Lisa Shearin - Raine Benares 01 (18 page)

“Why?
Want revenge?”

“Possibly.”

“Sarad
Nukpana.”

I
like to give little gifts to my friends, and to myself. If Tam could somehow
cut short the goblin grand shaman’s trip to our fair city, it would make a lot
of people feel better—especially me.

Tam
was silent for a moment. “More than a few individuals in the Goblin District
would love to send Sarad Nukpana home in a large box, in small pieces. But just
because they want it, doesn’t mean they’re going to volunteer to make it
happen.” He regarded me soberly. “Is your interest professional or personal?”

“Both.”

Tam
sighed. “Who hired you?”

“You
know I can’t tell you that.” Especially since I had become my own client.

He
shook his head and took the chair opposite mine. “Are you willing to take some
advice?”

“I’m
willing to listen.”

“Find
another case.”

“I’ve
already been given that advice.”

“You’d
be wise to take it.”

“Too
late for that.”

“It’s
only too late when you’re dead.” Tam exhaled slowly and settled back in his
chair. “I heard his shamans paid you a visit last night,” he said.

“You’ve
always said I need to get a social life.”

“Raine,
you’ve never met him. I have. Trust me, this isn’t anyone you want to have
notice you.”

Too
late for that. “I hear he’s quite the nutcase,” I said.

Tam
voice was steady. “He’s also brilliant, skilled, sadistic, and utterly insane.
He’s a monster, Raine. Do us both a favor and walk away from this one.”

“I
can’t. At least not without help.”

He
was wary. “What kind of help?”

“Just
information.”

“And
you think I have this information.”

“It
would certainly make my life easier—and possibly longer—if you did. The
Khrynsani also paid Nigel Nicabar a visit last night.”

“What
did Nigel have to say?” Tam asked.

“Not
much, because he’s dead.”

That
seemed to be news to Tam. “Nigel’s dead?”

“Bobbed
to the surface just off the Grand Duke’s Canal this morning.”

The
tiniest smile creased Tam’s lips. “You have to admit that’s not a grievous loss
to the necromancer community.” He paused and the smile vanished. “You think I
know something about this, don’t you?”

“I
think there’s a better than average possibility.”

To
someone who didn’t know him that well, Tam’s face was an expressionless mask.
But I knew him that well. There was plenty going on behind those large, dark
eyes, and most of it had to do with deflecting my questions.

“I
have nothing to do with Nigel,” he said. “And even less to do with the
Khrynsani. I have my vices, and while some are arrestable offenses, it’s
nothing I would burn in the lower hells for.”

“Some
people would say that’s open for debate,” I said. “I know you like to watch
those you don’t want watching you. The Khrynsani definitely qualify.”

Tam
waved a negligent hand. “King Sathrik’s throwing himself a party two nights
from now. Someone has to see to the catering.”

“I
don’t think Sarad Nukpana’s minions are here to make tiny sandwiches or arrange
flowers, and neither do you. Try again.”

“Unless
it affects me, there are some things I’m content not to know. You should do the
same more often.”

“Maybe
next time.”

“The
direction you’re heading, there’s not going to be a next time. The Khrynsani
have come for whatever reason, they’ll do what they came to do—and then they’ll
leave. When they do, Mermeia’s goblin community is going to let out a
collective sigh of relief.”

“Not
exactly welcoming their new king and his counselor with open arms?”

“Let’s
just say many of us are reserving judgement. Anyone that chooses Sarad Nukpana
as his chief advisor isn’t going to win many loyal subjects in this city. As
long as Sathrik and his pet shamans are in town, I’ll be spending as little
time as possible in the Goblin District. Too many Mal’Salins there who are best
avoided.”

“Not
eager for a family reunion?”

“I
loved my wife,” Tam said point-blank. “I’ve never had similar feelings for her
relatives. I’ll be staying here for the rest of the week.”

Time
to put my cards on the table. “Sarad Nukpana wants something that Nigel had.
Nigel doesn’t have it anymore and neither does Sarad Nukpana. I need to know
what that something is and what it does. And I need to know it sooner rather
than later.”

Tam
sensed my mood shift. Playful, it wasn’t.

“I
don’t know what they were looking for,” he told me. “But if Sarad Nukpana wants
it, it would be best if you weren’t in his way when he finds it.”

I put
my cup and saucer on the side table. “The only people who know I’m asking
questions are people I trust not to betray me.” I paused meaningfully. “Or lie
to me.” I threw that in for good measure. I was sure Tam had a perfectly good
reason for not being totally honest. Quentin hadn’t been totally honest with me
either, and look what kind of trouble that had caused. I was tired of getting
the runaround, and was feeling a little spiteful. What I was wearing around my
neck earned me the right to instill some guilt. If I was lucky, it might bear
useful fruit.

Tam’s
dark eyes widened beguilingly. “You trust me?”

For a
brief instant, he looked sincere. I was touched. Almost.

I
couldn’t help but smile. “With my life, yes. But not with the rest of me.”

His
answering grin exceeded my own. He looked almost boyish. “Do you have somewhere
safe to stay?” He indicated the pack at my feet. “It looks like you’re running
away from home.”

I
made a face. “You’re closer to the truth than you think. I had accommodations,
really good ones, but they fell through. And I won’t be responsible for putting
Khrynsani on Tarsilia’s doorstep again.”

“Then
I insist that you stay here.”

“I
thought you were staying here.”

His
dark eyes shone. “I am.”

“You
don’t give up, do you?”

The
smile vanished. “I’m almost as persistent as Sarad Nukpana.”

I
stood and picked up my pack. “I know. That’s why I won’t stay here. I need
sleep, not a wrestling match.”

Tam
raised his right hand. “I promise to be the perfect gentleman.”

“Gentlemen—perfect
or otherwise—don’t make promises they have no intention of keeping.”

Tam
stood smoothly, his expression solemn. “I never do.” Then solemn turned to
something else as he reached out and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind my
ear. “Would you like a bath as well?”

Getting
naked in Tam’s immediate vicinity didn’t seem like the best—or at least not the
most direct—way to get to sleep, but I couldn’t deny that I needed and
desperately wanted a bath.

“Is
that a polite way of telling me that I
need
a bath?”

Tam
stepped closer, his fingers trailing from my ear to lightly brush my throat. “I
smell goblin blood on you.” His voice had turned husky.

I
didn’t move. “He was asking for it.”

“No
doubt, especially if the blood is Khrynsani.”

I saw
no reason to deny it. “The blood is.” I paused. “Its owner was.”

Tam
looked at me then laughed quietly. “So I assumed. I’ll have the tub filled.”

Tam’s
tub was a wonderful place to think.

Even
if Tam wasn’t a gentleman, at least he was trying. Tam was a businessman, and
he considered me an investment. Tam never made an investment unless he knew it
would pay him full dividends later. I reached for the soap. That was fine with
me, later wasn’t now. For now, Tam had left me alone in his plush little
apartment to make myself at home.

There
was more to Tam’s private domain than a bedroom behind his office. There was a
sitting room with a plush couch and more overstuffed chairs; there were rugs
you could sink in up to your ankles, one of which was strategically placed in
front of a carved marble fireplace, along with the tub. I had looked at the carvings
before getting into the tub. Same people, same activity. Apparently wooden
doors weren’t the only medium Tam’s naughty artist friend worked in.

Soaking
in the hot, scented water made me realize just how tired I was. But it also
helped me think a little more clearly about my encounter with Sarad Nukpana.

It
stood to reason that since Nukpana had hired Quentin, he might have heard of
me. Quentin worked for me. A natural, logical chain of progression. No scary
conspiracy there. What it didn’t explain was why the goblin grand shaman had
seemed downright tickled to see me. Maybe he was just the friendly type. Yeah,
right. Just your friendly neighborhood psycho.

I
leaned back in the tub to wet my hair. I didn’t think Tam knew about the amulet
and why Nukpana wanted it. But based on Tam’s reaction to the mere possibility
of my path crossing Nukpana’s, if I told him, I’d be locked in his bachelor
hide-away until the Khrynsani left town. I looked around. It was really very
nice. The throw on the bed looked suspiciously like Rheskilian sable. I
grinned. Only one way to find out for sure, but I’d have to dry off first. Not
a bad way to spend a couple of days, but it wouldn’t do a thing to explain what
I was wearing around my neck, what it did, what it was doing to me, and why I
couldn’t take it off. And most importantly, how the hell Sarad Nukpana knew me.

I
sank lower into the tub. Drowning would solve all my problems.

“Turned
into a mermaid yet?”

I
jumped, water sloshed. Tam was closer than he should have been. No big surprise
there. Though at least he was dressed. I relaxed a little, but was still
careful to keep the amulet, as well as some other things Tam would find
intriguing, well below the waterline. Just because Tam was dressed didn’t mean
he couldn’t take off what he had just put on, and from his expression, he
looked like he was giving that some serious thought.

He
was dressed for going out, and armed for staying there awhile. A goblin with a
mission. I had a feeling that mission involved me. What a sweetheart, though I
knew better than to tell him that to his face.

“Going
to see anyone I know?” Or had just met.

Tam’s
expression gave nothing away. “I doubt it.”

I
didn’t.

“Does
it have anything to do with me?”

Silence.

Wonderful.
Tam is going to get himself killed and it’s going to be my fault.

“When
was the last time you ate?” he asked, nimbly changing the subject.

“Let’s
see…dinner last night at the Crown & Anchor. Didn’t happen. Ale and dried
bread at Garadin’s in the middle of the night. Unfortunately that did happen.
Then there were sugar knots from Maira’s this morning. Delicious.”

Tam
just shook his head. “I figured as much.”

There
was a discreet knock at the door. It was Kell with a tray of something that
smelled like heaven. The big goblin was trying to avert his eyes from the sight
of me in the tub, but he wasn’t having much luck. I slipped deeper into the
water to help him out.

He
left the tray and the room, both quickly. I giggled.

Tam
smiled and met my eyes. “What is it?”

“I
wouldn’t have pegged Kell the easily embarrassed type.”

“It’s
not every day he finds a beautiful woman in my tub.”

“It’s
not?”

Tam’s
eyes were unreadable. “No, it’s not.”

He
turned away and removed the plates from the tray and set them up on the table
and opened a bottle of wine I was sure cost more than I made in two weeks. It
looked like a feast. If Tam hadn’t been standing there, I’d have been out of
the tub and at the table, naked or not.

Tam
tossed the robe he’d been wearing earlier across the chair next to the tub. “If
you do not wish to get dressed immediately, you may wear this while you eat.”

“You’re
leaving now?”

“I’ve
already dined, and I have business to attend to.”

Oh
yeah. Killing or getting himself killed on account of me.

“If you
need anything, Kell will get it for you,” Tam added.

He
bent and placed an almost chaste kiss on top of my head. Though the bending
gave him ample view of everything under the water. “Sleep well. I’ll be back by
eight bells tonight.”

And
he left. Very sudden, very un-Tam like. I didn’t trust it.

I got
out of the tub, dried off, and slipped into Tam’s silk robe. It was still warm
and smelled like Tam. Nice. I sat down at the table and devoured everything
Kell had brought. By the time I’d finished, I could barely keep my eyes open. I
put my clothes—and my blades—next to the bed where I could reach them, then
slipped out of the robe and into bed.