“But who shall I send…” Joran mused as he studied the single Tetar in his hand, though from his tone, it was clear he already knew exactly what he was about to say. Clotz’s hundred to one odds that Joran had a plan for everything was sickeningly obsequious, but also probably accurate.
“I’d suggest someone who can defend themselves, because I hear that place is crawling with monsters, and me and my people will take no responsibility for the safety of yours.”
“On the contrary, Carnavon. Should my witness perish, a reasonable man would assume it was because you stabbed them in the back to disguise your treachery.” Joran’s eyes lingered on his new enforcer. “Dathka’s loss brought shame to the Latros tonight. She can make it up to me by accompanying you Outcasts on your adventure.”
Dathka froze, body stiff as a board, expression unreadable, before slowly bowing her head. “As you wish, Cutter.”
Joran stood up and slapped me hard on my aching shoulder. “Take good care of my assassin.”
After he’d walked away, I told the irritated deadlander, “Welcome aboard, I guess.”
Fourteen
After Rade’s and Krachma’s victories, we walked back through the Under Slump. The enthusiasm over our four wins out of seven was tempered by the fact our small group had gained an eighth—and hopefully temporary—member.
“She’s a bit of a sour puss, ain’t she?” Rufus whispered to me.
“I can hear you, imbecilic dwarf,” Dathka said.
“That’s no way for a loser to address a winner,” Rufus responded.
“You really want to pick a fight with me while we’re strolling throughthedark?”
Light charms were few and far between on these poor streets, especially this late at night. There were a few lit windows, and the occasional burn barrel with bums huddled about it to stay warm, but the Under Slump was a very dim place at night. There was no moonlight beneath the Slump, so we navigated entirely by my light charm, which floated in the air above me, providing just enough illumination to keep from tripping over something or stepping in a hole. Fighting a shadow walker here would be rather unpleasant.
“T’was but a statement of fact, m’lady.”
“Give it a rest,” I said. “She’s got a job. We’ve got a job. Neither side has to like it, but we both have to do it. Bickering’s not going to make the time pass any faster.”
Rade was his usual charming self, “Well, I for one am glad to have such a lovely addition to our ranks. It is good to finally see for myself that the legendary beauty of the women of Surnod Lin has not been exaggerated.”
“She is purty,” Big Bognar agreed.
Dathka stopped, turned, and poked Bognar with one finger.
“Me eye!” Normally, a small woman hitting a large man wouldn’t do much, but Dathka had fast hands and excellent aim, and must have stuck a finger right in the jelly. Bognar mashed his hands against his face. “Saints! I didn’t mean nothing by it!”
“Was that necessary?” I asked.
“I’m not some harlot that your fat goon can ogle my ass. I’m Latrocinium. Don’t you forget it.”
“Why didn’t you hit him, then?” Bognar whined, gesturing toward Rade. “He was staring too.”
“Being from the same realm earned himonepass. That’s used up now.”
Rade flashed a smile and tipped his broad-brimmed hat toward her. “Of course, madam.”
I kept walking. I’d dealt with enough trogshit for one day and just wanted to go to bed.
Krachma apparently agreed. “Shut up, humans. Krachma is weary. Krachma has won many coins. Krachma will buy food and element tomorrow. Now Krachma wants only sleep.”
“You heard the champ,” I said.
Even this late, the Under Slump was a busy place, because many of the races which inhabited it were nocturnal anyway. It was a very different feeling than during the day. At night, this place gotstrange.The Under Slump was a dumping ground for refugees from the various war-torn kingdoms, and every othergroup that was too poor to have anywhere else to go. The tunnels of the undercity beneath us were even worse and weirder. There were shadowed figures scurrying past us, and I could only tell that we were being watched from rooftops and windows because some of the creatures’ eyes reflected my lonely light charm.
A few blocks passed before Krachma’s demand for silence was forgotten. Danny and Sifuso were bringing up the rear of our group, and since both were despondent about their humiliating loss, they’d begun grumbling.
“I’m such a failure,” Danny moaned. “I had a cousin who was a real tough mercenary. He would’ve laughed at how bad I did. I’m never gonna make it as a wizard. At least your match lasted a while. I got knocked out so fast.”
