Deepwoods (Book 1)

by Honor Raconteur

  She hesitated. While fighting with the men of one’s hosting guildmaster was wrong—very wrong—she instinctively felt that this was an important moment. Trust between those two was building in front of her eyes. With every punch, every opponent knocked down, they were learning how to fight with each other, how to coordinate their attacks. That experience would be invaluable in the future, she knew that for a fact.

  Didn’t change the fact that fighting with their hosts was wrong, though.

  “Two minutes,” she promised herself in an undertone. “I’ll give them two more minutes. Then I step in and stop them. Somehow.”

  Sylvie slid to a stop beside her, took in the raging fight, and groaned. “Oh no. When did Wolf join in? And Fei?!”

  “Fei?” Siobhan repeated, eyes darting about madly to spot him. Oh heavens, Sylvie was right, he had joined in at some point and she hadn’t noticed. Even now he was slowly maneuvering his way to fight with Wolf and Rune. “Oh for the love of—! He’s supposed to be the sensible one! Why did he…arghhhh.”

  “Well, granted, they are outnumbered otherwise,” Sylvie reasoned in a remarkably cool way.

  “It’s Wolf out there,” Siobhan protested. “No they’re not!”

  “Ooooh, I’ve never seen Rune fight before. He’s quite good, isn’t he? I’d say on par with either Wolf or Tran.” Sylvie leaned in, watching every move with keen eyes. “If we had him fight Wolf or Tran, I wonder what would happen?”

  “The furniture wouldn’t survive, that’s what would happen,” she groaned. As it was, she wasn’t sure the courtyard would survive under this madness. So far, the men had managed to trample every flower, bush, and the single bench that had been out here.

  The question of how she would stop the fight resolved itself very quickly once Fei started fighting. Within minutes, the Iron Dragain members were down, most of them sporting nothing more than a broken bone or three with enough bruises to resemble a patchwork quilt. Since they were all still conscious, Siobhan took advantage of the situation and stalked into the middle of them, glaring about as she did so. Seeing the bloody lip on Rune’s face, the minor cuts on his chest and arms, made her vision go red and the calm speech she’d prepared in her head disappeared in a puff of smoke. Instead her voice rose to a loud, thundering roar.

  “WHAT IN THE FOUR WINDS DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING?!”

  Every man there flinched, at the sheer volume of her voice, if nothing else. She spun on her heel with a snarl, lip curled in a menacing baring of teeth. “We are Jarnsmor’s guests. We are here on Blackstone’s behalf. How dare you attack one of my own?!”

  One of the men—she didn’t recognize him, especially since he was holding his bloody nose—spoke up in a surly manner. “He’s not one of yours. He’s Silent Order. We know him.”

  “He was Silent Order,” she corrected sharply, the words snapping like a whip. “He’s now Deepwoods.”

  “He’s an assassin and a thief,” someone else said from behind her. She whirled around to face him, feeling blood roar to her head. The man met her eyes unflinchingly. “We won’t have him here.”

  “You won’t have him here,” she repeated with lethal calm. “Even though your guildmaster said differently? Oh? You didn’t think Jarnsmor knew about him? But he did. We discussed it, he and I, and Rune is here because I vouched for him. He obviously didn’t want trouble, he’s been avoiding all contact with your guild from the first day. Wind and stars, but even when you deliberately pick on him, he doesn’t retaliate! So what did you think you were doing, dragging him out here and buying a fight that he didn’t want to sell?”

  None of them could quite meet her eyes after that. She huffed out a disgusted breath and pointed sharply for the door. “Go. Go! Before I change my mind and finish what my men left.”

  With grunts of pain and mutterings, they gathered themselves up and limped away. Siobhan took in a deep breath, trying to calm herself. One breath didn’t cut it, so she took in another, then another. It didn’t noticeably calm her heart any, but it did give her the appearance of control at least. Turning to Rune, she asked, “How badly are you hurt?”

  He didn’t answer immediately, just stared at her with weighing eyes for a long moment. “Ya vouched for me?”

  Patience. She took in another breath. “Rune, do you honestly think that Jarnsmor would have let you walk through his doors without someone speaking on your behalf?”

  At that, he really seemed lost for words.

  “Think about it later, Rune-xian,” Fei advised. “Answer us first. Are you hurt badly anywhere, or is it just what we see?”

  “Just what ya see,” he slowly answered, eyes studying their faces in turn as if wondering what they truly thought.

  Well enough. Although she’d still drag him to Conli in a moment for treatment. “And you, Wolf? Fei?”

  “Fine,” Wolf assured her, pleased with the fight. “Got my blood pumping.”

  Fei shrugged, one hand splayed that indicated he was fine, although she noticed he had a neat slice along one leg that needed tending to.

  “What were you two thinking, anyway, by jumping in like that?” Although a part of her was glad they had, there were better ways to handle the situation. She might not have the lung power to shout down a group of fighting men but Wolf certainly did. For that matter, Fei had become an expert on breaking up brawls after years of dealing with Wolf and Tran. He could have stopped it if he wanted to.

  Wolf drew himself up in a dignified manner. “Real friends don’t let friends do stupid things alone.”

  She closed her eyes, pained. “Why does that sound ridiculously logical coming out of your mouth?”

  “He needed help,” Fei justified himself.

  Why had she even bothered to ask? “Oh, never mind. You three go see Conli and get patched up. I need to hunt down Jarnsmor and tell him what happened.” Before some garbled version reached his ears. “Sylvie, escort them there. Do not allow detours.”

  Sylvie gave her a half-bow of acknowledgement before grabbing Wolf by the arm and towing him along. The other two—one pleased, the other bewildered—trailed in her wake. As they went, she could hear Fei ask Rune exactly how everything had started (which was a question she wanted an answer to) but she let them go off alone. She’d get the full version later.

  And to think, she had complained about being bored and restless earlier.

  ӜӜӜ

  She found Jarnsmor in his study, and sat at the paper-buried table to report what had happened. Jarnsmor heard her out with a pained frown, and he kept pinching at the bridge of his nose as if fighting off a headache. When she finished, he let out a low breath. “Guildmaster Maley, my apologies. I had made it clear to everyone that you and your people should be treated with all due courtesy. I thought I had made it clear, at least.”

  “I know you did,” she assured him, more out of sympathy than politeness. “But I also know that you always have a few members in a guild that are stubborn and rock-headed who do things their own way. Fortunately, it was all just bruises and minor cuts from this fight with no real damage. Hopefully we can avoid any conflict in the future.”

  A hard look came into his eyes. “I will talk with them personally.”

  She almost felt pity for those poor idiots in that moment. Almost. “I must ask, however, just how bad is the blood between Iron Dragain and Silent Order that they felt so compelled to fight Rune?”

  “Bad,” he admitted with splayed palms. “Silent Order has existed almost as long as Iron Dragain and we’ve been constantly fighting each other for as long as anyone can remember. Once in a while, we work out a treaty of sorts with them so that they don’t attack our people or allies, which lasts for a few years. When I first became guildmaster, there was such an agreement in place that almost lasted a full decade. But Silent Order doesn’t keep the same guildmaster for long—too much infighting, belike—and our understandings with them only last until the next man takes over. Worse, every time they change guildmast
ers, the whole city feels the aftermath, like a tidal wave sweeping the streets. It’s like the new guildmaster has to prove himself to be more ruthless than the former one. He flexes his power, demonstrating it for several months before things steady out again.”

  That made ice run through her veins. “Are they such a large guild, then?”

  “Not as large as us,” he refuted with a shake of the head. “In fact, not particularly large at all. We can’t know their exact number, but I guess them to be about a hundred strong. They might grow if they can ever stop their members from killing each other off periodically. But every time an old guildmaster falls, anyone loyal to him dies too, which wipes out dozens of men at a time.”

  How horrifying. Siobhan felt relieved with every word that she had managed to take Rune away from that future. She really didn’t want to ask this, but it begged to be known. “Please answer the next question frankly. Has Rune personally done anything to Iron Dragain?”

  “That I’m aware of? No. I think my men have crossed paths with him before but we know him by his reputation and little else.”

  She blew out a covert breath of relief. Honestly, she hadn’t known what she would do if the answer to that question had been ‘yes.’ “I’m glad. Hopefully our trip to Orin will let heads cool.”

  “You’ll take him with you, then?” Jarnsmor studied her with narrowed eyes. “Doing so risks him leaving you, you know. Once he’s on a different continent, you’ll have no hold over him.”

  Siobhan gave him an enigmatic smile. “You think so?”

  His head slanted slightly in puzzlement. “Unless you know something I don’t?”

  Shaking her head, she declined to answer and instead stood. “Thank you for handling this. I’ll get my people ready to leave tomorrow.”

  Jarnsmor looked like he wanted to press the matter but let it go with a wave of the hand. “As you will. I’ll be curious to see if he comes back with you or not.”

  ӜӜӜ

  It was just as well that they were set to leave soon. After what happened with Rune, no one seemed able to rest easy in Iron Dragain. Without Siobhan being aware of it, some discussion had happened, and as a result everyone closed in ranks around Rune. He didn’t go anywhere alone, but always had at least one other person with him. In the course of preparing for their departure tomorrow, Siobhan saw him with three different people. At one point, she even saw him sitting with Conli, getting his bandages swapped out, with both Pyper and Pete sitting on his feet.

  The whole scene just warmed her heart.

  People might still be debating on whether or not they fully trusted Rune, but they did feel some sort of connection to him, or they wouldn’t be reacting this way. Word had spread quickly through the guild of what had happened that morning and Siobhan saw many a snide glance being aimed at her assassin. It never went further than that, however. Whether it was because of Jarnsmor’s instructions or her own people’s vigilance, she wasn’t sure.

  As long as no trouble started, she didn’t care what the reason was, either.

  Now, let’s see, what else did she need to do? She herself was packed, as was most of the guild, but she did want to speak with Lirah before they left. Where could she find her at this point in the day?

  “Siobhan!”

  She turned, halfway inside the common room, spying Sylvie and Rune coming her direction. “Yes?”

  Sylvie rubbed her fingers against her thumbs in a clear gesture that asked for money. “We need to outfit Rune.”

  Oh. Right. The clothes they’d bought for him earlier hadn’t survived the gamut of assassins. She had a feeling that Rune was rough on clothes anyway, but the nightly attacks were certainly destroying his wardrobe. “Yes, of course. I’m glad you thought of that.” She took the cloth purse out of her side pouch and handed it over. “Try to only spend half of that, alright?”

  Usually Sylvie would shrug assent, but this time she hesitated as she took the bag. “Umm, that might be a bit difficult. Markl gave me a shopping list for Rune as well.”

  “Oh?” Her eyes darted to Rune’s face. Markl? And why was Rune avoiding her eyes?

  Sylvie glanced at Rune as well before she dropped her voice to a confidential tone. “Siobhan. Rune can’t read.”

  WHAT?! Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. No, wait, calm down. She should have expected this. He was from a dark guild, after all; people were rarely educated in those circles. Wolf had been one of the few exceptions, but it was his hometown that had educated him, not the guild who’d bought him. She took in a breath to steady her voice before speaking. “So, Rune, has Markl offered to teach you?”

  Rune searched her eyes, as if trying to see any pity or disgust she might feel, but he steadied out when she just looked at him levelly. “No. He demanded ta teach me.”

  That made her chuckle. “Now, why is it easy for me to picture him doing that? Lucky for you, then. I can’t imagine a better teacher than him. What did he say you needed?”

  “A primer book, a practice book, quill and ink, and some scratch paper,” Sylvie listed, ticking things off on her fingers. “Any book is pricier here than in Robarge, so it’s going to be a bit steep.”

  Siobhan waved this off. “It’s worth it. We can’t have Rune wandering around the world without being able to read. It’ll put him at too much of a disadvantage.”

  Rune made a wordless protest. “This wasn’t part of the deal.”

  She put a hand on his shoulder and snared his eyes with hers. “You are guild, Rune. Until the day you decide to leave, you are guild, and I will treat you as such. Now, do you want to learn how to read?”

  He nodded once, firmly, eyes locked with hers.

  “Then learn.” Giving his shoulder a final squeeze, she let go before focusing on Sylvie. “Try not to bankrupt me. We have quite a bit of traveling to do before we get home after all.”

  Sylvie gave a mocking bow. “I’ll do my best. I need to teach him a few things too while we’re out.”

  Both Rune and Siobhan gave her a blank look.

  “Like?” Rune asked in puzzlement.

  “Like how to shop and properly bargain with people,” Sylvie answered promptly, giving him a pointed look. “Rune, my dear, you have no survival skills to speak of.”

  Siobhan bit her tongue and tried not to laugh at the poleaxed expression on Rune’s face. So, assassination didn’t count as a survival skill, eh? Well, it likely wouldn’t in Sylvie’s opinion.

  “Have fun, then.” She waved them away. Actually, she blessed Sylvie’s idea in taking him out of Iron Dragain. It not only gave Rune the things he needed, but removed him from this tense atmosphere, which they all needed. She took all of one step before a thought struck. Turning about, she called to their retreating backs, “Rune?”

  Rune stopped mid-step and looked back over his shoulder. “Yes?”

  “Protect Sylvie.” Siobhan’s mouth quirked in a wry manner. “She tends to attract the wrong sort of attention from men.”

  Rune glanced at Sylvie, who couldn’t do anything more than shrug in resigned agreement, before he assured her, “Geta.”

  “Good man.” Siobhan waved him on again, feeling a little like a mother that had just sent two siblings out for a day of shopping. Well, in a way, that’s exactly what she had done. She couldn’t put Rune in any better hands, though. Sylvie could make a kor stretch until it squirmed and begged for mercy.

  Now, what had she been doing before being interrupted? Oh right, talk to Lirah.

  Late that evening, after most of Iron Dragain had settled in for the night, she had everyone in Deepwoods meet again in the common room. During the whole course of the day, she’d been running from pillar to post, and because of that, she hadn’t been able to meet with her people to check in.

  Once again they found places either on the couches or chairs to sit, although this time Denney didn’t choose the floor next to the dogs, but instead stuck close to Conli. The older man had an arm around her shoulders in silent su
pport. Siobhan noted this position with a slight frown. Denney normally chose to be close to Conli, but for her to openly cling like this was unusual. Had something happened?

  Making a note to ask later, she cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention. “The ship leaves the day after tomorrow on the morning tide, so I expect people to be on board by eight sharp. We are, technically, investigating on Iron Dragain’s behalf and Jarnsmor has funded us for the trip. I’ve got individual purses for each of you, but mind that it’ll not be until we reach home that you’ll get paid again, so make it last.”

  People nodded or said a word of agreement in response.

  “Now, is everyone packed? Anything that we need to get before we go?”

  No one said anything at this, just looked at each other as if to say, You? No, I’m fine.

  “Conli?” she prompted. “How badly were they injured?”

  “Scratches and bruises,” Conli assured her. “Nothing that required any stitches. Assuming they keep the wounds clean, they’ll heal perfectly in a week or two.”

  Well enough. “I’m not sure if everyone knows this or not, but Conli is staying behind to see after the Blackstone people. So Fei will be in charge of any injuries for the duration of this trip. Conli, does Fei already have the black bag?”

  “I do, Siobhan-ajie,” Fei assured her calmly.

  “That said, I do not want injuries,” she said this as strongly as she knew how.

  “Wolf? Tran?” Grae had a smirk on his face. “I think she’s talking to you.”

  “I wasn’t in the fight this morning,” Tran pointed out.

  Wolf put an innocent hand to his heart. “And I didn’t start it.”

  Grae rolled his eyes heavenward. “According to you, you never start it.”

  He looked wounded by this, as if he couldn’t understand why Grae was picking on him.

  Not one person in the room believed his innocence either.

  Siobhan blew out a year’s worth of sighs. “Moving on…no fights, people. Not if you can help it. I especially don’t want injuries when we’re on foreign soil far from home. Now, that out of the way, Rune? Did Sylvie outfit you?”