The Eyes of a Doll (The World of Shijuren Book 2) (29 page)

“You’re worried they’re targeting not just you but also your allies.”

“Exactly. Sebastijan should be arriving in two or three days, and he might be able to help, but it might be they’ll target him and his men separately. And if there’s anything you’ve taught me it’s to plan for the unexpected here.” After a long drink, I grumbled, “This is just confusing.”

“What’s confusing?”

“All of it.”

“Explain.”

“First, how did they know I would meet Gabrijela at the amphitheater? They had several better opportunities to attack me, either as I snuck into Achrida or during the afternoon. I was much more vulnerable then.”

“You’re saying they found you because they followed Gabrijela?”

“Or that someone in Gibroz’s circle of thugs also read Ylli’s letter and planned an ambush.”

“Is that likely?”

“Actually, I think it is.”

“Why?”

“The thugs that attacked us last night worked for Dragan.”

“I don’t know who that is.”

“Neither do I, but Radovan told me that Dragan was one of Gibroz’s minor thugs.”

“So one of Gibroz’s people was convinced somehow to attack Gabrijela and you?”

“Exactly. And the only people besides Ylli who knew what was in his letter to Gibroz were Sebastijan, Ylli, and Era.”

“Era?”

“Ylli’s Lore mage.”

Piri nodded. “And they’re all still in Lezh?”

“Sebastijan is on his way here but is still probably two days away or more.”

“So as far as you know, the only person who knew that you would speak with Gabrijela was Gibroz and anyone he told.”

“Or anyone who found out by sneaking a look at the letter.”

“Which could only be someone in Gibroz’s organization.”

“Yes. The only other possibility is that they simply follow Gabrijela around routinely. Is that feasible?”

Piri shrugged. “Feasible, yes, but constantly following someone depends more upon having enough people than anything else.”

“So you’re saying if that’s true we’re facing not a single person or a small group but a large organization.”

“Yes.”

“Someone got to Andreas.”

“Yes, so it’s a real possibility.”

“I wonder if I’m not facing what I thought was happening with the Gropas.”

“That one of Gibroz’s closest people is trying to get rid of him?”

I nodded. “Let’s assume that they found Gabrijela or me at some point today and followed us from wherever that was to Isidora’s.”

Piri nodded.

“How did they find us?”

“You say you met with Ognyan first?”

“Yes, we asked him if he was cheating Gibroz. Gabrijela read his emotions and said he wasn’t lying when he said no.”

“Perhaps they were watching Ognyan, knowing you had to go to him at some point?”

I finished another mug of ale as I let that idea roll around in my head. “Possible. That suggests that whoever is behind this knows all about Gibroz’s structure and his deal with Ylli.”

“Yes. And provides more evidence that he or she is running a large organization.”

I sighed. “I just wanted to go to Basilopolis and join the Imperial Guard.”

Piri laughed. “You’re from the Seven Kingdoms and a follower of the World Tree. Do you really think you’re entirely in control of your life?”

I sighed again. “I suppose not. I guess I just have to accept that whether one of Gibroz’s people is involved or not, I’m up against a large organization.”

“A large organization in Achrida that nobody’s heard of before?”

“Yes. They got to Andreas. They could have had the resources to follow Gabrijela or Ognyan constantly. And they’ve attacked me twice with a total of a twenty men.”

Piri sat back. “I can’t imagine Vukasin would not be aware of such an organization. Not here in his backyard.”

“I’d be surprised too, but...”

“It’s either that or a person close enough to Gibroz to know everything they need to.”

Piri mused, “It could be both.”

“Both?”

“What if someone close to Gibroz has found a way to manipulate and direct his organization? That would give him the manpower, but we would not be facing a new organization.”

“Of course!” I rapped the table, disturbing Melia. “That would answer most of the questions.”

“Most?”

“Yes. I still have questions. Something’s wrong with the attacks the past two days.”

“What do you mean?”

“They were too alike.”

“I don’t understand.”

“One attack had a dozen men, one had eight. They both happened in the street. None of the attackers were particularly skilled armsmen. If they knew enough to attack me, wouldn’t they also know about my training?”

“Maybe.”

“They planned for the possibility of Radovan coming to my aid the second time. Whoever planned this knew he’d helped the night before, so the two attacks are definitely connected.”

“Agreed.”

“In that case, why not send the whole score of men to attack us in the house? That would be both quieter and more likely to succeed.”

“So you’re wondering at their tactics? Criminals are not always known for their tactical acumen.”

“Whoever is behind this is smart enough to go after Gibroz and Ylli obliquely, pitting them against each other. If it hadn’t been for the silly bad luck of Nadja and her doll, Aca would have disappeared and Gibroz would have thought the worst of Ylli.”

“Yes.”

“That’s the plan of someone very smart. You may be right, they may not know what they’re doing when it comes to tactics, but they are smart enough to have come up with a devious overall plan.”

She shrugged. “Even if you’re wrong, it’s stupid to assume the foe is less capable than he could be.”

“Exactly.”

“And he’s powerful as well as subtle.”

“Andreas.”

“Yes. How would he get Andreas to hold me without some way to influence him?”

“Money.”

“Probably, but it’s not the only possibility. I bet it would take a great deal of money to convince Andreas to deal with Vukasin’s wrath. Or Vesela’s.”

“True.”

We leaned back in thought.

“How did you avoid that trap?” she asked.

“What?”

“How did you avoid the trap that was set for you while Andreas held you?”

“You don’t want to know.”

She raised an eyebrow at me.

“We took the road past the Bardheküülle.”

“What?!”

I had never seen Piri shocked before. Her shout certainly annoyed Melia, as it brought her out of her comfortable slumber on the table. Disgustedly, she jumped off of the table and went around the room looking for scraps.

“We went past the Bardheküülle.”

“Sevener, tell me you’re joking.”

“No. We had help, though.”

“You did? What help?”

“Katarina warded us as we passed. Well, actually as we entered.”

“You went
into
the Bardheküülle?”

“I told you, it’s a long story.”

“With Katarina?”

I chuckled. “Yes, and she did not play us falsely.”

“I don’t know if I’m more amazed at that or the simple fact you went into the Bardheküülle.”

“I’m not sure either.”

Piri shook her head in amazement. She emptied her mug and emptied the pitcher into it. I caught Ragnar’s eye and he started filling another.

“In any case, you’re saying there’s something wrong with the attacks.”

“Yes. It’s almost like…” I drifted off in thought.

“Yes, Edward?”

“It’s almost as if whoever is behind them did not want them to fully succeed.”

“Did the attackers hesitate?”

“No. They were ready to kill me and did all they could.”

“Then why do you think this?”

“Again, why attack twice,
poorly
? Why not attack once and make sure?”

She shrugged. “We don’t know.”

“Right, but both fights were almost exactly the right amount to make us work, maybe eliminate Radovan, but allow both Gabrijela and me to survive.”

“You got slashed on the ribs. Twice. Either of those could have been close enough to kill you.”

“I know. And maybe I’m thinking too much.”

“That would be a first.”

“Perhaps, but aren’t you proud of what I’ve learned?”

Piri chuckled.

“But their first attack would have succeeded if Radovan had not been there. Since they couldn’t know he was there, then wouldn’t it be more likely that they actually intended to kill you at that point?”

“Perhaps…”

“Perhaps?”

“I don’t know that they didn’t anticipate Radovan the first time. They certainly seem to know everything about me.”

“How would they have found out about him?”

“I think Ylli told Gibroz how to find me if Gabrijela and I couldn’t connect at the amphitheater.”

“And that would have been to contact Radovan?”

“Undoubtedly. Sebastijan and his men have a reputation for doing the job, whatever the job happens to be.”

“True.”

“So you think they would have anticipated Radovan.”

“I think it possible.”

“There’s another possibility.”

“Yes, Piri?”

“Whoever is behind this might want you dead, or at least not concern themselves with your death, but…”

“But want to keep Gabrijela alive.”

“Exactly. Gabrijela is useful to Gibroz’s organization. He or she might not want to waste the resource.”

Piri paused for a moment. “Could Gabrijela be behind all of this?”

“Gabrijela?

“Think about this clearly, Sevener. I saw her kiss you. You’re clearly attracted to her.”

Awkwardly, I nodded. Piri surprised me by laughing.

“Oh, fear not on my account, lad. I am not the marrying type. We’ve had our fun, and you should be proud to know I wouldn’t mind a third time.”

I blushed, and she laughed harder. “I’m a veteran, boy. I’ve been on a dozen campaigns across the Empire and beyond. I’m not leaving the Pathfinders any time soon. I’m not retiring until they pry my spear from my dead fingers. I’ll sleep with who I damn well please, and I’ll thank Mithra that I’ve lived a life worthy of the fire.”

I chuckled. I understood completely. After all, I thought I had failed in that quest until I came to Achrida.

“So spare me the blushes. But I damn well also need you to think about her with a clear head.”

I nodded and took a breath.

“Well, she’s certainly had the opportunity.”

“Go on.”

“She would have undoubtedly seen Ylli’s letter, as Gibroz would have glanced at it, seen the bones of the plan, and handed it over to her.”

“Does she see all of Gibroz’s accounts?”

“I’m sure. Meaning she could probably alter the records or prevent some of the money from getting to Gibroz.”

Piri waited for me to continue.

“And she’s an enchanter.”

“I thought I’d heard that Gibroz had one working for him.” She looked at me intently.

“And yes, she did try to influence me at the start. I told her to stop. I like her, but it’s because of her eyes, not her magic.”

Piri laughed at me. “Fair enough. Why did she try at first?”

“She said Gibroz wanted her to use her magic, he liked the extra control.”

“He would.”

“Yes.”

“She clearly knew enough. Do you think she wants to take over Gibroz’s operation?”

I sat back. “I don’t know, but that doesn’t feel likely to me.”

“Why not?”

“Why would she have to take control? Gibroz clearly listens to her. She’s an enchanter. I bet she could influence him. Even if she couldn’t, she’s smart enough to help Gibroz make money, and we both know that’s what he cares about. If she’s helping him make money, he’s probably willing to let her make all sorts of suggestions.”

“True.”

“And I don’t know if she could run Gibroz’s organization.”

“Because she’s a woman? Do I have to remind you of Katarina?”

“No, because of personality, both hers and the people in Gibroz’s organization. She’s smart enough to know that she could run his machine, just not as efficiently. She’d have to use her magic repeatedly or quickly gain a reputation for something like Gibroz’s violent ruthlessness.”

I took a drink and continued. “I think she’s smart enough to think like Davorin did. He wants to run the Gropas with someone else as a figurehead because he knows people don’t like him and don’t trust him. Gibroz’s people would look at her and think she’s innocent and soft. She could force them to accept her, but she’d know it would be far better to just control Gibroz.”