“Sorry, ma’am. I’m Will Sumner,” he said, extending his hand.
“Never apologize,” she said, shaking his hand. “And don’t even get started with the ‘ma’am’ crap.”
“Sure thing, Ri,” Will said.
Her eyes narrowed. “My friends call me Ri, you call me Captain.”
“Are you really a captain?” Will asked.
“Wrong answer,” she said. “If I ask you to call me ‘Mom,’ you say, ‘Yes, Mom,’ understood?”
“Yes, Mom—Captain.”
“Give him a break, Ri,” said the man at the wagon. He approached Will and extended his hand, “I’m Blake.”
Will shook his hand.
“This is Ocken,” he said, nodding at the burly man. Ocken grunted in response, his face devoid of expression. “The big guy doesn’t talk much, and almost never to strangers. Don’t take it personally.”
“Got any gear?” Riley asked Will.
Will pulled out the dagger from the sheath on his thigh courtesy of Victor.
“Nice knife, but it won’t protect you against bandits,” she said with a chortle. “You can borrow Joziah’s gear, he won’t be needing it this trip and you look about the same build.”
The final wagon in the caravan carried a variety of supplies, tents, pots, shovels, weapons, and a few trunks. She opened one of the trunks and pulled out a brown leather cuirass and matching set of gauntlets.
With some assistance from Blake, Will suited up. The armor was a little worn with use, but fit well enough.
“I’ve got a spare sword and a bow,” Riley said. “Do you have a preference?”
“Bow,” he said without hesitation. “If they get close enough that I can’t use it, I’m pretty handy with a dagger.”
“Confident, I see. Hope you got the skills to back it up. We’re trusting you with our lives,” she said, handing Will the bow.
He turned it over and examined the craftsmanship. Placing the grip in his left hand, Will drew the string a few times. “Oak, not bad. It’s got some minor cracking on the limbs, but it appears to be only an aesthetic defect.”
“You know your bows, I’ll give you that much,” Riley said.
“All right, people. Let’s move,” Leland called out to the caravan. “I’d like to put Shadowhold behind us by nightfall.”
Will slung the bow and its quiver over his shoulder. A moment later, the horses set off at a slow trot. Riley ran ahead to talk with Leland, leaving Will with Blake and the big guy.
“So, Ocken,” Will said. Ocken looked at him, eyebrow raised. “Where you from?”
“He’s a Khur,” Blake said. “Belongs to one of the tribes of the Dhelgur Desert, beyond the mountains.”
“Really? How’d you end up here?” Will asked, staring up at Ocken.
Silence.
Will looked to Blake for an answer.
“That’s not my story to tell,” Blake said.
“Fair enough,” Will said. “So what is your story?”
“Me? Born here,” Blake said. “I’ve lived in Shadowhold my whole life, though I’ve seen every city up and down the Aralithian coast. Perks of the job.”
“Ever been to Celesti?” I asked.
“Oh, yeah, it’s beautiful. I love the mountains,” Blake responded. “Brutal in the winter, though.”
“That’s where I’m from. I don’t think the winters are that bad,” Will said.
“If it dips below freezing, it’s brutal. I’m a southern boy, through and through.” Blake paused then his face lit up. “Oh, hey, you like jokes. How do you identify a dogwood tree?”
“By its bark,” Will answered immediately.
“You heard that one, huh?” Blake said, his face falling a bit before lighting up again. “How about this one: What do you call a mosquito in a tin suit?”
“Cut the chatter, boys,” Riley yelled back. “Form up. Sumner, you take the back. Get on the cart and keep an eye out.”
“Aww, why does he get to ride?” Blake pleaded.
Riley didn’t bother to answer, her attention returning to the front.
“I don’t know, what?” Will whispered to him.
“A bite in shining armor.”
Shaw tried to think like a criminal. He would stick to the shadows, avoiding the main streets. He would want to avoid contact with as many people as possible.
Leaving the library, he decided Will probably didn’t go back inside the temple. Instead, he took a path around the back of the building. He hopped over a low wall that separated the temple grounds and the streets beyond and jogged into an alley.
He could see the city gates over the rooftops. He was getting close.
“Over here! He’s dead!” a rough voice called out nearby.
This gave Shaw pause. Who’s dead? Could be unrelated. Shaw thought. Or Will might have killed someone on his way out, better check it out.
Shaw pushed open the back door of a warehouse of some kind. Two men knelt next to a dead bald man on the floor. A third milled about the room rubbing his temples. They turned at the sound of the door slamming against the wall.
“The king’s guard!” one of the kneeling men yelled. “Let’s get out of here!”
They all ran out a door on the other side of the room, the last man barring the door from the other side. Shaw couldn’t care less about chasing them. It was another one of the duties he’d normally be obliged to uphold, but not today.
A quick survey of the room told him everything he needed to know. There, slumped in the chair was the body of a man in his fifties wearing ragged clothes and a beard. This had to be Will. Or it was Will.
If what the king had told him was true, then Shaw had little doubt that Will was still alive, except now he was in a different body. Shaw no longer had any clue what he looked like. How would he find him now?
Shaw sighed and decided it was best to inform the king of what he’d learned. Maybe he would know what to do. He only hoped the king let him live long enough to find out.
11
They set up camp a few miles north of the city. Will watched in awe as everyone bustled about, performing their duties. This was everyday life for them. Will stood off to the side, not wanting to get in the way.
They stopped just off the main road in an open clearing. Besides the small dirt road they used to get there, trees surrounded them, concealing their location. Will could make out a farmhouse and barn through the trees at the far side of the clearing. Riley explained that they varied their stops and departure times from trip to trip so they weren’t predictable, then she, Blake, and Ocken set off to establish a perimeter and mark vantage points.
When they returned, dinner was ready. One of the merchants cooked a large pot of vegetable stew and called everyone over. The caravan was fifteen strong including Leland, Will, three mercenaries, six merchants, and a driver for each of the four wagons. Will grabbed a bowl and stood at the end of the line.
“Not you,” said Riley. “You’re going to watch the wagons.”
“Hey, don’t I get to eat?” Will asked. “Leland said—”
“ ‘Yes, Captain.’ ‘Right away, Captain.’ That should be your response,” she said, “and you will eat. But someone needs to keep an eye on the supplies and you’re the new guy. Deal with it. Blake will be out to relieve you when he’s finished.”
“Yes, Captain,” Will muttered. He put the bowl back, retrieved his gear, and sulked to the other side of the wagons.
He didn’t know why someone had to keep watch now. The sun hadn’t even fully set yet. Who was going to rob the caravan in broad daylight?
Laughter erupted behind him. Will glanced over his shoulder. Everyone was seated around the fire, enjoying their meals. He returned his focus to the clearing.
The decision he would soon make weighed heavily on his mind. He needed to get to the mountains as quickly as he could if he wanted to escape. On the other hand, he could use the extra coin. He would need to purchase his own supplies since Riley l
ikely wanted his gear back.
A rustling noise rose up behind him and he spun around to catch the intruder. It was just one of the merchants retrieving a lute from the wagon. A minute later a soft melody drifted on the air. The calming rhythm soothed his spirit. Will took a deep breath and let it go.
“Enjoying the quiet?”
It was Blake.
“I’ve had too much quiet lately,” Will admitted with a frown. “Distraction is all that keeps my demons at bay.”
“I hear that,” Blake said. He came up next to Will and leaned against the wagon, eyes to the sky. “Beautiful isn’t it? The open road, freedom, a whole world to explore. Life is an adventure.” After a brief pause, he said, “So. I told you my story. What’s yours?”
Will chuckled. “You wouldn’t believe the half of it. Let’s just say it’s full of pain.”
“You said you grew up in Celesti,” Blake said. “What were you doing in Shadowhold?”
“Did you see the execution yesterday?”
“Yeah?” Blake said, his inflection rising.
“My brother was killed.” Not a total lie. He did die. “And before you ask, I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Sorry, man,” Blake offered, his face falling.
“Didn’t Riley say ‘never apologize’?”
“Yeah, but that’s not really an apology,” Blake said. “And don’t worry too much about Ri. She talks tough, but she’s—”
“Blake!” yelled a voice from behind them.
“Yeah, Ri?” Blake asked.
“Shut your trap and let him eat,” she called back.
Blake smiled as he said, “You heard her. Go on.”
“Blake?” Will said. “Thanks.”
“Any time.”
The Wave Wraith rose and fell with the movement of the water. Robert had never been out to sea before. He wasn’t sure that he liked it. He had spent the entire journey at the starboard rail flushing his body of everything he’d eaten in the last day.
After the sun had set, the Revenant went to work. Robert stood up, wiped his face, and walked back to the center of the main deck. Jade sat on a large coil of rope, one leg crossed over the other and pulled in to her chest. Strike was sitting on the deck, cleaning his sword.
“Why couldn’t we have done this in the day time?” Robert asked. “Maybe if I could see where we were going I wouldn’t feel so terrible.”
“The whole idea of the Revenant is that we’re ghosts,” Strike replied. “Ghosts aren’t seen and night provides the cover we need to stay hidden.”
“If you’re not cut out for this, I’d be more than happy to take you back,” Jade added.
“Remind me why we need a thief out at sea?” Robert asked.
“I’m not just a pretty face, you know,” she snapped back. “Plus, the men fight harder when I’m around. None of them want to get shown up by a woman.”
“Too true,” Strike said, chuckling. “But there won’t be any fighting tonight. At least there shouldn’t be.”
“Look, Newblood, I don’t know how you got Talon to let you out on your first day, but don’t think that means you’re going to get any special treatment,” Jade said. “We all earned our places here.”
Robert stalked over and got in her face. “You think I asked for this?” he said with indignation. “I was just minding my own business when this crazy old man grabs me by the arm and says You’re a rebel now. What did he see in me? Only Ophi knows, but I’m not about to quit, so back off.”
“Hey, easy,” Strike said, pulling him away. “She didn’t mean anything by it.”
“Speak for yourself,” Jade said, turning away.
“Who are you calling old, anyway?” Strike asked Robert, ignoring Jade. “He’s only ten years older than me.”
“If he’s got gray hair and he’s old enough to be my father, then he’s old,” Robert said.
Strike shook his head. “Now to answer your question. Jade’s here because this is her op. You’re just along for the ride. Talon wants you to get some experience, let you see how we work, but under no circumstances are you to engage.”
Robert pursed his lips. Grim determination etched on his face.
“I mean it,” Strike said. “When we’re on a mission, my word is law. Disobey and you’re liable to end up dead, and none of us want that.” Strike turned and cast a glare at Jade.
Jade stuck her tongue out at him.
“Target in sight,” Scout shouted down from the crow’s nest.
Strike strode to the side of the ship and squinted into the darkness.
“She’s there,” Scout reassured him.
“Not questioning you,” Strike said. “Just making sure they can’t see us. Without a spyglass anyway.”
“How’d you know where to find a ship in the middle of the night?” Robert asked.
“It’s an envoy vessel. Makes the same trip once every mooncycle,” Strike explained. “We stake out our targets, sometimes for a whole year, before we strike.”
“How long have you guys been doing this?” Robert asked.
“How long have you been hearing the stories?” Strike responded.
Robert thought for a moment. Celesti was the last place to receive any kingdom news so far away from the king’s throne and off the main trade routes. Celesti’s location was chosen for its isolation, as the founding scholars preferred their books to the company of people. The only reason they survived so far away from any body of water was because of the snowmelts each year.
Even so, Robert reckoned the first trickle of rumor reached them about three years ago. Factoring in the time lag, he guessed four to five years.
“What’s so special about this particular envoy?” Robert asked.
“We’ve got a once in a lifetime opportunity here,” Strike said. “Grand Admiral Kosta himself is on board. If we can get him removed from his post, we can insert our own operative in his place.”
“How are we going to do that?” Robert asked.
“We’re going to plant the late king’s prized dagger in Kosta’s possessions,” Strike explained. “The king has been made aware of the theft and an inquisitor is ready to board the ship as soon as they dock in Shadowhold.”
Robert’s mouth fell open. “How did you get your hands on that?”
A bag slammed into the dinghy that hung over the side of the ship next to them.
Robert turned and saw Jade with a smug smile.
Robert snorted.
“So, let me guess,” he said. “This ‘operative’ is on our payroll?”
“We don’t pay or bribe people,” Strike explained. “They’d just as soon turn on us for the right price. But yes, the Raven will pull the necessary strings to get our man in place.”
“Who is the Raven, anyway?” Robert asked.
“Enough with the questions,” Jade said. “Let’s get on with it. We don’t have all night.”
The captain called to lower the anchor and several deckhands moved about, preparing the ship to hold its location. Strike and Robert climbed aboard the dinghy, joining Jade, and were lowered down into the water.
If he thought the ship was bad, the dinghy was worse. The waves carried the small boat wherever they wanted. Robert managed to keep his bodily fluids to himself, but only because there was nothing left to expel.
Strike got a small oar and handed it to Robert. Robert stared at it, eyes wide.
“Did you expect it to go all by itself?” Strike asked.
Robert stuck the oar in the water and paddled rapidly. The boat turned in a circle.
“Slow down,” Strike said, dipping his oar in the water on the opposite side. “And with me. Quiet now, we don’t want them to hear us.”
Robert watched Strike and followed his lead. A moment later, they were moving forward, heading to their target. So dark was the night, Robert didn’t see the ship until it was almost right on top of them. It was smaller than the Wave Wraith, but still large enough to have a separate captain’
s quarters at the rear of the ship.
They maneuvered the dinghy under the overhang.
“All right,” Strike whispered to Robert. “I’m going to boost you up, then you’ll open the window and climb in. Then I’ll lift Jade and you can pull her up.”
Robert nodded.
“And don’t touch anything,” Strike said.
Robert scoffed in silence. He wasn’t a baby. He knew how to handle himself.
Strike spread his legs for balance and cupped his hands, holding them below his waist. Robert grabbed his shoulders and stepped into the makeshift step. Strike hoisted him into the air.
The window to the captain’s quarters was closed, a light flickering through the opaque, frosted glass. Robert reached out and dug his fingers under the windowsill. He hesitated. What if someone was in the room? Drawing closer, he placed his ear against the window of the door.
Silence.
“Will you hurry up already?” Strike said from below, his voice strained.
Robert pried at the window and eased it open. He pulled himself up and through the open window, spilling onto the floor inside.
“The room’s empty,” Robert said, leaning through the window and holding his hand out.
Jade tossed the bag up and Robert caught one of its straps. He placed it on the floor next to him and went back to help Jade up.
Jade stepped into Strike’s waiting hands and rose up to meet Robert’s extended hand.
The door to the captain’s quarters shook violently.
Robert cursed, pulling his hand away just as Jade was about to grab hold. “Someone’s coming,” he said.
“Do not engage,” Strike said as Robert closed the window. He grabbed the bag and had just enough time to slip under the desk near the balcony before the door burst open.
“Godsforsaken lock,” a man muttered.
The soft echo of boots on wood drew closer. The boards creaked beneath his feet and the whole ship groaned as it swayed on the ocean waves. The lantern hanging by the door swung with its movement, light rocking back and forth throughout the room.
The man stopped at the table next to Robert. His pristine shoes were trimmed in gold, their laces neatly fastened. He picked something up off the desk and Robert heard a scratching sound on the surface above. Robert’s heartbeat grew so loud he thought he’d be found out.
Soul Render (Soul Stones Book 1) Page 10