“You’ll be fine, Ard,” Raek continued. “Now that we know there are more Glassminds in play, the plan has to change. Lomaya and I can get passage on the first ship back to Beripent.”
Quarrah narrowed her eyes in thought. Then she stood up. “I’m going with him.”
“Come on, Quarrah,” moaned Ardor. “We’re stealing a dragon! I need a thief.”
“Wait, what?” Nemery cried. “We’re stealing which dragon?” Why wasn’t anybody answering her?
“I think you’ll be fine,” Quarrah said, ignoring Nemery. “It’s not like I was going to pick up the dragon and sneak her down to the harbor anyway.”
“I believe that is my job,” said Gloristar.
“Exactly,” said Quarrah. “But Raek’s right. We need to find out what the Glassminds are up to. And if it comes down to sneaking into their cult to rescue Lomaya’s friend, that’s more in my wheelhouse.”
Ardor let out a heavy sigh. “Wow. After all the work to get here, you two are leaving me alone.”
“You’re not alone,” Raek said. “You’ve got Gloristar, Captain Dodset and the crew, Nemery, and… him.” He pointed at Mohdek.
“Mohdek,” he introduced himself.
“Wait. Who says Moh and I are going anywhere?” Nemery cut in.
“We need a Caller,” said Ardor, as if that explained it.
“But now you’re talking about stealing a dragon?” said Nemery. “Why?”
“I guess I’m getting ahead of myself.” Ardor held up his hands. “A real dirtbag retired poacher named Hedge Marsool figured out how to see the future and he’s manipulating us into stealing a dragon for him.”
Nemery’s eyebrows rose and she heard Mohdek mutter a disbelieving curse in Trothian.
“Why?” she finally asked.
“We’re not clear on that,” Ardor admitted. “But unfortunately, Hedge also knows the formula for Metamorphosis Grit, and he’s threatening to transform more people into Glassminds if we don’t get him a dragon.”
“You believe him?” asked Nemery.
“Absolutely,” said Ardor.
“Where are you going to take this dragon?” she followed up.
“We’ve got a spot ready in a cave beneath Helizon,” he explained. “Of course, we’re only going to hold her until Hedge sees that we’ve made the delivery. After that, the dragon is going to ‘break free.’” He made little quotes in the air with his fingers.
“The clocks,” said Nemery, finally making sense of that earlier bit. “Which dragon does he want?”
“All he said is that it has to be a mature sow,” said Ardor.
She threw her hands in the air. “So just one of the largest living creatures in the world. Do you have a plan for this?”
Ardor Benn simply pointed at Prime Isless Gloristar.
“After we get her onboard,” said Ardor, “we should be able to keep her subdued with Stasis Grit.”
“What’s that?” Nemery asked.
“Think deep sleep,” said Raek. “Except your heart stops and you don’t even breathe.”
“Sounds terrifying,” admitted Nemery.
“It’s a little disorienting,” said Ardor. “But it’s harmless.”
Nemery turned in her chair so she could see Mohdek. “What do you think about this?” she asked in his language.
“I think your hero is turning out to be much crazier than you ever described him,” he replied.
“You shouldn’t be surprised. I told you how he crash-landed a Trans-Island Carriage into the side of Pekal.”
“I spent all these years believing that was a tall tale,” said Mohdek.
“Nemery!” Ardor interrupted. “When did you learn to speak Trothian?”
It wasn’t his first attempt to get her to tell him her life story. He’d asked a million questions at Burdal’s Provisions, but she’d evaded them all. Nemery’s journey since their last encounter hadn’t all been pleasant. She certainly wasn’t the same little girl that he’d hiked with. What if Ardor Benn disapproved of the choices that had brought her here?
“I don’t like the idea of moving a dragon,” Mohdek continued in Trothian without acknowledging Ardor’s question. “We’ve spent so long protecting them. Doesn’t this feel like a betrayal?”
“But we have to consider the consequences,” she said. “Is it worth giving up one dragon to prevent more of those Glassminds? And it doesn’t sound like anyone would be hurting her. He said they plan to free her as quickly as possible.”
“You can’t possibly be considering this, Nem!” Mohdek cried. “We’re talking about moving a dragon to the Greater Chain. Don’t you remember what happened last time? Dragons and cities don’t mix. If we go through with this, innocent people could die.”
Ardor cleared his throat. “Going by his tone, I’m guessing Mohdek is all for it.”
Nemery looked at her boyfriend, dark vibrating eyes fixed on her, boring into her soul. Mohdek knew her too well to be fooled by her alleged logic. Did she think it was a terrible idea to relocate a dragon to the Greater Chain? Yes. And if anyone else in the world had come to her with this request, she would have laughed them off in an instant.
But this was Ardor Benn.
“Moh,” she said, feeling awkward in front of everyone, even though they couldn’t understand the conversation. “We have to help them. I have to help. If I’m honest, I don’t agree with it, but I owe him—”
“Your life,” Mohdek finished for her. “I know.”
She turned away from his glum face. “We’ll do it,” she said to Ardor. “But only if your crew promises to respect Pekal. And no one hurts the dragon.”
“In my experience,” said Ard, “those that don’t respect Pekal, die there.”
“I’m talking about the land,” said Nemery, “the plants. The animals. We go up and back without a trace. Small fires, controlled campsites, and no senseless target practice.”
Ardor nodded. “Captain Dodset is staying here to hold down the ship, but she made it clear to her crew that I’m in command as soon as we head up the mountain. I’ll make sure everyone understands.”
“We’d better get going,” Raek said to Quarrah and Lomaya. “Hopefully, we can catch a midmorning ship and we can be to Winter Barracks by midnight.”
“I’ll send word to you the minute we set sail for Helizon with the dragon,” Ardor said. “That’ll give you and Quarrah time to notify Hedge and then meet me at the cavern with the clock explosives.”
“How many days are you thinking it’ll be?” Raek asked.
“That’s a better question for Nemery,” said Ardor.
She turned to Mohdek, but his face was downcast in obvious disapproval of this entire arrangement.
“Best-case scenario, five days,” she answered. “But it depends on if she returned to Red Banks after roosting for the Passing.”
“You know where the dragons will be?” Ardor asked with unmasked amazement.
“We know most of their haunts,” Nemery admitted.
“And this Red Banks area…” said Ardor. “It’s the closest?”
“Not necessarily,” answered Nemery. “But trust me, if she’s there, she’s the dragon we want.”
“Why is that?” Ardor asked.
Nemery stood up. “Because I believe she already knows your scent.”
My responsibility, like it or not, has always been to act on the information I uncover. It’s something I owe to myself, lest I dither into uselessness.
CHAPTER
18
Outside the wall of Winter Barracks, Quarrah moved through the darkness until she reached a cluster of tall elm trees. Neither Raek nor Lomaya was well concealed, and she spotted them instantly. Were they even trying to hide?
“What did you see in there?” Lomaya asked impatiently.
“Glassminds,” Quarrah replied. “And a lot of fanatical people.” A surprising number, if she was honest.
The three of them weren’t ready for this. Sure, the
y’d grabbed some supplies from Tofar’s Salts after disembarking in the Western Harbor, but this was going to be a complicated rescue.
“What about the seventh barracks?” asked Lomaya.
“Empty,” answered Quarrah. “But they’re holding someone in the officers’ quarters on the far side of the compound. I heard him try to shout for help, but he was silenced.”
“You didn’t see if it was San?” Lomaya followed up.
Quarrah shook her head. “Do you think they’re holding more than one prisoner?”
Lomaya shrugged. “Garifus and the other cult leaders were living in the officers’ quarters. San and I were being kept in barracks number seven.”
“Well, it’s empty now,” Quarrah repeated. “And the officers’ quarters was the only building guarded by Glassminds.”
“Sounds like San got an upgrade to his living accommodations,” said Raek.
“The rest of the soldier barracks appear to have large groups of people living in them.”
“Yes,” said Lomaya. “It was about half full when we left for Pekal.”
“Well, it’s got to be getting close to capacity now,” she said. “I estimate over four hundred people in there. Men, women, children…”
“And more coming by the minute,” Raek added. “There’s been a steady stream arriving through the front gate. What are they doing in there?”
“They’re gathering everyone in the training yard,” Quarrah said. “Garifus and three of the Glassminds are mingling among them.”
“They’ll be preaching,” said Lomaya.
“That’s what it looked like,” said Quarrah, “though I didn’t get close enough to hear what they were saying.”
“Can you give me a rundown of the layout in there?” Raek asked.
“Ten-foot stone wall surrounds the entire compound, with a single guard tower by the main entrance,” began Quarrah.
“I spotted a Glassmind up there,” Raek said.
“Me, too,” she replied. “Once you pass through the front gate, there’s a large open training yard. Might have been grass once, but it’s so trampled, it’s mostly dirt now. To the right of that are the stables. They’re not big. Probably just enough to hold horses for the officers during the war. There aren’t any animals, but people are living in there. In the center of the compound are the kitchens and mess hall—more of a social pavilion, really. Lots of tables and chairs. Beyond that, you come to the barracks. Rows and rows of low-roofed buildings with little windows. Every now and again, a storage shed pops up between them. They would have held Grit and weapons during the war, but I don’t know what’s in them now.”
“And the officers’ quarters?” Raek asked.
“It’s a big square building in the middle of the barracks, taller than the rest,” she said. “A Glassmind at the front door, and another at the back. Decent windows all around, but it would take a Drift Jump to reach them.”
“So Garifus and three Glassminds in the yard,” listed Raek, “two Glassminds guarding the officers’ quarters. And the one on the guard tower.”
“That leaves one unaccounted for,” said Lomaya.
“Maybe that’s a good thing,” Raek said. “Maybe he’s gone, making a doughnut run.”
“Or he’s inside the officers’ quarters,” said Quarrah, “guarding the person we’re trying to rescue.”
“Love that positive attitude, Quarrah,” said Raek. “Keep it up.” She watched him unbutton his shirt. Time for another hit of Compounded Health Grit.
“Plan for the worst,” she said, “and at least you have the possibility of being pleasantly surprised.”
“The worst is that the kid is already dead,” Raek pointed out. “If that’s the case, then we’re going in there for nothing.”
“He can’t be,” whispered Lomaya. “What’s our plan to get in?”
“Through the front gate,” replied Raek, untwisting a paper roll of Heg.
“Are you insane?” Lomaya cried.
Raek shrugged. “Quarrah said there are hundreds of people inside. We wait until a new group is heading through and we fall in behind them.”
“We’ll be recognized,” Lomaya said.
“You can wear my hat.” He pulled his black knit cap from his bald head and tossed it to her. Then he placed a pinch of Heg into the pipe in his chest and replaced the cork, igniting it with a sharp rap. Raek sighed, closing his eyes. “Garifus and his cronies have never seen Quarrah or me, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”
He pulled a Roller from the holster on his belt and offered it to Lomaya, who accepted it without hesitation. “Go for the head,” he instructed. “Gloristar said that shattering their glass skulls was the only way to kill them.”
“I hardly think this is going to do the trick.” Lomaya eyed the weapon. “I hit them with pure Blast Grit and it barely knocked them over.”
“I’m with Lomaya on this,” Quarrah said. “I’d rather rescue San without being seen at all. If we open fire on Garifus, it’s not just the Glassminds we’ll have to contend with. I don’t think four hundred devout followers will stand by and watch their leader get assassinated.”
“You have a better idea?” Raek asked.
“Maybe…” She shook her head. “No. Never mind.”
“Oh, come on,” pressed Raek. “Out with it.”
“I don’t have it with me anyway…” she stammered. “We’d have to swing by one of my apartments, and we don’t even know what it does.”
“What are you rambling about?”
She groaned, angry with herself for bringing it up and knowing that she had to come clean with Raek now. “Future Grit.”
“But we don’t have—”
“Ard’s vial was a fake,” Quarrah said. “I took the real one after you were done inspecting it in the Be’Igoth.”
Raek’s scarred face glowed with a huge smile. “Why, you little—”
“I didn’t trust Ard with it,” she explained. “He’s not careful with things like that and… well, just look at what he did on the Shiverswift.”
“Oh, I’m not questioning why you did it,” Raek said. “In fact, I’ve never been prouder of you.”
“Thanks?” Quarrah said, grateful that Raek wasn’t asking why she hadn’t told him. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Raek to keep a secret from Ard—he’d been doing that while supplying her with liquid Grit for the past year. It was just Quarrah’s default to keep things to herself.
“It’s a bad idea,” Quarrah went on. “If we use the Future Grit without understanding it, that makes us no better than Ard—”
“Future Grit?” Lomaya cut in.
“I wanted to call it Time Grit,” said Raek.
“It’s a new liquid solution…” Quarrah trailed off as Lomaya shook her head.
“You’re saying there’s another source material?” the young woman asked. “One we didn’t know about?”
“We weren’t able to identify it,” Raek said.
“Did you use a light filtration scope?” she asked.
“Ha. Because I have one of those lying around,” Raek answered sarcastically.
“There’s one at the college,” Lomaya said. “Professor Wal taught us how to use it.”
“That’s not exactly open to the public,” said Raek.
“I’ve still got connections there. I could run the vial through the scope myself.”
“That’s not going to help your friend tonight,” Quarrah said, bringing the two scientific minds back to earth. She should never have suggested the Future Grit. All it did was expose her secret. “We’ve got to get San out of the officers’ quarters.” She thought about their options. “What if we smoke him out? Literally. We light the officers’ building on fire and wait for him to emerge.” It was a bit flashy for her taste, but it would be right up Raek’s alley.
“That would send the whole compound into chaos,” said Lomaya.
“Exactly,” continued Quarrah. “We use the chaos to get close enough to
grab your friend and escape.”
“I’m in love with this plan.” Raek swung his pack around and untied his crossbow. “In love, do you hear me?”
“How do we start this fire?” Lomaya asked.
“Blast Grit’s our surest bet,” said Raek. “I can rig up a bolt and we can shoot it through one of the windows… Boom!”
“What if San is up there?” Lomaya asked, a trace of panic in her voice.
“All the rooms will be on the first floor,” said Quarrah. “I assume that’s where he’ll be. We can shoot through the third-story windows and blow up the top level. It should be just a map room.”
“Should be,” Lomaya repeated. “How do you know this?”
“Winter Barracks is an Archkingdom compound,” Quarrah explained. “Its layout and design are virtually identical to Forward Barracks in the Northern Quarter, and Midway Barracks to the south.”
“And you’ve been there?”
“Both of those barracks were used as redistribution centers when the war ended. Lots of valuables in the officers’ quarters.”
Lomaya looked aghast, but Raek chuckled, a pleased expression on his rugged face as he worked on filling a blank Grit bolt.
“I don’t know,” Lomaya said. “If they’re planning to kill San anyway, what makes us think they’ll bother pulling him out of a burning building?”
“If Garifus was going to kill him, don’t you think he’d already be dead?” Raek asked. “Sounds like the Glassminds have been back for two days. Why bother keeping him prisoner?”
“Raek’s right,” said Quarrah. “Garifus must have something else in mind for your friend.”
“Still,” said Lomaya, “even if they do exit the quarters, we have no way of knowing where they’ll take him.”
“We’ll have to be ready for anything.” Raek carefully dropped a chip of Slagstone through the opening on the end of the bolt. “I’ll stick with going through the front gate. If they bring him my way, I’ll be there.”
“And I’ll come over the back wall,” Quarrah said.
“I think you should take the shot since you’re likely to get closer to the officers’ quarters.” Raek passed her the crossbow. “And be careful,” he said, melodramatically handing over the Grit bolt. “This baby is stuffed fuller than a nobleman’s wallet. It’s not going to fly too well, but it’ll pack a serious punch.”
The Last Lies of Ardor Benn Page 30
