City of Torment by Bruce R. Cordell Read Free Book Online Page B

“You’re here, that’s what matters. I’ve got something special lined up. Something vital to Marhana. I need my most potent and trusted agent to serve as my envoy.” “You’ll turn my head with all your praise,” responded Japheth, his tone indicating just the opposite. Anusha was familiar with Behroun’s verbal tactics�flattery came first, followed by demands. When he set his mind to it, Behroun could charm the nose off a troll. But he only applied his charm to people he couldn�t manipulate any other way. The warlock said, “Tell me what you want.” “You’re setting sail two days from now with Captain Thoster on the Green Siren. He�” “No,” interrupted Japheth. “He’s a freebooter. And his bloodline is tainted. I’ll have nothing to do with him.” “Your own bloodline is none too pure, warlock. Besides, you’ve dealt with Thoster all along.” “Incorrect.” “Don’t delude yourself,” sneered Behroun. “From where do you suppose all the Cormyrean coin I pay you in has come? Thoster.” “If you deal with pirates, that’s hardly a concern of mine.” Lord Marhana snorted. “No one pays as well as I, you’ve said it yourself. Gold coin, pure and unalloyed. And you need all you can get, don’t you? Otherwise, the crimson road will sweep you all the way to its final destination.” Japheth glanced sharply at the shipping magnate but didn’t correct him. “So, will you sail with Thoster as I’ve asked? I need you on board to keep me informed on a daily basis of his activities. He’s apparently uncovered some vast opportunity. It could be the break Marhana needs. He says his alliance with a creature of the sea is about to pay fantastic dividends. Perhaps more than just gold: influence. Power. I need you on site to act as my proxy.” “… I’ll consider your offer.” All pretense of cordiality fled Behroun’s eyes. He snapped, “Don’t consider too long, or I’ll break your pact stone. Then, no matter how far you flee down the crimson road, the wrath of your Lord of Bats will find you.” Anusha was already anxious, witnessing the conversation between her half brother and Japheth. A stress headache blossomed behind her eyes. When Behroun’s cruel visage uttered his odd, incomprehensible threat, Anusha took an involuntary step backward, directly into an artfully stuffed osprey mounted on a slender rod. The display toppled with a crash. Japheth and Behroun jerked around. The warlock’s eyes focused past her, but they widened anyway. He exclaimed, “A phantasm!” Japheth could see her! Lord Marhana was looking over the warlock’s shoulder, but his eyes were not focused on her either, but at the wall behind her. Behroun yelled, “An assassin! Sent by a rival house�disperse it, Japheth!” Anusha glanced back to see what Behroun and Japheth saw. Was there an assassin behind her? They were looking at the silver-framed mirror Behroun purchased from a Calimshan trader. In the mirror’s glossy pane stood a ghastly shape of shadow. She knew immediately it was a reflection of her dream shape! She raised a hand, and the image mimicked her action. She saw that her fingers, her arm, her entire body was like a shadow outlined in ethereal white and blue fire. Japheth raised his arms, palms facing Anusha. His cloak flared of its own accord, revealing a void of absolute darkness within its folds. And from that darkness, a swarm of black motes winged forth. Anusha wrenched herself backward, mentally demanding, Wake up! Wake up! Wake� Her eyes snapped wide. A bedside candle revealed she lay twisted in her coverlets. In her bedroom. Her gaze wandered the serene, quiet expanse of her walls, the ceiling, the furnishings in her room. She raised her hand, saw it normally. The dream was concluded. “What a nightmare!” she exclaimed, sitting up. She wondered how long she’d slept�darkness still reigned outside. Standing, she shrugged into her nightrobe. She tied its belt securely