Free The Tyranny of Ghosts: Legacy of Dhakaan - Book 3 by Don Bassingthwaite

Midian’s appearance as Tariic’s royal historian. Geth would have expected the gnome to flee for Zilargo. He couldn’t believe Midian remained at Tariic’s side of his own free will. For that matter, they couldn’t even trust that Senen’s will was her own, though her continued warnings that she was being watched at least suggested it.
    “I hate this,” he said. “There has to be something more we can do.”
    Ekhaas’s ears went even farther back. “I know. If I had an archivist to help me with the Register—or even another
duur’kala
—I might at least be able to find the right place to start.”
    “No other
duur’kala
will help you?”
    Ekhaas made a face. “They don’t want to cross Diitesh. And to be honest, they’re all more interested in you right now.”
    “It’s nice to be wanted,” Geth said dryly. “Do you want to duel?”
    One of the discomforts of Volaar Draal was passing the time—he and Tenquis weren’t exactly welcome in the gathering places of the
dar
city. Ekhaas and Chetiin, of course, blended in with the other goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears, but a tiefling and a shifter stuck out like … well, like
chaat’oor
. There was no shortage of private dueling circles in the city, however, and Ekhaas had started joining Geth in them, fighting away the tension that gathered during the day. Occasionally Chetiin fought with them as well, though neither of them could land a touch on him unless he permitted it. Tenquis abstained entirely, preferring to sit beside the ring and read. Diitesh might have blocked him from access to the wonders of the vaults, but he’d sought out the smiths and masons of the Kech Volaar. Against all expectations, he’d even managed to make contacts among them and was busy learning what he could of half-remembered
daashor
traditions from their techniques and borrowed scrolls.
    Ekhaas, though, only shook her head at the invitation to duel. “I can’t keep up with you,” she said. “I need a rest. Let’s go look for Tenquis. He’s probably still with the smiths.”
    “He isn’t.”
    Geth almost jumped at the sound of Chetiin’s scarred voice. His hand went to Wrath, and he whirled around, looking for the goblin. He found him crouched in the shadows below the statue of some unnamed Dhakaani hero, calm and undisturbed. “Boar’s snout,” Geth said. “What are you doing?”
    “Waiting for you.” Chetiin stood up. “Tenquis hasn’t been visiting the smiths of Volaar Draal.”
    “What’s he been doing then?” asked Ekhaas. “Where did he get those books?” Her ears rose. “Why have you been following him?”
    Chetiin actually looked slightly ashamed for the first time since Geth had known him. “I wasn’t following him. I came across him yesterday when I was coming back into Volaar Draal.”
    “Chetiin!” said Ekhaas in protest.
    “The
shaarat’khesh
come and go as they please,” the old goblin said stubbornly. “I wanted to speak to Marrow.”
    “Was it nice outside?” Geth asked.
    “The air was as sharp and clear as a knife made of glass.”
    “You still broke the terms of sanctuary.” Ekhaas looked around them as if Diitesh might be lurking nearby, ready to pounce on this violation.
    “Ignore that. As I was coming back into the city, I came across Tenquis. I was mistaken when I said he’d make a good
golin’dar
. He has no talent for stealth. He wasn’t in the smiths’ quarter of the city, though. Today I followed him to see where he went.”
    “And?”
    “Proof requires more than words,” said Chetiin. “Come with me.”

    Chetiin led them to a building on the other side of Volaar Draal that seemed mostly deserted, with only scattered ghostlights glimmering in the narrow windows. Geth raised an eyebrow to Chetiin, but he just shook his head and ushered them inside. The corridors were empty and smelled mostly of damp stone.
    “What is this place?” Geth asked Ekhaas softly.
    “Unused apartments,” she said. “The clan