A Darkness at Sethanon (5 page)

Laurie said, “No
weapons? Sounds too tame for me.”

Locklear had
already rid himself of his overtunic and belt and tapped another
squire on the shoulder. “What’s the score?”

The squire never
took his eyes from play. A stableboy, driving the ball before him
with his feet, was tripped by one of Jimmy’s teammates, but the
ball was intercepted by a baker’s apprentice, who deftly kicked
it into one of the two barrels situated at each end of the compound.
The squire groaned. “That puts them ahead four counts to two.
And we’ve less than a quarter hour to play.”

Jimmy and
Locklear both looked to Arutha, who nodded. They dashed onto the
field, replacing two dirty, bloody squires.

Jimmy took the
ball from one of the two judges, another of deLacy’s
innovations, and kicked the ball toward the mid-line. Locklear, who
had stationed himself there, quickly kicked it back to Jimmy, to the
surprise of the several apprentices who bore down upon him.
Lightning-fast, Jimmy passed them before they could recover, ducking
an elbow aimed at his head. He loosed a kick at the barrel’s
mouth. The ball struck the edge and bounced out, but Locklear broke
free of the pack and kicked the rebound in. The squires and a large
number of minor nobles were on their feet cheering. Now the
apprentices led by only one count.

A minor scuffle
broke out and the judges quickly intervened. With no serious damage
having been done, play resumed. The apprentices brought the ball up;
Locklear and Jimmy fell back. One of the larger squires threw a
vicious block, knocking a kitchen boy into the one with the ball.
Jimmy pounced like a cat, kicking the ball toward Locklear. The
smaller squire deftly moved it upfield, passing it on to another
squire who immediately kicked it back as several apprentices swarmed
over him. A large stableboy rushed Locklear. He simply lowered his
head and took Locklear, himself, and the ball across the field
boundary rather than trying to tackle the ball. At once a fight broke
out and, after the judges had separated the combatants, they helped
Locklear to his feet. The boy was too shaken to continue, so another
squire took his place. As both players had been beyond bounds, the
judge ruled the ball free and tossed it into the centre of the field.
Both sides attempted to recover the ball as elbows, knees and fists
flew.

“Now this
is how barrel-ball should be played,” commented Laurie.

Suddenly a
stableboy broke free, no one between himself and the squires’
barrel. Jimmy took off after him and seeing no hope of intercepting
the ball, launched himself at the boy, repeating the technique used
against Locklear. Again the judge ruled the ball free and another
riot ensued at midfield.

Then a squire
named Paul had the ball and began to move it toward the apprentices’
goal with unexpected skill. Two large baker’s apprentices
intercepted him, but he managed to pass the ball seconds before being
levelled. The ball bounced to Squire Friedric, who passed it to
Jimmy. Jimmy expected another rush from the apprentices, but was
surprised as they fell back. This was a new tactic, employed against
the lightning passing Jimmy and Locklear had brought to the game.

The squires on
the sidelines shouted encouragement. One yelled, “There’s
only a few minutes left.”

Jimmy motioned
Squire Friedric to his side, shouted quick instructions, and then was
off. Jimmy swept to the left and then dropped the ball back to
Friedric, who moved back toward midfield. Jimmy cut to his right,
then took a well-aimed pass from Friedric toward the barrel. He
dodged a sliding tackle and kicked the ball into the barrel.

The crowd
shouted in appreciation, for this match was bringing something new to
barrel-ball: tactics and skill. In what was always a rough game, an
element of precision was being introduced.

Then another
fight broke out. The judges rushed to break it up, but the
apprentices were unbending in their reluctance to end the scuffle.
Locklear, whose head had stopped ringing, said to Laurie and Arutha,
“They’re trying to hold up the game until time runs out.
They know we’ll win if we get another crack at the ball.”

Finally order
was restored. Locklear judged himself fit enough to return and
replaced a boy injured in the scuffle. Jimmy waved his squires back,
quickly whispering instructions to Locklear as the apprentices slowly
brought the ball up. They attempted the passing demonstrated by
Jimmy, Friedric, and Locklear, but with little skill. They nearly
kicked the ball out of bounds twice before regaining control of
errant passes. Then Jimmy and Locklear struck. Locklear feigned a
tackle toward the ball handler, forcing him to pass, then darted
toward the barrel. Jimmy came sweeping in behind, the others acting
as a screen, and picked up the badly passed ball, kicking it toward
Locklear. The smaller boy took the ball and broke toward the barrel.
One defender attempted to overtake him, but couldn’t catch the
swifter squire. Then the apprentice took something from his shirt and
threw it at Locklear.

To the surprised
onlookers, it seemed the boy simply fell face down and the ball went
out of bounds. Jimmy rushed to the side of his comrade, then suddenly
was up and after the boy who was attempting to bring the ball onto
the field. With no pretence of playing a game, Jimmy struck the
apprentice in the face, knocking him back. Again a fight erupted, but
this time several apprentices and squires from the two sides joined
the fray.

Arutha turned to
Laurie and said, “This could get ugly. Think I should do
something?”

Laurie watched
the fight pick up in tempo. “If you want a squire left intact
for duty tomorrow.”

Arutha signalled
to Gardan, who waved some soldiers onto the field. The seasoned
fighting men quickly restored order. Arutha walked across the field
and knelt next to where Jimmy sat, cradling Locklear’s head in
his lap. “The bastard hit him in the baek of the head with a
piece of horseshoe iron. He’s out-cold.”

Arutha regarded
the fallen boy, then said to Gardan, “Have him carried to his
quarters and have the chirurgeon examine him.” He said to the
timekeeper, “This game is over.” Jimmy seemed on the
verge of protesting, then seemed to think better of it.

The timekeeper
called out, “The score is tied at four counts apiece. No
winners.”

Jimmy sighed.
“Nor losers, at least.”

A pair of guards
picked up Locklear and carried him away. Arutha said to Laurie,
“Still a pretty rough game.” The former singer nodded.
“DeLacy needs a few more rules before they start cracking
heads.”

Jimmy walked
back to where his tunic and belt lay while the crowd wandered off.
Arutha and Laurie followed.

“We’ll
have another go, sometime,” remarked the youngster.

“It could
be interesting,” said Arutha. “Now that they know about
that passing trick of yours, they’ll be ready.”

“So we’ll
just have to come up with something else.”

“Well,
then I guess it might be worthwhile to make a day of it. Say in a
week or two.” Arutha placed his hand on Jimmy’s shoulder.
“I think I’ll have a look at these rules of deLacy’s.
Laurie’s right. If you’re going to be dashing pell-mell
up and down the field, we can’t have you tossing irons at each
other.” Jimmy seemed to lose interest in the game. Something in
the crowd caught his eye. “See that fellow over there? The one
in the blue tunic and grey cap?” The Prince glanced in the
indicated direction. “No.”

“He just
ducked away when you looked. But I know him. May I go and
investigate?”

Something in
Jimmy’s tone made Arutha certain this was not another ploy to
escape duty. “Go on. Just don’t be away too long. Laurie
and I will be returning to the great hall.”

Jimmy ran off to
where he last saw the fellow. He halted and looked about, then
noticed the familiar figure standing near a narrow stairway into a
side entrance. The man leaned against the wall, hidden in shadows,
eating from a platter. He only glanced up when Jimmy approached.
“There you are, then, Jimmy the Hand.”

“No
longer. Squire James of Krondor, Alvarny the Quick.”

The old thief
chuckled. “And that also no longer. Though I was quick in my
day.” Lowering his voice so anyone else was unlikely to
overhear, he said, “My master sends a message for your master.”
Jimmy knew at once something major was afoot, for Alvarny the Quick
was the Daymaster of the Mockers, the Guild of Thieves. He was no
common errand runner but one of the most highly placed and trusted
aides of the Upright Man. “By word only. My master says that
birds of prey, thought gone from the city, have returned from the
north.”

A chill visited
the pit of Jimmy’s stomach. “Those that hunt at night?”

The old thief
nodded as he popped a lightly browned pastry into his mouth. He
closed his eyes a moment and made a satisfied sound. Then his eyes
were on Jimmy, narrowing as he spoke. “Sorry I was to see you
leave us, Jimmy the Hand. You had promise. You could have been a
power in the Mockers if you’d kept your throat uncut. But
that’s water gone, as they say. To the heart of the message.
Young Tyburn Reems was found floating in the bay. There are places
near where smugglers used to ply their trade; one is a place that
smells and is of little importance to the Mockers and, therefore, is
neglected. It may be that is where such birds are hiding. Now then,
there’s an end to the matter.” Without further
conversation, Alvarny the Quick, Daymaster of the Mockers and former
master thief, sauntered off into the crowd, vanishing among the
revellers.

Jimmy did not
hesitate. He dashed back to where Arutha had been only a few minutes
before and, not finding him, headed for the great hall. The number of
people before the palace made it difficult to move quickly. Seeing
hundreds of strange faces in the corridors suddenly filled Jimmy with
alarm. In the months since Arutha and he had returned from Moraelin
with Silverthorn to cure the stricken Anita, they had become lulled
by the commonplace, everyday quality of palace life. Suddenly the boy
saw an assassin’s dagger in every hand, poison in every wine
cup, and a bowman in every shadow. Struggling past celebrants, he
hurried on.

Jimmy darted
through the press of nobles and other less distinguished guests in
the great hall. Near the dais a clot of people were deep in
conversation. Laurie and Carline were speaking with the Keshian
Ambassador, while Arutha mounted the steps toward his throne. A band
of acrobats was hard at work in the centre of the hall, forcing Jimmy
to skirt the clearing made for them, while dozens of citizens looked
on in appreciation. As he moved through the press, Jimmy glanced up
at the windows of the hall, the deep shadows within each cupola
haunting him with memories. He felt anger at himself as much as
anyone. He above all others should remember what a menace could lurk
in such places.

Jimmy darted
past Laurie and reached Arutha’s side as the Prince sat on his
throne. Anita was nowhere in sight. Jimmy glanced at her empty throne
and inclined his head. Arutha said, “She’s gone to look
in on the babies. Why?”

Jimmy leaned
near Arutha. “My former master sends a message. Nighthawks have
returned to Krondor.”

Arutha’s
expression turned sombre. “Is this speculation, or a
certainty?”

“First,
the Upright Man would not send whom he sent unless he counted the
matter critical, needing quick resolution. He exposed one high in the
Mockers to public scrutiny. Second, there is - was - a young gambler
by name Tyburn Reems who was often seen about in the city. He had
some special dispensations from the Mockers. He was permitted things
few men not of our guild are permitted. Now I know why. He was a
personal agent of my former master. Reems is now dead. My guess is
the Upright Man was alerted to the possibility of the Nighthawks’
return and Reems was sent to discover their whereabouts. They are
once again hidden somewhere in the city. Where, the Upright Man does
not know, but he suspects somewhere near the old smugglers’
warren.”

Jimmy had been
speaking to the Prince while glancing about the hall. Now he turned
to look at Arutha and words failed him. Arutha’s face was a
hard mask of controlled anger, almost to the point of a grimace.
Several nearby had turned to stare at him. In a harsh whisper he said
to Jimmy, “So it’s to begin again?”

Jimmy said, “So
it would seem.”

Arutha stood.
“I’ll not become a prisoner in my own palace, with guards
at every window.”

Jimmy’s
eyes roamed the hall, past where the Duchess Carline stood charming
the Keshian Ambassador. “Well and good, but this one day your
house is overrun with strangers. Common sense dictates you retire to
your suite early, for if ever there was a golden chance to get close
to you, it is now.” His eyes kept passing from face to face,
seeking some sign that something was amiss. “If the Nighthawks
are again in Krondor, then they are in this hall or en route as night
approaches. You may find them waiting between here and your own
quarters.”

Suddenly
Arutha’s eyes widened. “My quarters! Anita and the
babies!”

The Prince was
off, ignoring the startled faces about him, Jimmy at his heels.
Carline and Laurie saw something was wrong and followed.

Within moments a
dozen people trailed behind the Prince as he hurried down the
corridor. Gardan had seen the hasty exit and had fallen in beside
Jimmy. “What is it?”

Jimmy said,
“Nighthawks.”

The
Knight-Marshal of Krondor needed no further warning. He grabbed at
the sleeve of the first guard he met in the hall, motioning for
another to follow. To the first he said, “Send for Captain
Valdis and have him join me.”

The soldier
said, “Where will you be, sir?”