Read Online Crypt of the Shadowking by Anthony Mark - Free Book Online

protecting myself by treating you openly like enemies. Since Cutter took over the city a year or so ago, mine is one of the few businesses that’s avoided any trouble. And it’s not because I’ve been pandering to Cutter or that new lord steward, ah, what’s his name?” Cormik looked to Dario, then snapped his fingers before the young man could answer. “Snake, that’s it. Odd name. Odd fellow. He gives me the chills just to look at him.”
    Cormik sipped his wine. “Luckily, that old ‘misunderstanding’ of ours was public enough that folks won’t think it odd if I still consider you an enemy, Caledan.”
    Caledan nodded. “But you’re not still angry over all that, are you, Cormik?”
    Cormik gave a rumbling laugh. “I know very well—and always have—that Maderon meant to kill me. He simply owed me too much money to let me live. I had everything planned and taken care of. And then you had to meddle in my affairs. How like a Harper.”
    “What does it matter who killed him?” Caledan asked with a shrug. “Dead is dead.”
    “Quite,” Cormik said dryly, sipping his wine. “Except that I had devised a little scheme to relieve him of the rest of his fortune before I relieved him of his ability to go on breathing. You cost me quite a bit, you know. And don’t try to tell me you only did it to protect me. It would be very touching, but it would also be untruthful. You had your own reasons for doing away with Maderon. I know that, even if I don’t know what those reasons were.”
    “Believe me, it’s a tale you don’t want to hear.” Caledan sighed, fidgeting absently with the braided copper bracelet on his left wrist.
    “Fair enough,” Cormik said, then he changed the subject. “Perhaps now you can tell me what brought you to my doorstep this time. I’d like to think it was because you’ve missed me, but I suppose that would be another one of my ‘delusions.’” He looked at Dario pointedly. Cormik motioned his apprentice over, and whispered something into Dario’s ear. After a moment the young man nodded.
    “It was nice to meet you,” he said, smiling as he bowed to Caledan and Man. Then he exited the chamber by way of a secret passage concealed behind a bookcase.
    “Very well, Cormik,” Mari said after Dario had gone. “We came because we need information about Ravendas and the Zhentarim.”
    Caledan rolled his eyes. There went their chances of getting anything out of Cormik for free. The Harper was going to have to learn how to be more clever when bargaining with someone like Cormik.
    “All right, Cormik,” Caledan grumbled, “how much is it going to cost us?”
    “For you, Caledan, the standard fee.” Cormik’s gaze swept over Mari. “But for the enchanting Harper, there’s no charge.”
    “Why, thank you,” she said huskily, treating Caledan to a look that was insufferably smug.
    They spent the next hour listening to Cormik describe the steady decay of the city since Ravendas had ensconced herself in the tower. “Things are dire enough as it is, and I’m afraid they’re only getting worse by the day,” Cormik said grimly. “The stalls in the free market are practically bare. Half the folk in the city are bordering on starvation. Almost everything that comes to Iriaebor by ship goes out again in caravans to the east. And there isn’t a business that’s not under her control. She keeps the Council of Lords in her pocket and has the Merchants’ Circle dangling by their purse strings. The terms of her trade agreements are anything but profitable, but inexplicable things keep happening to the ships and caravans of merchants who don’t sign on.
    “There’s only one rule in Iriaebor these days. Serve Cutter or perish.” Cormik sighed. “None of it is good for business. And it gets even worse when your customers keep disappearing daily.”
    “Disappearing?” Caledan asked. He felt his hair prickling on the back of his neck.
    Cormik nodded. “Every day dozens of