Shadowdance 01 - A Dance of Cloaks
remained before such a glare. He decided she must be threatened often to be so calm. Either that, or she held very little regard for her life.
“Upstairs then,” she said. “You may keep your blades if you insist. I only repeat what Billy tells me. You should know that.”
Thren dismissed Red as if she were a servant or a slave, then went up the stairs. Aaron followed.
Billy was a fat man, astonishingly so for how short he was. When the Felhorns entered, the man stood, his gut swishing like it was made of curdled milk. His hair was cut short at the ears and dyed a pale brown. When he smiled, his two missing teeth made him look like a gaping schoolchild. Aaron wondered how such a fat, ugly man like that could run a brothel. If his father had not forbidden speaking, he would have asked.
“Welcome, welcome,” Billy said, clapping his hands as if excited. He had been seated in a chair woefully small for his body. Behind him was a thick ornate railing, and beyond that a spectacular view of the city. “So good of you to join me in my humble establishment. The Bloodshot rarely gets company of your esteem, my great and powerful master of guilds.”
The compliments flowed like honey from his tongue and sounded as natural as running water. Aaron felt like part of his question had been answered.
“We come on business,” Thren said, his hands resting on the hilts of his swords. He leaned forward just enough that the sides of his cloak hid the movements of his hands.
“Yes, of course, why else would such a noble man bother yourself with scum such as I? Why else would you dirty your hands with the doorknob of my wretched abode? Sit, please, I will not have you stand. Your son as well.”
Thren remained standing, but he nodded at Aaron, who obediently sat down.
“I have looked over your books,” Thren said. His face was a cold mask. “Something is odd about them, Billy. Perhaps you know what?”
“Odd?” Billy said. His smile was grand, and he wasn’t even sweating, impressive for a man his size. Aaron watched him for all the signs of guilt he had been taught to look for. So far he saw none.
“Of course things should be a little odd,” the fat man continued. “I run an odd place where men ask for odd things, gross things I wouldn’t dare discuss in front of your boy. But my payments are in full. I dare not cheat, not when dealing with a man as frightening as you.”
“It is your coin that intrigues me,” Thren said. “And how much you have paid.”
“What could possibly be the matter?” Billy asked. “At the risk of sounding proud, I pay more than any other brothel in this city! I know, for I hear the other owners whining, but I smile and think that I spend my money well for Thren’s protection.”
“That is exactly the matter,” Thren said.
Aaron saw a tiny twitch at the right corner of Billy’s mouth. His father had finally struck a chord.
“How is that the matter?” Billy asked.
“I’ve compared your coin to that of the other brothels under my protection, as well as spoken with those whining owners who pay the Hawks or the Ash. So tell me, Billy … how does a pathetic little brothel like the Bloodshot manage to outperform much grander places like the Silk or the Dandycushion? Your women are no prettier, your beds certainly not cleaner. Tell me, do you have an answer?”
A drop of sweat. Aaron grinned. Billy had no answer to the question. Before he could begin a wave of groveling and worship, Thren held up a hand and continued talking.
“For the past week I have had your building under watch. Most brothels have their men come to them, but you send out your girls to other places, drab places owned by men of no worth. But the men who own those places, or have loaned money to them…”
Aaron tried to make the connection. He had an idea what his father was getting at, but something was missing, some piece. Billy, however, clearly knew what the matter was. Aaron saw him grab at a dagger strapped to his belt, then stop. He must have decided, wisely, not to fight if things turned ill. He did not look like a man who could last long in a fight.
“I strictly forbid selling whores to the Trifect,” said Thren, an icy edge to his voice. “All the other guilds have agreed, and you were no different. While the others suffer, you somehow thrive…”
“I charged any member of the Trifect triple,” Billy said. All false affection and worship were gone. He was pleading now. “I’m
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