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“How? By whom? Kieran?”
“No, though I have a score to settle with that one. He shall have to wait his turn. There was another. A half-breed. The Nomad.”
Ankhor frowned. “Sorak? Here?”
“You know of him?”
“We’ve met before,” said Ankhor.
“Oh, yes, of course,” said Edric. “He stole that princess from your caravan.”
“Torian’s loss, not mine,” said Ankhor dismissively. “And the rash fool was stupid enough to give pursuit into the Barrens, which cost him his life. An inconvenience, as he was a valued trading partner, but a minor loss, all things considered. But Sorak’s presence is a greater inconvenience, still.”
“An inconvenience,” said Edric wryly. “How quaint. We lost over a score of our tribe, and you call it ‘an inconvenience.’”
“I thought the Shadows were supposed to be masters of their craft,” said Ankhor scornfully. “And over a score of them were brought down by mere caravan guards? Had I known your people were so inept, I would have spent my money elsewhere.”
“They were ambushed,” Edric said. “You might have done better to rob your own caravan at a time when Kieran of Draj was not there to take command. He knows his trade, that one. He laid a brilliant trap. Your money was well spent in hiring him. But your timing in having him on that particular caravan left something to be desired.”
“I could not control his movements,” Ankhor said. “When I discovered he was coming on that caravan, it was already too late to change the plan.”
“And so we paid the price for it,” said Edric bitterly. With his right hand, he refilled his goblet and drained it in one gulp. “Still, but for that elfling, the plan might have succeeded. What makes it truly galling is that I was the one who told them when the attack would come. I had no choice. To resist would have been suicide, and I was not prepared to give up yet. My people are very dissatisfied with me at the moment. And they are even less satisfied with you.”
“Is that a threat?” asked Ankhor.
“A statement of fact. I did not come here alone, in case you’re thinking of doing something foolish,” Edric cautioned him. “I have brought some of my people with me. If I do not return, they will see to it that all of Altaruk knows who it was who hired us to rob the caravan.”
“Very well,?
?? said Ankhor. “Let’s get down to business. What do you want? Reparations for your losses? Name your price.”
Edric considered. “Fifty thousand in gold.”
“Done,” said Ankhor. “Anything else?”
Edric snorted. “I should have asked for more. But yes, there is one more thing. I want the Nomad.”
Ankhor shrugged. “Take him. He does not concern me.”
“I beg to differ,” Edric said. “He happens to be yours.”
“Mine?” Ankhor frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Kieran has hired him to be his lieutenant in your house guard,” Edric said. “The two of them are thick as thieves, and it would be difficult to seize him while he is under your protection.”
Ankhor chuckled.
“You find that amusing?” asked Edric, scowling.
“Yes, frankly, I do,” said Ankhor. He smiled. “The Nomad and I seem fated to cross paths in fascinating ways. The first time, it was to my benefit. The second, to my loss. But this time, there is more at stake. I do not want him getting in the way.”
“Then we will be pleased to take him off your hands,” said Edric. “In addition to the gold, of course.”
“You will have your gold,” said Ankhor with thinly veiled contempt. “As for Sorak, I will make it easy for you. I’ll greet the caravan when it arrives, as a show of gratitude for his assistance in foiling the attack. To prove I hold no grudge against him for the royal twit, I will offer him the use of one of our apartments in the shopkeeper’s quarter. It is on the Street of Clothiers, above the shop of Lorian the Bootmaker. The house is marked with the sign of a blue boot. The entrance to the stairs leading up to the apartment is through an alley to the right of the shop. I’ll see to it that Kieran is otherwise engaged tonight, with the remainder of the house guard, so they cannot interfere. The rest is up to you. Will that be satisfactory?”
Edric pursed his lips and nodded. “It will do.”
“Good. And though it is not my habit to give rewards for failure, I’ll arrange a discreet payment of the gold, through our usual intermediaries, as a gesture of good faith. I expect no problems with the Shadows on any future shipments in my caravans. I do not expect to be seeing you again. Our business is concluded. Feel free to have another drink before you leave.”
