Cowboys & Dragons

Part 6

A short while later, the distant sound of chanting echoed through the caves and corridors. Eddy was both glad and worried that they had not seen a single guard so far, but the Marquis argued that in a place like this, guards would serve little purpose.

Just by looking at the splendor around him, Eddy knew the noble was right. In a city as rich as this, there would be no need to steal, especially if it would mean bringing down the wrath of God—literally. He also wondered aloud what use this gallery served, and again the Marquis educated him—in a somewhat annoyed tone—that it was for the population of El Dorado to behold and revere their god in more public ceremonies. All of a sudden Eddy realized that in a very real sense, they were in a church, trying to rob the cross from the altar.

The Marquis, Isabella, and Azrael crouched in the shadow of a pillar and talked about their next course of action, while the soldiers took to the task of securing the approaches to their position. Left to himself, Eddy used the time to secretly pry some of the gems from the walls and—after the Dragongod did not show his head to strike him down for his insolence—let them disappear into the pockets of his torn suit.

No one noticed him, and once Eddy had looted enough riches—the stones in his left pocket alone would enable him to spend the remainder of his days in the bordello of his choosing—he joined the others just as they finalized their plan.

In the end, their plan was so simple that Eddy could have come up with it in a second: go down, grab the diamond, and get the hell out. When Eddy asked what they should do if something went wrong, Azrael merely shrugged. "Improvise."

"And I am sure you want me to snatch the stone," snorted Eddy. "Like with the dragon eggs, right, Az? Because"—his voice imitated the gravel tone of Azrael—"he may have no skill, but he has more luck than any other man I—what?"

A faint smile appeared on Azrael's face and stopped Eddy mid-ramble. The expression was strangely gentle, not befitting the killer's mutilated features.

"I want you to stay here," said Azrael. "You pulled your weight, partner, and I know fate has something else in store for you."

Eddy did not quite know how to reply, and he never got the chance since the bounty killer turned his back on him and started moving down the gallery. Some hissed commands from the Marquis, and everybody fell in behind.

Eddy felt relieved as he hustled down the gallery with the others. He had expected to be the decoy, the one to pull the chestnuts out of the fire while Azrael protected his back, as it had always been in the past. This kindness was not the usual treatment from his grim partner.

Then Eddy realized what it meant. Azrael did not expect to succeed. He did not expect to survive whatever would come next, and this was his parting gift.

The insight hit Eddy like a hammer.