In The Cards

Trying to function normally and keeping your head cool while having just received unsettling news can be difficult enough. If you also happen to be working with flawed or incomplete information you run an even greater risk of drawing the wrong conclusions and risk making a fatal mistake. Which is why it can be extremely annoying if somebody you are supposed to be able to rely on deliberately withholds important matters from you.

Excerpt from ‘Interview With An Assassin’

Dekaras smiled briefly to himself as he headed off through the darkened streets. He had thoroughly enjoyed spending some time with Imoen. The girl was very talented, with a quick mind and mostly untapped reserves of strength. She will do well, he thought. Though the pink hair is still a bit of a drawback in our line of work…did she say I had inspired her to that? Well, perhaps she will grow out of it soon. Whatever the case, it has certainly been pleasant to give her some instruction. And now, back to my own business.

The assassin hadn’t been idle about that either for the past few days of course. He had taken every opportunity to study the particular lock he intended to break through, as well as to decide upon alternative courses of action once he did get through. By now he thought he had it all covered. So he was feeling pleasant anticipation as he walked past the Sorcerous Sundries magic shop, an emotion that was rapidly scattered as he heard the voices drifting out of the opening doorway. Voices speaking Thayvian.

“…inferior substances of course,” a male voice was saying. “But it seems we have no choice but to make due.”

“What else can one expect in these barbarian places?” said a second and harsher voice, female. “We should be pleased he did not try to sell us frog eyes and pass them off for those of baby basilisks. At least we were able to…persuade him…to give us a discount, and to keep open after hours.” Quiet laughter.

Dekaras pressed himself tighter against a wall, trying to make himself one with the shadows. That there were Red Wizards in town was extremely bad news, and he had to do whatever he could to find out more about them. Carefully, very carefully he approached, hoping that none of them would get it into their heads to try a divination spell right now. Fortunately they seemed too engrossed in their discussion. There were four of them, two men and two women, and they were still griping about the state of Sword Coast spell components.

Four Red Wizards, Dekaras thought. Not good at all. If they should happen to pose a threat, I couldn’t hope to deal with all four of them at once. I’ll just have to trail them and see what they’re up to.

The four Thayvians headed directly for their lodgings, a comfortable inn in the northern parts of the city, where they requested and got a private dining room. While they took the opportunity to use the time they would have to wait for their late meal in order to refresh themselves, Dekaras had no difficulty slipping into the room. The heavy red drapes in front of the windows seemed to be the most promising hiding place available. It was highly unlikely that the wizards would come over to open the windows, they would be used to the warmer climate of Thay. And if they did…well it couldn’t be helped. He couldn’t afford not to learn what they were up to.

Eventually the wizards returned, their rich scarlet robes taking on the color of fresh blood in the candlelight. All four of them were shaved completely bald in the traditional manner, and tattooed to varying degrees. At least we talked Edwin out of that phase, Dekaras thought. He would have looked completely ridiculous.

“So,” one of the women said as she sipped from her wineglass. “Any news of our little renegade?”

“He is not a renegade quite yet, Lasala,” said one of the men, a tall individual who seemed to be the leader judging from the quiet authority in his voice. “He still has…twelve days, five hours, thirteen minutes and…twenty seconds before the Zulkir’s deadline runs out. We must follow our instructions to the letter.”

“Ha!” snorted the other man. “No disrespect intended, Danak, but you cannot seriously believe that that young fool will succeed now when he hasn’t done so yet? He is so…erratic.”

“Maybe,” said the wizard called Danak, and wiped at his mouth. “Honestly, is this supposed to be a high class inn? These jellied octopus eyes are far too salty… Yes, as you said he is erratic. But he is also highly talented, one of the most gifted young wizards of his generation. Surprisingly enough, considering what a blundering idiot his father is, but I suppose he gets it from his mother. Plenty of raw talent there, and that is why the Zulkir thought he might be ready for this task. And besides, he isn’t alone you know.”

“Yes,” said the other man. “I have heard a few rumors about his…companion. Is he as good as they say?”

“Likely better,” Danak said. “He keeps a low profile, but the Zulkir is good at evaluating people, as you know. If the young Odesseiron heir should need help in dealing with the girl, she will disappear quickly and quietly, Brendan. And Edwin has his orders. If she will not turn to us, she will be destroyed. With agents from Rasheman sighted in the area we cannot afford to let one of the Children slip through our fingers, even a young and inexperienced one such as this girl. Edwin knows what to do.”

“Then why hasn’t he done it yet?” said the second woman, the one with the harsh voice. “And why hasn’t he attempted to contact us? You’d think he had something to hide.”

Danak shrugged. “It is a fairly big city, and there could be numerous reasons for why he has been out of touch. When I make my daily report to the Zulkir tonight, I will tell him that the search goes on, and that we are obeying his orders. And we will obey his orders, is that perfectly clear?”

The three junior wizards nodded respectfully. “And what if Odesseiron fails,” Lasala said. “Then what will we do?”

Danak gave her a mild smile. “Why, then we will kill him of course, and his companion as well. I would prefer to give him some advance warning first, but if that is not possible then we will simply slay him without it. Like I said, the Zulkir’s orders must be obeyed – to the letter.”

After that they discussed frontline magical research, including an interesting new spell to make a person’s inside come out through his ears, the atrocious weather one had to suffer this far north and how their children were coming along these days.

Once the four wizards had left Dekaras remained behind for some time. It wouldn’t do to risk letting himself get spotted. He was trying to evaluate this new information in a calm and sensible manner, but so far he was finding that quite difficult. This is extremely bad news. I must do something, and quickly. Frowning, the assassin thought about his available options. The first, and definitely the most tempting one, was to kill the wizards of course. He certainly had no intention of letting them harm Edwin, and if they should make the attempt he would make them regret it, if only very briefly. It would be risky to tackle them all at once, but one at a time they will be vulnerable. I should have no great problems with that.

Still, there was one problem with that plan. Danak had mentioned daily reports to the Zulkir, obviously by magic. If the wizards were to suddenly disappear, then the Zulkir would know that something had gone wrong, and exactly where it had gone wrong as well. And he is clever enough that he would know whom to suspect. He would keep sending more agents after us, and even if we managed to survive somehow we would be outcasts from then on. We would never be able to return to Thay.

The image of a beautiful woman with commanding dark eyes appeared in his mind. Never to see her again…would be a terrible fate. Yet I could live with that if I had to, for the boy’s sake. But I will not have Edwin become an exile, not if there is anything I can do to prevent it. He will not have to go through anything even remotely resembling what I did. No, the wizards must live, unless there is no other option available.

The time wasn’t quite up however. And Danak had insisted on going by the Zulkir’s rules. That meant that if Edwin could fulfill his mission within the prescribed time, there should be no further problems. But is he capable of doing so? He has procrastinated long enough already. But surely if I tell him about the danger he faces he will finally act.

Edwin had claimed that once Sarevok was defeated, he was certain that he would be able to persuade Zaerini to work for the Red Wizards. Then we had better make certain that Sarevok is defeated swiftly, Dekaras thought. There is no time for further preparations. I will set my plan in motion tomorrow night, and if everything goes as planned I should be able to tip the advantage. Then Sarevok will certainly fall, and hopefully the girl will be more agreeable to listen to reason.

Nodding to himself, the assassin quietly stepped out from behind the curtain and slipped out of the room like a drifting shadow, his feet making no sound against the floor. And if she will not…then we must make other arrangements. As Danak said, Edwin has his orders, and if he cannot carry out one part, then it must be the other. I will help him if necessary. It would really be a shame if Zaerini had to die, Dekaras thought. Though he had only met her briefly, he couldn’t help liking her. Let us hope that she will be sensible once Sarevok is gone. I would certainly not like having to kill her. But like it or not, I will do as I must. I will keep Edwin safe, and I would sacrifice any life towards that objective. Including my own.

Meanwhile, in the Iron Throne building, Sarevok was just about to receive some unsettling news of his own from the man whose name he was still forced to bear in public. “Ah, Sarevok,” Reiltar Anchev said, nodding to his foster son. “Take a seat.”

“Father,” Sarevok said, sitting down in an armchair opposite Reiltar’s desk. It creaked under his weight. I will not have to call you that for much longer, swine. Soon, very soon, I will trample your mangled corpse beneath my feet and laugh while I’m doing it.

“As you know, we have a thorn in our side,” Reiltar said, his icy blue eyes hard. “And so far you haven’t managed to remove it.”

Sarevok remained silent. Ah, to feel his throat crush between my fingers and see the blood spurting from his bloated eyes…soon. Very soon. “Yes Father.”

Reiltar drummed his fingers impatiently against the desk. “I am of course speaking of that meddling little half-elf and her band of mercenaries. What was her name again? Zabini?”

“Zaerini,” Sarevok said between clenched teeth. My little sister is my responsibility. Mine to kill, in an earthshaking and cataclysmic duel, a clash between two divine beings. Mine to slay, the most glorious murder of all, the murder of one almost as strong as I. And this…this lowly filth cannot even get her name right!

“Zaerini. Of course.” There was an unsettling smile playing around Reiltar’s thin lips by now. “Since you have taken so long in dealing with her I have decided to do so on my own. From what I have been able to learn about her, it should be a very interesting experience.”

“Father?” What does he mean? He cannot take her from me; I will not allow it! She…she belongs to me! Her death should be a magnificent moment, shared only by the two of us. “What do you mean?”

Reiltar paused for a second, and then he smiled again, his eyes glittering. “No, Sarevok. I will not spoil the surprise for you. I will let you know in time, but for now I only wanted you to be aware that I have matters well in hand.” He stood from his desk, looking out through the window on the dark streets far below. “I think it is time I taught you how to properly handle this sort of matter. Already, my plan has been initiated. And soon, very soon, Zaerini will no longer pose a threat to anybody.”

That is what you think, ‘Father’. But I think you are mistaken. My little sister is resourceful, and whatever you have planned for her she will not submit easily. She is clever and powerful and her abilities have grown. She will win through yet. And then I will be there. Waiting for her.