Repercussion and Opportunity

The guard nodded as Demenik approached. "Morning, little lion. Right on time for your weekly visit."

"Um, yes. Good morning."

"He's expecting you." The man stepped aside and opened the door.

Demenik entered the building and paused, waiting at the entrance as the door closed. Minutes passed.

No guide this time.

He walked down the hallway until he reached the main audience hall and peeked through the open door. "Hello?"

"Come in, Demenik." Lord Caladan sat at the large table across from a beautiful woman and large man, both dressed in rags of better quality than Demenik's. The alleys had their own hierarchy and the quality of rags increased to reflect one's rank. Demenik had seen very wealthy people walk past him dressed in rags made from better-quality cloth than he imagined royals would wear.

"Usually you bring your tribute in the afternoon."

"Yes, Lord Caladan."

"Place it over here." He tapped a spot on the table and glanced at the woman. She watched Demenik with a bored expression, but Demenik could sense her interest.

He approached and placed the tribute on the table, then took a step back.

The woman arched one eyebrow. Lord Caladan looked down. "Silver?" He looked at Demenik and chewed his lip. "You have increased your earnings by a large amount in a short time, little lion."

"No, I haven't. This is my entire earnings for the week."

"Offered as tribute?" Lord Caladan sighed and shook his head. "What have you done?"

"Gotten himself into serious trouble, most like." The woman smiled, making her appear even more beautiful.

Lord Caladan lowered his head onto one hand and wiped the corner of his eye. "If this has to do with a certain Keeper who stopped breathing yesterday, then I misjudged you, Demenik." His mouth twitched into a grin and his eyes sparkled. "Have I guessed correctly?"

Demenik nodded.

"Ha!" The man across from Lord Caladan slammed his hand on the table and laughed, sounding more like a bear than a man. "We've been sitting here all night trying to figure out who had the balls for such a thing and this tiny runt comes in claiming the deed was his doing." He tilted his head back and laughed again. The woman smiled and Lord Caladan grinned and shook his head.

Demenik remained still, unsure how to react. This looks good, but it could still end badly. For me, at least.

Lord Caladan stood, picked up the coin, and flipped it through the air towards Demenik. "Keep your coin, Demenik. No tribute this week. In fact, you've done me such a favour, perhaps I should pay you." He looked at the woman and she blinked before nodding. That seemed to settle the matter for Lord Caladan. He reached into his breast pocket and tossed the boy another coin.

Demenik's breath caught as he noticed the colour spinning towards him. He snatched it from the air and looked down at the gold coin resting in his palm. "My lord, this is too generous. I don't understand."

"You thought I would be angry?"

"I thought you would either turn me out from the alley or kill me."

"Killing a Keeper is very serious. If you are caught, the wrath of the entire city, even the country, is called down upon you and everyone connected to you. This is true, and in most other cases I would have turned you out." His smile disappeared. "I do not condone killing Keepers, do you understand me?"

"I do."

Lord Caladan nodded and his grin reappeared. "That being said, Hector has been a thorn in my side for some time. I have asked the gods to kill that man more times than I can count. I do not often part with coin. Hopefully you can appreciate the gold in your hand and what it represents to me."

Demenik bowed low. "I do, my lord, and I thank you."

The man at the table stroked his beard and laughed. "Lord Caladan is happy with you not because you did the deed, boy, but because you got away with it."

"That is not certain, is it?"

Caladan poured a drink and returned to the table. "Over a day has passed since the Keeper was killed." He looked at Demenik. "Barely, but the time is past, am I right?"

"Yes."

"You are too young to remember the last time a Keeper of the Law was murdered, Demenik, but I remember it well. Sacred law governs this matter, and it states that they have one day after the event to find the guilty party. Should they fail to find the killer by then, the investigation is ended. Since the Order of Law Keepers was begun, they have never failed to bring a killer of their own to justice."

"Finally," the woman said, "it would appear that their perfect record has been broken."

"So it would." Lord Caladan nodded.

"This will cause a large ripple across the country," the large man declared.

"The Keepers will use this to their advantage," Demenik said.

"What do you mean?"

"Instead of finding the real murderer, they will take this opportunity to place the blame on an enemy that is untouchable under normal circumstances."

"You are clever, boy, and absolutely correct. My sources tell me that it will be a powerful alley lord."

"You?" Demenik asked.

Caladan shook his head. "Not this time. My advance knowledge of what is to come provides us with a unique advantage. I am told that it will be one of three possible alley lords. When the Keepers finally decide who it will be, the remaining lords will rush in to claim the vacant territory. I intend to be the victor in this matter." Lord Caladan reached into his pocket and withdrew another silver coin. Instead of flipping it through the air, he walked to Demenik and handed it to him.

"Maybe this boy will be the one to replace you, Caladan," the woman said.

Lord Caladan shrugged. "There will come a time when someone must." He looked at Demenik. "Until then, you live in my alleys and are mine. Do you have a problem with that?"

"None, my lord."

"You do not owe tribute on the coin that I give you."

"Thank you." Demenik bowed.

"I look forward to seeing you next week, little lion."