The Unwilling Accomplice (Book 5)

by Heidi Willard

  Fred and Martley flailed atop the unconscious sailor until they managed to sit atop his body. They watched helplessly as Sins battled on his own for their safety. Their hearts leapt at his winning, but the tides turned against them when Captain Lee stepped forward. The captain was obviously skilled in such duels, and he gained the upper hand against Sins. Fred grasped his sticks and wished for them to work, but his wish wasn't granted.

  Martley glanced over her shoulder between the moored lifeboat and the sword their seat had dropped. "We must escape while the crew is distracted," she whispered to him.

  Fred turned to her with a frown. "I won't leave Sins," he told her.

  "If we don't leave now we may never get another chance," she argued.

  "Then you go. I won't leave him," Fred insisted. He clumsily stood to his feet and wobbled a bit before he gained his balance without the use of his arms.

  Martley stood and blocked his way. Her eyes caught his with their silent plea. "Fred, please listen to me. You must not let yourself face Canavar. He means to take you for himself, and maybe even kill you," she told him.

  "He can try," Fred bit back. He pushed through her and was in time to see Captain Lee jab at Sins.

  The captain's sword stabbed into Sins' side. The assassin's eyes widened and he grasped the blade between his quivering fingers to keep Lee from pushing it in further. Blood slid from his chest and hand down the blade and dripped onto Lee's fingers. Captain Lee smiled and yanked the sword from Sins' body. Sins fell to his knees and clutched at the dripping wound. The captain stood triumphant over Sins, and his eyes shone with a wild, merciless light.

  "You're quite good, but your skills need improvement. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I can't allow you that time." He raised his bloodied sword to lop off Sins' head.

  "No!" Fred yelled as he slammed into Captain Lee's side.

  They toppled to the deck in a mess of legs and arms. Fred raised himself over Lee's chest and knocked his forehead into the captain's own head. The back of Captain Lee's head slammed into the deck and he was momentarily stunned. Fred's eyes widened when he felt himself raised off Lee's prone body by the back of his coat. He flew backward with the captain receding away from him, and glanced over his shoulder. Sins had a hold of him and raced across the deck toward Martley. The assassin tucked her under his other arm and his feet pounded along the boards toward the railing.

  Fred's eyes widened when he realized Sins wasn't slowing down as they approached the edge of the ship. "Sins? Sins!" he yelled.

  Sins hurled himself and the two in his grasp over the railing. They fell the ten feet along the side of the ship and splashed into the water. Fred's open eyes glimpsed the side and rear of the ship as it sailed quickly past him and disappeared into the darkness. Fred choked on water and tried to kick his way to the surface, but his manacled feet and arms dragged him down into the dark depths. Through the darkness he glimpsed Martley a few feet off, and between them the water was stained with the color of Sins' blood. Fred felt his head grow woozy and his movements sluggish as the air in his lungs was depleted. He thrashed and grasped his staff, but he sank deeper to a cold, watery grave.

  Just as he was about to lose consciousness Fred's bleary eyes glimpsed a thin thread of light. It reached to just above the sinking group and split off into three smaller threads. Each thread had a hook on the end, and the hooks caught hold of their collars. Fred gasped in surprise and choked on water when he was yanked upward along with his two companions. The thread dragged them upward, and he took a deep breath of air when he broke the surface. The glowing string lifted them completely out of the water and the three slowly twirled on the line. Sins was close by clutching at his wound and glaring at the world. Martley's long hair covered her face and her dress sagged on her body.

  "Fred!" a voice yelled.

  Fred glanced over his shoulder and saw a small schooner behind him. At the bow stood his other companions, Ruth, Pat, Canto and Ned. Ned was at the front of them with his staff in his hand, and from the top came the thread of light. His beard didn't hide his broad grin.

  "It seems I'm not as out of fishing practice as I assumed," Ned chuckled.

  Aboard the other ship Captain Lee stood at the railing and watched the rescue take place. His ever-present suave smile lay on his lips as he pushed off from the railings and turned to his crew. They tended their wounded and prepared their dead for burial at sea. He stepped through the mess and to the entrance of his cabin. The captain opened the door and the light from the deck shone on the still form near the desk.

  Captain Lee stepped inside, firmly closed the door behind himself, and strode slowly over to the body. He knelt down beside Percy and his eyebrows raised when he noticed the young man still breathed. "I must compliment you on your resilience. A lesser man would be dead by now," he commented.

  Percy opened his eyes and creakily moved his head to glare at Lee. One of his hands clutched onto the dagger still in his gut and he spoke through clenched teeth. "Finish me or keep me," he ordered him.

  Lee tilted his head to one side. "I believe I shall keep you, at least for the present. My Master still has a use for you," he replied. He grabbed hold of the handle of the dagger and yanked it from Percy's stomach. Percy cried out and ground his teeth together. "Calm yourself. This will be over soon," he told the young man. He reached into Percy's pocket and pulled out the small bit of Region Stone from Crutchen. The stone glistened in the faint light of the cabin. Lee pushed aside Percy's hand that clutched the wound and glanced at the hole. The captain winced and clucked his tongue. "Very fatal. Your assassin companion has good aim," he admired. Percy glared at him, but the man only smiled. "Yes, I suppose I am dawdling. Hold still now." Lee shoved the small stone into the bloody hole.

  The captain stood and watched as dark tendrils poured from Percy's wound. The young man screamed and writhed on the floor. His mouth frothed and his limbs convulsed. The tendrils wrapped around him and covered his body in their thick, strong arms. Percy's struggles weakened. His legs ceased to kick and his arms fell limp onto the boards. In a few seconds the tendrils were absorbed into his body, and an unconscious Percy was revealed to the captain.

  Lee noticed Percy's breathing even out and color return to his face. "I have granted your wish for power, Percy. Let us see how you use it," the captain whispered.

  CHAPTER 26

  Ned finished reeling them onto the deck of the ship. Pat grasped Fred's shoulders as he spilled seawater onto the boards. "Are you hurt? Is there anything the matter with you?" she asked him.

  Fred managed a weak smile. "Nothing a little dry land won't fix," he told her.

  Pat smiled back and looked him over for wounds and other such abuse. She was visibly relieved to see none of him was harmed except his wet, limp clothes. Her eyes turned to Martley who sat nearby against some crates stacked in the center-rear of the bow. Pat's face darkened, but Martley smiled. "You are very concerned about him," Martley mused.

  "What business is it of yours?" Pat shot back. Martley leaned her head away and closed her eyes, but said nothing more.

  Martley's eyes opened when she felt someone kneel before her. Ruth sat on her knees in front of Martley, and in her hands was a blanket. "You must be very cold," Ruth commented.

  "Yes, but I have been through far worse ordeals," Martley told her.

  "This blanket will make this ordeal less worse," Ruth replied. She set the blanket around Martley's shoulders, and the older woman scrutinized Ruth's face.

  "You have kind eyes. I am sorry you are forced to see such horrors," Martley told Ruth as her eyes glanced over at Sins.

  The assassin was leaned against the railing close to where he'd been reeled in. Canto and Tolen knelt in front of him and inspected Sins' wounds. Blood freely flowed from the jab in the gut and mixed with the seawater to spill like thin paint onto the deck. Sins' teeth ground together as the salt in the water irritated his wounds.

  The dwarf frowned at the stab and glanced at the assassi
n's pale face. "An inch closer to yer heart and Ah wouldn't be needing to look at this," Canto commented.

  "Then I am fortunate Captain Lee's aim is not as good as he boasts," Sins weakly replied.

  "He will be fine. A bit sore for some weeks, but I will use my skills in medicine to heal him," Tolen assured the pair.

  Telana moved forward to stand near Ned at the bow. Her eyes gazed out on the ship retreating beyond the horizon. "Should we follow them? We may be able to catch them," she pointed out.

  "But you couldn't harm them," Martley spoke up. With Ruth's help she shakily stood to her feet. "The ship is enchanted and nothing can do it, nor the crew, harm."

  Telana looked the woman over with a raised eyebrow. "That is very interesting to know, but who are you and what were you doing aboard that vessel?" she questioned the stranger.

  Martley smiled and bowed her head. "I am Lady Martley and as I am sure Ned will not hesitate to inform you I was the intruder into your fine city."

  "And what was your dealings with Captain Lee?" Telana persisted. Martley smiled, but her lips remained closed. Telana looked to two sailors who stood behind Martley. "Take her to the hold and watch her carefully."

  "Wait," Fred spoke up. He stood, but leaned heavily on Pat. "She isn't with Captain Lee. She tried to help me escape, and might have succeeded if the captain hadn't put these manacles on us," he informed them.

  Ned frowned and strode over to the young man. He lifted the manacles in one of his hands and admired the craftsmanship. "This is very powerful castor magic," he commented. He tapped the metal with his staff and the manacles fell onto the deck with a loud thud. Fred grasped his sticks in front of him and was relieved when they transformed into the staff.

  Canto scoffed. "Doesn't seem like much magic there," he argued.

  "Captain Lee said only a castor could free them," Fred told them.

  "A very useful spell if a free castor is not on hand," Ned commented.

  Telana looked to Martley's manacles. "Leave hers on until we reach the city and take her below," she ordered Ned and the guards. Martley was marched off to the holding cell. The princess turned to the group. "I feel I must apologize for allowing such a rogue as Captain Lee into the city to cause you such anguish," she apologized.

  Ned smiled and shook his head. "If it is anyone who is to blame it is your cousin," he pointed out.

  "Then I must still apologize, for he is of my blood," she insisted.

  "Nonsense. You could not have known he would be a partner to such crimes," Ruth consoled her.

  Telana shook her head. "No, I should have seen that my cousin would come to a bad end, though I must admit I could never have foreseen Captain Lee's attempts to kidnap your friend. I cannot fathom what would have caused him to perform such a desperate and despicable act."

  "Money. Ya can't trust these captains," Canto grumbled.

  "Whatever their reasons the traitors are revealed," Ned soothed her.

  "There are three traitors," Sins spoke up. The group turned their attention to the assassin. Tolen's healing arts had stopped the blood flow and some color had returned to his normally-pale face. "Percy betrayed us."

  "Percy?" Pat gasped.

  Canto's eyes narrowed and he scrutinized Sins' face. "Why'd he go and do something like that?" he questioned the assassin's words.

  "Greed. I have watched him for some time and I believe he was collecting remains of the Region Stones for his own purpose," Sins explained.

  Telana furrowed her brow as a memory surfaced in her mind. "He had picked a small portion of the destroyed stone of my city," she reminded them.

  Ned sighed, leaned heavily on his staff, and shook his head. "It seems he was more like his father than we assumed. I pity him for the road he has chosen to travel," he commented.

  "Ah don't," Canto snapped. He stood and his hands were fists at his side. "If what Sins is saying is true, and Ah won't quite believe it, then that brat's been fooling us since the beginning and was only using us to get at the rocks."

  "We must contain our anger for the present, and attend to our companions. No doubt the future will allow us some compensation for this betrayal," Ned advised them.

  "We will not need to worry about Percy," Sins told them. The companions glanced at each other, but didn't deign to inquire further. They needed only to know Sins' profession to know what happened to Percy.

  Fred looked to Ned with a confused expression. "What happened with Ransan?" he wondered.

  Telana sighed. "My cousin assisted Captain Lee in setting the Diluvian bees loose on my city. He was to give the blame to your friends and be rewarded by my father for his services. Fortunately, we discovered one of his men setting a box and confronted my cousin with the truth," she revealed.

  Fred furrowed his brow. "Ransan, Lee, and Canavar," he muttered.

  Ned overheard the final name and raised an eyebrow. "That is our tale, but what of yours? How did you come to be aboard Lee's ship and what did he say to you?" he asked Fred.

  "It was Canavar. He led me to Lee, and the captain meant to take me to Canavar in that ship of his," Fred told them.

  Ned stroked his beard and there was a deep frown on his lips. "Very troubling. Did Lee happen to say where you were headed?"

  "No, only that it would take a fortnight to get there at the speed were were traveling," Fred told him.

  Pat glanced at Ned. "He meant to take the rest of Fred's soul?" she guessed.

  "That is a question best answered by our insane adversary. For now we should allow our companions time to recover, and speak more when our feet are on land and had some rest," he advised.

  Their ship returned to the city and sailed into the calm port. The bees were defeated and stored in one of the warehouses, and the ship was met with King Theowin and a small retinue. The plank had hardly been set down before he was aboard.

  Theowin's concerned eyes swept across the deck and they fell on Fred's disheveled appearance and Sins' bloodied clothes. "I was informed the ship had sailed, but not given the reason. What is the matter? What has happened here to cause the ship to sail?" he asked the companions and his daughter.

  "Traitorous deeds have been done, old friend, but these things are better spoke in private," Ned advised him.

  Theowin frowned, but bowed his head. "Of course. Allow my men and I to escort your companions and yourself back to the castle."

  "And there is a prisoner, Father," Telana informed him. "She is the same who intruded on the city several nights ago."

  Theowin raised an eyebrow and his eyes flitted over to Ned. "More to discuss in private?" he guessed.

  "Yes," Ned replied.

  "Very well. Lead the prisoner to the dungeons and I will speak with her myself at a later time," he ordered the guards.

  The ship guards brought Martley from the hold. Gone was all the majesty she had shown at Galaron. Her hair was disheveled and the blanket still lay on her shoulders. Water dripped from her dress which lay in crumpled folds around her lithe body. The manacles pinned her arms behind her back and ankles, and she shuffled across the deck.

  Fred moved to stand close to where the guards led her with his staff clasped tightly in his hands. Pat moved to stop him, but Ned put a hand on her shoulder. She turned and Ned shook his head. When Martley and her entourage reached him her feet tripped and she fell forward. Fred jumped forward and caught her before she fell onto the deck. She lay in his arms so her eyes looked up into his, and a soft smile graced her lips.

  "I'm sorry. I didn't want this to happen to you," he told her.

  "Always so kind," she whispered to him.

  "I'll help you out of here somehow," he promised.

  Martley leaned up and pressed her lips against his cheek. She felt cold against his warm skin. Martley pulled away and her expression had changed to bemusement. "You already have," she told him.

  Theowin moved to stand beside Fred. "You may speak with the prisoner later, Fred. For now she must be kept secured in the dungeon,
" he told him. At a signal from their king the guards strode forward and grasped Martley's arms. They pulled them apart and marched her off the ship and away down the docks.

  The companions and elves followed behind. A cart was ordered for Sins, but his eyes sneered at the idea and he strode down the gangplank and onto the docks with a confident, albeit slow, stride. Pat stayed at Fred's side as he departed, but physically he was fine. Verbally he spoke nothing and his eyes held a faraway look in them. His thoughts lay with Martley and their conversation below deck. He wanted, no, needed to find out what else she knew, even if he had to sneak inside the jail to see her.

  CHAPTER 27

  Halfway up the stairs of the city Tolen stopped the party. "I will have an easier time healing your friend's wounds at the library. There are herbs I can use to keep infection away," he informed them. All eyes turned to Sins. His stubbornness had carried him that far up the steps, but the ill pallor had returned to his face and perspiration slid down his forehead.

  Ruth moved over to Sins' side and looped her arms through one of his own. "I will accompany you," she told him. Sins' eyes narrowed, but he didn't argue. The three disappeared into the maze of streets toward the library.

  The remaining group returned to the castle just as the last rays of the sun disappeared behind the horizon. In the entrance hall the king turned to his guests. "After such a trying day I advise you all to rest and partake of however much food would satiate your appetites. I will have meats and drink brought to the feasting hall," he offered them. "Tomorrow when you are rested and fed we will discuss all that has happened today."

  "Ah'll pass on the food. Ah've got a bad taste in my mouth," Canto spoke up. Everyone looked at him in amazement, but he ignored them and marched off to his room.