“He doesn’t look very happy about your return,” Alayna said.
She guided them toward the docks, navigating them more smoothly than Carth ever would have managed. Alayna had become the captain of the ship, and Carth was left wondering what that made her. If Alayna controlled the ship, was she destined to be something else—someone else?
“No, he doesn’t. But I don’t think we had much choice in returning.”
“It doesn’t seem as if he’s going to understand that.”
Jenna helped tie them off, and she glanced over to Carth and then to Alayna. A hint of a smirk was on her face, and she shrugged. “I’m happy to stay here and keep an eye on them.”
She nodded to the three women who had been quiet since Linsay had been taken away. They didn’t blame Carth—at least they didn’t vocally do so—but they had also not said anything during the journey. Carth worried that they would retaliate at some point and didn’t want to be placed into a situation where she would be forced to attack or fight back, but at the same time, she didn’t want to allow them to cause trouble.
“I can stay aboard and keep an eye on them,” Alayna said, glancing briefly at Carth.
Jenna frowned. “Don’t you trust me?”
“It’s not a matter of trust,” Alayna said. She pulled herself up, and sunlight glittered off her green eyes. “It’s more about whether we need to disappear quickly. If we have to escape, we need to make sure that someone capable of sailing us away is here. I don’t think it’s too much to claim that I am the better sailor.”
Jenna seemed to consider the comment for a moment before she nodded. “You don’t mind me coming with you?” she asked Carth.
“Mind? I want your presence.” She would have to think Alayna later for the tactful way that she had handled it. For now, Alayna remained the better sailor, and it was helpful for her to remain on board the ship. Jenna might be the more skilled fighter, which would be helpful if it came to that, but Carth was hopeful that it never did. She didn’t think that Linsay’s women would attack Carth, but she was less certain that they would leave Alayna or Jenna alone. She still hadn’t discovered what enhancements they had, but there had to be some, especially with as comfortable as they had seemed about being around Carth.
Rebecca separated from Margo and Alessa, and she made her way to Carth. “I would like to accompany you if you would have me.”
Carth thought about it for a moment. Dividing them would make it easier on Alayna, and it might give Carth a chance to prove herself to the others. They didn’t trust her, and for good reason. Linsay had taunted her enough that Carth had made the mistake of being combative with them when she should have attempted a different strategy.
“You may come,” she said.
Jenna frowned. “Are you sure that’s for the best?”
“I presume she’s asking because she wants to know what happened to Linsay. She might be able to help us,” Carth said.
Rebecca nodded.
“What if she is still working on behalf of Linsay? What if she’s”—Jenna lowered her voice and leaned toward Carth with a whisper—“a spy?”
Carth regarded Rebecca for a moment. “Imagine if the situation were reversed,” she said to Jenna, speaking so softly that only Jenna could hear. “Would you be angry if someone didn’t allow you to come with them to find out what happened to me or Alayna?”
“You know that I would.”
“This is no different. She’s after answers. We just have to be smart enough not to reveal anything that might place us into a difficult situation.”
They started off the ship and along the docks. Jenna kept pace with Rebecca, ensuring that she remained a respectful distance behind Carth. Carth didn’t fear that she would do anything to harm her. Carth was her best chance at getting Linsay free, and if not that, Carth was her best chance of returning to Waconia and the rest of the women who worked for Linsay.
It was surprising that Rebecca as well as the others seemed as concerned for Linsay as they did. It meant that they cared for her; maybe it wasn’t only about the power that she offered them. Could it be that Linsay had actually shown them something else that they needed?
“How long have you served her?” she asked Rebecca as they made their way along the dock. Water splashed below, carrying the scent of the sea. The bright sun overhead glittered off the water, almost making Carth shield her eyes.
Jenna clenched her jaw stared straight ahead. Her muscles were tense, and Carth could see the rage bubbling beneath the surface. It was enough to scare her, and would be enough to scare anyone, which seemed to be Jenna’s intent.
“I’m not supposed to answer.”
“You’re not supposed answer because Linsay told you not to, or because you don’t want to?”
“I’m not supposed to answer you.”
Carth chuckled. “If you don’t answer me, I can’t help her.”
Rebecca glanced over, and her eyes carried with them more anguish than Carth would have expected. How had she misread Linsay and her interaction with these women so badly?
The answer was easy. Carth had wanted to believe that Linsay used them, and through that, that she had abused them in some way. That didn’t appear to be the case.
“I’m here to help her.”
“Here in Keyall?” Carth looked around as they made their way up toward the city. They passed a few of the shops that were located along the road, most of them run-down and owned by people who were not native to Keyall and weren’t allowed into the city proper. “From my experience, Keyall won’t be very welcoming to you.”
“Because I’m not from here?”
Carth smiled. “Because of Linsay.” She glanced toward Peter as he watched her making her way up the road. “The Collector has a reputation here, and it’s one that has been well earned. She has angered a great many people in this city, and she has hurt a great many people. If it’s your intention to openly serve her here, you won’t find a very warm welcome.” Jenna was smirking, and Carth shook her head at her, needing to keep Jenna from instigating anything. “Now, if you had a different reason for being here, perhaps trade,” she said, emphasizing the word, “you might find them far more welcoming. Keyall has always been an epicenter of trade in this part of the world, though it has tapered off of late.” Carth looked over to Jenna. “Who is it that the people of Keyall blame for reducing the trade here?”
Jenna grinned. “The Collector.”
“That’s right. The Collector. The merchants of Keyall have been angry at the Collector, and blame her for a loss of trade. Now, anything that will impact them in that way is difficult for them to tolerate.”
“The Cason isn’t responsible for a reduction in trade.”
“No? I’ve seen it firsthand.”
“It’s not her. Why would she reduce trade when it would negatively impact Waconia? Do you think Keyall is the only city along the coast that depends upon trade?” Rebecca stared at Carth, more steel to her spine then she had seen from her before. “Many cities depend upon it. Why prevent the merchants from reaching them, and making it so that the rest of us suffer?”
“Because she’s the Collector,” Jenna said. “She deceived us for months. She used us, and then she sacrificed—”
“Sacrificed?” Rebecca asked. “From the way she tells it, your man attacked her, and she was only defending herself.”
Jenna rounded on Rebecca and grabbed her by the shoulders. For a moment, Carth thought that Jenna might lift her and throw her down to the rocks below, but Jenna managed to calm herself and take a deep breath, releasing her grip as she glared at Rebecca. “Boiyn never attacked anyone in his life. Whatever you might think is wrong. She killed him in cold blood, and then she took Alayna and myself captive, and she—”
Carth placed a hand on Jenna’s shoulder, holding it there until the other woman relaxed her grip on Rebecca’s jacket and released it.
“None of this makes a difference,” Carth said. “She is missi
ng, and we need to understand why. Anything that you might know would be helpful, especially if it will help me find a way to reach her.”
Rebecca glared at Jenna and then turned her attention to Carth, shaking her head. “I don’t know anything that will be useful.”
“Don’t know, or won’t say?” Carth asked.
Rebecca stared at her, saying nothing else. She sighed as she guided her back of the road, making their way toward the rest of the city. They passed rows of shops on this outer part of the city, some with merchants sitting outside, trying to wave them inside.
She wouldn’t say anything, and Carth had to respect that, but the more that Rebecca was willing to share about Linsay, the easier it would be for her to know how much the Ai’thol were involved.
When they reached the top of the cliff edge, Carth approached Peter, and he stood with his arms crossed over his chest. Two other constables were waiting next to him. Both were younger men, each quite muscular, and they had the dark complexion and hair that was typical of those from Keyall.
“You said you would remain away,” Peter said.
“I said I would remain away as long as I could,” Carth said.
“Is there a reason that you couldn’t remain any longer? I warned you what might happen were you to return.”
“I needed information, and Alistan might be the only one who can help me learn what I need.”
“Why?”
“Because I found her.”
His eyes narrowed. “If you found her, where is she? Did you leave her on your ship?”
“She’s not there, but there is something surprising about her that I discovered, which is the reason that I came to speak with Alistan.”
Peter glanced at the other two with them, and they stepped forward.
“I’m afraid I can’t allow you to visit with Alistan.”
Carth frowned. “Are you really going to do this? I think we’ve established that even with your men, you aren’t able to capture me, let alone hold me. Let me speak to Alistan, and I will be on my way and out of Keyall.”
“I can’t allow that.”
Carth watched Peter for a moment, trying to understand what he was getting at. He didn’t care for her, but at the same time, he had never been one who would have attempted something like this. He was more cautious than that, especially as Carth had proven that she was not challenged by their ability to resist her magic.
Had something taken place here in the time that she’d been gone?
That seemed difficult for her to believe. Peter had run the constables, and he was easy for her to understand his motivation. He valued lawfulness, at least they kind of lawfulness that he thought fit with the rule of Keyall.
“Where is he?” she asked.
“As I said, I can’t allow you to go to Alistan.”
Carth glanced at the two men with Peter, trying to see what they might do and how they might react. She had no interest in attacking them, and no interest in harming Peter, especially as she had the sense that he was only following his rules. But what were they? Something had happened here, though Peter wouldn’t say. Maybe it was because he couldn’t say.
“Then I need to go to his estate.”
Peter considered her for a moment and then nodded. “I won’t keep you from his estate. Don’t go looking for him.”
“We won’t be here long. Once I learn what I need, I’ll be gone from here.”
“I will hold you to that,” he said.
The constables all stepped aside, and Carth passed them, with Jenna following close by her side. Rebecca lingered for a moment before hurrying along and catching up to Carth and Jenna.
“What was that about?” Jenna asked.
“I don’t know. He’s never cared for me, ever since…” Carth forced a smile, and Jenna clenched her jaw for a moment.
“It’s all right. It was my fault.”
“Just because it was your fault doesn’t mean that what they did was right.”
“What happened?” Rebecca asked.
Carth glanced over to Jenna, waiting for her to give a nod of agreement before answering. “What happened is that Jenna violated a custom of Keyall. She paid the price, and suffered because of it.”
“What custom?”
“I got into a disagreement with a man at a tavern. He thought that I should escort him back to his room, and I didn’t think that was necessary.”
Carth considered her for a moment. “I didn’t realize that was what it was about.”
“What did you think happened?”
Carth shrugged. “It’s hard to know. You got into a tavern brawl. It’s happened before, and we all thought that you had too much to drink.”
Jenna frowned. “A tavern brawl? I only had three mugs of ale!”
“Three?” Rebecca asked.
Jenna shrugged. “I would’ve had more, but they dragged me off before I had a chance. The ale wasn’t half bad, and much better than the piss that Carth likes to keep on board the ship.”
“I haven’t liked keeping any ale on board the ship. I did it because of you,” she said, smiling.
“If it was only because of me, then you could have at least kept something worth drinking.”
“Three?” Rebecca said.
“I think I’ve answered that.”
“It’s just that…”
Carth grinned. “Jenna is unique.”
They reached Alistan’s estate, and Carth hesitated outside, debating whether she would simply make her way to the front door or whether she should attempt to sneak in. If he was gone, there was no need for her to be cautious with her approach, but why would he have gone? Where would he have gone?
Alistan had wanted to be a part of Keyall, and had searched for information so that he could gain understanding of their connection to the power trapped beneath the city, thinking that it was an Elder Stone. Carth still wasn’t sure that he had it right, but Alistan certainly knew a considerable amount about both the city and the power that was collected here.
“What kind of man is this?” Rebecca asked.
“He’s a merchant.”
“A merchant has a house like this?”
“This merchant does. He’s somewhat unique in Keyall.”
“And you thought he was the Collector at first,” Jenna said with a laugh.
“I don’t think you can blame me for that. He set himself up to be seen that way.”
Carth decided to go through the gate, and they made their way along the path to the front of the house. At the entrance, she knocked, waiting for an answer.
When the door opened, Durand looked out at her. He had a long face, and his gray hair would have spoken of age even if his eyes did not. “Carthenne Rel. Why have you returned?”
“I needed to speak to Alistan. It seems that the constable has decided that I’m not able to reach him.”
“The constable is only doing what he has been asked to do.”
“By who?”
Durand looked at Jenna and then Rebecca before turning his attention back to Carth. “This is not something we should speak about out here.”
Carth surveyed the garden and saw nothing else there. “If not here, then where?”
“Come inside.”
Carth started to follow, and Jenna reached for her arm, pulling her back. “We don’t know what happened to Alistan. And we know that your abilities are less effective here. Are you sure that we should risk ourselves, especially if they’ve done something to your one ally in the city?”
“Durand won’t harm me.”
“Are you certain?”
Carth nodded. “I don’t think he has any interest in harming me. Whether he wants to help me is a different question.”
Jenna reached into her pockets, and Carth knew that she was gripping the knives she had there. “I’m not going to give them an opportunity to capture us again.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to,” Carth said.
“Alayna wanted me to ensure
your safety.”
“Is that right?”
Jenna nodded. “It is. Which means that I will do whatever it takes to ensure that we get back out of here.”
“I think that’s fair.”
Jenna relaxed, but only a little. At least she hadn’t attacked. It would have to be enough.
When the door closed behind them, Carth took a deep breath and hurried after Durand.
20
They sat in one of the libraries, and Carth looked around, remembering when she had been there with Durand and Alistan the last time, spending time studying Tsatsun and the Elder Stones, and trying to find out how she could capture Linsay. Now the library felt empty.
No fire was lit, and the coals felt cold. A lantern rested on a table between the chairs, and it glowed with a soft light, but not brightly. Durand motioned for her to sit, and she did. Rebecca eyed the rows of shelves, and she made her way along them, scanning titles. With Linsay’s affinity for collecting knowledge, Carth suspected that Rebecca was thinking about how she could claim one or more of these books for her master.
“What happened to Alistan?” she asked Durand.
“He became too pushy.” Durand stood with his back to her, looking at the hearth. “He knew better than to push, especially as he was aware of where to find the source.”
“What kind of pushing did he do?” She asked.
“The kind that attracted too much attention.”
“With the priests?”
“With many different people in the city,” he said.
“Where is he? Tell me they didn’t place them into one of the cells?”
“Not there.”
“Then where?”
“I can’t share. Please do not push on this issue, as there is nothing that I can say about it.”
Carth stared at him. What might Durand know? Probably more than he let on, especially as he was the one who now handled the estate. “There’s information that I need. Maybe you can help me with it. I came back to Keyall to see what Alistan might know about the Ai’thol.”
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