Silverthorn Part 2

Jimmy lay rock still. To stumble across a member of the Guild of Death at work was not likely to enhance one's prospects of old age. But there was a standing order among the Mockers that any news of the brotherhood of a.s.sa.s.sins was to be reported at once, and the order had come down from the Upright Man himself, the highest authority in the Mockers. Jimmy chose to wait, trusting in his skills should he be discovered. He might not possess the nearly legendary attributes of a Nighthawk, but he had the supreme confidence of a fifteen-year-old boy who had become the youngest Master Thief in the history of the Mockers. If he was discovered, it would not be his first chase across the Thieves' Highway.

Time pa.s.sed and Jimmy waited, with a discipline unusual for one his age. A thief who cannot remain still for hours if need be does not remain a living thief long. Occasionally Jimmy heard and glimpsed the a.s.sa.s.sin moving about. Jimmy's awe of the legendary Nighthawks steadily lessened, for this one displayed little skill in staying motionless. Jimmy had long before mastered the trick of quietly tensing and relaxing muscles to prevent cramping and stiffening. Then, he considered, most legends tend to be overstated, and in the Nighthawks' line of work it was only to their advantage to keep people in awe of them.

Abruptly the a.s.sa.s.sin moved, letting his cloak fall away completely as he raised his crossbow. Jimmy could hear hoofbeats approaching. Riders pa.s.sed below, and the a.s.sa.s.sin slowly lowered the weapon. Obviously those below had not included his intended prey.

Jimmy elbowed himself a little higher to gain a better view of the man, now that his cloak didn't mask him. The a.s.sa.s.sin turned slightly, retrieving his cloak, exposing his face to Jimmy. The thief gathered his legs under him, ready to spring away should the need arise, and studied the man. Jimmy could make out little, except that the man had dark hair and was light-complexioned. Then the a.s.sa.s.sin seemed to be looking directly at the boy.

Jimmy's heart pounded loudly in his ears and he wondered how the a.s.sa.s.sin could fail to hear such a racket. But the man turned back to his vigil, and Jimmy dropped silently below the roof peak. He breathed slowly, fighting back a sudden giddy urge to giggle. After it pa.s.sed, he relaxed slightly and chanced another look.

Again the a.s.sa.s.sin waited. Jimmy settled in. He wondered at the Nighthawk's weapon. The heavy crossbow was a poor choice for a marksman, being less accurate than any good bow. It would do for someone with little training, for it delivered a bolt with thundering force-a wound less than fatal from an arrow could kill if from a bolt, because of the added shock of the blow. Jimmy had once seen a steel cuira.s.s on display in a tavern. The metal breastplate had a hole in it the size of Jimmy's fist, punched through by a bolt from a heavy crossbow. It had been hung up not because of the size of the hole, which was usual for the weapon, but because the wearer had somehow survived. But the weapon had its disadvantages. Besides being inaccurate past a dozen yards, it had a short range.

Jimmy craned his neck to watch the Nighthawk and felt a tic in his right arm. He shifted his weight slightly to his left. Suddenly a tile gave way beneath his hand and with a loud crack it broke. It fell away, clattering over the roof to crash down on the cobbles below. To Jimmy it was a thunder peal sounding his doom.

Moving with inhuman speed, the a.s.sa.s.sin turned and fired. Jimmy's slipping saved his life, for he could not have dodged fast enough to avoid the bolt, but gravity had provided the necessary speed. He struck the roof and heard the quarrel pa.s.s over his head. For a brief instant he imagined his head exploding like a ripe pumpkin and silently thanked Banath, patron G.o.d of thieves.

Jimmy's reflexes saved him next, for rather than standing, he rolled to his right. Where he had lain a moment before, a sword came crashing down. Knowing he couldn't gain enough of a lead to outrun the a.s.sa.s.sin, Jimmy leaped up into a crouch, pulling his dirk from his right boot top in a single motion. He had little love for fighting, but he had realized early in his career that his life might depend upon his use of the blade. He had practiced diligently whenever the opportunity had presented itself. Jimmy only wished his rooftop foray had not precluded his bringing along his rapier.

The a.s.sa.s.sin turned to face the boy, and Jimmy saw him teeter for a brief instant. The Nighthawk might have quick reflexes, but he was not used to the precarious footing the rooftops offered. Jimmy grinned, as much to hide his fear as from any amus.e.m.e.nt at the a.s.sa.s.sin's unease.

In a hissing whisper the a.s.sa.s.sin said, "Pray to whatever G.o.ds brought you here, boy."

Jimmy thought such a remark odd, considering it distracted only the speaker. The a.s.sa.s.sin lashed out, the blade slicing the air where Jimmy had been, and the boy thief was off.

He dashed along the roof and leaped back to the building wherein lived Trig the Fuller. A moment later he could hear the a.s.sa.s.sin landing also. Jimmy ran nimbly until he was confronted by a yawning gap. In his hurry he had forgotten there was a wide alley at this end of the building and the next building was impossibly distant. He spun about.

The a.s.sa.s.sin was slowly approaching, his sword point leveled at Jimmy. Jimmy was struck by a thought and suddenly began a mad stomping dance upon the roof. In a moment the noise was answered by an angry voice from below. "Thief! I am undone!" Jimmy could picture Trig the Fuller leaning out his window, rousing the city watch, and hoped the a.s.sa.s.sin had the same picture in mind. The racket below would surely have the building surrounded in short order. He prayed the a.s.sa.s.sin would flee rather than punish the author of his failure.

The a.s.sa.s.sin ignored the fuller's cries and advanced upon Jimmy. Again he slashed and Jimmy ducked, bringing himself inside the a.s.sa.s.sin's reach. Jimmy stabbed with his dirk and felt the point dig into the Nighthawk's sword arm. The a.s.sa.s.sin's blade went clattering to the street below. A howl of pain echoed through the night, silencing the fuller's shouts. Jimmy heard the shutters slam closed and wondered what poor Trig must be thinking, hearing that shriek right over his head.

The a.s.sa.s.sin dodged another thrust by Jimmy and pulled a dagger from his belt. He advanced again, not speaking, his weapon held in his left hand. Jimmy heard shouts from the street below and resisted the urge to cry for aid. He felt little confidence about besting the Nighthawk, even if the a.s.sa.s.sin was fighting with his off hand, but he was also reluctant to explain his presence upon the fuller's roof. Besides, even should he shout for aid, by the time the watch arrived, gained entrance to the house, and reached the roof the issue would be decided.

Jimmy backed to the end of the roof, until his heels hung in s.p.a.ce. The a.s.sa.s.sin closed, saying, "You have nowhere left to run, boy."

Jimmy waited, preparing a desperate gamble. The a.s.sa.s.sin tensed, the sign Jimmy had watched for. Jimmy crouched and stepped backward all at once, letting himself fall. The a.s.sa.s.sin had begun a lunge, and when his blade did not meet the expected resistance, he overbalanced and fell forward. Jimmy caught the edge of the roof, nearly dislocating his shoulder sockets with the jolt. He felt more than saw the a.s.sa.s.sin fall past, silently speeding through the darkness to crash on the cobbles below.

Jimmy hung for a moment, his hands, arms, and shoulders afire with pain. It would be so simple just to let go and fall into soft darkness. Shaking off the fatigue and pain, he urged protesting muscles to pull himself back onto the roof. He lay gasping for a moment, then rolled over and looked down.

The a.s.sa.s.sin lay still on the cobbles, his crooked neck offering clear evidence he was no longer alive. Jimmy breathed deeply, the chill of fear finally acknowledged. He suppressed a shudder and ducked down as two men rushed into the alley below. They grabbed the corpse and rolled it over, then picked it up and hurried off. Jimmy considered. For the a.s.sa.s.sin to have confederates about was a certain sign this had been a Guild of Death undertaking. But who was expected down this street at this hour of the night? Casting about for a moment, he weighed the risk of staying a little longer to satisfy his curiosity against the certain arrival of the city watch within a few more minutes. Curiosity won.

The sound of hoofbeats echoed through the fog, and soon two riders came into the light that burned from the lantern before Trig's home. It was at this moment that Trig decided to open his shutters again and resume his hue and cry. Jimmy's eyes widened as the riders looked up toward the fuller's window. Jimmy had not seen one of the men in over a year, but he was well known to the thief. Shaking his head at the implications of what he saw, the boy thief judged it a good time to depart. But seeing that man below made it impossible for Jimmy to consider this night's business at an end. It would most likely be a long night. He rose and began his trek along the Thieves' Highway, back toward Mockers' Rest.

Arutha reined in his horse and looked up to where a man in a nightshirt shouted from a window. "Laurie, what is that all about?"

"From what I can make out between the wails and screams, I judge that burgher to have recently been the victim of some felony."

Arutha laughed. "I guessed that much myself." He did not know Laurie well, but he enjoyed the singer's wit and sense of fun. He knew there was now some trouble between Laurie and Carline, which was why Laurie had asked to accompany Arutha on his journey to Krondor. Carline would be arriving in a week with Anita and Lyam. But Arutha had long ago decided that what Carline didn't confide in him wasn't his business. Besides, Arutha was sympathetic to Laurie's plight if he had fallen into her bad graces. After Anita, Carline was the last person Arutha would wish angry with him.

Arutha studied the area as a few sleepy souls in neighboring buildings began shouting inquiries. "Well, there's bound to be some investigation here soon. We'd best be along."

As if his words had been prophecy, Arutha and Laurie were startled to hear a voice coming out of the fog. "Here now!" Emerging from the murk were three men wearing the grey felt caps and yellow tabards of the city watch. The leftmost watchman, a beefy, heavy-browed fellow, carried a lantern in one hand and a large nightstick in the other. The center man was of advancing years, close to retirement age from appearances, and the third was a young lad, but both had an air of street experience about them, evidenced in the way they casually had their hands resting on large belt knives. "What pa.s.ses this night?" the older watchman said, his voice a mixture of good-natured humor and authority.

"Some disturbance in that house, watchman." Arutha pointed toward the fuller. "We were simply pa.s.sing by."

"Were you now, sir? Well, I don't suppose you'd object to remaining for a few moments longer until we discover what this is all about." He signaled to the young watchman to look around.

Arutha nodded, saying nothing. At that point a red-faced puffball of a man emerged from the house, waving his arms while he shouted, "Thieves! They stole into my room, my very room, and took my treasure! What's to be done when a law-abiding citizen isn't safe in his own bed, I ask you?" Catching sight of Arutha and Laurie, he said, "Are these then the thieves, the vicious thieves?" Mustering what dignity he could while wearing a voluminous nightshirt, he exclaimed, "What have you done with my gold, my precious gold?"

The beefy watchman jerked on the shouting man's arm, nearly spinning the fuller completely around. "Here now, watch your shouting, churl."

"Churl!" shouted Trig. "Just what, I ask, gives you the right to call a citizen, a law-abiding citizen, a-" He stopped, and his expression changed to one of disbelief as a company of riders appeared out of the fog. At their head rode a tall, black-skinned man wearing the tabard of the captain of the Prince's Royal Household Guard. Seeing the gathering in the streets, he signaled for his men to rein in.

With a shake of his head, Arutha said to Laurie, "So much for a quiet return to Krondor."

The captain said, "Watchman, what is all this?"

The watchman saluted. "That is what I was just undertaking to discover this very minute, Captain. We apprehended these two . . ." He indicated Arutha and Laurie.

The captain rode closer and laughed. The watchman looked sidewise at this tall captain, not knowing what to say. Riding up to Arutha, Gardan, former sergeant of the garrison at Crydee, saluted. "Welcome to your city, Highness." At these words the other guards braced in their saddles, saluting their Prince.

Arutha returned the salute of the guardsmen, then shook hands with Gardan while the watchmen and the fuller stood speechless. "Singer," said Gardan, "it is good to see you again, as well." Laurie acknowledged the greeting with a smile and wave. He had known Gardan for only a brief while before Arutha had dispatched him to Krondor to a.s.sume command of the city and palace guards, but he liked the grey-haired soldier.

Arutha looked to where the watchmen and the fuller waited. The watchmen had their caps off" and the seniormost said, "Beggin' Your Highness's pardon, old Bert didn't know. Any offense was unintended, Sire."

Arutha shook his head, amused despite the late hour and the cold weather. "No offense, Bert the Watchman. You were but doing your duty, and rightly so." He turned to Gardan. "Now, how in heaven's name did you manage to find me?"

"Duke Caldric sent a full itinerary along with the news that you were returning from Rillanon. You were due in tomorrow, but I said to Earl Volney you'd most likely try to slip in tonight. As you were riding from Salador, there was only one gate you'd enter"-he pointed down the street toward the eastern gate, unseen in the fog-shrouded night-"and here we are. Your Highness arrived even earlier than I had expected. Where is the rest of your party?"

"Half the guards are escorting the Princess Anita toward her mother's estates. The rest are camped about six hours' ride from the city. I couldn't abide one more night on the road. Besides, there's a great deal to be done." Gardan looked quizzically at the Prince, but all Arutha would say was "More when I speak to Volney. Now"-he looked at the fuller-"who is this loud fellow?"

"This is Trig the Fuller, Highness," answered the senior watchman. "He claims someone broke into his room and stole from him. He says he was awakened by the sounds of struggle on his roof."

Trig interrupted. "They were fighting over my head, over my . . . very . . . head . . ." His voice trailed off as he realized who he was speaking to. ". . . Your Highness," he finished, suddenly embarra.s.sed.

The heavy-browed watchman threw him a stern look. "He says he heard some sort of scream and, like a turtle, pulled his head back in from the window."

Trig nodded vigorously. "Like someone was doing murder, doing b.l.o.o.d.y murder, Your Highness. It was horrible." The beefy watchman visited Trig with an elbow to the ribs at the interruption.

The young watchman came from the side alley. "This was lying atop some trash on the street the other side of the house, Bert." He held out the a.s.sa.s.sins sword. "There was some blood on the grip, but none on the blade. There's also a small pool of blood in the alley, but no body, anywhere."

Arutha motioned for Gardan to take the sword. The young watchman, observing the guards and the obvious position of command a.s.sumed by the newcomers, handed up the sword, then doffed his own cap.

Arutha received the sword from Gardan, saw nothing significant in it, and returned it to the watchman. "Turn your guards around, Gardan. It is late and there's little sleep left this night."

"But what of the theft?" cried the fuller, shaken loose from his silence. "It was my savings, my life savings! I'm ruined! What shall I do?"

The Prince turned his horse and came alongside the watchmen. To Trig he said, "I offer my sympathies, good fuller, but rest a.s.sured the watch will do their utmost to retrieve your goods."

"Now," said Bert to Trig, "I suggest you turn in for what's left of the night, sir. In the morning you may enter a complaint with the duty sergeant of the watch. He'll want a description of what was taken."

"What was taken? Gold, man, that's what they took! My h.o.a.rd, my entire h.o.a.rd!"

"Gold, is it? Then," said Bert, with the voice of experience, "I suggest you turn in and tomorrow begin to rebuild your treasure, for as sure as there's fog in Krondor, you'll not see one coin again. But do not be too disconsolate, good sir. You are a man of means, and gold quickly accrues to those of your station, resources, and enterprise."

Arutha stifled a laugh, for despite the man's personal tragedy, he stood a comic figure in his nightshirt of linen, his nightcap ripping forward to almost touch his nose. "Good fuller, I will make amends." He pulled his dagger from his belt and handed it down to Bert the watchman. "This weapon bears my family crest. The only others like it are worn by my brothers, the King and the Duke of Crydee. Return it to the palace tomorrow and a bag of gold will be placed in its stead. I'll have no unhappy fullers in Krondor on the day of my homecoming. Now I bid you all good night." Arutha spurred his horse and led his companions toward the palace.

When Arutha and his guards had vanished into the gloom, Bert turned to Trig. "Well then, sir, there's a happy end to it," he said, pa.s.sing the Prince's dagger over to the fuller. "And you may take some added pleasure in knowing you are one of the few of common birth who may claim to have spoken with the Prince of Krondor, albeit under somewhat strange and difficult circ.u.mstances." To his men he said, "Let us back to our rounds. There'll be more than this one little bit of fun in Krondor on a night like this." He signaled for his men to follow and led them off in the white murk.

Trig stood alone. After a moment his expression brightened and he shouted up to his wife and any others who still looked out their windows, "I've spoken to the Prince! I, Trig the Fuller!" Feeling emotions somewhat akin to elation, the fuller trudged back into the warmth of his home, clutching Arutha's dagger.

Jimmy made his way through the narrowest of tunnels. The pa.s.sage was part of the maze of sewers and other underground constructions common to that part of the city, and every foot of those underground pa.s.sages was controlled by the Mockers. Jimmy pa.s.sed a tofsman-one who made his living gathering up whatever of use could be found in the sewers. He used a stick to halt a jumble of debris carried along on the waters of the sewer. The floating ma.s.s was called a tof that which tofleets, in a corruption of language. He picked at it, looking for a coin or anything else of value. He was in fact a sentry. Jimmy signaled to him, ducked under a low-hanging timber, apparently a fallen brace in an abandoned cellar, and entered a large hall carved out among the tunnels. Here was the heart of the guild of thieves, Mockers' Rest.

Jimmy retrieved his rapier from the weapons locker. He sought out a quiet corner in which to sit, for he felt troubled by the conflict he faced. By rights he should own up to his unauthorized pilfering of the fuller's house, split the gold, and take whatever punishment the Nightmaster meted out. By tomorrow afternoon the guild would know the fuller had been boosted, anyway. Once it was clear that no freebooting thief was at work, suspicion would fall upon Jimmy and the others known to occasionally go for a night's foray without leave. Any punishment forthcoming then would be doubly harsh for his not having confessed now. Still, Jimmy couldn't consider only his own interests, since he knew the a.s.sa.s.sin's target had been none other than the Prince of Krondor himself. And Jimmy had spent enough time with Arutha when the Mockers had hidden the Prince and Princess Anita from du Bas-Tyra's men to have developed a liking for the Prince. Arutha had given Jimmy the very rapier the boy thief wore at his side. No, Jimmy couldn't ignore the a.s.sa.s.sin's presence, but he was not clear where his best course lay.

After long moments of quiet consideration, Jimmy decided. He would first attempt to get warning to the Prince, then pa.s.s along the information about the a.s.sa.s.sin to Alvarny the Quick, the Daymaster. Alvarny was a friend and allowed Jimmy a little more lat.i.tude than Gaspar daVey, the Nightmaster. Alvarny would make no mention to the Upright Man of Jimmy's tardiness in reporting, if the boy didn't take too long to come forth. Which meant Jimmy would have to reach Arutha quickly, then return at once to speak with the Daymaster-before sundown tomorrow at the latest. Any later than that, and Jimmy would be compromised beyond even Arutha's ability to look the other way. Alvarny might be a generous man, now that he was in his twilight, but he was still a Mocker. Disloyalty to the guild was something he would not permit.

"Jimmy!"

Jimmy looked up and saw Golden Dase approaching. While young, the dashing thief was already experienced in parting rich older women from their wealth. He relied more on his blond good looks and charm than on stealth. Dase made a display of the valuable clothing he wore. "What think you?"

Jimmy nodded in approval. "Taken to robbing tailors?"

Golden aimed a playful, half-hearted cuff at Jimmy, who ducked easily, then sat next to the boy. "No, you misbegotten son of an alley cat, I have not. My current 'benefactor' is the widow of the famous Masterbrewer Fallon." Jimmy had heard of the man; his ales and beers had been so highly prized they had even graced the table of the late Prince Erland. "And given her late husband's and now her far-reaching business concerns, she has received an invitation to the reception."

"Reception?" Jimmy knew Golden had some tidbit of gossip he wished to unfold in his own good time.

"Ah," said Golden, "did I fail to mention the fact of a wedding?"

Jimmy rolled his eyes upward but played along. "What wedding, Golden?"

"Why, the royal wedding of course. Though we shall be seated away from the King's table, it will not be at the table most remote."

Jimmy sat bolt upright. "The King? In Krondor!"

"Of course."

Jimmy gripped Golden by the arm. "Start at the beginning."

Grinning, the handsome but not terribly perceptive confidence man said, "The widow Fallon was informed by no less a source than the purchasing agent at the palace, a man she has known for seventeen years, that extra stores were required within a month's time for, and I quote, "the royal wedding." One is safe in a.s.suming a king would be in attendance at his own wedding."

Jimmy shook his head. "No, you simpleton, not the King's. Anita and Arutha's."

Golden seemed ready to take umbrage at the remark, but then a sudden glimmer of interest showed in his eyes. "What makes you say that?"

'The King weds in Rillanon. The Prince weds in Krondor." Golden nodded, indicating this made sense. "I hid out with Anita and Arutha; it was only a matter of time before they wed. That's why he's back." Seeing a reaction at that, Jimmy quickly added, ". . . Or will be back soon."

Jimmy's mind raced. Not only would Lyam be in Krondor for the wedding, but so would every n.o.ble of importance in the West, and no small number from the East. And if Dase knew of the wedding, then half of Krondor did as well and the other half would know of it before the next sundown.

Jimmy's reverie was interrupted by the approach of Laughing Jack, the Nightwarden, senior lieutenant to the Nightmaster. The thin-lipped man came to stand before Jimmy and Dase and, with hands upon hips, said, "You look like you've something on your mind, boy?"

Jimmy had no affection for Jack. He was a dour, tight-jawed man given to violent tempers and unnecessary cruelty. The only reason for his high place in the guild was his ability at keeping the guild's bashers and other hotheads in line. Jimmy's dislike was returned in kind by Jack, for it had been Jimmy who had appended "Laughing" to Jack's name. In the years Jack had been in the guild, no one could remember hearing him laugh. "Nothing, really," said Jimmy.

Jack's eyes narrowed as he studied Jimmy, then Dase, for a long minute. "I hear there was some fuss over near the east gate; you weren't thereabouts this night, were you?"

Jimmy maintained an indifferent expression and regarded Dase, as if Jack had asked both the question. Golden shook his head in the negative. Jimmy wondered if Jack already knew about the Nighthawk. If he did, and if someone else had caught sight of Jimmy nearby, Jimmy could expect no mercy from Jack's bashers. Still, Jimmy suspected that if Jack had proof, he would have come accusing, not questioning. Subtlety was not Jack's hallmark. Jimmy feigned indifference as he said, "Another drunken argument? No, I was asleep most of the night."

"Good, then you'll be fresh," said Jack. With a jerk of his head he indicated Dase should absent himself. Golden rose and left without comment and Jack placed his boot upon the bench next to Jimmy. "We've got a job this night."

'Tonight?" said Jimmy, already counting the night half done. There was barely five hours left until sunrise.

"It's special. From himself," he said, meaning the Upright Man. "There's a royal do on at the palace and the Keshian amba.s.sador's coming. A load of gifts arrived late tonight, gifts for a wedding. They'll be straight off for the palace by midday next at latest, so tonight's our only chance to boost them. It's a rare chance." His tone left no doubt in Jimmy's mind that his presence was not requested but required. Jimmy had hoped to get some sleep tonight before heading for the palace, but now there was no chance of that. With a note of resignation in his voice, he said, "When and where?"

"An hour from now at the big warehouse one street over from the Fiddler Crab Inn, near dockside."

Jimmy knew the place. He nodded and without another word left Laughing Jack. He headed up the stairs toward the street. The question of a.s.sa.s.sins and plots would have to wait a few hours more.

Fog still overwhelmed Krondor. The warehouse district near the docks was usually quiet in the early morning hours, but this night the scene was otherworldly. Jimmy wended his way among large bales of goods, of too little value to warrant the additional expense of storage inside, and therefore safe from the threat of thievery. Bulk cotton, animal fodder to be shipped, and stacked lumber crated a maze of maddening complexity through which Jimmy moved quietly. He had spied several dock watchmen, but the night's dampness and a generous bribe kept them close to their shed, where a fire burned brightly in a brazier, relieving the gloom. Nothing short of a riot would get them away from the warmth. The Mockers would be long removed from this area before those indifferent guardians stirred.

Reaching the designated meeting place, Jimmy looked about and, seeing no one in sight, settled in to wait. He was early, as was his habit, for he liked to compose his mind before the action began. Additionally, there was something in Laughing Jack's orders to him that made him wary. A job this important was rarely a last-minute affair, and even rarer was the Upright Man's allowing anything to tempt the Prince's wrath-and purloining royal wedding gifts would bring Arutha's wrath. But Jimmy was not placed highly enough in the guild to know if everything was on the up and up. He would simply have to remain alert.

The soft hint of someone approaching caused Jimmy to tense. Whoever was coming was moving cautiously, as was to be expected, but with the faint footfalls he had heard a strange sound. It was the slight clicking of metal on wood and, as soon as recognition registered, Jimmy leaped away. With a loud thud and an eruption of wood splinters, a crossbow bolt ripped through the side of a crate, where Jimmy had stood a moment before.

An instant later, two figures, dark silhouettes in the grey night, appeared from out of the gloom, running toward him.

Sword in hand, Laughing Jack rushed Jimmy without a word, while his companion furiously cranked up his crossbow for another shot. Jimmy drew weapons and executed a parry of an overhand slash by Jack, diverting the blade with his dirk, then lunging with his rapier in return. Jack skipped to one side, and the two figures squared off.

"Now we'll see how well you can use that toad sticker, you snotty little b.a.s.t.a.r.d," snarled Jack. "Watching you bleed just might give me something to laugh about."

Jimmy said nothing, refusing to engage in distracting conversation. His only reply was a high-line attack that drove Jack back. He had no illusions about being a better swordsman than Jack; he simply wanted to keep alive long enough to gain a chance to flee.

Back and forth they moved, exchanging blows and parries, each looking for an opening to finish the contest. Jimmy tried for a counterthrust and misjudged his position, and suddenly fire erupted in his side. Jack had managed to cut Jimmy with the edge of his sword, a painful and potentially weakening wound, but not fatal, at least not yet. Jimmy looked for more room to move, feeling sick to his stomach from the pain, while Jack pressed his advantage. Jimmy backed off from a furious overhand slashing attack as Jack used the advantage of his heavier blade to beat down Jimmy's guard.

A sudden shout telling Jack to get out of the way warned Jimmy the other man had reloaded his crossbow. Jimmy circled away from Jack, trying to keep moving and put Jack between himself and Jack's accomplice. Jack slashed at Jimmy, turning him back rapidly, and then hacked downward. The force of the blow dropped Jimmy to his knees.

Abruptly Jack leaped backward, as if a giant hand had seized him by the collar and yanked. He slammed against a large crate and for an instant his eyes registered shocked disbelief, then rolled up in his head as limp fingers lost their grip on his sword. Jimmy saw that, where Jack's chest had been, a b.l.o.o.d.y, pulped ma.s.s was left by the pa.s.sage of another crossbow bolt. But for the sudden fury of Jack's attack, Jimmy would have received it in the back. Without a sound Jack slumped, and Jimmy realized he was pinned to the crate. Jimmy rose from his crouch, spinning to confront the nameless man, who had tossed away the crossbow with a curse. He pulled his sword and rushed Jimmy. The man aimed a blow at Jimmy's head and the boy ducked, catching his heel. He fell heavily backward into a sitting position while the man's swing took him off balance slightly. Jimmy tossed his dirk at the man. The man took the point of the long dagger in the side and looked down at the wound, more an inconvenience than an injury. But the brief distraction was all Jimmy needed. An expression of uncomprehending surprise crossed the nameless man's face as Jimmy got to one knee and ran him through.

Jimmy yanked away his blade as the man fell. He pulled his dirk from the dead man's side, then wiped off and resheathed his blades. Slowly examining himself, he found he was bleeding but would live.