The City of Towers: The Dreaming Dark - Book I (4 page)

Lei smiled as Pierce pushed the wounded warforged back into her extraordinary pack. “Thank you, sergeant,” she said. “I’m sure I will.”

Once they were safely out of earshot of the guards, Jode turned to Lei, shaking his head. Pierce and Daine were
straggling behind, their eyes turned skyward to the towers, awnings, bridges, and buildings that stretched upward and out of sight.

“My Lady Lei,” said Jode, “there really was no need to mention the warforged at all. I had the situation well in hand.”

“I’ve always wondered if you had formal ties to House Jorasco, Jode. Why don’t you ever talk about it?”

“I made that up, my lady. I had the sense that our sergeant would be more impressed by the emissaries of a powerful house as opposed to a few ‘Mourners’ in search of refuge.”

“That would explain that bit about the fight with the cannibal children.” Lei frowned. “My parents were involved in the early work with the warforged, though … it’s entirely possible they did build Pierce.”

Jode shrugged. “I was simply speaking extemporaneously, my lady. I had no idea my words held even one grain of truth.”

“Huh. And Daine?” Lei glanced back at Daine and Pierce, neither of whom were paying she and Jode the least bit of attention. “He didn’t actually train with House Deneith?”

“I’m no oracle, Lady Lei. I was just spinning a tale for our prickly sergeant. Besides, can you really see our captain in a house of mercenaries?”

Lei smiled, then broke into laughter. After a moment, Jode began to laugh with here. Daine scowled as he and Pierce caught up to them. “All right, you’ve had your fun. Now let’s get on with it. I want to sleep in a bed tonight, and we still have to find your loving suitor, Lei.”

“Follow me … Lord Daine.”

Still smiling, Lei led them through the crowd.

D
aine had heard stories of Sharn, but mere words could not convey the overwhelming presence of the city. The wide street was filled with a churning mob. Half a dozen different languages filled the air. A Talentan merchant was haggling with a young gnome over the price of halodan mealworms. A pale elf wearing a golden gown and a thin mask of beaten silver was walking down the street, accompanied by a massive ogre laborer, who was carrying a trunk formed from bronzed bones. A patrol of blackcloaked guardians watched the streets with suspicious eyes and the promise of swift retribution.

The most disorienting part was the sky—or the lack thereof. This district was entirely enclosed in one of the massive towers of Tavick’s Landing, and above their heads the hollow core of the tower stretched up out of sight. Gargoyles and hippogriffs whirled in the air above them, darting between the different levels of the tower. The walls of the central tower were easily fifty feet thick, and buildings and businesses were carved directly into the walls. The interior of the tower must have been six or seven hundred feet across, filled with smaller spires and buildings.

“Nice place,” Jode said, taking it all in stride. “At least you don’t have to worry about the rain. I’d watch out for falling hippogriff dung, though. That’s insult and injury for you.”

“There’s still rain,” Lei said absently, studying the street ahead. “I’m not a specialist in weather, but apparently enough condensation builds up in the heights of the tower to rain on the people at the bottom.”

“Isn’t that always the way? So where are we going, my lady?”

“A place called Dalan’s Refuge. It’s on the upper levels of this quarter. That robber had a few sovereigns in his purse. Unless you feel like climbing a lot of stairs, I was hoping to find a coach.”

“After all you’ve been through, my lady, I would say that you deserve a little luxury at the end.”

Daine scowled.

“You disagree, Captain?” Jode inquired.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” Daine said. “We only have a few coins to our name. I hate to waste even one.”

“You worry too much, my captain. Once we arrive at Lord Hadran’s estate, Lady Lei has promised to see us well-compensated from his lordship’s treasury.”

“I know Hadran will look after you,” Lei said. “He’s a good man, and—Oh, there’s one!”

She waved, and a vessel dropped from the air to meet them. At a glance, the skycoach was a long, narrow rowboat built from firepine and darkwood. A figurehead of a swan was embedded at the prow of the ship; the image of its outstretched wings was engraved along the length of the boat, glittering in the cold light of the mystical torches. The driver was a young woman dressed in a simple white gown bearing the emblem of a swan on the left breast. Her short, silvery hair and wide eyes hinted at a touch of elven blood.

“How may I help you?” the driver inquired.

“There’s four of us,” Lei replied, stepping into the floating boat. “To Round Wind in Dalan’s Refuge.”

Money exchanged hands, the rest of them climbed in, Daine taking the seat next to Lei. Jode and Pierce sat across from them.

The boat rose into the air. The skycoach rose along the central core then entered a tunnel. Within moments they emerged into open air, skimming past the bridges and smaller spires of
Tavick’s Landing as they ascended toward the heavens. It gave Daine an eagle’s eye view of the city. There were towers upon towers, buildings that dwarfed the tallest tree he’d ever seen, and bridges ran between many of them, spanning chasms that would mean certain death to anyone foolish enough to climb the guardrails.

“Round Wind?” Daine asked, turning to Lei.

“People give their mansions names. You know, like ‘Friendly Arms’ or ‘ Welcoming Light.’”

“I’m familiar with the tradition. But Round Wind? What does it mean?”

“Oh, don’t argue over trivialities. This is
it
, Daine! It’s over! All those years of war, all the blood, the death … it all ends here. I’m going home.”

Daine’s mouth tightened. “This isn’t your home.”

Lei dropped her eyes and looked away for a moment. “Look, I’m angry too. My parents, my closest friends … I lost them, too. I know this isn’t Cyre. But our old life is gone, Daine, and it isn’t coming back. You’ve seen what’s left of our homeland. It’s time to move on. To start again.”

Daine said nothing. Pierce and Jode stared out at the spectacle of the city stretched before them, staying well out of the conversation.

“Have you thought about my offer? I’m sure there’s a place for you in the household.”

“As what?” Daine snapped. “A guard? Patrolling Round Wind and making sure no hippogriffs crap on his lordship’s roof?” Daine slammed his fist on the railing.

“Would it be so different—”

“Don’t, Lei,” Daine warned. “I fought for Cyre. You may think you know me, but you have no idea what I’ve sacrificed or why I served the Queen. I’m no sword for hire, and the last thing I’m going to do is work for a dragonmarked house.”

Lei looked away. When her temper was hot, she was more than a match for Daine, but clearly her heart wasn’t in this battle. “Why? What do you know of the houses? Is Lord Daine too good to work for a craftsman’s daughter?”

“How can you of all people ask me that? Have you forgotten
what happened at Whitehearth? Do you expect me to forget?”

She looked back at him, and he saw the glitter of a tear in her eye before she turned away again. “Have you?”

Her words were cold water on Daine’s fiery temper. “Lei … look, Lei, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.” He paused, trying to find the right words. “There’s a lot about me you don’t know. You and Jode are the only ’marks I’ve ever had as friends. And I … I’m no sellsword, all right? I’ve got to find another path. I just don’t know what it is yet.”

He held out his hand, and after a long moment, she took it. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Can you at least stay the night at Round Wind? A hot meal, a nice bed … and in the morning, I’m sure Hadran will be willing to give you a good breakfast and enough gold to get you started on whatever path you choose.”

He took a deep breath, then nodded and looked away. “Yes. Thanks. Though I think I might prefer a last bowl of your gruel. I think I’m going to miss it.”

“Not me!” Jode broke in. “No offense, my lady, but I’d just as soon never see that goo again.”

Lei smiled faintly. “I’m looking forward to real food myself. How about you? Will you be finding a place in one of the houses of healing?”

Daine had wondered this himself. If the war was truly over, it was the obvious role for a man with Jode’s talents, but healing was the domain of House Jorasco. Jode’s dragonmark hinted at a tie to the house, yet he’d never spoken of it …

“Oh, I’m not ready to settle down yet. Pierce and I thought we’d stay with the captain and see where fortune took us. Right, Pierce?”

“You won’t be coming with me, Pierce?” Lei said, surprised.

The warforged soldier glanced over at them. “I’m sorry, Lei.” His voice was deep and resonant, slow water running across stone. “I would not have survived the war without your aid. But I wish to remain with Captain Daine. The war may be over, but he is still my commander. House Cannith sold me to Cyre. The house does not own me now.”

This time, tears finally began to flow. “I knew we’d be going our separate ways, but Pierce—” Lei looked up at the armored
warrior. “I thought … I just thought that you’d …” While she was casting about for words the boat dropped sharply, stealing her breath.

“Round Wind!” shouted the driver.

Lei dried her eyes and nodded. “We’ll discuss this later tonight,” she said, her voice tight. “I’m going to have a lot to explain to Hadran.”

As impressive as the lower streets of Sharn had been, Dalan’s Refuge was on an entirely different level—literally and figuratively. The district was built on a massive ring encircling one of the largest towers of Tavick’s Landing, and they were thousands of feet above the waters of the Dagger. Despite the altitude, the breezes were warm and light, and Daine had no trouble with the air.

They were surrounded by the ostentatious display of wealth. Statues surrounded the streets, prominent citizens of Sharn captured for eternity in bronze and marble. At the edge of the ring, a fountain of illusions threw shimmering columns of rainbow light into the air, dropping off the edge to fall towards the lower districts. Night had fallen, and there were far fewer people on the streets than there had been below. Dalan’s Refuge was a residential district, and most of its inhabitants had either retired for the evening or were off seeking entertainment in more exotic regions.

Round Wind proved to be true to its name—at least partially. The manor was formed from large spheres of different stones, merged together to create an unusual aesthetic effect.

“Hadran’s grandfather was an architect,” Lei explained.

“And insane?” Daine muttered.

Two men in Cannith livery stood at the front gate, but they allowed the group to pass once Lei displayed her Cannith signet. They walked down a long corridor with rounded walls. Statues of Hadran’s ancestors watched from either side—proud artificers and wizards bearing the symbols of the house.

Eventually the hall opened into a large atrium, but a bulky warforged that dwarfed even Pierce blocked the path. Where
Pierce was designed for battle, this guardian seemed to have been built to impress. He was armored with plates of silver, and gemstones adorned his torso and faceplate. Lei seemed to recognize the ’forged and stepped out in front of Daine.