a couple of men from a nearby inn carry him to one of the guest rooms there. I paid the innkeeper well to see that he was left in peace. Judging by the lumps
on his left temple and the top of his head, I doubt that he’ll be waking up any time soon. It would be unfortunate if someone sought to take advantage of his condition and tried to steal his
icon.’
‘Indeed. To lose any more Brothers now would be a disaster. We have already lost Brother Scorpion tonight.’
‘Really? Do you know how he died, Guildmaster? Where did it happen?’
‘He was killed here in the complex, guarding Wolf Spider’s room. He was taken by surprise. It seems Brother Wolf Spider left a guest hidden in his quarters during his last visit.
With Wolf Spider already gone, Scorpion had no reason to expect an attack from within the complex. He stood little chance.’
‘A shame,’ she observed. ‘I take it the intruder has been dealt with?
‘No. She escaped.’
‘She?’ Shantella said, clearly savouring the word. ‘Ah, let me guess – the Emperor’s pet spy. I’ve heard tell of her, but I have no idea what she looks like.
How did she escape without an icon? Surely that’s impossible.’
‘Wolf Spider came back for her,’ the Guildmaster replied.
‘That makes sense. Is she pretty?’
The Guildmaster paused for a second before answering. ‘She can be attractive if she so chooses. Is that relevant?’
‘It is if you’re a woman, Guildmaster. Beauty can be a powerful weapon in itself if used properly. But I digress. If the bell rings true, then Scorpion was not the only one to die
tonight.’
‘You refer to the Emperor, I trust?’
‘Ah! You have heard then.’ Shantella was disappointed that she was not the first to bring the news.
‘Brother Dragon told me.’
‘And did Brother Dragon know any more than the fact the Imperial bell is ringing?’ she asked shrewdly.
Under his deep hood, Ferdand grimaced. Shantella really was a fox, he decided. She was far too perceptive for her own good sometimes.
‘That is between Brother Dragon and me for the time being,’ he replied slowly, knowing that she would read his response as easily as she would a book.
‘Of course, Guildmaster,’ she purred. ‘And what of Wolf Spider? Has anyone located him yet?’
‘Now just wait a minute! Who is reporting to whom, here, Brother Fox?’ he asked and then chuckled to take the sting from his words. ‘I had hoped you would have news of him.
I’ve not heard anything yet. Do you have anything else to report tonight?’
‘Only that half of the population of the city is gathered in front of the Palace seeking news. The streets are full of people teeming towards the city centre. It’s chaos out
there.’
‘It’s to be expected, I suppose. Another inevitability is the call on our services by about half of the nobility over the next few days. I think we’re going to need a Guild
meeting at the first opportunity to discuss the situation. I don’t want Brothers accepting hits until I can get a clear picture of the power structure in Shandrim. There’s no doubt we
stand to benefit from this turn of events – particularly if the right person takes up the Mantle.’
‘Surely everyone is fair game until the coronation,’ the Fox observed. The anticipation in her voice was clear. ‘The trick will be to ensure that a candidate who is sympathetic
to our cause is left standing.’
‘Sometimes, Brother Fox, I wonder if the wrong person was chosen to be Guildmaster. Thank you for your report. Please go back and check on Brother Firedrake first thing in the morning. If
he is able to move, bring him back. It would be safer for him to recover here. In the meantime get some sleep while you can. I suspect that it may be a rare commodity in the next few
days.’
Femke looked across at Reynik and shook her head. ‘You know, that moustache and goatee beard do make you look totally different. You’ve made me jump a couple of
times
on his left temple and the top of his head, I doubt that he’ll be waking up any time soon. It would be unfortunate if someone sought to take advantage of his condition and tried to steal his
icon.’
‘Indeed. To lose any more Brothers now would be a disaster. We have already lost Brother Scorpion tonight.’
‘Really? Do you know how he died, Guildmaster? Where did it happen?’
‘He was killed here in the complex, guarding Wolf Spider’s room. He was taken by surprise. It seems Brother Wolf Spider left a guest hidden in his quarters during his last visit.
With Wolf Spider already gone, Scorpion had no reason to expect an attack from within the complex. He stood little chance.’
‘A shame,’ she observed. ‘I take it the intruder has been dealt with?
‘No. She escaped.’
‘She?’ Shantella said, clearly savouring the word. ‘Ah, let me guess – the Emperor’s pet spy. I’ve heard tell of her, but I have no idea what she looks like.
How did she escape without an icon? Surely that’s impossible.’
‘Wolf Spider came back for her,’ the Guildmaster replied.
‘That makes sense. Is she pretty?’
The Guildmaster paused for a second before answering. ‘She can be attractive if she so chooses. Is that relevant?’
‘It is if you’re a woman, Guildmaster. Beauty can be a powerful weapon in itself if used properly. But I digress. If the bell rings true, then Scorpion was not the only one to die
tonight.’
‘You refer to the Emperor, I trust?’
‘Ah! You have heard then.’ Shantella was disappointed that she was not the first to bring the news.
‘Brother Dragon told me.’
‘And did Brother Dragon know any more than the fact the Imperial bell is ringing?’ she asked shrewdly.
Under his deep hood, Ferdand grimaced. Shantella really was a fox, he decided. She was far too perceptive for her own good sometimes.
‘That is between Brother Dragon and me for the time being,’ he replied slowly, knowing that she would read his response as easily as she would a book.
‘Of course, Guildmaster,’ she purred. ‘And what of Wolf Spider? Has anyone located him yet?’
‘Now just wait a minute! Who is reporting to whom, here, Brother Fox?’ he asked and then chuckled to take the sting from his words. ‘I had hoped you would have news of him.
I’ve not heard anything yet. Do you have anything else to report tonight?’
‘Only that half of the population of the city is gathered in front of the Palace seeking news. The streets are full of people teeming towards the city centre. It’s chaos out
there.’
‘It’s to be expected, I suppose. Another inevitability is the call on our services by about half of the nobility over the next few days. I think we’re going to need a Guild
meeting at the first opportunity to discuss the situation. I don’t want Brothers accepting hits until I can get a clear picture of the power structure in Shandrim. There’s no doubt we
stand to benefit from this turn of events – particularly if the right person takes up the Mantle.’
‘Surely everyone is fair game until the coronation,’ the Fox observed. The anticipation in her voice was clear. ‘The trick will be to ensure that a candidate who is sympathetic
to our cause is left standing.’
‘Sometimes, Brother Fox, I wonder if the wrong person was chosen to be Guildmaster. Thank you for your report. Please go back and check on Brother Firedrake first thing in the morning. If
he is able to move, bring him back. It would be safer for him to recover here. In the meantime get some sleep while you can. I suspect that it may be a rare commodity in the next few
days.’
Femke looked across at Reynik and shook her head. ‘You know, that moustache and goatee beard do make you look totally different. You’ve made me jump a couple of
times
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