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A movement catches his eye, a small cloaked figure beckons him closer to the fountain.... He walks slowly across. The thief offers him a bota and sits on the edge of the fountain. "Master, the bota is empty but pretend to drink, the noise of the Fountain will prevent us being overheard." The Assassin nods. "Red has left the city, he believes you to have perished in the fire at the House of Scribes, but has left word with Kaldor's men that anyone seeing you is to kill on sight. Kaldor himself furnished him with gold and kailla for travel. Did you know that Red used to serve him, as captain of his guard ? He left suddenly nearly a year ago and had not been seen until he returned on the same day as you arrived. Everyone wondered what had happened when that animal left to be replaced by another almost as bad, you may have heard of him, Ha-Keel...." "Ha-Keel.... Is that the one who served Saphrar of Turia until the city was taken by the Tuchuks ? " "Aye, Master. The same." "Is there any indication where Red might have gone ?" "No, Master, but I reckon he may have returned to Ar. I hear that he now serves one named Tikarl from that city. Tikarl seems to hold similar influence there as Kaldor does here, not GuildMaster, neither on the Council but a power nonetheless." "Thank you for the information. I shall be leaving here in the morning, there is nothing more for me here. You have done well." The Warrior hands back the empty bota, along with a gold Tarndisk, he rises and walks back across the square heading for his lodgings. On re-entering his room, he light the table lamp and takes out the scrolls. On a separate piece of parchment he begins a different list, gradually the missing key becomes clear. The link is not the Merchants it is the Guard Captains. He checks every document from each of the different cities. Within a hand of weeks, every member of the suspected conspiracy took on a new Guard Captain, moreover each new hire had previously served in a similar capacity with another member of the group. The Assassin begins to consider whether this is more a case of setting watchers, increasing the security of the ring, rather than the normal movement of mercenaries from one employ to another. The documents are not conclusive there are many gaps, many cities where there is no confirmation. but for each part that there is information........it fits. He returns the documents and stows his clothing into his pack. He decides that if the Albino has returned to Tikarl with perle's torq and news of the death of Ornoth, the word will shortly be passed that the threat is over, with a single exception... himself. He opens the door and calls for a serving girl, he commands her to bring a bowl of heated water and as he waits, he sharpens the small shaving knife and takes out a small glass phial of pale liquid. He empties his pack again and takes out a leather harness, black with a single back scabbard, containing a plain scimitar, the hilt plain but smooth from use, a pair of soft gauntlets with steel studded backs, a Warrior kilt of dark brown and a red and brown tunic. He hears footsteps and hides them under his cloak. He descends to the main floor of the tavern, settles his account with the Tavernkeeper and returns to the room and resumes sharpening his knife. The slave appears, leaves the bowl of water and backs out of the room. The Assassin wets his hair, and adds the contents of the phial to the water. Taking a cloth he wipes the liquid over his hair. The color darkens. Taking his knife he shaves the sides of his scalp, revealing a jagged scar above his left ear. He ties a leather band around the knot of hair that flows over his shoulders. He places his black clothing at the bottom of his pack covering it with a flap of leather, the serpent ring from Ornoth is placed in a small pocket of the flap. He locks the door, and settles to sleep. At the break of dawn he rises dresses in Warrior garb and scabbard. He places copper bracers on both forearms and exits the Tavern while all still sleep. He walks swiftly to the kailla pens, haggles briefly with the sleep-dulled Trader, saddles the beast and arrives at the Eastern Gate as the Watch open for a new day. He nods at the guards and he heads out onto the road............... Eder, mercenary sword from Port Kar... rides off into the thinning mist of morning.
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Chapter Nine-
"Realisation"