The boy shifted his weight but didn’t lift his head, and then Sanctus found himself amazed once more with how unemotional he was.
Is he that heartless that I sense nothing? How did I miss it when we met? “And I don’t mean just from the shelter. You are getting on a ship and going home.”
“But…”
“No. What you did out there…” Sanctus pointed to the swinging door. “… was wrong. You better hope those two are all right.”
“They are.”
“They deserved it,” the spirit spoke.
Sanctus straightened as he narrowed his lids and crossed his arms. “There is a door behind you. Go out it and keep walking until you reach the docks. I better not see you here when I leave.”
“Yes, Sir.” And just like that the boy left as instructed.
“He didn’t even ask what happened,” the spirit continued as she fell into step with her brother. “I’m sorry you came this far for nothing.”
Sanctus shook his head and motioned back to the mess hall. He had two injured boys to care for now, and a little girl to check on.
Dead Either Way (Nicholas)
The door led into an alley, which Nicholas took right and out onto the main street. The shelter stood on a hill, so when he looked left the docks appeared far below. No one was there, though. At least, no passengers. All he could see was a single dock master, who was distinguishable by the white cotton fabric that wrapped around his waist and legs. There was also Dagger, who stood next to the dock master laughing with his arms crossed.
Nicholas sighed nasally at the sight and prepared himself, then ventured slowly downhill. Once he approached and asked for passage to Eurotopa, they would request money he didn’t have. But his biggest issue was Dagger, who would definitely recognize him and question why he was leaving alone so soon.
That was when a chill crept over his arm and his feet came to a halt. It was like an ice-cold hand had grabbed him, but not just any hand. He twisted around, that old familiar sensation of his little sister standing next to him inching along his spine. Then a tear escaped and his chest tightened upon seeing nothing but road and other travelers.
All this for nothing.
“Hey you!” Dagger’s voice hollered over.
Nicholas snapped his attention back. He was halfway downhill, but Dagger was marching the remaining distance.
“Where are your grandparents?”
Uh oh. “They are…”
Dagger’s brows rose, but he didn’t falter as he adjusted his steps for the way up.
“… at the inn. My grandmother dropped a pendant she loves and I am looking for it.” I will just have to stow away again.
“You lie!”
Nicholas contemplated running, but then didn’t. Outlaw here, outlaw there. Dead either way at this point.
“You stowed away on my ship!” Dagger resumed, face turning dark red. “No one, and I mean no one, stows away on my ship! Passage costs money!” He stopped, putting only a foot between them, and glared. “Do you have money to pay for that trip?”
Uh… Nicholas pretended to search his pockets. “You know, I think I left my pouch with my grandparents.” He turned, recalling the inn having been just on the other side of the shelter. That and they did offer to let him stay with them. “Just let me…”
Dagger snagged his arm and hauled him into motion downhill. Nicholas didn’t fight it, knowing it was no use. Not alone and against a man as large as Dagger.
Doll (Sanctus)
Sanctus helped Raja and Ali to their feet. The boys weren’t physically injured. It was just that they were a bit disoriented and had to lean against each other.
“Are you guys able to tell me what happened?”
“We honestly don’t know what to say, Sanctus,” apologized Ali as he gripped the side of his head and swayed.
Sanctus guessed this first boy was about twelve-years-old.
“We don’t remember much.”
“Just that blond foreigner,” Raja added, trying to hold his friend up as well as himself. It was clear he was a bit older. “He just strolled up, spouted insults at us.”
“Then he pulled out two daggers,” Ali explained. “After that…” He exchanged looks with his friend.
Raja shrugged. “After that nothing.”
It matched all the statements the children had shouted as they were ushered outside, which sent Sanctus’ chin to his chest as he shook his head regretfully. “I am so sorry,” he began, “but I hope it makes you feel better that I sent him away. You will never see him again.”
“Thank you, Sanctus,” the boys chorused solemnly.
“If you two need anything, though,” Sanctus continued, looking back up to meet their gazes, “just come find me. If I am not here, just ask another worker in the shelter to send for me. I can be here within a day.”
They nodded, Ali still holding the side of his head, and walked away clumsily.
Sanctus sighed then as he twisted to find the girl, but she was nowhere in sight. In fact, the mess hall was empty.
Great. He reached up and rubbed his temples. Just great. Then he sucked in a good batch of air, held it, and released. How could I let this happen? How did I not see it coming? Sense it! He breathed in again, just as before, and let it out. Stop that! This is not your fault! Just breathe!
A tug on his kasaya drew his attention away abruptly, leaving him still toiling in anger and guilt that left him as dizzy as ever. And his heart still thrummed against his chest. Then he looked down. That little girl with the doll was standing next to him. Her head just barely grazed his hip.
“Where did the blond boy go?” came her small voice.
“He left.” Sanctus bent down to meet her face to face, hoping she hadn’t been harmed as well. “He won’t be coming back.”
She surprisingly frowned, and again he sensed nothing. So he clasped her shoulder and brushed a lock out of her face, his gut gripping him good as he still sensed nothing.
I did register the spirit, though. My gifts aren’t down. “What is wrong?” he asked with that, desiring more than ever to know what used to come so easily to him.
“I wanted to thank him for saving my doll.” She brought it up to her chest, clasping it close.
Saving your doll? His chest tightened, and he was sure he forgot how to breathe.
“Those boys took it and wouldn’t give it back.” The little girl pointed out the doors, indicating the two Sanctus had perceived as victims. “They said to give them my food or they would keep her. Then the blond boy came and stopped them.
Sanctus’ heart stuttered. His nerves went numb.
“If you see him again, will you tell him thank you for me?”
He gulped, hating himself more than ever. “Of course.” But his words were strained.
“My name is Advika, if he asks.” Then she lifted her doll. “This is Prisha.”
Sanctus offered the best smile possible as he was sure he wouldn’t see hide nor hair of that young man again. And it is all my fault. What is wrong with me? “Don’t worry,” he assured, though. “I am positive he knows you are thankful.”
She nodded, hugging that doll closer and shattering what was left of his heart.
“Run along now.” Sanctus stood, though his body refused, and choked on his next words. “I think they are having riding lessons in the back.”
Advika grinned broadly. Most little girls loved horses, and she trotted off with that doll.
“Everything is cleaned up.”
It was difficult, but Sanctus drifted his attention to Abdul, the owner of the shelter. The man was walking toward him with a dirty rag in hand.
“All the children are out back, too. You can go ahead and head out. I am sure you had a long morning.”
With a heavy soul, Sanctus clasped his palms together and raised them to his forehead as he bowed. “Thank you for letting me volunteer here.” At first he wasn’t sure
why he said it that way, and then he realized he couldn’t, in good conscience, return and face all the children. They had all lied to him, and he would be forever cursed to remember the one he turned away. His place of hope had become a place of pain. “I will not be returning, though,” he finished as he straightened.
“I am sorry to hear that.” Abdul bowed in return with that, though most people didn’t. “It has been a pleasure to have you around. You will be missed.”
Thief (Nicholas)
Nicholas tripped and rammed into Dagger’s side. The captain had stopped abruptly, and then the hand around his arm tightened like it was trying to squeeze it off. But that grip was what kept him from hitting the ground.
“This boy is a thief!” Dagger boomed.
No reply came as Nicholas regained his balance, so he looked across at the dock master. A completely different guy from the one who had taken him to the shelter and the Carimacan monk. That other dock master would have been easier to sway to his side considering he had seen Nicholas with Angus and Gladys and knew where he had been planning to travel. As it stood, all he could do was just pray he was given a chance to explain himself.
“He stowed away on my ship!” Dagger resumed. “Then he lied his way off!”
The dock master straightened, drawing attention to the staff in his left hand. Then he gave a nod. “Khaleeb told me he had a feeling a stow away had tricked his way onto your ship.” And with that he gestured off to the side, killing all thoughts Nicholas had previously entertained. “Take him around back.”
That grip of Dagger’s tightened further, then he hauled him back the other way. Nicholas nearly fell in the process, causing him to end up basically being dragged onto a path leading left from the dockyard. It was quite a stretch to take on from there. They had to pass ten docks, each evenly spaced with only a small open beach to both sides. A few boat sheds, a wagon and horse shop, took up a portion of the land surrounding it all before turning into farmland.
Then the marina shop came into view on the right. Nicholas barely had the chance to take it in before being jerked harshly to the back of the building, where the swishing of the sea vanished to leave just the call of the gulls, the stomping of heavy boots, and the shuffle of bare feet.
“It has been a long time since anyone has demanded payment,” the dock master finally continued.
Nicholas flew forward, and his gut slammed into the edge of a wooden table. All the air left him, and he crumpled across the small, rectangular surface.
“Particularly someone from outside this realm. How would you like to claim it?”
It took everything Nicholas had not to show his pain as he pushed himself up. Even more not to make eye contact with either man. But he did note that the dock master had made his way to the other side of the table.
“In Vulturedom,” Dagger grunted, “he would have his right hand cut off.”
That is better than death, I guess, Nicholas couldn’t help but think as he straightened to face the consequences.
“Then by all means.” The dock master stepped back with that, leaving the space on the other side open. “You may use your own weapon, if you desire.”
Don’t Do This (Sanctus)
Sanctus looked right from the steps of the shelter. There was a large sign for the inn hanging quiet in the dead heat while travelers walked in and out through the door below. Emotions came and went with each foreigner, their nationalities stretching the globe, but the young man with blond hair was not among them.
Not that I would be able to sense him. That still didn’t make sense. He was clearly registering everyone present, but that young man… the little girl.
He shook his head and looked left toward the docks, which were just visible from where he stood at the top of the hill. Visible… and empty. The ships came and went early, so if the young man had been lucky he would have gotten passage before Sanctus even realized his mistake. If not, he would be hiding so as not to be punished for not leaving fast enough.
What have I done?
He didn’t think it was possible for his heart to break further, but it did as he stepped away from the shelter and headed toward the inn. His things were already packed and waiting just inside. All he had to do was load them into the wagon and strap on the horse. Then it was off to the market for supplies.
I turned someone away. Someone who needed me. Now he is gods knows where with nothing to show for his journey. Nothing to show for his brave actions over a simple ragdoll.
A heavy breath escaped, the reason for why that young man was even here and heading for the monastery gnawing at his brain. There was a number of possibilities, and each one was just as important as the next.
“Noooo!” drifted over a desperate voice. The tone was high-pitched. It was enough, he was sure, to break glass.
Sanctus slid to a halt, sandals slapping his heels just as invisible fingers clutched his chest.
“Stoooop!”
His ears perked to hear it again, the fact it was from a female registering in his mind. There were many laws in place protecting women in this realm.
“Pleeaase!”
His feet shifted of their own accord, ears still following the slight echo of the voice.
“For the love of all that is good! Don’t do this!”
His stomach fluttered, the sensation working its way to his chest. He knew that voice, just from where he couldn’t figure out.
“Pleeaase!”
He directed toward the dockyard, chest thrumming and eyes widening. There was only one ship in the distance. Dagger’s ship.
“He will pay you! I swear!”
Dear gods, no! His feet took the leap before he could think about it, the spirit’s voice clicking. Don’t tell me he stowed away!
Debt Paid (Nicholas)
Nicholas inhaled deep and discreet as Dagger slammed his right hand down, palm up, onto the wooden table. The ring of metal was close behind, and out came the longest dagger he had seen in his life. It was practically a sword. The dock master remained just beyond, his staff propped firmly in the sand as he watched with blank features.
“Thievery never pays,” Dagger grunted under his breath.
The fear hit with those words, and Nicholas’ eyes closed fast and he threw his head to the side. It was there he was fairly sure he heard the blade as it whistled through the air and into position.
“…. and you are about to learn this the hard way.”
Nicholas pictured the way the steel glinted in the sunlight. He had seen it many times among the pages and squires training in the fields. This was the point where it was going to come down. So he flinched.
“Stop!”
The blade sliced through his skin with a searing sting, and there it halted as commanded. It released only a sticky trickle of blood. Nicholas felt it spill over his wrist and seep through his white sleeve.
“Whatever he owes I will pay it.”
Nicholas pried his lids open at the familiarity of the voice, chest racing heavily. He hadn’t expected to get that scared. Then he twisted awkwardly to see the man he had never expected to save his life.
“He owes me more than you can pay,” Dagger sneered as the Carimacan monk appeared around the corner. “No lowly person such as yourself could possibly cover his debt.”
“How much?” The monk continued to stride forward, slipping his large black hand into the folds of his red and gold robe.
Nicholas turned back to Dagger, whose face scrunched in what he could only perceive as the most painful expression on earth as he stared up into the clear, heat-filled sky.
“Fifty silver siveons,” Dagger answered confidently.
“How much is that in Tibindan?”
The monk came up at Nicholas’ side. He could feel his robe brushing against his leg.
Dagger looked to the dock master here.
“Two gargots and two damas,” the dock master answered, raising his chin hi
gh like he was royalty or something.
Nicholas cringed in response. Gargots were gold pieces, which Eurotopa didn’t use. Damas were silver and worth more than anywhere else in the world.
But the monk produced a pouch, nonetheless, and immediately dumped its contents onto the table. From a glance, Nicholas counted eight damas and twice as many kappas. “Count it.”
The dock master didn’t budge, but his eyes did fly over each coin. “Release the boy. His debt is paid.”
Nicholas was sure that if Dagger could, he would have thrown his wrist at him. As it was, the captain simply narrowed his lids as he dug his dagger in deeper, sending more blood spilling. Then he let go.
“I never want to see you on my ship. You got that?”
“Yes, Sir,” Nicholas answered, cradling his wrist and stepping back to join the monk.
“Let’s go.” The monk slipped an inviting hand along his back and guided him around gently. “We have a long journey.”
No Big Deal (Sanctus)
The young man grabbed a hold of one end of the trunk without having been asked. In fact, he hadn’t spoken during the entire walk up the hill and to the inn. Even the spirit girl had been silent. She glared a lot at the monk, but she was silent.
Then Sanctus grabbed the other end of the trunk, not sure what to think or say. All he had were his own emotions, which were kicking him left and right. “My wagon is on the other side of the stable,” he instructed instead, heaving when the young man looked ready to go.
There was no response, though that was no surprise. The young man simply trudged awkwardly along with him out the inn door, turned right toward the stable, and went around for the spot indicated. Then the young man readjusted and took the trunk completely, shoving it over the edge before any argument could be made. He leaped into the wagon right after with that and carefully pushed the trunk to the back.
Sanctus stepped out of the way, astounded at the strength someone that young possessed, and let himself take in this foreigner once more. His clean hair, his clean open-collar shirt that fit more loosely than it should have, and the peculiar black puff pants that sat a bit too low.
Rogue Beyond the Wall Page 7