As we made our way down a garbage strewn alley, I asked him, “What’s our next step?”
“I’m still deciding that.”
“I’ve been thinking and have an idea. Gaul Haddar tracked me down here in the Core because I was still wearing a charm that had been issued to me by my nobles. He’d enchanted that one for them.”
“And so?”
“When I fought Dathka in the arena, she had a really potent enchantment on her that let her go in one shadow and come out another. That’s got to be a high-level spell. Whoever made it for her should be able to sense its presence, just like Haddar did to me. If Gerzog’s got that on him now, the wizard who made it should be able to find it.”
“Good thinking. Except it was given to her as a gift recently, after the wizard who made it died. You mages get used to thinking there’s an easy solution to everything. Snap your fingers, poof, magic does all the work.”
“Don’t pin that trogshit attitude on me, Cutter. I was an honest laborer my whole life.”
“Whatever. We’re going to have to do this the hard way. Shake some trees and see what falls out. What do you know about the Tempus Metum?”
I cringed at the thought of those freaks. “I fought some of them in the undercity once. The Council and every civilized kingdom has banned them because they’re nuts.” I didn’t add aloud that I’d learned the elf pirate who killed some of my family was probably related to the Tempus cult somehow, because that was none of Joran’s business. “Do you know how to find them?”
“Vaguely. When we talk, it’s through intermediaries.” Our conversation continued as Joran turned us down another narrow alley. Some of the little frog-faced people lived here, and hid in their trash piles as we passed by. “The Latrocinium will parley with the Tempus Metum when we have something they want, or they’ve got something Carcalla wants.”
I was aghast. “You trade with those freaks? They’re evil.”
“Many say the same about us Latros, except our so-calledevilhas kept peace and order in a place forsaken by our betters.”
To me, the Slumps were violent and lawless slums. “That’s peace?”
“Relatively. The Slumps would be a cannibal wasteland like the undercity if it wasn’t for us. Everyone with any sort of power has to deal with those we find unsavory to get by. Even the high and mighty Nexus Council in their castles in the sky are no different. We all do what we have to do.”
“The Council wants to keep the Great Machine turning. The Latrocinium wants to turn a profit. But Tempus Metum wants to unleash the most dangerous force ever known so it can invade the Core and conquer all the realms just like it did to Time. These things aren’t the same!”
Joran didn’t seem to like me pointing out that obvious flaw in his worldview. “That’s over my head. I leave the thinking to Carcalla. I’m just a simple gladiator.”
That was a load of trogshit, and we both knew it.
The alley brought us to a narrow, twisty street, and Joran stopped there to give orders to his crew. “The heat’s probably died off enough. We’ll spilt up from here. Staverton, go to the market and see if the Tempus cult there is willing to meet. Vilkos, Rowley, and Lionel, hit up our sources around the waterfront and find out if anybody saw where Gerzog took Dathka. Obson, you go update the boys keeping an eye on the other Outcasts about what happened and tell them they’re not in the clear yet.”
His fixation on my friends was exasperating. “Leave my people be. You know we didn’t do anything wrong.”
“That’s likely, but I’m not a man easily convinced. Which is why you’re staying with me until you can look Carcalla in the eye and explain how you failed him so badly.”
Thirty-Two
Just after sunrise, I was back in Carcalla’s office, sitting in the same chair, waiting for the same dangerous crime boss, looking at the same magic window, only this time, it showed some idyllic farming village in a realm that looked warm and soft and covered in fruit trees. Since I was about to be confronted by an elf who’d likely be furious that I’d lost the treasure he’d sent me to collect and gotten someone who was likely his daughter kidnapped in the process, I really would’ve preferred to be in that lovely bit of countryside than here.
Joran was in the other chair, drinking a cup of tea. A few hours ago, I’d watched him mercilessly terrorize a mercenary company, and here he was now with a little porcelain cup and saucer, all polite manners and whatnot. For whatever reason, that made me dislike him even more.
“It’s not my fault Dathka got grabbed. You’re the one who sent her with us.”
“Word of advice to you, Carnavon.” Joran took a sip. “When the boss gets here, don’t go tossing about blame. He hates it when men don’t accept responsibility for their mistakes.”
I was exhausted, but at least they kept it decently warm in here. My sopping wet cloak was hanging from a peg downstairsnext to my dirty boots. I was in my bare feet upon the wooly carpet, which again, struck me as a marvelous invention. The comfort was making me sleepy, but I needed to be alert and quick-witted here, as my life was just as likely to end here as in the chamber with all of Korthican’s traps.
Carcalla entered, still in his bed robe, and went to his desk. I remembered the proper protocol and stood, treating him like he was a noble.
“Sit down. I’ll deal with you in a moment.”
I did as I was told.
Joran put his now empty cup down on the little table between us. “There’s been no sign of Gerzog yet. The Tempus intermediaries are claiming they know nothing about this. I told Staverton to secretly grab one off the street and torture him just in case.”
