"Feist, Raymond E - The Riftwar Legacy 02 - Krondor- The Assassins" - читать интересную книгу автора (Feist Raymond E)

The thick, nearly-dried blood told James he had been murdered earlier,
probably around dawn the day before. He was certain that his other
missing contacts had met a similar fate. Either whoever was behind the
troubles in the city was killing indiscriminately and James s informants
had been exceedingly unfortunate or someone was methodically murdering
off James s agents in Krondor. Logic dictated the latter as the most
likely explanation.

James stood and looked skyward. The night was fading, as a gray light
from the east heralded the dawn s approach. There was only one place
left he might find answers without risking confronting the Mockers.

James knew that some agreement between the Prince and Mockers had been
reached years before when he had joined

48 Arutha s service, but he never knew the details. An understanding of
sorts had arisen between James and the Mockers. He stayed out of their
way and they avoided him. He came and went as he pleased in the sewers
and across the roofs of the city when he needed, and they looked the
other way. But at no time had he any illusion that he would be warmly
welcomed should he attempt to return to Mockers" Rest. You were either a
Mocker or you weren t, he knew, and for nearly fourteen years he had not
been a Mocker.

James put aside concerns about braving a visit to Mother s and turned
toward the one other place he might find some news.

James returned to the sewer and made his way quickly to a spot below a
particular inn. It sat on the border between the poorest quarter of the
city and a slightly more respectable district, one inhabited by workmen
and their families. A rank covering of slime hid a secret release, and
once it was tripped, James felt a slight grinding as a section of stone
swung aside.

The "stone" was made of plaster over heavy canvas, covering a narrow
entryway to a short tunnel. Once inside the tunnel, with the secret door
closed behind him, James opened the shutters of the lantern. He was
almost certain he knew of every trap along the short passage, but as the
key word was "almost" he took great caution as he traversed the tunnel.

At the far end he found a thick oaken door, on the other side of which
he knew rose a short flight of stairs leading to a cellar below an inn.
He inspected the lock and when he was satisfied nothing had changed, he
picked it adroitly. When it clicked open, he pushed it gingerly aside
against the possibility of a new trap on the other side of

49 the door. Nothing happened and he quickly mounted the stairs.

At the top of the stairs, he entered the dark cellar, thick with barrels
and sacks. He moved through the maze of stores and climbed the wooden