Shadow Hunted (The Collector Chronicles Book 1)

by D. K. Holmberg

  “What did you do with it?” Carth asked.

  “What did we do? We tried to outrun it, but they were quick. Faster than most ships I’ve come across. They tried to board us, but we were prepared.”

  “And how were you prepared?”

  “The man who hired us—”

  “Alistan Rhain.”

  “Outfitted each ship with a ballista.”

  Carth snorted. “I am well aware,” she said.

  “Yes. I suppose that you are. Anyway, we managed to sink a bolt into the side of the ship. They were preoccupied with it and we sent a dinghy around and boarded.”

  It was reasonable strategy. Anyone who was attacked in that way would certainly panic, and they would first attempt to dislodge the ballista bolt, thinking that was the most important thing they needed to do. Unfortunately, by the time a ballista had sunk a bolt into the side of a ship, there was precious little you could do other than attempt to seal it.

  “And you captured several of their people?”

  “Several of their people. And we found a few other items.”

  “Such as the talisman.”

  The smuggler held her gaze. “I’m not certain about any sort of talisman.”

  “I understand it wasn’t valuable to anyone other than someone who believed in the superstition of it.”

  “It was entirely made of gold.”

  “I thought you weren’t familiar with it?”

  “Fine. We were familiar with that, but we didn’t try to take it off the Collector’s ship. We were bringing it with us.”

  Carth frowned. “You were attempting to sell it for her.” That was the shop owner’s buyer. Then why was Talia the one to have broken in? Had Rhain discovered the presence of the talisman and thought to take it?

  “We were, until we encountered the Collector and his ship. When we did, we turned around and headed back for Keyall. We needed more ships than what we had, especially if the Collector learned of what we did.”

  “Which it seems that he did.”

  “So it seems.”

  “And now he has attacked the constable’s fleet.”

  “And that is unfortunate. As stubborn as that man can be, he has skilled men, and I fear that we will need some skilled men if we’re going to survive whatever the Collector decides to throw at us.”

  “It doesn’t appear that you intended to survive.”

  “And what does that mean?”

  Carth nodded into the distance. “You’re preparing to depart.” She leaned forward, suddenly understanding. “You heard about the constable’s ships and you decided that you didn’t want to risk your people anymore. So you’re leaving.”

  “It’s not worth it if we are killed.”

  “And yet, didn’t you kill those of the Collector?”

  He frowned. “We already told you what happened.”

  “Remind me.”

  “Why do you think we had them separated? One of them started talking, so they attacked.”

  She looked around at the people gathered around the fire. There might not be anything that she could do, especially as she had yet to find any evidence of the Collector other than rumors. If what they said was true, he was after an Elder Stone, but that could be nothing more than rumor.

  If it wasn’t, how would he have learned that one might be found here?

  “If you stay, I will help you.”

  The lead smuggler chuckled. “Help me what? Do you think that you can defeat him? We don’t even know how many ships he has. He certainly has enough to disrupt trade, but it’s fleeting, like little more than smoke.”

  “Thankfully, I am little more powerful than smoke.”

  “You’re one person. You might be powerful and skilled, but you are one person. The Collector will destroy you as he has destroyed so many others.”

  “And that’s why you’re running.”

  “Not running, but moving on to smoother seas. I believe that you’re something of a sailor. You should understand.”

  Carth sighed. “I understand, but I tend to prefer stormier weather. I enjoy the waves.” With that, she left the smugglers sitting behind her.

  27

  “I could use your help,” Carth spoke into the darkness.

  She sat on one of the rooftops, overlooking the ruins in the center of the city, uncertain whether the constable would have come. She had sent word through one of his men once again, though this time had not threatened him. After what the constable had been through, she wasn’t certain that threatening him would be useful.

  “I didn’t think you needed anyone’s help,” the constable said.

  “Most of the time, I prefer to work by myself, but I think that with whatever we are stuck facing, this is something that would be best handled jointly.”

  “I have no fleet,” the constable said, approaching on the rooftop and crouching next to her. “And even if I did, I’m not sure that I would agree to work with you.”

  Carth glanced over at him. “Because I attacked your men?”

  “Because you have no regard for the laws and culture of my people.”

  Carth studied him for a while. “How many ships do you have remaining?”

  “I haven’t decided whether I intend to help you.”

  “Have you wondered why the Collector came to attack in Keyall?”

  “Because you’re here.”

  “I don’t think the Collector cares whether I’m here or not. He became aware of Keyall—at least, enough so that he would attack—because of Alistan Rhain. Because of his smugglers. He wanted to keep moving his merchandise even though it was dangerous to do so. And now he thinks you have something of power.” Carth fell silent for a moment, waiting for him to ask what it might be. Would he admit that Keyall possessed an Elder Stone? Was such a thing even possible? When he said nothing, she shook her head. “Have you wondered why Rhain was able to maintain his wealth despite the otherwise lack of trade?”

  The constable clenched his jaw. “He sits on the tribunal.”

  “That doesn’t mean that he has done right by the city.”

  “You would have me believe that Rhain is the reason the Collector attacked?”

  “I would have you believe that he is the reason that the Collector felt the need. His smugglers—ships that he hired to try to move his merchandise—encountered one of the Collector’s ships. They captured several people, as well as whatever else might have been on the ship. And I don’t think that was what the Collector was after.”

  “What was it?”

  She watched him. “An Elder Stone.”

  His face gave away nothing. “Where are the people you released now?”

  “I… I released them.”

  “I thought you said the blame was on Rhain and his smugglers. What if they work for the Collector?”

  “I didn’t know at the time who the smugglers had captured. I didn’t know whether they were good or not. I only did what I thought was right.”

  “Which involved you freeing people who have now brought harm to my people.”

  Carth sighed. She had to acknowledge that it was possible. It could be her fault that the Collector’s people had attacked and destroyed the constable’s ships. Maybe the jars that the smugglers had found held some sort of liquid that would help them create the fires.

  “Which is why I’m offering to help.”

  “You have done enough.”

  Carth stared at him, trying to come up with what the right thing to say might be. “How many ships do you have remaining?”

  “A handful. Not enough to take on somebody who has power like we have witnessed.”

  “You’re afraid. I understand that, but you don’t need to be.”

  He watched her. “You understand so little about Keyall. Do you think that it’s only about Rhain? Do you think he’s only hired these people you call smugglers?”

  Was there another angle she hadn’t considered? Rhain was a successful merchant, and all successful merchan
ts made a point of having multiple avenues to their success.

  What role did the constables play in all of this? There had to be something more than what she had already discovered.

  If she could only find the Collector, she would be better able to understand.

  “How long have you prevented trade in Keyall?”

  “We haven’t prevented trade. The Collector has prevented trade. My people have suffered because of it.”

  “And what if we could reopen the trading routes?”

  “Just because you might be able to open them doesn’t mean that they would remain open.”

  “No, but I have other ships beyond what have come to Keyall. If I send word, my people will come, and they will help counter the blockade the Collector has attempted.”

  “And you would do this simply because you feel guilty for my ships being destroyed?”

  “No. I would do it because it is needed. And I would do it because my people suffer from the lack of trade. This isn’t the only place where the Collector has impacted things. I don’t know the extent of his influence, but it’s more than I think we are aware of, and enough that something needs to be done.”

  “No.”

  “No? You’re not willing to work with me with your remaining handful of ships to try to counter the Collector?”

  “My handful of ships might be all that protects Keyall. So forgive me if I say no to your plan. Whatever you think you can do must be done on your own. I don’t intend to participate. My people do not intend to participate.” He looked out at the sea for a long moment, saying nothing. After a while, he sighed. “We do not care much for outsiders in Keyall, Carthenne Rel. There are many historical reasons for it, but I think that even without those historical reasons, we do well by not having others come into our city.”

  “And what of the merchants that you seek to have return?”

  “Those merchants are here temporarily. They come, they make their transactions, and then they depart. They don’t remain. They don’t attack my people. They don’t break prisoners from the stockade. And they don’t make claims against members of our tribunal, as they know that the people of Keyall are good and honorable, and that we respect the laws here.”

  Carth stared at him, trying to think of the words she might be able to say to influence him, but she realized that she would not be able to sway his opinions. He had made up his mind about her, and he had made up his mind about what she might be able to do, but there was also an element of fear that limited him. He didn’t want to risk his people and believed that his remaining ships might be all that protected them. How could she be angry with him for thinking that way?

  “I intend to take on the Collector.”

  “You are but one ship. You are but one person.”

  “I have been through something similar before. I might be one person, but it’s not that I’m powerless. I willing to use whatever power that I have to try to help.”

  “Do not get Keyall caught up in your wars, Carthenne Rel.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means that I am aware of battles that you have waged and people you have offended. I am aware that you have had some difficulty. Everywhere that you’ve gone, you have demonstrated a lack of concern for the people that you have gone to.”

  “That is not at all accurate. Everywhere that have gone, I have done everything I can to help the people of those communities. I have proven that again and again.” Carth stood and backed away from the constable. “I’m not sure I will convince you, and maybe that’s okay. I don’t need to convince you, not when I know what I’ve done.” She flashed a smile at him and stepped to the edge of the rooftop. “You do what you must do, and I will do what I must do, but you should know that I am going to fulfill what I promised. I’m going to find answers about the Collector, and I’m going to see that he is stopped.”

  “Unfortunately, I don’t know that he can be stopped.”

  He left and she stalked off, wishing that she wouldn’t have to go it alone. That was the whole point of working with the constable. Instead, she was as isolated as she had been in a long time. In Keyall, she didn’t even have the help of the Binders as she would were she farther to the north. And she remained certain that she was right about what she needed to do.

  She wandered along the coast and searched for evidence of anything that was out of place. She used a combination of her connection to the shadows and the flame, but neither of them granted her enough awareness of what might be missing. She kept coming back to the idea that the Collector’s people—the women that she had rescued—had destroyed the constabulary ships, and if they had, wouldn’t they have remained behind?

  But maybe they hadn’t. There had been a single ship, one that had been sailing out at the same time as the explosion, that Carth had thought was nothing more than one of the constable’s ships, but maybe it was the Collector’s people escaping.

  If that were the case, it would give them something to follow. It would give them someone to find, but she would have to know which direction they had sailed.

  There might be another way to draw in the Collector, but it would require a different move.

  There were times when playing Tsatsun that she had learned that it was necessary to sacrifice certain pieces in order to ensure success. When it was game pieces, it was easy enough to sacrifice those pieces, but when it came to people—real lives—Carth wasn’t as eager.

  The sense of the city all around her left her wondering whether she had any choice but to make that sacrifice. It would be a difficult move and it wasn’t necessarily guaranteed to work, but she had no other way of drawing out the Collector. Using her connection to the shadows, she found the next person she needed to for her next move.

  “You’ve been busy,” Talia said when Carth dropped onto the street in front of her. She was dressed in a long cloak, and her hood was thrown back.

  “I could share with the constables what you’ve been up to,” she said.

  “You could, but it doesn’t seem as if you have.”

  “Why are you here, Talia?”

  “I’ve been here for years. Unlike you, Carthenne Rel.”

  “I know you serve Alistan Rhain, but you can serve the city. I can help.”

  “You would help? You’ve known Keyall for what, a week? You believe that you understand enough of our people to protect us?”

  Carth looked around. “I intend to stop the Collector.” And he had to have a connection in Keyall. That was the only answer that made sense.

  “By forcing the smugglers away from here?” Talia smiled when Carth said nothing. “You aren’t the only one who moves in the shadows, Carthenne Rel.”

  “You could help. You could defend Keyall.”

  “I think you mistake my interest.”

  Carth stared at her. She still didn’t know what role Talia had here, other than that she served Rhain. There had to be some additional purpose, but what was it? And she couldn’t move past the idea that Talia was in some sort of trouble. If she could help…

  Then again, she had a sense that Talia didn’t want her help. Maybe that was the point. Maybe she couldn’t help everyone, not like she wanted to.

  “You should be careful,” Carth said.

  “Is that a warning?”

  “Nothing like that. I intend to catch the Collector, and I don’t want you to get caught in the middle.”

  Talia watched her for a long moment. “What if I’m already caught in the middle?” She stared at Carth a moment longer before spinning and running away.

  Carth sighed. She had used Talia, but she had been forced to do so. She wasn’t certain whether she was involved, but if she was tied to the Collector, she needed to know, and this might be the only way she could learn.

  When she reached the Goth Spald, she found Alayna preparing for departure. She glanced up and, with a single look, seemed to recognize the disappointment in Carth’s eyes. “They won’t help.”

>   “He’s afraid to leave Keyall undefended.”

  “Then what do you intend to do?”

  “I made a different move.” When Alayna watched her, Carth explained what she had done with Talia. “Now we have to get word to the Binders.”

  “Even if we do, it will be weeks before they manage to reach us.”

  “I know.”

  “You don’t intend to wait several weeks. Not if I know you well.”

  Carth smiled tightly. “No. I don’t intend to wait several weeks. I don’t know that I can.”

  “Then what’s your plan?”

  “It’s time to play Tsatsun. It’s time to use the pieces we have to force the next move.”

  “And what if the Collector destroys our ship?”

  “That’s when I’ll get really angry.”

  28

  Nothing but water spread out in front of her. Carth stared into the distance, cupping her hand over her eyes, blocking out some of the bright sunlight, trying to peer into the distance. Maybe it would have been better had they done this at night. At least then, she could have had Boiyn on the top deck with her for conversation. During the daytime, it was really only Alayna. Jenna remained below deck, recovering. Linsay had elected to remain below deck with them, studying with Boiyn, hoping to find some way to help Jenna, but Carth suspected what she really needed was time. Unfortunately, that was one thing they didn’t in enormous quantities.

  As they left Keyall, they had found the burning husk of another ship. A smuggler ship. Carth didn’t know how long it had been burning, only that she had found no survivors.

  The Collector was after them.

  Carth didn’t know how to feel about the fact that the Collector had taken the bait. She used the smugglers like a piece on a Tsatsun board. If she didn’t, they would never find the Collector. Without playing the game, she knew that.

  But it also told her that she had been right about something else: The only people who knew what she was doing were the constable… and Talia. Carth doubted the Constable was involved, which left Talia as the person who was working for the Collector.