Venture Unbroken

by R. H. Russell

  “West Arbor and Vine street! She went to meet Coral Fisher there. Will Fisher’s wife! She claimed to have papers implicating numerous Cresteds by name.”

  Rose stepped over Tempest’s half-crumpled form and shoved the note into Venture’s hand. “Hurry!”

  The front bell clanged, reviving Tempest, making her and her maid yelp.

  Venture’s heart raced even faster, and Earnest caught himself mid-curse. Venture and Grant raced for the door. Was it Jade? Was she hurt?

  “Careful!” Dasher warned. “Chance! Swords!”

  But Grant threw the door open. It was Justice, with Lance and Calling Fox right behind him.

  Justice said, “I apologize for the hour, but Mr. Starson—Glen—said he and Venture would be here, and when these two woke me up and told me the news, I thought they should know—have you heard?”

  “Heard what?” Grant snapped. “We have a bit of an emergency here.”

  Calling spoke up. “Fisher’s escaped. He’s loose. Somewhere in the capital.”

  “That’s impossible,” Grant said. “It has to be a rumor.”

  Dasher said, “No, it’s not impossible. We know that well enough by now, don’t we?”

  Of course. It wasn’t impossible, if someone let him out. And Venture could think of one very good reason they’d do that. Chance handed him his scabbard and he donned his weapons as quick as he could.

  “By the gods!” Earnest’s eyes darkened with fury.

  “Somebody get me a sword!” Grant said.

  “I’ll go and get yours, sir,” one of the servants said. But Justice offered him his.

  “We’ve got to go, now!” Venture stopped mid-stride. “Lance, Call, say here with my brother and look after this house for me, please. Mr. Fieldstone’s coming with me. His daughter is missing.”

  #

  Jade neared the alley. She paused a few paces back, steeling herself to enter its darker shadows. She wrapped her fingers around the hilt of her borrowed sword. After all she’d been through, Father still wouldn’t defy Grandmother and Society’s conventions and let her carry one.

  Soft footsteps sounded in the alley, and Jade slid the sword partway out of its sheath.

  “It’s me, Miss Fieldstone.” Coral Fisher peeked around the corner.

  “Do you have it?”

  “Yes, yes of course.” Coral’s voice trembled and there was a strange look in her eye. Jade took a step backward, rather than into the alley. And then she sensed the presence behind her. Jade darted to the side, but a boot caught her leg and swept it out from underneath her. As she fell, a hand caught her—by clamping over her mouth.

  A low, rough masculine laugh. Crushing strength against her face. Will Fisher? It couldn’t be!

  “I didn’t know, I swear it!” Coral cried. “He followed me. They had men watching me. I’m sorry!”

  Jade threw elbows into a gut that seemed to be made of iron. With his hand over her face, Fisher twisted her neck in a threat to break it. That gave Jade an idea. She grabbed Fisher’s smallest finger and snapped it back with all her might. Fisher swore and promised to make her pay. He drew her sword, and Jade thought that was the end, but instead of driving it into her, he flung it away.

  Jade locked eyes with Coral. Get it! Get the sword! she urged silently. She was suffocating under Fisher’s jaw-crushing palm, for goodness sake. But Coral didn’t move. She was paralyzed with fear. From the way Coral looked at him, Jade guessed Will Fisher had beaten that fear into her.

  Fisher waved a sharp dagger in front of Jade’s eyes, then released his grip on her face. Ignoring the threat, she gulped air and tried to reach for the dagger holstered to her leg, but Fisher’s arm slipped around her neck. He stuck his dagger in his teeth and used his other arm to tighten the choke. Jade dug the point of her chin down into Fisher’s forearm, fighting the choke. His laugh sprayed around the dagger clutched in his teeth. She had to fight, but if she resisted too effectively, he’d go for that dagger.

  Was the sicko only killing her with his bare hands for kicks, or was he just trying to render her unconscious, to take her somewhere more private? Jade shuddered at that thought. Or was his plan to kill her later, in front of Venture? Dear God, that’s just what he’d do. Lure Venture here to watch her die. What if Venture was on his way? Jade sputtered, struggling desperately to remain conscious. What if he wasn’t?

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  With everything she could muster, Jade jerked up, then came down with both heels right on Fisher’s toes. But she’d worn a soft pair of slippers, suited to sneaking around, and Fisher’s feet were encased in sturdy boots. Fisher laughed again, and this time his arms relaxed the slightest bit as he did so.

  Jade bent her knees, trying to roll him off of her and reach her dagger at the same time. Fisher let go with one of his arms, gripping his own shirt just behind her neck instead, to keep the choke in place. It wasn’t as tight a grip. She could break it. And her dagger was within reach—

  “Ah!” Jade’s wrist cracked as Fisher grabbed it and gave it a merciless snap just before her fingers could close around the dagger. Broken. Jade fought tears of pain and despair.

  “Let her go.” Venture’s voice was a low rumble.

  Jade’s surge of hope was immediately pierced by regret. Venture was here, trapped, again. And this time it was her and not Felicity being held hostage.

  But Earnest stepped into the alley next to Venture, and then Father, wild-eyed with protective rage. This time, Venture wasn’t alone. Chance sprinted into the mouth of the alley. He saw Fisher holding Jade, and his big brown eyes got bigger. He pivoted and ran back the way he’d come, probably to get help.

  But a wall of men blocked his way. The tallest one moved like Dasher, only with a stilted air.

  Dear God. Four of them. One was that weasel, Border Wisecarver, but the others looked fearsome enough to make up for it.

  The tall one slammed the heel of his hand right into Chance’s jaw. Chance’s legs gave out and his head lolled to the side. Venture cried out in wordless rage and whirled on him with his sword. Father took on Border, and the other two presumably Crested men focused on Venture. A blade swung through the air, headed right for the back of Venture’s neck as he fought two of the men. Jade tried to scream, to warn him, but Fisher cinched his hold tighter.

  Earnest lunged in front of the blow, parrying it, saving Venture’s life, at least for the moment.

  “Drop your swords!” Fisher commanded, “unless you want me to gut this little tramp.”

  Tramp! Jade felt the pressure of Fisher’s dagger right in her belly, and fear devoured her outrage.

  The blur of limbs and the clash of swords ceased.

  Father held Border’s sword in one hand, his own in the other. He’d disarmed him. He didn’t lower the weapons, let alone drop them. Good for him. She would’ve congratulated him, if she weren’t about to die.

  Dear God, please. They can’t watch me die. Not both of them. Please. Oh, I’m such a fool of a girl. It’s all my fault. They don’t deserve this. The tears fell, blurring her vision. But through them, she could swear she saw Venture smile.

  Fisher stiffened, cried out, then released his grip. Jade stumbled forward on her hands and feet. She drank a deep breath of night air and drew her dagger. She stumbled around, lightheaded, and there was Dasher Starson, tossing his bloody dagger from his right hand to his left. He’d come around the other end of the alley, and sneaked up on Fisher from behind.

  Dasher drew his sword and so did Fisher. The clashing among the other men resumed.

  “Get Chance!” Venture shouted.

  Father sheathed one sword, handed Jade the other, and grabbed the unconscious boy under the arms and picked him up like a baby. Border tried to flee, but Jade barred his way, though she could barely lift her father’s sword with her left hand.

  Jade forced Border against the alley wall at sword-point. Behind her, the clashing gave way to ragged breathing and groans of pain. Dasher was
standing over Will Fisher, Venture over one of the other men. The other three lay dead.

  Earnest leaned against the wall next to Border. “How can you live with yourself?” He glared at his former student. Earnest’s face was dripping with sweat, his shoulder seeping blood where the Crested man’s blade had grazed it when he intervened between Venture and certain death.

  “Dauntless! Cousin!” On the ground at Venture’s feet, the Crested man pleaded pitifully. He was already badly wounded.

  “Do it, Champ!” Dasher shouted. “Finish him off.”

  Venture shook his head, and Dasher made a move toward them, ready to do it himself.

  Fisher took the opportunity to jump to his feet. He lunged for Coral, and she ran.

  Fisher staggered after her, grabbed the collar of her dress, and yanked her, shrieking, to the cobblestone. He raised a hammer fist to bash her in the face. With a leap, Jade was on him. She’d cast aside the too-heavy sword, and with her left hand she jabbed her knife deep into his ribs. He turned on her, but Venture was there, and his sword drove deeper. Fisher crumpled in a pool of blood.

  Venture drew his bloody sword out of Fisher’s body. His arms were shaking. A flash of hauntedness tainted his expression, but it was gone just as quick. He gave Jade a look of gratitude mixed with reproach.

  Dasher stood over the Crested man—his own cousin—sword raised, but it was too late for him anyway. He gurgled a last breath before going limp.

  Dasher’s shoulders jerked with grief. Chance blinked awake. Father had rested him against the alley wall. Jade moved to help him, but boots sounded on the cobblestone nearby—men, running toward them. They all scrambled for weapons. Father kept his sword trained on Border.

  Venture pushed Jade behind him.

  “Stay there, Jade,” Father said in his sternest voice. “You’ve done enough.”

  I’ve done enough. Father didn’t mean it that way, but now overpowering guilt mingled with her dread.

  But when the boots stopped at the mouth of the alley, Jade laughed with relief. It was Lance, Calling Fox, and Justice.

  “We heard the noise all the way back at the house,” Justice said. He glanced at the lifeless bodies sprawled on the cobblestone, then at his younger brother. “I see you took care of things.”

  “Fisher’s dead,” Venture said.

  Justice nodded grimly, his eyes shadowed with the ghosts of memories. “That’s good, Vent.”

  At Venture’s announcement, a little whimper had escaped Coral Fisher. A trickle of blood ran from her hairline into her eye from where she’d struck her head on the street. Because of the man whose loss she was grieving. Because of the villain she’d called her husband.

  Venture held a hand out to her.

  Coral fumbled in her pocket and offered him the bundle of papers, eyes wide with terror. Venture frowned and took them in his other hand. He leaned in, pushing his extended hand closer. She flinched.

  “Hey,” Venture said gently. “It’s okay.”

  Finally it dawned on Coral that he only meant to help her up. She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet.

  Venture untied the bundles and took a step closer to the street lamp’s glow. He skimmed through the documents, handing each of them to Dasher as he moved to the next.

  “They were going to kill Jade on the road back in Twin Rivers, but they weren’t going to blame it on highwaymen. They were going to blame it on me. Make it look like something had been going on between her and Dash. Like I’d lost my mind with jealousy and—” Venture’s voice caught.

  Jade could picture the story in the Crier. How easy it would’ve been to speculate that she’d given up on Venture and turned to Dasher, that Venture had found out about it while in the lockup, that he’d been pardoned, only to find her and kill her in a jealous rage.

  Venture turned his attention back to the papers. “Dasher’s cousin Storm was here to keep an eye on me and to make sure that Fisher got the job done this time. It looks like Coral here really was on her own.”

  “They must have been watching me and seen me meet with Miss Fieldstone.” Coral’s voice shook. “So they changed their plans and sent Will to follow me. They must’ve hoped she wouldn’t come alone. That you would be with her.”

  Dasher looked up from one of the papers and turned eyes blazing with fury on Border. “You? You recruited my family? You’re the one who turned my own brother against us?”

  “Not against you! Against—”

  But Dasher had Border’s throat in one hand, the incriminating document in the other.

  “You little worm!” Lance said.

  “Lance! Dash!” Venture said. “Don’t. I need you.” Free and respectable, not in the lockup for wringing Border’s neck. “I need you to help me go public with this.” Venture held up the bundle of papers. “We have everything we need right here.”

  Dasher released Border. He turned his back on him in disgust, recklessly throwing the paper at him. Border grabbed it and was about to rip it up, but Jade caught him right in the stomach with a swift side kick. The air oofed out of him and the paper fluttered to the cobblestone. Jade held her swelling wrist to her chest and gave him a kick in the ribs when he tried to rise. Then she cocked her good hand back, ready to pop him right in the eye.

  She stopped and looked up at Venture. “How could I forget? It’s your turn, isn’t it, Vent?” She released Border and stepped aside.

  Venture grabbed both of Border’s sleeves in one fist and twisted his arms behind his back. He pulled his fist back. Border flinched, but Venture lowered his hand without striking a blow. He smiled.

  “Do you know who I am, Border Wisecarver?”

  “You’re bonded scum. Always will be.”

  “He’s the Champion of all Richland, you little prick!” Lance said.

  “He’s my fighter and my friend!” Earnest said.

  Justice stepped right up to Border. “He’s my brother,” he hissed. “And all of us should’ve let him deal with you a long time ago.”

  Venture broke his glare at Border to stare in wonder at his friends. He put his free hand on Justice’s shoulder, and he backed off.

  Venture’s voice was raw as he told Border, “I’m Venture Delving, whether I’m bonded or free. No matter what you try to call me. No matter what anyone tries to make me. You got that, Border?”

  Venture gave Border a shake. “I’m Force Delving’s son, and Mercy Delving’s too. My father taught me to fight for what’s right and my mother taught me that the only one I belong to is the One who made me.”

  Venture’s dark blue eyes shone with would-be tears. He wouldn’t let them fall. But Jade did. The streams of relief and love for him washed over her cheeks, and she didn’t bother wiping them away. He was going to be okay. Venture was really going to be okay.

  Venture took a visible breath, and then the old spark of little-boy mischief replaced the other emotions in his eyes. “Today,” he said, opening his fist and giving Border’s cheek a gentle slap, “I’m the man who didn’t give you a black eye.” He twisted Border’s wrists tighter. “But don’t think I’m going to let you go. I won’t make that mistake again. You’ll answer to the law for this if there’s any justice left in Richland.”

  Earnest clamped a hand over his bloody shoulder. “How do we know they’re not going to cover it up? Some of the capital lawmen must have been involved in Fisher’s escape, whether they knew who was behind it or not.”

  Jade’s own injury throbbed with pain, but she couldn’t help smiling. She knew exactly what to do. “We show the papers to Lacy Clearwater first. We hand them over to the lawmen tomorrow, after it’s too late to stop the press.”

  Venture met her eye and laughed. Jade wanted him to laugh like that forever, to look at her like that always.

  “She’s brilliant, Champ.” Dasher smiled past his pain at his cousin’s death, his family’s treachery, at the secret none of them would ever tell Venture—the grain of truth among the Crested lies—that he
might have wanted her for himself.

  “Yes,” Venture said, “she is.”

  Jade wanted nothing more than to run into Venture’s arms, but he turned Border over to Lance and knelt to check on Chance. Before she could join Venture, her father wrapped his shaky arms around her. She let him hold her tight as she listened to the others talk about what had happened and what they were going to do.

  Calling and Lance checked the bodies for evidence of their identities and gathered scattered weapons. Chance was dizzy and confused, but Earnest assured them he’d dealt with such head injuries many times. He’d be fine in a few weeks at the most.

  “What about you?” Venture examined Earnest’s shoulder.

  “A few stitches, that’s all.”

  Father gave her a tighter squeeze. “I thought I’d lost you.”

  “I’m sorry, Father.”

  He held her at arms’ length and looked her over. He frowned at her swollen hand, then cupped her chin in his and smiled. “It’s not me you’re going to have to answer to,” he said wistfully. “Not for long.” He let her go, and he glanced at Venture.

  Venture’s mouth turned up in that crooked smile. He took her uninjured hand in his. He looked deep into her eyes. The Venture she loved. The Venture who knew her like no one else.

  “Marry me, Jade Fieldstone. Have a family with me.”

  Jade’s heart stopped. All around her, the men fell silent. “What?” The word barely came out. “Now?”

  “Yes.” He tugged her hand, drawing her closer. “Well, not right here . . .” Venture glanced around the street. “But soon.”

  She could see the certainty, the readiness in his unwavering look. But . . . she’d kept things from him. Almost cost them all their lives. “Even after this?”

  “Especially after this.”

  He brought his lips to hers and kissed her tenderly, lightly.

  “Yes,” a familiar voice interrupted. “The two of you deserve each other. This proves it, once and for all.”

  It was Grandmother, with Tempest and a handful of lawmen at her side. She gave the bodies a grimace, then shook her head at Venture and Jade.