Fenris’s lackey guffawed. “A big pig.”
“Right you are, Ikârd,” Fenris said. “And big, fat pigs don’t belong in Lytton Hall. Unless they’re on a spit.”
“A chazir isn’t a pig, eh?” Kurtz said calmly. “It’s a wild boar. Surprised a learned man like you didn’t know that.”
Cole edged around to Thusk’s right. He could see the pouch but had no clue how to touch it, let alone open it. Then Thusk leaned forward, fixated on the tension between Kurtz and Fenris, and the pouch vanished from sight.
Fabulous. What was he to do now?
“I suppose it makes sense,” Kurtz said, loud enough for those nearby to hear. “Fenris Yarden, traitor to his bloodline, dungeon dweller, bane of intelligence.”
Fenris sneered, cracking his knuckles. “Big words from a man I could snap like a twig.”
“At least they’re words and not grunts,” Kurtz shot back.
That did it. Fenris lunged, shoving Kurtz into Thusk’s table. A goblet tipped, spilling wine onto Thusk’s lap. The man yelped and jumped up. Quimby stuck out a leg, tripping him, and down Thusk went with a cry.
Cole crouched, pulse pounding. “Sir, are you all right?” He gripped Thusk’s arm while his other hand found the brass clasp. He flipped it open and reached inside. Cold metal met his fingers, and his heart leaped.
Thusk muttered, “Unacceptable rudeness…uncouth soldiers…no manners.” He shoved Cole away. “Get off me, boy.”
Cole straightened, keys fisted at his side. Spotting Quimby behind Thusk, he stepped closer and, without looking, slipped the keys into Quimby’s hand—smooth as golden pudding.
The weight left his chest. He’d done it!
“Careful now, Fenris.” Kurtz laughed. “Only us old Prodotez friends know the truth. Should I tell Lord Livna your secret fondness for eating lice?”
“Go ahead,” Fenris sneered. “And I’ll tell everyone how the dark made you weep.”
Kurtz swung, landing a punch to Fenris’s jaw that sent him stumbling.
Thusk flailed his arms. “Someone help me.”
Two men from his table jumped in and hauled him upright. Cole hoped Thusk didn’t notice his empty coin purse, but if he did, maybe now he’d have some more memorable faces to suspect.
Glass shattered, and a heavy grunt turned every head back to Kurtz and Fenris.
Fenris locked Kurtz in a headlock, growling something unintelligible and grinning all the while. Ikârd slammed a fist into Kurtz’s gut.
Women screamed and scattered.
Red-faced, Kurtz clawed at Fenris’s arm, still managing to gasp, “That all…you’ve got?”
Soldiers swarmed in from all directions. Ikârd stepped in front of them.
“Let go of him!” Thakkar yelled to Fenris.
“You feckless oaf!” Torin Oxbow yelled. “Get out of the way.”
“I think not,” Ikârd said.
Lord Livna shoved through the crowd. “Enough! Enough!” He seized Fenris, yanking him back.
“Briny maggot!” Fenris swung an elbow, but Lord Livna caught his arm and wrenched it behind his waist.
Kurtz, now free, reared back to punch, but a burly soldier stepped in and grabbed his arm.
“Restrain him!” Lord Livna shouted.
