Chapter 46 #2
Carcalla gestured to where his gang was waiting just out of earshot of our conversation.
“I had this show of force all ready to go. It’s been a while since the denizens of the Under Slump have had a proper reminder of what happens to those who cross me.
There would’ve been some gunfire and general butchery, then we’d burn your things and whip the survivors in the street.
Such displays are necessary from time to time to keep order. ”
I took a sip of the wine, and thankfully, it was sweet, and not at all like his insane dragon death rum or whatever that had been.
I didn’t think I could bear the indignity of coughing myself to death in front of my friends.
Getting shot, stabbed, beaten, or cursed to death was a proper respectable way to go.
Dying because you can’t handle your drink is just embarrassing.
“Except then my associate, Dathka, returned, with quite the tale. You’re a persistent lad.”
I looked to Dathka, but she was staring at her lap. It was noteworthy he called her an associate, rather than his daughter. Either he didn’t want to admit it in public for her safety, or maybe when you’re a gang lord, daughterhood had to be earned. It could go either way.
“I’m not sure what she told you, but we spared no effort to get back your treasure from the orc who stole it. We only lost it because—”
“Because you were stupid.”
I was argumentative by nature, but didn’t think debating that point would do me much good right now.
“Well, you and Dathka were both stupid. Though she was actually stupider, because she should’ve known better.
You’re an ignorant newcomer to this city.
She should’ve realized how foolish it was to go off on her own after escaping, rather than swallow her pride and return to me so we could have struck with the full might of the Latrocinium.
If she’d done that, then we’d be celebrating our treasure, rather than mourning its loss to the Nexus Council. ”
She kept her eyes averted as Carcalla said all that. I suspected somebody was getting sent back through the gate next Deathday.
“So the Council got the Permeance, then?”
Carcalla nodded. “Paladins of Kielgrad found it and turned it over, as is legal and just, for the greater needs of the Core… I’m sure a Councilman is cracking it apart as we speak to feed it into the Great Machine, as they have done with ten thousand other relics before it.”
I nodded along, as if I was all broken up about that. Honestly, I’d rather see that most precious of all elements go to keeping the gates operating—and millions of people living—for a bit longer, than whatever petty thing Carcalla intended to do with it.
“Priests of Ulmorn, Saint of Violence, tried to claim the lamp was rightfully theirs, and that they needed it for some war they’re fighting against some unholy horde of darkness in some subterranean realm somewhere…
I neither know, nor care, about the details.
All I know is that I was robbed of something I wanted. ”
“How much could you really want it, considering you didn’t even know the lamp still existed a week ago,” Azarin said helpfully.
Carcalla scowled at her. “Are you the one in the negotiating chair?”
“Nope.”
“Then be silent… Joran, should this air-realmer interrupt us again, teach her that is inappropriate behavior.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
“Though, it would sadden me to see such a lovely face marred. The world has lost too much beauty as it is. If she talks again, just chop some of her fingers off or something.”
I looked over my shoulder to make sure Azarin realized that wasn’t an idle threat. She was biting her tongue. Her saint watched out for those who made rash decisions, but miracles only go so far.
“Apologies, Master Carcalla. All the Outcasts put in a lot of sweat and blood to try and get you what you asked for.”
“Yet you still failed. And as we previously discussed, there is a cost for failure. The deadline is upon us. I cannot see the sun from here because of the slouching sky island in the way, but we can assume your time is almost up. Where is my treasure, Mr. Carnavon?”
I pointed at Dathka.
Carcalla looked at her, then back at me, then snorted. “Well played… But not what we agreed.”
“Did Cutter Joran not tell you? He amended our deal.”
Carcalla was difficult to read, but I could tell from the scowl that he’d not known about that. “What do you mean?”
“When we were searching for Gerzog, Joran and I came up with a new arrangement. He was acting as your representative. All past due rent forgiven as before in exchange for our help, and one month’s rent paid for by the return of the treasure, another for killing Gerzog the Marauder, and a third month for the return of your da—” I caught myself barely in time.
“Your associate, Dathka Walker. This was sworn to in front of some of your men, who I’m happy to pick out of this crowd. ”
Carcalla turned his malevolent gaze upon his subordinate. “Is this accurate?”
Joran was glaring at me, as it had been easy for him to make big promises before the treasure had gotten lost. “I don’t recall that specifically.”
“If I may call upon one of my associates, who you’ll surely find to be an impeccable witness, he can testify that this is the truth.”
Carcalla gestured for me to proceed.
“Trax. Would you kindly demonstrate your memory of that particular negotiation?”
When the Squalo padded forward, about fifty Latros readied their weapons, but Carcalla held up one hand to indicate it was fine. The crime boss appeared curious as Trax rummaged through the pouches of his bandolier and pulled out a crystal sphere.
The memory image which appeared above Trax’s thought globe was clearly a Squalo-eye view of the world, with me, and Cutter, and the Latros all looking especially soft and edible. I was speaking, though to Trax’s ear, I must have sounded a lot more high-pitched than I really was.
“How about one month if I help get back your girl, another month for the lamp, and a third if we kill Gerzog?”
Then Carcalla watched in silence as the image of Joran agreed to that, and we shook on it. When the memory winked out, Joran groaned, because he knew he’d fucked up.
“Thank you, Trax.”
“I am the best secretary ever.”
“There you have it, sir. As the notable Joran Vanderhelst himself has declared, the Squalo race produces no liars.”
The veteran gladiator gave me a look that let me know I would be on his bad side forever, but I’d won this one. “Sorry, boss. I must’ve misremembered. It’s as Carnavon says.”
Carcalla nodded slowly. “Such is the danger of delegation, but the Latrocinium keeps its promises. Continue.”
“We couldn’t recover the lamp, but the Outcasts saved Dathka’s life and ended Gerzog’s. We’re paid up for the next two months… During which we’d be overjoyed to continue with our previous deal of paying you the agreed-upon rent or providing the services of one adventuring party to you every month.”
Carcalla stared at me for a long time, weighing our value to him as treasure hunters, versus what it would be worth to slaughter us in public as an example.
Then he gave me a predator’s smile. “If wizardry doesn’t work out for you, Mr. Carnavon, I’m told the Council can always use more lawyers in the Pallentine. ”
I didn’t know if that was a compliment or not, so I just nodded politely.
“Very well. Your academy has bought itself a bit more time. Spend it wisely.”
Everyone on the student council breathed a sigh of relief at that, except for Trax, who was still playing with his memory sphere. Apparently, he had recorded some exciting images of fish, and watching them swim by was far more interesting to him than our negotiations.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Luckily for you, Outcasts, there’s no shortage of dangerous sites scattered across the realms I’m curious to have explored. We’ll be in touch about the details of your next expedition.”
“Wonderful.” I said that with forced enthusiasm. “I look forward to finding you some replacement treasure, even more valuable than Korthican’s lamp. Having seen the size of the chest the priests of Violence offered for one antique enchantment, I see now why some people like adventuring.”
Carcalla swirled the wine about in his glass. “You really don’t understand, do you? You think I want relics with Permanence in them for the money? I have money. It can buy almost everything.”
Now I was genuinely confused. “Then what do you want these relics for?”
Carcalla pointed up. “For that.”
I craned my neck back, not understanding. The only thing above us was the rotten underbelly of the Slump, slowly, inevitably crushing us. “What?”
“My kingdom is in two parts. One of which sinks a few more inches every year. Hundreds of thousands live beneath that threatening shadow, and forsaken by the law, they pay me for protection. I can hold back the monsters and chaos, but I can’t protect them from the insatiable pull of gravity.
What power kept those mighty islands aloft for thousands of years?
What power, once deprived, has condemned so many of the great works of this city to rot? ”
My mouth fell open in surprise. “You want Permanence so you can put the Slump back where it belongs.”
“I fear lifting an entire district is beyond anyone now. Even the mighty Council couldn’t do that today, but for what they would spend to keep the Great Machine turning for a few more days, I should be able to thwart time enough to anchor the Slump in place for centuries.”
So that was what Dathka meant when she’d claimed Carcalla would use that rarest of all elements for good. “I had no idea.”
“Few do. Perhaps this knowledge will make our arrangement seem less like dangerous slavery, and more like a beneficial service. You wish to make this fallen tower your home? Then help me save it.”
I honestly didn’t know what to say to that. Carcalla was still a rotten, murdering, thieving crook, but he was at least trying to keep the poor folks he preyed upon from getting smooshed.
“I told you so,” Dathka muttered.
“Yeah, you did. Sorry I didn’t believe you.”
“Touching,” Carcalla said. “Unfortunately, Dathka, your presence in this city has needlessly complicated my business. I still don’t know what I should do with you.”
On that topic, I kept my big mouth shut.
“I’m not going back to Surnod Lin. You know what I must do.”
“Being gifted a single powerful charm doesn’t make you a real mage.
You’ve made a significant vow to personally deliver specific souls to Saint Murder, but you lack the skill to reach those, and even if you could, you lack the power to even scratch them.
I asked Joran to train you in our ways, but you don’t listen.
You need to learn some humility. You’re too impulsive and impatient. ”
“It’s easy to urge patience when you’re a half-elf who’ll probably live to be three hundred. I don’t have the luxury of waiting for everyone I’ve vowed to murder to die of old age like you can.”
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll worry me to death long before that, sullen girl.
” Carcalla clearly didn’t want to have this family spat in public, and I didn’t want anything to do with it at all, but sadly, he turned his attention back to me, and there was a worrisome gleam in his fake eye.
“You have convinced me of the earnestness of your endeavor, Mr. Carnavon. I will proclaim for all to hear that the Academy of Outcasts isn’t a scam.
You have here a genuine school, which—though flawed—has noble intentions.
Thus, in our newfound spirit of partnership, the Latrocinium will be sending you some rank ones to receive training. ”
“What… Her?”
“Among others. I’ve found a few associates with untapped potential.”
Dathka looked at her father in disbelief, and then at me, disgusted. “Ew. You want me to train with the Under Slump dregs? You can’t be serious!”
Cutter Joran chuckled at her indignity. I turned back to see that my people were aghast.
“My decision is made. I shall be sponsoring some students to attend the Academy of Outcasts,” our landlord declared that part loud enough that all the Latros and witnesses could hear him. A few, not knowing any better, cheered at that news.
Ten minutes ago we’d been expecting them to kill some of us and chase the rest off. I didn’t know if this was better, or worse.
“Since my blessing will add to your prestige, I will of course expect a significant discount on their tuition, Mr. Carnavon.”