Abuud: the One-Eyed God (11 page)

"It does tend to make me unremarkable," grinned Tanya. "Have there been troubles for you here?"

"Not really," frowned Craggy, "but things are getting tense. There was an assassination last night. We have already sent a message for more men to be assigned to Lord Wason. Two new mercenary companies have opened shop in Tagaret and that usually means that they are needed, so somebody is expecting trouble."

"Sound logic," nodded Tanya. "Have you seen any of my fellow travelers?"

"No," replied Craggy, "but I am not usually at the gate."

"Well I should pay my respects to Lord Wason," smiled Tanya. "Maybe I will have more time to visit another day."

"You were right about the soft caps," Craggy called as Tanya mounted Frea and headed towards the mansion. "They are greatly respected."

Tanya grinned at his comment as she halted at the steps of the mansion and dismounted. She left Frea untied and knocked on the door. A mercenary opened the door immediately and ushered Tanya into the building.

"I thought I recognized the approaching lad," grinned Fredrik as the mercenary closed the door. "Come into the sitting room. I would like to know how the rest of you are doing."

Tanya smiled and nodded although nobody had spoken to Fredrik since the day he had deserted the Alcea Rangers. The Rangers could only guess as to Fredrik's motives for leaving and how he truly felt about them.

"How are you doing?" Tanya asked as she took the seat that Fredrik offered.

"I am doing well, I suppose," answered Fredrik. "I am sorry for leaving the Rangers the way I did. I know that if I shared my plans that everyone would have tried to stop me. It seemed best to just leave quietly."

"Why did you leave?" asked Tanya.

"Niki was determined to leave," frowned Fredrik. "I did not know how much she was mixed up with Dalgar at the time. I guess things did not work out as I envisioned they would."

"You love her?" Tanya asked softly.

"I think so," Fredrik said sadly. "I don't know. Maybe I just feel the need to watch over her. Whatever the source of the feeling, it has not worked out well. Dalgar intentionally separated us and urged Niki to invite suitors. She loves her new role and really thinks that Dalgar will make her a queen. Can you forgive me for deserting?"

"Are not the mercenaries from Cidal sign enough that we hold no animosity towards you?" queried Tanya.

"They are at that," smiled Fredrik. "I heard about your match with Craggy. He speaks of you often. I would have loved to have been there when you fought him."

"You miss the travels?" inquired Tanya.

"I do," admitted Fredrik. "I know my bodyguards are necessary in Tagaret, but at times I just wish I could be alone. I remember our days on the trail rather fondly. We learned a lot and became a family. That is something that I have never had."

"But you are likely to become a councilor tomorrow," offered Tanya. "At your age that must be a great achievement."

"It is a great achievement at any age," nodded Fredrik. "Unfortunately they don't last long in Tagaret. I do not think the Council really has the best interests of Tagaret on its mind though. It appears that it is an organization mainly interested in its own survival. I can find little comfort in being on such a council."

"You could refuse the offer," suggested Tanya.

"I have been thinking about it," admitted Fredrik. "Dalgar and Duke Everich think they have their claws into me. They are dangerous men to cross. I thought I would have time to think about it more because I knew that they would get Niki on the Council before me, but I did not expect two openings on the Council at the same time."

"Do you think Niki has a chance at it then?" inquired Tanya.

"It is almost assured," nodded Fredrik. "She has Duke Everich's backing and those he can command. She also has many suitors who think they stand alone in capturing her love. She will have the votes to get on the Council. I fear what comes after she gains her seat. Many will find out that they have been led into believing things that are not true. It is not safe to cause such feelings in this city."

"Have you seen Tedi or Arik today?" asked Tanya.

"No," Fredrik shook his head. "I did not even realize that you were in the city. I have not seen any of the Rangers since I left the group. Are they missing?"

"Well, they are not where they are supposed to be," conceded Tanya. "I was hoping that they came to visit you."

"I would not think they could even find me," frowned Fredrik. "How did you know where to find me?"

"I just asked people where the famous Cidal Mercenaries were," chuckled Tanya. "You seem to have started a trend in Tagaret."

"Actually, I have you and Alex to thank for that," responded Fredrik. "I have increased the number of men twice already. My men advised me to increase the number when the Grakus Mercenary Company came into town and again when the Koman Mercenary Company opened shop. I just sent another request after the assassination last night. This city is getting ready to have a blood bath. I do not think that Captain Grecho will continue my protection for long without some compensation. I may be forced to join the Council just to continue my bodyguards."

"If Grecho requires payment," offered Tanya, "I think the Rangers can help. We do not expect him to go out of business to fulfill his part of the bargain. I wish there was a chance of extending the protection to Niki."

"That will not happen," frowned Fredrik. "I offered her the first men that you sent up and was quickly rebuked by Dalgar. He does not want anyone around her except himself. I am not sure he even trusts his Black Devil cohorts with Niki."

A mercenary entered the sitting room and whispered in Fredrik's ear. Tanya watched as the color drained out of Fredrik's face.

"Niki is gone," Fredrik shakily told Tanya. "There is only the body of an assassin in her mansion."

"Gone?" echoed Tanya. "How do you know?"

"I sent this man to her house to offer her congratulations on tomorrow's vote," answered Fredrik. "He found her mansion deserted except for the body."

"There were also three packed bags at the foot of the stairs," added the mercenary, obviously accepting his master's choice to share information with Tanya.

"So she left in a hurry," Tanya surmised. "That means that she escaped, Fredrik. Do not give up hope yet. I wonder if Arik and Tedi might have been involved somehow. That would explain their disappearance."

"Possibly," frowned Fredrik, "but that sounds more like wishful thinking. How would they know she was in trouble?"

Tanya thought about Prince Midge's parting statement about checking on his fairy army and decided not to share her thoughts. "Stranger things have happened," she offered. "Could your man inquire at the gates to see if anyone matching their description has left the city? I do not think they would be foolish enough to try to hide her inside the city."

The mercenary looked at Fredrik and Fredrik nodded his permission.

***

Jenneva sat uneasily on the old chair as the torches flared to life in the room beyond the silk screen. She watched as the outline of a turbaned figure sat in the chair on the other side of the screen.

"I do not wish to speak with this woman in this fashion," the voice said loudly.

Both guards immediately moved closer to Jenneva, and she prepared to magically defend herself.

"Please show her to the other sitting room," the voice continued. "She is a respected guest and needs no watching."

The guards relaxed, as did Jenneva as she rose from the chair. One of the guards returned to his post and the other escorted her to another sitting room and then left. The new sitting room was extravagantly plush even by Tagaret standards. Within moments, Oscar Dalek walked into the room and discarded his turban.

"Jenneva," Oscar greeted warmly. "I did not expect to see you when they said I had a visitor. There must be trouble if you came to see me."

"There is I think," nodded Jenneva. "Arik and Tedi are missing. We thought Arik might come here to see you."

"He has not," frowned Oscar. "I do know something about him though. Our fairy friends tell me that he and Tedi went to rescue Niki. There was an assassination attempt on her life today. All three of them left Niki's mansion safely. That is all that I know. Glori reports that they left on three horses and that Arik planned to get Niki out of the city."

"Who sent the assassin?" questioned Jenneva.

"Duke Artur," answered Oscar. "He is a member of the Council and knew that many were backing Niki for one of the open slots on the Council. He knew his nominee would not stand a chance if Niki were alive. I sent Zackary Nolan there when I found out about the threat, but evidently Prince Midge learned of it before I did. When Zack arrived, Niki was already gone."

"Very fortunate," frowned Jenneva. "Zack would have been too late."

"That is one of the problems with the fairy network," responded Oscar. "If the first inkling we get of a plan is not immediately forwarded, much time is lost. The way the network is set up is that the fairies never leave their posts. One courier fairy gathers the information from all of them and then brings it here. There are hundreds of fairies spying for us and making those rounds consumes a lot of time."

"Change it," stated Jenneva. "Demand more courier fairies."

"Prince Midge or Arik could do that," responded Oscar, "but they are not around."

"Let them know that you are the Bringer's father," suggested Jenneva. "Tell them that the lost time does not serve the Bringer sufficiently. I am sure that Glori's report will be enough proof for them."

"I believe you are right," nodded Oscar. "I will do that tonight. Perhaps one courier for each twenty spies."

"I suppose we must trust the skills of Arik and Tedi at this point," declared Jenneva. "They are both well trained and I have faith in them. How does the Council vote look for tomorrow."

"It looks very promising," smiled Oscar. "The top three candidates are now Konic, Alan, and Fredrik."

"How is that possible?" questioned Jenneva. "They are all new to Tagaret."

"Ah, that is their good fortune," grinned Oscar. "There are hundreds of nobles looking for a seat on the Council. Generally, each councilor will nominate the person who is most likely to align with himself. Seldom will any two councilors agree on a nominee. That results in each nominee getting one vote and nobody is chosen. That is how Duke Everich has managed to maintain control even though he has lost a number of supporters. He has been the only one who can get another councilor to vote for his nominee. Two votes results in a win when all the other candidates only get one vote. Stafa Rakech has managed to convince three councilors to back Konic and Alan. With three votes each, there is an excellent chance that one of them will get on the Council."

"And Fredrik?" queried Jenneva.

"Fredrik is well liked because he is not aligned with anyone," continued Oscar. "Although he was originally backed by Duke Everich, people do not see him as beholden to Everich since the Cidal mercenaries arrived."

"While that is wonderful," responded Jenneva, "it is a shame that one of the Sordoans will lose out."

"I am not sure of that," Oscar smirked wickedly. "Everyone will expect Duke Everich to take offense at the attempted assassination of Niki. It would surprise nobody if another councilor turned up dead by morning."

"Does Duke Everich know who ordered the assassination?" asked Jenneva.

"No," smiled Oscar as he pulled a chain that sounded a distant gong, "but I do. Zackary Nolan will earn his keep tonight. I will see this Contest of Power ended if I have to end it myself. The Council spends all of its time feathering their own caps and no time on curing the ills of the people of Tagaret. There is a tremendous food shortage in the city and starvation is not too distant in the future. The army has disintegrated into a boys' club with no officers of merit, and no one is thinking about a real defense of the city. Education of the city's children has been halted for a lack of funds, and sanitation is worse here than the overrun cities of Sordoa. I have never seen Tagaret in so much despair, and I was here shortly after the Collapse."

An aged servant entered the room and bowed to Oscar. He turned and bowed to Jenneva with a wry smile on his lips. The servant appeared to have great difficulty straightening his frail body, but Jenneva detected a twinkle in the old man's eyes that belied his pain.

"Fabel, I would like you to deliver a message to Duke Artur tonight," ordered Oscar. "He must receive the message by morning."

"As you wish, Milord," bowed Fabel.

The servant did not ask what the message was, and he did not immediately withdraw, but rather turned to smile at Jenneva. Jenneva found his behavior curious and inspected him thoroughly.

"Milady does not remember me," smiled Fabel. "This both pleases me and saddens me. Please give my regards to the Colonel."

"Zackary?" guessed Jenneva. "Is that really you?"

"Not at the moment," grinned Fabel, "but I will be shortly."

"My compliments," praised Jenneva. "Your talents are wide and varied. I will give my husband your warmest regards."

"Thank you, Milady," smiled the aged servant as he turned and hobbled out of the room.

"He is one gift that I am indebted to Alex for," smiled Oscar. "He has even had to help some of the other assassins to complete their jobs. His help was unknown to them of course."

"Why does he need a disguise?" asked Jenneva.

"Stafa Rakech is the worst kept secret in Tagaret," chuckled Oscar. "Fabel has already carried messages to each of the councilors and many of those we suspect of being on the nominee list. It gives him a chance to assess the security of each estate. Nobody would suspect a messenger from Stafa Rakech, especially an old frail one. He is a familiar face to many."

"So you think that we may capture three seats tomorrow?" asked Jenneva.

"If I was a betting man," grinned Oscar, "I would bet on it. There is a fair chance that Konic and Alan will even get votes from some councilors because they are unknowns, and nobody would expect them to get any votes. Life can be ironic at times."