The Emerald Storm rests anchored in Aquesta Harbor, ready to sail. When you receive this message, place the payment on board along with the sealed orders I left. Once loaded, the ship will depart, the fortunes of war will shift, and your victory will be assured. With the Nationalists eliminated, Melengar is yours for the taking.
While I have all the time in the world, you, on the other hand, might wish to make haste, lest the flame you call the New Empire is snuffed out.
Merrick Marius
“Merrick?” Hadrian muttered, and looked at Royce. “Is this …?”
Royce nodded.
“You know this Marius?” Alric asked.
Again, Royce nodded. “Which is why I know you’re in trouble.”
“And do you know who sent this?”
“Cosmos DeLur.”
“Isn’t Cosmos a wealthy merchant in Colnora?”
“He’s also the leader of the thieves’ guild known as the Black Diamond.”
Alric paused to consider this, then paced once more. “Why would he send this to me?”
“The Diamond wants the Imps out of Colnora. I guess with Gaunt gone, Cosmos thought you could make the best use of this information.”
Alric stroked his beard thoughtfully. “So who is this Merrick fellow? How do you know him?”
“We were friends when I was a member of the Diamond.”
“Excellent. Find him and ask what this is all about.”
Royce shook his head. “I have no idea where Merrick is, and we’re not on good terms anymore. He won’t tell me anything.”
Alric sighed. “I don’t care what kind of terms you’re on. Find him, resolve your differences, and get me the information I need.”
Royce said nothing and Hadrian hesitantly added, “Merrick had Royce sent to Manzant after he mistakenly killed the woman Merrick loved.”
Alric stopped pacing and stared. “Manzant Prison? But no one ever leaves Manzant.”
“That was the plan. I was happy to disappoint him,” Royce replied.
“Nowadays, Royce and Merrick have an unspoken agreement to stay out of each other’s way.”
“So how can I find out if this Merrick is just boasting, or if there is a real threat to Melengar?”
“Merrick doesn’t boast. If he says he can turn the war in the New Empire’s favor, he can. I suggest you take this seriously.” Royce thought a moment. “If I were you, I’d send someone to deliver this message and then stow away on this ship and see where it leads.”
“Fine. Do that, and let me know what you find out.”
Royce shook his head. “We’re retired. Only a week ago I came here and explained how—”
“Don’t be ridiculous! You said to take his threat seriously, which is why I need my best—and that means you.”
“Pick someone else,” Royce said firmly.
“All right, how much do you want? It’s land this time, right? Fine. As it happens, Baron Milborough of Three Fords was killed in battle a few weeks ago. He doesn’t have any sons, so I’ll grant you his estate if you succeed. Land, title—all of it.”
“I don’t want land. I don’t want anything. I’m retired.”
“By Mar, man!” Alric shouted. “The future of the kingdom may depend on this. I’m the king and—”
Hadrian interrupted. “I’ll do it.”
“What?” Alric and Royce asked together. “I said I’ll go.”
“You can’t take this job,” Royce told him as they walked back to The Rose and Thorn.
“I have to. If Esrahaddon is dead, Merrick is my only chance to find Gaunt. Do you think he really could have done it?”
“Merrick wouldn’t lie to a client about a job.”
“But Esrahaddon was a wizard. He’s survived a thousand years—I can’t imagine he could be murdered by a common killer.”
“I just said it was Merrick. He’s not common.”
As the two walked through an empty Gentry Square, even the bells of Mares Cathedral were silent. Hadrian sighed. “Then I’m on my own in finding the heir now. If I follow the payment to Merrick, I’ll be halfway to finding Gaunt.”
“Hadrian.” Royce placed a hand on his friend’s arm, stopping them mid-step. “You’re not up to this. You don’t know Merrick. Think a minute. If he can kill a wizard, one who could create pillars of fire even without hands, what do you think your chances are? You’re a good—no, you’re a great—fighter, the best I’ve ever seen, but Merrick is a genius and he’s ruthless. You go after him, he’ll know, and he’ll kill you.”
They were across from Lester Furl’s old haberdashery in Artisan Row, the shop that the monk Myron once worked in. The sign of the cavalier hat still hung out front, but the place was empty.
“Listen, I’m not asking you to come. I know you’re marrying Gwen. Congratulations on that, by the way. And it’s about time, I might add. This isn’t your problem. It’s mine. It’s what I was born to do. What my father trained me for. Protecting Gaunt, and finding a way to put him on the imperial throne—that’s my destiny.”
Royce rolled his eyes.