Garth to place the torch he was holding. Sitting at the head of a long table was another elf, and he watched Garth closely as Morro led the Knight of Alcea to the table and indicated that he should sit. Morro sat next to him.
"Speedy has said that you are like his brother," the elf said, "and that he trusts you with his life. That is a high recommendation, but my organization is not built on friendship. Will you give your word that you will not harm any of my people?"
Garth stared at the elf. The man's ageless features yielded no clue as to his age, but his air of confidence was plainly evident. The elf's eyes bored into Garth with an air of superiority, and his face was set in tense confrontation.
"I do not know your people," Garth eventually replied. "I have a suspicion of who they might be in general, but I do not know any of them in particular. As to harming any of them, I do not harm those who mean me no harm, but I will vigorously defend myself and my friends."
"And is Speedy a friend that you will defend to the death?" asked the elf. "Even if the Federation demands his life?"
"He is," Garth answered without hesitation, "and I would, as would those who follow me."
The elf's face immediately softened, and he smiled at Speedy. "Fearless as you said," stated the elf, "and more honest than most." He turned towards Garth and continued, "I am known as Headman to my people. As I am sure you have already determined, my people are the thieves of Giza. Speedy violated our code today by bringing you into our lair, but he has vouched for you, and I expect you to honor his commitment while you are in Giza. Will you do so?"
"I will honor the secrecy of your tunnels, and I will not divulge anything of whatever happens down here," Garth replied with a frown, "but I do not know all of the terms of his commitment. Is there more?"
"It is secrecy that I demand," answered Headman. "My organization has remained in the shadows in Giza for many years, and I am not ready for knowledge of our ways and means to reach the ears of those outside the group."
Garth wondered how much to reveal to the head thief. He glanced at Morro and saw him nod, indicating that Headman could be trusted.
"I understand the need for secrecy," replied Garth. "The Federation is not my friend, and knowledge of thieves would not be on their list of questions should I ever be captured by them. I do not mean to belittle your organization, but I have more to fear from the Federation than you do."
"Understood," smiled Headman. "I gathered from Speedy that the need to get you underground stems from the current chaos happening on the streets above. Whatever is going on, the Federation wants you badly. They will seal the city and begin interrogating everyone who is not a resident. Where are you staying?"
Garth hesitated to answer.
"Headman will not betray you," Morro promised. "I have shared with him my vision of freeing the children from the reeducation centers, and he will aid us when the time comes. No amount of coercion from the Federation could loosen his lips."
"The Palace Keep," answered Garth. "There are three others with me."
"Are you responsible for the explosions along the waterfront?" asked Headman.
"I believe that one of my party is responsible," nodded Garth.
Headman raised an eyebrow. "One of your party?" he asked astonishingly. "I cannot imagine one person causing such damage. The reports that I have heard say that the entire shipyard was destroyed, and a huge hole was blasted through the city wall. That is the work of one person?"
"I do not know for sure," replied Garth, "but yes, one of my people could cause such destruction."
"Then you are a powerful ally indeed," Headman replied with a nod of deference. "You and your people are still in great danger. The Federation will keep the city closed until the culprits are found. The only way to avoid immediate arrest is to have a strong alibi for this morning. Do you know of anyone in the city who
"Speedy has said that you are like his brother," the elf said, "and that he trusts you with his life. That is a high recommendation, but my organization is not built on friendship. Will you give your word that you will not harm any of my people?"
Garth stared at the elf. The man's ageless features yielded no clue as to his age, but his air of confidence was plainly evident. The elf's eyes bored into Garth with an air of superiority, and his face was set in tense confrontation.
"I do not know your people," Garth eventually replied. "I have a suspicion of who they might be in general, but I do not know any of them in particular. As to harming any of them, I do not harm those who mean me no harm, but I will vigorously defend myself and my friends."
"And is Speedy a friend that you will defend to the death?" asked the elf. "Even if the Federation demands his life?"
"He is," Garth answered without hesitation, "and I would, as would those who follow me."
The elf's face immediately softened, and he smiled at Speedy. "Fearless as you said," stated the elf, "and more honest than most." He turned towards Garth and continued, "I am known as Headman to my people. As I am sure you have already determined, my people are the thieves of Giza. Speedy violated our code today by bringing you into our lair, but he has vouched for you, and I expect you to honor his commitment while you are in Giza. Will you do so?"
"I will honor the secrecy of your tunnels, and I will not divulge anything of whatever happens down here," Garth replied with a frown, "but I do not know all of the terms of his commitment. Is there more?"
"It is secrecy that I demand," answered Headman. "My organization has remained in the shadows in Giza for many years, and I am not ready for knowledge of our ways and means to reach the ears of those outside the group."
Garth wondered how much to reveal to the head thief. He glanced at Morro and saw him nod, indicating that Headman could be trusted.
"I understand the need for secrecy," replied Garth. "The Federation is not my friend, and knowledge of thieves would not be on their list of questions should I ever be captured by them. I do not mean to belittle your organization, but I have more to fear from the Federation than you do."
"Understood," smiled Headman. "I gathered from Speedy that the need to get you underground stems from the current chaos happening on the streets above. Whatever is going on, the Federation wants you badly. They will seal the city and begin interrogating everyone who is not a resident. Where are you staying?"
Garth hesitated to answer.
"Headman will not betray you," Morro promised. "I have shared with him my vision of freeing the children from the reeducation centers, and he will aid us when the time comes. No amount of coercion from the Federation could loosen his lips."
"The Palace Keep," answered Garth. "There are three others with me."
"Are you responsible for the explosions along the waterfront?" asked Headman.
"I believe that one of my party is responsible," nodded Garth.
Headman raised an eyebrow. "One of your party?" he asked astonishingly. "I cannot imagine one person causing such damage. The reports that I have heard say that the entire shipyard was destroyed, and a huge hole was blasted through the city wall. That is the work of one person?"
"I do not know for sure," replied Garth, "but yes, one of my people could cause such destruction."
"Then you are a powerful ally indeed," Headman replied with a nod of deference. "You and your people are still in great danger. The Federation will keep the city closed until the culprits are found. The only way to avoid immediate arrest is to have a strong alibi for this morning. Do you know of anyone in the city who
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