Page 43 of The Sundered Blade

“Thank you.” Leisa offered him a nod and a sly grin. “Though I should acknowledge that was mostly my cousin here. Her skills in that area are quite impressive.”

“And I will not hesitate to use them against you if you betray us in any way,” Karreya added, not quite ready to place much trust in a stranger who dressed more like a fop than a warrior to be feared. His fingers bore more rings than scars and his waistcoat was embellished with so much embroidery it might almost serve as a form of armor.

But then again, she’d underestimated Niell as well, so if this was one of his allies, she would do well to withhold judgment.

* * *

Fortunately, the dark-haired man seemed to know his way through the streets and alleys of Hanselm, and led them quickly to the back door of a nondescript warehouse on a less traveled street in a quieter area of the city.

His knock was a deliberate pattern of raps and pauses, resulting in the door being yanked open by a scowling giant wearing a blacksmith’s leather apron over his clothes. Oddly, he also held a quill in one hand and seemed to have ink on every finger.

“Make someone else your blasted doorman, or else quit coming round every single hour of the day,” he growled. “I’ll never get anything done if you keep interrupting like this.”

“Profoundest apologies, Brig.” Their guide offered an elaborate bow and a wide grin, then stepped inside and motioned for Karreya and Leisa to follow. “But I stumbled across a pair of Lord Kellen’s numerous cousins and thought I should arrange a meeting.”

“More cousins, eh?” Brig looked them up and down skeptically. “You’d think the gate guards would get suspicious.”

“They’re too busy scowling and stealing horses,” the dark-haired man responded, turning back to offer Karreya a rather insulting wink.

When she responded with only a flat stare, he shrugged unrepentantly. “Follow me then, and we’ll let Brig get back to forging.”

“Forging what, exactly?” Leisa asked as they trailed after their guide through the cluttered warehouse.

“Gate passes and certificates of employment, mostly. You’ve got to have them to stay in the city, unless you’re one of us.”

“And who, exactly, are you?”

“You’ll see.”

He led them through the maze of boxes and barrels to a corner, where the apparently abandoned warehouse became a hive of bustling activity. A board was propped up against the wall with rows of documents nailed to its scarred surface, while a pair of children stood nearby, accepting what appeared to be pouches and instructions from a young woman with dark hair. Behind a ramshackle desk, three men engaged in an argument, while an adolescent boy attempted a handstand in the corner.

Atop the desk, a cat was curled up on a pile of papers, right next to a cup of tea and a plate of sandwiches.

“Kel, got visitors for you!”

One of the three men turned from the argument and cast a speculative glance at Karreya and Leisa out of startling blue eyes. His golden hair was pulled back in a neat tail, and he wore an elaborate velvet waistcoat over a white silk shirt. He appeared an aristocrat at first glance, but his gaze was sharp and canny, and further assessment revealed that his boots were dirty and his hands were strong and rough over the knuckles.

“How delightful. Thank you, Jase.” The blond man moved out from behind the desk to approach them. He carried no visible steel, but there was a suggestion of hesitation on his right side that indicated some form of weapon lurked there. Magical, most likely. His delight was, Karreya’s truth sense informed her, no more than a polite fiction. “And why have you brought them here?”

“More of your cousins.”

A look of weary amusement crossed the blond nobleman’s face. “Always a treat to discover relatives I didn’t know I had. Where are you seeking refuge from and what are your skills? I may be able to find you a place, but it’s grown more difficult of late, and I hate to promise anything I cannot deliver.”

“You are Lord Kellen?” Karreya asked abruptly.

“So my father informs me,” he replied, in a coolly polite tone.

Truth. They had indeed found Niell’s contact, so Karreya gave Leisa a brief nod of confirmation.

And Leisa wasted no time. “Vaniell sent us,” she said, folding her arms across her chest. “He also sent a pigeon explaining what we needed, but apparently, it went astray. We don’t need work, but he said you can help gain us access to the palace.”

Kellan’s eyes widened, and he glanced at Jase as if for confirmation.

The dark-haired man merely shrugged. “They did attack the guards who tried to take their horses.”

“Why do you want a way in?” Kellan asked flatly. “What are your intentions and what are the risks if we aid you? My operation is vital in protecting the lives of many, so if you intend to endanger us, my answer must be no.”

This time, Karreya did not wait for Leisa to offer a response. “We intend to remove Melger from the throne and grant that place to its rightful holder.”

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