Valiant (The Blood Trail Chronicles Book 3)
Page 24
“Ladies first,” Master Barnes said, slipping Scar a large biscuit his wife made for the local dogs who would be drawn by the sound of the hammer.
Scar grabbed her cookie in her teeth and ran back, eating it next to Lenny. Ollie ate his but stayed for more pats from the smith, leaving his already dark-gray-and-black fur sooty. Even James gave him a rub, his face softening for a minute as his eyes met with her hounds. Lenny wished, as she had many times before, that he softened that way looking at her.
But it didn't happen so she didn't let the thought linger.
“Have a good day!” She waved again, turning and walking away.
Unlike her brother, Scar didn't prance as they got further into town. She stayed alert, her head jerking with Lenny’s when they passed the guard tower where Magistrate Tuille stood in the yard discussing something with a few fishermen she recognized. His eyes drifted to the dogs and his nose wrinkled, making Lenny smile wider as she strolled past. The magistrate was a rude man who disliked everything. Naturally, his dislike of Lenny’s hounds made her think it a compliment coming from a man like that.
Quays Shipbuilders came into view and Uncle Alek limped toward her, his hands out for the hounds to sniff and rub against. Even Scar hurried to him. He was Lenny’s father’s best brother. She never understood how her father and Uncle Alek could be related to Uncle Cyril or how her gran could have raised them all.
“‘Bout time you got here. I sent word an hour ago,” Alek teased, rubbing both dogs’ faces.
“An hour ago you were stuffing your gob with one of Maryanne’s pies at Kelpies.” Lenny scoffed and nodded her head in the direction of the pub next door to his shipbuilding business.
“You know it,” Uncle Alek chuckled. He often joked with local fishermen that the only reason he bought Quays off old Mr. Colster was that the business sat next to the best pub in town, known for stunning wenches and fine stouts. The other half of the joke was that it was across the road from the second-best pub, just in case he needed to hide from his wife. But the truth was he didn't drink all that much anymore. Not since the accident. He was in Kelpies Pub for the food and he bought Quays because he was the best shipbuilder there was.
“Wen said a girl washed ashore.”
“Indeed. Must have been a sunken ship we haven’t heard of yet.” Alek shook his head slowly. “Poor thing. No one recognizes her.”
“That’s terrible,” Lenny added then focused back on the task at hand. “What do we have?” she asked as they both turned toward the massive dockyard. The entire shoreline of Blockley was filled with docks, four of them stretching out into the sea. Each dock could moor ten ships comfortably, fifteen if need be. Lenny had heard that once, eighteen years ago, in a rare summer storm, a hundred boats lined those docks and rode out the weather. Being in a cove with islands on the other side meant they were protected from all points. This made it possible for them to have the number of fishing docks they had. The most docks in the kingdom, apart from the city, though Waterly City was no place for a humble fisherman.
“Ship came in yesterday morning, taking on a bit of water. He got too close to the rocks near Moyer and scraped up the bottom.”
“Why would he go close to the cliffs?” Lenny asked, giving her uncle a dubious scowl.
“Not a clue,” he said as he mimicked taking a drink from a bottle. “We’ve careened her and patched the wood on the port side, but we couldn't get a good look at the starboard. I’ve taken care of the inside of the hull as well, but I’d like you to take a quick look for other weak spots I didn't see, now that I have her in the water. That’s her there.” He pointed at a large red vessel, a netter, with an equally red-faced man standing on the dock beside it.
“Alek, how much longer?” the man barked, sounding drunk.
“My best diver just arrived, Les. Give her a couple of minutes to get under the boat and take a look. I’d say we’ll have you on your way in an hour if she doesn't find anything else.” He slung an arm over Lenny’s shoulder proudly. This was his favorite part. He was alone in that. Lenny hated meeting new customers.
“A girl?” The man’s red face brightened. “This must be your idea of a joke. You can’t bloody well be serious. Who in the seven hells hires a girl to patch ships?”
Lenny’s expression tightened with contempt.
“Oh, she don't always patch ‘em, Les.” Alek’s voice bubbled over with joy. “Don't get your knickers twisted. Usually she just dives.”
“You’re sending me out into the sea to die. This little slip of a girl isn’t going to know what to look for.” He exploded, “I won’t stand for it!”
“Fine, don't stand for it. But I’m not finishing the job until my best diver has a look. She’s got eyes like a hawk this one. So go and sit, take a load off your feet. Esmeralda will put a drink on my tab.” Alek laughed, loving it, and pointing at Kelpies.
Ollie growled and Scar crouched low, ready to pounce.
“This is outrageous!” The man puffed up his chest. “I’ll not have some little bitch—”
Alek let go of Lenny and stepped up to the man. “Choose your next words wisely, Les. That’s my niece you’re talking about. Edwin’s daughter.” Alek’s tone changed and the humor slipped away. Just as Lenny did, hurrying down the dock with the dogs at her side.
As she got out of hearing distance, Les was backpedaling with his hands in the air, making Lenny smirk.
Alek Ailling wasn't a man to trifle with. But Edwin Ailling was something else altogether. Something to be feared.
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ALSO BY AE WATSON
URBAN FANTASY BOOKS
by AE Watson
The Roses Series
Cursed
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Hyde
Witch
Death
Blackwater
Midnight Coven
Redeemers and Betrayers
The Pengrove Witches
The Last Star
The Raven’s Hollow
The Light Series
The Light of the World
The Four Horsemen
The End of Days
Standalone Urban Fantasy
First Kiss
Sunder
FANTASY BOOKS
by AE Watson
The Stones of Amaria
Sword of Mist
Sword of Stone
The Blood Trail Chronicles
Vengeance
Vanquished
Valiant
Standalone Fantasy
In the Fading Light
SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS
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The Born Series
Born
Born to Fight
Reborn
The Girl Who Lived
The Seventh Day Series
The Seventh Day
The Last Hour
The Earth’s End
The Last City of Men Series
Imaginations
Duplicities
Reparations
Standalone Science Fiction
The Reverse of Everything
AE Watson is a fantasy and science fiction pen name for Tara Brown who is the international bestselling author of over sixty books. She is represented by Natalie Lakosil from the Bradford Literary Agency and is published traditionally with Montlake Romance and Skyscape Publishing.
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