The Bringer of Death (City Underdark #2)

The Report

"I agree with Rosa," said Hugo.

"I know you do," said Ranphoros.

"You know that you are too lax with her," said Hugo.

"She is an adult at this point. This is out of my hands. Besides, I don't think you should be debating my parenting skills at the moment."

There was a small moment of tension between Hugo and Ranphoros, a moment of tension that made Barmond feel like he was privy to something he was not supposed to see. They stared at each other, and both were frowning. It was Hugo that pulled his gaze away first and Barmond had the impression that he did so to de-escalate the situation.

"I took that liberty," said Hugo, "because Barmond is still very much concerned by Maggie's whims. We need to talk about that."

"Does it really matter?" said Ranphoros. "Do it if you wish, when I am gone. You and Rose really should mind your business when it comes to telling me how I should raise my daughter."

He then turned to Barmond and it was clear that he was changing his attitude when he did so: from tense he became more relaxed, opening his arms wide as a welcoming gesture.

"Forgive that interlude," he said. "As you might have guessed, I would like to hear your report on how things went down at Lamare. I've heard many things, you're the last one I am seeing on the matter, but I am certain that there is information you still have to say."

The main takeaway from this sentence for Barmond was that he was the last one. But that was fine, right? It could just be that they had waited that he was awake again.

"Jenever?" Ranphoros asked.

There was, indeed, an unmarked bottle on the table, with three glasses. Didn't the man drink anything else but that? Barmond had thought that such strong alcohol would at least be mixed with something to sweeten the taste. One of the glasses on the table had a slice of lemon in it, but something told Barmond that this was Hugo's.

"I'll take a little," Barmond said.

He was served a glass and invited to sit down on a chair, which he did. The last time he had come to this room to meet Ranphoros like that, it was to be told that he was to work with Hugo. And, well, things had certainly changed since then. For one, he had discovered that they worked great together.

Barmond wondered if Ranphoros knew. It would not have surprised him if he did, already. After all, Hugo and he were supposed to be working partners, those worked best when they told each other everything. Or at least that had been his experience from his time as a vampire hunter - those that liked to set off on their own never remained alive for long.

"So, we have much to discuss," said Ranphoros. He was making the liquid in his own glass swirl with a knowing smile. "But how about you tell it to me from the beginning?"

"Which beginning?"

"Let's say... the moment you arrived in Lamare."

Barmond shrugged. "A lot of uninteresting things happened. I'll skip to the moment where I went to inspect the nest for the first time, with Patricia."

"Patricia? Not Hugo?"

"I joined him later," said Hugo. "As you know."

"I want to know why," Ranphoros said.

Barmond hesitated. He remembered why he had done it, and it had been a petty, personal reason. He did not quite know how to say to Ranphoros that the reason he had not wanted to deal with Hugo was that he had been avoiding him. He had done that a lot.