The Death Dealer - The Complete Series Read online

  Ericson shook Jack’s hand, followed by Nathaniel. The sergeant’s hand was callused and firm, and Jack gave it one good shake before withdrawing it. He searched Nathaniel’s face for a moment – looking for what, he didn’t know – before bidding the guards good night.

  ~*~*~

  Grace woke before the sun. All night she dreamed of everlasting darkness, with but one beacon at the end. She walked toward it but never managed to get any closer. She felt old and tired as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.

  Today was her day off from the Angel. The week’s end was a time for prayer, contemplation, and other things the temples said were needed to please the gods. Grace had one decent dress left from her days in House Arganis; green linen with gold velvet trim along the hem. She loved that dress.

  Since coming to Glenbard, she hadn’t eaten as well as she did in the north. She never went hungry, but some days were leaner than others if the Angel’s business was slow. As a result, her beautiful dress didn’t fit the same as when it was first made. Nowadays there was extra fabric bunched around the chest and waist. She knew it didn’t look as lovely as it did in the house of her uncle, but she still loved the feel of the dress.

  She hadn’t worn the dress since the midwinter’s festival to honor the moon goddess, Kamaria. It was a garment for special occasions, not weekly meditation in the temple district. However, after her dark dreams she wanted a reminder of her home. She dressed and slipped out of the secret door so as not to wake Mistress Fisher.

  The temple district had three temples: the domed golden temple for Ciro, the steepled temple to Kamaria with the silver bell in the tower, and the plain and homely temple to the patron goddess of Glenbard, Diggery. Before moving to Glenbard Grace had known Diggery, guardian of lost souls, only as a minor deity to Ciro and Kamaria. Her presence was always known, but in Arganis she was not as important or remembered in daily prayers. Here, Diggery vastly outshone her divine counterparts.

  Feeling she’d lost her way, Grace had come to the temple when she first arrived in Glenbard. The year before, as she fought the thief Mac to save Marcus and Ridley, it was a vision of the goddess in wolf form that had helped her. Ever since that time, Grace had taken Diggery as her patron goddess, and on her free day she always went to hear services by the head priestess at Diggery’s temple.

  It was still early when she arrived. The temples never locked their doors, but it was hard to find anyone but a priest or priestess about the district so early. Grace entered the temple. It was almost completely dark, except for the candles that had been set around a statue of a great black wolf. The goddess was never depicted in human form, but rather as the wolf; the pathfinder.

  A tall woman with thick black hair and bronzed skin was running her fingers over the statue, admiring the wreath of poppies someone had settled around its neck. “Kit?” Grace asked incredulously. The woman turned at Grace’s voice and smiled.

  Grace rushed forward to embrace her. Throughout her life, Kit had been everywhere. To far southern lands where the inhabitants were as dark as night and it was ever summer, to lands where mountains loomed over everything and their peaks were always crowned with snow. She moved around with merchants and pilgrims and always had a tale or two when she adventured to Glenbard. As of late, she chiefly stayed between Nareroc and Cesernan.

  She smiled at Grace, showing all her teeth. Two deep purple eyes, the color of a deepening twilight, shone from her face and caught every movement, even in the bad light of the temple. Despite her young face, Kit’s eyes held depths Grace had only seen in the oldest and wisest.

  “I thought I might have the temple to myself, but I am glad to see a friend,” Grace said.

  “I was thinking the same thing. Shall we have a seat outside? I don’t want to disturb the priestesses’ work.”

  Kit led them outside and took a seat on the steps that led to the main entrance. Grace sat beside her. As the sun began its triumphant ascent into the sky, the darkness turned into a pinkish gray.

  “When did you arrive?” Grace asked, straightening her dress around her feet.

  “Yesterday evening on the last trade ship into port. I have no plans to stay long, though. I’m joining a merchant caravan that’s bound for Escion.”

  That was the problem with Kit’s visits. They lasted a day, maybe two if the wanderer was feeling grounded or weather was unfavorable. Still, it was nice to have her around, if even for an hour. She had been a friend to Grace from her first days in Glenbard. Admittedly she was everyone’s friend, as no one had an unkind word to say about her.

  “And how are you these days?” Kit asked. Grace frowned at the question.

  Kit was present when Grace found the good-bye letter from Jack. The two women had been dueling with wooden swords and had just finished enjoying a fine meal and good wine. Afterwards, Grace brought Kit to her lodgings to show her some of the things her friend Donald had brought her from Nareroc. There, slipped under the door, was the letter from Jack. All it said was that he was leaving and he was sorry. Kit held Grace while she broke down and crumpled to the floor in a sorry heap. It was a long time before Grace could even look the young woman in the eyes. She felt her behavior was disgraceful.

  Kit quickly shifted the subject. “That’s a fine dress you have on!” she exclaimed, lifting up the hem to feel the trim. “Didn’t you wear this during the midwinter’s festival?”

  “I did indeed. I decided to wear it today; it’s the last nice thing I own.”

  Around them the sun cast rays along the roofs of the temples. The sunlight drove away the loneliness and darkness of Grace’s night. It wouldn’t be long before the temple doors were opened wide and citizens came to hear services. Already a few folk milled about, heading for Ciro’s temple. They would soon lose their seat on the steps. Grace knew she needed to offer up a prayer to Diggery. She hadn’t been to the temple in some time, and she felt guilty.

  “I must pay homage to Diggery, but would you like to have breakfast with me?”

  The great, toothy smile of Kit’s reappeared. “Of course!”

  ~*~*~

  Kit bought some meat pies filled with onions, sausages, and tangy gravy while Grace supplied several apples with a bit of goat cheese. They went to the pier to sit and enjoy their meal while a pleasant breeze blew in off the water. It was the first breath of fresh air Grace had felt in days, and she breathed in deeply. The dock area was mostly deserted, as few people did business on the rest days. A few market stalls, the taverns of course, but no sailor or dockworker would lift a finger. It was the best time to visit the area.

  The docks had a few trade ships anchored in the slips, quiet for the moment, while out on the water Grace saw a few more. Some weren’t allowed any closer due to some ambiguous political reason; something about kings who thought they needed to hate one another. Grace knew that one of the ships farther out was the Fearless Dawn, and she ground her teeth at the thought.

  Kit looked out over the water, chewing her food thoughtfully, and shielded her eyes against the rising sun.

  “I’ve been hearing some ugly rumors since I landed. Was a guard really murdered?”

  “It was an unfortunate act committed by a man with a red hot temper and his hapless brother.”

  Kit sighed. “I hoped I was mishearing things. I do hate to be in Glenbard when there’s strife.” And yet she always seemed to land just at the wrong time. “Is that why Marcus went into hiding? Or is he still visiting his ‘sick mother’?” Kit asked with a cocked eyebrow.

  “Know about that too, huh?”

  “I heard he was visiting his mother, but I know she’s been dead for some time. So is this guard business really what sent him into hiding?”

  “As far as I know.” What other reason would he have? “A guard has been sniffing around, looking for retribution. He’s not a bad sort, very kind, but eventually he’s going to get hurt, or else he may hurt someone. Then we’ll have the same problem we face now with Constable Taylor�
�s death. Nathaniel is really just a man trying to do what’s right, but I fear no one else sees it that way.”

  Kit raised an eyebrow and Grace blushed. “Nathaniel? You know this particular guard very well?”

  “I’ve shared a meal or two with him,” she said quickly. Kit smiled and popped a slice of apple into her mouth. Grace decided she didn’t want to talk about it anymore. “What’s going on in Escion that makes you want to join a caravan to get there?”

  Kit shrugged. “Adventure,” she said, and then elaborated no further on the topic.

  ~*~*~

  Jack sat outside his lodging house, sweat sticking to his clothes. He frowned when he saw a shadow pass over him.

  He didn’t bother to look up at his visitor. “It’s too hot in there,” he mumbled.

  Kit sat next to him in the dirt. “I’ve just seen Grace.”

  Jack kept his eyes forward. “She was supposed to meet me last night.”

  “And she didn’t? That doesn’t sound very much like her.” Kit removed a dagger from her belt and set to work scraping hardened mud from her boots.

  “She seemed ready to forgive me when I saw her yesterday.”

  “You hurt her a great deal when you left the way you did. You can’t honestly imagine you’ll be forgiven so easily?”

  “No, of course not.” No one was going to forgive Jack anytime soon. Thom showed him the hammer he’d use to break Jack’s fingers if he hurt Grace again. Jim had very nearly sliced him open. Ridley paid him a visit to kick him in the shins without uttering a single word. He’d spent years in Glenbard, yet Grace was there for one year and everyone was ready to stand on her side. “She say anything about that guard?”

  Kit tutted and patted Jack’s knee. “I’m not here to divulge gossip. So tell me, where have you been since leaving Glenbard?”

  ~*~*~

  Ridley and Grace were enjoying a walk around Glenbard before the sunset. At least Ridley was enjoying it; Grace was morose. Ridley had spent much of her day at the Angel and she’d run into Kay. Their meeting was pleasant. Ridley counted the Dawn’s captain as a friend, but the talk often turned to boasting on Kay’s part. There was a brief mention of the fountain incident.

  After the fountain tale, Ridley walked to Seafarer’s Way and collected Grace, who had been cooped up inside all day. It was doing her mind and heart no good to lock herself away so. Ridley chattered on about topics that were safe to discuss. The heat, the performers in the night market, when Donald would return from Nareroc. They could argue about Nathaniel and complain about Jack on a different day.

  The evening may have turned out better if they hadn’t come across Jack and Kay in the night market. Ridley saw them first and attempted to turn Grace back. Grace plodded along, her head down, but it was Kay who ruined everything.

  “My goodness! Ridley, dear. How nice to see you!”

  Grace’s head shot straight up. Her gray eyes narrowed and her fists balled. Ridley didn’t mind Kay, but the woman was being intentionally cruel.

  “Out for a nice evening walk?” Kay asked. She held Jack tightly by the arm and dragged him over to them. Jack looked as miserable as Ridley suddenly felt. “We are sharing a meal before going back to our lodging.”

  “Our lodging?” Jack asked. Ridley thought it might have been an act to spare Grace, but Jack looked genuinely confused. He pulled himself free of Kay.

  Grace didn’t let Kay respond. Even if Ridley had the reflexes to catch Grace, she wasn’t sure she could overpower her friend. Grace lunged at Kay; jumping and wrapping her legs around the taller woman, bringing her to the ground. Jack went down with them, caught by Kay’s flailing arms.

  In the midst of her wild thrashing, Grace kicked Jack in the stomach. Fortunately he managed to roll away before she could do any more damage. Her main focus was on Kay. Grace knelt on Kay’s shoulders, raining down punches on the captain. Jack recovered long enough to pull Grace off, kicking and screaming. Ridley rushed to help Kay, but mostly to hold her back. The captain was going to be in a murderous rage.

  The musicians, dancers, jugglers, and contortionists were forgotten in the wake of the brawl. People crowded around to see what was happening. Kay shrieked profanities while Grace fought against Jack’s grip. Her feet were off the ground and she kicked wildly, trying to get to Kay.

  “I’ll kill you!” Grace shouted.

  “I’ll cut your pretty face, girlie!” Kay retorted, and suddenly a dagger appeared in her hand.

  While Grace had learned a bit of knife fighting from Ridley, Kay was a professional. If she got a hold of Grace, the fight would be over in a few bloody moments. Luckily, Jack had a firm hold on Grace so she couldn’t reach her own dagger.

  People cheered and placed bets. It didn’t much matter who won, though. It was quality entertainment to see a fight between the Dawn’s captain and Glenbard’s noblewoman. The ring of people opened begrudgingly for two guards to get through.

  “What sort of trouble is this?” the taller and older of the two guards said. As fast as it had appeared, Kay’s dagger was tucked away again.

  Grace was red faced with a running nose. Kay’s lip was bleeding and she had a murderous look in her eyes. Ridley stood awkwardly between the women and Jack held Grace in a tight bear hug.

  “No trouble,” Ridley said. “A demonstration!”

  Every guard knew Ridley and knew who she allied herself with. Kay and Grace weren’t reputation free, either. Neither man honestly believed that this was merely a demonstration.

  “A spat among friends,” Jack said; releasing Grace from the bear hug, though he kept a firm hold on her wrist. “Tempers flare easily in this bunch.” He stepped toward the taller guard, and with his free hand he passed off a few pieces of silver. “Nothing for anyone to worry about.”

  Ridley was worried, though. Kay was already furious about the fountain, and now Grace had split her lip in a public brawl? She wasn’t about to forgive that. The guards yelled for the crowd to disperse and moved off when most of the gawkers drifted away. Then the guards moved some paces away, although they kept their eyes trained on the four troublemakers.

  “Take Kay away. I’ll get Grace home. And talk her down, for god’s sake!” Jack instructed Ridley.

  ~*~*~

  Jack dragged Grace away roughly. She fought him the whole way, clawing angrily at his hand. The marks from her nails hurt, but still he refused to let her go. He was afraid she’d run right back to finish her fight.

  “She’s going to call for your blood!” Jack yelled exasperatedly; stopping and ducking them into an alley.

  “So?” Grace yelled. “Take her to your bed again! She’ll feel better then!”

  Jack let Grace’s wrist go and his mouth hung open in amazement. A few beats went by before he found the words to speak. “Kay Lansa has never been in my bed. Was this why you didn't come to see me? Who said she has?”

  “She did.”

  His laugh was a mistake. Grace’s eyes shot daggers at him, but he couldn’t help himself. He gently rapped on her skull with his knuckles. “She’s always trying to wind you up. I took the Fearless Dawn from Nareroc to Glenbard because she was headed that way. I didn’t enter her cabin and she’s not been in my lodging.”

  Grace knocked his hand away. “I don’t believe you.”

  He’d said he loved her and then he ran away. He had yet to give her a reason why. He told people it was because she was too young, because they were too different. Neither of those reasons was true, so it stood to reason she wouldn’t believe him now.

  “I know,” he said. He crossed his arms over his chest. She did the same. “You should stay with Ridley and Thom tonight. I’ll talk to Kay.” He’d even bring her to his lodging if it meant she left Grace alone.

  “I’ll walk you home. Then I’ll find your guard and have him take you to Ridley.” She looked up from her shoes. His brow was creased and his eyes were sad. “We can be civil for a short walk, can’t we?”

  Grace let
Jack lead them on. She fell in step behind him, keeping her eyes on his heels. Outside her lodging, Jack pulled her into a hug.

  “Kay refused to take Harris onto the Dawn and he’s been hiding out near the Emerald Rose ever since. He hasn’t left the city because he wants to exact his revenge on Marcus for killing Adam. He’s mad with rage and drink. I’ve seen him out at night, sulking around, and others have too, but when anyone tries to catch him he’s like smoke. Moore and Captain Ericson came to see me. They want you to meet with them to break your alliance with the Guild. Get out of Ridley’s house at two, and they’ll be waiting for you at Diggery’s Temple.”

  Jack released Grace from the hug, almost pushing her back from him. Grace couldn’t believe he was still going to help her. It almost came as a relief, since Grace genuinely didn’t want to do it alone. And Thom and Ridley weren’t exactly avenues of help.

  “I’ll run to the Lane guard house and see if I can fetch your sergeant for you.”

  For a moment, Jack hoped Grace would stop him. He stood an extra few seconds waiting to see if she would.

  Instead of stopping him she simply asked, “Why?”

  It gave him pause. He knew the question was coming. He’d spent long nights asking it to himself over and over again. “I couldn’t protect you.” Grace took a step back, her face scrunched up in disgust, and he put up his hands in defense. “You carry around a lot of guilt, and I wasn’t able to protect you from it. But I was a fool and a coward to think that was reason enough to go.” He flashed a sad smile. “I’ll send Sergeant Moore this way.” And he was gone before Grace could even respond.

  ~*~*~

  Nathaniel was waiting outside for her when she came back downstairs with a sack of clothing. Hidden in the depths of her sack was her Death Dealer garb, with the exception of her leather jerkin. If Kay ransacked her room, she wouldn’t question the jerkin alone. Grace tied her short sword to her belt and hoisted the bag over her shoulder.