“Just beyond the fountain,” he said. “Your backs will be to the garden, which has, ah, run wild of late. We don't want any guests getting lost in there, so you gently steer them back. Understood? And when I say gently I mean it. You're to salute anyone who talks to you, and if there's an argument direct them to me, Captain Stillis. I'll be making the rounds, but any one of the house guard can find me.”
Whiskeyjack nodded. “Understood, sir.” He turned to survey his squad.
Fiddler and Hedge stood behind Trotts, both looking eager. Past them Mallet and Quick Ben stood on the edge of the street, heads bent together in conversation. The sergeant frowned at them, noticing how his wizard winced with every boom of thunder to the east.
Captain Stillis marched off after giving them directions through the estate's rooms out to the terrace and garden beyond. Whiskeyjack waited for the man to leave his line of sight, then he strode to Quick Ben and Mallet. “What's wrong?” he asked.
Quick Ben looked frightened.
Mallet said, “That thunder and lightning, Sergeant? Well, it ain't no storm. Paran's story is looking real.”
“Meaning we have little time,” Whiskeyjack said. “Wonder why the Adjunct didn't show up-you think she's melting her boots getting away from here?”
Mallet shrugged.
“Don't you get it?” Quick Ben said shakily. He took a couple of deep breaths, then continued, “That creature out there is in a fight. We're talking major sorceries, only it's getting closer, which means that it's winning. And that means-”
“We're in trouble,” Whiskeyjack finished. “All right, we go as planned for now. Come on, we've been assigned right where we want to be. Quick Ben, you sure Kalam and Paran can find us?”
The wizard moaned. “Directions delivered, Sergeant.”
“Good. Let's move, then. Through the house and eyes forward.”
“He looks like he's going to sleep for days,” Kalam said, straightening beside Coll's bed and facing the captain. Paran rubbed his red-shot eyes. “She must have given them something,” he insisted wearily, “even if they didn't see it.”
Kalam wagged his head. “I've told you, sir, she didn't. Everyone was on the look-out for something like that. The squad's still clean. Now, we'd better get moving.”
Paran climbed to his feet with an effort. He was exhausted, and he knew he was just an added burden. “She'll turn up at this estate, then,” he insisted, strapping on his sword.
“Well,” Kalam said, as he walked to the door, “that's where you and she come in, right? She shows up and we take her out-just like you've wanted to do all along.”
“Right now,” Paran said, joining the assassin, “the shape I'm in will make my role in the fight a short one. Consider me the surprise factor, the one thing she won't be expecting, the one thing that'll stop her for a second.” He looked into the man's dark eyes. “Make that second count, Corporal.”
Kalam grinned. “I hear you, sir.”
They left Coll still snoring contentedly and went down to the bar's main floor. As they passed along the counter, Scurve looked at them warily.
Kalam released an exasperated curse and, in a surge of motion, reached out and grasped him by the shirt. He pulled the squealing innkeeper half-way across the counter until their faces were inches apart.
“I'm sick of waiting,” the assassin growled. “You get this message to this city's Master of the Assassins. I don't care how. just do it, and do it fast. Here's the message: the biggest contract offer of the Master's life will be waiting at the back wall of Lady Sinital's estate. Tonight. If the Guild Master's worthy of that name then maybe-just maybe-it's not too big for the Guild to handle. Deliver that message, even if you have to shout it from the rooftops, or I'm coming back here with killing in mind.”
Paran stared at his corporal, too tired to be amazed. “We're wasting time,” he drawled.
Kalam tightened his grip and glared into Scurve's eyes. “We'd better not be,” he growled. He released the man by gently lowering him on to the counter-top. Then he tossed a handful of silver coins beside Scurve.
“For your troubles,” he said.
Paran gestured and the assassin nodded. They left the Phoenix Inn.
“Still following orders, Corporal?”
Kalam grunted. “We were instructed to make the offer in the name of the Empress, Captain. If the contract's accepted and the assassinations are done, then Laseen will have to pay up, whether we've been outlawed or not.”
