“Get on with it.”
Kruppe winced. Baruk was in a terrible mood. He sighed. “A message to you personally, Master.” He completed folding his handkerchief and looked up. “From the Eel.”
Baruk stiffened, then a scowl darkened his features. “Why not?” he muttered. “The man even knows who my agents are.” His gaze cleared and he watched Kruppe. “I'm waiting,” he growled.
“Of course.” Kruppe shook loose his handkerchief and mopped his brow. "'Look to the streets to find those you seek." That, and no more. Delivered to Kruppe by the smallest child he'd ever seen-” He stopped and shook his head. No, such exaggeration would never do, not with Baruk's mood as foul as it appeared to be. “A small child, in any case.”
Baruk stood glowering at the dying embers in the fireplace, his hands clasped behind his back, fingers twisting a large silver ring. “Tell me, Kruppe,” he asked slowly, “what do you know of this Eel?”
“Little, Kruppe admits. Man, woman? Unknown. Origins? A mystery. Designs? Perpetuating a status quo defined by aversion to tyranny. Or so it's said. Influence? Far-reaching, even if one discounts nine out of ten rumours associated with the Eel, his or her agents must number in the hundreds. All devoted to protecting Darujhistan. “Tis said that Councilman Turban Orr is even now hunting them down, convinced they've ruined all his schemes. Mayhap they have, and for that we can all be relieved.”
Baruk seemed anything but relieved. Kruppe thought he could almost hear the man's teeth grinding. However, he turned to Kruppe and nodded. “I have an assignment. For it, you will need to round up Murillio, Rallick and Coll. And take the Coin Bearer with you, just to keep him safe.”
Kruppe raised an eyebrow. “Out of the city?”
“Yes. Paramount is the Coin Bearer-keep him beyond anyone's reach. As for your mission, you will observe. Nothing more. Do you understand me, Kruppe? Observe. To do anything else will be to risk the Coin Bearer falling into the wrong hands. While he is Oponn's tool, he also is the means by which another Ascendant can reach Oponn. The last thing we need is gods battling on the mortal plain.”
Kruppe cleared his throat. “What are we to observe, Master?”
“I'm not sure, possibly a foreign work party, digging here and there.”
Kruppe started. “As in: road repairs?”
The alchemist frowned. “I will be sending you to the Gadrobi Hills. Remain there until either someone comes or I contact you with further instructions. If someone comes, Kruppe, you're to remain hidden. Avoid detection at all costs-use your Warren, if need be.”
“None shall find Kruppe and his worthy, loyal comrades,” Kruppe said, smiling and waggling his fingers.