A chill ran over Cole at the sight of the man who had jailed them last night. Struggling for words, he managed only, “What…?”
Quimby chuckled, clapping Cole’s shoulder as he stepped inside. “You’ve frightened the lad, Dunn.”
“It’s my face, isn’t it?” Dunn said. “Terrifies anyone who sees it. Best I wear a helm in public.”
Right. Only someone who looked like he belonged on a coin could say something like that with a straight face. Cole had little doubt women lined up to speak with Lovell Dunn.
Quimby shut the door. “Dunn’s worked for the Mârad before. He can be trusted.”
“Trusted, my holey boot,” Kurtz said.
Cole had to agree. “He put us in the dungeon.”
Kurtz stepped up to Dunn, nose to nose. “You dragged me from the hall, manhandled me in Eric’s office, stayed silent when Lady Viola undermined Eric, then locked me up like a common criminal.”
Dunn’s grin parted his thick beard. “I follow orders. Always have, always will. And Viola didn’t undermine Eric. He let you go. Then she arrested you again.”
Kurtz folded his arms. “Eben’s breath, you’re her pet, aren’t you?”
“Eric left me in charge when you rode south to war,” Dunn said. “After I failed to keep Esek out of Lytton Hall.”
Kurtz sobered, and a grimace passed over his face. “That was partly my fault, it was.”
“No, it was mine. Kenton nearly killed me. I tried to resign. Eric had other plans, charged me with keeping his family safe. So I’ve done. But I’ll help you where I can.”
“I’ll take that as an apology, I will,” Kurtz said.
Dunn barked a deep laugh. “If it helps you sleep.”
Quimby handed Cole a set of keys. “One copy, ready for use.”
Cole pocketed them. “You don’t think Thusk suspects?”
“Nope,” Dunn said. “I gave him his real keys last night. All he had were complaints about unruly convicts.”
“Thusk’s a morality monger, is he?” Kurtz scoffed. “Let’s dig up his dirt, see how he likes Ice Island, eh?”
“Want to sit?” Cole gestured to the table by the hearth.
“Don’t mind if I do.” Dunn dropped onto a chair, which groaned under his weight.
Quimby and Kurtz took the others, leaving Cole to lean against the hearth.
“Tell them about the Howlers, Dunn,” Quimby said.
“Howlers work for Fenris Yarden,” Dunn said. “The council hired them to protect against Poroo raids.”
“Poroo don’t raid this far north, they don’t,” Kurtz said. “The tribes here are peaceful, eh?”
“Well, they are raiding,” Dunn said. “I’ve seen it myself. Could be displacement from the end of Darkness, hunger…Who knows?”
“Why would the end of Darkness be a problem?” Cole asked. “There’s more land now, more food.”
“The lad’s right,” Kurtz said. “That don’t add up, it don’t.”
“That’s why we want you playing at the Black Boar,” Quimby said. “It’s Tsaftown’s biggest haunt of thieves and outlaws.”
“Joonas Erlichman owns it,” Dunn added. “And Fenris Yarden made it his base.”
