Shadow Blades (The Cimmerian Cycle #2)

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Cormac was tempted to blow out the torch but he knew that it would be impossible to light until he got out of the ancient tunnels. He didn't fancy trying to retrace his footsteps in complete darkness. He might walk back into the room of skeletons.

Slowly he allowed himself to sleep.

A rat nibbling on his boot woke him up. He cursed and jumped to his feet. The rat scurried away. He bent down to examine the damage. There was a finger sized hole in the side of his shoe. He cursed again and straightened up. Those were his only boots and he had no idea when he would get them repaired.

He collected the still blazing torch from its bracket on the wall and unlocked the door. He winced as the door creaked open. Very cautiously he made his way to the stairs. He assumed that it was now day time and that the guild would be most active.

Cormac stomped out the torch and replaced it back into its original bracket. He pulled his mask back over his face and pulled his hood on. He went up the stairs and wound through the tunnels in the direction of Damien's office.

Whenever he passed someone he slowed down and moved with purpose. No one stopped him, preferring to ignore him. He knocked on the door to Master Damien's office and was pleased to find it empty.

With a gloved hand he opened the door wide and checked inside. Before he entered the room he checked to see if he was alone in the corridor. When he was certain no one would see him enter, he slipped inside and shut the door.

Cormac went straight to Damien's desk and flicked through the papers on top. They just seemed to be a listing of contracts and files on to be victims. Cormac found it hard to believe that there could be so many people in the city who were wanted dead. One of the papers came from the town of Rosewick and Cormac realised the guild was a lot bigger than he had previously thought. It turned out they took contracts from all over Dayrius, even south of the river.

Finding no information in the pile of contracts he moved them back into their original positions and began going through the drawers. The top held many different coloured vials of what Cormac guessed to be poison. The next held a collection of quills and inks. The following drawer held a large file of reports about successful contracts. The final drawer was locked.

Cormac smiled and pulled a lock pick from his sleeve. This was going to be too easy. How many times had Cormac had to pick a lock? He knew there was something valuable or important in there. Why else would you lock a drawer?

He crouched down on the balls of his feet and began to work at the lock. The first pick broke and it took another to crack the lock. He carefully stowed away the broken pieces and was about to open the drawer when the door opened.

"Just a moment," Damien shouted, "I just need to grab the contracts to pin up."

Cormac froze before pushing himself into the backed hollow of the desk. He held his breath as he heard Damien gather up the stack of papers on his desk. Cormac did not move until the door was shut again.

That had been a close call and Cormac wasn't keen to relive the experience. He would have to get out of the office soon, he couldn't waste any more time in there. He pushed himself out from under the desk and he returned the bottom drawer, pulling it open. Inside was the largest amount of gold he had ever seen. He had to refrain from pocketing any of it.

He scanned the interior for any other items of interest. A letter sat in the back corner. With a great effort to not touch the coins, he pulled out the letter and opened it. He read it as fast as he could.