Krondor the Assassins Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Raymond E. Feist
‘‘Why?’’
‘‘With the Upright Man dead, or even just the rumor of it, things will be happening. Ships that would otherwise have 30
K R O N D O R : T H E A S S A S S I N S
stayed in Krondor will be leaving the docks before the morning tide.’’
Limm fixed Graves with a questioning look. ‘‘You know something?’’
Graves stood up from the small chair and said, ‘‘I know lots of things, boy.’’
Limm jumped to his feet. ‘‘Please take me with you. You’re the only friends I’ve got, and if the Upright Man’s dead, who knows who’ll come to rule in his place. If it’s that Crawler, most of us are dead anyway, and even if it’s one of our own, who’s to say what my life is worth?’’
Graves and Kat understood. The peace within the Mockers was imposed from the top down, and it would never be mis-taken for friendship. Old grudges would surface and old scores would be settled. More than one Mocker would die not knowing for which past transgression he was paying the ultimate penalty. Graves sighed in resignation. ‘‘Very well. Not much for you here, I’ll grant, and another pair of eyes and nimble fingers might prove worthwhile.’’ He glanced at Kat, who nodded silently.
‘‘What’s the plan?’’
‘‘We need to be at the docks before the dawn. There’s a ship there, a Quegan trader, the Stella Maris . The captain is an old business acquaintance of mine. He was lying low, claiming a refit was needed, against the time when we could smuggle ourselves out of here. He’ll sail for Durbin as soon as we board.’’
Kat said, ‘‘Lots of ships will be leaving on the morning tide, so another won’t cause too much notice.’’
Limm look excited. ‘‘When do we head to the docks?’’
‘‘An hour before dawn. It’ll still be dark enough for us to 31
R A Y M O N D E . F E I S T
stay in shadows, but enough of the town will be awake and about so we won’t attract much attention.’’
Kat smiled. ‘‘We’ll be a family.’’
Limm’s narrow young face took on a sour expression.
‘‘Mother?’’
Kat was barely ten years older than Limm, so she said,
‘‘Big sister.’’
Limm said, ‘‘We have one problem, though.’’
Graves nodded. ‘‘Getting to the street.’’
Limm sat back, for he knew that there could be no plan, ruse, or providential miracle that would get them safely to the docks. They would simply have to leave this hideout and risk a short walk through a dark tunnel which might house a dozen murderers or sewer rats. And they wouldn’t know which until they left. Limm was suddenly tired and said, ‘‘I think I’ll sleep for a bit.’’
‘‘Good idea,’’ agreed Graves. ‘‘There’s a pallet over there you can use. We’ll wake you when it’s time to go.’’
Limm moved to the indicated corner and lay down. Kat whispered, ‘‘What are the odds?’’
‘‘Bad,’’ admitted her lover. ‘‘We’ve got to get the boy some clothing. Dirty boys are nothing unusual at the dock. But not that dirty.’’ Trying to muster some optimism, he said, ‘‘Still, if the Upright Man is dead, there may be enough chaos in the city that we can slip out without attracting notice.’’
‘‘Any other choice?’’
‘‘Only one,’’ admitted Graves, ‘‘but I won’t use it unless we’re caught.’’
‘‘What is it?’’
Graves looked at the young girl for whom he had thrown away everything and said, ‘‘I have one friend left, who gains 32
K R O N D O R : T H E A S S A S S I N S
nothing from my fall. If I must, I’ll send Limm to him begging for help.’’
‘‘Who?’’ whispered Kat.
Graves closed his eyes as if admitting he might seek help was hard for one as self-reliant as himself. ‘‘The only thief who can beg the Prince of Krondor for my life.’’
‘‘Jimmy?’’
Graves nodded. ‘‘Jimmy the Hand.’’
33
TWO
KRONDOR
m
T
HE column rode toward the city.
Krondor was backlit by a late
‘‘With the Upright Man dead, or even just the rumor of it, things will be happening. Ships that would otherwise have 30
K R O N D O R : T H E A S S A S S I N S
stayed in Krondor will be leaving the docks before the morning tide.’’
Limm fixed Graves with a questioning look. ‘‘You know something?’’
Graves stood up from the small chair and said, ‘‘I know lots of things, boy.’’
Limm jumped to his feet. ‘‘Please take me with you. You’re the only friends I’ve got, and if the Upright Man’s dead, who knows who’ll come to rule in his place. If it’s that Crawler, most of us are dead anyway, and even if it’s one of our own, who’s to say what my life is worth?’’
Graves and Kat understood. The peace within the Mockers was imposed from the top down, and it would never be mis-taken for friendship. Old grudges would surface and old scores would be settled. More than one Mocker would die not knowing for which past transgression he was paying the ultimate penalty. Graves sighed in resignation. ‘‘Very well. Not much for you here, I’ll grant, and another pair of eyes and nimble fingers might prove worthwhile.’’ He glanced at Kat, who nodded silently.
‘‘What’s the plan?’’
‘‘We need to be at the docks before the dawn. There’s a ship there, a Quegan trader, the Stella Maris . The captain is an old business acquaintance of mine. He was lying low, claiming a refit was needed, against the time when we could smuggle ourselves out of here. He’ll sail for Durbin as soon as we board.’’
Kat said, ‘‘Lots of ships will be leaving on the morning tide, so another won’t cause too much notice.’’
Limm look excited. ‘‘When do we head to the docks?’’
‘‘An hour before dawn. It’ll still be dark enough for us to 31
R A Y M O N D E . F E I S T
stay in shadows, but enough of the town will be awake and about so we won’t attract much attention.’’
Kat smiled. ‘‘We’ll be a family.’’
Limm’s narrow young face took on a sour expression.
‘‘Mother?’’
Kat was barely ten years older than Limm, so she said,
‘‘Big sister.’’
Limm said, ‘‘We have one problem, though.’’
Graves nodded. ‘‘Getting to the street.’’
Limm sat back, for he knew that there could be no plan, ruse, or providential miracle that would get them safely to the docks. They would simply have to leave this hideout and risk a short walk through a dark tunnel which might house a dozen murderers or sewer rats. And they wouldn’t know which until they left. Limm was suddenly tired and said, ‘‘I think I’ll sleep for a bit.’’
‘‘Good idea,’’ agreed Graves. ‘‘There’s a pallet over there you can use. We’ll wake you when it’s time to go.’’
Limm moved to the indicated corner and lay down. Kat whispered, ‘‘What are the odds?’’
‘‘Bad,’’ admitted her lover. ‘‘We’ve got to get the boy some clothing. Dirty boys are nothing unusual at the dock. But not that dirty.’’ Trying to muster some optimism, he said, ‘‘Still, if the Upright Man is dead, there may be enough chaos in the city that we can slip out without attracting notice.’’
‘‘Any other choice?’’
‘‘Only one,’’ admitted Graves, ‘‘but I won’t use it unless we’re caught.’’
‘‘What is it?’’
Graves looked at the young girl for whom he had thrown away everything and said, ‘‘I have one friend left, who gains 32
K R O N D O R : T H E A S S A S S I N S
nothing from my fall. If I must, I’ll send Limm to him begging for help.’’
‘‘Who?’’ whispered Kat.
Graves closed his eyes as if admitting he might seek help was hard for one as self-reliant as himself. ‘‘The only thief who can beg the Prince of Krondor for my life.’’
‘‘Jimmy?’’
Graves nodded. ‘‘Jimmy the Hand.’’
33
TWO
KRONDOR
m
T
HE column rode toward the city.
Krondor was backlit by a late