Wielder's Curse

by Elle Cardy

  Jasmine suspected if she gave the wrong answer, Gley would be in a world of hurt. As tempting as that was, she couldn’t do that to her. Not yet, at least. Not until she knew more about their little spy.

  “I gotta go,” Jasmine said, unsure what to do. She didn’t trust Gley. Not fully. She wasn’t ready to sick Brusan on her either.

  “You can trust me,” Gley said. “Besides, it’s not like I can go anywhere.”

  “Prove you can be trusted and stay here with Cook. No more disappearing.” It was all she had.

  Finn tried to rise. He clutched his side and grimaced. “I’m the ship’s wielder. I should be topside helping.”

  She stroked his sweaty face. “You need to return to the infirmary.”

  He bowed his head and sank back to the bench. “After I’ve caught my breath.”

  “Go, lass,” Brusan said. “I’ll take care of things here.”

  She nodded once and left.

  Durne stood on deck. A warm breeze had whipped up from the north, slowing the Prize’s progress. Two vessels pursued them. The same two she’d seen anchored in Oakheart.

  A loud boom off the starboard side was followed by a rain of seawater. The Sirocco had fired on them.

  “What the devil?” Durne growled as he shook excess water from his sleeves. In a booming voice, he gave orders to slow the Prize and allow the vessels to approach.

  “You can’t do that.” With certainty, Jasmine knew they meant harm. “They want to sink us. We can outrun them. I can make it so.”

  “They don’t want to sink us. Those were just warning shots. This could be about an unpaid tax from the region we just passed.” He didn’t sound like he believed it. No local government or council would fire their cannons at them. “We’ll slow and see what happens.”

  It was a big mistake.

  “They’re coming for Finn,” she blurted.

  “They aren’t Oakheart ships.”

  “They’d been docked in Oakheart.” A mountain of gold had probably been offered. That thought left Jasmine’s mouth dry.

  Durne waved his first mate over. “All this for a boy wielder?”

  “Aye, it could be so,” Cagg said when he approached. “Word says he did something in town that riled a good many folk.”

  “There’s more,” Jasmine said. “The intruder is back.”

  Durne pressed his lips together. “Check on Finn. Make sure he’s safe.”

  Jasmine nodded. “As you say, but I don’t think she’s a danger.” She guessed it didn’t hurt to be cautious. She didn’t know Gley. The girl could’ve fooled her.

  “Not you.”

  Cagg nodded and dashed away.

  “I want you up here in case there’s trouble.”

  She’d made things worse by going into town. As much as she wanted to go to Finn, she wouldn’t make things worse again by rushing off. She needed to trust her captain and trust the crew.

  “Aye,” she said, trying hard not to let her doubt creep into her tone.

  “It’s important to know the truth of the matter before we go in guns blazing,” he said. “If the situation turns sour, I want you to…” He waved his hand. “Put the wind in our sails and get us out of here.”

  “Aye, Captain,” she said with more conviction.

  * * *

  The girl standing before Brusan was a short thing. And little. She looked like she would blow away in the first gust of wind. Her long hair was tied in a tangled plait down her back, and it was a peculiar color. Silver. No trace of natural warmth in it remained.

  The girl narrowed her large eyes at him. “Why do you look familiar?”

  Brusan glanced at Finn.

  Trying to hide a wince, the lad rose. “Looks like you’ve got your hands full. I can get to the infirmary on my own.”

  As Brusan wiped his hands down his apron, he pondered the wisdom of letting the lad go. If something happened to Finn, Jasmine would never forgive him.

  “I’ll be fine,” the lad said and hurried to the exit.

  He was resilient for a land lover. And determined.

  The girl named Gley continued studying him. She was too young to recognize Brusan. Unless she’d seen the fool wanted posters in town. He searched his memory. He’d remember someone like her. She stood out, and not just because of the hair. It was the way she held herself, the way she looked around, the way she studied him. She carried herself like a warrior and like she wasn’t new to the sea.

  “I’m just the ship’s cook,” he said because she was waiting for an answer, and it was clear she was thinking too much.

  “You’re no sooner a cook than Jasmine is a regular crewmate.”

  He decided he didn’t like this Gley person. Jasmine hadn’t seemed fond of her either. That had to say something. He wondered how the girl would react if he goaded her.

  “Gley, is it? Not your real name, is my reckoning.”

  Her face was as easy to read as the sea. She didn’t much like him either. Then recognition entered those bright eyes of hers.

  How she knew him was unfathomable. She was too young. Maybe she only pretended she knew so she could make him think she had something on him.

  She smiled. “Why would you think Gley isn’t my real name?”

  “Because no parent would call their child Forgotten. Lost remembrance. A word from the Icelands of Yactun. Not a name.”

  Her smile stayed fixed. “You are probably the only person this side of the Kranston Seas who would know that.”

  “What do you think you can get from me?”

  Her eyes twitched. Just for a second. So, blackmail hadn’t been on her mind. He waited for that sly look to slide on in to prove blackmail was now on her mind. None came. Although slightly forced, her smile said something else. If she truly knew who he was, that smile of hers wouldn’t stay like that.

  “Don’t worry so much,” she said. “I’m a believer of second chances.”

  He wasn’t sure what to make of that. Kahld had used almost those exact words when he’d rescued him from the gallows. “Don’t be telling young Jasmine none of this.”

  “She is quite the interesting package, that girl.”

  Brusan considered showing some sign of threat through brute force but didn’t think that would work against a wielder, even one as little as her. “Just don’t.”

  He had to change his ways if he was ever going to get Jasmine back. He couldn’t keep resorting to violence even if it was all he’d ever known from being a young tyke in his family’s palatial home in Gamilion, to the man he was today, and every blue ruin in between.

  Her expression changed again. It was open, almost earnest. There was nothing sly there. “Your secret is safe with me.”

  He almost felt he could trust her. But that was foolishness. He didn’t know her, yet she seemed to know him and wasn’t afraid. He wondered if she was wielding at him as Kahld had done to squeeze out secrets.

  Gley had a faint accent, a faint lilt to her words. Brusan tried to place it but couldn’t. “Where’re you from?”

  “Everywhere and nowhere.”

  “Originally.”

  “That’s going back a long way.” Gley grinned. “And irrelevant.” Her eyes had a strange gleam to them. They seemed to be able to strip away every defense.

  Brusan looked away. “Just trying to place your accent.”

  “Most people don’t notice my accent.”

  Gley turned her head sharply to the side as if listening to something far away. She frowned. “Your secret, however, may be in danger of being discovered.” She looked him in the eyes. “If you want to get through this day, you are going to have to trust me.”

  Brusan didn’t know what to do with his hands, so he tucked them under his armpits.

  “Will you trust me?”

  Both weariness and horror weighed on the girl. He’d seen that look in plenty of men who’d fought too many battles. He wasn’t sure he cou
ld trust her. The last person he had trusted had betrayed him.

  “Fine. Don’t trust me then,” she said. “It’s still going to happen.”

  Before he could wonder what she meant, Gley grabbed his arm, and they disappeared.

  Chapter 18

  Jasmine anchored herself in the rigging, high enough so she couldn’t be reached, low enough so she could watch and listen to what was happening on deck. As easily as breathing, her magic kept her hidden.

  The two ships came alongside, hemming in the Prize.

  Durne stood on deck, hands clasped behind him. He wore a dress jacket. His clean one with brass buttons. At his side he wore his cutlass, taken from its display in his quarters. A dagger was also tucked in his belt. He waited for his men to bring him the two agents from the ships. As far as Jasmine could tell, neither visitor was a wielder.

  “First Mate Tarb of the Ambrosia,” the tall man said, his face cleanly shaven, his attire formal. “Thank you for receiving me.”

  The other visitor stepped forward, looking less formal and sporting a dark ungroomed beard. “Grimley of the Sirocco.”

  Tarb coughed.

  “First mate. Likewise, thanks and all that,” Grimley said.

  “State your business,” Durne growled.

  “We’re looking for someone,” Tarb said. “A fugitive. We believe he’s aboard your ship.”

  “We aren’t harboring fugitives. Perhaps more information would be helpful. Like, who is this unfortunate soul? What did he do?”

  Grimley shifted. “Does it matter?”

  Durne glared at him. Grimley cleared his throat and dropped his gaze.

  First Mate Tarb of the Ambrosia raised a hand. “We’ve been commissioned by the highest authority in Oakheart to bring the one they call Finn Baracus to justice. It is not for us to question or judge.”

  Durne raised an eyebrow.

  “Likely he has changed his name and appearance,” Tarb went on, his Adam’s apple hanging on his thin neck like an oyster. “But we will know him if we see him.”

  Grimley scratched at his beard. “He’s a filthy wielder, a danger to your ship if he’s aboard. He’s young, has shortish light brown hair, and is yea high.” The man held his hand to his chest, palm down. Finn was taller than that. “Know anyone by that description?”

  Durne made a show of searching his memory. He shook his head. “Can’t say I do.”

  “Mind if we search your ship?” Tarb asked.

  Durne’s heavy eyebrows knotted together. “Calling me a liar?”

  “By no means. However, the fugitive is a wily criminal. He could’ve stowed away without you knowing. No good wielders do that.”

  “If he can do that, what makes you think you can find him?”

  “We have wielders of our own, dogs that can sniff out the prey. If you’ll allow us.”

  “And if I were to say no?”

  “Won’t go favorably for you,” Grimley said.

  “Are you threatening me?”

  “No, no,” Tarb said in a hurry. “He was simply trying to warn you of the dangers of a rogue wielder on the loose. My captain will be most grateful to you for any assistance you can provide.”

  Durne glanced at his crew standing at the key strategic points on the deck. “How grateful?”

  “A barrel of rum,” Tarb said.

  “Aye,” Grimley said.

  “Two barrels of rum,” Durne said, “from each ship, for the inconvenience. You will deliver them before your search.”

  What was Durne doing? He couldn’t let them search the ship. With slave wielders looking for Finn, they would surely find him. Or worse, the wielders were members of the Order itself. They knew Finn was on board, and they weren’t about to let him get away.

  “Don’t think my captain would agree to two barrels,” Grimley said. “How’s about the one barrel plus a sack of raisins?”

  “I like the sound of that,” Durne said, and they all smiled. “Three barrels of rum and two sacks of raisins. Each.”

  Jasmine had to give him credit for his negotiation skills. They wanted Finn, and getting their hands on him was worth more than a few supplies. The Guardians must’ve been paying them more gold than she could imagine.

  “We accept,” Tarb said in a rush.

  “Aye,” Grimley growled, not looking pleased. “We accept.”

  “Excellent,” Durne said. “You can start loading the supplies. Once they’re on deck, Arassi here will inspect the goods. If he’s pleased with the quality, then I’ll allow you to bring aboard your wielding dogs for the search. If at any time you or anyone from your crew damage my ship or injure my people, I will seek immediate reparation. Is that understood?”

  Jasmine didn’t need to understand the meaning of reparation to know what Durne had meant, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

  “Aye, Captain,” they said.

  While they busied themselves with gathering the supplies, Durne glanced up at the rigging and made direct eye contact with Jasmine. For a second, she thought her invisibility had failed then recalled who was looking at her. He wanted her to drop down. Still hidden, she climbed down and stood beside him.

  “You hidden?” he murmured while staring out to sea.

  “Aye,” she whispered. His ability to see through her magical cloak never ceased to amaze. Marcelo had once suggested it might’ve been because she trusted Durne enough that she unconsciously allowed him to see her. She wasn’t so sure. He could also see Gley when she had been hidden, and they were complete strangers.

  “Follow them when they search the ship. If they split up, follow Grimley’s crew.”

  Jasmine hesitated. She had to remind herself to trust her captain. No matter how much it hurt.

  “Aye.”

  Durne’s thick eyebrows knotted together. “Something on your mind?”

  She wondered if that was one of those rhetorical questions. Or a trap. If she answered, she’d be in a world of hurt by showing a lack of trust.

  “Out with it, boy.”

  Durne calling her boy made her smile. He used to call her dog, but when he tried to tell her she could trust him, he’d changed that name to boy, even though he knew all along she was a girl. He had kept her secret for so many years.

  “I can hide Finn with my magic,” she said at last. “They’ll never find him.”

  She might’ve sounded confident, but if she were honest, it wasn’t something she could guarantee. She also had no idea what kind of abilities the boarding wielders would possess. If nothing else, she had to try.

  Durne didn’t blink as he studied the Ambrosia. “I need someone to keep an eye on the two groups. I don’t trust them.”

  “I can do that also,” Jasmine said. She was on her ship, so in theory she could do it.

  “We must have a talk some time so I can understand the full scope of your abilities.”

  Jasmine wasn’t sure herself, but she nodded anyway.

  “Hurry along then.” Durne dismissed her with a wave of his hand. To anyone watching, it would’ve looked like he swatted away a fly. “And send Cagg back.” Durne moved to greet Tarb and his people as they boarded, this time with a collared wielder in tow.

  Jasmine rushed to the infirmary. Someone had lit a lantern by the door, and one also burned on the narrow desk. The warm light made the room feel less oppressive.

  Finn sat on the side of a bed, staring at the floorboards. In the far corner, Philips lay asleep, tangled in his blankets. The attack on the ship hadn’t woken him. Cagg stood guard near the door, his hand on his half-drawn sword. He nodded in greeting and clinked his sword into its scabbard.

  “What are you doing here?” Finn asked, sitting straight, eyes bright in the lantern’s glow.

  “Change of orders,” Jasmine said to Cagg. “The captain wants you topside.”

  First Mate Cagg didn’t question her. He simply gave her a half nod and left. His immediate respons
e warmed her. She was a trusted part of the crew; of course, he wasn’t going to question her. She’d been foolish to jeopardize that.

  “I need to hide you, Finn.” Only a few months ago it had been Finn hiding her. Now it was time to return the favor. “We are about to be boarded, and they’re looking for you.”

  Finn buried his face in his hands. “I don’t understand.” When he looked up, his expressive eyes shone with a kind of desperation Jasmine hadn’t seen in him, not even when his talisman had been taken from him.

  He rolled his shoulders as if his shirt were too tight. “Yes, I silenced a wielder, but he was an Abomination, a danger to everyone. I’ve never come across anyone so powerful. Except Captain Kahld. I had no choice when he attacked me. I had to protect myself.”

  Now was not the time to get squeamish over his reaction to abominations. She needed to hide him, and she needed to do it now. “You silenced the son of a Guardian, one of the revered scholars in Oakheart.”

  Finn buried his face again. “Of course I did.”

  “Will you let me hide you?” Jasmine held out her hand, desperate for him to take it. She wasn’t going to force him. Because it was the right thing to do. Because she respected him. Because she wasn’t Kahld. After seeing the slaves in Oakheart, she wasn’t going to force anyone to do anything. “Finn?”

  As if he had all the time in the world, he ran his long fingers through his hair. His honey strands flopped in front of his face.

  “Finn.” She shook her offered hand at him. Maybe she would force him — to protect him. She wasn’t sure what extremes she was willing to go to, so he had better wake up to the situation and accept her help.

  He unfolded.

  Holding her breath, she waited.

  He let out a soft sigh and took her hand.

  Jasmine wielded them both into hiding.

  Chapter 19

  From her hidden corner near Philips’ cot, Jasmine used her magic to keep an eye on both boarding parties as they moved through the ship. Each party consisted of three armed sailors and a tagged wielder. The two groups split up below decks. Grimley and his people headed toward the mess. Tarb’s people headed for the storage holds below.