Chapter 9
Daggers in the air
A WOEFUL HOWL RATTLED THE WINDOWS and shocked Lebuin wide awake. Sitting up, he saw in the thin light coming through the barely cracked shutters that Ditani was already peeking out the window as the howl continued.
“That sounds like it is just outside the window.”
“No, M’lord, but the few on the street are covering their ears. It must be tremendously loud out there. These are thick windows and walls.”
Getting out of bed, Lebuin stumbled to the window in the near darkness. Looking over Ditani’s shoulder he saw a few people on the street begin to run away. The howling stopped, but it was followed by the occasional bark of a dog. A sense of dread came over Lebuin.
“Do you think that has something do with us? Could it be a demon hound summoned to track us?”
Ditani slipped around him. “I don’t believe in demon hounds. Whatever it was it has stopped, and we are safer than most here. This has been a very trying day. With your leave, I’d like to get back to sleep.”
Closing the shutter tight, Lebuin moved carefully in the dark back to his bed and lay down.
One day only since I was drinking hundred-year-old sharre with the head of the Guildhouse. All I wanted was to roam the library freely, to try to find new ways to improve the independence incantations. I was such a fool to not have seen all that was there. He traced the scar in the middle of his chest with his finger. I almost died today. All that passed before was nothing; today I truly fought for my life. If I had given up I wouldn’t be here. Who — or maybe better, what — was that entity that helped me? I am sure I was in the ethereal realm. Was that a God? I wonder if it was Argos Himself.
Lebuin walked the day in his mind, unable to sleep. The High Priestess used some kind of powerful artifact on me to help me live. I remember there were others there too. Powerful women. I am sure one was the High Priestess; the other that waited, perhaps that was Ticca; so who was the third powerful woman? There was a very powerful man too. This would be easier if I were still there, my mind was so clear. There were so many stories and books on metaphysical or spiritual travel and meditation in the library. I really wish I hadn’t just shoved them aside as a waste of time. If I live I can examine them and maybe find a way to purposefully move between the realms.
The bed moved slightly, and a muffled crashing sound woke him up. Lebuin sat up, realizing he had fallen asleep again. Ditani was sleeping and everything was quiet again. He listened and didn’t hear anything more. Someone must have dropped a tray in the hall. Laying back down he was glad to find sleep came easily.
Someone was knocking on the door to his chamber, except this was an annoying person who didn’t stop and in fact alternated the loudness of the knock. “I’m sleeping, go away.”
Someone moved inside his room, alarming him. Lebuin rolled over and opened his eyes, trying to strengthen his shield, except there was no shield to strengthen. What happened to my shield? To answer that his mind groggily recalled the events of being stabbed, wearing an old sack shirt and purposefully rubbing river sludge on his fine boots. His hand came up and found the scar on his chest. Sitting up fully awake now, Lebuin saw he was in the room at the Blue Dolphin and not his chamber at the Guildhouse. He had on a loose pair of brown pants and a soft, carefully patched cotton shirt lay on the floor next to him. His boots were cleaned but would never again be the same. His emotions stirred inside and oddly he felt a deep sense of joy at the lessons in front of him. Smiling, he touched his ruined boots. This is all I have to protect myself, simple cotton clothes and dirty leather boots, just like the majority of the rest of the world. Yet I feel a joy, like I am finally on the right path.
Ditani had gotten out of his bed and walked to the door. “Who is it?” he asked softly to whoever was still knocking.
“Ditani, open up, this tray is heavy!” That voice, it’s the Dagger I thought I dreamed. Ticca, she said her name was Ticca.
Ditani opened the door and Ticca strolled into the room wearing a light green, soft cotton tunic over a pair of black leggings. On her wide belt were more knives than he could count at first glance; somehow they were arranged so as to be complimentary to her look. Ticca’s boots had changed into shiny black, very expensive-looking but functional riding boots. Her dagger was still set in the front of the belt at an angle, to allow motion while keeping it as straight as possible. This lady has some very good taste; she manages to look dangerous and casually put together and yet still would fit in with any group of royals. She was carrying a large tray of food which included a carafe being kept warm with a small candle and five mugs. Ticca put the tray down on the table, poured a mug of arit and grabbed a roll from the stack. She turned towards him and he smiled thanks, reaching out his hand. Instead of handing the roll and arit to him she sat down, picking up the mug and taking a drink of it herself.
“M’lord, I should warn you, I don’t do domestic stuff. So don’t expect it.”
Ditani quickly made up for Ticca’s lack of service by putting a mug on the night stand next to Lebuin and handing him a roll and some cut fruit. “Master, you should eat.”
“Ditani, please just call me Lebuin, you too, Ticca.” His voice matched his oddly joyful mood and he chuckled. Taking a bite of the roll he was surprised with its quality.
“Well you two, while you slept some rather odd things have been happening. None of it good, I think.” Looking at Ditani, she added, “And you should have been a bit more precise in your details. Vestul didn’t just come down here to meet a duke; he came down here to meet the Duke.”
Ditani looked confused. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand. I never meet the duke, and I think I told you everything.”
Looking at Ditani like he was hiding something, she swallowed some more arit. Taking a bite of her roll, she stared waiting for something. Ditani ate some fruit and was avoiding looking directly at Ticca. A few minutes of increasingly uncomfortable silence passed as they all ate breakfast.
It was Ticca who relented first. She sighed and then continued, “Right, well, now we know Vestul came here to meet the Duke. So now we need to move out of here as fast as possible, before things get really ugly. We three will be leaving early this evening, so we have about three marks’ travel time before dark.”
Ditani was looking at her with a blank face and Lebuin decided to help out. “Ticca, I am sorry, you are moving a bit fast and I am not fully awake yet. Who is this duke and what is going to get ugly?”
Ticca looked at both of them for a moment before shrugging. “Short version for now, if we live another day we can talk more over the campfire. Did you two hear a strange noise last night and a crash sometime after?” Seeing that they both nodded, she continued, “Well, the howling was obviously Duke. I can say this because Genne is right this minute having two brand new doors put on the front of this inn to replace the two that Duke decided were in his way, and waiting to open them would take too much time. Word is he just walked through them as if they were not there, shattering one into small kindling and breaking the other in half, as well as ripping it and part of the door way clean off the building. Duke then had a fairly short argument with Genne, which technically he won, but Genne will debate that endlessly, so don’t mention it in his presence. He then calmly announced he was pissed off, which was really no surprise, and that he wanted answers about who, why, and how Vestul was killed. He placed a bounty of twenty crowns for each answer and he hired every Dagger in the room at ten crosses a week.”
The arit he just swallowed went down the wrong way at that last statement. Coughing, he put the mug down. “Wait, he offered a bounty of twenty crowns and hired every Dagger in the room? Who is this Duke, and what is he the Duke of to have so much coin? Is he a Magus? I mean, how did he destroy the doors?”
Ticca shook her head. “Lebuin, listen to me. This isn’t a man. This is a creature that calls itself Duke. It is ancient in the extreme. It talks, it gambles, it drinks, it claims to be one of the oldest creatures in the world, second only to the Gods themselves, and it also claims it was human and a real duke a very long time ago. About five hundred years ago Duke left Llino for Greyrhan far to the north. But for thousands of years prior, Duke roamed these streets and also most of the kingdoms around here, conducting his business of smashing things he didn’t like and acquiring things he did. As I recall, he had something to do with the Night Market too.”
Lebuin remembered an old tale. “Wait, I recall a legend that Damega had a companion called Duke that was a wolf larger than any horse. Didn’t they have a fight over something, and Damega killed it?”
“Not exactly. Damega and Duke did do a number of things together; in fact they worked together to build this very inn as the first Dagger Home. Duke taught Damega the Dagger code and morals and together they established the Daggers as we are today. But each had his own agenda and they finally had a pretty bad falling out. Duke left for the north and hasn’t been seen since. There are some stories that Duke did show up for the war to help defend the kingdoms. This makes sense because he is part of the covenant that created these kingdoms. In fact Duke is the alliance’s military commander as well as the most senior Dagger commander. But I haven’t heard anything other than stories on that side.”
Ditani leaned forward. “So this Duke was the wolf we heard howling last night?”
Ticca nodded. “I knew your Duke was looking for Vestul since he missed the meeting, as I ran into or passed some of his agents making the same inquiries I was. I guess he got tired of waiting in the back of the wagon and decided to get directly involved. I’d bet a cross that that howl was him finding Vestul’s ashes in the alley. He then came straight here to hire a real army. I don’t know how Genne could stand up to a horse-sized talking wolf that was looking to rend someone into small bits for a feast. I think whatever is going on here is going to turn into an open conflict with Daggers, Knives, and who knows what else, taking out whole buildings.” Pointing at the door, she said, “Ditani, would you mind letting them in, please.”
Ditani looked at her for a moment. “Let who in?”
A knock sounded on the door. “Why, our escape plan help of course. I took the liberty of hiring a couple of guard Daggers who like fights. They have been running some errands for us this morning.”
Ditani got up and went to the door.
Before he got to the door Ticca warned, “Please don’t let on we know anything about anything. They are trustworthy, but temporary help at best.”
Ditani nodded, as did Lebuin. Then Ditani opened the door and two Daggers dressed passably well, if a bit rustic, wearing brown leggings wrapped with leather cross straps, knee high riding boots, light brown cloaks, and long cream-colored cotton shirts over mail coats with leather capitano hats. They both had knives and swords on wide belts. The taller was cleanly shaven while the shorter sported a neatly trimmed box beard. They both looked like they had recent haircuts. The larger one’s clothes looked new, yet as if he slept in them and they had a ruffled, unkempt feel. They both wore a dagger on the front of their belts as Ticca did. Their daggers were a matched set with wide winged hand guards, hilts wrapped with blacked iron cord, and simple circular pommels. Overall the effect made Lebuin think of the warriors in sporting games or of hardnosed guardsmen who wouldn’t take any backtalk. They smiled and put down their packs in the middle of the floor. The larger one spoke first. “Journeyman Lebuin, I am Risy, Dagger in your service. This is my partner.”
The shorter Dagger did a half bow. “Journeyman Lebuin, I am Nigan, Dagger in your service.”
Ticca smiled, pointing at the food and extra mugs. “Thanks boys, and help yourselves. Did you get everything done?”
They took seats at the table. Risy answered while pouring out two mugs of arit. “Indeed we did, everything you asked for is in our packs. We already dropped off our own sacks in our room upstairs. Your horses will be in the stables later today as per your instructions, and a bath is being drawn for me so I can apply the dye. Hope the herbalist got it right, I’d hate to end up looking like a ripe cherry.” Both men chuckled at that.
Lebuin looked at them and then at Ticca. “Ticca, what exactly do you have in mind?”
She looked at him for a moment. “Isn’t obvious? You four are going to switch places. We’ll let the Knives attack Hair...uh...Nigan, and Risy here, while I escort you safely out of town on your mission.”
“How exactly are we going to trade places? We don’t look anything like them.”
Ticca leaned over and opened one of the packs, then the other. Finding what she sought, she pulled out a wig that looked exactly the color of Risy’s hair and tossed it to Ditani. “Try it on.”
Ditani caught it, and after a moment of examining it pulled it on over his head. Except for the skintone he did look reasonably like Risy, and the wig had been cut to match Risy’s hair, or perhaps the other way around.
“I get it; Risy is going to color his skin. But…”
Ticca held up her hand. “We have the whole day to go over the details while I get you two ready. In the meantime, I need you to write that letter you mentioned last night and a couple of others which we’ll leave with them.”
“Do we really need to get out so fast?”
“With Duke hiring an army to hunt down and kill some Knives, and with Knives trying to put a blade between your shoulders or poison in your drinks, yes, I would say we should get out of here as fast as possible without leaving a trail. If we go take care of your mission it will give things time to cool here.” Looking at the other Daggers, she added, “Which reminds me, are you sure you don’t want to take up Duke’s coin?”
Nigan and Risy both shook their heads no. Risy answered, “No, thank you. I’ll enjoy springing a trap on a Knife, or three, doing this; the all-out fight doesn’t sound like a good idea to us. He is the Supreme Commander and all, but we aren’t at war. Besides, I don’t like dogs, and so working directly for a ten-foot-tall wolf just isn’t a reasonable choice for me.”
Nigan nodded. “That goes double for me.”
Ticca stood up and went to the desk, pulling out paper, ink, and a pen. “Lebuin, if you please, I need you to write a few letters. One to your father as you planned, except the stated destination should be Breorchy, and you want to leave tomorrow afternoon, even if you need to divert a smaller merchant ship. Then you need to write a very short note to your father telling him to pretend Nigan is you and to see them off on the merchantman, and a third letter to the Guild. It should indicate that you are following a solid report on an odd type of magic by a shaman near Breorchy that comes from some papers you got from Magus Vestul’s notes.”
Lebuin looked at her for a moment. “Breorchy? I thought we…”
Ticca cut him off. “Yes, Breorchy, because that is exactly the opposite direction from where we are really going.”
Looking at the two new Daggers, he thought, I get it, she is planting false information everywhere. Breorchy is actually only slightly off-course from Algan, but should these two get caught and forced to talk the lead would still be wrong. She must have studied a lot of strategy to be able to come up with cunning stuff like this. I need to pay attention; this is a far better education than any day sitting in a classroom just reading about tactics. He stood and went to the desk and began to write.
“I assume these are going to be delivered by Risy and Nigan, acting as Ditani and myself?”
“Nope, we will send the notes via two of the many urchins downstairs that hang out for just such messenger duties. The introduction note, that they’ll carry themselves.”
So she expects they’ll get intercepted and read en route. “Maybe I should write two such notes to my father in case the one to him is held back when it is intercepted.”
“You learn fast M’lord. And yes, that is a good idea, please do. If you two are done with eating, why don’t you go to the baths and get ready? Don’t forget to bring your clothes back here for Ditani and Lebuin.”
“Ticca, do we have to give them everything?”
Lebuin looked over his shoulder to see what Risy was worried about. Then it became obvious, it was their dagger. Ticca thought about it a moment, then smiled. “Can you give them your older daggers? They were only slightly different and I doubt it will be all that obvious from a distance which is which.”
Risy nodded at that. “That is much better; of course we’d like them back if at all possible. We did start with them, after all.”
Ticca looked at them very seriously. “I swear to you, if we make it back, I’ll do what I can to insure their safe return.”
Turning back to the task of writing the notes, he finished the first and started the second as Risy and Nigan left to get ready. I am not sure I like all this talk about possibly not returning. I would very much like to get back safely.
Once the other Daggers were gone, Ticca moved the two packs to the beds and grabbed some fruit, which she munched while pulling everything out. There were some cosmetics, a straight razor, and other toilet items. She looked critically at Ditani. “Do you object to shaving your entire head to save your life?”
Ditani grabbed his shoulder length hair. “Um, well, I never fancied being bald. If you think it will help, I suppose it will grow back in time.”
She nodded. “The wig can be glued in place if you do, which will help should things require prompt actions.” Handing him some of the supplies, she told him, “Here, I’ll take you to my room, where there is a private sink and toilet. I’ll help you to apply this paste for a bit and then wash it off; we must be even and not miss anyplace visible. It should lighten your skin tone closer to Risy’s. M’lord, when you have finished those letters you should eat more; once we leave it might be a long time before we get another good meal. We should check on what Magus Vestul brought and maybe take it with us.”
“Ticca, Magus Vestul traveled very light, he only had his pack and that pouch you wear.”
Ticca thought about it for a minute. “Really. Well then, once we are finished with the main work we’ll get Magus Vestul’s pack from his chamber and take it with us. I’ll be back, and don’t open this door for anyone but the four of us.”
With that she left, towing Ditani along. Lebuin dutifully finished the notes, then pulled out some extra papers and for the first time in his life he voluntarily recorded a journal of everything that happened so far. Eating as much as he could while writing, he spent a considerable time trying to record all he had observed and felt when almost dead. When he was done he added some sketches of the daggers he had seen so far, then he added a drawing of his mother as he remembered her in the astral plain: pregnant, happy, and weaving her cloth.
Ladro sat patiently in the corner of the room. He had risen early, being unable to sleep well because of nightmares of Duke ripping people apart, and other thoughts brought on by what he had understood of Duke’s litany of tortures. He sipped quietly from the now-cooling cup of arit as he watched his master sleep. Duke whimpered from time to time and a soft yowl came from him as he too obviously dreamed. His tail and paws twitched and his jaws ripped into another pillow. Duke had been chewing on a few pillows all night; there were feathers and lint all over his piled pillow bed. I wonder if he is having nightmares too. Probably not, he has lived far too long to have those. Most likely he is dreaming of what he is going to do to the responsible people. A shudder ran through his body at that. I have never feared him before — sure, there were stories he told at his card house, and my parents, long in his service, had told some too. He is a good creature with his own sense of justice. Never have I heard of him harming innocent people. He lives by his military code of honor, courage, and commitment as if it were the only thing that can be counted on in the whole world. His code of conduct has always been to do right by everyone. Still, I never expected to be involved with one of his stories. I hope we get past this fast. I love him and he is good to me and my family, but he truly scared me last night.
The sun had just dawned, with its first rays coming through the window, when Duke rolled off the pile of pillows that served as his bed. He laid there, his back to Ladro, on the floor chewing and licking the air. He tried to clean his eyes with his front paws and kept loudly chewing the air, spitting on the floor as best as he could. Looking at the mess around him he sat up. “Damn it. I hate it when I get so mad I chew in my sleep.” He stood and shook violently, sending a shower of feathers and lint into the air.
His ears perked up and rotated to the window. “Excellent, glad to see they haven’t gotten lazy down here since I left.” Chewing the air some more, he added, “I need something wet, and bacon. I want bacon.” Ladro smiled at that. Duke sounded more like himself. “Guards! I’m up — get my grooms, three bowls of water, breakfast with bacon, and Ladro. And tell the Daggers I’ll see them one team at a time, in the order they arrived.”
Heavy boots ran from the door as it was opened by the remaining guard. Duke smiled. “Good boys.”
Ladro stood. “Yes, M’lord.”
Duke growled and spun around, bringing his head low defensively, ears flat back and baring his teeth. His eyes widened, taking in Ladro. Shaking his head, he straightened up, sat down heavily, and huffed. His ears straightened up and swiveled to target Ladro. “How long have you been there?”
“I am not really sure, M’lord. At least a full mark.”
Duke sniffed at the air and shook his head. Probably upset because he didn’t smell my presence.
Duke looked at the floor, continuing to chewing the air for a bit. Then he looked at Ladro almost guiltily. “Ladro, about last night, you saw some things that only your ancestors have seen. Sorry I lost control for a bit.”
“M’lord, it is OK. I have been thinking about it all morning.”
Duke’s ears perked up sharply and he cocked his head a little. I hate when he does that look. It is so comical on him and he knows it. “So what conclusions have you come to, Ladro?”
“M’lord, you did lose control and were madder than anyone I have ever witnessed. Yet where many I have heard of, or witnessed, would lash out and break something, or hurt a loved one, or rampage down the street, you planned what you would do to the responsible parties. I admit, your rant and the tortures you may have selected as appropriate terrify me to the core, and I beg you allow me to not be present should you act on those plans. Nonetheless, you did not touch any of your men or even damage something that was not within your own right to do so. I look forward to returning to your Tun Tavern, but now and forever, sir,” Ladro stood straight-backed and squared his shoulders towards Duke, “Semper Fi.”
Duke straightened to his equivalent of attention, held it for a moment then nodded curtly at Ladro. “Well-reasoned and well said. Semper Fi, indeed. Vestul was one of us, and we will extract our justice for his murder. But right now I am more interested in the water I ordered. My mouth feels awful. Come on and let’s get the day started, we have much to do.”
Duke stepped out into the hall and indicated his bath to the guard, who moved fast enough to open it so Duke did not have to break stride. In a few moments a small group arrived with water bowls, and four women set to cleaning Duke’s fur of the feathers with animal combs. Duke stuck his whole head into one bowl with his mouth open and just shook it back and forth, splashing water everywhere in the tiled room. With the second bowl he did nearly the same. The third he stuck his snout in and chewed the water for a time. In the meantime, the grooms had efficiently cleaned his fur and were applying some special oils he enjoyed. It took only a quarter of a mark and Duke looked ready to greet the Princes.
“Ladro, I’ll have breakfast in the formal dining room, and I seriously want bacon, so send someone out to get more — I think I’m going to empty the kitchens of it. I’ll meet the Daggers as I eat. Have the staff offer them anything they please to drink. If any take up the offer for anything with alcohol in it have the staff give them a cross and dismiss them. Set yourself up in the study next to the dining room and see each team one at a time, with the outer door closed. Check their daggers carefully; I will want a full recording. Also, refresh your knowledge from my book of Nhia-Samri weapons, but do not let any Dagger see that book. Check all of their weapons, if you see anything listed in that book, bow to me when you present them. If a majority of their equipment looks new, motion them in with your right hand. Otherwise just open the adjoining door and announce them to me. Then I want you to leave the adjoining door open and as we talk, take notes. When done you will proceed as I say. Make sure the guards keep them in proper order. Clear?”
Ladro filed all the instructions instantly, as he had done his whole life. “Of course, M’lord.” He opened the door and passed some instructions to one of the pages that stood there. Closing the door, he turned back to Duke. “Do you expect a Nhia-Samri to attempt to hire on with you?”
Standing and shaking, he ruffled some of his combed fur, which caused frowns on the grooms’ faces. Duke smiled at them. “I have a reputation to maintain. Thank you, I truly love you all.” Looking at Ladro, he replied, “Someone was smoking carmine-laced tobac in the Dolphin. There was no foreign merchant there that dealt with the Rhonian Empire, where that tasty herb comes from. Carmine is only used to flavor fish or poultry in cooking... There is no reason in the world to stuff it into a pipe except to burn out someone’s ability to smell. Which by the way, I f*cking discovered one night by getting so drunk we passed out, burning our dinners. I regret telling anyone about that, so unless someone was trying to slip some pungent-smelling poison into some else’s food, in the main room of the Dolphin, filled with Daggers, I was expected. It was a deliberate trap designed to impede my tracking.”
Ladro considered it, and, remembering the smell and smoke flavor of burned herbs, had to agree. No one would want to taste that herb smoke on purpose. Opening the door, two guards stepping smartly out of the way, two pages stayed against the far wall. Everyone is on edge, no surprise, considering the tales of last night were probably already told to all the staff. Thank the Gods Duke long ago decided to only employ loyal families for life, or as long as they want. Otherwise this would have been a very bad day indeed, and we wouldn’t be able to talk in our own home. As they moved down the hall, a question occurred to him. “When did you realize you had been trapped, M’lord?”
“Right after I sneezed, trying to clear my nose after walking into the bloody trap.”
Ladro looked at Duke, surprised. “You didn’t even hesitate, you just walked in, and it seemed you did as you planned.”
Duke smiled as he approached the dining room and the guard, anticipating his path, opened the door. “Never let the enemy know his plan is working.”
“Because of this you believe Nhia-Samri might be here?”
Duke stopped, and gave him a look that said he should really keep up. “Ladro, you have lost three good agents completely. Vestul is dead and Night’s Fire was used to hide this, and my tracking ability was taken away in a trap that could have only been for me specifically. Yes, the Nhia-Samri are here. Now the only questions are: What are they after? How can I kill more of them? And can I do anything at all to embarrass them in front of that little runt bastard, their Grand Lord Commander?”
With that he turned and entered the extravagantly decorated room with its massive oval table, large enough to seat forty guests. At the head of the table was a huge, eighteen-foot-tall throne that had no legs or arm rests; the beautiful gold and amber cushioned seat sat directly on the floor. The table was actually six hands higher than normal dining tables and all the elegant chairs arrayed around the table had longer legs, locking coaster wheels on each leg, adjustable height foot rests, and serving steps between each chair to compensate. The table held a huge serving platter on which were two dozen lightly roasted birds, arranged artfully around the edges of a pile of lightly crisped bacon that stood at least four feet high. The smell of it made Ladro’s mouth water.
Duke looked at the pile and smiled. He breathed deeply and then growled. “Damn it, I want to smell it too. These three days are going to be painful.” Duke arranged himself comfortably on the floor-throne. Looking at Ladro, he asked, “Would you care to join me?”
Ladro looked at the pile and his stomach was already begging for some. “M’lord, thank you, I’ll have a bacon and egg sandwich in the study as I review the book you mentioned.”
Duke smiled at his announcement of meal choice. “Very well. Give me a half mark to make a dent in this, then send in the first Dagger team as you complete your duty with them. There is no rush today. What is done is done, now it is time to find out what really is going on, and to insure real justice is served, with minimal losses. Our enemies here will be made to pay dearly, hiding in shadows or not.”
Ladro closed the door, ordering the breakfast he was now ready for. He made a quick trip to the vault storage room to get the book on Nhia-Samri weapons. Taking the book, he went back to the study and slowly flipped through it, examining the engineering-quality diagrams and detailed technical description of each weapon, herb, and tool employed by the Nhia-Samri. After a half-mark, he locked the book into the desk drawer and motioned for the page to let in the first Dagger team.
A pair of Daggers came in, dressed and ready for work. They looked fresh and crisp, but according to their introduction, they had arrived here a full three marks before any other Daggers. One, called Elades of Stegea, had the silver hair and sun-darkened skin of a true veteran. The other, called Idanas of Stegea, had brown hair that was starting to go to grey, with a crisp tan that also spoke of years out in the sun. Both, however, had tight skin, strong muscles, and they walked with the fluid grace of highly trained warriors.
Ladro requested they place all their weapons and gear on the large desk for inspection. They didn’t question the request, and promptly filled the desk with more weapons than Ladro thought possible, considering what little they were wearing. He inspected everything closely; their gear was heavily used but well-maintained. He drew quick sketches of their daggers, key weapons, and more unusual items. Ladro also took note of their names, homes, and Dagger training pedigree. These were long-experienced and highly capable Daggers with a prime table at the Dolphin, indicating that Genne, too, judged them very worthy of high ranking.
He then opened the door to the dining room and announced them to Duke. Duke was mid-bite and looked up, chewing a mouthful of bacon. Most of the birds had been eaten and the platter was down to about half of its original bacon load.
The Daggers walked into the dining room and stood just inside the doorway, waiting respectfully for orders. Duke finished chewing slowly. When he was done, he wiped his mouth on the mounted table napkin. Then he looked at the Daggers hard for a long moment. “I am impressed with your zeal. Arriving here a full three marks before the next team demonstrates commitment. What is the reason for the rush to wait?”
Both Daggers laughed politely at Duke’s very old military joke. Elades took the lead and answered, “M’lord, the Dolphin is under observation by unknowns, Knives attacked another Dagger yesterday, and two seasoned Dagger teams have vanished over the last few cycles. We know enough of your true history to trust your goals and commands; we desire to serve with you.”
Duke considered this answer. “You do me honor with your courage and commitment. You are Squad Alpha Team One. Which of you is lead?”
Without hesitation Elades stepped forward; Idanas simply remained in place.
“Elades, you are named Alpha Commander and need to select seven or more Daggers for team one, please do not break up a team. Of course you will also need to select two more fire teams for Alpha Squad and their leads.”
The new officer nodded.
“Tell me, are you familiar with carmine?”
Idanas spoke up. “Sir, it is a spice out of Rhonia, which doesn’t usually get this far south. I have some, if you need it.”
Duke shook his head. “No, I don’t need it, but you will. The initial objectives for your squad are: first, discretely find out if any shipment of carmine has come through here recently; second, familiarize yourself with its scent, look, taste and any indicators you can find from smoking it shredded mixed with tobac; third, discretely identify the Nhia-Samri agent, or agents, who are smoking it at the Blue Dolphin.”
At the mention of Nhia-Samri, the Daggers’ faces became as hardened steel.
Duke motioned to the far end of the room, where the two Daggers took up position. “While we wait for the next group I will tell you the command signals I prefer to use. It would be well if Alpha Squad consists of only seasoned Daggers. I will not allow the Nhia-Samri agents posing as Daggers to join Squads Alpha or Bravo.” Turning to look at Ladro, Duke said, “Time to do this again with the next Daggers.”
As Ladro closed the door he heard Duke say, “You may be free from restraint until Ladro brings in the next team. We’ll have about fifteen minutes — tell me more about how you became Daggers.”
Duke made the next lone Dagger Squad Bravo Commander, and the following team of three, Charlie Squad Team One, naming their Lead as Squad Commander. Ladro wondered where these odd names were coming from, but if the Daggers wondered the same they never showed it. Bravo Squad was ordered to find a way to locate and observe the observers of the Dolphin. Charlie Squad was ordered to begin investigations into the Night Market, Thieves Market, and any other illegal goods markets, to catalog everything that had been bought, sold or traded in the last five days. The next few teams ranged in experience, and the squad commanders debated which squad and team they would best serve. Every Dagger already knew that the squads were to be three teams of about nine Daggers, and each team had requirements of specialized skills based on the assigned objectives. Ladro found their total lack of egotism amazing, and even the new Daggers added into the conversation, not to promote themselves, but to clarify skill sets and experiences.
Then a team of two Daggers came in, calling themselves Apanal and Egal of Azaria. They had arrived about the middle of all the Daggers and teams of Daggers. They were dressed as expected; some of their equipment looked used, but most of it was new; then Ladro saw the small stack of chakram they each carried. These were weapons normal for the region they said they were from, but they were also a weapon favored by the Nhia-Samri. In no other way did they look out of order.
Opening the door, he bowed to Duke and introduced the Daggers. Oddly enough, no one in the room seemed to take notice or indicate anything was different.
Duke was working on his second platter of bacon and some of the other Daggers had food stuffs from the kitchens or fruits brought in for snacks. Duke smiled. “Azaria is a long way from here. I haven’t been there in a very long time.” Apanal and Egal just nodded politely and waited, and Duke continued, “How long have you been here in Llino working as a Dagger team?”
Egal answered for them. “Great Lord, we have only been here about three weeks. We hired on to a merchant vessel as sailors and guardsmen because we wanted to explore a bit beyond what we knew.”
Duke nodded. “I understand the need to explore well. How long have you been working as Daggers?”
“Since we were children, five and ten years of age, Great Lord. We have been fortunate in our work and received good training. I am now nine and twenty years of age as is my life-friend.”
“Interesting, Daggers tend to grow more roots as they age; you two did the opposite. So that means fourteen years of labor and experience?” Duke looked at Ladro, and Ladro, realizing it was a question for him, minutely shook his head. None of the equipment could possibly be old enough, and too much of it was too new.
As Ladro was standing directly behind Egal and Apanal he felt sure they didn’t see him. Instead they both nodded and Egal said, “Very correct, Great Lord.”
Duke looked at them and thought a moment. As he opened his mouth, Ladro prepared to run for cover, but Duke shocked him by saying, “Very good. It will take a clever eye and someone who is a little foreign to this city to lead Delta Squad. You shall be Delta Team One. Which of you is to be Lead?”
Egal stepped forward in a precise military step and stood tall. “I am Lead.”
Duke nodded. “You will be assigned seven more Daggers or more, so as to not break up a team, for Delta one fire team, and you will assist in selecting the rest of Delta Squad.” Duke then bluntly looked at Ladro. “And Ladro, I have told you before, stop with the infernal bowing. It is embarrassing; if you really must you can just wave them in.”
By just after noon all of the remaining Daggers had been sorted into the five squads. Duke had reassigned one of the more veteran Daggers to be Commander of the final Echo Squad when the numbers showed there would be the need if the team and squad numbers were to be kept to the stated sizes. Each of the squads was positioned at different locations around the room. The soft chatter of military people introducing themselves and establishing relationships made the room more alive than any feast of nobles could.
After the last Daggers had been assigned, Duke looked at the room and barked once. The room fell silent and everyone looked at Duke. “In a minute I’ll dismiss you to the courtyard where some lunch is prepared for you to eat while I brief your commanders and team leads to provide orders and objectives. Commanders and leads are to remain close to the door and report in, one squad at a time. I will then meet privately with each team’s lead for an initial one-on-one in designation order. Your leads will brief you as needed. Everything from this moment on is on a need-to-know basis only. Understood?”
The room resounded with a loud, “Yes, sir!” in unison.
This is amazing. Yesterday I would have sworn Daggers where more a rabble than a trained militia. I thought Daggers were just mercenaries and loners with slightly more skill. In one morning random Daggers have come together without a hitch or argument. I would swear these Daggers had fought whole wars together and were a standing army. They actually look happy to be assembled so. He couldn’t help it; he glanced at Egal and Apanal. They were looking at Duke but also glancing around the room as well. Ladro quickly continued to scan the other Daggers as if he was taking notes, in case they spotted him looking.
Duke continued, “Each squad must report all findings back here daily. I expect each team to have positive confirmation of their squad’s teams’ locations and status every two marks. If any team misses a check-in it is to be considered an emergency ‘man down’ situation and reported back to me immediately, with appropriate actions taken per your squad’s rules of engagement. You may communicate your reports with any member of my personal staff as if it were me, most especially Ladro here. Ladro is the only other besides myself that can give you new orders. Understood?”
The room resounded with another loud, “Yes, sir!” in unison. Egal momentarily frowned but quickly composed himself.
Duke stood up, putting his front paws on the table so he towered over the room like a giant and bellowed, “Where is the safest place to be?”
All the Daggers drew their daggers and held them high, yelling as one, “Behind the Daggers!” Ladro noted that Egal and Apanal were the last to draw, before his attention was drawn to Duke.
Duke yelled, “Do you want to live forever?”
“NO SIR!”
Duke yelled louder, “Semper Fidelis!”
The Daggers, almost in frenzy, yelled loudly, rattling the chandelier and glassware, “SEMPER FIDELIS!”
“Dismissed!”
My Lords and Ladies, what has he released here?