Outtakes from MLTF (Part 2 of 5)

For this week, I'll be posting a chapter from Magic Lost, Trouble Found that didn't make it into the final version. It features Karl Cradok, the crime lord of Mermeia, and more of Quentin. In streamlining the book, my editor and I decided that the Karl/Quentin subplot had to go. But both Karl & Quentin are still in reserves as characters to be included in future books. Karl's a slippery one, and Quentin's known for getting into everything -- so who knows where they'll turn up? ; ) Enjoy!

Discouraging Karl's criminal impulses was the job of the city watch. Normally, I'd be in favor of letting Janek and duly appointed protectors of public safety do their jobs. But what we might have to do to rescue Quentin might fall outside of what Janek considered legal and just. Phaelan's opinion was legal and just be damned. Usually my own moral code ran closer to Janek's. Tonight I was siding closer to my cousin's concept of right and wrong.

"Janek Tawl," Eiliesor noted.

I was surprised. "You know him?"

"By reputation only. By all accounts a good man."

"He is. He's also a friend of mine--or at least he was. I'm not sure where I stand right now. I've been less than forthcoming about my present situation."

"Understandably so."

"I need a few minutes alone with him."

The Guardian nodded once. Phaelan's men were predictably cautious around the watch and had made themselves scarce. There was enough dark to go around for everyone. That just left me and Janek. I liked him. He liked me. Then why were my hands sweating?

Janek sauntered towards me. "Evening, Raine."

I met him halfway, and noticed I wasn't the only one armed for ogre. Bladed weapons, blunt weapons, and a talisman or two I sensed hidden on him would ensure the instant and permanent regret of anyone who tried to question his authority.

"Hello, yourself," I said.

"Busy night planned?"

"I'd prefer quiet."

Janek arched an eyebrow at my own assortment of weapons. "Bristling this evening, aren't we?"

"Yeah."

He indicated my long knives. I had my usual, plus a few extra. I wasn't in the mood to get caught short.

"You know the rule goes that if you need more than two of those, you've got too much trouble," he said.

"What can I say, story of my life."

Janek glanced around at the men I'd brought with me. Unlike Phaelan's crew, the Guardians weren't shy and were standing out in plain view, and in uniform. Eiliesor played by the book. I also suspected he wanted Karl to know exactly who was prying him out of his hidey-hole.

"Conclave Guardians and the nastier members of Captain Benares' crew," he noted. The watcher was quiet for a moment, rocking back on his heels. "You ready to tell me what's going on?"

"You sure you want to know?"

He looked directly at Mychael Eiliesor and thought about it for a moment. A prudent man, Janek.

Both men were keepers of the peace and enforcers of the law, and like most in that profession, were highly protective of their turf and skeptical of outsiders. Mermeia was Janek's turf and Eiliesor was from out of town. Being a Conclave Guardian, Eiliesor was completely within his rights to keep Janek in the dark about anything and everything he chose to do while in Mermeia, but it remained to be seen if either were inclined to extend professional courtesies and share.

"I'll probably wish I didn't," Janek finally said. "But yeah, I want to know." He nodded towards the canal to The Ruins. "That where you headed?"

I nodded.

"Last time we went in there, it wasn't a quiet night--or day."

"Don't remind me."

"You look like you could use a little reminding."

I snorted. "I spent last night in there. You think I'm going back by choice? Karl Cradok attacked the Fortune tonight and grabbed Quentin Rand. Karl's in there. Quentin's in there. I want Quentin back, so that means I'm in there."

"Does this have anything to do with what happened at Nigel Nicabar's?"

If I was going to come clean, I may as well be sparkling. "And Simon Stocken's warehouse." Now for the one that would really get his attention. "And probably all of the sorcerer abductions."

Janek's expression darkened. "Why haven't you come to me before now?"

"Because until this morning, I was the unwilling guest of Prince Chigaru Mal'Salin." I jerked my head towards our destination. "In there. I escaped, grabbed a few hours of sleep, then met with Mychael Eiliesor. Again, not something I really wanted to do, but I've voted the paladin most likely to get me out of this mess in mostly one piece."

"And I can't," he said stiffly.

I groaned inwardly. It wasn't enough to endanger my friends' lives, now I was hurting their feelings.

"Janek, I'm not even sure the Seat of Twelve could save my neck at this point, but the Guardians are at least familiar with my problem. I'm hoping it's not out of their league."

"Can I at least have the short version of how your name's been attached to every criminal act in this city over the past two days?"

I told him. All of it. Janek was a big boy, so he'd just have to take care of himself. Plus, the Guardians weren't about to let him confiscate the beacon as evidence or haul me off to jail on obstruction of justice, or whatever else the watcher could legally come up with. When I finished, Janek just looked stunned. I knew the feeling.

"Raine, I knew you were capable of stirring up trouble, but is there anyone in this city not looking for you?"

"I haven't run across them yet."

He glanced to where Mychael Eiliesor was talking in low tones with two of his Guardians. "Well, at the very least, you shouldn't turn up dead before morning."

I took that as Janek's way of telling me I'd chosen my friends better than my enemies. Nice to know he approved.

"Let me see if I've got this straight," Janek said. "Ocnus Rancil blackmails Quentin into breaking into Nigel's to steal this beacon. Unbeknownst to Quentin, he has two employers, one beacon, and neither client wants to share. You take the beacon from Rand for safekeeping while he goes to deal with Simon Stocken, who's just been strung up, probably by the goblin, or possibly by Karl. For some deep, dark, mystical reason, you can't take the beacon off, and now the Khrynsani, the Mal'Salin family and Guardians are essentially carrying around wanted posters with your picture on it--all for some rock that will either give you unlimited power, steal your soul, or both."

"That pretty much covers it," I said.

Janek just stared at me in disbelief. "And for tonight's activity, you beard Karl in his den."

"I'm not planning on bearding anyone. All I want to do is find Quentin and leave. If we can't locate him on our own, I'll just ask Karl nicely to let Quentin go."

"Ask nicely?"

"Yes, 'ask nicely.' I can be diplomatic when I want to."

"Since when?"

"Karl's a businessman. He can recognize when something's in his best interests."

"Handing Quentin over is in his best interests?"

"If he wants to continue breathing, yes."

Janek looked around at the Guardians. "I can see Captain Benares and crew wanting to play tag with Karl after what he pulled, but that's a lot of Guardian muscle to retrieve one little man." He looked at Eiliesor with a crooked grin as the Guardian walked towards us. "And a long way to travel," he told the elf. "Are the Guardians lacking for thieves on Mid, Paladin Eiliesor?"

"We have more than enough of our own, Chief Watcher Tawl, is it?"

Janek extended his hand and the Guardian shook it. "Just Janek, otherwise known as the poor bastard saddled with the Sorcerers District. Understaffed, underarmed, and underpaid, but we make do. I'm not trying to tell you your business, Paladin, but while Karl Cradok's not in the same category of magical malcontent you're used to on Mid, he can do some damage when he puts his mind to it. And the men and women around him don't have half-baked abilities either."

"I encountered Mister Cradok a few nights ago, Janek. And I deal with his brother on a regular basis back home. Though while not quite as proficient as Krispus, Karl's skills do have a charm all their own."

"You're here to retrieve a soul-stealing rock," Janek said. "What are you doing going after Quentin Rand?"

I thought I should answer that one. "I have the beacon, so only I can find the Saghred--and I'm not going to find anything for anyone until Quentin is safe."

Janek grinned. "Looks like our girl's got you where it hurts, Paladin."

Eiliesor grinned back. "It wouldn't be the first time."

"Looks to me like next to Raine, you're going to be the most popular elf in town," Janek continued. "She threw her lot in with you. You hit the jackpot, and there seems to be a long line forming to take it away." He expression grew serious. "I think highly of Raine, and don't want to see anything happen to her."

"That makes two of us, Watcher Tawl."

Guess that meant I was out of the doghouse with Janek.

"The bastard Sarad Nukpana is strolling through my city, gathering sorcerers like firewood to burn Gates," Janek said. "Those are my people, Paladin Eiliesor. People I'm sworn to protect. Men and women who, for the most part, never hurt another soul. Now they're being killed in ways I don't want to imagine just so Nukpana and his shamans don't have to get their feet wet walking across town. Until now I haven't been able to do a thing to stop him. I'd like to go in with you."

"I'd appreciate it. The quicker we can do this, the better."

The city bells tolled once. The night wasn't getting any longer. I started towards the footbridge that led to The Ruins.

"You boys coming?"