Foulbourgh? asked Gorath.
The part of the city built outside the wall. There are ways to get in and out of the city if you know them. The sewers under the foulbourgh and city proper are not supposed to connect, so an enemy cant use them to gain entrance.
But they do, supplied Gorath.
Yes, in two places, and one of them is as dangerous as walking up to those men gathered back there and asking for directions to the Princes palace. That entrance is controlled by the Thieves Guild. But the other entrance well, lets say that besides a friend of mine, only a few others know of it.
How is it you know of it? asked Gorath.
My friend and I used it once, a long time ago, to follow Arutha to Lorien.
Gorath nodded. We have heard of that encounter. Murmandamuss trap to kill the Lord of the West.
Thats the one, said Locklear. Now, it would be a good time to move silently.
They did as Locklear bid and moved through the gully, until they encountered a culvert, made of stones polished by the water over the years. They bent over and walked below the road, as the late-afternoon shadows lengthened. Finally, the culvert ducked under a small stone bridge that afforded them a hiding place. It was well shielded from prying eyes by stores stacked in crates on each side of the road waiting for transport. Bored workers slowly moved to load them.
We linger a bit, until it gets darker, said Locklear. At the right time, we need to get up and blend in with some traffic heading along the road that runs beside this culvert. He went to the other side of the bridge and glanced upward, pulling his head back.
Pointing where he had looked, he said, Someones hanging around up there.
What do we do? asked Gorath, obviously as out of his element as Locklear had been on the mountain trail.
We wait, said Locklear. A patrol from the city watch passes along here about sundown, and theyll order any armed men to move along. After dark it gets dangerous outside the wall, and the watch doesnt like too many swords gathered in one place.
They sat under the bridge, in the puddles on either side of the stream, waiting in silence as the hours dragged by. Flies annoyed them, and only Gorath ignored their presence as Locklear and Owyn spent most of the time swatting them away.
As sundown approached, Locklear heard the tread of boots upon the cobbles above. A few voices were raised, and Locklear said, Now!
He moved quickly up the side of the bank just beyond the bridge, ducking behind some crates as a party of men dispersed under the watchful eye of the city guard. Theyll come this way, back toward the palace, said Locklear. We just duck in beside them, and even if were seen, its unlikely were going to be attacked with a dozen soldiers ready to start busting heads at the first sign of trouble. He pointed to Gorath. But youd better fix that hood. Most people here wouldnt know an elf from a moredhel if you hung signs around your neck, but you never know. If Ruthias fickle, the first person we meet will be an old vet from the wars to the north. Ruthia was the Goddess of Luck.
Gorath did as he was told and pulled his hood forward, hiding his features and when the soldiers walked down the road beside the stream, he followed Locklear and Owyn as they hurried to match pace with the soldiers.
They walked from the northeasternmost corner of the city along its entire length to the southern gate, and when the city watch moved toward the palace entrance, Locklear pulled them aside.
Owyn said, Why dont we just follow them in?
Look, said Locklear. They looked where he pointed and saw a work crew gathered before the gate, with two teams of horses tied to a pulley. It seems someone has sabotaged the gate, said Locklear.
The watch commander shouted something down from the wall to the patrol leader, who saluted and turned his men around. Come on, lads, he said, were for the northern gate.
Locklear motioned for his companions to follow him and he led them through a back alley. This way, he urged.
He took them to what appeared to be the back entrance to a small inn, and opened the gate. Once through, he closed the gate and they stood in a tiny stabling yard, with a small shed off to one side. Looking to see if they were observed, Locklear pointed to the rear door of the inn. If anyone finds us, were lost, looking for a meal and once we get inside the inn, head toward the front door; if anyone objects, we run like hell.
Gorath said, Where are we?
The back of an inn owned by people who would be less than pleased to discover we knew about this place, or what Im about to do. He moved toward the shed, but rather than going inside, he moved to where it joined with the wall. Feeling around behind the shed, Locklear tripped a lever and a latch clicked. A big stone rolled away, and Owyn and Gorath could see it was a cleverly-fashioned sham, made of canvas and painted to look like the rock of the wall. Locklear was forced to lie down and wiggle feet first through the small aperture, but he successfully negotiated the entrance. Owyn went next, and Gorath last, barely clearing the opening.
Who uses that thing? asked Owyn in a whisper. Children?
Yes, said Locklear. The Mockers number many urchins in their ranks and there are dozens of bolt-holes like that all over the city.
Where are we? asked Owyn.
Use your senses, human, said Gorath. Or cant your breed smell its own stink?
Oh, Owyn exclaimed, as the stench of the sewer struck him.
Locklear reached up and pulled shut the trap, leaving them in total darkness.
My kind see in darkness better than yours do, Locklear, said Gorath, but even we must have some light.
There should be a lantern close by, said Locklear. If I can remember the distance and direction.
What? asked Gorath. You dont know where a light is?
I can help, said Owyn. A moment later a faint nimbus of light started to glow around the young mans hand, and it grew until they could see a dozen paces in all directions.
How did you do that? asked Locklear.
Owyn held out his left hand. On it was a ring. I took it off Nago. Its magic.
Which way? asked Gorath.
This way, said Locklear, leading them into the sewers of Krondor.
Where are we? whispered Owyn.
Locklear lost his sure tone as he said, I think were just north of the palace.
You think? said Gorath with a snort of contempt.
All right, said Locklear with a petulant tone. So Im a little lost. Ill find
Your death, quick and messy, said a voice from outside the range of Owyns light.
Three swords cleared their scabbards as Locklear tried to pierce the gloom beyond the light by force of will.
Who be you and what would you in the Thieves Highway?
Locklear cocked his head at the bad attempt at a formal challenge and, judging the owner of the voice to be a youth, he answered, I be Seigneur Locklear and I do whatever I will in the Princes sewers. If youre half as intelligent as youre trying to sound, youll know not to bar our way.
A young boy stepped forward from the shadows, slender and wearing a tunic too large for him, wrapped around the waist with a rope belt, trousers he had almost outgrown, and sporting a pointed felt cap. He carried a short sword. Im Limm and fast with a blade. Step any further without my leave and your blood will flow.
A young boy stepped forward from the shadows, slender and wearing a tunic too large for him, wrapped around the waist with a rope belt, trousers he had almost outgrown, and sporting a pointed felt cap. He carried a short sword. Im Limm and fast with a blade. Step any further without my leave and your blood will flow.
Gorath said, The only thing youll do is die, boy, if you dont stand aside.
If the towering presence of the moredhel chieftain had any effect on the lad, he hid it as he bravely said, Ive bested better than you when I was a boy. He stepped back, cautiously. And besides, Ive got five bashers back there waiting for my call.
Locklear held up his hand to restrain Gorath. You remind me of a young Jimmy the Hand, said Locklear. Full of bluster as well as guile. Run off and theres no need for anyones blood to flow. Softly to Gorath he said, If he has bashers nearby, we dont need the trouble.
Jimmy the Hand, is it? asked Limm. Well, if youre friends of Seigneur James, well let you pass. But when you see him, tell him he had better come soon or the deal is off. Before Locklear could answer, Limm was deep in shadows, so silently they could barely hear him move. From a distance he said, And watch your step, Locklear who knows Jimmy the Hand. There are nasty customers nearby. As the voice faded, Limm added, And youre completely turned around. Turn to the right at the next culvert, and straight on until you reach the palace.
Locklear waited, listening for more. But only silence punctuated by the trickling sound of water and the occasional echo of some distant sound in the sewer could be heard.
Gorath said, That was passing strange.
Yes, agreed Owyn.
More than you know, said Locklear. That boy was waiting for my friend James. And James has the death mark on him from the Mockers if he ever trespasses their territory. That was a deal struck by Prince Arutha for Jamess life years ago.
Owyn said, Sometimes agreements change.
Or are broken, added Gorath.
Locklear said, Well, well sort this out later. Right now we need to find our way to the palace.
What did he mean by nasty customers nearby? asked Owyn.
I dont know, answered Locklear. I have a feeling if were not careful well find out, he whispered.
They turned in the direction instructed by Limm and moved to the corner where he had told them to turn. A short way along the indicated route, Gorath said, Someone ahead.
Owyn put his ring under his arm, causing the light to diminish. Two men, whispered Gorath. Wearing black.
Which is why I cant see them, said Locklear.
Who are they? asked Owyn.
Locklear turned and knew his withering look was lost in the gloom, so he said, Why dont you just go up and ask them.
If they arent the Princes men or those Mockers, then they must be enemies, said Gorath, stepping forward quickly, his sword ready to deliver a killing blow.
Locklear hesitated a moment, and by the time he started moving, the dark elf was upon the two men. The first turned just in time to see his own death arrive, for Gorath slashed him deeply across the chest and shoulder.
The second man drew his sword and attempted to slash down on Goraths head, but Locklear stepped in and parried the blow high, allowing Gorath to run him through. It was over in seconds.
Locklear knelt and examined the two bodies. They wore identical trousers and tunics of black material, and black leather boots. Both men had short swords and one had laid aside a short bow within easy reach. Both men were without purse or pouch, but both wore identical medallions under their tunics.
Nighthawks! said Locklear.
Assassins? asked Owyn.
But they should have Locklear shook his head. If these two are Nighthawks, Im Goraths grandfather.
Gorath snorted at the idea, but said, We have heard of your Nighthawks; some were employed by agents of Murmandamus.
Owyn said, The stories are they had nearly magical abilities.
Stories, said Locklear. My friend James faced one on the rooftops of the city when he was no more than a lad of fourteen years and lived to tell the tale. Locklear stood. They were good, but no more than other men. But the legend helped them get their price. But these, he indicated the two dead men, were not Nighthawks.
A whistle sounded from down a nearby tunnel. Gorath spun, his sword ready to face another attack. Locklear, however, just put two fingers to his mouth and whistled in return. A moment later a young man stepped into the light. Locky? he asked.
Jimmy! said Locklear as he embraced his old friend. We were just speaking of you.
James, squire of the Princes court, regarded his best friend. He took in the long hair gathered behind in a knot and the bushy moustache and said, What have you done to your hair?
I havent seen you in months and the first thing you ask about is fashion? asked Locklear.
James grinned. His face was youthful, though he was no longer a boy. He had curly brown hair he kept cropped short and was dressed in plain clothing, tunic, trousers, boots and cloak. He carried only a belt knife. What brings you back to court? Arutha banished you for a year, if memory serves.
This moredhel, said Locklear. His name is Gorath and he brings a warning to Arutha. Pointing to his other companion, he said, And this is Owyn, son of the Baron of Timons. Hes been of great help to me, also.
James said, A moredhel chieftain in Krondor. Well, things are getting strange hereabouts, too. He glanced down at the two dead men. Someone has bribed a few very stupid men to play the part of Nighthawks, here in the sewers and in other parts of town.
Why? asked Locklear.
We dont know, said James. Im on my way to meet with some old acquaintances of mine. To see if we can cooperate in uncovering who is behind this mummery.
The Mockers, said Locklear. We ran into one of them, a lad named Limm.
James nodded. Im to meet with some of them shortly. I had better not disappoint them. But before I go, what are you doing down here in the sewer?
Locklear said, Someone wants Gorath dead very badly. Ive been cut more times than a horses flank by a cheap butcher. Were here because we need to get into the palace, and Ive seen lots of very dangerous-looking men watching the entrances to the palace. When I tried to get us in by shadowing the city watch trying to enter, we found the gate damaged.
Someone sabotaged it, as well as the north palace entry. The only way into the palace right now is through the sea-dock gate, or here.
Locklear looked concerned. They even had the gate jammed to keep us from reaching the palace?
James nodded. That would explain the mystery. Look, go see Arutha and Ill catch up with you later.
Thats the way? asked Locklear.
Yes, said James. He fished out a key and handed it to Locklear. But weve locked the secret door so youd have had a long wait if I hadnt chanced by.
I might have picked the lock, said Locklear. Ive watched you do it a few times.
And pigs might fly, said James with a pat on his friends shoulder. Its good to see you back, even if under such dark clouds. He pointed the way he had come. Make your way past two large culverts on the left, and youll find the ladder to the palace. With a departing grin, he added, I suggest you bathe before calling upon Arutha.