The Sorcerer's Abyss (The Sorcerer's Path) (39 page)

Concern shot through her as she realized she really was too tired to engage in their usual banter. In fact, Ellyssa could barely force her eyes open and was rapidly losing that battle as well. The last thing she saw before the world went black was Frank’s apologetic eyes.

“Oh, Frank, you bast—,” Ellyssa mumbled before she blacked out.

Frank slid the plate of food away so Ellyssa would not land face-first into its remains. He gently guided her head to table as two dark-garbed men got up from a nearby table and took hold of the girl.

“Your cooperation is greatly appreciated,” said one of the men.

Frank’s face flushed with a mixture of anger and shame. “Just get out of my inn.”

The two men smiled as they lifted Ellyssa from her chair and disappeared with their burden through the back door. Frank hated his part in this sordid business, but there were some folks you just did not want to run afoul of.

Ellyssa opened her eyes and immediately discovered her hands tied and her mouth gagged. She fought down the rising panic of, once again, being held captive. She looked around the room and saw she was in a chamber of stone walls weeping with excess moisture. A single door looked to be the only way out. She sat in a plain chair across from a slightly larger chair with a felt-padded seat. Ellyssa suspected she would be having company soon.

Within seconds of regaining consciousness, the door opened and two men strode in. One was large with a head so bald it shone in the lamplight. The other man was of average height and build, dark haired with a thin, black mustache, and wore expensive clothing. In other circumstances, Ellyssa might consider him handsome for an older man. She guessed him to be in charge. He confirmed her suspicions when he sat in the chair across from her.

“Look at the defiant, unbridled fury in her eyes, Braxis,” the man said to the bald man standing over his shoulder. “Does it remind you of anyone?”

Braxis smiled. “It sure does. Best be careful if she espouses his other attributes as well.”

“Indeed.” The man in the chair faced Ellyssa again. “Hello, my dear. My name is Andrill, and this is my dear associate, Braxis. You must be wondering what causes me to bring you here, and under such rude circumstances. I will explain everything, but first we must come to an accord. First off, I mean you absolutely no harm. Now I know this may be difficult to accept given the first impressions of your treatment, but please look at it from my point of view. So, if you promise not to harm my people, or me, I will untie you and remove that dreadful gag. Agreed?”

Ellyssa looked at the man as if he were insane.

“Oh, of course,” Andrill responded with a flippant wave of his hand. “Any promises are certainly conditional upon the behavior of me and mine. Expecting you not to slaughter us all should we display violence is just silly.”

Ellyssa glared daggers at the man for several heartbeats then nodded her head once. Braxis immediately cut the cords binding her hands and removed the braided cloth from her mouth.

“You two purse-cutting dung eaters just signed your death warrants,” Ellyssa spat but made no move to attack.

Andrill turned to look at Braxis again. “Azerick Sir was so much more polite.”

“He was. Manners were obviously not part of her curriculum.” Braxis nodded.

Ellyssa’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of Azerick’s name. These men knew him and they knew her, or at least enough about her to know they had a relationship. She assumed it must not be too bad since they were willing to talk and free her at her word.

“What do want, and why did you poison me?” Ellyssa demanded. “And how do you know Azerick?”

“Azerick was an old associate of mine before he left to join that Academy and promptly disappeared. My condolences on his passing.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

Andrill pursed his lips as he mentally arranged his next words. “Azerick owed me a great favor, two actually, and due to his unfortunate death is unable to repay them.”

“That still does not explain what you want with me,” Ellyssa stated, already seeing where this was going.

“As his ward, and something of an heir, I was hoping to impress upon you the obligation of fulfilling those favors.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Ellyssa informed him bluntly. “Anything between you and Azerick died with him, like so many other things did. Besides, I have my own debts to collect, and they are gaining interest every minute.”

Andrill smiled and steepled his fingers under his chin. “Ah yes, Captain Jake, the terrible slaver.”

Ellyssa narrowed her eyes. “You seem to know an awful lot about me.”

“I know a lot about many things. It is my primary business. Oh sure, I dabble in the occasional robbery or fencing operation, but my true stock and trade is information. I really did not expect you to throw in with me out of some sense of duty or obligation to your mentor just because you might find some easing of the guilt you may feel for your part in his death. Hm, no? Oh well, it was worth a try. How about I offer you something you want in return for your help with my little problem?”

“What do you think you can give me I can’t get on my own if I want it?” Ellyssa asked slowly.

Andrill leaned forward in his chair. “I can give you Captain Jake.”

Ellyssa exploded from her chair and tore at the Source. Braxis and Andrill felt a crushing weight strike them in the chest and pin them to wall.

“Where is he? If you know you had best tell me now!” Ellyssa screamed in uncontrolled rage.

Andrill made a halting motion and then pointed to the floor with his index finger. Ellyssa looked around the room and spotted several black holes in the wall revealing the presence of hidden passages. She imagined men behind those openings pointing loaded crossbows at her. Ellyssa was certain she could protect herself from them, but listening might be a better course of action right now. Ellyssa let the two thieves drop to their feet and sat back down. Andrill and Braxis resumed their original positions, but only Andrill still smiled.

“As I was saying,” Andrill said, “information is my business, one in which I am very good. I do not know where Captain Jake is right this instant, but if you help me, I can find him.”

“If you can find him so easily then why not find him before abducting me?” Ellyssa demanded to know. “Then you would have a bargaining chip in your hand, which is far more substantial than a promise you may or may not be able to keep after you get what you want.”

“See how clever she is, Braxis? So much like our dear friend Azerick. Two reasons child, one you just saw. Had I the information ahead of time, you could have extracted it from me without paying your fair share of the deal. Two, I cannot get that information until you help me.”

“Why not?”

“What do you know of the Thieves’ Guild?” Andrill asked.

“Nothing, other than you steal things.”

Andrill clapped his hands once. “Oh good, I love to tell a good story. The Thieves’ Guild was originally comprised of independent chapter houses, each led by a House Master. I am the House Master of the Night Ravens. Each chapter house had its own territory carved out in the city. There were, of course, the occasional battles for territory, but overall it was an equitable arrangement. That changed a few years ago when a newcomer by the name of Faralynn took over the leadership of one of the houses. Faralynn is a brutal expansionist, and I lost a little territory but only the bit I had gained when Azerick helped eliminate Daedric’s Demons. Things seemed to even out over the next year or so, but then she began expanding again. Pretty soon, she declared herself the guild leader of all Southport and each chapter house either paid her to operate or she wiped them out to a man.”

“So you work for her? If everyone hates this setup, why not just work together to kill her?”

“I do not work for her, which is why my house now resides here. Do you recognize it?” Andrill asked.

“No, why should I?”

“It used to belong to a much younger Azerick,” Andrill explained. “I sort of bent one of our agreements about following him home. I have a terrible curiosity and felt it in my best interest to know where to find him should I need him. Discovering the boy was capable of using magic came as a bit of a shock to the first of my men to enter this place. Quite literally in fact. Azerick had placed some rather unpleasant surprises for uninvited guests, but we got that all taken care of. It was expensive, I can tell you.”

“You still haven’t told me why Faralynn is such a problem.”

“The problem is that Faralynn has a wizard working for her, and a rather powerful one, if I am any sort of judge of such things. All who have tried to unseat her and break up her little monopoly have met with an exceedingly grisly demise. That is why I need you, the Witch of North Haven. I do love that little title they bestowed on you. It is quite catchy and very frightening—to slavers anyway.”

“So, I take care of the wizard and help you remove this Faralynn woman and you promise me Captain Jake,” Ellyssa clarified.

“Exactly. Once Faralynn is removed, I can call in my resources from the holes in which they are hiding, the ones still alive that is, and reestablish my intelligence network.”

“How long? How long after I kill this wizard and thief will it take you to find Captain Jake?”

Andrill let out a long breath as he thought. “I will have to replace several people, but mostly just ears and laymen. My higher ups were largely able to retreat into hiding and are just waiting for word to reemerge. Give me six months, a year at the outset, and I promise to deliver Captain Jake into your hands.”

“So long,” Ellyssa whispered.

“Not as long as you have been searching. I understand The Academy is looking for you as well. By aiding me, you can get Captain Jake while lying low and away from the prying eyes of The Academy.”

Ellyssa thought about the offer. She hated the idea of needing someone else’s help, but the longer she tried and failed to find Captain Jake, the more likely those idiots from The Academy would finally catch her. She also did not know how much she could trust Andrill.