Chapter
Seven Page 4
Back at the Hanging Halfling, Lasher said, "We want the
guards interested, but not interested enough to shoot you down.
We don't want any alarms going off, or nothing like that. Calastians,
on the whole, don't go running out in force to deal with a perceived
problem. They lock down the fort, and then deal with the problem
in a military manner. That's bad. We don't want that. We just
want them curious, and maybe a little upset."
Curious and a little upset... Mac Anu rolled the idea around
in his head and decided on the 'aggravated beggar drunk', with
Naill on the roof for support and look out. Lasher said it was
a simple plan, and he liked simple. He sent Crystalis for the
beggar's chip.
The Embassy grounds and building were well lit with gas lanterns.
Darkness was full, and the moon only slight. There were no dark
sides to the building, but there were plenty of shadows. Lasher,
knew what he was doing, and he probably didn't really need Naill's
and his distraction ploy. Most likely their presence just a
favor to Tess to get their feet dusted in the new city, and
to asses their level of skill.
Crystalis and Tunk seemed to be regular partners, with much
more experience than either Naill or himself. He would never
say that to Naill, as it would likely lead to days of dark looks,
and most likely a fight. In Naill's mind, you were either a
Shadow walker or an expert, or you weren't. Anyone that wasn't
was at the same level.
Mac Anu was certain that in a few years she would change her
mind.
He looked at the rising sliver of moon, and saw it was time
to begin his run. He stood, letting his shoes slip on the sidewalk
twice as he shoulder walked his way to standing position against
the wall behind him. The bottle in his hand was filled with
wine and water. Naill had designed his beggar look, and he had
to admit, it was a good job. He looked twenty years older, and
the veteran of several bandit battles.
No one at the Embassy could see him from this distance, but
the longer he was in character, the more he believed himself.
So he started here.
Pushing off the wall he stumbled into the street, missing a
horse cart and the wheels of a rickshaw, making it to the small
public park across from the embassy. Here he could be seen,
and he saw his targets as well.
Five guards. Two at the door, two at the gate and one on the
roof. The one on the roof was the danger. The roof guard would
have a heavy cross bow, loaded and ready, and able to hit a
target two hundred yards away. More than enough to bring Mac
Anu down in the street in front of the Embassy.
He hoped Naill was as good as she claimed with her little rock
sling.
