I took a sip of the wine, and thankfully, it was sweet, and not at all like his insane dragon death rum or whatever that had been. I didn’t think I could bear the indignity of coughing myself to death in front of my friends. Getting shot, stabbed, beaten,or cursed to death was a proper respectable way to go. Dying because you can’t handle your drink is just embarrassing.
“Except then my associate, Dathka, returned, with quite the tale. You’re a persistent lad.”
I looked to Dathka, but she was staring at her lap. It was noteworthy he called her an associate, rather than his daughter. Either he didn’t want to admit it in public for her safety, or maybe when you’re a gang lord, daughterhood had to be earned. It could go either way.
“I’m not sure what she told you, but we spared no effort to get back your treasure from the orc who stole it. We only lost it because?—”
“Because you were stupid.”
I was argumentative by nature, but didn’t think debating that point would do me much good right now.
“Well, you and Dathka were both stupid. Though she was actually stupider, because she should’ve known better. You’re an ignorant newcomer to this city. She should’ve realized how foolish it was to go off on her own after escaping, rather than swallow her pride and return to me so we could have struck with the full might of the Latrocinium. If she’d done that, then we’d be celebrating our treasure, rather than mourning its loss to the Nexus Council.”
She kept her eyes averted as Carcalla said all that. I suspected somebody was getting sent back through the gate next Deathday.
“So the Council got the Permeance, then?”
Carcalla nodded. “Paladins of Kielgrad found it and turned it over, as is legal and just, for the greater needs of the Core… I’m sure a Councilman is cracking it apart as we speak to feed it into the Great Machine, as they have done with ten thousand other relics before it.”
I nodded along, as if I was all broken up about that. Honestly, I’d rather see that most precious of all elements go to keepingthe gates operating—and millions of people living—for a bit longer, than whatever petty thing Carcalla intended to do with it.
“Priests of Ulmorn, Saint of Violence, tried to claim the lamp was rightfully theirs, and that they needed it for some war they’re fighting against some unholy horde of darkness in some subterranean realm somewhere… I neither know, nor care, about the details. All I know is that I was robbed of something I wanted.”
“How much could you really want it, considering you didn’t even know the lamp still existed a week ago,” Azarin said helpfully.
Carcalla scowled at her. “Are you the one in the negotiating chair?”
“Nope.”
“Then be silent… Joran, should this air-realmer interrupt us again, teach her that is inappropriate behavior.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
“Though, it would sadden me to see such a lovely face marred. The world has lost too much beauty as it is. If she talks again, just chop some of her fingers off or something.”
I looked over my shoulder to make sure Azarin realized that wasn’t an idle threat. She was biting her tongue. Her saint watched out for those who made rash decisions, but miracles only go so far.
“Apologies, Master Carcalla. All the Outcasts put in a lot of sweat and blood to try and get you what you asked for.”
“Yet you still failed. And as we previously discussed, there is a cost for failure. The deadline is upon us. I cannot see the sun from here because of the slouching sky island in the way, but we can assume your time is almost up. Where is my treasure, Mr. Carnavon?”
I pointed at Dathka.
Carcalla looked at her, then back at me, then snorted. “Well played… But not what we agreed.”
“Did Cutter Joran not tell you? He amended our deal.”
Carcalla was difficult to read, but I could tell from the scowl that he’d not known about that. “What do you mean?”
“When we were searching for Gerzog, Joran and I came up with a new arrangement. He was acting as your representative. All past due rent forgiven as before in exchange for our help, and one month’s rent paid for by the return of the treasure, another for killing Gerzog the Marauder, and a third month for the return of your da—” I caught myself barely in time. “Your associate, Dathka Walker. This was sworn to in front of some of your men, who I’m happy to pick out of this crowd.”
Carcalla turned his malevolent gaze upon his subordinate. “Is this accurate?”
Joran was glaring at me, as it had been easy for him to make big promises before the treasure had gotten lost. “I don’t recall that specifically.”
“If I may call upon one of my associates, who you’ll surely find to be an impeccable witness, he can testify that this is the truth.”
Carcalla gestured for me to proceed.
