Page 16 of The Eyes of Tamburah
She stood and endured the embrace. At one hundred and eighty centimeters he was about ten centimeters taller than she was, and his long curly black beard tickled her neck. “Thanks for seeing me on such short notice.”
He stepped back and laughed. “Well, you showed the magic key.” Snapping his fingers at his minions, he ordered them to make tea. Fadey gestured to the cushions. “Sit, sit. Tell me what brings you here.”
By the glint in his golden eyes, Shyla guessed he already knew. “The Eyes.”
“What? No small talk?” He rubbed a hand over his short curly hair. It sprang right back into place. “Do you even know how this is supposed to work?”
“You’re assuming I have The Eyes and wish to sell them to you. I don’t have them. I’ve come to purchase information about their whereabouts.”
He tugged on his beard, which, when straightened, reached his portly stomach. Combine that with the opulence in the room, it meant he probably hired others to dig for his treasures.
“That is unfortunate,” he finally said. “But if you don’t have them, then, for a price, I can tell you who must.”
“It’s not Banqui either.”
“Nonsense. He disappeared.”
“He’s a guest of the Water Prince.”
“Oh.” Fadey gripped the bottom of his tunic. “How unfortunate.”
The minions handed them each a cup of tea. Shyla sipped hers—it had an earthy paprika flavor.
Fadey downed his in two gulps. “I’m afraid The Eyes must be gone. The thief cannot be in Zirdai, my hunters would have heard something.”
Not good. “Are you sure? They were stolen only a couple sun jumps ago.”
“Yes. It’s just too big a find to keep quiet.”
She mulled it over. If the thief was gone, then perhaps someone else had been reported missing. “Are all your hunters accounted for?”
“Ah. Yes, but there are other groups besides mine.”
“How many?”
He laughed. “More than I’d like.” Leaning forward, he peered at her. “I can have my people ask around. For—”
“A price?”
“You catch on quick.”
The monks had said the same thing about her. No. Not thinking about them. “Do we haggle now or is it time for small talk?”
He spread his hands. “I’m a reasonable man. How about if you work exclusively for me?”
Now it was her turn to laugh. “That’s reasonable?”
“You know I can keep you employed. Face it, you haven’t had many jobs since you turned legitimate. You’ll make enough to move down to a safer level. And I can protect you.”
Was that genuine concern? She doubted it. “I have clients.”
“Banqui was your biggest patron. Without him…”
“He’s not dead.”
“Yet.”
“I’m not going to work exclusively for you. How about four osees? Two now and two if you find any information.”
