Read Online The Guild Secret (The Dark Ability Book 6) by D.K. Holmberg - Free Book Online
Authors: D.K. Holmberg
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fishhook through his brow.
Rsiran made an effort not to stare as he scanned the room.
Women made their way through the tavern, as well, but fewer in number. Most of the women appeared as hard as the men, many dressed in loose-fitting or practically non-existent clothing, and several with the same types of piercings as the men. They were fishers, as well, he suspected, but not the kind that came through Elaeavn. Other women had painted faces and wore tight-fitting dresses, and leaned in to whisper softly in men’s—and sometimes women’s—ears before leading them toward the back of the tavern.
He had almost given up on finding Firell when he saw him sitting at a table in the corner of the tavern, a drink clutched in his hand, another man sitting across from him. Firell tossed dice on the table, and the frown that came to his face made it clear that he wasn’t pleased with what he’d rolled. The Elvraeth chains that Rsiran detected were wrapped around his neck, hidden by the heavy cloak that he wore.
Rsiran pushed his way through the crowd, making his way to Firell. As he approached, Firell glanced up, his eyes going wide for a moment before he nodded to the man across from him. The man stood and faced Rsiran. His hand lunged toward him, catching him off guard.
Rsiran grabbed it and twisted the man’s arm behind him, forcing him into a vulnerable position that Haern had shown him. “That’s how you’ll greet me, Firell?” he asked.
The man banged a hand on the table, his head craned around trying to see Firell, but Firell only watched Rsiran. “Why did you come here?” he asked.
“Not for you, if that’s what you’re afraid of.” He nodded to the man. “If I let him go, will he leave me alone, or do I have to put a knife into him?”
Firell watched Rsiran for another moment. “There was a time when I’d have thought that an idle threat from you.”
“Try me,” Rsiran said.
“I did. I think you’ve answered that quite clearly. Let him go. Jonas will leave us alone.”
Jonas nodded, and Rsiran released his arm. He backed away from Rsiran carefully, and Rsiran took his place but repositioned himself against the side wall, giving him a chance to watch Firell and not worry about someone approaching him from behind.
“Why did you come here if not for me, Rsiran?”
“Venass.”
“Don’t you think that’s a dangerous game to chase Venass? They’re known to be deadly, especially their assassins.”
“Haern was one of their assassins. I think I understand them better than you.”
A woman at a nearby table jostled forward, glancing briefly at Rsiran before making her way out of the tavern, weaving heavily from too much ale.
“Ah, well as a man who has lived his entire life within Elaeavn, I think that you don’t quite understand Venass nearly as well as some of us who have faced them outside the protection of the city.”
Rsiran scooped the dice off the table. “Protection? There wasn’t much protection when Venass attacked the city.”
Firell leaned toward him. “Venass attacked? You’re sure it was Venass?”
“I’m sure, why?”
Firell glanced at Rsiran’s roll. A pair of ones. Watcher’s eyes. “Only that Venass would not act openly. That’s not there method. They prefer the shadows and hiding.”
Rsiran glanced around the tavern, noting how Firell sat obscured in the shadows here. “Sort of like you, then?”
Firell shrugged. “I’m a smuggler, Rsiran. What else would you expect from me? You wouldn’t expect me to operate openly now, would you?”
He sighed. “You were supposed to be a friend.”
“You know why I did what I did.”
“I know. How is Lena?”
Firell shot Rsiran a heated look. “Careful mentioning names around here. They can be dangerous if overheard by the wrong person.”
“Fine. But how is she?”
“She’s… well. She’s with family. Safe for now.”
Rsiran nodded. “I’m glad to hear that. Truly.”
Firell watched him and
Rsiran made an effort not to stare as he scanned the room.
Women made their way through the tavern, as well, but fewer in number. Most of the women appeared as hard as the men, many dressed in loose-fitting or practically non-existent clothing, and several with the same types of piercings as the men. They were fishers, as well, he suspected, but not the kind that came through Elaeavn. Other women had painted faces and wore tight-fitting dresses, and leaned in to whisper softly in men’s—and sometimes women’s—ears before leading them toward the back of the tavern.
He had almost given up on finding Firell when he saw him sitting at a table in the corner of the tavern, a drink clutched in his hand, another man sitting across from him. Firell tossed dice on the table, and the frown that came to his face made it clear that he wasn’t pleased with what he’d rolled. The Elvraeth chains that Rsiran detected were wrapped around his neck, hidden by the heavy cloak that he wore.
Rsiran pushed his way through the crowd, making his way to Firell. As he approached, Firell glanced up, his eyes going wide for a moment before he nodded to the man across from him. The man stood and faced Rsiran. His hand lunged toward him, catching him off guard.
Rsiran grabbed it and twisted the man’s arm behind him, forcing him into a vulnerable position that Haern had shown him. “That’s how you’ll greet me, Firell?” he asked.
The man banged a hand on the table, his head craned around trying to see Firell, but Firell only watched Rsiran. “Why did you come here?” he asked.
“Not for you, if that’s what you’re afraid of.” He nodded to the man. “If I let him go, will he leave me alone, or do I have to put a knife into him?”
Firell watched Rsiran for another moment. “There was a time when I’d have thought that an idle threat from you.”
“Try me,” Rsiran said.
“I did. I think you’ve answered that quite clearly. Let him go. Jonas will leave us alone.”
Jonas nodded, and Rsiran released his arm. He backed away from Rsiran carefully, and Rsiran took his place but repositioned himself against the side wall, giving him a chance to watch Firell and not worry about someone approaching him from behind.
“Why did you come here if not for me, Rsiran?”
“Venass.”
“Don’t you think that’s a dangerous game to chase Venass? They’re known to be deadly, especially their assassins.”
“Haern was one of their assassins. I think I understand them better than you.”
A woman at a nearby table jostled forward, glancing briefly at Rsiran before making her way out of the tavern, weaving heavily from too much ale.
“Ah, well as a man who has lived his entire life within Elaeavn, I think that you don’t quite understand Venass nearly as well as some of us who have faced them outside the protection of the city.”
Rsiran scooped the dice off the table. “Protection? There wasn’t much protection when Venass attacked the city.”
Firell leaned toward him. “Venass attacked? You’re sure it was Venass?”
“I’m sure, why?”
Firell glanced at Rsiran’s roll. A pair of ones. Watcher’s eyes. “Only that Venass would not act openly. That’s not there method. They prefer the shadows and hiding.”
Rsiran glanced around the tavern, noting how Firell sat obscured in the shadows here. “Sort of like you, then?”
Firell shrugged. “I’m a smuggler, Rsiran. What else would you expect from me? You wouldn’t expect me to operate openly now, would you?”
He sighed. “You were supposed to be a friend.”
“You know why I did what I did.”
“I know. How is Lena?”
Firell shot Rsiran a heated look. “Careful mentioning names around here. They can be dangerous if overheard by the wrong person.”
“Fine. But how is she?”
“She’s… well. She’s with family. Safe for now.”
Rsiran nodded. “I’m glad to hear that. Truly.”
Firell watched him and
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