Into The Darkness

"Aye, aye, of course." Varvakis's eyes flashed. "Do you take me halfwit? For a price, he says, he can get you in to see King Penda - Penda can moan that he's pining for smoked trout. What you do you see Penda, I know nothing about. I wish to know nothing about they're natives [..eed you fore he stache f prunes ord. The akis gave g a king ort. Even ~I,ACN ki". threads of nk I have, that-2' He to examine ch customer saction was mage asked g to handle oy them. In e people till ut customers his chest with lerk emerged – style puff~ e front of the ers..] kept fresh take me for agenda - maybe t you do once ing about it."

He held an arm in front of his head, so that his sleeve drooped down and covered his eyes.

"I understand that," Fernao said patiently. "Money shouldn't be any trouble." By all the signs, Shelomith had money coming out of his ears.

He'd given Fernao a goodly sum, and he'd given Varvakis a goodly sum, too: Varvakis did not strike the mage as a man who would be very co operative without a well-greased palm.

He proved that again, saying, "What I give to Cossos does not come from my fee. It will be redeemed."

[...] money. "Set up the meeting. Pay whatever you have to pay. 'We will [...uyst..] on you."

"[..] of here. We should not be seen together. When the meeting is arranged, you will hear from me. You will also hear how much you owe. You will pay before you see Cossos."

Was that the edge of a threat? Probably. Varvakis could pocket the money and let Fernao walk into a trap. For that matter, he could pocket it and set up a trap for Fernao. The unpleasant possibilities were almost endless.

Back at the nondescript - indeed, dingy - hostel where he and Fernao were staying, Shelomith waxed enthusiastic. "This is just the chance we need!" he said, clapping Fernao, on the back. "I knew that, sooner or later, one of my contacts would survey a ley line to his Majesty for us."

Fernao mentally substituted I hoped for I knew. Aloud, he said, "Whatever this Cossos wants, he won't work cheap." Shelomith only shrugged. They were staying at a hostel less than of the finest to keep from drawing notice to themselves. Shelomith had plenty of gold -just how much, Fernao didn't know. Plenty for all ordinary and most extra ordinary purposes, that was certain.

And so, with Varvakis along as a go-between, Fernao approached King Tsavellas's palace a couple of days later. Yaninan architecture ran to tall, thin watchtowers and to onion domes, all very exotic to a practical Lagoan.

The guards at the entrance wore tights with red and white stripes and red pompons on their shoes, but looked tough and determined despite the absurd costume. Recognizing Varvakis, they bowed in greeting, and accepted Fernao because he accompanied the purveyor of fancy foods.

Paintings on the walls showed Yaninan kings with odd domed crown long somber faces; and robes so thick with gold and silver threads, the had to be almost too heavy to wear. Other paintings celebrated the triumphs of Yaninan arms. Judging by those paintings, Yanina had never lost a battle, let alone a war. Judging by the map, those paintings didn't tell the whole story.

"We can talk here," Cossos said, escorting Fernao and Varvakis into small chamber. Like Varvakis, he spoke good Algarvian. The Yaninan had learned a great deal from their eastern neighbors. Not all the lesson had been pleasant.

Varvakis said, "The two of you talk. What you talk about, I don't want to hear. If I don't hear it, I don't have to tell lies about it." He bowed fi to Fernao, then to Cossos, and departed before either of them could say a word.

"No stones to that man," Cossos remarked, tossing his head in Yaninan gesture of scorn. He was about forty-five, wiry, shrewd looking, with a nose like a swordblade. "Now, my friend, what can I d for you?"

"I doubt I am your friend," Fernao said. "If all goes well, I may be your benefactor, though."

"That will do well enough," Cossos said briskly. "I ask you once again what can I do for you?"

Fernao hesitated. Here was where the jaws of the trap might close o him. If someone besides Cossos was listening… If that was so, Ferna might find out more about the dark places of Yanina than he ever wanted to know. He could not sense anyone listening, but he could not gauge whether Yaninan wizards were masking a spy from his powers, either.

But he had not come here to be cautious. Taking a deep breath, h said, "I would like half an hour alone with Penda of Forthweg, with n one to know I have come to see him. I also require your studied forge fullness that you ever arranged such an appointment for me."

"Studied forgetfulness, eh?" Cossos bared his teeth in, what was almost but not quite, a smile of genuine amusement. "Aye, I can see how you would. Well, I can manage that. In fact, I'd better, or my head would answer it, after the other. But it'll cost you." He named a sum in Yanina lepta.