Debriefing: 5

Harbend had guessed that questions would be asked. He'd even expected to see more than his fair share of guests, but a delegation from the Council of Twelve waiting in his small office when he returned home was beyond his wildest imagination. Or nightmare, he added grimly after he'd recovered somewhat from the sight of liveried servants, four imperial guards in their yellow and black and two high ranking officials from the council in expensive silks glistering as if alive in yellow and red.

Harbend reached for the key in his pocket, uncertain if he'd locked the door on his way out, but the glittering stone set in its handle was still a bright yellow rather than the dull grey telling him the door was unlocked.

"How?" he asked into the air and pointed to the door he'd just left behind him to make his question clear.

A smug smile but no answer was the only reaction he received.

"Would you mind answering why you are in my office, which I locked before going out?" Harbend asked, feeling surprise slowly give way to irritation.

"Answering questions are not our department. You're called to attend a meeting with Mairild de Felder within the day. We expect to see you there at dusk."

Harbend's colour rose. "Now you..." A hard stare from one of the guards brought his words to a halt. He was very recently made a full trading house, but he still hadn't brought the proof of his value to a gathering. He could still lose his standing, and the council wasn't anything he wanted to aggravate, no matter his status among the merchants in Keen. "I will be there," Harbend said when the silence threatened to stretch too long.

"Good, and bring the outworlder with you."

Harbend could only stare in bewilderment as they all marched out of his office.

What do I do now? What do they want, he wondered as he closed the door. He'd done nothing to warrant the interest of the ruling body in Keen. He couldn't imagine anything they would be interested in, at least nothing they could know of, but that was an impossibility unless the very council ruling a nation where magic was banned itself made use of the gift.

That was a distracting thought if any.

Harbend shrugged off his discomfort and started to rummage through the contents of the shelves in his small kitchen in search of some tea, remembered the horror he had brewed the day before and gave up in disgust. Nothing decent to drink and yet a sour taste in his mouth as if he'd indeed been taking a mouthful of cheap wine.

Harbend swallowed, but the taste refused to go away, and with a feeling of defeat he made his way to the door and went out. He locked the door behind him and swore silently between his teeth. The small sense of security the office had always given him was gone with the knowledge that there were people who could make their way into it without his knowing. It was a little bit like being duped, but with a lingering feeling of uncertainty bordering on fear clinging to him in a way a trade gone sour never did. He felt, he realized as he rounded a corner, helpless. Staring down the street he noticed in dismay how each and every stranger he met suddenly loomed like an unknown threat, and he avoided meeting their eyes as he walked.

It was later, how much later Harbend didn't know, that he halted, and not until he looked up did he recognize the entrance to Two Worlds. Maybe his legs had given him the direction his mind refused to yield. He waited for the doors to open and entered. Now he had a goal, and he resolutely climbed the stairs, passed a corridor and knocked on Arthur's door. There was no response for a while, and Harbend started to worry if Arthur had already left for his daily excursions in the city. Then the door opened and Arthur peered out at him.

Harbend bowed slightly and received a raised brow at the formality.

"Welcome Harbend. I'm sorry. Is it that late already?"

Harbend frowned. "No, no you are not late," he answered remembering that he was the one who usually picked Arthur up for their meal at The Tree. "I am here on a different errand."

"Please come in." Arthur backed away from the door and let Harbend inside. "I was afraid I had overslept." He smiled sheepishly. "As if I had a time to keep anyway."

Harbend smiled as well. A grimmer smile. "You do. We both do."

"What's happened?" There was worry in Arthur's face now, and concern.

Gods, I bring bad news and scare my friend at the same time, Harbend thought. He waved an apology to Arthur and remembered the expression from Khi probably was unfamiliar to the outworlder. "I am sorry. I did not mean to upset you."

"Harbend, I'm not upset, but you look like darkness come alive. What is it?"

The friendly outburst shook Harbend back to reality. "I have... we have been called to the Council of Twelve."

"I don't understand," Arthur said giving Harbend a nonplussed stare. "Why would the city council want to meet with us?"

The misunderstanding brought the first laugh from Harbend for a long time. "Council of Twelve, Arthur, not city council."

"I don't... oh... oh!"

"Yes. They want us there by dusk, or at least one of them."

Arthur stared at Harbend, a crooked grin spreading over his face. "And being late is not an option, I guess?"

"Being late is not an option," Harbend confirmed.

Arthur spat a few words in English, and it took Harbend a few moments to recall that the sexual activities mentioned were strong profanities where Arthur came from. "My thoughts exactly," Harbend said, which brought yet another stream of curses from Arthur.