Which would depend on whether they think you got killed or not.”
How does that make a difference?”
“Just brainstorming. If they got you, a shitload of people would be pissed off and looking for somebody to burn at the stake. If they didn’t, they’d figure us to be a little more relaxed. Here come the kids. Must be getting scary dark out.”
Pella and Vali dodged a scruffy one-eyed man who tried to keep them out because they were obvious refugee trash. They zipped to the table, seated themselves. Vali did not appear particularly remote or frightened. Pella announced, “We’re hungry.”
Hecht said, “I’m not surprised. It’s been a long day.”
The one-eyed man arrived. “These yer brats?”
“Right. And they’ll be in and out for the next several days. Till the rest of our people get here.”
Ghort told the children, “Let’s see what they’ve got in the pot.”
“Just checking. We got problems with thieves, anymore.”
“Of course.” Hecht told the children, “You two be on your best behavior while we’re here.”
“Yes, sir, Uncle Matt,” Pella said, struggling to keep a straight face. Vali managed a nod. It took an effort.
“They’re good kids,” Hecht told the one-eyed man. “But they are kids. Full of energy. Hey. Where can we go to church?”
Later, with the children in bed, Hecht and Ghort relocated to a shadowed corner, unoccupied because it was so far from the fire. They observed the clientele, watching for anyone who might be waiting to meet their quarry.
“Cold back here,” Ghort muttered.
“Lonely, too. And so dark hardly anybody … Well. Look here. Master Hamil figured out my knots.”
The Durandanti rider had stumbled into the Knight of Wands, paler than ever, deeply frightened. With a big bruise on his forehead. Ghort observed, “That’s a man what ain’t used to being out in the country after dark.”
“Sshh. Let’s don’t make him stop thinking we’re headed for Plemenza.”
The one-eyed man braced Hamil. Hamil could not show him coin or anything else of value.
“You robbed him?” Ghort asked.
“Sure did. Didn’t want him thinking we’re honest folks on a mission.”
“Good for you. There he goes.”
With help from the one-eyed man, who shoved the pallid Sonsan back into the darkness. Hamil protested all the way, invoking Don Alsano Durandanti.
“Think One-eye just made a booboo?” Ghort asked.
“Depends on how much the Don backs his troops. Uh-oh. Here’s real trouble.”
“What?”
“That dark corner over there. There’s a guy in there. He wasn’t there when we moved over here. I didn’t see him slide in. He’s wearing a pilgrim’s robe. Catch him when the scullery boy throws the next load of wood on the fire.”
Silent minutes passed. The boy who had been caulking earlier brought firewood to beat back the chill of the night. The fire flared briefly.
“Well,” Ghort murmured, “was I a betting man, an’ I been known to lay one down now an’ then, I’d put money on that fellow being Ferris Renfrow’s ugly twin.”
“Maybe his evil twin?”
“I’d say Renfrow is the evil twin. Interesting, though. You think he’s involved?”
“My guess? Only obliquely, if at all.” Ferris Renfrow and his masters in the Grail Empire had no cause to murder the Patriarch’s Captain-General. “I’d guess it’s coincidental. This would be a natural gathering place for conspirators.”
Ferris Renfrow did as they did. Sat in the shadows and watched. Hecht and Ghort picked out three men they felt deserved closer scrutiny.
Time rolled on. And on. Ghort muttered, “I wish that asshole would give up and go to bed. It was a long fuckin’ day. I need some shuteye.”
“Uhm.” Renfrow seemed to be paying them no heed. Hecht did not believe he was unaware of them.
Their shadows were deeper than his, though.
Hecht began to feel the weariness, too.
“What’re you doing, Pipe?”
“Going to see what he does when he
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