Taken With A Grain Of Salt (Salt Series Book 2)

by Aaron Galvin

  “You don’t know how old you are?” Garrett asked. “Your age?”

  “No, m’lord.”

  Garrett sat down on the bed. Noticed she had yet to look at him. “Hey…it’s all right…I won’t hurt you. You can look at me.”

  “Aye, m’lord.” The girl continued staring at the floor.

  “Look at me.”

  He watched her dare a look that quickly left. When he said nothing of it, he saw her chance it again, longer this time.

  “I won’t hurt you,” said Garrett. “I promise.”

  The girl chanced a look at Garrett. “Aye, m’lord.”

  “How did you get here?”

  “Boss Tieran…bought me in the capital and brung me here.”

  “The capital?” Garrett asked. “What’s that? Where?”

  The girl hesitated.

  “It’s okay,” said Garrett. “You can say anything. Promise.”

  The girl nodded. “You…you are a strange Orc, m’lord.”

  “Yeah.” Garrett scoffed. “I’m starting to think that’s not a bad thing.”

  He looked to the girl for confirmation, but her face gave nothing away. “So what do we do now?”

  “The Lord Crayfish said I am yours for the night.”

  That’s all she knows to say. Garrett thought. “Do you, uh, do you want to stay?”

  “M’lord?”

  “I mean, not for any…y-you know…” Garrett blushed. “What would happen if you went back to…wherever it is you came from.”

  The girl trembled. “Boss Tieran will show me the lash if I’ve displeased you.”

  Maybe someone should beat Boss Tieran. Garrett kept the thought. He sighed. “Then stay…please.”

  The servant girl looked up again. “M’lord?”

  “Stay with me. I don’t wanna be alone.” Garrett rose from the bed. “Here…you can have the bed. I doubt I’ll sleep much anyway.”

  The girl stepped toward the bed slowly.

  She thinks I’m messing with her. Garrett backed away from the bed, closer to the fireplace. He lay out upon the hard stone floor, close enough to feel the fire’s warmth, and listened to the covers rustle as the girl climbed into the bed.

  Garrett sat up when he heard her sobbing. “Are you okay?”

  “A-aye…”

  You sure don’t sound like it. Garrett lay back down.

  “Th-thank you…thank you, m’lord. F-for your kindness.”

  “You’re welcome,” Garrett said so softly even he barely heard himself acknowledge her. Then he closed his eyes and listened to the fire pop, wondering how he had ever gotten himself into this mess. Then came a worse thought. How do I get out of here?

  CHIDI

  Cloaked in absolute dark, Chidi sat with her back against a cavern wall. The light from Henry’s torch had burned out long ago, or was it a few minutes? Chidi desperately clutched at the torch and touched her fingers to what had been its flamed tip, now cooled.

  Awhile then, she decided.

  Across the way, she heard light breathing. Chidi reminded herself of Marisa’s presence, even as her imagination warned any manner of creature wishing her ill might linger beyond the bars.

  Chidi thanked the Ancients for her iron cage of protection. She immediately took it back upon the realization if they truly pitied her, they would send some light.

  She heard Marisa snore softly. Chidi thought to scream, wake her, and have someone to talk with. At least it would pass the time until Henry came to collect her like he’d promised. She had little doubt her owner would follow through. He always keeps his promises. She fought the notion he abandoned her to endless dark and conjured the many promises Henry had kept.

  Chidi always found it hardest to ward off the newest memories. Burying the dead faces deep in her mind took time and effort and she struggled with the discipline of it now. She kept seeing Racer, lying in an open field. Pictured Wotjek sprawled on the floor of the gas station and heard Henry’s threat to Ellie.

  Just because he hasn’t killed her yet, doesn’t mean he won’t. Her conscience warned. Henry always keeps his promises.

  She feared for Lenny then, too, the master planner who had given her freedom for a moment.

  And I betrayed them both. Chidi sobbed. They gave me freedom and I brought them death.

  Not all of them, a quiet, inner voice reminded her. Allambee is free.

  Yes. Chidi clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her sobs. She thought on the last thing Zymon Gorski had told her and the fear in his voice. You know fear already. Have lived with it in that other world and survived this long. You are the only one who can save us now. Will you do that, Chidi? Will you save our lives?

  “But who’s going to save mine?” she cried at the darkness. “Who will save me…”

  Deep in the tunnel, orange light dawned.

  Chidi stood up, watched the light bob as the torchbearer meandered through the snaky tunnel.

  “Endrees!” a hard voice called out. “Get back here, ya sorry excuse for a sea rat.”

  Chidi saw a shadow dart across the floor, bound toward her. No, no, no. She backed to the edge of her cage.

  A sea otter poked its nose through the iron slat, wiggled its nose, and chirped at her.

  “Endre—Buckets a blood…how’d ya get in here?”

  Chidi glanced up. Is that…no! It can’t be.

  The torchbearer stood at the tunnel’s edge, his stature small, belying the giant shadow he cast against the cavern wall.

  Chidi watched the guard approach her cage. For a moment, she thought Lenny Dolan must have escaped the stocks and come to rescue her. As the little man neared, she saw it only a trick of the light. “You’re…”

  “Declan Dolan. You’re Henry’s girl.”

  “Chidi…”

  “Right,” said Declan. He glanced down at the hunk of bread and cup of water he’d carried in his other hand. He sighed. “Boss Fenton didn’t say nuthin’ about ya bein’ locked in here. I don’t have any food for ya. No water neither.”

  “It’s all right. No one knows I’m here. They can’t know I’m here,” she added quickly. “If Henry finds out…o-or Ishmael.”

  “Relax, girlie. I don’t wanna see ya get in trouble. Long as ya don’t say nuthin’, I won’t. Far as I’m concerned, ya wadn’t here when I brought Miss Bourgeois over there her dinna.”

  “Th-Thank you.”

  Declan nodded, then shifted toward Marisa’s cage.

  “Wait!” Chidi reached through the slats. “Please.”

  “What?”

  Chidi’s mind raced for something to say, a compliment, a lie, anything to keep Declan from leaving and taking the light with him. The dam behind her eyes nearly burst when the only thing that mattered came to her. “I-I’m sorry.”

  Declan sighed. “For my boy?”

  “Yes.” Chidi felt trickles down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I—”

  “It’s all right. Wadn’t ya fault.”

  “But I-I lied.” Chidi fought to breathe. “To everyone.”

  “Ya did what ya had to. Just like Len.”

  Chidi looked on Declan’s wizened face and found kindness that belied the hard exterior his son fought so hard to maintain. “I don’t understand. The things I said…they’ll punish them. Lenny too.”

  “They already did. Keel-raked him.”

  Chidi gasped, fell to her knees. “No…then he’s…he—”

  “He made it.”

  “Lenny’s alive?” Chidi sobbed. “How?”

  “He’s my son. He can figure his way outta anything.” Declan’s gaze honed on Chidi. “Len freed ya, didn’t he?”

  Chidi hesitated.

  “Thought so.” Declan smirked. “Mind if I ask how ya talked him into it?”

  “I didn’t…Ellie and Racer freed me. They said it was Lenny’s plan.”

  “Well, whattaya know. Maybe he’s learnin’ after all.” Declan chuckled. “So ya neva said nuthin’ to him? Didn’t suggest it?
Promise him something?”

  Chidi shook her head. “I don’t know why he did it.”

  “I do.” Declan said. “There’s this story I told him about these two catchas, one of ‘em old, the other comin’ into his own. Anyway, one day, as they reach the top of a hill, they look down and see a bunch a runnas sittin’ around a fire. The pup looks up at the old catcha and whispers, ‘Let’s run down and scare ‘em. They’ll scatter. Maybe we can catch us one to take back.’”

  Chidi leaned closer as Declan continued.

  “The old catcha shakes his head at the pup. Then he says, ‘Let’s sneak down and get ‘em all.’” Declan sighed, glanced down at the otter nuzzling against his legs. “Told Len that story I dunno how many times…Neva knew he listened to it.”

  “I don’t understand,” said Chidi after a long pause.

  “My pup’s learnin’ to think on his own,” said Declan. “Steppin’ outta my shadow to become his own man…all any good fatha wants for his son.”

  Chidi smiled.

  “His plan almost worked too. Settin’ a few of ya free, but comin’ back with his mission accomplished…Smart.” Declan winked at Chidi. “He’ll do betta next time.”

  “Declan Dolan…”

  Chidi saw Marisa Bourgeois standing, watching them both from her cage.

  “All these years…hearing your voice…seeing your face in my dreams,” said Marisa, her voice full of reverence. She bowed her head. “It’s a privilege to finally meet you.”

  Chidi noticed the warmth from Declan fade.

  “My pup said ya drew a picture a me.”

  Marisa nodded.

  “How’d ya know what I look like?” Declan asked. “I neva seen ya before in all my life.”

  “The Ancients sang your face to me. Set my path to cross with yours that we might leave this place together.”

  “I’m a Dolan.” Declan crossed his arms. “We don’t run.”

  “Today you do,” said Marisa softly.

  Chidi heard the otter squeak. Watched it nip at the ankles of Declan’s suit, tug him toward Marisa’s cage.

  “Whattaya doin’, Endrees?” Declan lightly kicked the otter away.

  The animal scurried to join Marisa, then promptly chirped at its master.

  Marisa reached her arm through the slats. “The Ancients would have you see, Declan.”

  Chidi thought the elder Dolan seemed hypnotized as he approached Marisa. How is she doing this? Chidi wondered. A pit in her gut urged her cry out. “Stop…Don’t!”

  Her voice seemed to call Declan from his trance. He stopped short of Marisa’s arm, glanced back and forth between she and Chidi.

  “Don’t…” Chidi cautioned. Her mind curious to know what Marisa would tell Declan, her soul fearing it.

  “Boss Fenton said ya was a fake runna,” said Declan to Marisa. “That he only sent my pup and the others lookin’ for ya to build Oscar’s ego.”

  “Then why am I locked in here?” Marisa answered. “Far from the Nomads who arrived unannounced and uninvited?”

  “Tell me.”

  “A feeble story for feeble minds,” said Marisa. “In truth, the Crayfish trembles even as we speak in his mansion bought and built with the blood of others. He knows your son brings much trouble on this cavern, but which problem to face first? The Orc? The Nomads?” Marisa chuckled. “Those with power are quick to act on what they perceive the largest of issues, yet it’s often the smallest which brings their demise.”

  Chidi gripped the iron bars of her cage, curiosity trumping her fear.

  “The Crayfish knows, Declan, as you do. And you also.” Marisa glanced at Chidi.

  “What?” Chidi asked breathlessly. “What do we know?”

  “The Salt will have its due.”

  Chidi’s heart fluttered as Marisa continued.

  “The Ancients sing our names from shore to shore. We defy them at our peril.” Marisa looked on Declan again. “Take my arm, Declan Dolan. Learn what would they ask of you.”

  The elder Dolan seemed skeptical, to Chidi’s mind, yet she watched him clasp his small hand atop Marisa’s forearm. Declan’s head whipped back, eyes open wide, the moment Marisa flexed her grip, and his body quaked like one caught by stinging jelly nets.

  Chidi saw Marisa release her hold.

  Declan fell to the stony floor, gasping. “H-How did ya…”

  “You understand now?” Marisa asked. “You see? Know what must be done.”

  What did she do to him? Chidi wondered as Declan climbed to his feet and approached Marisa’s cage. She watched him unsheathe a hidden dagger from his Selkie pocket and put its tip to the door. A moment later, the lock echoed off the cavern floor.

  Marisa pushed the gate open and stepped out.

  “My son…” said Declan. “He—”

  “Cannot know,” Marisa replied. “Did you not say a father’s want for his son is to find his own way? Lenny will discover his.”

  Chidi saw Declan nod. He glanced over at her. “Is she comin’ with us?”

  Marisa shook her head.

  “What? Why not?” Chidi asked. “Please. Take me with you!”

  “I’m sorry, Chidi,” said Marisa. “Our paths must diverge a little while longer.”

  “They don’t have to. You could take me with you. Right now!”

  “Yours is a different work to do,” said Marisa. “For now, I leave you to it.”

  “But—”

  “Chidi,” said Declan. “Tell Len, I…I’m proud of him…”

  She noticed the torchlight made Declan’s eyes glisten.

  “Tell my boy I love him,” Declan’s voice broke. “He won’t understand why I left…but do that for me, will ya, Chidi?”

  Marisa put her hand to Declan’s back.

  “Endrees…” the elder Dolan said as he strode toward the passageway. “With me.”

  Chidi watched the otter follow its master to the tunnel’s mouth, both vanishing into the dark. “No!” She cried. “Declan! Come back.”

  “Chidi.” Marisa approached her cage and passed the torch between the slats in the same manner Henry had done. “Be strong, Chidi. The waiting time is almost ended.”

  Then she, too, abandoned Chidi to the hidden hollow.

  Chidi continued screaming at Marisa, long after both she and Declan had gone. She had no tears left to cry, but anger aplenty. She kicked and punched the cage, staining its bars with blood from her knuckles and toes. Exhaustion forced her collapse and she stared numbly at the tunnel mouth, wishing either Declan or Marisa had at least done her the favor of killing her.

  She could not say how much time passed before she heard the echo of someone’s approach, but her torch’s light had waned to a flicker. Chidi didn’t bother looking to see who came for her, knowing it must be Henry.

  “What the…How’d you get in here? How did she…”

  Chidi glanced up at the familiar voice.

  “Oh no…” Tieran’s eyes rounded at the sight of Marisa’s empty cage. “No, no, no.”

  Chidi watched him run to it. Enter like he half expected Marisa to have learned a way to make herself invisible and hid there still. Chidi listened to him curse and rant. Stupid. She thought. He’s forgotten I’m even here.

  He remembered a few minutes later. “How’d you get in here?” Tieran demanded.

  “Henry.”

  Tieran sneered. “Let her go, did he? To get back at the Crayfish for what’s owed him?”

  “Aye,” said Chidi, the embers of anger stoked anew. “Henry and Declan Dolan.”

  LENNY

  Lenny grunted as he lifted his forehead from the stocks. Sleep eluded him, not only because of his forced position. He had witnessed a commotion of catchers and taskmasters several hours previous and not a word given as to why. At first, he had thought it maybe Orcs come to gather Garrett. He saw none, however, and gathered they’d been sent out when none returned from the docks.

  Morn had not yet graced Crayfish Cavern and all but the
largest braziers had reduced to embers, awaiting slaves to feed their flames anew.

  A groan from the prisoner opposite him made Lenny give silent thanks to Fenton. The old overseer had at least allowed Lenny his Selkie suit to ward away the natural cold of Crayfish Cavern. A grant not awarded his fellow convict.

  The taskmasters had brought Racer’s father, Ansel, to join Lenny in the stocks not long after Declan departed the previous night. Lenny recalled them stripping Ansel of his suit, a worn and lowly Common, leaving his dignity to a loincloth. Shoulders twitching, wrists and ankles rattling against his confines, Ansel winced as he straightened and shook the reedy blond hair from his eyes.

  The pair had said little with a taskmaster left to keep watch. Lenny saw the same taskmaster now slumped against the whipping masts, head tilted back and snoring softly.

  “My boy…Racer,” Ansel’s voice sounded haggard. “He run off, didn’t he?”

  “Aye.” Guilt washed over Lenny as the father looked on him with the same brilliant gaze Racer had inherited. ‘Cause I told him to.

  Ansel nodded. “That why you’re locked up?”

  “Some of it.”

  “Not right.” Ansel winced again. “Hope you can forgive my boy, Captain Dolan. Racer…he always has looked up to you.”

  “Think ya mean looked down,” said Lenny. “Nobody looks up at a nipperkin.”

  “My son does. Ever since he was a pup, it’s all he’d talk on. Becoming a catcher like you Dolans.” Ansel paused. “Smart, my boy. Always knew that’d be best. Better life than slaving in the fields like his old man. I knew it too, you see?”

  Lenny shook his head.

  Ansel grinned crookedly, even as his body trembled from the cold. “Might be a field slave, but I know a thing or two. A catcher’s life, why, it’s the only way my boy would ever have a chance of living free. Escaping.” His grin faded. “Mighty sorry his running landed you here, sir.”

  “I’m no sir,” said Lenny.

  “Yes, you are. You is a captain, sir,” said Ansel quickly. “Like your daddy.”

  “Pop’s known throughout the Salt. A legend.”

  “Legends take time to grow. Might be yours is just getting started.”

  “Some start I’m off to.” Lenny rattled his wrists against the stocks.