Mistworld (Deathstalker Prelude) Read online

  On the couch opposite Steel, a somewhat revived and repaired Cyder was sitting with her arm round Cat, who was cheerfully nursing the heavily bandaged right hand he’d broken on Mary’s jaw. Steel studied the young burglar thoughtfully, and Topaz followed his gaze.

  “Know anything about him, Steel?”

  “Not a damn thing. Roof runner by the look of him, but he hasn’t said a word so far. Just appeared out of nowhere and saved all our lives by flattening Mary. I suppose he’s entitled to the reward.”

  “I’d forgotten about that.”

  “I’ll bet he hasn’t.”

  “Be that as it may, Steel; right now I’m rather more interested in what one of Mistport’s most notorious fences was doing here in your appartment.”

  Steel glanced briefly at Cyder, smiled weakly, and became very interested in his coffee. Topaz glared at him, and moved over to stand before the couch. Cat studied her warily, while Cyder smiled graciously and nodded a polite hello.

  “How are you feeling, Cyder?”

  “I’ll live, Investigator. In the meantime, I am this young man’s agent. When can he collect the reward?”

  “He’ll get it, but first I want a few answers from him. He looks remarkably like a burglar who once stole a memory crystal from me.”

  Cat smiled innocently, and Cyder hugged him to her.

  “I’m afraid we’ll never know, Investigator. Unfortunately he’s a deaf mute, and can’t answer questions.”

  Topaz turned away, shaking her head in disgust. Steel chuckled softly, caught Cat’s eye, and dismissed him with a wave of his hand toward the door. Cat shook his head, grinning. He rose quickly to his feet, padded over to the shattered window, pushed back the curtains and disappeared out into the thick fog. Steel raised an eyebrow, but Cyder just smiled back at him, unperturbed. Topaz decided not to ask.

  “If it’s all right with you, Gideon,” said Cyder, “I’ll be getting back to my tavern. I want to get these bloodstains out of my dress before they set.”

  “Of course. I’m sure Topaz can find you an escort.”

  “Thanks, that won’t be necessary.”

  Cyder got to her feet, wincing slightly as her cracked ribs protested. Steel levered himself out of his armchair and escorted her to the door. He wrapped her cloak about her shoulders, and opened the door for her. Cyder paused a moment in the doorway.

  “Goodbye, Gideon. It would have been a lovely dinner, I’m sure.”

  “Thanks for keeping me company.”

  “Any time.”

  Cyder blew him a kiss, and left. Steel shut the door quietly behind her. He went back to his chair and sank gratefully into it. Topaz plumped up his cushions for him with a rough efficiency.

  “Drink your coffee, Steel. It’s getting cold.”

  Steel picked up his mug again and sipped obediently at his coffee. He sighed appreciatively, and then looked round his ruined living room with an abstracted air.

  “What’s wrong, Steel?”

  “Mary’s sapphire; what happened to it?”

  “Is that all you can think of? Don’t you want to know what’s happened to the Imperial Fleet?”

  “I imagine they’ve realised by now that the esper shield isn’t going to fall, and they’ve all dropped quietly back into hyperspace.”

  Topaz nodded. “They left one ship on sentry duty, but no doubt that’ll be gone tomorrow. If it isn’t, I’ll let the Poltergeists play a few practical jokes on it.”

  “So, we’ve weathered another storm. What were the final figures from the hospital?”

  “More than twelve thousand brainburned; eight hundred and thirty dead.”

  Steel sighed. “Not much of a victory.”

  “We stood off the Imperial Fleet and survived,” said Topaz calmly. “I’ll settle for that.”

  “To hell with the Empire; where’s that damned sapphire? I put it on top of the desk, but that got knocked over when Mary sang. She didn’t have it when they carried her out, and neither did any of the Watch. It’s got to be here somewhere, but damned if I can find it.”

  “Cyder; she must have taken it.”

  Steel shook his head firmly. “No. The sensors built into my door frame would have detected the jewel even if she’d swallowed it.”

  “The roof runner?”

  “I had his suit checked while the medics were treating him. No sapphire.”

  “Then who’s got it? That jewel’s worth a small fortune.”

  Steel shrugged, then relaxed suddenly and sank back in his chair. “What the hell; it’s only a sapphire.”

  Topaz looked at him. “Are you sure you’re feeling all right, Steel?”

  Steel laughed. “Perfectly all right, I assure you.”

  “Good.” Topaz leaned forward suddenly to stare him straight in the eye. “Because the next time we meet, Director, I’m going to find the evidence that will nail you once and for all.”

  “You’re welcome to try, Investigator. You’re welcome to try.”

  Topaz laughed, and left. Steel grinned, and sipped his coffee.

  In the dark, overshadowed alleyway opposite Steel’s apartment Cyder leaned wearily against the rough stone wall and waited for her head to settle. She was sweating heavily, despite the freezing cold, and her hands were trembling. The Watch medic had done a good job strapping up her cracked ribs and putting a few stitches in her torn scalp, but she’d still lost a fair amount of blood from her various cuts and gashes. She felt awful, but she hadn’t dared stay any longer in Steel’s apartment. There was no telling when they might start asking awkward questions. The medic had wanted her to spend the night at the hospital for observation, but Cyder had curtly refused. She had a morbid fear of hospitals, and besides, they were expensive. She leant her head back against the cold stone wall. Half killed by a rogue esper, and all for nothing… She jumped despite herself as Cat dropped out of the fog to land beside her. He frowned as he took in her condition, and moved quickly forward to take her arm.

  “I’m all right,” she insisted, but let him help her away from the wall. Her legs seemed a little steadier now she wasn’t alone. “Are you all right, Cat?”

  He smiled, and nodded.

  “After all we’ve been through, I didn’t even get the sapphire. Still, the reward money will come in handy.… What are you grinning at?”

  Cat opened his mouth, reached in, and took out a small blue jewel. Cyder stared at the sapphire a moment, and then started to laugh. It hurt her ribs, but she didn’t care.

  “Of course; there were no sensors left in the broken window! Cat, my love, I’ll make a master thief out of you yet.” She hesitated, and studied him searchingly. “Nobody ever risked anything for me before; you risked your life to save me. I’ll have to think about that. Now let’s get back to the tavern. There’s still a lot of work to be done before we can open for business again.”

  Cyder leaned heavily on Cat’s supporting arm, not wholly through weakness, and slowly, together, they disappeared back into the ever-curling mists of Mistport.

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Other Books By This Author

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter One - A Ghost in the Night

  Chapter Two - A Gathering of Traitors

  Chapter Three - Decisions in Council

  Chapter Four - Killer in the Mists

  Chapter Five - Balefire

  Chapter Six - Partners in Crime

  Chapter Seven - Bitter Vengeance

  Chapter Eight - Starlight

  Chapter Nine - Darkstrom and the Bloodhawk

  Chapter Ten - Mary

  Chapter Eleven - Two Warriors

  Chapter Twelve - Gallowtree Gate

  Chapter Thirteen - Blood and Terror

  Chapter Fourteen - In Jamie’s Memory

  Chapter Fifteen - The Closing Trap

  Chapter Sixteen - The Wolf at the Gate

  Chapter Seventeen - Heroes and
Villains

  Chapter Eighteen - Songs in the Night

  Chapter Nineteen - A Final Sacrifice

  Chapter Twenty - Starting Over