Sure enough, Doval asked, “Won’t that be a bit odd, having two half-breeds in the squadroom? There’s already Lieutenant Tresyllione, and now we’ll have Ocly.”
“I don’t think it’ll matter. Only person who might’ve had a problem’s Aleta, and she’s pretty much over that.” It had been one of the nightmares of Dru’s nascent captaincy, as Aleta lothLathna was an erstwhile member of the Shranlaseth. As one of the Elf Queen’s former special forces (disbanded during the elven war for reasons that nobody had ever made clear), Aleta’s disdain for mixed breeds was cranked up to its highest level. It had taken her a while to accept Danthres. Not that Danthres’s attitude helped matters.
But after the lothHanthra murder, they’d started to come to a rapprochement. They still didn’t like each other, but at least they were able to work together—which was necessary, since Aleta had had to be teamed up with various other detectives since Horran’s injury.
“Oh, very well, as long as you don’t think it’ll be disruptive, Captain, I hereby approve it. I’ll inform Sir Rommett.”
“Thank you very much, m’lord. Can you excuse me, please?”
“Absolutely.”
Peeling off due to sighting a member of the youth squad, one of the young people who ran errands for the Castle Guard, Dru tossed a copper at her and said, “Hey, Gerr! Get over to Unicorn Precinct and tell Sergeant Arron to send Dannee Ocly to the east wing of the castle.”
Nodding, Gerr headed off after pocketing the copper.
Before Dru could rejoin Doval, a voice cried out, “Cobarnag Gorvangin!” At the same time, a rock flew through the air and almost hit Doval. It did strike one of the new recruits assigned to Gryphon, who fell to the ground like a sack of flour.
Three more guards, one of whom was Danthres, grabbed the rock thrower and pinned him to the street.
“Get him over to Dragon, have Sergeant Grint put his ass in the hole!” Dru cried out. “And someone get a healer for, uh—” He snapped his fingers.
Another guard, whose name Dru also couldn’t remember, said, “Xarik, sir!”
“Right, Xarik. Get a healer for ’im.”
Doval was watching as the two guards who weren’t Danthres took the rock thrower away. Said perpetrator was crying, “Cobarnag Gorvangin!” over and over again.
“Will we never be rid of these fanatics?” Doval asked. “The entire leadership of Gorvangin has been put in the dungeons. Why are their followers still causing problems?”
Danthres brushed dirt off her brown cloak. “A copper’ll get you a silver, my lord, that he’s just a shitbrain who wants to cause trouble and throw rocks at people and is just using Gorvangin as an excuse.”
“She’s right,” Dru said. “It’s just some kids blowing off steam. But in case it ain’t—” He turned to three of the guards from Gryphon. “You three, stay close to Lord Doval.”
“Yes, sir,” one of them said.
Dru really needed to learn the new guards’ names.
The group proceeded to move forward up Meerka Way, crossing Oak Way into Unicorn Precinct. Dru hoped that the crazy would be more toned down here—or at least be less overt.
Aleta lothLathna walked up to move alongside the captain, Manfred and Arn Kellan behind her. “I couldn’t help overhear part of your conversation with Lord Doval before that lunatic arrived. Am I to understand that I’m finally getting a new partner, Captain?” The elf’s tone was respectful, an aspect of Aleta’s personality that Dru had always appreciated.
“Please is she getting a new partner?” Manfred asked much more plaintively.
“Like, soon?” Kellan asked.
Nodding, Dru said, “We’re promotin’ Dannee Ocly from Unicorn.”
“Ooh,” Kellan said, “good choice. She’s a smart one.”
“I dunno,” Manfred said, “she’s kinda—I dunno, nice.”
Dru stared at the lieutenant. “What’s wrong with nice?”
“In this job, it can get you killed.”
With a cheeky grin, Dru said, “I wouldn’t know. Look, Aleta can be mean enough for two people, so they’ll be fine together.”
Smirking, Aleta said, “Thank you, Captain.”
Manfred frowned. “You sure it’ll be okay? I mean, Dannee’s half dwarf.”
Chuckling, Kellan said, “Well, that means she only has to dislike half of her.”
Aleta rolled her eyes. “Will both of you stop it, please? I’m fine with whomever Captain Dru pairs me with.”
The cheeky grin still in place, Dru said, “That’s because anything’s trading up from her first partner after she made lieutenant.”
That got Aleta to return the smile. “On the contrary, Captain, I doubt I’ll ever top that first partner.”
In truth, Aleta had carried Dru during their brief partnership before the latter’s promotion, as he’d still been traumatized from Hawk’s murder.
He just hoped that bringing Ocly on as a detective, along with the opening of a new precinct, would help keep things under control. His first few months as captain had been fantastic. Crime was at an all-time low in the wake of Lord Albin’s death and Lord Blayk’s disgrace.
And then there’d been the fire in Barlin. Since then, it had been utter chaos, and there was more than one occasion when Dru thought it was all going to come apart—especially when Horran went down.
Now, though, they had more guards, a new precinct, and he was back at a full complement of detectives. True, Sir Rommett had put a freeze on overtime requests after midsummer, but you couldn’t have everything. Dru knew how useful OT was for the guards; he’d certainly appreciated it back when he was a guard and when he was a lieutenant. But maybe things would quiet down enough now that OT wouldn’t be needed.
Danthres came over to join the group. “Did I hear correctly that lothLathna’s finally getting a proper partner?”
“Yeah, you did,” Dru said. “You should tell Torin.”
Next to her, Torin frowned. “I’m right here, Dru.”
“Oh, yeah, that is you. Sorry, didn’t recognize you.”
Torin scowled, having apparently wearied of the joke. “I’m not growing the full beard back nor letting my hair grow long again. Jak likes the way I look right now.”
Giving Danthres a pleading look, Dru asked, “You’re his partner, can’t you get him to look the way he’s supposed to?”
“I’ve been trying for a month now,” Danthres said.
Hope in his heart, Dru asked, “But you haven’t given up?”
Favoring her partner with a vicious grin, Danthres said, “Never.”
“If you think you’ll wear me down by constantly harping on my new look, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed, Danthres.”
“We’ll see.”
Manfred shook his head. “True love. Helluva thing, huh?”
“I don’t know if it is true love,” Torin said quickly.
“C’mon, Torin,” Kellan said with a laugh. “You cut your damn hair for this carpenter. I’m surprised the back of your neck and your cheeks didn’t burst in to flames from their first-ever exposure to sunlight.”
“If that ain’t true love,” Manfred added, “I dunno what is.”
Dru shook his head and chuckled. It still freaked him out seeing Torin with short hair and a goatee, but Dru supposed he would have to live with it as long as Torin was involved with Jak Reesh. Maybe they’d break up and things would get back to normal.
He realized that was a horrible thing to think, but he couldn’t help it. Torin looked really bizarre with short hair...
THREE
Gonzal walked slowly down the docks, Jayson by his side. Since midsummer, Sergeant Mannit had insisted that all guards work in pairs in Mermaid Precinct. It was for everyone’s safety. As it was, there were dozens of sailors eyefucking the pair of them, just waiting for an opening to pounce.
At least, that was how Gonzal saw it. He’d stopped saying it, though, because Jayson kept giving him shit about it.
“Ah, that breeze feels nice.”
Gonzal looked at Jayson as if he were insane. “What breeze?”
“Can’t you feel the breeze?”
Shrugging, Gonzal said, “Yeah, I guess there’s a little breeze, but so what? We’re right on the Garamin Sea, there’s always a breeze.”
“So you should be able to feel it,” Jayson said slowly.
“Whatever, look, I’m more worried about those guys over there.” Gonzal pointed at the group of sailors who were staring at them.
“’Ey! Swords!” one of them said, pulling away from the crowd.
Gonzal recognized him as Abo, the first mate of the Breeze. He also recalled that the Breeze had been impounded by the Brotherhood of Wizards a week ago, which explained why Abo was just loitering on the docks.
Holding up both hands, Gonzal said, “We don’t want no trouble, Abo.”
“Easy, Gonzie, just askin’ a couple questions, is all. Jus’ wonderin’ if you know when they’re gonna take the Breeze outta hock.”
“Oh, for Temisa’s sake, Abo, it’s the brotherhood.”
Jayson added, “I’d put a copper down on a few years after never, m’self.”
“Dammit.”
“So instead’a waitin’ ’round for your boat to come back,” Jayson said, “you should be finding yourself a new one to sign on to.”
“As what, a deckhand?” Abo drew himself up to his full height. “I’m a first mate, and a damn good one to boot!”
“But all the boats have first mates?” Gonzal said.
Abo deflated, slouching again. “Yeah. Shit, I’m s’posed to be captain! Whole reason I let you lot know about the contraband scrolls was so I could get to be captain! Didn’t think they’d be takin’ the damn boat.”
“Things are tough all over.” Gonzal shrugged. “Look, I can ask Sergeant Mannit, all right?”
“Thanks, Gonzie.”
Gonzal didn’t add that the sergeant’s response would be gales of laughter. The brotherhood never gave back things they impounded.
“’Ey,” Abo said before the two guards could continue on their way. “I heard tell that Horran got himself messed up by those Gorvangin shitbrains. He okay?”
“You knew Horran?”
Abo’s squinty eyes went wide. “‘Knew’? He ain’t dead, is he?”
Quickly, Jayson said, “No, he ain’t.” He glared at Gonzal. “For Wiate’s sake, don’t scare people like that.”
“Yeah, Gonzie,” Abo said, “had me worried, there.”
“No, sorry,” Gonzal said, “he’s fine. Well, no, he ain’t fine, but he’s alive. Legs got crushed.”
“I’m gonna see ’im tomorrow night,” Jayson said. “Me and some’a the boys are headin’ up to visit him.”
Gonzal frowned. “You are?”
“Yeah. Weren’t you invited? Lavian put it together.”
The frown turned into a scowl. “That shitbrain owes me a silver. No wonder he didn’t invite me.”
Abo shook his head. “Well, you tell old Horran that Abo sends his best. We miss his ugly face down here.”
“We all did after he got promoted last year,” Gonzal said.
“I will. Thanks, Abo,” Jayson put in. “And good luck!”
Scowling, Abo said, “Yeah, I’m gonna need it.”
The pair of them continued to walk toward the end of the dock and the new extension being constructed. The crowds thinned out, which meant there would be less here for them to do, but at least it was a moment to get away from the bigger crowds.
“Think Abo’ll be all right?” Jayson asked.
“I dunno.” Gonzal sighed. “He’s right, he should have his own boat by now. Sucks to go from first mate to nothin’, all ’cause he did the right thing turnin’ his captain in.”
Jayson snorted. “You’re joking, right?”
Gonzal stared at his fellow guard. “No, why?”
“You think Captain Hlorahk was the only one involved with that smugglin’? Whole ship was in on it. Abo just wanted to be captain, is all. Thought turnin’ the captain in was his ticket.”
“Shitty way to treat your captain, you ask me.”
“Damn right.” Jayson started walking back toward the center of the dock, then stopped.
Gonzal noticed that two more dockrats were staring openly at them. These guys looked a lot meaner than Abo.
Jayson, though, then turned around. “Uh, Gonz, they ain’t starin’ at us.”
Turning, Gonzal saw that a dinghy was moving slowly toward the dock. That, in and of itself, wasn’t unusual, but it was flying a black flag.
“Shit. Pirates.” Gonzal turned and headed toward the part of the dock the dinghy was moving toward.
“Um.” Jayson didn’t move alongside him.
Stopping and turning to face his comrade, Gonzal asked, “What?”
“That ain’t just any pirate. Lookit the flag.”
Turning back toward the Garamin, Gonzal peered more closely at the flag, which had the traditional skull and crossbones of a pirate flag.
But then he squinted and saw that the skull had a crown of lilies slightly askew on its head. And the two bones were also bound together by a vine of lilies.
“Temisa drown me now,” Gonzal muttered. “It’s the Pirate Queen.”
“Wiate’s teeth.” Jayson shook his head. “I don’t think she’s ever come to Cliff’s End.”
“Me either.” Gonzal just stared at the dinghy. Only one person was in it, a male human.
“I wonder what she wants,” Jayson said.
Gonzal shrugged. “Dunno, but it can’t be much. I mean, I heard she was eight feet tall and breathed fire.”
Jayson turned to stare at Gonzal. “Breathes fire? You know that boats are made outta wood, right?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Then what good’s breathing fire gonna do her except to burn up her boats?”
Again, Gonzal shrugged. “They’re on the water, easy enough to put the fire out, right?”
Rolling his eyes, Jayson turned to look back at the dinghy. “I heard she ran the elven blockade back during the war.”
“Way I heard it,” Gonzal said, “she paid bribes to the Elf Queen to be let through the blockade.”
Jayson stared at Gonzal. “She helped the Elf Bitch?”
Gonzal shrugged a third time. “She’s a damn pirate, whaddaya expect?”
As the dinghy reached the dock, Gonzal gestured to catch the rope that would secure the dinghy to the dock. The pirate tossed the rope, which Gonzal caught unerringly and immediately wrapped around the post.
While he did that, Jayson asked, “What brings the Pirate Queen to Cliff’s End?”
Rather than answer directly, the pirate asked a question of his own. “Is there still a halfbreed woman in the Castle Guard detective squad?”
“Hate the detectives,” Gonzal muttered as he checked to make sure the pirate’s rope was secure. “They think they’re all smarter’n us.”
“That’s because they are smarter’n us.” Jayson shook his head. “I’m assumin’ you mean Lieutenant Tresyllione?”
The pirate nodded. “Yes, her. Is she still with the Castle Guard?”
Gonzal grinned. “’Less she died’a alcohol poisoning from drinkin’ at the Chain last night, yeah she is.” By the time Gonzal had finished his post-shift drinking at the Old Ball and Chain last night, Danthres Tresyllione was on her fourth ale while her partner, Torin ban Wyvald, was walking to the bar to fetch her fifth.
“Could you summon her, please?”
“The hell’s the Pirate Queen need with a detective?”
The pirate had been real quiet-like, and looking down at the deck of the dinghy the whole time, but now he looked up. Gonzal saw that he looked pretty upset. “The Cap’n, sadly, has no need for anything ever again. She’s dead, and we believe she’s been murdered—and we’d like the Castle Guard to investigate her death.”
FOUR
Torin ban Wyvald looked on his p
artner with concern as they worked their way down Meerka Way toward the docks. By the time they crossed Axe Way into Goblin Precinct—and the street got far more crowded—Torin moved alongside her and asked, “Are you all right?”
“I’m honestly not. I can’t believe she’s dead.”
Torin blinked. Danthres always felt strongly about people being killed, but it was generally in the abstract. The tone in her voice now, though, was different, as if she’d lost a friend. “You know—or knew, rather—the Pirate Queen?”
Danthres nodded. “She used to come to Sorlin fairly regularly. Her flagship, the Rising Jewel, was one of the few boats that could get close to Sorlin’s coastline without being damaged. And she used to bring halfbreeds to us for sanctuary.” Danthres had spent her formative years in Sorlin, a haven for people who violated elven purity laws by interbreeding with other races. They later kicked her out for being a disruptive influence following the accidental death of her best friend. A year ago the community itself disbanded, since elven purity laws had been a thing of the past since the Elf Queen’s death at the end of the war a dozen years previous. The community had gone below subsistence levels. Danthres’s feelings on that particular subject had run the gamut over the past year, ranging from disinterest to anger to sadness.
“I’m surprised,” Torin said. “I didn’t realize that pirates engaged in altruism.”
“Of course they do—well, she did, anyhow. I have to admit, her crew are the only pirates I’m personally familiar with. And I’ve heard nothing from them since moving here to Cliff’s End.”
“Nor I,” Torin said, “beyond the stories one hears from bards and such. Hardly surprising. Pirates work best in solitude, and when they do dock somewhere, it out of necessity would be a place that receives considerably less boat traffic than we receive in Cliff’s End.” He smiled. “It would also be a place that doesn’t have a huge law-enforcement agency like the Castle Guard.”
“True.” Danthres sighed. “She went through the blockade several times to rescue children—not just halfbreeds, but also full-blooded children who were left orphaned by the war.”
Mermaid Precinct (ARC) Page 2