Death and Honor: Book 2 of 2 (16 page)

Morgrin’s eyes widened. “Xander? You’re dead.”

“You’re not that lucky. Why don’t you run along and pretend you never saw me? It’ll be good for your health.”

“You’re threats don’t frighten me.” Morgrin stammered and trembled.

Like a blur of shadow Xander crossed the room and before Gabriel or Morgrin could move he had a knife at Morgrin’s throat, their faces inches apart. “You would do well to fear me. I swear if you cause any trouble for me or my brother I’ll come for you. I’ll come from the shadows when you least expect it. First I’ll drive needles into your eyes then I’ll think of something really unpleasant.”

Morgrin swallowed and fell over in a dead faint. Xander laughed to himself and put his knife away.

“Did you have to scare him so bad?” Gabriel asked.

Still smiling Xander said, “Probably not, but it was fun.”

Gabriel shook his head and sighed. “We can’t leave him here. Help me get him to his room.”

Xander grabbed Morgrin’s left leg. “Which one?”

Gabriel grabbed Morgrin by the arms and lifted him off the floor. “Second door on your left.”

They carried Morgrin to his room and dumped him on his bed. When they got back to Gabriel’s room Xander said, “Now that we’ve dealt with that pest we can figure out how best to deal with the duke.”

Gabriel sat on the edge of his bed, every minute of the past day weighed on him. How could he make Xander understand? He was an officer of the watch and he couldn’t sit there and plan the murder of one of the leading nobles in the kingdom. No matter what he may have done, and Gabriel was certain he’d done some terrible things, his duty was to find proof and arrest him. “We can’t just kill him.”

“What?” Gabriel winced at his brother’s reaction.

“I’ve sworn to uphold the laws of this land and those laws don’t condone murder. I can’t move against the duke without proof.”

“Proof? You know he was involved with the raid that killed Father and Mother. Does your precious oath mean more than avenging their deaths?”

Gabriel stiffened at the insult. Xander made it sound so simple; he wished it was. “Father would have understood. Honor and duty come before revenge. Eventually I will find the evidence I need then Duke Cariden will answer to the law.”

“Men like him never answer to the law.” Xander paced like a caged tiger. “He’s too well connected. You could spend the rest of your life searching for evidence and when you found it he’d pin everything on some expendable lackey. No, the duke will answer to me. If your precious honor keeps you from helping then stay out of my way. I’ll do what needs doing.”

“I can’t stand by and let you kill him. The watch will do its best to protect the duke until the law says otherwise.”

“Will you fight me to protect that murderer?”

“The watch will do its duty.”

Xander nodded and pulled up the hood of his cloak. “If that’s the way you want it, but send no one you value because I will kill anyone that gets in my way.” Xander stepped into the dark corner and Gabriel lost sight of him.

“Xander?” Gabriel grabbed the glowstone and checked every corner of the room, but his brother had gone.

A
fter a miserable night’s
sleep Gabriel rose a little after dawn. He figured everyone else would be asleep and he had no interest in making conversation. Gabriel dressed, stopped in the kitchen to get leftovers for breakfast, and walked to the church. He didn’t worry about waking Solan. It didn’t seem to matter what time he arrived, the priest always seemed awake. How long did he have before Xander made his move against Duke Cariden? Gabriel figured at least a couple days. It didn’t matter; he still had no idea what to do about it.

When he stepped into the church a warm sense of calmness settled around him. Something about the gray stone and cut glass windows made him feel at peace. The church was one of the few buildings in the city that remained from its founding. It had a sense of permanence that made Gabriel think some things would never change.

He climbed the short flight of stairs and pushed open the always unlocked doors. He found Solan dusting the wooden benches in the chapel. The old priest smiled when he entered. “Good morning, Gabriel. I didn’t expect to see you so early after your adventure yesterday.”

“I didn’t expect to be here this early, but then I didn’t expect my brother to come home alive after all these years either.”

“Didn’t he die in the fire?”

“It seems not. He’s returned and while he was gone he’s grown into a skilled assassin. The boy I loved is gone. He also knows Duke Cariden was involved in the attack on our home. He’s sworn vengeance and I have no idea what to do about it.”

“Your brother’s the one from our dreams.”

Gabriel nodded and dropped on to one of the benches.

“You have no doubts?”

“None.”

“Will he aid us or oppose us?”

Gabriel smiled a tired smile. “He wants revenge. In as much as our goal and his coincide he’ll help. If we try to stop him…”

Solan nodded. “It seems both of our dreams were true. He wishes to kill the duke so you are opposed yet he wishes to destroy the great evil, even if for less than noble reasons, so we are allied in that. Bring him here. I must speak with him.”

“I doubt I can bring him here if he didn’t wish to come, but I will ask.”

Something thumped against the church door. Gabriel jumped up, hand on the hilt of the Bright Sword. “What the hell?”

Solan shrugged and started for the doors, Gabriel a step behind. Solan opened the door to find a rock with a piece of parchment tied around it. Gabriel bent down and picked it up, a queasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He untied the parchment, tossed the rock aside, and read the note.

“What’s it say?” Solan asked.

“We have Amanda,” Gabriel read. “If you want to see her alive again bring the key fragment to Baron Jamison’s mansion at midnight tonight.” The parchment fell from his nerveless fingers. “How could he use his own daughter?”

“I’d be surprised if he had any idea what was happening. He left for his country estate late last night. I doubt his masters informed him of their plan.”

“Kiera?”

Solan nodded. “I sent her to keep an eye on him. The duke has the three remaining pieces and we must claim them when the time comes.”

“I need the key fragment.”

Solan sighed and closed the door. “It’s unfortunate the girl is involved in this.”

“Where did you hide it? I have to save her.”

Solan shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I won’t trade the world for one girl’s life.”

“What do you suggest, we let them kill her?” How could Solan be so cold hearted?

“I can make a copy of the fragment and put it inside the coffer. When you meet they won’t be able to tell it’s a fake.”

“And when they open it Amanda’s still dead.”

“Perhaps if you act as a diversion while someone else sneaks inside and rescues her.”

“Xander.” Gabriel eyes widened when he realized what Solan was suggesting. “With his skills he can slip in with no trouble at all. If I tell them the kidnappers had something to do with the attack he’ll jump at the chance to help.”

“After you save her, bring them both here. Amanda will be safe nowhere else and I must talk to your brother.”

Gabriel nodded, eager now that he had a way to save the woman he loved. “Amanda will come, but I can’t speak for Xander. He didn’t even see fit to tell me where he was staying.”

“I suggest you find him. I’ll prepare the counterfeit fragment. You should return around eleven so you have plenty of to make it to the mansion.”

“Right. I’ll talk to Griff, his contacts might know where I can find Xander. I’ll see you tonight.”

Gabriel left Solan to his work and headed to Watch Headquarters. If anyone could help him find Xander it was Griff’s friend Lucy. Since Gabriel already told his partner everything anyway he figured it wouldn’t hurt to share a little more.

At the back entrance he found a hand full of off duty Watchmen standing around. They straightened as he approached, but he waved them to relax. “Anybody seen Griff?”

“He’s next door getting breakfast,” One of the guys said.

“Thanks.” Gabriel was happy not to have to talk in front of the others. He crossed the street to Tommy’s and found his partner at his usual table, a heaping plate of potatoes and eggs in front of him. Griff looked up when Gabriel entered and waved him over.

“Hungry?” Griff asked.

Gabriel sat across from his partner. “No, thank you. I have a problem.”

“Fill me in.”

Gabriel told Griff everything that happened since he rode out from the church the day before. When he finished Griff said, “You’ve been busy. I imagine seeing your brother again came as a shock.”

“Not as big a shock as learning he’s a killer for hire. Do you suppose Lucy can find him?”

“She can find him,” Griff said around a mouth full of food. “Whether she can do it by midnight’s the question. That’s not much time.”

“That’s not the encouragement I was hoping for.”

Griff finished his breakfast. “Let’s go see what she knows.”

“Will she be awake?” Gabriel followed his partner out of the tavern and toward Lucy’s bar.

“If not we’ll wake her up. This is an emergency.”

It didn’t take them long to walk to the run down bar. They went in, but it was way too early and the place was empty save for a bartender and an old man sitting in the back near the hidden door to Lucy’s office.

They walked over to the old man. “Your boss up yet?” Griff asked.

The old man shook his head. “She’s not to be disturbed until noon. Sorry, Griff.”

Griff grinned. “We really need to see her.”

“That’s what everyone says. You’ll have to wait.”

Gabriel was growing angrier by the second. He reached for his sword, but Griff put a restraining hand on his arm. Gabriel took a deep breath and let it out slow. “You can wake her up or I can kick the door down, your choice.”

“We got a deal with the watch. You can’t barge in here anytime you want.”

“If you think I will let a kidnapping investigation wait while your boss get her beauty sleep you’re either crazy of stupid,” Gabriel said. “Now are you going to wake her or am I?”

He turned a pleading look on Griff who shrugged.

“Okay, wait here.” The old man slipped into the secret passage.

“What you think?” Gabriel asked.

“Lucy will be pissed.”

“Will she help anyway?”

“Probably, it’s in her best interest to keep the watch happy and under the circumstances I believe she’ll understand your anxiety.”

Five minutes later the old man emerged from the back room. “Come on back, the boss will be along in a minute.”

The old man escorted them to Lucy’s office. It looked the same as their last visit and they sat in the chairs in front of her desk. It wasn’t even a minute before Lucy joined them, hair in disarray and no makeup on.

“You two have a lot of nerve threatening to break my door down at this time of the morning. Well don’t sit there like lumps, tell me what you want.”

“An assassin arrived in Lord’s Way in the last day and I need to find out where he’s staying. He’s a little younger than me, wears a half mask and dark cloak.”

“Ah.” He had Lucy’s attention now. “He made quite an impression on my guild contact. He’s a member of the Shadow Hand. They’re the most ruthless assassins in the world. Did he kill someone already?”

“No. I don’t want to arrest him just talk to him,” Gabriel said.

“Interesting, want to tell me what this is about?”

“No.”

Lucy smiled and shrugged. “Suit yourself. I don’t know where he is, but I can find out. You’re welcome to wait here. When I learn something you’ll know it.”

“Thank you,” Gabriel said.

Lucy wrote three notes then pulled a rope hanging by the desk. Three young men entered from a side door and hurried over to her. She handed each one a note and without a word the messengers left. “Now we wait.”

Gabriel got up. “I can’t sit here. Let’s walk our usual patrol.”

Griff got up beside him but made no comment.

“We’ll check back in three hours after noon,” Gabriel said.

Lucy nodded. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me what’s going on?”

“You’re safer not knowing,” Gabriel said.

Gabriel and Griff left Lucy’s bar and started their patrol. Gabriel tried to pretend it was a day like any other, but several times found himself on the edge of running so he could get back to Lucy’s faster.

“It won’t do any good to rush,” Griff said the third time he broke into a jog. “She’ll know when she knows, running back to get in her way won’t speed things up any.”

“Yeah.” Gabriel sighed. “I hate not being in control. The bastards took Amanda. I know where she is, but if I try to save her they’ll kill her. All I can do is hope my brother will help me.”

“What will his reaction be?” Griff asked as they entered the warehouse district.

Gabriel smiled when he imagined Xander’s reaction. “I expect he’ll be amused at the irony of me asking for his help less than a day after refusing to help him.”

“You don’t think he’ll help out of brotherly love?”

Gabriel’s smile faded. “After everything Xander’s been through I’m not certain he’s capable of that emotion anymore.”

T
hey got back
to Lucy’s two hours early and found her deep in conversation with a young man wearing an eye patch over his right eye. She nodded at him when they entered. “Just the man I wanted to see. This is Denny, one of my sources. Tell them what you told me.”

Denny looked at her like she’d asked him to stick his head in a lion’s mouth. “You want me to talk to a couple Watchmen? Forget it. I told you everything; now I’ll take my money and be on my way.”

“Suit yourself.” Lucy tossed him a pouch which he snatched out of the air. He gave it a shake and seemed pleased with the jingle. He slipped out the side door without another word. “I think you two scared him.”

“I have that effect on thieves,” Gabriel said.

“So does your assassin. Last night he kicked down the guild hall door and demanded to see the master. When he finished talking he made it clear if they interfered in any way he’d come back and wipe them out.”

“What’d the guild do?” Griff asked.

“Nothing. They seemed confident he was willing and able to do what he threatened. They told the members to watch for him. A pickpocket spotted him a few blocks from the Lord’s manor. Are you certain you don’t want to tell me what’s happening?”

“Completely. Where can I find him now?” Gabriel didn’t want to waste time now that he had a location.

“He’s staying at an inn called the Black Swan. Before you rush over there you should know someone else saw him leave this morning, headed toward the river.”

“Damn it! He could be anywhere along the banks.”

“Thanks for the info,” Griff said. Turning to Gabriel he asked, “You want to go looking for him?”

“No, I’ll wait at the inn. Xander’s bound to be back sometime.”

T
he sun sat
low in the sky when Xander started back toward the inn. He’d spent the day fishing by the river. Seeing Gabriel again reminded him of the times they spent fishing in the pond near the house. He even caught a two pound rock lurker and planned to have it broiled for his dinner before he scouted the mansion.

“Is he still back there?” Xander mumbled the words. He was getting close to speaking just in his mind, but hadn’t got the knack yet.

Yes, shall we take him
?

Xander considered it, but since the watcher hadn’t interfered with him he chose to let him live. When he went to scout the mansion he’d shadow walk there and leave the spy none the wiser.

The demon sensed his decision.
I’m hungry. I must feed soon.

“You’re always hungry. I’ll feed you when I find someone worth killing. Now be silent.”

When they reached the inn Xander had no desire to carry a dead fish through the dining room so he went to the kitchen entrance. The door stood open to let the heat escape. Xander went inside and found the head cook barking orders at his assistants who scurried around rushing to obey. The head man spotted Xander and hurried over, waving his hands like Xander was some barnyard animal to be shooed out.

A glare from Xander brought the man up short. No one had shooed him in years and he wasn’t about to start now. He threw the fish in an empty sink. “I want that broiled with garlic butter and brought to my table in half an hour.”

“I’m not sure you know whom you’re speaking to,” the cook said.

Xander’s eyes narrowed. “What makes you say that?”

To his surprise the cook was smart enough to interpret the scowl on his face and realize his danger. “Never mind, it will be done.”

“Good.” Xander stepped out of the door into the dining room and spotted his brother sitting at a table watching the entrance. What did Gabriel want? How had he learned where Xander was staying?

The spy
.

Of course, Gabriel must have an informant in the guild. Xander chewed his lip and considered why Gabriel would have sought him out again so soon after they parted company. He doubted his brother had changed his mind about helping kill the duke. Xander felt stupid he’d asked in the first place. Gabriel was too honorable to even considering helping murder someone. He also doubted his brother had come to try to arrest him. Something must have changed in the past day.