“That is one of Ireni’s men,” he replied in a hushed tone. “After she was apprehended on my ship, he was the first of her cohorts we discovered among our ranks. If he sees my face, he will recognize me, and he will start a fight. I would prefer not to put you in that kind of danger.”
Her heart jumped at the thought. One of Ireni’s men? Were they still in the port city? “This is good, isn’t it?” she asked. “That means Shae might be here.”
“Shaelyn isn’t here,” Callum shook his head, sliding deeper into the booth. “That particular man wasn’t with them on the beach in Palinon and I don’t recall seeing him with the others at the ravine in Carpaen. It’s more likely he is just passing through himself.”
“Why would Ireni leave men behind? I don’t understand.”
“Ireni doesn’t always work with the same people,” he explained. “She works for someone on the mainland who employs her and the others. Her orders come from him and from what I am led to believe, that employer has well over a hundred men at his fingertips. She is his second-in-command so she remains involved in everything he does, but the men who work with her change from job-to-job. That particular man is probably running a raid ship between here and the mainland when the next group of traders leaves port.”
“They would attack traders bringing goods to their country?”
“Of course. If they have control of the food and other merchandise, it makes their boss more influential. Like I said before, it’s a constant struggle for power. If gaining influence means robbing your own people of food, they will do it.”
Aiva leaned back in her seat with a sigh of frustration. Whether the man was involved in the kidnapping of Shaelyn or not, she didn’t care. She wanted to fight him. Out of sheer hatred for the people he was involved with. If they couldn’t fight him, they had to at least do something. She didn’t want to walk out of there knowing he was inside and they simply let him walk away without exploiting him in some way. There had to be something useful which he possessed. Something that might help them in finding Ireni. “How much do you know about their boss?” she inquired, her curiosity building. Since departing Tanispa she had no memory of anyone discussing details of the group responsible for Shaelyn’s kidnapping other than Ireni’s name. It made her wonder if they really knew the enemy as well as they thought.
At the question Callum’s expression fell. Jaw clenched, he avoided looking Aiva in the eye, keeping his body turned toward the wall. “Not as much as I would like,” he frowned. “Ireni didn’t give a lot of information when she was taken into custody. We know it’s a man and that he currently holds significant sway over the Luquarr mainland, but details are sketchy at best.”
“Do you know where he operates from? Where they might be taking Shaelyn?”
“I wish I could say yes, Aiva. That information was never provided.”
She gawked at him in disbelief. “You mean to tell me we are blindly chasing after these people in their own land without a clue of where they might be headed? I thought you knew them…”
“I know their tactics, which makes me useful in the event of an attack, especially while at sea. I’m not any more pleased with the way things have turned out where tracking them is concerned, but when we left Tanispa, our goal was to catch up with them before they reached the Vai’ld Sea. We certainly didn’t anticipate them gaining several days and leaving us scrambling the way they did. If we could have kept on their heels, finding their intended destination would have been a simple matter of following their track the way we did through Carpaen. At this point, we really have nothing unless our fathers took note of their track at the port in Dackdyn when they arrived.”
“Would the man at the bar know where we could find their boss?” Aiva glanced over her shoulder toward the man, watching him carefully. He was leaned backward, a tall mug of ale in his hands, tilted over his face, more of the liquid spilling through his tangled beard than seeming to actually reach his lips. At the final swallow he slammed the mug down on the bar, letting loose with a disgusting belch that echoed throughout the room. Some of the men at the bar cheered at the display, patting him on the back, their laughter ringing out while calling for the bartender to bring them more drinks.
Callum laughed miserably. His face remained downturned, shifting his gaze to stare at Aiva through his peripheral vision. “You think he’s going to just tell us that information? Did you forget the part where I told you pirates are smarter than those in the stories you heard as a child? He may be a disgusting slob, but he’s no fool. He wouldn’t tell me anything.”
“But if he wasn’t in Palinon or Carpaen, then he would not recognize me,” Aiva pressed on. She wasn’t going to give up so easily. “After he’s had a few more drinks, I might be able to drag the name from his lips.” Not wanting to give Callum a chance to argue, she started to slide out of the booth, stopped by the sensation of Callum’s hands grabbing firmly onto her wrist.
“You are insane,” he hissed. “Are you trying to get us both killed?”
“I’m not insane. Perhaps a little drunk,” she stared down at her wrist, wincing from the discomfort caused by Callum’s tight grasp. “You’re hurting me…”
Apologetically, he released his hold. He gazed at her, desperately pleading with his eyes for her to listen. “You cannot do this,” he whispered loudly. “That man is a miscreant. One of the most vile men you will ever lay eyes upon while in Luquarr. If you think I am going to sit here and let you approach him, then you have lost your mind beyond the influence of the wine. Did you not see the way he treated that woman?”
“She is a prostitute. I mean no offense, but it seems as if that is behavior she must be used to seeing from men when she is here specifically for their physical pleasure. He wouldn’t dare treat me that way.”
“He would treat you worse!” Callum gasped, his insistence growing. “I don’t doubt that you could acquire the information, but at what cost, Aiva? He would blackmail you into sleeping with him. And that is the least violent scenario that comes to mind! A man like him might choose to force himself upon you with the lure of providing the name you desire and then leave you with nothing once he had what he wanted.”
“Perhaps, but you would never let him take me from this room,” she argued. A chill coursed through her spine at what Callum suggested. She couldn’t let it bother her. This was something they had to do. For Shaelyn’s sake. They had over two weeks in Tunir to relax from their mission. They had to make up for lost time. If they could find where Ireni had taken Shaelyn, they could easily locate them when they reached the mainland. Without that information, they would be running around Luquarr, clueless and vulnerable while Ireni’s men did whatever they pleased with her sister.
“I might be able to fight him alone, but I can’t claim to be good enough to take on all of his friends here with him. They would kill me and take you wherever they pleased.” He rubbed at his temples, tortured by what Aiva planned to do. She could see in every line of his face that he wanted to grab her and leave the tavern. He was stopped from doing so by the fact that he knew she would create a commotion which would draw attention to them.
Her chest fluttered almost painfully from the racing of her heart. Why did Callum find this such a hopeless possibility? There were so many things they could do! It would just require a little planning. They had spent hours as children plotting tricks and games together for false battles. With the knowledge they held now, how difficult could it be for them to plan something like this?
The danger was real, which only added to the anxiety she felt, yet she refused to let herself back down. She trusted Callum could protect her. If only he would trust that she could also help to protect them both. “This is exactly why I continue to feel like a child, Callum,” she huffed. “No one will let me do anything. Everyone is so afraid of me getting hurt that they are willing to risk missing important opportunities simply for the sake of my safety. I’m not helpless. Show some faith that I am capable of handli
ng myself. I feel as if you consider me a burden and think this is all upon your shoulders, but it’s not. I’m not a little girl anymore and you have no one else here. Please. Let me help.”
Callum grimaced. He knew he was defeated. She was too stubborn to let him talk her down. His only choice now was to work with her or risk her going off to do it on her own. “Fine,” he replied, begrudged at the thought, letting his head lower down onto his forearms, buried in the fabric of his shirt against the table. “I can’t believe I’m letting you do this.”
“Tell me what I need to know in order to play this properly,” Aiva continued, ignoring the misery so clear in Callum’s movements. They didn’t have time for him to wallow in self-pity. If they didn’t act fast, the man might leave, and they would be left empty-handed. “Do they like to recruit people into their ranks? Is there a specific type of person they seek? I need you to give me something to work with.”
He lifted his head from the table, propping it up with his hand. “They would be more interested in swaying members of a rival group into joining their ranks. It strengthens their numbers while depleting those of their enemy,” he sighed, shaking his head as if trying to convince himself to continue talking. “Here in Vailetta the known leader currently is a man named Nusih, a Namiren and human half-breed. I know he is a rival of Ireni’s boss because she was attempting to organize an attack against him while working in my unit. She claimed to have intelligence that Nusih was the one responsible for the current assaults and wanted us to start a war. Luckily, we uncovered her secret before those plans came to fruition.”
“Alright,” she nodded. “So I am a pirate working for Nusih and maybe am upset with him for some reason and looking for a way out. I will approach first and stand beside him at the bar to order a drink – ”
“No wine,” Callum shook his head. “He won’t believe you a pirate if you can’t handle your ale. Sadly, you will have to subject yourself to that disgusting drink.”
“Okay, so I will approach the bar and order a mug of ale to catch his attention.” Aiva wrinkled her nose at the thought of having to drink something so putrid. She’d never tried it before and had no desire to ever do so. It was a sacrifice she would have to make for her sister. “I’ll keep him distracted and facing toward me while you find a way closer, within range of what is said. If he gets out of line or if I start to lose control of the situation, you can find a way to divert his attention so I can slip away.
Callum let his eyes sweep across the room before giving a nod of approval. “I think I can manage that,” he replied quietly. “Are you sure you want to do this? If not, we could just leave…”
She was already on her feet. Hands smoothing the folds of her bodice, preparing herself for what she had to do. What was she getting herself into? An overwhelming urge to giggle washed over her, causing her to cough uncomfortably in attempts to hide it. This wasn’t a game like they played when they were children. This was real. And very dangerous. She couldn’t risk ruining it all because of some childish amusement.
Stepping up to the bar she leaned across the high surface, letting her chest press against it within view of the man she targeted. She didn’t have to look at him to know she had caught his attention. Loudly she called for the bartender to bring her a mug, pounding her fist on the bar. If she was going to convince him she was a pirate, she would have to let go of every lesson Faustine forced upon her. Now was not the time for manners.
“My my. What is a pretty little thing like you doin’ in a place like this?” the man asked with feigned curiosity. He twisted his body to face her, elbow rested casually atop the bar.
She glanced at him, seemingly disinterested. He couldn’t be allowed to know that she wanted to speak with him. It had to look natural. As if she came there all the time. “What does it look like I’m doing here?” she grumbled irritably, snatching the mug from the bartender’s hand before he could set it down. Bracing herself, she tipped her head back, guzzling the ale in hopes of somehow making it less revolting if she consumed it faster. Her stomach wrenched. It was the most foul tasting thing she’d ever put in her mouth.
Finishing the last few drops she slammed the empty mug down on the bar, shouting for another. The man laughed, cheering her on with a gap-toothed grin. She wrinkled her nose to feel his finger lightly brush along her bare shoulder, turning away to take the new mug of ale placed before her. “I love a woman who handles ‘er ale,” he smirked. “The name is Odell. I never seen ya ‘round ‘ere before.”
“Then you aren’t very observant, are you?” she scoffed. “Now, if you don’t mind. I’m trying to enjoy my drink.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t want ta be in the way,” Odell chuckled. He waved toward the bartender, signaling him to come closer. “Another mug fer the lady,” he gave Aiva a sly wink. “This one’s on me.”
“How gallant,” she drawled. Her stomach screamed in protest before she even placed the mug to her lips, leaning back to down the grotesque drink, smacking her lips at the final drop. She didn’t know how much more of that stuff she could take. The desire to vomit was already too tempting. Don’t let him see your discomfort. She had to keep going. Her plan was working.
He stepped in closer, pushing the new mug into her hands. “So, what they call you ‘round ‘ere?”
A moment of panic struck her. She couldn’t tell him her real name. It was out of the question. If he knew anything about Ireni’s current job, he might become suspicious. Her thoughts were still skewed from the wine, making it harder to conjure anything from the depths of her hazy mind. A name. What was her name? She remembered something from the stories told about her mother. When she worked as a spy in her younger days she had gone by a different name to prevent their enemy from learning her true identity. “Eleni,” Aiva stated with surprising calm. She chuckled to herself at the similarity between her name and Ireni’s. A strange coincidence. At least it sounds like a pirate…
From over Odell’s shoulder she could see their booth was empty. Straining her eyes, she peered into the crowd in search of Callum. He couldn’t be far. Given his concern for her safety, she doubted he would leave much distance between them for long.
“Well, Eleni. You seem a… fine woman,” Odell moved in until he brushed up against her. Unimpressed by the stench of sweat that wafted from him, Aiva looked him over in disdain, shifting to turn toward the bar in dismissal. Gruffly he grabbed her arm to keep her from moving away. “I ain’t done talkin’ to you.”
“I didn’t come here to entertain you. Unless you have something worthwhile to say, I suggest you back off.”
“Oh, I can make my company worthwhile,” he looked her up and down hungrily. “Let’s go some ‘ere to talk. I’d like ta… get to know ya better.”
“I’m not done drinking. You’re just going to have to wait. I have priorities.” She accepted the new mug from Odell’s hands with nothing more than a smug look. He wasted no time in ordering another. His fingers toyed with the laces of her bodice, twisting them around his index finger to give a playful tug, loosening the bow slightly. “When my friends get here, they won’t be pleased to see you touching me. I suggest you distance yourself if you want to keep your fingers attached.”
“What friends might these be?”
“I work for Nusih. That should tell you all you need to know about my friends. Now step away.”
Odell’s head tipped back, a curious glint in his eye. “Why would a gal like you waste yer time workin’ for a man like Nusih?” he asked shrewdly. “Yer skills would be put to better use elsewhere. I could ‘elp ya, if ya like.”
“Help me?” she laughed, the sound dripping with sarcasm. “How exactly do you expect to help me?”
“I can get ya out of Nusih’s control and into the employ of someone more pow’rful.”
“If you refer to you, don’t bother trying to flatter yourself. You’re in no way superior to Nusih.”
“Not me,” Odell shook his head with a devious smile. “I r
efer to the man I work for.”
Aiva let her brow raise, giving an indication of curiosity. Now was the time to let him see her take an interest. She’d played hard-to-get for long enough. “And who might that be?”
He smirked, tugging at her laces again, satisfied that he had lured her in. “A gal like yerself ‘as surely ‘eard the name Osahar. He’s the man everyone wants ta work for, but he’s very particular ‘bout who he employs. One word from me and I could guarantee you entrance ‘mong his ranks.”
It was all she could do to keep from smiling at the sound of the name. Osahar. That was easy enough. The challenge would be determining where Osahar was. Locations would be more difficult to bring up in conversation without seeming suspicious. Overly curious. “I have heard the name, yes. Are you trying to claim that you work for this man? If so, we may have business after all.”
“Oh, we could def’nitely ‘ave business.” Odell let his hand slide from her bodice, slipping around her slender waist to pull her closer. She turned her face away, shuddering at the feeling of his hot breath against the side of her neck. Horrified, she found herself looking into Callum’s eyes from over Odell’s shoulder, his hand on the hilt of his sword with barely contained rage. Her eyes opened wide in protest, pleading silently for him to wait. She needed more time. They couldn’t leave without knowing where they needed to go.
The drinks were starting to get to her. She felt groggy and uncoordinated in Odell’s arms. There was no doubt in her mind that he sensed it. His hands began to roam more freely over her body, planting sloppy kisses along the skin of her shoulder down to her collarbone. She needed him to stop. It was impossible to focus with him touching her like that. All she wanted to do was push him away, but she couldn’t. She needed to keep his interest in order to get the information they required. “If you work for Osahar, as you claim, then tell me – where can I find him? I’m not sure I believe you.”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Two: Beyond the Veil Page 64