The Binding Stone: The Dragon Below Book 1

by Don Bassingthwaite

  Glancing back, he saw Vennet surrender the helm to a junior officer, then make his way forward, collecting Geth as he went. Shifter and half-elf joined them in the bow of the ship. Vennet gathered them all close together in a conspiratorial huddle. “Listen,” he said quietly, “we’ll reach Zarash’ak at about dusk. You can disembark with the other passengers then if you want to, but I’ve got a problem I’d appreciate if you help me with.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder toward the stern of the ship. “I have cargo in that aft hold that needs to be taken ashore here.”

  “And you can’t unload it with Ashi tied down in the middle of the hold,” guessed Dandra.

  Vennet nodded. “Aye. I have a plan, though.” He glanced at each of them. “I know a man who lives close to the docks and he has a strongroom in his house. Between the four of us and Karth, I think we can walk Ashi that far. Because we’re docking so close to dark, it won’t seem odd if I give the crew the night on shore and leave unloading for the morning. Once they’re all off the ship, we can get Ashi away without anyone getting alarmed. Then when the unloading is finished …”

  “… we bring her back onboard, shackle her down again, and you carry her off for Sharn.” Singe scratched at his chin under his beard. The plan struck him as risky. “Can’t you unload the forward hold, move her up there, then unload the aft?”

  Vennet looked at him like he was an idiot. “The ship needs to be balanced, Singe.”

  “Really?” He felt half like the captain was pulling his leg, but Vennet’s expression was serious.

  “Leave questions of sailing to House Lyrandar and I’ll leave questions of defense to House Deneith.” Vennet glanced at them all, then looked back to Singe. “Help me with this and I’ll waive the fee for taking her to Sharn.”

  That was five hundred gold. “Done,” Singe said quickly. Vennet clapped him on the shoulder.

  “Good man. Thank you.” The half-elf stepped back. “It won’t take long for the crew to clear off once we’re tied up. Be ready.” He grinned at them all. “In the meantime, you might want to keep yourselves out of the way. If you thought leaving port was busy onboard a ship, you don’t want to see how busy the crew is coming into port.”

  Vennet hadn’t been joking about how busy the crew would be. As Lightning on Water slid up the river, the ship’s crew scrambled all over her, above deck and below. Vennet was as busy as his men, maybe even busier. Singe and Dandra tried to find a moment to get into the forward hold to collect their meager gear—including the honor blade Singe had taken from Ashi and the crystal band, cunningly hidden by Dandra to avoid the necessity of carrying it constantly—but so many sailors moved through the hatch that it was easier to avoid it.

  “It will only take a few moments to gather,” Dandra pointed out. “It can wait.”

  Singe grimaced. “I’d feel better about having everything to hand.” Geth grinned at him and patted his own gear, brought up on deck days earlier. Singe gave him a cool glare.

  At least he and Dandra were unencumbered as they gathered with the other passengers to watch as the ship came into port at Zarash’ak. The City of Stilts was, Singe thought critically, far from the most impressive port he had ever seen. True to its name, the city’s wooden buildings and plank streets sprawled above river and marsh on a forest of stilts, props, and piles. Singe couldn’t help but think of a child’s makeshift fort carried to extremes. Still, there was something curious to the way Zarash’ak almost hovered above the water, long rickety bridges leaping from platform to platform. Small boats skimmed the shadowed water around and between the piles. Smoke rose above the city, mingling with evening mist and merging with the twilight sky. Croaking frogs and calling marsh birds made a soft chorus, broken only by the rhythmic shouts between dockworkers and sailors as Lightning was guided into her berth. The entire scene was surprisingly beautiful.

  As the ship bumped against the dock and the other passengers waited patiently for the gangplank to be lowered, Singe looked around. There was a figure missing from the small crowd. The wizard reached out and tapped Pandon. “Where’s Natrac?” he asked. He would have assumed the half-orc would be among the most eager to disembark.

  Pandon, however, gave him an awkward look. “I suppose you wouldn’t have heard,” he said.

  “Heard what?”

  The thin man shifted and sighed. “He’s not coming ashore at Zarash’ak. He’s staying in his cabin and going on to Sharn. He’s afraid that you’ve ruined his business and House Deneith will be investigating him.”

  “What?” said Singe. “Pandon, you know that was just a joke!”

  “Apparently Natrac thought otherwise,” Pandon said. “Captain Vennet told me himself. Natrac has even released his clients from their contracts. They’re free to do as they please.”

  He pointed. Singe followed his gesture and his eyes widened as he took in the sight of the Natrac’s thugs, held back by the crew, waiting eagerly in the stern of the ship for their turn at the gangplank. Singe smacked a hand against his forehead and groaned.

  “Twelve moons! What is he thinking? Dandra!” The kalashtar looked around. “I have to go to find Natrac and talk to him,” he told her. “Can you gather my gear when you fetch yours? You know where all of it is.”

  Dandra nodded and Singe strode back toward the hatch that led to the tiny passenger cabins. The thud of the gangplank hitting the dock followed him. Shortly afterward, he heard the murmur of Vennet’s disembarking passengers, then the excited calls of Natrac’s former clients as they rushed to embrace a new life.

  The crew would follow next; they had certainly already abandoned the rest of the ship. Singe stopped at the door of Natrac’s cabin and banged loudly on the thin wood. “Natrac!” he called. “We need to talk. You’re making a mistake. There’s no House Deneith investigation. I was just having you on!”

  There was no response. “Natrac!” Singe called again. Was the half-orc even inside? He paused and listened closely at the door.

  A soft moaning met his ear—and a vile smell his nose. A wretched stink like an overflowing chamber pot wafted through the door. “Natrac?”

  He tested the door. It was latched, but nothing more. It opened easily.

  Natrac lay on the narrow bed, struggling fitfully. His clothes were soiled with his own excrement and only an open porthole vented the reek out of the ship. His face was flushed. His wrists and ankles had been lashed securely to the bed’s frame and a gag forced into his mouth. Singe bit back a curse.

  A heavy bottle nestled in a little boxshelf attached to the wall inside. Singe eased carefully into the cabin and fished it out. When he opened the bottle, a sickly sweet smell wafted out. There was a bluish stain around the cork. Singe hissed and glanced at Natrac’s flushed face. A matching blue stain colored his lips and trickled down his face. Singe hesitated for a moment, then stepped out of the cabin and hurried back up to the deck.

  Dandra met him at the hatch. She had her spear, but not their gear. Her face was pale. “The crystal band and the honor blade are gone!”

  Singe clenched his teeth and touched the rapier at his side. “Something’s wrong. Where’s Geth?”

  “He wandered down onto the dock with the other passengers. He said he wanted to feel something solid under his feet again.” Dandra’s nose crinkled. “What’s that smell?”

  “Natrac,” said Singe grimly. “He’s been drugged.” The ship was entirely silent around them. Everyone had gone. “We should join Geth.” He started across the deck toward the gangplank.

  A curved sailor’s cutlass swept out of the shadow of the captain’s cabin, barring his way. He leaped back as Vennet followed the weapon into the light. The crystal band was clutched in his free hand. Behind him, Ashi glided out the shadows as well, the unsheathed honor blade held low before her.

  “I have a better idea,” said Vennet. “Let’s wait for Geth to come back and join us.”

  CHAPTER

  9

  Singe stared at the crystal band
in the half-elf’s grasp, then studied his face. His eyes narrowed. “Have you worn it already, Vennet?”

  He heard Dandra draw a sharp breath and stretched out a hand to her. Vennet’s cutlass twitched sharply. “Don’t move,” the captain said. “Not a muscle.”

  Singe let his hand fall slowly back to his side.

  Vennet nodded as Ashi came up beside him. “That’s good,” he murmured, “that’s very good.”

  “Vennet, what are you doing?” Dandra said.

  “He’s turning on us,” Singe answered for Vennet. Everything was clear in his mind. “He planned this. Convincing us to stay behind on the ship, arranging for the crew to be busy in the hold so we couldn’t check on our gear until the last minute.” He glanced at Ashi then asked Vennet, “Was the crew really too scared to go into the hold or did you order them to stay out so you could talk to her alone?”

  “A little of both,” Vennet said tightly.

  “And House Lyrandar’s prohibition against throwing people overboard?”

  “Ironically,” said the captain, “that’s the truth.”

  “Singe,” Dandra said, “what’s going on?”

  The wizard risked turning slightly to give her a dark smile.

  “The cults of the Dragon Below aren’t something you find just in the Shadow Marches.”

  Dandra turned pale.

  Singe looked back to Vennet. “I think our good captain has decided to make a move for power. If he hasn’t done it already, he’s going to contact Medala and offer his services to Dah’mir.”

  Vennet’s face tightened. “You’re too smart for your own good, Singe.”

  “I’ve been told that before,” Singe said casually. At least he hoped he sounded casual. His stomach felt like it had squeezed down into a rock. “Why did you drug Natrac? No, let me guess.” He followed a line of reasoning through his head. “Natrac was the only other one in your cabin when we told our story. He was the only other person on the ship besides us who knew that Ashi was a follower of the Dragon Below. You had to be sure that he didn’t let that information slip out, so you made sure he couldn’t talk to anyone on the ship and you spread the word that he was giving up his business and traveling on to Sharn. That way no one would suspect his disappearance afterward.” He smiled. “And there’s Captain Vennet d’Lyrandar, with no one left to give away his secret.”

  “Storm at dawn!” Vennet snapped. “Would you shut up?” He slid closer cautiously, cutlass at the ready. “If either of you moves or makes as much as a sound to cast a spell or—” the cutlass wavered slightly toward Dandra “—do whatever kalashtar do, you’ll regret it. Ashi, hide by the rail. When Geth comes back aboard, make sure he dies.”

  The hunter nodded and darted across the deck, hunching down to stay out of sight. When she reached the rail, she peered over cautiously. She grimaced and snapped the fingers of her free hand softly to attract Vennet’s attention. He turned slightly, enough to see her and still keep an eye on his captives. Ashi mimed someone wandering back and forth on the dock below. Vennet’s teeth clenched and he cursed softly.

  In the instant that the captain’s attention wandered, Singe felt the brush of Dandra’s mind on his, just as he had when she’d shared her memories on the morning after Bull Hollow. Trying his best to keep his face neutral, he relaxed and accepted the touch of her thoughts. The voice that rang in his head was taut. Singe, what are we going to do?

  It took a conscious effort not to turn his head and look at the kalashtar as he answered her. Can you warn Geth the same way we’re talking?

  He’s too far away. He’d need to be almost at the top of the gangplank for me to reach him and if he’s that close, it will be too late!

  Vennet was turning his full attention back to them again. Be ready to tell Geth to get back fast, Singe told Dandra. A plan was taking shape in his mind. He formed an image and sent it flickering at her—then swiftly focused back on Vennet as his cutlass flicked close.

  “Call Geth!” the half-elf ordered. “Get him up here.”

  Singe looked him straight in the eye. “How long have you followed the Dragon Below, Vennet?” he said, buying time. If he called, Geth would come bounding up the gangplank. The shifter needed to come up slowly if Dandra was going to have any chance at warning him.

  Vennet tensed. “Just call him!”

  “Not too long, I think,” Singe continued. “You don’t seem obviously insane yet.”

  “You’re baiting me,” Vennet said. He pushed the cutlass forward until its tip pricked Singe’s chest through his shirt. The wizard held back a wince. Vennet looked at him coldly. “You think I’m going to get angry and you’re going to distract me? It’s not going to work. You want to know how long I’ve followed the Dragon? Nine years—and that faith is the only thing that saved my sanity. I know you’ll understand why.” His eyes were hard. “You’re a veteran of the Last War. You saw the things that men and women who claim to be good and righteous are capable of doing. That almost drove me mad. The powers of Khyber don’t make those claims. The cult of the Dragon Below draws power from darkness. Two years after the darkest day of my life, I came to the cult and it made sense.”

  He leaned close, pressing down on his cutlass. A bright spot of red sprang up on Singe’s shirt. Over Vennet’s shoulder, he could see Ashi, still watching the dock—and, presumably, Geth down on it. The wizard swallowed and looked back at Vennet. “I saw dark things during the War, too. I got through it.”

  Vennet gave a thin smile. “Are you trying to convert me, Singe? Bring me back to the light?” His hand, the one holding the crystal band, trembled. “Geth told me there are things about the War you don’t like to talk about. Like Narath. Narath bothers you.” His lips twisted as Singe stiffened. “Well, I was on one of the ships that sailed against Narath. I had to stand on the docks and watch while our fine Aundairian soldiers ripped Narath apart.”

  Blood roared in Singe’s veins, pounding in his head and burning hot across the skin of his face. Ashi, Dandra, and even Geth vanished from his mind as he met Vennet’s gaze. “You weak, pathetic coward,” he breathed. “That’s your darkest day? Watching Narath die?” He seized Vennet’s sword hand and shoved the cutlass away from his chest, heedless of the line of pain that the blade’s tip traced across his skin. “I was in Narath.”

  It was only Dandra’s piercing shout inside his thoughts that broke through the rage that gripped him. Singe! Geth’s coming!

  Singe’s head shot up. The gangplank was shaking as someone climbed it. Ashi crouched like an animal ready to pounce.

  Clenching his teeth, Singe flung Vennet back hard. The half-elf growled and charged back, the sharp blade of his cutlass raised.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Singe saw Geth’s face appear above the gangplank—only to stiffen with Dandra’s silent warning and vanish again, even as Ashi leaped out of her hiding place. In the same instant, the wizard flung himself down and back before Vennet’s blade, dropping onto his hands and kicking out blindly with his feet. The kick was wild and soft, but it was enough to make Vennet stumble back a pace. Singe rolled over and came up onto his knees, shouting the words of a spell.

  It felt strange, given the time he had spent studying magic that wouldn’t harm Lightning on Water, that it was still a fire spell he invoked. Bolts of flame leaped from his hands to sear across the ship’s deck, setting wood ablaze in a fiery streak that pointed straight toward the gangplank. Ashi shouted and jumped aside as the fire reached for her, but the hunter had never been Singe’s target. Thrusting himself to his feet, he grabbed Dandra’s hand and charged directly along burning path he had created, protected by his ring as Dandra’s powers protected her.

  But for all that the fiery path roared and crackled, it wasn’t very wide—only an arm span or so. Vennet or Ashi could have reached through the flames and skewered him or Dandra easily. If he had judged the captain correctly, though, violence would not be his instinctive reaction to fire on his ship.

 
He heard the half-elf bellow with rage.

  “Get ready!” Singe gasped at Dandra.

  The powerful wind generated by Vennet’s dragonmark struck them from behind so hard that it sucked Singe’s breath away. The flames around them stretched out flat, guttered once, and vanished, utterly extinguished.

  Just as it had battered Ashi when Vennet had trained it on her in the ship’s hold, though, the wind also caught both the wizard and the kalashtar in its grip, forcing them along before it. Where Ashi had tried to struggle against the wind, however, Singe and Dandra ran with it. Singe caught a brief glimpse of Ashi, clutching the ship’s rail helplessly, as they swept by her.

  Then the top of the gangplank was in front of him. Still propelled by the wind, he seemed to leap out into empty air, only to come crashing down about halfway along the gangplank’s angled length. He fell, rolled heavily, and spilled out onto the dock as limp as a rag doll.

  Dandra twisted in the air, landing like a cat in a graceful crouch.

  Before Singe could even catch his breath, Geth was kicking him out of the way. The shifter planted his feet on the surface of the dock, grabbed the rails on the sides of the gangplank, and heaved. With a groan almost as loud as Geth’s own, the gangplank lifted away from the brackets that held it steady at the edge of the deck above. Geth staggered back a step, grunted, and released his grip. The gangplank grated against the ship’s side, then slid down to splash into the water. At the same time, the eerie droning chorus of Dandra’s own fiery powers hummed in the air. Singe twisted around in time to see her release a cascade of carefully aimed flames at three of the thick mooring ropes. Intense whitefire burned into the twisted hemp and the ropes, already under tension, snapped like whips. Lightning on Water shifted and swayed out from the dock sharply.