Chapter Eighteen
Explanations
The two came together,
blades flashing forward in lightning fast strikes and blocks almost to
quick for the eye to catch.
A moment later they
sprang apart again, and began circling.
Athos was looking
for weaknesses he knew he would never find.
Time and again the
Viper would betray himself with a subtle movement, off guard for a split
second or leaving himself open for an instant. Athos didn't react
to these apparent weaknesses, knowing full well they were merely ploys.
Athos himself was
using a few.
Suddenly he saw a
twitch - it looked too subtle to be a trap - and he was springing forward,
his blades aiming for the Viper's heart.
Instantly the Viper
swept his right-hand katana before him, deflecting Athos' blades, and simultaneously
aimed a kick at Athos' head.
Athos ducked under
the Viper's sweeping foot and swung around leading with his dagger and
protecting himself with his shortsword.
The katanas arced
down, but Athos swept under one and blocked the other with his sword.
The dagger was within
a finger's breadth of the Viper's heart before he felt his legs swept from
beneath him.
Refexively he flung
his left arm down to break the fall, and the dagger spun from it.
He felt a twist in
his right wrist and the shortsword flew from his other hand as the Viper
disarmed him.
He rolled backwards,
barely avoiding the Viper's descending blade, and came to his feet, defenseless.
"Very good," said
the Viper, pausing. "Very impressive work. You were almost
able to exploit a weakness. Of course, 'almost' isn't quite good
enough. Remember you have to be aware of exactly where your body
is at every moment."
Athos panted for a
moment, then started to reach for his weapons.
"There's no need to
exhaust yourself," said the Viper as Athos retrieved his sword. "Take
a short break."
Athos complied, picking
up his dagger a moment later and settling down in the corner, back to the
wall. He watched as the Viper snapped through a precise and methodical
practice routine with his weapons, apparently still fresh and untired although
they had been at this for several hours.
"You are aware of
the cult of Set?"
The Viper didn't look
up from his routine. "I am."
"You are aware that
they are after you, then?"
"They are after one
of us, yes, but I wouldn't make the the assumption that it was me."
Athos considered that.
"How do you know of them?"
The Viper laughed
then, and turned from his routine to face Athos. "Do you think I
am a mindbender? That I read people's minds?"
Athos shugged.
"I don't suppose I would have reason to doubt it, if that's what you told
me."
The Viper sheathed
his weapons. "There was, perhaps, a time when I would have allowed
or even encouraged you to believe that, but now it is time for you to understand
one of the keys to becoming a successful assassin."
Athos leaned forward,
listening attentively.
"Contacts," said the
Viper, "are essential."
"Contacts?"
The Viper nodded.
"Contacts. When someone wants somebody eliminated, how do you think
they reach me with the request?"
Athos shrugged.
"I hadn't thought about it."
"They come to one
of my contacts and arrange for a meeting with me."
Athos looked confused.
"So, these contacts know how toreach you?" He waved an arm.
"They know about this place? That seems like a potential weakness."
The Viper shook his
head. "No. They no nothing about me, or this place. I
know them, and where they live, and I drop in every once in a while, always
unannounced, to find out whether they have any assignments I am interested
in. That way I don't have to worry about an army suddenly storming
into my home, howling for blood."
"What about an army
laying in wait for you?"
The Viper shrugged.
"That would be easy enough to spot and avoid. In such a circumstance
- and it has happened before - I wait the arm out. After they finally
left, I would end that particular contact's life - painfully."
Athos looked down.
That made sense, and it fit in with the Viper's style. "How many
contacts do you have?"
"I have contacts in
most of the major cities on this side of the continent, and a few on the
other side as well. I even have two on another continent entirely,
on the other side of the planet."
Athos started.
The planet? The Viper had contacts spread across the entire world?
Incredible, but, from what Athos had seen, not necessarily impossible.
"I see you are surprised,"
said the Viper. "Why? Assassination is one of the few things
common to every civilization. Why should I not practice it everywhere?"
Athos was still amazed.
"And why do your contacts do this service for you? How much do you
pay them?"
"Nothing. They
do it out of fear of me, not for money. I would kill them if they
ever lied to me. Besides, they usually charge a finder's fee to the
customer, usually fairly high."
"I see."
"When the time comes,
you will have to find contacts for yourself."
* * *
Once again, The Merry
Halfling loomed on his right. This time it seemed larger, more threatening
somehow.
Athos shook of the
feeling and ascended the steps, halting at the open door.
Zip looked up when
he entered, then pointedly turned away.
Athos scanned the
room.
Neither Jitinder nor
Artemis were here.
He stepped through
the doorway, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He made his way to
a table and sat, looking at the brightly flickering candle that was se
there.
In a moment, self-pity
gave way to anger.
Who were they to judge
him? They hadn't lived their lives under the shadow of the Viper!
They had no idea who he really was; what he had been through!
"Athos."
The voice broke his
reverie, and he looked up. Jitinder stood at the table, Artemis behind
him. As quickly as it had come, the anger was gone. They had
come.
"Sit down," he said,
"please."
A glance passed between
Artemis and Jitinder, and exchange Athos didn't quite understand.
A moment later they both sat, making certain to take the far end of the
table.
"I owe you both an
explanation," Athos started.
Jitinder scowled.
"I don't really care about any explanation. The only reason I'm here
is because Artemis insisted on seeing you, and I wanted to make sure she
was protected." There was a threatening growl to his voice, and his
eyes blazed with fury as he spoke.
Jitinder's abrupt
manner rekindled something akin to his earlier anger. You couldn't
stop me if I wanted to kill her! he thought silently, and then was
immediately ashamed. Artemis deserved better of him than thoughts
like that. Jitinder did too.
His voice was mild
when he continued. "Whatever your reasons for being present, I would
like to offer you an explanation."
"Go on," said Artemis,
her voice curiously gentle.
He found it was difficult
to put the story into words. He had never told it to anyone before.
"My...my father," he started hesitantly, "came to Zazesspur when I was
four. I don't really remember much about him, just images mostly.
The Viper murdered him one night, leaving me alone and penniless in a city
I was unfamiliar with." He shrugged. "I did alright. - I was
skilled with my hands and took to thieving. When I was seven, I killed
a man. Two of them. They were trying to get me to prostitute
myself."
He took a breath.
It seemed to get easier to tell as he told it. "Anyway, the city
guard was after me, and the only way out I could see was to join the thieves'
guild, who claimed they could grant me protection. I joined, but
before I could settle into the guild, the Viper came and took me - for
reasons I have yet to understand. He took me to his domain - I don't
know where it is but it is definitely on another plane - and he began to
train me. I was raised there, under his tutelage. A few weeks
ago he started allowing me access to the outside world again. He
has a portal to Calimport, and one to Zazesspur. Those are all that
I know of, but I'm certain he has many more. That's how I came to
be here. I didn't know who the cult of Set was until after they attacked
me twice. Apparently they believe I'm the Viper, although I am not."
His voice trailed off as he finished.
Jitinder sat back.
"That's your excuse? That you are training to become another Viper?"
"I will never be another
Viper," said Athos. "I haven't figured out his reasons for doing
what he's done yet, but I know I will never succeed him. And I do
not stay with him out of free will."
Artemis sat very still. She said nothing.
"Well," said Jitinder
bitingly, "I, for one, don't buy your fantastic story. We're supposed
to pity you, I suppose, and tell you that we'll all be friends again?"
"I don't want your
pity,"said Athos, "or ask for forgiveness." He looked at Artemis.
"I know I can never have that. I just... I just thought you should
know."
There was a moment
of silence.
"Well, then," said
Jitinder. "Now we know. If that's it, we'll be leaving now.
And I hope you'll be doing the same - forever."
Athos lowered his
gaze. What had he expected? Absolution? He had known
he was too far damned for that. "Yes," he said, "I will. It
would be dangerous for you if I stayed, with the cult hunting me."
"It would be dangerous
for you," said Jitinder with a dangerous tone. "Yes, it would be
dangerous for you, all right."
In silence, they departed.
Artemis gazed back at him once, from the door, and it almost seemed as
if she would cry.
* * *
Grimwalde looked up
from his work.
"Master," said one
of the younger apprentices. "Do you feel it?"
Grimwalde motioned
for silence, listening intently.
Once again he felt
the tower shiver.
There was only one
explanation. The portal was opening.
Yes, it had to be!
Thenedain was returning. The only question was whether this unexpeted
event would be fortunate or unfortunate for Grimwalde's plans.
He hurred out the
doorway of the laboratory, the apprentices on his heels, and started up
the steps, breaking into a run.
A moment later he
was at the top of the stairs, in front of the door that led to the highest
room in the tower.
He fumbled with his
keys, finally finding the correct one and unlocking the door. A moment
later the lock clicked and the heavy oaken door swung wide. As it
did so, the low rumbling sound which was emanating from its far side turned
into a roar.
He looked about the
dusty room, seeking the portal. Locating it, he raced across the
floor to it, hauling off the heavy cloth which hung over the device.
It was already glowing
with hellish colors. Red alternated with blue, yellow, and green,
but in each case they seemed somehow sinister. The device was shaped
like a full-length oval mirror, and when not in use, it could serve as
one. Of course, it's true purpose was to create a gateway between
the planes.
The mirror's surface
rippled like frothing water for several minutes, and faint shadows could
be seen behind it, as if were some sort of dark window to another reality.
Which, of course,
it was.
The device rumbled
on for a few moments more, the edges of the mirror alternating colors more
rapidly, the surface roiling more feasomely.
Then, all of a sudden,
the roaring dropped to a purr. The mirror's surface smoothed.
A foot came through,
sliding out of the mirror as if coming out of water. It found the
ground, and a moment later the body followed. Grimwalde started.
He did not know this man!
"Who are you?" he
barked, trying to keep the fear out of his voice. This device should
not allow access to the prime-material to any of the demon races that populated
the lower planes, but such an occurance was a possibility.
"Thenedain-" the man
began, after looking about himself.
"You are not Thenedain!
I know Thenedain, and he could not have changed so much! Besides
he is missing part of his left ear, and yours is whole!"
"Thenedain follows
me," explained the man tiredly. "I am the only surviving apprentice
that journeyed with him."
"But they are all
boys, the oldest not more than twelve," said Grimwalde, suspicious.
"You are a grown man!"
A moment later, Thenedain
himself arrived, stepping through the portal. He leaned on his magical
staff. A glance at him told all.
When Thenedain had
departed, not more than six months past, he had been a middle-aged man,
not handsome, perhaps, but healthy and hale, in the prime of his years.
The man before Grimwalde
was old and grey. Where deep black hair had hung in lustrous abundance,
there was now a wrinkled and yellow bald head. Where a finely trimm
mustach had rested, there now was a foot-long beard of white hair.
The younger Thenedain had stood straight and erect; this man stood hunched
over, leaning painfully on his staff.
"What happened?" asked
Grimwalde, shocked.
Thenedain looked at
him, sneering.
"We got snared, boy.
We have aged much, but I see that you have aged little. How long
have we been gone?"
"Six months.
I was about to send some apprentices after you to see what had happened-"
Thenedain spat disgustedly.
"Certainly you were, boy. And manes can fly."
Grimwalde was uncertain
how to reply. "May I ask who your newfound companion is?"
"I can speak for myself,"said
the younger man. "I was called Valle when I left."
"Well, Valle, you'd
better help Thenedain to his room."
The man gave him a
warning look. "That's LaValle to you. I am no longer an apprentice.
Help him to his room yourself - if he wants to go. More likely he'll
want to take a look at the tower and see how you've changed it in his absence."
Grimwalde jerked back
in surprise at the not-so-gentle rebuff. 'La' was a title some wizards
added to their names when they had achieved suffient power. Thenedain
hadn't adopted the prefix, though Grimwalde himself had considered it.
In truth, Grimwalde
had been hoping that Thenedain was dead. It had seemed likely, given
the long absence of the older mage. Apparently, however, Thenedain
had been caught in some bizarre magical time distortion which had aged
him several years in the same time that it had take for only a few months
to pass on the Prime Material, and no doubt he had grown more powerful
in those extra years.
Now that the older
mage had returned Grimwalde was no longer the master of the tower.
Instead, he would be demoted to the status of Thenedains assistant.
Not only that, but
the mage had returned with LaValle. Six months ago LaValle had been
simply Valle, a lowly apprentice. Now he was a man grown, probably
a powerful mage in his own right, and definitely a potentially dangerous
rival.
Again Grimwalde found
himself wondering whether Thenedain's return would be fortunate, and decided
that it probably wouldn't be.
He sighed to himself.
Today was simply not his day.
* * *
"Stay away from him!
You'll end up dead if you don't, mark my words!" Jitinder towered
over Artemis threateningly. "I can't protect you all the time!"
Artemis stood up to
him, undaunted. "I believe him!" she snapped stubbornly, her jaw
set.
Jitinder shook his
head. "So do I! So what? Does that make him any less
a killer?"
"Who says he's a killer?"
she shot at him.
Jitinder crossed his
arms. "If the Viper's training him, he's either killed someone already
- murdered, I mean - or he's going to have to in the future. What
do you think he's in training to become? Eventually, no matter how
sincere he is now, his senses will deaden, and he will kill. I fought
him myself; I know how lethal he is!"
"What about you?"
she asked. "You've seen a lot of death. You've killed people
yourself. Am I not to trust you either?"
"I only kill to protect
the weak," blurted Jitinder angrily. "Criminals. Murderers.
People who deserve to die. And I haven't become deadened to pain
and suffering, either."
"Really?" she asked
venomously. "It doesn't seem to bother you much that he might be
suffering!"
"Look," said Jitinder,
flustered momentarily, "I'm different, that's all! There's no comparing
us, in any way!"
She snorted and turned
away. "I don't see the difference," she said defiantly, almost under
her breath.
Jitinder reached out
and took her shoulders, turning her to face him. "The difference
is that I'm no murderer," he said, his voice subdued. "I wasn't raised
and trained by the Viper to kill people."
Artemis folded her
arms stubbornly. "You're afraid of what will happen when - no if
- Athos loses his sense of sympathy for others, but cutting him off entirely
from the only friendship he knows will only push him in that direction."
Jitinder sighed, releasing
her and turning away. "Look," he said after a moment. "Just
don't play with fire, alright? Even if, by some miracle, he doesn't
become as dead in his heart as the Viper, as a result of your 'help' the
Viper will probably end up killing you. And those cult members are
after him too, remember. It isn't safe."
He stopped and turned
back to her. "Stay away from him. It's for your own good.
You don't have to like it, you just have to do it."
Artemis had turned
away. She said nothing.
Jitinder sighed.
"I... I know you love him. I don't pretend to understand why.
If you truly love him, the best thing you can do for him is to stay away."
Artemis bit her lip, a single tear running down her face.