Free The City of Towers: The Dreaming Dark - Book I by Keith Baker Page A

she’s on this lift is to pick the pockets of fools like you. But I suppose youcan identify with that. I can’t imagine a Mourner trash having any proper business in the upper wards.” He studied Daine carefully. “You just struck an officer of the watch. I think you deserve another scar for that.”
    “I think I’ll pass.” Daine studied his opponents, shifting so his back was against the railing. He reached for his sword—and remembered it was gone. Damn Jode!
    “Go ahead,” the dwarf said. “Draw your knife, boy. Give me a reason to run you through.”
    The lift came to a stop and the other passengers scurried off, leaving only Daine, Jode, the two guards, and the whimpering goblin girl.
    The dwarf walked toward Daine as the lift moved again. “Not so bold now, are you?” He stared up into Daine’s eyes, putting the point of his blade against Daine’s throat. Daine looked down. The halberdier watched as a tiny spot of blood blossomed on Daine’s throat, and for a moment she lowered her guard.
    Daine was waiting for an opening, but help came from an unexpected quarter. The goblin girl cried out and threw herself at the dwarf, clawing and biting at his leg. As the guardsman glanced down, Daine smashed his hand and sent his sword flying. The halberdier brought her point in line, then suddenly gasped and fell to the ground; unnoticed in the chaos, Jode had stepped up behind her and pierced her knee with his stiletto. While he spent most of his time treating injuries, Jode had a keen understanding of pain. He knew where it hurt and how to hit it. The woman dropped her weapon and clutched at her leg, oblivious to her surroundings.
    “Let it go,” Daine said to the dwarf. “This can end now. No more harm done.”
    The dwarf responded with an incoherent howl. He charged, but Daine ducked out of the way. Spitting with rage, the guardsman snatched the fallen halberd and charged again, blade leveled at Daine’s chest. At the last second, Daine spun out of the way. He grabbed the upper haft of the weapon and threw all his weight into it. He meant to disarm the dwarf, but he overestimated his opponent’s weight and momentum.With a long cry, the dwarf went sailing over the railing and disappeared.
    Daine ran to the edge of the lift, but there was nothing to be done. He turned around. “Jode!” he snapped. “Make sure that woman doesn’t bleed to death. Quickly! We’re getting off at the next stop.”
    Jode seemed unperturbed as he bent to his task. “And here I thought I’d get to keep a feather.”
    The goblin was crying. “You’re fine now,” Daine said, kneeling over her. “But you need to get up and get moving. You have a home?”
    She nodded, brushing at her tears.
    “Go straight home. Now. And don’t come back to this lift.
Ever
. Do you understand me?”
    She nodded again.
    A moment later, the lift came to the next stop. The goblin girl disappeared into the shadows of the street. Daine and Jode sauntered off as nonchalantly as possible, passing through the crowd waiting to board. Back on the disk, the semiconscious guard clutched her knee and moaned.

    “What do you mean,
you saw her take it?”
    “You didn’t?” said Jode. “It was such an obvious lift, I assumed it was a gift. You’re a soft touch, and I’m sure she needed the money just as much as we did.”
    “Oh, this day just keeps getting better. You pawn my grandfather’s sword, convince me to take a job from
Alina
, watch as a pickpocket steals the money we received for expenses, and the best part? I just killed a member of the city guard.”
    “You don’t know that. This is Sharn. The city guard very likely carries charms against such happenings.” He smiled mischievously. “Or maybe someone caught him?”
    “Against falling hundreds of feet?”
    Jode shrugged. “This is Sharn.”
    Daine closed his eyes and groaned. They were sitting at a table in the Manticore, and now that they only had Jode’s original stake money from