times I just wish I could be alone. I remember our days on the trail rather fondly. We learned a lot and became a family. That is something that I have never had."
"But you are likely to become a councilor tomorrow," offered Tanya. "At your age that must be a great achievement."
"It is a great achievement at any age," nodded Fredrik. "Unfortunately they don't last long in Tagaret. I do not think the Council really has the best interests of Tagaret on its mind though. It appears that it is an organization mainly interested in its own survival. I can find little comfort in being on such a council."
"You could refuse the offer," suggested Tanya.
"I have been thinking about it," admitted Fredrik. "Dalgar and Duke Everich think they have their claws into me. They are dangerous men to cross. I thought I would have time to think about it more because I knew that they would get Niki on the Council before me, but I did not expect two openings on the Council at the same time."
"Do you think Niki has a chance at it then?" inquired Tanya.
"It is almost assured," nodded Fredrik. "She has Duke Everich's backing and those he can command. She also has many suitors who think they stand alone in capturing her love. She will have the votes to get on the Council. I fear what comes after she gains her seat. Many will find out that they have been led into believing things that are not true. It is not safe to cause such feelings in this city."
"Have you seen Tedi or Arik today?" asked Tanya.
"No," Fredrik shook his head. "I did not even realize that you were in the city. I have not seen any of the Rangers since I left the group. Are they missing?"
"Well, they are not where they are supposed to be," conceded Tanya. "I was hoping that they came to visit you."
"I would not think they could even find me," frowned Fredrik. "How did you know where to find me?"
"I just asked people where the famous Cidal Mercenaries were," chuckled Tanya. "You seem to have started a trend in Tagaret."
"Actually, I have you and Alex to thank for that," responded Fredrik. "I have increased the number of men twice already. My men advised me to increase the number when the Grakus Mercenary Company came into town and again when the Koman Mercenary Company opened shop. I just sent another request after the assassination last night. This city is getting ready to have a blood bath. I do not think that Captain Grecho will continue my protection for long without some compensation. I may be forced to join the Council just to continue my bodyguards."
"If Grecho requires payment," offered Tanya, "I think the Rangers can help. We do not expect him to go out of business to fulfill his part of the bargain. I wish there was a chance of extending the protection to Niki."
"That will not happen," frowned Fredrik. "I offered her the first men that you sent up and was quickly rebuked by Dalgar. He does not want anyone around her except himself. I am not sure he even trusts his Black Devil cohorts with Niki."
A mercenary entered the sitting room and whispered in Fredrik's ear. Tanya watched as the color drained out of Fredrik's face.
"Niki is gone," Fredrik shakily told Tanya. "There is only the body of an assassin in her mansion."
"Gone?" echoed Tanya. "How do you know?"
"I sent this man to her house to offer her congratulations on tomorrow's vote," answered Fredrik. "He found her mansion deserted except for the body."
"There were also three packed bags at the foot of the stairs," added the mercenary, obviously accepting his master's choice to share information with Tanya.
"So she left in a hurry," Tanya surmised. "That means that she escaped, Fredrik. Do not give up hope yet. I wonder if Arik and Tedi might have been involved somehow. That would explain their disappearance."
"Possibly," frowned Fredrik, "but that sounds more like wishful thinking. How would they know she was in trouble?"
Tanya thought about Prince Midge's parting statement about checking on his fairy army
"But you are likely to become a councilor tomorrow," offered Tanya. "At your age that must be a great achievement."
"It is a great achievement at any age," nodded Fredrik. "Unfortunately they don't last long in Tagaret. I do not think the Council really has the best interests of Tagaret on its mind though. It appears that it is an organization mainly interested in its own survival. I can find little comfort in being on such a council."
"You could refuse the offer," suggested Tanya.
"I have been thinking about it," admitted Fredrik. "Dalgar and Duke Everich think they have their claws into me. They are dangerous men to cross. I thought I would have time to think about it more because I knew that they would get Niki on the Council before me, but I did not expect two openings on the Council at the same time."
"Do you think Niki has a chance at it then?" inquired Tanya.
"It is almost assured," nodded Fredrik. "She has Duke Everich's backing and those he can command. She also has many suitors who think they stand alone in capturing her love. She will have the votes to get on the Council. I fear what comes after she gains her seat. Many will find out that they have been led into believing things that are not true. It is not safe to cause such feelings in this city."
"Have you seen Tedi or Arik today?" asked Tanya.
"No," Fredrik shook his head. "I did not even realize that you were in the city. I have not seen any of the Rangers since I left the group. Are they missing?"
"Well, they are not where they are supposed to be," conceded Tanya. "I was hoping that they came to visit you."
"I would not think they could even find me," frowned Fredrik. "How did you know where to find me?"
"I just asked people where the famous Cidal Mercenaries were," chuckled Tanya. "You seem to have started a trend in Tagaret."
"Actually, I have you and Alex to thank for that," responded Fredrik. "I have increased the number of men twice already. My men advised me to increase the number when the Grakus Mercenary Company came into town and again when the Koman Mercenary Company opened shop. I just sent another request after the assassination last night. This city is getting ready to have a blood bath. I do not think that Captain Grecho will continue my protection for long without some compensation. I may be forced to join the Council just to continue my bodyguards."
"If Grecho requires payment," offered Tanya, "I think the Rangers can help. We do not expect him to go out of business to fulfill his part of the bargain. I wish there was a chance of extending the protection to Niki."
"That will not happen," frowned Fredrik. "I offered her the first men that you sent up and was quickly rebuked by Dalgar. He does not want anyone around her except himself. I am not sure he even trusts his Black Devil cohorts with Niki."
A mercenary entered the sitting room and whispered in Fredrik's ear. Tanya watched as the color drained out of Fredrik's face.
"Niki is gone," Fredrik shakily told Tanya. "There is only the body of an assassin in her mansion."
"Gone?" echoed Tanya. "How do you know?"
"I sent this man to her house to offer her congratulations on tomorrow's vote," answered Fredrik. "He found her mansion deserted except for the body."
"There were also three packed bags at the foot of the stairs," added the mercenary, obviously accepting his master's choice to share information with Tanya.
"So she left in a hurry," Tanya surmised. "That means that she escaped, Fredrik. Do not give up hope yet. I wonder if Arik and Tedi might have been involved somehow. That would explain their disappearance."
"Possibly," frowned Fredrik, "but that sounds more like wishful thinking. How would they know she was in trouble?"
Tanya thought about Prince Midge's parting statement about checking on his fairy army
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