its demon princes were fighting for its bitter rule.
His information was incomplete. He could barely believe Tempus would stay here with the whole empire falling apart around him. And if Tempus went ... he scratched out the marks for the Rankan 3rd Com mando, and the Stepsons. He shook his head; it helped, but not by much.
Then he scratched in a fish eye. Beysibs. Now what the hell were they?
Were they like other men? What happened when they died? Too, too many questions.
If it had been just magic, or men ... but there were gods here now. All sorts of godly manifestations had taken place here, though his people had claimed that things had quieted down of late. Hardly a comforting thought He gripped the handle of the dagger tightly. It was all too unclear, too many random factors. Even Cade could not keep himself hidden from the Page 23
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gods, frauds though they were. Still, part of him hoped the trail would lead to one of these gods-He had only ever killed one obscure demigod.
CADE 17
To cast down one of the great ones, those masters of the great lie, ah, now that would nearly make Terrel's horrid death worthwhile.
There was no point in going in quietly; this town was a catastrophe just waiting to happen. Why, any of these—he ground his foot into the dirt erasing the names—could be his target. Or all of them. Many of them would have the ability to find him; some would certainly know his name, others would be intelligent enough to make the connection between him and Terrel. No, he would simply advertise his presence and let the killers come to him, or others approach him with information. He stood up.
"This is going to be messy," he said to the empty land around him. But he would slip into the city later tonight and check in with his people before he revealed himself.
"I'm coming home," he whispered.
Cade took another sip of the wine, his black eyes searching the face of the man across from him at the oaken table. Targ was a good man. He had never failed a mission, but he was dangerous. Cade would have to be very careful how he used this one, very careful.
Page 24
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"So," Cade said, "I was right about Tempus and the others. Still, there are quite a few with power remaining."
"The streets are safer than even a few months ago," Targ answered, his thick hand digging in his beard. 'The coalition seems to be holding, at least for now."
Just then the door to the house was opened. A young woman dressed in a fine gown and a dark shawl walked in.
"I told you not to go out at night," Targ said, though his voice carried no concern.
"I was just checking on Sarah," she answered, staring unabashedly at Cade, who simply stared back. Targ waved a hand at Cade.
"Our employer," he said. Marissa stood by the door, a little unsure of how to react.
"Sit," Cade said, watching as the woman seated herself, near Targ, but not too near. So, Cade thought to himself, she fears him. I wonder how much she knows. "Targ," he said aloud, "says you have done well. My brother's wife trusts you."
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"Yes." She nodded. "She and I have become friends, lord." Cade smiled slightly at the title but he didn't correct her.
"She doesn't know that you work for me."
"No, lord, she waits for you, knowing that you will, ah, help."
"Understand one thing." Cade's voice was harsh. "I have come for
^enge, nothing more."
"I think Sarah understands, lord."
18
AFTERMATH
"And tell me how does it feel to be the Lady Marissa?"
"Better"—she smiled—"than it did to be the slave girl Donan." Cade did not answer her smile. Disguised as an old merchant, he had bought the girl's freedom. Then two months ago he had sent her here with Targ to set up a base for him. It was no accident that the house
His information was incomplete. He could barely believe Tempus would stay here with the whole empire falling apart around him. And if Tempus went ... he scratched out the marks for the Rankan 3rd Com mando, and the Stepsons. He shook his head; it helped, but not by much.
Then he scratched in a fish eye. Beysibs. Now what the hell were they?
Were they like other men? What happened when they died? Too, too many questions.
If it had been just magic, or men ... but there were gods here now. All sorts of godly manifestations had taken place here, though his people had claimed that things had quieted down of late. Hardly a comforting thought He gripped the handle of the dagger tightly. It was all too unclear, too many random factors. Even Cade could not keep himself hidden from the Page 23
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
gods, frauds though they were. Still, part of him hoped the trail would lead to one of these gods-He had only ever killed one obscure demigod.
CADE 17
To cast down one of the great ones, those masters of the great lie, ah, now that would nearly make Terrel's horrid death worthwhile.
There was no point in going in quietly; this town was a catastrophe just waiting to happen. Why, any of these—he ground his foot into the dirt erasing the names—could be his target. Or all of them. Many of them would have the ability to find him; some would certainly know his name, others would be intelligent enough to make the connection between him and Terrel. No, he would simply advertise his presence and let the killers come to him, or others approach him with information. He stood up.
"This is going to be messy," he said to the empty land around him. But he would slip into the city later tonight and check in with his people before he revealed himself.
"I'm coming home," he whispered.
Cade took another sip of the wine, his black eyes searching the face of the man across from him at the oaken table. Targ was a good man. He had never failed a mission, but he was dangerous. Cade would have to be very careful how he used this one, very careful.
Page 24
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"So," Cade said, "I was right about Tempus and the others. Still, there are quite a few with power remaining."
"The streets are safer than even a few months ago," Targ answered, his thick hand digging in his beard. 'The coalition seems to be holding, at least for now."
Just then the door to the house was opened. A young woman dressed in a fine gown and a dark shawl walked in.
"I told you not to go out at night," Targ said, though his voice carried no concern.
"I was just checking on Sarah," she answered, staring unabashedly at Cade, who simply stared back. Targ waved a hand at Cade.
"Our employer," he said. Marissa stood by the door, a little unsure of how to react.
"Sit," Cade said, watching as the woman seated herself, near Targ, but not too near. So, Cade thought to himself, she fears him. I wonder how much she knows. "Targ," he said aloud, "says you have done well. My brother's wife trusts you."
Page 25
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"Yes." She nodded. "She and I have become friends, lord." Cade smiled slightly at the title but he didn't correct her.
"She doesn't know that you work for me."
"No, lord, she waits for you, knowing that you will, ah, help."
"Understand one thing." Cade's voice was harsh. "I have come for
^enge, nothing more."
"I think Sarah understands, lord."
18
AFTERMATH
"And tell me how does it feel to be the Lady Marissa?"
"Better"—she smiled—"than it did to be the slave girl Donan." Cade did not answer her smile. Disguised as an old merchant, he had bought the girl's freedom. Then two months ago he had sent her here with Targ to set up a base for him. It was no accident that the house
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