‘Because I am telling you not to, half-wit. He is the Drenai Champion. It will suit our purposes if he is merely injured — you understand?’
‘Whose purposes are we talking about?’
Jarid smiled. ‘Large sums have been wagered on tomorrow’s fight. If you wish, I shall speak the name of my master. Know, however, that once I have done so I will take your neck in my hands and snap the bones beneath. Your choice. You wish to know?’
‘No. I understand. But you have to understand that if your men fail then I’ll be sending a bolt into the darkness at a moving target. I can’t guarantee I won’t kill him! What happens then?’
‘You’ll still get paid. Now take up your position.’ Swinging to the others, Jarid gathered them in a tight group and spoke, his voice scarcely above a whisper. ‘The Drenai is a fearsome fighter, very powerful. Once any of you have planted a knife in his upper body, shoulders, chest or arm, the rest of you must break away and run. You understand? This is not a fight to the death; a deep wound is all we require.’
‘Begging your pardon, sir,’ said a lean man with missing front teeth, ‘but I’ve bet on Klay. Won’t that bet be voided if the Drenai can’t fight?’
Jarid shook his head. ‘The bet would be on Klay taking gold. If the Drenai doesn’t fight then the gold is automatically given to Klay.’
‘What if a knife goes too deep and he dies?’ asked another man.
Jarid shrugged. ‘All life is a game of chance.’
Moving away from the men he ducked into an alley, then cut left across a section of waste ground, ducking into a shadowed doorway. Tall Tess was standing by a broken mirror, her red dress unfastened at the breast and pushed down to her hips. She was sponging cool water to her naked upper body.
‘It’s hot tonight,’ she said, grinning at Jarid. He did not return the smile but stepping in close he grabbed her arm, twisting it painfully. Tess cried out.
‘Shut up!’ he ordered. ‘I told you no other clients tonight, my girl. I like my women fresh.’
‘There haven’t been any, lovely man,’ she said. ‘I had to run from the hospice, all the way. That’s why I’m sweating!’
‘Hospice? What you talking about, girl?’ Releasing her arm he took a step back. Tess rubbed at her scrawny bicep.
‘Loira. They took her in today. Klay come for her. Took her in his carriage, he did. It was wonderful, Jarid. All dark wood, lacquered black, and padded leather seats and cushions of satin. And she’s in a bed now, with linen so white it could have been spun from clouds.’
‘I didn’t know Klay was one of her marks?’
‘He wasn’t. Her snipe, Fastfinger, went and begged him to help. And he did. So Loira’s being looked after now, with medicines and food.’
‘You’d better be telling me the truth, girl,’ said Jarid huskily, moving in close and cupping his hand to Tess’s sagging breast.
Td never lie to you, lovely man,’ she whispered. ‘You’re my darling. My only darling.’ Tess slid her hand downwards and allowed her mind to drift. Everything now was performance, and so mind-numbingly familiar was every move that she no longer needed to think. Instead, as she moaned and touched, teased and caressed, Tess was thinking about Loira. It seemed so wrong that a woman should be laid on such clean sheets merely to die. Many was the time that she and Loira had been huddled together under a thin blanket on cold winter nights, when the freezing winds had kept marks from the street. Then they had spoken of such luxuries as all-day fires, down-filled pillows and quilts, blankets of softest wool. And they had giggled and laughed, and cuddled in close for warmth. Now poor Loira had the kind of sheets she had dreamt of – and would never know it. One day soon she would die, and her bowels would open and gush out their contents on those clean, white sheets.
The pounding of the man’s hips increased in power and speed. Instantly Tess began to moan rhythmically, arching her thin body up against his. His breathing was hoarse in her ear, then he groaned and sank his weight down upon her. Curling her arm around him, she stroked the nape of his neck. ‘Ah, you are a wonder, lovely man. You are my darling. My only darling.’