Blood of the Underworld(26)

“So now he enters Veldaren as if he’s some righteous savior, come to arrest the guilty?”

“In short, yes.”

Alyssa chewed her lip, then resumed her walk. Upon nearing the door, she found Lord Victor already waiting in the foyer. Anger toward her staff for letting him in flared through her veins. At least he was alone, without guards. A sword remained belted at his side, something inexcusable. She felt no fear, for Zusa was with her. There was no chance he could lay a finger on her with the skilled woman at her side.

“Greetings, Lady Gemcroft,” Victor said, seeing their arrival. His voice was strong, charming. If he was nervous at meeting her, he did not show it.

“Welcome to my home, Lord Kane,” she responded, curtseying slightly. As she did, she took stock of the man. He was tall, handsome, and his smile came easy to his face. Their eyes met, and that was when she saw the hardness hiding within them, coupled with a grim determination. She felt like she stood before a charging bull, but she was no delicate flower, nor made of fragile glass.

“It is a fine place,” Victor said, glancing about. “I would love to see the rest someday, but sadly do not have the time. I’ve come with both request and wisdom, if you would be so kind to hear either.”

Alyssa might have offered him a seat, or taken him deeper into the mansion, but something about his presence unnerved her, so she gestured for him to continue. He smiled at her, showing no hurry despite his claims. His chainmail armor rattled when he crossed his arms and tilted his head.

“I do not know what you have heard, so let me speak clearly first. I have come to save Veldaren from itself. Those responsible for destroying it are legion, but for now, I focus on the guiltiest. My men scour the streets, always listening, always watching. Know that I do not do this at random, nor recklessly. I follow the law, and will uphold it beyond all else. I have declared war, but it will not be chaos and fires in the night.”

Alyssa felt the unspoken jab and did not let it pass unchallenged.

“You speak of the thief war,” she said.

“I speak of the night you nearly burned Veldaren to the ground, all to mourn a son who was not actually dead.”

A hard edge entered his voice, and she found herself taking a step back. Zusa was there immediately, sliding beside her with her hands on the hilts of her daggers. Alyssa started to defend herself, then caught the words in her throat. She would not defend that disastrous effort, for she herself was ashamed of it. It had been a foolish thing, her emotions overriding her judgment. Only Zusa had had the courage to say it to her face.

“And what makes you think your efforts will be so different?” she asked. Her blood felt like ice in her veins. “What delusion blinds your eyes to the strength of those who oppose you?”

Victor’s smile returned.

“No delusion, just stubbornness. Yesterday was the first, and the next week or so will probably be the most productive, but I have months if I must. Those we capture will talk. All seventeen from yesterday died by the axe. Those we capture today will give every name, list every crime they’ve ever seen, to spare themselves from that same fate.”

“They’ll fight back,” Zusa said. “They won’t let you round up their fellow thieves without bloodshed.”

“We do not march needlessly through dark corners hoping for a glimpse of a colored cloak. We learn names. We learn homes. My men move together, close, careful, and always with purpose. You do not remove weeds from a garden in a hurry, turning and grabbing every which way. You must move slowly, methodically, so you miss not a one.”

Alyssa shook her head.

“These are dangerous men, not weeds.”

“Forgive me if I find them with more similarities than not.”

He smiled at her, trying to win her over. Despite his handsomeness, she refused to let it sway her. She’d let one lover blind her to his underhanded dealings before; she wouldn’t dare let it happen again.

“You said you had a request, and some wisdom,” Alyssa said. “Have you given me either yet?”

Victor laughed.

“Yes, yes, of course. For the request, it is simple. Your hatred of the thieves is almost legendary, and I would ask that you be my ally in this. Whatever you know of the thieves, turn it over to me. Any names, any crimes, whatever it is, we can use it. And if you have any house guards that you trust, that might help me secure the streets...”

“I will think on it,” she said. “Your wisdom?”

Another smile.

“That you say yes to my request.”

Despite herself, she laughed.

“Perhaps. But we have entered an agreement with the guilds, and now pay for their protection. What you ask jeopardizes everything. For once we have a semblance of peace. I do not want to ruin that now on some foolhardy outsider who has come to Veldaren with more stones than sense.”