“Why we just did, ah, whatever it was we did.”
“Oh. Our friend the Fox wanted me arrested and flogged and such because I owned the brothel where Neritha was beaten. They had an attachment to her. So we just convinced them that I’ve been arrested.”
“But then, if it was all a fake, why did we go through all of that with Lord Feorae?”
“In the second place, to make it look good. In the third, just because it’s fun to mess with the Phoenix Guards. In the first, because when Feorae sorts everything out, they’ll do a trace, and the trail will lead back to you, and then to His Excellency the Viscount of Adrilankha, also known as the Blue Fox.”
“But you—”
“I never touched the bag of gold,” I said.
“Boss, you’re really irritating when you’re smug.”
“Shut up.”
Omlo considered this. “What happens then?”
“To him? Nothing. But word will get back to his mother and father, and now they owe me, because they’ll know I could have made things uncomfortable and embarrassing for all of them, and I didn’t.”
“When,” said Kragar, “did you figure out they didn’t really want to hire you about the tagged coins?”
“It didn’t make sense from the beginning,” I said. “What’s the point of working to beat a system that will collapse on its own? He had to be setting me up for something. I suppose I wasn’t absolutely sure about it until I saw your report on him, and learned he hadn’t been a highwayman for a long time.”
“And how does this fit in with Byrna?”
“My guess is they went looking for someone who was in trouble with me. It shouldn’t be too hard to find if you’re willing to be friendly, spend money, and listen a lot in the right places.”
Cawti said, “You know, Vlad, we really need to be aware that, once they realize what you pulled, they will come after us again.”
I very much liked that “we” and “us.” I said, “Maybe. But I have a theory that getting me in hot water was secondary. The main thing they wanted was something else, and they’ll get that.”
Kragar knew what his job was: “What’s that?” he asked.
“The next order of business. Omlo, unless you have more questions, I won’t need you for this part. It’s just as well you don’t know about it.”
He stood and bowed. “You have my thanks, my lord.”
“I’ll see you on the stage,” I said.
He smiled and backed out, still bowing—like you do for royalty. Nice touch, I thought.
When he’d gone, Kragar said, “Well?”
“The last bit is firing H’noc.”
“For what?”
“For trying to have me beaten.”
Cawti nodded. Kragar frowned. “When did he do that?”
“A few days ago. I didn’t mention it because it didn’t work out for him.”
“How do you know it was him?”
“Because nothing else makes sense. Who else has a reason to attack me?”
“Everyone who knows you, Vlad. But what reason does he have?”
“Fox-boy got him to do it. I don’t know, a bribe or a threat. I’ll confirm it before I actually fire him.”
“Why would he do that?”
“He was the one who actually beat Neritha, so Fox-boy and Ibronka are going to want him to pay. What better way to make him pay than to have me do it for them?”
“Oh,” said Kragar. “And he could be that sure you’d figure it out?”
“Yeah. He studied me enough to know I’m not an idiot.”
“I guess I should study you more.”
“Heh.”
Cawti said, “Can I help with the firing?”
“Sure. You and Kragar can escort me there, and then hang around outside and make sure I’m not interrupted.”
“When are we doing this?” asked Kragar.
“Now,” I said, and stood up.
On the way over, Kragar said, “When you fire H’noc, who are you going to get to run the place?”
“You want it?”
“No.”
“Think Melestav will want it?”
“I doubt it.”
“Maybe Tessie.”
“He’d be good. Experienced.”
“Yeah.”
We reached the Couches and I walked in like I owned the place, partly on account of I did. The muscle at the door was someone I didn’t recognize, but he evidently recognized me. He bowed and said, “My lord, how may I—”
“H’noc,” I said. “Here. Now.” There were a couple of nums hanging around, drinking and waiting to pick out their tags. They looked at me. I didn’t much care.
He went off to get H’noc. I told the two nums that the business was closed for now, but they were welcome back tomorrow. I suggested that they leave right away. The Dragonlord looked like he might want to make an issue of it, but then he just shrugged and left. When they were gone, I moved to the back of the room and leaned against the wall, looking tough. H’noc arrived at once, flanked by the tough guy who’d been at the door, and another, taller and broader and equally dangerous-looking. I said, “You two: Go.”
They looked at H’noc for instructions. I said, “Don’t look at him, look at me. I’m saying to go away. Do it now.”
They hesitated. Then first one and then the other turned and walked away. H’noc said, “My lord, if I have somehow—”
“Let’s take a walk,” I said.
Cawti and Kragar were behind us as I led him around to an alley behind the Couches; then they pulled back out of sight. H’noc didn’t look altogether happy.
I drew and placed the point of my weapon under his chin. “You,” I said, “are fired. Depending on how you answer my question, you might also be dead. Do you want to be dead? I think you don’t want to be dead. If I’m wrong, tell me. Do you want to be dead?”
Ask someone a question with an obvious answer, and then insist he answer you. It’s kind of humiliating, because it drums home to the guy just what position he’s in. I know a few tricks like that, and I keep learning more.
H’noc said, “Ask your question.”
“How did he talk you into it?”
He looked even less happy than he had, but he glared instead of cowering. Good decision: if neither is going to do any good, you might as well take your best shot at not being laughed at.
I pressed a little with my rapier. His head went back and a bead of blood appeared and ran down his neck. I said, “I know you wouldn’t do it for money, not from a civilian. So what was it?”
“If I tell you, I get to live?”
“Yes.”
“All right. He said if I didn’t he’d shut me down.”
“Now, just how was he going to do that?”
“His mother is the Countess of Whitecrest.”
“He used his family influence? That’s cheating. Why didn’t you think to come to me with this problem?”
“My place, my problem.”
“My place,” I said. “Though right now I agree it’s your problem, too.”
He made a point of glancing down the length of my blade, then back up to meet my eyes. “Seems like,” he said.
“All right,” I said. “That’s all I need to know.”
“He said you wouldn’t find out. Ooops, I guess.”
“I guess.”
I’d told him that if he answered my question, he’d get to live. But, like I said, I lie sometimes.
WHITECREST