Jackal’s Gambit

by C A Ardron

  ‘I'll take all the risk myself,’ she assured him. ‘Arrange everything, I'll do the trading. I know how Sarpien trades work, anyway.’

  Karen went cold when she saw Red's eyes sharpen, becoming intrigued.

  ‘Really? How's that then?’

  ‘I lived in Joinstohm for a while.’ The lie sounded hollow in her ears, but she knew Red couldn't call her out on it.

  Red didn't look convinced and Karen held her breath. If he thought she was hiding something he might refuse to help her.

  After a moment Red shrugged. ‘Gimme a few hours. Ring me then, I'll have specs for you.’

  Karen relaxed, though knew better than to show it. ‘Okay, thanks, Red.’

  The tall man grinned at her. ‘Don't thank me yet, girl, we ain't done talkin'. Let's talk about how much you're gonna pay me for this.’

  Karen's mouth twisted into a wry smile. She'd been wondering when that was going to come up.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Karen walked away from the car park, wondering what to do with herself. It would be several hours before Red would have anything new to tell her. She glanced up at the crimson sun in the sky, the paler, second sun obscured by passing clouds.

  As she walked slowly through the town square, the clock tower which stood at the back, away from everything around it, began to chime. It was the first hour past noon. It would probably be approaching nightfall before she could do anything to help Jay. She just hoped Red's plan worked, there were a lot of things that could go wrong. Under normal circumstances she wouldn't have taken the risk. Karen shrugged uncomfortably, she'd been alone for so long, only concerned for her own safety, ignoring everyone else around her. Why had that changed now?

  She brushed the thought to one side, thinking was getting her nowhere. She also brushed aside the momentary thought of returning to her flat. She had no idea what Jackal's plans were. Was he busy in the tunnels? Was he still prowling the city for her? Had he given up, thinking she was in the custody of the Predgarians? She'd no way of knowing, and that meant she couldn't let her guard down. For all she knew he might be waiting for her at the flat.

  She rolled her shoulders to shake away the icy feeling running up her spine. She didn't like to admit even to herself how much that man scared her, or perhaps it was more what he represented. Either way, she put Jackal to the back of her mind, not wanting to dwell on him.

  Karen slowed to a halt when she reached a wide street. Lined with shops on both sides, her attention was drawn to the small alley running between two of them. It was there she had revealed herself to Jackal the night before. It was strange, it felt like an age since then.

  She dragged her gaze away from the spot down the street and looked over at the small cafe on her left, giving a small, wry smile. ‘Back where I started.’ She might as well get a drink, it's not like she had anywhere to be.

  Karen walked briskly over to the cafe's front door and pushed it open, the small bell announcing her presence. She glanced around quickly before moving towards the counter. It was much less busy at this hour, she must have just missed the lunch customers.

  ‘Hello, what can I get you?’

  Karen turned her attention to the cashier. It was the same middle-aged woman from before. Her voice sounded bored and her face was a little unfriendly. Was she having a bad day?

  ‘Tea, please.’

  The lady picked up a cup and saucer and put a small metal teapot under a hot water dispenser. At this point Karen had to normally interact with the woman's small talk, but this time she offered no conversation. Her actions were heavy-handed and she made a point of meeting Karen's eyes with a frown as she handed the things over on a tray.

  Karen suddenly remembered their conversation from the night before. She'd been in no mood for talking and had been a little impolite. She'd also left the cafe in a great hurry not five minutes later. Oh well, she wouldn't be coming back here after today anyway.

  ‘That'll be 7 imperials.’

  The woman's voice was cold but it wasn't what made Karen hesitate. She paused in the act of reaching for a couple of cartons of milk. ‘You were using kion yesterday.’

  ‘Well, today it's imperials,’ the cashier replied with a smug smile.

  Karen smiled back, offering her the full impact of her irritated gaze. After all she'd been through today, an offended waitress was the last thing she was going to worry about.

  The imperial currency was slowly filtering through the Courinese markets, but it was still uncommon. The woman had taken a dislike to her since last night, and was guessing that like the majority of people in Steiron, she wouldn't have access to any of the empire's currency.

  Her smile growing hard, Karen pulled out a payment card from inside her jacket. The golden semi-circular crest of the empire was emblazoned on it and quite hard to miss. Ignoring the startled look on the woman's face, she inserted her card into the machine on the counter and punched in the right amount.

  After the cashier had processed the payment grudgingly, Karen took her card back and picked up her tray. She opted for a seat by the window, looking out at the busy street.

  She poured some tea into her cup, trying to relax. There was only one other customer in the shop and as she began to peel the lid off one of her cartons of milk he stood, intending to leave.

  She glanced up as the man, dressed in casual trousers and a hooded shirt, made some conversation to the cashier on his way out. The lady was much more friendly towards him than she had been with her.

  Karen tipped the milk into her tea aggressively. Since when did it matter to her if people were friendly or not? She swallowed as the man made some reference to his job. That's right, she hadn't gone into work today, hadn't even told them she wouldn't be coming in.

  She sighed, it was always like this. Every time she tried to forget the past and have a normal life, something got in the way. Now here she was, on the run and homeless again, just like before.

  The shop door opened and a young woman entered. After glancing up momentarily, Karen went back to her tea, but watched out of the corner of her eye.

  The lady was very attractive with sunny blonde hair held in a ponytail. Almost the perfect example of the Aljurian to be found in this part of the world. Karen noted the round cast of her face. That bone structure was not of Steiron, nor Joinstohm - even more south. Sharan perhaps?

  Karen moved her idle study onto the woman's clothes. She wore a fashionable white dress with pink flower print all over it. Karen's eyebrows rose slightly - pure cotton? Not the most inexpensive material, though not top of the market either.

  Her back straightened as she noticed the most important thing, but far too late. The strapped dress had failed to hide a heavy chain which looked like it was made of white gold.

  Karen didn't think it was though. Her eyes sharpened, fixing on it, becoming certain it was a medallion chain.

  The lady purchased a fruit bar and proceeded to sit uninvited at Karen's table.

  Karen glanced around. Coincidence or ambush? She found it hard to believe this woman was a Sarpien. She noticed the cashier looking over at the table worriedly. No doubt the woman was concerned she was going to be abrasive to the stranger.

  The lady was completely immersed in taking the wrapper off of her snack, seemingly unaware of the tension she was causing. The blonde woman looked up and smiled at her, her sparkling blue eyes friendly and confident.

  Karen had the sudden sense that she knew this woman, though couldn't place where from.

  ‘You know, I've never been in here before,’ the lady told her. ‘I think I'll come again, it's quite nice.’

  That voice! Karen knew who she was now. She leant back in her chair and when she spoke she kept her voice low so the cashier wouldn't overhear. ‘Do you make a habit of revealing yourself to civilians?’

  ‘Not usually, but you're different.’ She took a bite of her bar and chewed slowly, savouring the taste.

  ‘Indeed?’ Karen tried to act cool, as if
she wasn't bothered by the Predgarian coming after her. ‘I think your boss might disagree.’

  Dove merely smiled.

  Karen decided there was no point in deceit or evasion. She couldn't outrun this healer any more she could Jackal. ‘Am I to assume you're here to apprehend me?’

  Dove swallowed her food. ‘No, I'm not Dakkonin. I want you to come back with me but I don't want to force you.’

  ‘You're wasting your time then.’

  ‘I'd rather waste my time than see you bleed again.’

  Karen stared, not sure what to think. The Predgarian didn't act at all like she expected. Karen stood and went back to the counter. She could feel the Predgarian's eyes on her back. She picked up an extra cup, some sugar, milk and a stirrer.

  ‘Is everything all right?’ The cashier asked.

  ‘Yeah. She's a friend of mine.’

  ‘Oh, you have friends. What a surprise.’

  Karen glanced at the woman sharply before returning to the table. She sat and poured a cup of tea for the Predgarian, trying to keep the scowl off her face.

  Dove smiled at her. ‘Thank you.’

  Karen tried to ignore the woman's friendliness. ‘Don't mention it.’ She watched as the Predgarian daintily prepared her tea and took a sip.

  ‘She's right,’ Dove said very softly, holding the teacup in both hands. ‘You don't do friends, do you? But that's what you consider Jay.’

  Karen's eyes narrowed, where was she going with this?

  ‘You can't fathom your own thoughts right now,’ she continued, making Karen even more uncomfortable. ‘You do things but you don't know why. Your own actions are a mystery to you, but the answer is very simple.’

  The serene woman smiled. Karen found it difficult to stay calm. She tried to keep breathing normally. How could the Predgarian possibly know what was going through her head?

  You have lived as a Sarpien, Dove's voice was in her head now. So many years scheming, fighting, killing, all in the name of some evil creature that puts your mind and everything you are on ice. Who knew that one day you would wake up? Now you have to live with the things the sclithe made you do. You don't want that to happen to Jay.

  Karen wanted to leave, to scream - but she was frozen. She couldn't think, couldn't move.

  ‘I'm empathic,’ Dove told her softly. ‘I can't read your mind, if you're wondering, but I can feel what you feel.’

  Karen's gaze dropped to the table between them. She found herself staring at the dull, metal teapot, not able to respond. She felt helpless, naked, and she grabbed the table as she began to shake.

  ‘What do you want?’ She asked, her voice barely audible.

  ‘I want you to come back with me.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘So we can protect you.’

  Karen's head shot back up and she couldn't stop the shock from showing on her face.

  The Predgarian merely smiled at her. She still had that irritating, ever-present serenity.

  Protect her? That was a joke, no one, least of all a Predgarian, could protect her.

  Karen made her face hard, as unfriendly as she could manage. ‘I don't need your protection.’

  Dove looked at her sadly. ‘If you won't come back to save yourself, then at least come back to save Jay.’

  ‘What?’ This woman was really keeping her off-balance. She was normally good at reading people, identifying what motivated them, but this Predgarian was completely baffling her.

  Dove finished eating her fruit bar before saying anything more and Karen picked her tea up, not finding the usual comfort in its warm scent.

  ‘You made a slip in your actions today.’

  ‘You mean other than getting knifed?’ Karen's retort was pure acid in its tone. The Predgarian did not deserve the sharp side of her tongue, but she was feeling cornered and unsure of herself. The sarcasm made her feel better for an instant but she couldn't help but feel guilty for lashing out at the friendly woman.

  Dove smiled at her warmly, and Karen felt her back stiffen again. This woman really was empathic. Whether Karen chose to apologise or not, Dove had already felt the stab of guilt she had inside.

  ‘Other than that, yes.’ Dove agreed. ‘You went to a great deal of trouble to keep Jay out of Jackal's hands. You risked your life for him, Karen. You tried to make it look like your interest in him was marginal. You may have fooled Lion and the others, but I could sense your true feelings. Even now, despite your own danger, your highest priority is getting him back.’

  Karen stared. Well, she definitely wasn't wrong, but she had no intention of telling a Predgarian her plans. It was bugging her that this woman seemed to know her emotions better than she did. Dove smiled again and Karen struggled not to grind her teeth. That smile said all too well that she'd picked up her frustration.

  ‘We're going to get Jay back,’ Dove told her quietly. ‘We may need your help before the end though. Will you please consider coming back with me?’

  Karen paused, very surprised. Isn't that the Dakkonin's department? She asked using telepathy.

  Jackal made a raid into East Sector. All of the Dakkonin are busy, and even if they weren't, you know as well as I that they wouldn't risk an operation simply for one boy's life.

  Karen grunted softly and leant back in her chair. ‘Diversionary raid, Jackal's brought out an old classic with that one. I'm surprised people still fall for it.’

  For the first time Karen saw Dove show irritation. Realising that her comment could have been callous, she sat forwards, leaning on the table in front of her. ‘Sorry, didn't mean any offence.’

  Dove sighed and shook her head. ‘You've just proven my point, Karen. You know so many things that will help us, together, we can save Jay.’

  For a second, Karen thought about it, the prospect of working alongside Predgarians. She shook her head stubbornly. ‘I can't help you. There's no information I could give you that would help.’

  ‘What about tunnel entrances?’

  ‘I never worked in this city. I wouldn't have a clue where to start looking.' That wasn't actually true, but she didn't really want to spend any more time with the Predgarians.

  Dove was staring at her. Karen got the feeling she knew she'd been at least half-lying.

  ‘You're good at this,’ Karen conceded with a sigh. Look, even if I could find you one, which isn't that likely, the tunnels are huge. They'll be multiple levels, Sarpiens everywhere. Tunnel systems tend to have more or less the same layout, but I couldn't guide you. First Sarpien I come across I'll be dead.

  Karen became very uneasy when she saw Dove's reaction to the information she'd just given. She smiled, but it wasn't the friendly, warm one that Karen had become used to. It was more of a knowing smirk, as if Dove had been waiting for the conversation to come to this.

  ‘That wouldn't necessarily be the case if you had access to a medallion.’

  Karen found herself frozen in place again, but not in horror this time. She was so surprised it took a second or two to realise her mouth was hanging open. She closed it quickly and sat back. She looked down from Dove's gaze and picked her tea up, drinking it in large swallows.

  Dove was waiting patiently for her to say something but Karen couldn't. Right now she wasn't sure if she was actually capable of making any sounds.

  ‘I...can't,’ she managed eventually.

  She couldn't, there was no way. She closed her eyes, steeling herself against the terrible memories. Last time she'd held a medallion, she'd done awful things. Her dreams at night wouldn't let her rest, they tortured her, telling her of the nightmarish atrocities she'd committed. She couldn't ever go back to that, because if she did, she might...

  Even in the face of Jackal you showed no fear, Dove cut into her thoughts as if Karen had been speaking out loud. You awoke to find yourself in the custody of Predgarians. Even then you showed us nothing but your courage. Will you be scared off by an “if?”

  Karen glared at her, she was getting very tired of
the woman's mental abilities. ‘You don’t know what you’re asking.’

  ‘On the contrary, I know exactly what I’m asking. You don't seem to understand what I'm offering.’

  Karen looked at her curiously.

  We want to protect you, Karen, Dove once more switched to telepathy. But you live a dangerous life. The average Predgarian patrol won't save you from the Sarpiens. You would have much more protection, and be far easier to protect, if you yourself were a Predgarian.

  Karen swallowed, she couldn't believe what the Predgarian was saying. Her? A walking dead responsible for multiple deaths? How could she ever?

  ‘Last I heard,’ Karen managed to get out, her voice low, ‘you were calling me a murderer.’

  Dove gave her a puzzled frown. ‘Me?’

  ‘Well, not you, I suppose. That other one, Leopard.’

  Dove sighed. ‘It was unfortunate you heard her say something like that. She has strong emotions, but the offer still stands.’

  Karen hated the thoughts running through her head. She wanted to be away from there, she wanted to be out of Steiron. Once she was on her way, to anywhere, it didn't matter where, she would feel safer. She couldn't stop her brain from working though. If she had a medallion, and Predgarians to aid her, she wouldn't need to use Red's plan. She could get Jay back, and then he would be safely in Predgarian hands.

  ‘Only until Jay is safe,’ Karen had to drag the words out, certain she was making a mistake. Then I give the medallion back and go.’

  Dove gave her that sad look again. ‘If that's how you want it to be.’

  Karen nodded. ‘It has to be that way, it's too dangerous for me to stay.’

  Dove smiled, but it looked to Karen as if she disagreed. ‘Then let's go.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Lion stared blankly into the kitchen sink, listening as the kettle slowly boiled. A day that had started out so normally now felt like an eternity, and it wasn't even two in the afternoon.

  He straightened as the kettle finished whistling. He poured the steaming water into the large pale blue mug, on top of his coffee and sugar. He'd decided to take it black today.