“You know we can’t tell you that, Faela,” Talise said with a wink. “It’s one of the many reasons we’re worth that much coin.”
“Do you know where he was heading when he left?” Caleb asked both of them, but specifically directed the question to Kade.
“I couldn’t say,” Kade said, “I was barely able to hold up my head when he left.”
“Kade, I want to help you,” Caleb said clearly torn between conflicting duties, “but I can’t just run off with my bounty still out there. It might not seem as important, but our reputation is the foundation of our operation. I can’t just abandon a contract. Do you think he’ll come back?”
“Not if he values his life,” Faela said with a snort. “Though he was unconscious during the fight, he did see Kade’s handiwork. Anyone with any lick of sense wouldn’t come back after getting on Kade’s bad side twice.”
“Well, I’m not comfortable leaving Faela here with those injuries,” Talise said with an authoritative tilt of her head. “I think the first thing we need to do is get her back to the cabin so she can heal up before she continues on.”
“Continues on?” Caleb asked his wife in confusion. “I’m not letting her out of my sight until we get this thing resolved.”
“Babe, look at her eyes. She’s been marked. You skulking over her as a bodyguard won’t change what she is or where she has to go.”
“It’ll bloody well keep anyone from trying to drag her back to Finalaran,” Caleb protested.
“Why can’t she just stay with you?” Kade asked trying to subdue his excitement at finally getting answers.
“My guess,” Talise said with a flash of blue in her eyes, “is she's searching for the Shrine.”
“Caleb, how did you ever manage to land such an intelligent woman?” Chuckling, Faela shook her head at her brother.
Rubbing his chin, Caleb struck a dramatic pose. “My stunning good looks naturally.”
“I'll say.” Talise growled low in her throat.
“But the Shrine is just a story. It’s a myth.” Kade objected, focusing on Talise's earlier statement.
“You mean like someone being Gray?” Faela interrupted, the side of her mouth quirked up.
“Yes,” Kade answered reflexively, “Well, no. But the Shrine isn’t an real place any more, if it ever did exist. It was destroyed.”
“That’s not precisely true,” Faela said chewing on her bottom lip.
“What isn’t true?” a voice asked from the entrance of the cave.
All eyes turned to see a tall, thin boy standing in the entrance with a goofy smile and a full pack that had various objects hanging off its sides. At his appearance, Kade burst out laughing and Faela buried her face in her hands and groaned.
Walking into the cave, Jair set down his goodies. “You going to introduce me to your friends, fairest Faela?”
Caleb stared incredulously as his bounty walked toward him holding his hand out. “Hail, friend, I’m Jair Rafferty.”
Blinking Caleb looked at Kade and asked, “Is he serious?”
Jair looked confused. “What’s wrong?”
“This is,” Caleb said in disbelief. “This is so wrong.”
Faela lifted her face out of her hands. “Jair, this is my brother, Caleb, and his wife, Talise.”
“That’s brilliant,” Jair said with a grin. “You really do have a brother. That’s reassuring. I mean I know you lied to Kade about going to visit him, but it’s nice to know you actually do have a brother. The honor is mine, Caleb.”
“Okay, now I’m starting to feel guilty,” Caleb said to Faela. “Make him stop.”
Faela sighed. “Jair, my brother is a bounty hunter.”
“Well now, that’s a bit intimidating,” Jair said with a laugh. “But I promise that I have been nothing but honorable toward your sister.”
“I’m not sure using her as a human shield counts as honorable,” Kade said with a wicked grin as he watched everything unfold.
“That doesn’t bother you?” Faela asked Jair. “That he’s a bounty hunter?”
“Should it?” Jair said looking from Faela to Caleb.
“By Lior, this is painful to watch,” Talise said standing up. “Jair Rafferty, you are bound by law. We’re here to transport you back to Lanvirdis.”
At that Jair’s face paled. “Oh.”
Jair sat staring at the swirling patterns made by the lichen clinging to the rocks of the cave as Caleb knelt tightening the slipknot around the boy’s hands. With a tap of his fingers on the rope, Caleb’s eyes flared orange and the rope glowed with a fiery light that faded like ash.
When he had finished, he brushed off his hands and stood. “Kade, you know how you owe me for the rest of time?”
Kade lifted an eyebrow. “Rest of time, eh?”
“Your words, mate.”
“Not precisely.”
“Details.” Caleb waved his hand to dismiss Kade's interruption. “Look, I think I figured out a way to complete your errand, but things have gotten a tad more complicated.” His eyes settled on his sister's wavy hair. “I'm not at liberty to give you the details, but you remember Dwight and Mal?
Kade nodded, his eyes gaining a wary light. “Nasty blighters.”
“No doubt. Well, those two charmers have been contracted with Ella here as the target. I want to help you, but I can't leave her unless I know someone's watching her back that I trust won’t betray us.”
Kade knew how much Caleb had lost over the years and now that he knew Faela was his little sister, he couldn’t imagine what would happen to him if he lost her too. He didn’t intend to find out. He owed Caleb more than his life.
Locking Kade's eyes with his own, Caleb’s disappeared under a fiery haze. “Keep her safe.”
“You have my word.” Kade stood and clasped Caleb’s forearm. For the briefest of moments, cords of fire encircled their linked arms then faded.
“When I've finished, I'll come for her and you can go. There aren't that many left who I’d entrust this to.”
Caleb's words summoned Kade’s memories of the war and their friends who had never returned. He and Caleb had been the only two to make it home, so much had been sacrificed. Kade picked up the sienna leather-bound journal and thought, Never again.
He handed Caleb the logbook, which he tucked away before turning to the bound and dejected Jair. “You, mate, are worth no small amount of coins to me. I’ve fulfilled half of my contract on you, but I will complete the rest after I’ve finished this favor for Kade.” Caleb looked over to Kade. “Oh, right, that’s the rest of my price. I need you to hold on to him until we’re done. We’ll be able to move faster without having to haul him after us.”
Jair’s head shot up with a panicked look of dismay. “No, please. Don’t leave me with him. I promise I won’t make any trouble.”
“Sorry, mate,” Caleb said shaking his head, “but you won’t be able to keep up with the pace I intend to set and I refuse to have you riding behind me and you sure as darkness won’t be riding with my wife.”
Caleb crouched down so that he was eye-level with Jair. “Now, I’m sure if you behave and don’t try to run, you’ll have nothing to worry about. My contract states that they want you back alive, but if you do try to run again, you should know that it was a little fuzzy regarding where the line is between dead and alive. Now I know that Kade will have no qualms with maiming you and judging by that smirk he’s wearing, I think he’s looking for an excuse. Are we clear?”
Jair nodded in hurried agreement. Talise tried to repress her giggles sharing a knowing look with Faela over his head, so as to not break the air of menace that Caleb had created.
“Good,” Caleb said as he untied Jair’s restraints and broke the simple binding spell he had cast with a puff of smoke. “Now, who’s going to feed me before we’re off?”
*****
Chapter Eight
Steam from a stopping train billowed across the wide avenue as Kimiko wended her way aro
und the busy traffic between the rail yard and the wharf. Wagons, single riders, carts, and foot traffic all congested the road moving goods and people between these two transportation hubs of Montdell. Eve would have preferred to find a less crowded area to begin her search, but the river would provide her with information much faster than any other means.
The pier echoed with hollow thuds under Kimiko’s hooves as they rode past various riverboats and wooden cranes used to move heavy cargo between the wharf and the vessels. Eve didn’t mind the smell of the docks. To her, the cool, sweet smell of the water felt alive, but she did mind the metallic aftertaste in the air from the rail yard.
Spotting a secluded edge along the pier, Eve pulled her horse to a stop and dismounted. She knelt down and leaned over the edge. The tips of her fingers broke the surface of the water. Her eyes flashed a bright emerald green and matching lines appeared across her nose and onto her cheeks. The green light raced down her arm and through her fingers. Eve’s senses followed the light into the water.
Connected to the pulsating life of the river, she released her senses and raced through the water soaking in information at a rate she could hardly process on a conscious level. The interplay of life and death, growth and decay surrounding her seeped into her bones, invigorating her, lending her its strength. She searched, searched for a single blaze of life. A faint wash of color caught her attention. Kaedman had crossed the Bramm at Davenford.
Eve withdrew her hand from the water. Her fingers dripping, a smile played on her lips. “Thank you for being my eyes and ears,” she sent to the living beings of the river. She opened her almond shaped eyes as the green glow receded.
“It’s only a matter of time, Kaedman.”
The steamy vapors of Sheridan’s tea made her cheeks feel damp as she inhaled its minty smell. Sitting cross-legged in an overstuffed chair with a brown-and-navy crosshatched pattern, she nestled into its high back and raised her eyes to Silvia who sat with her one good leg propped up on her desk.
Before she spoke, Sheridan took a sip of her drink. “This is going to take forever,” she said tapping her finger on the rim of the mug. “You do realize that.”
“That it is, girlie. I don’t think Tomas expected Eve to tear out of here like darkness itself were chasing her.” Silvia lifted a stack of papers and started leafing through them. “I’d say starting with the interviews would be the most effective use of your time.”
Picking out one of the sheets, she waved it Sheridan. With a shimmer of purple, the paper was gone from Silvia’s hand and rested in Sheridan’s.
As she scanned the paper, Sheridan snorted. “This is going to take me all over the city. Silvia, I’m going to need help. Otherwise, this will take me over a month to investigate properly.”
“Tough, I’m swamped with Hawthorn and Burke gone. Trying to keep these seekers in line and pick up the responsibilities of two other Daniyelans has stolen what little sleep I used to get and I’m not sure the council can really handle me normally, much less when I’m even crankier because I’ve had no sleep. There’s a reason they have me herding the trainees, not on the council. I’ve never had the patience for politics.”
“Have you called anyone anything scandalous yet?” Sheridan asked with a mischievous waggle of her eyebrows.
“Would you consider telling Lady Pratt that her name said it all scandalous?” Silvia asked folding her arms across her chest.
“Silvia, I think I love you,” Sheridan said with a huge grin.
“I don’t think that council ever thought they’d miss Hawthorn, but I don’t think they realized how tactful he could be when he wanted.”
“The key phrase there being ‘when he wanted.’ But I think I may have discovered a solution to both our problems, m’love.” Sheridan leaned forward. “The seekers here are all within a year or two of their journeyman circuit. They’ve received all the basic training from the temple that they need. They’re just here to learn what locally stationed Daniyelans duties are and to help out with the simpler tasks and assignments.
“Let them shoulder more responsibility for the day-to-day tasks and let me steal one or two of the eldest to assist me in the investigation. The sooner we sort this all out, the sooner you won’t be the only avowed Daniyelan stationed in Montdell and the sooner you can forget about the council. What’d you say?”
“Well, I’ll say this for you, girlie, that mind of yours never quits,” Silvia said in a grudging compliment. “I’m not sure I can spare more than one of the elder seekers for this plan to work, but I’ll give you one of the least incompetent I’ve got. Use Wiley Kemp. The only reason he hasn’t started his journeyman is because we’re so shorthanded and he’s been hovering nearby ever since you arrived this morning.”
Sheridan finished the last of her tea and stood. “Well no use in dallying, I’ll start here with any of the staff and seekers who last saw Kaedman and Gareth. Where do you think I’ll find Wiley?”
“If I’m any judge he’s in the hall right now,” Silvia said pointing at the door with her dagger, which she had just used to break the wax seal on a letter.
With a twinkle in her eyes, Sheridan opened the door to find the young man walking quickly in the opposite direction away from Silvia’s office.
“Oi, seeker Kemp,” Sheridan called down the hall in a louder voice than necessary. His ears a bright red, Wiley stopped and turned around with a lopsided smile.
“Yes, Sister Sheridan?” Wiley asked jogging back toward her. “How can I assist you?”
“How indeed,” Sheridan said with a wicked grin and a wink. “You and I, my fine fellow, are going to be spending quite a bit of time together.”
Swaying in the saddle, Talise’s eyes traced the lines of Caleb’s back as her mind wandered. She would follow this man wherever he led, into darkness itself should it be required of her. That did not mean, however, that she would follow blindly. Nudging Rani’s side lightly, she brought her mount to ride abreast with Chance.
“We've been riding hard for two days,” she stated simply, keeping her eyes on the plains ahead. “There is a very short list of reasons why you’d delay collecting a bounty and doing a favor, even for Kade, isn’t one of them, babe.”
“We have to do this, Talise.”
“And what exactly is this ominous ‘this’ that you’re refusing to explain?”
“Not refusing,” Caleb said correcting her, “just being discrete. I don’t want Ella caught up in any of this.”
“You could’ve told me after we left,” Talise said inhaling the warm, flowery scent that rolled over the wide-open plains stretching out before them. Traveling across the plains always made Talise feel free. She hated the closed-in suffocation of towns and cities. She belonged out here.
“We’re paying a little visit to the Scion of the Nikelans.”
Talise arched an eyebrow, but gave no other visible reaction. “Great, prophets.”
“It’s happening again, Talise. This time he’s after Kade.” The laugh lines around Caleb’s eyes seemed to tighten with the phantom pain of memories he would sooner forget. “Where else can we go?”
“So, you think he’s responsible for what happened to Kade? You don’t seem surprised by this.”
“Should I be after Stantreath?”
“That wasn’t your fault, babe,” Talise reminded him once again. “Does Kade realize what’s going on?”
Caleb thumped Chance’s neck as if to reassure himself more than the beast. “You heard him. He asked me to take his logbook to Tomas.”
Talise sighed. “Merciful Lior, he has no idea.”
Caleb shook his head. “I’m not sure if the legends about the Nikelans can be trusted, but this is the first solid evidence we’ve gotten in nine years. We have to try.”
“It’s worth the risk, Caleb.” Talise responded to his unspoken fears.
Rani and Chance’s ears flickered and snorted uneasily as an unseen voice shrieked from behind them. The voice came from a thick
grove of brambles that reached higher than a man’s head. “No, Dathien! We need to be heading more to the southeast. What do you mean there’s a briar patch in the way? I don’t care if there’s a wall in the way; we have to go southeast.” The voice paused. “Well, make a path through then.”
Caleb and Talise had stopped to listen to the one-sided argument and exchanged questioning grins at the disembodied voice’s commands. When the voice didn’t continue, Caleb chuckled. The tension of their previous conversation had broken.
“Besides, there’s at least one thing to be happy about,” Talise said as they started riding again.
“What’s that?” Caleb asked with a sidelong glance at his wife.
“You don’t have to worry about Faela any more. We know that she’s alive.”
“That doesn’t mean I can stop worrying,” Caleb said with a scowl.
Rattling over the cobblestones, the wagon rocked as its wheel splashed into a hole filled with muddy water. The muck splattered across the toe of Eve’s boot. With a grimace, she looked down at her once clean brown boots and back up at the bar in front of her. The soot that caked its windows made seeing inside difficult at best, but one of the panes closest to her had shattered at some point. In this section of Davenford, she knew the cause could be anything as innocent as a stray elbow or as intentional as a patron’s forehead. The glass had yet to be replaced, but did reveal some of the bar’s deserted interior.
Turning, she scraped her boot against the doorjamb. Eve’s grimace transformed into a smile of anticipation. No matter how many times she had to visit shady dives like this in the course of her duties as a Daniyelan, the thrill still felt the same. Squaring her shoulders with the challenging hint of a smile, she swaggered into the bar.
The Broken Fork was a bar situated on the edge between the legitimate business of the Davenford dockyards and its more legally creative ventures. It was still too early for the more legally precarious of the two, but not too early for Eve to get the information she needed.
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