Dash wished mightily he could get loose of this work gang, scout around, and find out what was going on, but the reality of the situation was that any man who wasnt an invader was a slave. Whatever Dashs father had been thinking, it would have made more sense to have sent along one of the men who had traveled to Novindus with Erik von Darkmoor, someone who spoke the language and had a fair chance of passing for one of the men from the continent across the sea.
Even if he got free, Dash knew his only hope was to get beyond the wall, blend into the populace there, and find his way to the East, where he was certain his father had other agents waiting for sight of either brother.
Dash was certain his father had sent other agents into the city, and throughout the surrounding countryside. It would be unlike him not to. Besides, thought Dash as he helped hoist a large rock up to the battlements, the ghost of Duke Aruthas father, Lord James, would haunt him if he didnt. As Dash bruised knuckles on the harsh stone and began putting mortar into place, he thought that his grandfathers ghost would be welcome about now. Certainly, if anyone could puzzle out what was happening in Krondor it would be the legendary Lord James.
Jimmy cursed in the darkness as he bruised his shins against an unexpected stone. Is the young gentleman certain he hasnt lost his way? came Malars voice out of the blackness.
Jimmy said, Keep quiet. Its certain were not the only ones down here. And yes I know where we are, he said. We turn right and another dozen paces on the right should be the place were looking for. As if to prove the point, he turned to the right and moved into a small passage. Malar kept both hands on the right wall as he awkwardly followed.
After a few minutes they moved slowly through the gloom, then suddenly Jimmy said, Were here.
Where is here, sir? asked Malar.
One of the many hiding places for A sound of rustling, as if something was being moved, came from where Jimmy stood. Then Malar shielded his eyes as a small spark was struck, blindingly bright after the long time spent in the dark.
The torch was dry and caught at once, and Jimmy said, Lets see what we have here. He rummaged through the contents of the hiding place, a false stone in the wall at waist height.
How did you know where to look? asked Malar.
My grandfather had reason to spend some time in the sewers. He glanced at Malar. He was a city employee.
A sewer worker?
At times, said Jimmy. Anyway, he told me that from whatever thieves entrance into the city, you move to the first intersection, then to the right, and about twelve paces to the right, a cache would be found. Seems the Mockers wanted to make sure that if they got chased down into the darkness, they could find light and some tools. He waved at the cache. Observe. He patted each item as he named it. A good length of rope. A large breaker bar. A water skin. A dagger, torches, or a lantern.
A lantern with a shutter would prove safer, said Malar.
True, agreed Jimmy, but as we dont have one, we must settle for what is at hand. There may be other caches still intact, and perhaps we can find a lantern there.
He glanced around in the murk and said, Gods!
Malar said, What? concern obvious in his tone.
Look at this mess.
Sir, its a sewer, replied Malar, irritation in his voice.
I know that. But look at the walls and the water.
Malar saw then what Jimmy meant. While expecting moss-covered stones and brackish water, he didnt expect to see every surface covered in soot. He glanced at his own hands and said, Sir, I think we must bathe once we get above, else we shall surely be noticed.
Jimmy glanced at his servant and said, If Ive scratched my chin as much as you, it is certain I look like a chimney sweep.
Malar said, Youre filthy, sir.
Jimmy said, Well, no one said this would be easy.
As he set off, he heard Malar mutter, No one said it would be impossible, either.
Dash nodded and Gustaf jumped. He landed behind the big stone they were attempting to move, and ducked out of sight of the guards. He held a piece of broken crockery he had secreted in his shirt two days before and quickly sawed at a key rope in the net used to haul the stones.
The rope net was a clever device that could be placed around the stone, fitted under the corners as men used levers to raise them. Once hoisted aloft, a quick pass of two ropes beneath the stone put on a second lifting net, and once above the intended destination, the two ropes were removed, and the stone lowered a few inches as the webbing loosened, dropping the stone. Dash knew a practiced crew of stone masons could do this with a tolerance of a mere fraction of an inch. With Dashs crew, they were happy to get the stone within an inch of ideal tolerance. The only masons in Krondor were Dukos engineers, and there was a severe language problem with most of the workers.
Gustaf stepped around from behind the stone, nodding to Dash. Haul away, he shouted.
Dash stepped back as two men readied the ropes to be passed under the stone, and watched. The stone lifted two feet in the air, then suddenly tilted as a loud snap sounded. The strand Gustaf had cut had parted, and now the stone hung a few feet off the ground, spinning slowly. The two men with the support ropes backed away.
Get it down! shouted a voice from below, and suddenly the rock was dropped.
No! said the foreman, too late, as men who should have slowly lowered the stone released the rope. Instead of settling quietly to the ledge, the rock bounced a bit then teetered, as Dash had hoped, then slowly started to fall.
Look out! cried a man near Dash as men started scrambling out of the way.
Come on, Dash said to Gustaf as confusion erupted.
They hurried past a guard standing still in fascination as the rock slid outward, overhanging the parapet, slowly moving to balance a moment in the air, then start its dramatic fall to the cobbles below.
Dash, Gustaf, and some other men hurried down a flight of stone steps, as if intent on helping those below. But at the base of the wall, Dash moved quickly to his right, into what appeared to be a slight gap in the stones. The others ducked into the gap after him.
The ancient wall of Krondor was hollow in places, storage sheds used to house grain, water, and weapons against siege. Many of the old storage rooms had been used during the last war, but several had been left empty, like these along the easternmost wall.
Dash had waited a week to find this one, an ideal exit from captivity if he had judged correctly. Either there was a sewer entrance here, or a passage to another abandoned storage area that had one. The only danger would be if they were caught ducking into this room, or if the passage to the next room was blocked by fallen masonry. They would be missed at the head count done each meal break and that was only an hour off.
In the gloom, it was difficult to find the entrance, but Dash managed. Below a heavy layer of ash and dust lay a wooden pallet, used to keep grain off the damp stones. Below that was a man-sized hole, covered with a simple iron grate. Dash whispered, Give me a hand, and two other men stooped next to him.
In the faint light coming in through the broken wall, Dash could make out the profiles of Gustaf and Talwin. Gustaf was what he appeared to be, but Talwin had Dash concerned. Yet here he was risking broken fingers to get the grating up, without any hint of betrayal.