Yet the man’s eyes held no fear. He stared at Ilanna with hatred and stubborn defiance.

  She motioned for Verum to follow her around the corner.

  “What?” he snapped.

  “How long have you been working him over?”

  Verum snarled. “A day or so.”

  “Has he given you anything?”

  Verum bared his teeth. “We haven’t exactly been asking him many questions.” He cast a glance at the man crouching over Sonna. “Leo’s needed to let out a bit of his anger. Better the thug than you, eh?”

  Ilanna ignored the remark. “So you’ve been torturing him for a day or more, and in all that time he’s never cracked?”

  “No.” Verum shrugged. “But with a bit of time, he’s sure to—”

  “Time is something we don’t have.” Her words came out tight, clipped. “Errik doesn’t have time for us to waste on torture. If we can’t get something out of him soon, we’re back to searching the streets of Praamis on foot. And I’m fresh out of ideas on where to find Rhynd.”

  Verum’s expression tightened. “What are you suggesting?”

  “I’ve an idea I think could get him to crack. But for it to work, I need you to pretend you hate me.”

  “Shouldn’t be too much trouble.”

  Ilanna nodded. “Good. Now go back in there and work him over for a few minutes. But when I come in, you do as I say, got it?”

  Verum raised an eyebrow. “Think you’re an expert in torture, girl?” Disdain twisted his face. “You don’t look like no Serpent to me.”

  Ilanna met his gaze without wavering. “I’ve learned a thing or two about getting people to do what I want. Even without chopping them up.”

  Verum rolled his eyes. “Fine by me. But when your way fails, we’ll go back to doing it the Serpent way.”

  “Fair enough.” She fixed him with a piercing stare. “Do exactly as I say, got it?”

  “I got it.” With a dismissive wave, Verum strode back toward the bound thug. “Feel free to wait a while before disturbing us.”

  Ilanna sighed. Men and their egos. One of the best things about Errik was the fact he didn’t let his pride get in the way of common sense. If only there were more men like him.

  Moments later, the meaty sound of fists thumping into flesh came from around the corner, followed by grunts and a few weak coughs. Ilanna gave Verum a few minutes to work the thug over. She trusted him to leave the Voramian alive and conscious. A few fresh bruises and broken bones wouldn’t stop the thug from answering her question. Unless, of course, the Serpent set to pounding on the man’s head.

  She strode around the corner and stopped, her eyes going wide. “No!” With a piercing shriek, she rushed toward Verum. “Stop! Stop!” Her voice came out high and fearful. “Please, stop hurting him!”

  “Get off me, girl!” The Serpent shoved her away, sending her stumbling.

  Catching herself on the wall, she hurled herself between the thug and Verum’s upraised fist. “Please! Don’t hurt him anymore.”

  Verum narrowed his eyes. “He’s got the location of Master Serpent, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to get it out of him.”

  “Please!” Ilanna poured every shred of pathetic supplication into her words. “Please, let me talk to him first.” She cast a glance over her shoulder, giving the Voramian a full look at the tears in her eyes. “No more violence,” she said in a quiet voice.

  Verum played his role to perfection. He snarled at her, spat on the Voramian thug, and stalked off muttering a string of curses.

  Ilanna turned to the thug, her expression filled with concern. “A-Are you badly hurt?”

  The question was a foolish one, she knew. Verum had removed the ropes around the Voramian’s ankles, but he hung suspended from a hook set in the stone ceiling. Dark purple bruises covered his front and sides, and his right eye had swollen shut. Blood trickled from dozens of cuts on his body left by knuckles and knives. But her “worried woman” act was necessary to get him to trust her.

  The Voramian coughed up blood. “I’m…fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “My grandmother…hits harder…than your man.” He spat a mouthful of crimson saliva.

  “He’s not my man.” Ilanna dropped her eyes. “Rhynd took my man.” She made her voice sound as pitiful and plaintive as she could manage. “I need to get him back. Will you help me?”

  The thug’s harsh laughter echoed in the tunnel. “Girl…you’re wasting…your time.” A fit of wet coughing seized him. “Your man…can do…anything he wants…to me. You won’t break me.” His voice grew stronger.

  “I know.” She shook her head. “I tried to tell him that, but he won’t listen to me. No one listens to me. They think I’m weak because I’m just a thief, not a Serpent like them.”

  “Y-You’re…that Ilanna…girl…aren’t you?”

  Ilanna nodded, hiding a wince. She’d hoped not to be recognized on sight.

  “They say…you’re some big deal in…the Night Guild. Like you’re going to single-handedly…stop us from taking over.” The thug eyed her up and down. “Don’t look like much…to me.” His breath came in wheezing gasps.

  “I’m a thief, not a killer. I don’t care about Rhynd or the others. I just want to get my man back.” She gave him a shy smile. “Will you help me?”

  The thug laughed. “Not a Keeper-damned chance, girl! Rhynd would…skin me alive if he knew I…sold him out.”

  “There has to be something we can do…oh!” She frowned. “I don’t know your name.”

  The man studied her, but she kept her expression one of concern and trepidation. She had to play the role of a woman looking for her man.

  After a moment, he grunted, “Osser.”

  “Osser.” Ilanna tried the name and gave him a smile. “Will you help me, Osser? Just tell me where I can find my man, please!”

  Osser sneered. “I’ll say nothing to you, girl. The Bloody Hand doesn’t squeal!”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “Please. Verum’s going to come back any minute, and he’s going to keep hitting you. The other one’s angry because someone hurt his woman, and you’re the only thing he has to let out his anger on. I don’t think I’ll be able to stop them again.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Please, just tell me anything so he doesn’t keep hitting you. I hate all the blood…” She turned away, as if sick.

  “Pah!” Osser spat another mouthful of blood. “You think this is bad, girl? I’d rather that milksop keeps hitting me. If Rhynd gets his hands on me, I’m a dead man.”

  Ilanna hid a smile. The truth comes out. Osser was afraid of Rhynd, for good reason. Rhynd had beaten a dozen men to death with his fists. He wouldn’t hesitate to rip Osser apart if he suspected betrayal. But that gave her the perfect way in. She could use that as leverage against Osser.

  “What if I gave you gold? Enough so you’d never have to worry about Rhynd again.” Excitement filled her voice. “Yes! You could leave Praamis and Voramis for good. Everyone thinks you died in the raid—let them keep thinking that. You could be free from Rhynd forever.”

  Just as she’d expected, a light shone in Osser’s eyes. She could see his mind working.

  “You know I’m Ilanna, so that means you know what I’ve stolen. Millions of imperials in gold and jewels.” She dug into her pocket and drew out a gemstone. “Like this.”

  Osser’s eyes widened at sight of the blue sapphire. Ilanna had retrieved it from one of her many stashes around the city, intending to offer it for information as a last resort. It would serve her needs now perfectly.

  “And you’d just hand it all over to me?” Osser sneered, never taking his eyes off the gemstone. “Not bloody likely.”

  “What’s money without someone to share it with?” Ilanna gave him her most forlorn expression. “Without Errik…” She trailed off and turned away, sniffling loudly and wiping at her eyes for effect.

  “What about your friends?” A hint of hopefulness echoed in Osser’s voice. “What’s to stop them from putting a dagger in my ribs the moment I give them the information you want?”

  Ilanna turned to him. “Look.” She drew her dagger with the clumsy motion of someone unused to edged weapons. “I can cut you free, and you can escape before they return.” She pointed down the tunnel behind him. “A few hundred paces that way, you’ll find a way out of the sewers.” No such exit existed, but the thug didn’t need to know that.

  Osser’s mouth twitched. He was a heartbeat away from telling her what she wanted to know.

  “I think my friends want to kill Rhynd,” she said in a fearful whisper. “They’re angry at him. If you tell me where to find him, you won’t have to worry about him ever again. You can take the gold and run, disappear forever. Your masters in Voramis probably think you’re dead. You can start a new life away from here.”

  Osser remained silent for a long minute. Ilanna let her lower lip tremble, and she cast nervous glances over her shoulder, playing up her fear of Verum returning.

  “Millions of imperials, you say?” Osser spoke in a quiet voice.

  Ilanna nodded. “Mostly gold, but a lot in jewels, too.” She showed him the sapphire again.

  After a moment, Osser nodded. “I’ll tell you what I know. But cut me down first.” He, too, cast a glance at the tunnel behind her. “Before your friend comes back.”

  “Thank you!” Ilanna let the desperation echo in her voice. She shuffled around behind Osser and sawed clumsily at his bindings. More than once, she allowed her knife to nick Osser’s wrists, and she took far longer than she should have.

  “Hurry!”

  A minute later, the knife severed the last thread of rope and Osser dropped to the ground with a groan.

  Ilanna stepped back, holding the knife before her like a shield. She played the role of terrified woman to perfection. “So where do I find Rhynd?”

  Osser shook his head. “Jewel first.” She tossed it to him. “Now tell me where to find the rest.”

  “No. I cut you down. Tell me where to find Rhynd, then I’ll take you to the gold.”

  Osser studied her up and down, and disdain flickered behind his eyes. She could almost hear his thoughts: he believed he could take her on, knife or no.

  “You’ll find him in the Warehouse District, off Fishmonger’s Row. Big, brown warehouse with a white door. Faded sign of an old brewery or somesuch.” Rubbing his wrists, Osser climbed to his feet. “Now the gold and jewels.”

  “How many men does he have with him?” Ilanna didn’t lower the knife.

  Osser rolled his eyes. “Don’t know, don’t care.” He took a threatening step toward her. “Now give me the gold, girl, or—”

  Ilanna moved too fast for him to react. The knife slipped up under his chin, pierced the roof of his mouth, and drove into his brain. A few drops of blood gushed from the wound, but he collapsed to the stone floor without a sound. Crouching, she plucked the gemstone from his hand and stuffed it back into her pocket.

  She stared down at the corpse with disgust. Men underestimated her because she was a woman, perceiving her as weak. One more man had learned the truth the hard way. At least his misogyny had given her what she wanted.

  She had no doubt Rhynd would underestimate her as well. He’d continually done so since their attempted takeover of the Night Guild. Had he truly perceived her as a threat, he would have sent every member of the Night Guild and Bloody Hand after her. No doubt he’d realized his mistake when she brought the Arbitors and Praamian Guard crashing down on him. If he believed for a single moment she wasn’t the greatest threat to his existence in Praamis, he wouldn’t live long to regret his mistake.

  Chapter 35

  Verum looked up as she strode into the chamber where he, Leo, and Sonna waited. “Get him talking?”

  Ilanna nodded. “He gave up Rhynd’s location.”

  The Serpent raised an eyebrow. “How’d you manage that?”

  “Did you promise him he could kill the rest of the Night Guild?” Leo growled.

  Ignoring the insult, Ilanna drew out the sapphire. “I simply appealed to the one thing that rules all men. Greed.”

  Verum whistled. “Rock like that, no wonder he gave it up.” He stood and drew his dagger. “I’ll take care of him.”

  “No need. He’s been handled.”

  Leo rolled his eyes. “Leaving you the only one who knows Rhynd’s location.”

  “So you can’t kill me…yet.” She gave him a too-sweet smile. “You’ll have to keep me alive long enough to lead you to Master Serpent.” The anger in the Serpent’s eyes told her she’d read his mind. She didn’t blame him for his hatred—she’d felt the same about the person who betrayed the Night Guild.

  Keeper take it! She kicked herself inwardly. She’d forgotten to ask Osser for the traitor’s identity. She doubted he’d have told her, but he might have dropped a hint. Too late for regrets.

  “We can always torture the information out of you.” Disdain twisted Leo’s face. “You don’t look half as tough as the Bloody Hand bastard.”

  Ilanna tensed. “You’re welcome to try. Last one who laid his hands on me—”

  “Leo…enough!” Sonna’s voice had grown weaker in the last minutes. Judging by the pallor of her cheeks and the flush of her forehead, she would be in the Long Keeper’s arms before midnight. “Be at peace. She did…what she thought…was right.” Sonna’s piercing stare held surprising strength. “And she…is trying to…make it right…isn’t she?”

  Ilanna nodded. “Starting with Master Serpent. With Errik.” She met Leo’s gaze. “For that, I’ll need your help.” She turned to Verum. “Both of you.”

  Verum shrugged. “If it keeps you alive long enough to stand trial before the Guild Council, I’m in.” His tone held only a shred of anger. Clearly, the idea of her doing “as needs must” had taken root in his mind.

  “Not a Watcher-damned chance!” Leo shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere with her.” He dropped his gaze to Sonna. “And I’m not leaving you, Sonna.”

  Sonna gave him a weak smile. “Foolish, foolish man.” She coughed and spat a gob of bloody phlegm. “You don’t…have the time…to waste on me.” The Serpent’s eyes met Ilanna’s. “Isn’t…that right?”

  Ilanna nodded. “The trial of the Night Guild begins at dawn. The Duke believes he has all the evidence needed to convict most, if not all. We have to get there and stop him.”

  “And how would you know that?” Leo narrowed his eyes. “Oh, that’s right, you’re in league with the bloody Chief Justiciar!” His hand dropped to his dagger.

  Ilanna bared her teeth in a snarl. “I know because he held me captive in the Black Spire. He planned to hold me captive until the world forgot about me.”

  “So how are you here?” The intensity of Leo’s fury matched hers. “You may have gotten into the Black Spire once, but no way you got out.”

  “Yet here I am.” Ilanna held out her arms. “Now can you quit wasting time so we can go save Errik and the others?”

  Leo shook his head. “I’m not leaving Sonna.”

  “Of course…you are,” Sonna rasped. “You…need to go with her.”

  Leo set his jaw. “Not yet.” He swallowed. “You shouldn’t be alone.”

  “Everyone…dies alone.” Sonna smiled up at him. “You need…to think about…the living.” She coughed again. “Master Serpent…needs your help.”

  A tear slid down Leo’s rough, bearded face, but he dashed it away. “I’m not leaving you, Sonna.” His voice came out harsh. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. Not after everything…” He bent and whispered in her ear.

  A smile played at Sonna’s lips, and moisture filled her eyes.

  Ilanna jerked her head, and Verum nodded. In silence, they strode a respectful distance down the tunnel. “Let them have a final moment of peace.”

  Anger flared within her as she waited. She hadn’t had a chance to say farewell to Kodyn or Ria. Or Denber, Prynn, the twins, or even Master Hawk. If she didn’t find them soon, Errik, Darreth, and Allon would be gone as well. Jarl would face death at the end of a hangman’s rope or drown in the Field of Mercy. She refused to let that happen. She had Rhynd’s location. Even if she had to hunt him down herself, she would—

  Leo appeared around the corner, eyes red-rimmed but his face hard as steel. “What now?” The fury remained in his eyes and the tightness of his voice, but it was no longer directed at her. He would expend his rage on Rhynd and the Bloody Hand.

  “Osser gave me the location where we find Rhynd. But I can’t get too close without being spotted.” She drew out the parchment she’d picked up in the Aerie. “They know what I look like. If they see me, they’ll run.”

  “So we’ll do the scouting, eh?” Verum rubbed his stubbled chin. “Always thought I could do a Hound’s job better than them.”

  Laughter bubbled from Ilanna’s throat. She didn’t try to suppress it. After everything that had happened in the last few days, the humor came as a welcome change.

  “Scout the location, then what?” Leo didn’t smile. “Rhynd’s bound to have more than a few men watching his back.”

  “Nothing a pair of Serpents can’t handle, I trust.”

  Verum’s expression grew thoughtful. “Let’s have a look at the place first, then we’ll figure out what comes next.”

  Ilanna nodded. “So be it. But if we’re to save the rest of the Night Guild, we have to move quickly.”

  She turned to go, but Leo stepped in front of her. “Be warned, Hawk: try to run, and I’ll hunt you to the ends of Einan.”

  Ilanna met his gaze without hesitation. She had no intention of running.

  He stabbed a finger at her. “When this is over, you will stand before the Guild Council and answer for your actions.”

 

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