“If you’re talking about the Master and him offering some sort of deal,” Kre replied, “then that’s already ongoing. They kicked us out of the room so they could finalize the terms. I think Beleg is hoping to become a partner in the slave business so he can get close enough to free everyone.”
Kersath muttered a word in his tongue. Although Kre didn’t recognize the word, he felt he could safely assume it was some sort of a swear based on Kersath’s facial expression.
“That fool of a man,” Kersath said finally in the Tehynshin tongue. “The Master has no intention of sharing anything of value. Not his coin and certainly not his business. He will make any deal he can to get what he wants and then he will kill Beleg so he will not have to make good on his end.”
Kre frowned, not liking this new turn of events. “How do you know that?” he asked his friend.
With a nonchalant shrug, Kersath replied, “This man you call the Master believes me to be too far gone right now to be any threat. I have very good ears, and that fool is far too free with his words when he believes he has the privacy of this suite.”
“I think we still have time though,” Kre said, thinking back on the conversation he heard earlier. “He wants Beleg to lose the final match so his underdog favorite can win, earning him a nice pot from the betting.”
Kersath nodded, “That is something at least, but I do not know what form the villain’s wrath will take. He does seems very much like the kind of man that would have contingencies in place.”
“Hei yah!” The gasp of sharp Ylveryan words made Kre jump and reach for a weapon that he was not wearing. His face flushed a bright red when he realized it was only Virryn staring at Kersath. “Haashah nizh’go?” she breathed again, less in surprise this time and more inquisitive. “How can this be?”
Kersath shrugged, though Kre noticed it wasn’t with his usual cat-like grace. “My kind thrive underground,” he said, as if that explained everything.
Virryn shook her head and turned to Kre, “We must go. Our work is long done.”
Kre nodded and turned back to Kersath, “I wish we could take you with us now. I’m sorry I didn’t bring you anything.”
Kersath shook his head, “Look after Beleg, and tell him that I am fine. I can find my own way out. He should focus on those bearded runts.”
Virryn tapped Kre on the shoulder and he started to turn to go. A thought crossed his mind that made him pause and turn his head to ask one last question, “What of Talimar?”
“Your guess is as good as mine,” came the reply. The dark Ylveryan shooed the boy away with a wave of his hand and he closed the door before Kre could protest. There was a soft click as the lock reengaged and the clinking of metal chains.
“Coming Virryn,” he said softly, noting the impatience in her eyes.