoulder. She turned swift as a snake. Cold eyes glittered beneath the brim of the hat.
“I think you and I should talk,” Rik said.
This close he could see it really was Tamara. The Terrarch noblewoman was very well disguised. It looked as if wads of something had been placed inside her cheeks to puff them out and make them look more human and makeup had been applied to the corner of the eyes to alter their shape, the same with the lips. Dirt smeared her face in a way that no Terrarch would ever allow it to. Her hair and her hat covered her ears. There was something else too, something he could not quite put his finger on, but which he suspected was magic.
“Very well,” the voice was low and sounded human. It had a Kharadrean accent. “Do I know you from somewhere?”
“I think we met very briefly the other night.” Rik was absolutely certain that she would remember him and recognise him, just as he had recognised her.
“There are private rooms upstairs.”
Words passed between Tamara and the bartender, she grabbed a bottle and two goblets and then they both headed upstairs. The private room was more like a private cupboard. It had a table and a couple of rickety chairs and a door that could be wedged closed. A small single bed took up most of the rest of the space. Tamara took a spill, lit it from one of the lanterns and then lit the candle set on a chipped plate on the table. Her expression was one of amusement. She did not seem at all frightened at being alone in a room in a rough part of town with a strange man.
She poured a drink. Rik watched her hands carefully, he was certain she added nothing to it. That did not mean the wine could not have been doctored though. It might have happened downstairs. She saw him watching her and raised the goblet to her lips and drank. He considered switching goblets with her and decided that might be a little too melodramatic. He doubted anyone would have the foresight to doctor the cups. He drank the wine. It was surprisingly good.
“I saw you at Lady Asea’s mansion the other night,” he said, once they were both seated. Their stools were very close together. Their legs touched. “I am surprised to see you here.”
“And I am surprised that you recognised me in the dim light, in these clothes, with this makeup and wrapped by these spells.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
“I was wondering about that.” She passed a hand across her face. An odd rippling, distorting effect followed her hand as she made the gesture and her features became the ones he had seen the previous evening. She was, like all Terrarch women, ravishingly beautiful and there was something else about her, a sense of interest in him personally, of availability. It was written in her smile.
“Do you think this is the sort of place that a Terrarch woman should come on her own?”
“I assure you I am more safe here than you are.”
“I must admit I am curious. Why exactly are you here?”
“You think I am one of those High Born who comes to the low parts of town in search of sexual adventure?” Rik had known of Terrarch women who did exactly that in Sorrow, Terrarch men as well. The way her hand now rested on his thigh seemed to confirm the impression.
“The thought had crossed my mind.”
“Are you offering your services?” She reached out and adjusted a lock of his hair with her hands. He pulled away, feeling a slight sting. Had she pulled out some of his hair? He looked but her hands were empty. It occurred to Rik that if Lady Asea really wanted Tamara dead, he was never going to get a better opportunity than now. Under these circumstances, though, he just could not do it. For whatever reason he found he actually rather liked her, and he was certainly intrigued.
“I wasn’t but…”
“It’s an interesting proposition. I must confess I noticed you the other night as we were departing and I thought; who is that handsome young man…” She had backed away now as if to put some distance between them. He considered what would happen if he attacked her. All she had to do was reveal who she was and he would be in terrible trouble and she was armed. Some instinct warned him that she was much more formidable than she looked.
“You thought more than that.”
“Really? Is mind reading among your many accomplishments then?”
“No but I felt something when I saw you.”
“How very romantic.”
“It was not anything romantic. I merely felt a sense of recognition. I suspect you did to.”
“You might be right. Now, why do you think that was?”
“I wish I knew,” said Rik honestly. “But I don’t. I have never seen you before last night. Why are you here?”
“I am here because like your friend, the Weasel, I have business with Black Tomar, the proprietor of this delightful establishment.”
“He is the local Bossman then, is he?”
“If by that picturesque expression you mean he is the town’s chief dealer in stolen goods, illicit information and illegal services then you are correct. It did not take you long to find him. I must say I am impressed.”
“Why do you want to see him?”
“I think I have answered quite enough of your questions. It’s time you answered some of mine.” He answered her smile. She leaned closer. Their faces were almost touching. Her eyes were very large. The pupils very dark and dilated. He felt like he might fall into them and be lost.
“Ask away.”
“Are you Lady Asea’s lover- everybody seems to think you are?”
He nodded. There did not seem to be any point in denying it. It was a cover that needed to be kept.
“How did that happen?” He decided then to be as honest as possible. It was always best to keep as close to the truth as you could when telling a lie.
“I saved her life in Deep Achenar. She took an interest in me after that.”
“You were in Deep Achenar with Asea? You are the one who fought the Spawn of the Spider God?” He nodded again. It seemed word of the Foragers’ mission had not been as well hushed up as he thought.
“What were they like? Describethem to me.”
He told her of the bizarre half-spider, half-demon things he had battled with, and the ritual he had witnessed. She was a very good listener. She nodded agreement every now and again, and her eyes never left his face.
“Extraordinary,” she said eventually. “And that is how your Lieutenant Sardec lost his hand.”
Rik could not deny the Lieutenant’s bravery no matter how much he disliked the Terrarch personally.
“I believe you are very lucky to be alive,” she said. She looked a little awestruck. Rik wondered how much of it was play-acting but he was flattered nonetheless. Her hand still rested on his thigh, massaging it gently.
“You’ll get no arguments from me. Now why are you here?”
“I am collecting information,” she said.
“Don’t you have servants for that?”
“I like to collect it myself, that way I can judge the source first hand.”
“That’s a very dangerous hobby.”
“I find it adds spice to an otherwise dull life.”
She did not give the impression of being one of those bored Terrarch noblewomen who sought relief from their ennui in danger; quite the opposite. She reminded Rik of some very successful thieves he had known, who took pleasure in their accomplishments and found the crime as thrilling as the reward.
“How dull can it be, being rich and powerful and beautiful?”
“You would be surprised,” she said. “A palace can feel like a prison sometimes.”