Read Online A Darkness at Sethanon by Raymond Feist - Free Book Online Page B

Quick. Tell him matters are as suspected and my new
master will act at once, I’m certain. Then take the gold and
have some fun for a few days.”
    The man fixed
Jimmy with a squint, grinning his toothless grin. “Stay clear
is what you’re saying? Well then, I might spend a day or two
drinking up your gold. That enough?”
    Jimmy said,
“Yes, two days will see this business over.” As he moved
toward the tunnel that would lead to his exit to the streets, he
added, “One way or the other.” He looked about in the
gloom and discovered he had been pulled back toward the place where
he had first encountered the two Nighthawks. Pointing toward the
intersection, he asked, “Is there a metal ladder nearby?”
    “Three
that can be used.” He indicated their locations.
    “Thanks
again, Tolly. Now, quickly, carry my message to Alvarny.”
    The old tofsman
waded away into a large tunnel, and Jimmy began his inspection of the
nearest ladder. It was rusty and dangerous, as was the second, but
the third was newly repaired and firmly anchored in the stones. Jimmy
quickly climbed to the top and examined the trapdoor above.
    It was wood and
therefore part of a building floor. Jimmy considered his position
relative to Teech’s Tannery. If his sense of direction wasn’t
off, he was under the building he had thought likely to be the
Nighthawks’ hideout. He listened at the trap for a long minute,
hearing nothing.
    Gently he pushed
upward, peeking through the tiny crack made by the rising door.
Directly before his nose was a pair of boots, crossed at the ankles.
Jimmy froze. When the feet didn’t move, he pushed the trap an
inch higher. The feet in the boots belonged to a nasty-looking
customer who was sound asleep, a half-empty bottle clutched tightly
to his chest. From the cloying odour in the room, Jimmy knew the man
had been drinking paga - a potent brew, heavily spiced and laced with
a perfume-sweet mild narcotic, imported from Kesh.
    Jimmy chanced a
quick glance about. Aside from the sleeping sentry the room was
empty, but faintly heard voices came from the single door in the
nearby wall.
    Jimmy drew a
silent breath and noiselessly emerged from the trap, avoiding
touching the sleeping guard. He moved with a single step to the door
and listened. The voices were faint. A tiny crack in the wooden door
allowed Jimmy” to peek through.
    He could see
only the back of one man and the face of another. From the manner in
which they were speaking, it was clear there were others in the room
as well, and from the sound of movement, some number of them, perhaps
a dozen. Jimmy glanced about and nodded to himself. This was the
headquarters of the Nighthawks. And these men were Nighthawks, beyond
doubt. Even if he hadn’t seen the ebon hawk on the man he had
killed, those in the next room were nothing like the common folk of
Fish Town.
    Jimmy wished he
could better scout the building, for there were at least a half-dozen
other rooms, but the restless sounds of the sleeping man alerted the
former thief that time was quickly running out. The false Prince
would be inside the Palace soon, and while Jimmy could run down the
streets whereas the false Arutha had to slog through the sewers, it
would be a close thing who would be at the palace first.
    Jimmy quietly
left the door and moved back to the trap. He gently lowered it
overhead. As he reached a point halfway between the trap and the
sewer, he heard voices from directly overhead. “Matthew!”
    Jimmy’s
heart leaped as the other voice said, “What!”
    “If you’ve
drunk yourself asleep, I’ll have your eyes for dinner.”
    The other voice
answered irritably, “I only closed my eyes for a minute, just
as you walked in, and don’t threaten me or the crows will have
your liver.”
    Jimmy heard the
trap being lifted, and without hesitation swung himself around to the
side of the ladder. He hung in midair, only one hand and boot on the
small rungs as he flattened himself against the