Best Left in the Shadows by Mark Gelineau, Joe King Page B

time,” Alys said, reaching back and
adjusting the large scythe in its harness, and checking the daggers at her
belt. “But I suppose, if you are set on it, it wouldn’t hurt to pay him a visit
anyway. If you really want to follow this, we’ll need the Blacktide’s blessing
if we’re going to be poking around Prionside.”
    With that, she offered him her arm. “Come along, Magistrate
Inspector. It’s late at night, and the streets can be so very dangerous,” she
said, batting her eyes at him. “An escort is ever so important.”
    Dax frowned again, but behind his eyes, Alys caught just
the barest hint of amusement. “Then I suppose it is good that I have one,” he
said.

Act 2
    In the Court of the Blacktide
    “Watch your head,” Alys warned.
    Dax was so focused on poling the small, flat-bottomed
skiff along the canal that he had not noticed the low arch at the tunnel
entrance. He muttered a curse as he ducked down, avoiding smacking his head on
the mold-covered brick. The top of the pole scraped along the ceiling as
they entered the dark tunnel.
    “You’re enjoying this aren’t you, Alys?”
    Alys smiled, reclining on the floor of the skiff, and
shrugged. “What more could a girl ask for than a lovely moonlight canal ride?”
she asked. “Of course, now that we’ve entered the Sumpworks, we can’t see the
moon. And the water smells like rotting fish and a week’s worth of shit. But
still…” She closed her eyes and waved a hand lazily in the air. “Lovely.”
    “You’re the one who took us this route, remember?”
    “That’s because I remember your fondness for slumming it,”
Alys replied. There was a slight edge to her voice, and Dax recognized the shot
for what it was.
    There was a time he would have snapped back, railing
against her insinuation. But not tonight. He was here to do a job, and he
needed Alys for it, and the memories of the past, sweet and suffering alike,
would only complicate things. And Lydia Ashdown deserved more than that. The
girl was dead and he would be damned sure to find out who had done it and why.
    And yet, he could not stop looking at Alys. She seemed more
beautiful, more alive than he could ever remember. She had changed her hair. It
was longer now, beads and ribbons woven into braids that writhed like serpents
when she moved. But those eyes, dark and full of secrets, were still the same
as they had always been, and they pulled him to her, just as they always had.
Since the moment she had walked onto the docks, he wanted to reach out and hold
her the way he once had.
    But he didn’t.
    He couldn’t.
    Instead, he held his tongue and pushed them through the
shit and water and focused on the present.
    She seemed to pick up on his quiet. “You sure you want to
do this?”
    “I’ve met the Blacktide before.”
    She craned her neck back to look at him. “That was a long
time ago. Harry isn’t small time anymore. He’s the boss of all of Prionside
now. One of Pious Black’s Thirteen.”
    At the name, Dax felt the blood drain from his face. “You
still answer to Pious Black?” he asked, his voice tight.
    “You still answer to your father?” she shot back
immediately.
    And just like that, he felt sixteen again. Young, naive, unbearably
in love, and twice as ashamed. Dax tried to will himself to keep staring at
her, but ultimately, he turned his head away.
    For a moment, there was only the sound of lapping water.
Then, he heard Alys sigh deeply. “Shit, Dax. Let’s not do this again.”
    He gripped the pole tighter. “Believe me. I wouldn’t be
here if I had any other choice,” he said.
    She gave a small laugh. “Nice,” she replied.
    “Do you want the truth, Alys? Or would you prefer we keep
it all delicate and civil?” He could not keep the bitter edge from his voice.
    She gave him a look, one eyebrow raised. “You’ve changed. I
like it, but if you are insisting on honesty, then yes, let’s be honest.” She
gestured with a finger, pointing back and