“Most likely adults. They probably have a hive set up somewhere in the city. I would guess the sewers or a ruined building that is remote,” Emily said and faded back to her camouflage state.
“Better camo than the Bendazzi has,” Neph noted, flicking a gaze toward Marrow who glared back at him with deep yellow eyes. “Admit it. cat, you can’t hide that good.” With another snarl, Marrow stalked off to sit at the edge of the courtyard.
“She could pass for Elder Blood if you hid her claws,” Jala said quietly.
Neph nodded his agreement and reached up to flip the earring she had forgotten. “Get that put away and we will go warn the two idiots,” he said as he gathered books and dropped them carelessly into a leather bag. With a sigh he swung the bag over his shoulder and looked at her again. “The Pits are in the worst part of town, by the way, and the environment there is always disgusting. There is a very good chance that we will be inviting attack by going to such a place. Please be prepared to defend yourself,” he said, his tone filled with warning.
“You think we might be attacked?” she asked doubtfully. Neph was dressed in his customary leathers which were finely embossed and obvious high quality. That, combined with his natural beauty, marked him clearly as Elder Blood and from high ranking. Not many would consider openly attacking an Elder Blood, let alone one of status.
“I think I’ve heard at least three times in the last week that the Assassin’s guild has contracts for you and if I were an Assassin I would not pass up such a golden opportunity. If we are stupid enough to travel to the Pits this late in the evening we should expect someone to act on that,” he clarified, watching her as he spoke as if he expected her to change her mind.
She gave a slight nod and cast a quick spell over Neph, then Marrow, and finally herself. “Protection wards from missiles. If they are going to kill us they won’t do it from a distance,” she explained as she noticed Neph’s look of confusion.
“No, that’s not what boggled my mind,” Neph objected, staring at her in disbelief. Slowly, he shook his head and rolled his eyes. “Jala, from now on, first thing in the morning when you crawl your scrawny ass out of bed, cast that spell. Don’t wait until someone is about to take you to the worst dive in the city. Someone could shoot you with a crossbow bolt anywhere,” he said, his tone filled with exasperation. “I can’t believe you didn’t already have that ward on,” he grumbled as he began making his way from the courtyard, waving impatiently for her to follow.
“You think someone would shoot me in class?” Jala called after him as she hurried to catch up with his longer strides.
“Embrace paranoia, Jala. Hug it, love it, and live it. Paranoia will keep you alive,” Neph said, draping an arm lightly across her shoulders. “Expect them to be able to shoot you inside your room and you will live longer for it.”
“Life was so much simpler in Bliss,” Jala said with a sigh.
“Your life will never be simple again. The sooner you accept that the easier it will be on you. From this day forth, someone will always want you dead and there will always be someone that you would like to see dead,” Neph said quietly.
“I don’t want anyone dead,” Jala objected.
Neph glanced at her and smirked. “Really? Yes, of course, I’m sure you have nothing but the fondest wishes for Cassia Avanti. She has after all been such a beacon of kindness to you,” he said sarcastically.
“Treat others as you wish to be treated,” Jala replied quietly using a phrase she had often heard from Father Belson as a child.
“Rubbish,” Neph grumbled. “Treat others as they deserve to be treated. Cassia deserves to be filling a corner of some compost heap. At least then she might do something to benefit someone. Corpses make excellent fertilizer, or so I hear.”
“That’s disgusting,” Jala replied, wrinkling her nose.
“That’s Sanctuary, Jala. Don’t doubt for a minute that she wouldn’t leave you rotting somewhere if she thought she could get away with it. You are going to have to learn to be as brutal as they are,” Neph said, shrugging one shoulder. With a sigh he began to guide them toward a portal stone and glanced down at Marrow. “I go through first. Wait two minutes and then follow with Marrow ahead of you. I don’t expect there will be trouble but make sure the Bendazzi crosses before you do, anyway,”
“All right,” Jala agreed quietly, her eyes roving over the portal stone. It wasn’t a district she was familiar with. “Where are we going? I mean, I know the Pits, but what district is it in?” she asked before he stepped through.
“This used to belong to Goswin. It belongs to Graves now. While Hemlock rules most of the city, the Lord of the Warrens rules here. Not even the Justicars really go to this section much, Jala. We aren’t only giving them opportunity, we are sending invitations,” he said with a smirk and pressed his palm flat against the arch activating the transport magics.
*
Mage lights filled the streets, illuminating the crowds in a hellish red light. Jala looped her arm through Neph’s and tried to stay as close to the imposing Delvayon as she could. He stood several inches taller than most of the people here and his expression was dark enough to send all but the drunkest scurrying from his path. Her gaze flicked from building to building, reading the swinging wooden signs.
“Neph, what’s a donkey and dog show?” she asked, her eyes lingering on a wooden sign that portrayed a widely smiling donkey. The building seemed quite crowded with rather rough looking men gathering on the porch waiting to get through the door.