Night of Long Shadows

CHAPTER 14

The third day of Long Shadows

Sar, the 28th day of Vult, 998

By the time they left the university, dawn had broken over the city. It was strange for Cutter to see the sky at daybreak, instead of noticing the odd beam of light that managed to shoulder its way down to the lower levels through gaps in the huge towers.

“I’m not happy about this,” said Wren.

Cutter turned from his perusal of the sky. “Not happy about what?”

“Politics. You think the people you hang out with are bad? Well, they’re nothing compared to politicians. A bunch of useless, self-serving sycophants who are good for absolutely nothing.”

“As always,” said Torin, “your faith in our government institutions leaves me amazed.”

“Oh, come now,” snapped Wren. “All they do is swan around trying to look busy so no one will notice they don’t actually do anything. And believe me, they’d kill to protect those positions.”

“Wren, that’s the stupidest generalization I’ve ever heard from you. And that’s quite something, let me tell you.”

“Think what you want. But just wait, Torin. When all this is over, you’ll see I’m right. Dirty politics and corrupt officials.”

“So what’s the plan?” asked Torin.

Wren opened the diary. “It says here that Xavien works at Sun Tower in Upper Central. He’s there first thing in the morning to last thing at night.”

“He sounds conscientious,” Torin pointed out.

“Doesn’t he just? Pity he seems to be involved in our little problem, isn’t it?”

“We don’t know that for sure.”

“Come now, Torin. Your natural suspicion seems to be wearing tiresomely thin these days.”

“I’m just saying that the professor could have been following him for other reasons. We have to keep an open mind. Cutter, what’s your opinion?”

“Mine? Go in assuming the worst. That way, things can only get better.”

“You see?” said Wren to Torin. “That’s the mind of an inquisitive.”

“Wonderful. Maybe the two of you should be partners then.”

“Don’t be absurd.” Wren snapped the diary shut. “Whatever we decide to do, I can’t be seen there. The Highest Towers district is only a casual stroll from my apartments. I’d be recognized in an instant.”

“You being the world famous inquisitive that you are,” said Torin sarcastically.

“Exactly.”

“I may have a plan,” said Cutter.

“You?” said Wren, in much the same tone of voice Cutter imagined he would use to point out a fly in his soup.

“Yes, me. A moment ago you were saying I had the mind of an inquisitive.”

“Yes, but I didn’t mean it.” He sighed. “Go on then. What is it?”

“I pretend to be Salkith. If he’s involved, Xavien will come running like a headless chicken wondering what I’m doing at his place of business. If he’s not involved, then he won’t be bothered.”

Wren frowned. “But what if he knew Salkith?”

“Then I’ll improvise. But I don’t think he would know him. Salkith is just a courier. He’s an independent contractor. People hire him because they don’t know him. That way, they can keep their distance if anything goes wrong. If I go in there pretending to be him, I can try to draw information out of Xavien.”

“It might work,” said Torin.

“And it might not,” said Wren.

“But we don’t have any other options right now.” Cutter held out his hand. “And I’ll need the shard.”

Wren looked at him in amazement. “What?”

“The shard. Give it to me. I need it to prove who I am.”

“But what if you lose it?”

“I won’t.” Cutter sighed. “It doesn’t belong to you, half-elf. If anyone has a right to hold onto it, it’s me.”

Wren thought for a while, then sighed and pulled out the silk-wrapped shard from his inside pocket. He reluctantly handed it over and opened his mouth to say something.

“Yes, yes, I know,” said Cutter. “Be careful with it.” He tucked it into his pocket. “Stop worrying so much. I’ve got it taken care of.”

“Oh, that’s good. For a moment, I was actually concerned.”

Sun Tower was one of many civic buildings in the district of Highest Towers. All the city laws were passed within, political lives were built up and ruined by the merest whisper, and a simple glance at the wrong person during a weekly city council meeting could end a career.

At least, that was how Wren put it before Cutter left them at a restaurant across the street.

When the council wasn’t in session, tourists could buy tickets to tour the council hall and see the famous view from the top of Sun Tower, one of the tallest buildings in Sharn. It was the quickest way Cutter could think of to get to the top of the building where Xavien had his offices, so he handed over his last few coins with a wince and took the lift to the top floor.

Cutter had to admit, it was almost worth the money.

Even before he arrived at the top floor, Cutter could see bright golden light spilling down the lift shaft above him. As the lift rose higher and bumped gently to a stop, the grandeur of the Council Hall was revealed in all its glory. The room was massive. Ornate pillars were spaced evenly along the highly polished marble floor. They supported the high ceiling, where a painstakingly detailed mural of the continent of Khorvaire had been painted. He noted that it was kept up to date, with the latest lightning rail lines painted in.

Golden light from the early morning sun bathed the whole room in a syrupy radiance. Long black shadows fell across the floor where the pillars cut into this light. The central pillar formed a shadow that pointed directly at Cutter, the rest forming a fanlike pattern as they angled to either side.

Cutter left the lift, his footsteps echoing in the vast chamber. A few people walked briskly through the hall, carrying files and piles of papers and trying to look as if they were doing important work. Cutter stopped at this last thought and shook his head. He was starting to think like Wren.

A huge wooden table lay in the center of the room, directly beneath the painting on the ceiling. As he passed, Cutter noted that the table was inlaid with a detailed mosaic of Breland, the decoration even more detailed than the painting above.

Cutter squinted against the light as he approached the huge windows that overlooked the city. The towers and neighborhoods receded into the far distance, glinting in the morning sun. Everything looked so clean by the light of a new day.

But soon it will tarnish, thought Cutter. Clouds would appear, shadows bringing dampness and dirt. For now at least, for a brief, tiny moment, it seemed like anything was possible, the hope of a new day borne on that golden light.

He stared through the window for some time, until the increasing sounds of the business day getting underway brought him back to the job at hand.

He turned around and stopped a young, flustered looking woman. “Do you work here?”

“What?”

“I asked if you worked here.”

She held up the huge pile of files she had cradled against her chest. “What do you think?”

Cutter shrugged. “I’m looking for a man called Xavien. Do you know him?”

“Lord Xavien. And yes, I know him.” She made to move on.

Cutter stepped in front of her. “Could you go and fetch him for me?”

“I beg your pardon? Do I look like someone who runs around fetching people?”

Cutter stepped back and looked her up and down. “Actually, you look like a woman trying too hard to look younger than she actually is.”

The woman’s face flushed red and she opened her mouth to say something clever and witty to put him in his place. Cutter held up his hand to stop her.

“Just go to Lord Xavien and tell him Salkith is here. Believe me, if you don’t, the absolute best that will happen to you is that you lose your job.”

She stared at him. Cutter could see her trying to decide how to react, wondering if she should call security. Cutter gazed back impassively until she turned and stormed back the way she had come.

Cutter turned back to take in the view once again. He found it calming.

Some time passed before Cutter heard footsteps approaching behind him. He tensed, but carried on looking through the window.

“Are you looking for me?”

Cutter turned slowly, a bored look on his face. The man who stood before him was in his fifties, corpse thin with gray hair swept back from a high forehead. He held his hands behind his erect back as he waited for a response. He was trying his best to look officious, but Cutter could see the old man’s arms tensing as he clenched and unclenched his hidden hands.

“That depends,” said Cutter. “Who are you?”

They stared at each other, Cutter deciding then and there that this guy didn’t know what Salkith looked like. They wouldn’t be playing this game otherwise.

“Are you Xavien?” he asked.

The man hesitated, then nodded. “I am.”

Cutter nodded. “You know who I am, then.”

“I would hear you say it.”

Cutter sighed. “I’m Salkith.”

Instantly, the man’s demeanor changed. He leaned forward angrily. “Then what in Khyber’s name are you doing here?” he snapped. “How do you even know of me?”

Cutter waited until the man finished. “You done? I hope so, because you take that tone with me again and I walk.”

“Good! Please. Walk.”

“I don’t think you want me to do that.”

“On the contrary. I’ve had a difficult time of late, and the last thing I want is someone of your caliber hanging around causing trouble.”

“I see.” Cutter made a show of glancing around, looking bored. Then he took the silk-wrapped bundle from his pocket. “You won’t be needing this, then?”

“What is it?” Xavien reached out and took the bundle, unwrapping it to see what was inside.

When he saw the shard, he actually dropped it. Cutter couldn’t believe his eyes. Xavien yanked his hands out from under it as if it burned him. Cutter caught it before it hit the floor.

“Are you insane? Do you know how much trouble it was to find this?”

Xavien gripped him by the shoulder and moved him closer to the windows. He made sure no one was nearby before he spoke. “Where did you get it? I was told it was lost.”

Cutter shrugged. “I don’t like to leave a job undone. I went back to the university after the Watch left. He’d hidden it in his office.”

Cutter could see Xavien running everything through his mind. The old man looked out at the rising sun. “There’s still time,” he said to himself.

Cutter kept quiet, hoping Xavien would say something else that would tell him what was going on.

No such luck. Xavien turned his attention back to Cutter.

“You were supposed to deliver this to someone.”

“At the Goblin’s Revenge. Yes. But I doubt they’ll still be waiting for me.”

“No, of course not. You’ll have to take it directly to him. He doesn’t have much time.”

Damn. Was Salkith supposed to know where this person lived? But then, why arrange the drop at the tavern?

“Where am I meant to take it?” he said, chancing a risk.

“Quiet. I’m thinking.” Xavien pursed his lips and stared at Cutter for what seemed like an age. He moistened his thin lips. “You understand I’m going to trust you with something that is dangerous to know.”

Cutter didn’t say anything.

“If word gets out, or if anything goes wrong, we’ll know it was you. We have resources you wouldn’t believe. You will never escape. You will be hunted down and killed.”

“I don’t like threats, Xavien.”

“I understand that. I’m just telling you how it is. There’s a lot at stake here. I need you to finish what you started. And just so you know I appreciate your … enthusiasm to finish the job, I’ll triple your fee. But only if you deliver the shard.”

“Who to?”

“A priest.”

“A priest? What would a priest want with this?”

“Because he is a priest of the Shadow. Please do not ask any more questions, because I won’t answer them. You will find him at the Temple of the Six in Khyber’s Gate. He is an elf called Anriel. Are these instructions clear?”

“You want me to go down to Khyber’s Gate during Long Shadows? I think I’ll need more than triple.”

“How much, then?”

“Ten times the original amount.”

Xavien didn’t even blink. “Done. Now hurry. He must have the shard before the changing of the next Watch. Tell him the rest of the plan is back on track. He will understand.”

Xavien turned his back on Cutter and walked away, disappearing through a distant door. Cutter watched him go, then headed across the floor to the lift.

“Khyber’s Gate?” said Torin. “Why there?”

“I’ve told you what he told me. You know as much as I do.”

“A priest of the Shadow,” said Wren. “Can it be a coincidence that this is happening now? During Long Shadows?”

“No way,” said Torin. “The Shadow’s priests have more power now than at any other time during the year. I’d say that whatever they’re doing could only be accomplished during these three days.”

“That makes sense,” said Cutter. “Remember what he said about there still being time, and that it had to be done today.”

“And today is the last day of Long Shadows.” Wren sat back in his chair. “I don’t like this. Not one bit.”

“Neither do I, but if I stand any chance of finding out who did this to Rowen, I have to follow it through.”

“And don’t forget clearing your name of murder,” said Wren. “I realize that’s not quite as important as revenge, but it’s high on the list of priorities.”

Torin shook his head. “Are we seriously suggesting we let him take the Khyber dragonshard straight to the people who wanted it in the first place? That professor died because he didn’t want it falling into their hands.”

Wren frowned. “He’s right, Cutter. It’s too dangerous. We have no idea what they want it for. Taking it to them is a stupid thing to do.”

“What makes you think you have any say in the matter?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m the one holding the dragonshard, and short of killing me and stripping it from my corpse, there’s no way you’re going to stop me from going to Khyber’s Gate and finding out why Rowen died.”

Wren stared at him. “You know, you’re a very hard man to like.”

“Just as well I don’t care then, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Just as well.” Wren stood and moved around the table. “Torin, I seem to have left my money at home. Pay the bill, will you? We travel to Khyber’s Gate.”