Rise of the Serpent (Serpent's War Book 2)

by Jason Halstead

  “Indeed. It is a peculiar day. Pleasure is certainly a possibility.”

  Namitus tilted his head at her unusual words. Was she flirting with him? He hoped not. It wasn’t that she didn’t possess a striking beauty, but he’d heard from Garrick and Mordrim what made her a little extra special. An accident with her potions long ago had changed Arcturion, an old friend of the wizard Kar, into Arcturia. Kar claimed she tried for many years to reverse the effects but was only partially successful. The partial part was hidden beneath her dress.

  The rogue cleared his throat and smiled. “Yes, well, pleasantries aside, I have been sent on business.”

  “Business? You wish to purchase something from me?”

  Namitus frowned. Kar had said she was a friend and ally. He didn’t expect to have to pay for information. “Well, I suppose I may have limited means. But I don’t seek any of your potions. The king wants to hear news from someone he trusts about the Order of the Dragon.”

  “I see,” she said and smiled. Arcturia turned and walked into her spacious house, showing that her back and sides were bare to the swell of her bottom. She turned her head back to look at him and smiled. “Come in, Namitus. It’s been a long time.”

  Namitus frowned as he walked in. He was almost afraid to ask but he couldn’t resist the bait. “A long time? For what, since you’ve had company?”

  She smiled. “No, silly, since I’ve seen you.”

  Namitus froze. “You’ve…seen me?”

  “I have,” she confessed. “I knew your mother, though I doubt your mother ever knew me.”

  The rogue reached out to put his hand on a table to steady himself. “My mother?”

  “And your family that you stayed with,” she continued.

  He shook his head and forced out a laugh. “How is this possible? Unless—does Kar know this?”

  “I’ve never shared with anyone not directly involved with your family.”

  Namitus stared at the floor, chasing fleeting memories and stories he’d heard. None of them included a witch. Or a wizard, he supposed. He shook his head and looked to see her studying him.

  “You’ve done well for yourself. Better than I expected, given your indiscretions as a child.”

  “Oh geeze, you really were watching me,” he groaned.

  Arcturia chuckled. “You played with fire at an early age. You’re gifted to have escaped unburnt.”

  Namitus blushed. “I don’t know about that. I got a little too close a few times.”

  “The Order?”

  He nodded. “That was the worst.”

  “No, I meant you wanted to know of it,” she said.

  “Oh!” Namitus laughed and shook his head. “Sorry. Yes. Alto’s sister seems to have thrown her lot in with them of her own will this time. She believes in their reform and thinks they desire to help stabilize the nations of Kroth and promote peace.”

  “You do not?”

  “My scars run deeper than the skin,” he explained. “Alto and the rest of our friends feel the same.”

  “I don’t need to ask this, but I will anyhow. Has Kar ensured there is no magical influence in place on this woman?”

  “Lady Caitlin? Yes, he has confirmed that she has reached her decision without influence,” Namitus answered. “At least no magical influence.”

  She frowned. “I can tell you that they have come forth down here and have successfully ingratiated themselves with nearly every bastion of influence in the empire. As you said, they seem to be seeking to atone for past misunderstandings and claim they seek a stronger bond between nations.”

  Namitus sighed. “Doesn’t seem harmful in the least. I still don’t trust them.”

  “And you shouldn’t,” she said. “What happens with peace and tolerance and trust?”

  Namitus’s brow wrinkled as he considered her question. “People let down their guard?”

  “Indeed they do. The well-fed wolf becomes a pet that sleeps in the room with the children. But it’s still a wolf, and one day it will be hungry again.”

  Namitus stiffened. “Saints!”

  “Not the saints, my friend—something far more sinister.”

  “Do you have any proof of this? Any source?”

  She shook her head. “It’s a possibility, nothing more. But it does bring up another bit of news I’ve heard recently that may be related.”

  “Oh?” Namitus urged.

  “Splisskin,” she said, drawing a shudder from the rogue. “They’ve been troublesome of late. Destroying villages and butchering people. Just today I learned of a village that was burned to the ground recently, southwest of the desert of Shazamir.”

  Namitus scowled. “I’ve yet to meet one of them that’s worth the air that they breathe.”

  “You’re biased?”

  “Damn right I am,” he muttered.

  “Well, this won’t help,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “They’re searching for half-bloods.”

  Namitus jerked.

  She nodded. “Yes, you heard right. My sources assumed it was half-elves, but when I informed them people such as yourself are not the only beings with a split heritage, they agreed there might be more to it.”

  Namitus held up a hand to stop her. “Wait…when did you learn this?”

  “Earlier today.”

  “Saints,” he muttered. “And I showed up later? Did you—no, you couldn’t. Or could you? If you’d watched me before…”

  “I did not know you were coming,” she guessed. “If that’s what you want to know.”

  He nodded. “So how unlikely is it that I show up on the day you learn this news?”

  “Very,” she said. “But how many unlikely occurrences have you endured in your life thus far?”

  Namitus snorted. “Too many. There’s something afoot. Something sinister. And I bet the Order’s behind it. Again. They’re like a nest of vipers: kill one and another replaces it.”

  “I did some checking and I might know where you can learn more,” she offered.

  “Do tell.”

  “You first,” she said. “Tell me, when was the last time you saw your mother’s family?”

  Namitus winced. “Close to two decades. I was little but trouble for them. They weren’t bad people, but they were simple and didn’t need me complicating their lives.”

  “So you ran away.”

  He shrugged. “I chose to live a different life. I sent them money when I could to pay back for all the hardships I may have caused.”

  “For simple people, as you claim they are, family is worth the hardship.”

  Namitus sighed. “This is why my past stays in my past. I wish them no ill will, but I also have nothing in common with them. I never did.”

  “Because you’re part elf?”

  Namitus shrugged. “Because I’m me. I never gave thought or care to what blood runs in my veins. It’s my blood—that’s what matters. And I’m loathe to part with it.”

  The witch chuckled. “Yet you run the risk of doing so whenever you can. You are a most peculiar young man, Namitus.”

  He grinned. “Part of my charm. I like to think I’m quick on my feet.”

  “So you must be, to live as you do,” she agreed. “Very well, my curiosity is sated. Now I will tell you of a person you should speak with. Lariki commands a company of mercenaries in the south. Lariki leads a company known as the Vultures.”

  “That sounds…gruesome.”

  “Part of their charm,” she said, twisting his words against him.

  Namitus smirked and opened his mouth when a chime sounded through the house. He spun about, looking for the source of the musical note but couldn’t locate it anywhere.

  Arcturia tilted her head and then shook it. “My, my, what an unusual day. Three visitors so far. I fear I may not get any of my research done.”

  “What? Where did that come from?” Namitus asked.

  “Magic, my friend,” she told him as she swept past him towards the door. “Magic.�
��

  The door opened before Arcturia reached it, leaving a young woman and an older man standing and staring in with open mouths. Arcturia smiled and turned to Namitus. “You have visitors.”

  “Amra? Lyden?” Namitus stammered. “What—”

  “You said you were coming here,” Amra blurted out.

  “Sir Namitus,” Lyden said with a pained stiffness in his voice. “I was hoping to talk to you about your earlier offer.”

  “Sir Namitus?” Arcturia turned to face him. “Oh, of course. You’re one of Alto’s trusted circle. Of course he’d grant you title in his kingdom. Which is it, then?”

  Namitus sighed. “Knight of the Court,” he said. “Sooner or later we’ll get around to worrying about the land and setting up fiefs, but until then, this is enough.”

  “Quite the honor, to be in the presence of nobility.”

  Namitus snorted.

  “Now then, since they’re here for you and our business is done, run along if you please. I have potions to brew.”

  Namitus nodded and stood still for a moment, uncertain of what to do. He started to turn and then stopped and thought better of it. He reached down and pulled a small pouch from his belt and handed it to the witch. “Would you see to it that my mother’s family gets this?”

  “Not your family?”

  “My family is in the north,” Namitus said. He smiled at Amra and Lyden and turned to step outside with them. The heat washed over him as soon as he crossed the threshold of the door, causing him to grunt under his breath.

  “Farewell, Sir Namitus,” Arcturia said with a twinkle in her eye. “Good luck in your travels. Oh, and might I suggest the Spotted Lizard for your conversation?”

  Namitus looked at the tailor and his daughter before turning back to see Arcturia’s door shut. He frowned and turned back to them. “Well, if you’re reconsidering, let’s go reconsider it over an ale.”

  Lyden hesitated and then nodded. Amra offered a nervous smile. Namitus shrugged and turned away. He knew where the Spotted Lizard was; he’d stalked the place in the past, searching for his mother in case she wandered by. Now even that was in his past. He was responsible, in part, for the affairs of a kingdom.

  Yes, an ale sounded like a great way to proceed.

  * * * *

  Namitus surveyed the common room of the bar after the door swung shut behind him. Less than half the tables were filled and of those, only one had more than two people. He studied the table for a long second and then moved on to a table to his left, in the front corner of the bar. Namitus grunted and moved to take a spot at the table where he could keep his eyes on the other table full of people.

  After Amra and Lyden took their seats, a barmaid hurried over to join them and took their order. After she left, the rogue turned to Lyden. “You wished to reconsider? What, exactly, are you reconsidering?”

  “Yes, I did,” the tailor glanced at his daughter and said, “Your offer, that is.”

  Namitus smirked and reached down to untie the satchel from around his waist. He hoisted it up and laid it on the table. “Fine, but dinner’s on you. I gave my other pouch to the witch.”

  Lyden took it and pulled it across the table. He hesitated and glanced at his daughter. Amra’s eyes dropped to the table and she sucked her lips between her teeth. Lyden nodded and pushed the satchel back across to Namitus.

  “What in the nine hells are you doing?” Namitus blurted. “You came all this way to—”

  Lyden held up his hand, making Namitus pause. “Consider this a dowry for my daughter. Take her from this city, to your kingdom and your king. Or at least somewhere where she has a better chance at a future.”

  Namitus’s lips parted as he stared at the tailor.

  “I’d hoped for a different reaction,” Lyden admitted. “I thought you said you wanted to buy her back at my shop.”

  “I did…I mean, I was making small talk. Setting the tone?” Namitus shook his head. “She’s a fine young lady, but a dowry? I’m not…I don’t…I mean…”

  Lyden chuckled. “I understand. My apologies. Such arrangements happen down here and I thought…well, it’s no matter.”

  Namitus sighed. “I know. I’m from Mira. I would be happy to take her with me. I was truthful about finding a job for her. We need good people and I’ve seen her work. She has her father’s skill.”

  Lyden looked to his daughter again. Amra swallowed and kept her eyes down.

  “Look at me, Amra,” Namitus said.

  She glanced up, but it took her three tries until she could hold his gaze.

  “Is this what you want?”

  “What she wants doesn’t—”

  Namitus frowned and shook his head. “It does matter,” he insisted. “It matters very much. I will be traveling light and fast. If I need to worry about her trying to slow me down or run away, I’m not going to bother.”

  She tilted her head but said nothing.

  Lyden turned to her and opened his mouth but instead of talking, he leaned to the right and stared at the other table. He grunted and shook his head, and then turned back. “Sorry, I was admiring that woman’s dress. Simple and cheap fabric, but the way it’s held together shows the skill of a master.”

  Amra turned to glance over her shoulder at the woman. She turned back and nodded, agreeing with her father’s assessment.

  “I’ll take your word for it,” Namitus said. “Now back to Amra. Do you wish to go?”

  “I…” She hesitated and glanced at her father and then back to Namitus. “If if won’t hurt my father’s business, yes, I would like that.”

  “No running or whining or carrying on?”

  She pressed her lips together while her father snickered.

  “She’s a tough young woman, I guarantee you that.”

  Namitus nodded. “All right, then we’ll need to settle up, since I won’t accept a dowry as I’m not looking to wed her.”

  Lyden’s eyes went to the large pouch. “I don’t understand.”

  Namitus pulled the satchel and unbuckled the flap. He glanced about the room before pulling out smaller pouches. He slid four of them across the table. “Payment from the Kingdom of Altonia for your daughter’s service. Consider it a signing bonus.”

  “Shouldn’t she get it?” Lyden asked.

  All eyes went to Amra, causing her face to darken. She kept her poise and said, “What I make I will keep. This, I want you to keep. You’ll need it to hire a replacement.”

  Lyden frowned but his frown didn’t last. He slipped them into his shirt with a nod. “I should get back to my shop,” he said and started to rise.

  “You won’t dine with us?” Namitus asked.

  Lyden considered the offer for a moment before shaking his head. “I think not. I appreciate the offer and appreciate what you are doing for Amra. Shazamir is not what it once was. We were a mighty nation once. Perhaps we had our troubles, but what I see happening to the city of Mira seems to take away from who we once were. Our pride and heritage is fading. Greed rules the hearts of men here now.”

  “Come with us,” Amra urged.

  Her father shook his head. “I cannot. I have my duties, and you have yours. Heed this young man as you would me.”

  Namitus managed to keep his comments to himself while Amra rose and embraced her father. He returned it and then stiffened and cleared his throat. With a final nod to Namitus, he turned and hurried out of the tavern.

  Namitus watched Amra sit down again and studied her. She stared back and dropped her eyes to the satchel still on the table.

  “Why did you slip one of those pouches into my tool pouch earlier?” she asked.

  Namitus smiled. “I did no such thing. You must have picked my pocket.”

  She snorted. “I think nothing could be further from the truth. Are you for real, or just a thief who has gotten lucky?”

  “Would that I had this sort of luck,” he said. “And if that was all I was, what reason would I have to come to your father’s
shop?”

  She grunted and leaned back as the barmaid returned with the drinks. Her eyes went to the spot that Lyden had vacated. She shrugged and delivered all three drinks before turning and heading back to tend to other customers.

  “You are a very strange man, Sir Namitus.”

  Namitus smiled. “I’ve been getting that a lot today. And please, drop the title. At least between us. It makes me feel old…or at least proper.”

  “You’re not proper?”

  The rogue grinned. “I could tell you stories.”

  “I like stories. Go ahead.”

  He drank from his cup before saying, “What else can you tell me about the elf with the simple but masterful dress?”

  Amra gasped and turned around. She studied the elven woman and the human girl for several seconds before turning back to face him. “Sorry, I don’t get many chances to be this close to an elf. Two elves with two humans, that seems odd.”

  A chair scraped across the floor. The large human stood up and turned towards them. Namitus kept his groan internal but did say, “You looked too long.”

  “What? I—”

  Namitus nodded as the warrior with the massive axe walked around the table and stared down at the drink. “Anybody drinking this?” he asked.

  Namitus grinned and waved with his hand at the drink. “I was hoping you’d want it. Seemed a shame to let it go to waste.”

  The man grinned and reached down. His fingers barely closed around it before the girl stepped beside him and reproached him, “Gor! That’s not yours.”

  “By all means, young miss, I have given it to him,” Namitus said.

  Gor grinned and looked at her.

  “Is it water?” she asked.

  Namitus chuckled. “Of course not! What—oh.” He stopped when he saw her face harden. He offered an apologetic shrug to Gor and said, “Oh, I see.”

  “No ale, remember? You gave me your word,” she said to the man.

  “Bring a thirsty man to a tavern,” he grumbled. “That’s like taking a lion to freshly slain deer and telling him not to eat.”

  “Except this lion has enough control, doesn’t he?”

  Gor scowled and pushed the ale back.

  Namitus watched their exchange and then glanced at Amra. The girl with Gor didn’t look wealthy or noble, but she gave him orders as though she was. Even more, she looked to be about the same age as Amra. Not impossible or even uncommon, but something seemed amiss about them.