Myth and Storm, page 15
“But the ice swallowed me,” Mara said, “and Tham.”
“It wasn’t the ice that drew you in,” Ronya said. “That was done by our guards to protect the people of Isfol from your invasion. You were pulled in and out of the ice quickly. You were given tonics to prevent any lasting ill effects. Those who stay in the ice for more than a few minutes are changed forever.”
“If we are to be constantly surrounded by guards, I don’t think we’ll have to worry about wandering the wrong way,” Mara said.
“The warning isn’t just for your future.” Ronya pressed her palm to the names carved into the wall. “It would be unkind if I didn’t prepare you.”
Ronya bowed her head and closed her eyes for a moment before leading their pack farther down the narrow street and out onto a road bordering the river that flowed through the city.
People pressed their backs to the buildings, making way for the Princess to pass.
A few boats drifted along the river, their passengers looking more like merry makers than workers. The boaters all tucked their chins, silencing their laughter in deference to the passing royal.
Mara studied the peoples’ faces, searching for some sign of fear or loathing, any hint of despair that might combine the benevolent princess Ronya seemed to be with the scheming captor that had stolen Mara’s freedom.
Ronya stopped in front of a building with tapestries of deep blue flanking the entrance. With a wave of her hand, the door opened, sending the people inside scattering out of her way.
An older woman with her thinning hair tied up in a bun was the only person to step into their path.
“Your Highness.” The woman bowed. “We weren’t expecting you today. Are you well?”
“Yes, thank you,” Ronya said. “These are two of the Ilbreans.”
The woman looked up, her eyes shifting from curiosity to pity in an instant.
“It’s time they see him,” Ronya said.
“Of course, Your Highness.” The woman bowed again. “This way, if you please.”
Doors lined the hall that cut into the heart of the building.
Mara tensed as a pained moan carried out of one of the rooms.
“What is this place?” She tucked herself closer to Tham, not allowing her mind drift into wondering how quickly she could run with all the layers of her skirts trying to tangle around her legs.
The sound of muffled sobbing came through another door.
“Your Highness,” Mara said, “why are we here?”
The woman stopped in front of a door that looked just like all the others. “We will continue to do our best for him.” She gave a deep bow before opening the door and stepping aside. “It is not our way to ever give up hope.”
“Thank you for your service.” Ronya gave the woman a nod and stepped into the room.
A bed and a chair had been fixed to the floor, just as Mara’s bed had been in her cell. A ball of clean sheets had been tossed into the corner, seeming out of place in the barren space.
But the white fabric began to stir, and a head of matted hair appeared. The poor creature had been huddled around a chain that attached its leg to the wall.
“I’ve brought them to you.” Ronya spoke in a calming tone. “Just as I promised. Would you like to see them?”
The matted hair shifted as the creature turned its head.
It wasn’t a beast.
Not an animal. Not fur.
An overgrown beard, caked in filth and food, covered most of his face.
The man looked up at Mara and Tham.
“Elver,” Tham whispered.
Recognition drove a dagger into Mara’s gut. “What’s happened to you?”
“Run! It’s coming. Run! You have to run!” Elver’s eyes grew wide with terror.
“Elver!” Mara reached toward him.
“Death. He’s here.” Elver yanked on his chain. “It’s time for you to die. Dead, dead, dead, you’d be better off dead.”
Tham grabbed Mara around the middle, lifting her out of the way as Elver dove toward them, hands outstretched, ready to kill the people he had so recently called friends.
“Why won’t you die!”
20
Kai
He rubbed his palms together, letting his calluses grate against each other as he tried to ignore the sudden silence. Shifting his weight onto his toes, Kai tested the grip of his boots on the beam one final time before leaping into the air.
A gasp carried from the crowd as he stretched his arms high, reaching for safety. A familiar pain shot from his palms to his shoulders as he caught hold of the rope.
The spectators thirty feet below cheered as he steadied himself. Looping the rope around one foot, he waved at the horde of soldiers.
“So much applause for such a little thing!” Kai twisted, wrapping the rope around his torso. He let go with his other hand, gritting his teeth against the growing bruises on his ribs as he spiraled down, tumbling to the ground, landing in a crouch that gained the loudest cheers the Pameranian men had ever offered.
“Thank you, thank you!” Kai bowed to the soldiers gathered in the warehouse. “Though my antics can’t begin to repay the generosity we’ve been granted in Soumid, please know that we are grateful and will remember your kindness as we begin our journey back to Ilara in the morning!”
Kai bowed again, and the soldiers gave one final round of applause.
Keep smiling. You know you should.
Kai shook the hands of the men who came up to him, letting them examine the calluses on his palms, assuring them that launching himself at a rope high in the air was not something he’d learned to do while drunk.
Kai glanced to the corner of the warehouse where the captain had made his nest in their prison, which still stank of decay and animal dung despite the sailors having lived in the wretched space for more than a week.
The captain still hadn’t returned from his final meeting with the harbormaster.
He’ll be back. You’ll have time.
You should have been bold enough to speak sooner. Smart enough to think through the danger sooner.
“Don’t know if you’re brave or foolish.” A soldier gripped Kai’s arm as though testing his muscles.
“It’s a mixture of both, honestly.” Kai tensed, letting the soldier feel the firmness of his arm. “And I’ve never minded heights, so that helps.”
“You should quit the sea and make a living entertaining. There are a few troupes that travel along the coast, playing at parties and festivals.” The soldier leaned close, as though offering Kai a sliver of precious advice. “They make a fair amount of coin. And I’ve seen their camps. Even a king would envy the fun they have. Pleasure to fulfill everyone’s tastes.” He gave Kai a coy smile.
“Kai would never quit the sea.” Drew clapped both Kai and the soldier on the shoulders. “Besides, he’s a Guilded sailor. He’d have to be released from his bond by the Lord Sailor.”
“Alas, tis true. Though next time I make my way to Pamerane, I might have to win my way into one of those camps.” He winked at the soldier and shook his hand. “May the storms bring gentle rains.”
The soldier looked from Drew to Kai before giving a nod and fading back into the group.
“Any sign of the captain?” Kai kept his smile for the soldiers as he spoke quietly enough for only Drew to hear.
“Nothing,” Drew said. “He’ll turn up soon enough. He hasn’t got a choice.”
“No, he hasn’t.” Kai waved as the soldiers started leaving.
“None of this feels right.” Drew scrubbed his hands over the hair on his chin, which had grown thick enough to be considered a reasonable beard. “We’re setting sail tomorrow, and we haven’t seen the ship. We should be loading supplies or checking the rig―”
“It’s not our ship,” Kai said. “The only thing we’re supposed to do is graciously board and stay out of the way.”
“And hope the sailors are competent enough to get us home.”
“They deal with the outskirts of the southern storms at the best of times. They can make the journey to Ilara.” Kai gave one last nod as the soldiers closed the door, locking the sailors back in.
“Funny how they’re our friends when you entertain them and our wardens when your little show is over.”
“Kai, they left us some frie!” Sean called from the corner.
“And that makes the ache in my shoulders worth it.” Kai bowed Drew toward the rest of the sailors who had all gathered around the bounty left by the soldiers.
Kai hadn’t started performing nightly stunts to gain goods from the guards. He’d been caught climbing through the rafters while looking for a way to the roof and spun a tale about enjoying leaping around high places to save himself from being thrown in the Soumid prison.
The food and drink the guards brought to pay for the entertainment Kai offered had provided a balm for the men who’d been locked in the dark for so long. The excuse to explore every rafter and loose shingle had been the advantage Kai truly needed.
“You should perform for the King when we return to Ilara.” Brody passed Kai a flask of frie. “Maybe they’ll put a rope up for you at next Winter’s End.”
“I think the King can find better entertainment than my pitiful act.” Kai took a swallow of frie, enjoying the burn as it sank past his lungs. The stuff had less flavor and more sting than the Ilaran version, but prisoners couldn’t afford to be picky.
The men sorted through the bread, fruit, and cheese the soldiers had left, offering Kai the biggest portion since he’d been the one to earn the bounty. Kai refused, taking one of the smaller rations, unsure his stomach could bear even that amount.
He carried his supper to the far side of the warehouse, sitting against a crate to watch the door.
“Do you want to brood alone?” Drew sat beside him without waiting for an answer. “The harbormaster won’t let the captain miss the ship tomorrow. He’ll be back.”
Kai made a noise close to a growl and bit into his bread. It had been stale for at least two days.
“The harbormaster is probably busy upping the price he wants for getting us home.” Drew handed Kai his cup of water. “They’re negotiating as we speak.”
Kai took a sip, forcing down the bread stuck in his throat. “I know the captain will be back. The harbormaster has his heart set on gaining Ilbrean gold, and he won’t get any if he doesn’t deliver the captain safely back to Ilara.”
“Then why do you look like you’re preparing for an attack?”
“I’ve been circling through it over and over the whole time we’ve been locked in this rotting warehouse,” Kai said. “We’ve got to tell the Guilds what Sorcerer Roo did. If we let the Sorcerers Guild keep pushing as they have been, they’ll be running the Sailors Guild before Princess Illia’s wedding.”
It was Drew’s turn to give a throaty growl.
“People have to know.” Kai passed the water cup back. “Lord Nevon has to take a stand against the Sorcerers.”
“Seems like you’ve figured it all out.”
“I know what needs to happen. I just don’t know how to accomplish it without all of us ending up dead, or worse.” Kai shoved away the rest of his food. “They have the ship’s manifest. They’ll know who all of us are, and the Sorcerers Guild won’t have any trouble silencing the survivors. Or their families. Or the barman they spoke too loudly to. It’s a chivving mess, and we’re all chivving doomed.”
“Then I wish the soldiers had left us more frie.”
“I need to talk to Lord Karron.” Kai planted his palms on the ground, fighting the urge to leap to his feet and climb to the beams again just to burn off a bit of the anger tensing his limbs. “If anyone could think of a way to push back against the sorcerers and survive, it would be him.”
“Then go to him as soon as we reach the docks in Ilara.”
“If he’s in the city, I’ll race to him.”
“Then breathe, Kai. There’s nothing to do now but eat this stale bread and wait to get on the ship come morning.”
“You’re right.” Kai gripped Drew’s shoulder. “It just still feels like disaster is prowling closer.”
Kai stayed staring at the door as the others shifted from eating to talking about getting home, to sleeping on the worn blankets the harbormaster had kindly provided his Ilbrean guests.
Drew brought Kai his blankets before making his own pallet on the floor nearby. Even as the others turned out the few lamps they’d been granted, Kai couldn’t bring himself to sleep.
There had to be a way.
They could summon as many Ilarans as would gather. Bring them all to the cathedral square and shout what had happened for the people to hear. The survivors of Sorcerer Roo’s horrid expedition might still be killed, but at least the truth wouldn’t die with them.
Or they could go in front of the Guilds Council and give a full account of the journey. The council members couldn’t all be gotten rid of for knowing the truth. Not even the Sorcerers Guild would dare to be that brazen.
But the crew would still be in danger, ripe for the sorcerers to pick off one by one. And if the sorcerers truly wanted to torture the crew, they could go after the men’s families. Some of the crew had wives, children…
Chivving cact of a demon’s spawn.
Lord Karron had spent years collecting information that displayed the evil of the Sorcerers Guild. Building a plan. Keeping records. Creating a place to store extra copies of whatever evidence he found so if the sorcerers killed him, the truth wouldn’t follow him to his grave.
But how could Kai hold back the truth of his ship’s doom when the fate of his Guild hung in the balance? He didn’t have time to squirrel away evidence in hopes of someday getting the chance to speak the truth about the Sorcerers Guild.
He needed a faster plan.
The door slid open, letting in a waft of fresh air and a strip of starlight.
The captain’s silhouette appeared in the doorway. He bowed to the soldiers before stepping into the warehouse. The door slid shut behind him.
Kai leapt to his feet, crossing to the captain before the man’s eyes had adjusted to the dim light.
“Sir, I was starting to worry the harbormaster wouldn’t send you back before morning.” Kai kept his voice low enough not to wake the sleeping crewmembers.
“The bastard wanted to renegotiate his prize for returning us to Ilara.” The captain headed toward his claimed corner of the warehouse.
Kai followed behind. “You agreed on a price a week ago.”
“The slitch has an itemized list of all the costs he’s incurred while keeping us in this warehouse. Insists we negotiated for ship passage home, not for our keep in Soumid.”
“How much is he charging for our lovely accommodations?”
“As much as we’d spend at the finest inn in Ilara.” The captain sank down onto the crates the crew had cobbled together to make him a bed. “From the cost of the food we’ve been eating, Lord Nevon will think we’ve had twelve feasts a day.”
“Pity the harbormaster never sent us an invitation to the festivities.”
“He also charged a Guild Lord’s ransom for the letters I’ve sent to Ilara.” The captain took off his coat, folding it up to make a pillow. “Enough to buy a farm in the south and spend my―”
“Letters, sir?” A jolt of cold panic knocked into Kai’s spine.
“Six of them.” The captain yanked off his boots. “Three to the King, three to Lord Nevon, all distributed to boats that have headed north since we’ve been trapped in our luxurious accommodations. Both the King and the Lord Sailor will know exactly what happened in the southern storms before we dock in Ilara. Hopefully, that will soften the blow of the trunk of gold the harbormaster is demanding from the Guilds before we’re allowed to set foot on land in our own chivving country.”
“The letters will beat us there.” The cold trickled down Kai’s spine, numbing his legs, stealing his confidence in his own limbs.
“They’d better, or I’ve wasted a hoard of the Guilds’ chivving coin.”
“Sir, we can’t get on that ship.”
“What?”
“We’ll find another way back. We’ll march across the mountains if we have to, but none of us can board that ship in the morning.”
“Kai, have you lost―”
“That ship will never make it to land.” Kai knelt in front of the captain. “The King is always guarded by sorcerers. As soon as he opens the letters you sent him, the truth of what happened in the southern storms is as good as in the Lady Sorcerer’s hands.”
“The King needs to understand the villainy of Sorcerer Roo’s actions before we dock. He needs to know―”
“Know what, exactly?” Kai glanced over his shoulder to the other men. “That a letter, supposedly sent by you, is accusing the Sorcerers Guild of horrible things? Until we arrive in Ilbrea, there’s no way to prove the letter came from you. Or that your words are true and not the ravings of a man who gambled in the storms and lost his crew.”
“You push too far, Sailor Saso.”
“Until we stand before the Guilds Council, there’s no way to confirm the truth of your story. The Sorcerers Guild will never let our ship reach Ilara.”
“You credit too much power to the purple lady.”
“Boarding that ship is suicide, sir.” Kai shut his eyes, wishing for the thousandth time he could have one of the Karron clan beside him, doing the things that didn’t suit his skills. “I have seen the wrath of the Sorcerers Guild. I have witnessed the torment they inflict on those who dare to defy them. You are our captain, you are in charge of this crew, but I have seen a darker side of the demons that dwell in the Sorcerers Tower than you’ve endured. Violence and vengeance are what they thrive on. I am begging you, sir, please believe me. This is not a journey mere men can survive.”
