When they reached the northern coastlands of Rashok’var, Jan acquired passage on a ship that would take them as far as Tarnon’s Watch, a port town on an island in the southern tip of the Labyrinthine Archipelago. But Talon knew the true journey was only beginning. Sailors in Tarnon’s Watch were little better than the pirates haunting the Harrowing Sea. Obtaining a vessel to continue the journey would be a trying task, for no Mainlander ship would risk a trip into Astraeyu Nouvin waters. If they weren’t killed by the fearsome pirates at sea, the witches would quickly dispose of them as soon as they made landfall.
As Jan passed Talon on the ship, Talon called her aside.
“I have something important to tell you regarding Tarnon’s Watch,” Talon said. “It is unlike the port towns in Tiruval. The locals…well, the locals aren’t the most accommodating to foreigners, but I don’t want you to judge all Astraeyu Nouvins based on their actions. Tarnon’s Watch is populated by pirates and cutthroats, many of whom have been exiled from Astraeyu Nouvi.”
“I’m glad you told me this before we made landfall,” Jan said. She studied the island on the horizon, her brow furrowed with concern. “This could make travel in Tarnon’s Watch somewhat more challenging than I expected. How familiar are you with the island?”
“I’ve been to Tarnon’s Watch on numerous occasions. It is the same port from which I embarked on my journey to Sonastra.” Talon recalled the day she left the Labyrinthine Archipelago. How long ago it seemed, when in reality only about two months had passed. So much had happened since then. She hardly felt like the same woman.
“Then you will make a suitable guide,” Jan said, bringing Talon back to the present.
Talon balked at the idea of leading Jan and the others around the island. Even after all she had been through with the Arbiters, she was still more accustomed to traveling alone. Once they were in Tarnon’s Watch, it would become increasingly difficult to travel with a group of Mainlanders.
“Try to relax, Talon. I trust you. We never would have made it this far if not for your help.”
“I will do my best,” Talon said. “Everyone should remain vigilant while in Tarnon’s Watch. Don’t trust anyone. The locals will be all too eager to take advantage of a group of Mainlanders, especially when you came to their turf of your own free will.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Jan held Talon’s gaze for a second longer before looking ahead to where their destination loomed ever closer on the horizon.
Talon sensed unease within Jan, but whether it was from apprehension at docking at a place as dangerous as Tarnon’s Watch or from something else entirely, she could not say.
Chapter Twenty-one
UPON DOCKING AT Tarnon’s Watch, Jan immediately understood Talon’s concerns regarding the town. The swarthy characters milling about cast curious glances in the direction of Jan and her companions as they crossed the gangplank, each with eyes a deep golden hue. Jan shrank from their hard gazes, falling back to walk a few short paces behind Talon and Rhys. It may not have been appropriate for the Grand Arbiter to hide behind her entourage, but this was not the Four Kingdoms of Lythril, and given the present circumstances, she no longer cared if she appeared a trace cowardly.
“Tarnon’s Watch was named for an Astraeyu Nouvin hero,” Talon began. “Tarnon singlehandedly drove away an invasion party from the south by using explosives. Unfamiliar with the colorful fire and smoke that filled the night sky, the barbarians of what would eventually become Rashok’var believed the gods themselves had descended from the heavens to help defend the Labyrinthine Archipelago and fled back to their homeland.” Talon looked wistfully to the town that lay beyond the port. “Tarnon’s Watch was once a celebrated place, a living monument to the heroic actions of its namesake. Sadly, in more recent years it has become home to a less illustrious class of people.”
Jan wondered what had prompted the usually reserved Talon’s long speech on the history of the island. It brought a smile to her face to think that maybe Talon was playing the part of tour guide a little too seriously.
Jan kept close to her companions as she scanned the surrounding area. It was clear at a glance that Tarnon’s Watch was populated with pirates, rogues, scoundrels, and cutthroats. Jan noticed the way the people in the streets eyed them as they passed, as though they were sizing up Jan and her group. It made her want to conclude their business in Tarnon’s Watch as quickly as possible, before any of the locals had the chance to cause trouble.
“Are you sure there is anyone willing to help us here?” Jan
asked Talon as they moved with purpose and caution through the winding streets.
“There are no other port towns until we reach Astraeyu Nouvi,” Talon replied. “The ship we sailed in on has likely already departed.” Jan was sure she gave Talon a startled look at this, for Talon laughed. “No Mainlander vessel will tarry long so far north, but have no fear. I know of someone who will take us the rest of the way to Astraeyu Nouvi.”
Jan trusted Talon with her life, but she could not keep from worrying over their current situation. If the ship had set sail as Talon claimed, that meant they were stranded on Tarnon’s Watch unless this mystery person would truly help them.
As terrifying as the idea of being stranded on an island with pirates and murderers was, Jan was impressed by Tarnon’s Watch. She was overwhelmed at the centuries of history and culture Tarnon’s Watch held. Settled after Astraeyu Nouvi itself, the island was still older than any city in the Four Kingdoms. As Talon had said, the Rasvars were no more than barbarians when Tarnon set fire to the flash-powder grenades that frightened them from the Labyrinthine Archipelago.
There was so much history to be found on the island. A true archivist at heart, Jan wished there was more time to explore Tarnon’s Watch. Like Talon, the island’s inhabitants all had caramel skin and black hair, along with the gold eyes notable of their race, but none shared the unique red luster that Talon’s eyes held.
“Stay close,” Talon said, causing Jan to scan her surroundings warily. “We’re almost there, but it is easy to become lost and disoriented in these back alleys.”
“Who is this person who is supposedly going to help us?” Rhys asked. “This seems an unusual place to do business.”
Jan noted the dilapidated state of some of the buildings they passed and mentally agreed with Rhys. It did appear as though they had entered the slums of Tarnon’s Watch.
“Larai prefers to keep a low profile,” Talon said. “Her office is only a short distance from here, hidden in plain sight, as they say.”
Jan wondered what sort of person this Larai was, and why she would need to keep a low profile, but she kept her concerns to herself. They reached their destination after a few minutes of meandering through side alleys.
Larai’s office, if it could accurately be described as such, was located below street level, beneath a building that appeared to have been abandoned for years. Before entering the low door, Jan cast a nervous glance at the crumbling remains of the once grand building perched above. She worried that the whole thing would come down on top of them if someone slammed the door. She was relieved when Rhys, the last to enter, closed the door, he did so lightly.
Inside the building was even gloomier than it was in the narrow back alleys. It took several minutes for Jan’s eyes to adjust to the darkness, but before then their presence was discovered.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the Black Talon,” a female voice said from somewhere within the gloom. Her words were more thickly accented than Talon’s, a reminder to Jan that not all Astraeyu Nouvins spoke the common language as well as Talon.
Jan squinted in the direction of the voice as a woman stepped forward. A lamp that Jan hadn’t noticed before blazed to life, illuminating the woman’s features in an eerie glow of green and blue. Magic, but not the same magic Jan was accustomed to seeing in the Four Kingdoms.
The woman studied the group for a moment more. “It seems you’ve br
ought guests, Black Talon,” she said. “Mainlander guests. I’d heard gossip from the streets that an Astraeyu’s Talon was leading a group of Mainlanders through Tarnon’s Watch, but never would I have guessed that it was the Black Talon. Tell me, noble one, to what do I owe this unexpected, and rather unusual, visit?”
“I have a favor to ask,” Talon said. Jan thought she was a trace uncertain now that she was in Larai’s office.
“Ask away,” Larai said. “You know there are no favors too great where an Astraeyu’s Talon is concerned.”
“I have need of your ship,” Talon continued. “You see, we are heading to Astraeyu Nouvi, but there are no vessels from the Mainland willing to make that journey.”
“We, as in all of you?” Larai scanned the faces of Jan and her companions questioningly. “An odd request, I must admit, but one that I am more than capable of fulfilling. The Gilded Lady is the fastest sailing ship on the Harrowing Sea. Her reputation alone is enough to send most of the ruffians sailing these waters fleeing in the opposite direction.”
Larai’s statement gave Jan pause. “Bold words,” she said. “For the pirates of the Harrowing Sea to fear the Gilded Lady, her captain must have quite a fearsome reputation.”
“She does,” Talon said. “Larai is known for her ferocity and ruthlessness when dealing with the pirates plaguing these waters. Few are foolish enough to dare approach the Gilded Lady, and those few rarely make the same mistake twice. She can take us all the way to the shores of Astraeyu Nouvi.”
Jan considered her options carefully. Larai was the captain of a sturdy, fast sailing vessel, and she was generously offering her assistance to the Arbiters. Unfortunately, she was also very obviously a pirate. Jan did not want to hurt Talon’s feelings when she was trying so hard to help, but she was unsure if they should trust Larai.
“I know what you are thinking,” Talon said, “and I understand your concerns. Larai is a pirate, that much is true, but she is also an informant for Astraeyu’s Will.”
“A pirate is helping Astraeyu’s Will?” Jan was puzzled.
“I see all manner of things in Tarnon’s Watch,” Larai said. “From my vantage point, I can keep watch over the pirates as well as other groups that might interest Astraeyu’s Will.”
“Like the Coruscalli,” Talon added.
Larai nodded. “The cult has been busy lately. I’ve noticed an increase in traffic of the cultists over the past few months. The Coruscalli are definitely up to something, and when the Coruscalli are involved, it can never be good. If you’re here to put an end to whatever the cult is doing, you have my complete cooperation. If you’re still worried about my being a pirate, let me assure you, I do not attack innocent vessels. I only attack other pirate vessels, and most of the spoils of victory go to those in need. There are plenty of those here in Tarnon’s Watch. Not everyone on the island is a scoundrel or cutthroat. Some of these people are the children of exiles, having committed no crimes of their own. They merely want to live their lives as peacefully as possible.”
Jan did not know if she believed Larai’s story of looting pirate vessels to help people in need, but Talon trusted her and Larai was the only person offering any assistance to the Arbiters. They weren’t in the Four Kingdoms anymore. Allies would likely be in short supply the closer they ventured to Astraeyu Nouvi.
“I accept you offer,” Jan said, extending her hand as a show of camaraderie. Larai clasped her proffered hand in a firm grip.
“I won’t fail you, Grand Arbiter,” Larai said. “The Gilded Lady will see you through to the end of your journey, but first I must make preparations. There are provisions to be stocked before we set sail. Other pirates usually go out of their way to avoid crossing the Gilded Lady, but it is wise to have munitions in stock, in case someone is looking for a fight.”
“Sounds thrilling,” Jan said, although she did not share Larai’s enthusiasm. “How long will these preparations take?”
“My crew has scattered to the four corners of Tarnon’s Watch, but I can have them gathered and the supplies stocked in less than a day.”
A day, Jan thought. It was not so long, but on Tarnon’s Watch it would seem like a week. Would they be able to avoid causing trouble until the Gilded Lady was ready to set sail? Jan cast a sidelong glance at Talon. In the Four Kingdoms, she was responsible for keeping Talon safe from the Mainlanders’ hostility toward Astraeyu Nouvins. Now, Jan and her companions would have to rely on Talon to guide them in the ways of Astraeyu Nouvins.
TARNON’S WATCH WAS a beautiful place. While Larai was preparing her ship and crew for the journey, Jan and the others were left with time to explore the island. The locals eyed the group suspiciously as they passed, but no one dared to approach them. Perhaps it was the fiery Phoenix emblazoned on Talon’s cuirass that kept them at bay. The emblem of Astraeyu’s Talons was widely known throughout Astraeyu Nouvi and commanded respect, apparently even as far south as Tarnon’s Watch.
Despite the distance the residents of Tarnon’s Watch kept, Jan did not let her guard down. They were in danger on the island, and the journey would only get more dangerous the closer they got to the Coruscalli.
It was Jan’s vigilance that first alerted her to the insistent tingling at the back of her neck, like the sensation of being watched. Jan scanned the nearby area and noticed nothing out of the ordinary. There were a few people going about their daily activities, but none of them paused to give Jan’s group a second glance. The sensation did not lessen as they traveled around the city. Jan wondered if any of the others sensed it, or if it was just a product of her overactive imagination.
Suddenly Talon came to a halt, stopping so abruptly that Jan nearly collided with her.
“Someone is following us,” Talon said, confirming aloud Jan’s suspicion.
“I was worried that I was the only one that noticed it,” Beatrix said.
Jan was relieved to learn that she was not imagining enemies, but now she had other things to worry about.
“Who do you suppose it is?” Jan asked.
“It could be anyone,” Talon replied. “Tarnon’s Watch is filled with lowlifes looking to prey on the unwary.”
“What should we do?”
“The best option is to lure our foe out into the open. At least then we will know who our enemy is.” Talon searched around until her gaze settled on a dark side alley across the street from their current location. “That alleyway winds through the backstreets of Tarnon’s Watch. It leads all the way to the coast, so there should be no concern of running into a dead end.”
“Is that wise, making ourselves targets like that?” Rhys asked.
“We will be ambushed. It will be too great a temptation to resist, but there is room to fight in the alleys. You know as well as I, Knight-Commander, that it would be best to deal with this problem now before our enemy realizes we know of their presence.”
“I agree with Talon,” Jan said. “I don’t think our foe will give up and leave us alone. It would give me some peace of mind to settle things before we set sail for Astraeyu Nouvi.” Jan did not relish the idea of fighting an unknown enemy in a dark alley, but she liked even less the thought of being followed from Tarnon’s Watch. If their pursuer was a pirate and more accustomed to doing battle at sea, they would have the advantage once they set sail. Jan had to remind herself that they weren’t exactly hitching a ride in a merchant vessel. Larai boasted of her reputation in the Harrowing Sea. If she was as feared as she claimed, no pirate that knew of her would attack them.
“Let’s go, then,” Talon said, not waiting for the others as she cut across the wide thoroughfare and made for the narrow alley. Jan dashed after her.
The alley was dark after being beneath the bright sun. It was much quieter than the main street, as well. The surrounding buildings seemed to muffle much of the outside noise, so that it felt almost like they had stepped into a different world, one of shadow and fear. A bead of sweat trickled down Jan�
��s forehead. She reached her hand up to wipe the sweat from her eye. In that instant their pursuer decided to make their move. A dark shape tore itself free from the surrounding shadows and launched itself at Jan. Jan barely had time to react as the assailant sailed through the air toward her, sword drawn and ready for the kill. A loud clang rang out in the alley as Talon leapt to Jan’s defense. Talon parried the attack with one sword and drew the other blade from its sheath. In a matter of seconds she was on the offensive, driving the assailant back. Outmatched, the assailant fled the alley, disappearing as quickly and as effortlessly as a shadow.
Jan breathed a sigh of relief, but she knew this was far from over. Whoever had tried to kill her had escaped. She was not foolish enough to believe that the assailant would give up so easily. Something in the way the shadowy figure fought unnerved her. It reminded her vividly of the assassin they had encountered in the Vermillion Temple, but that was impossible, wasn’t it? As incredulous as it seemed, if Morgsten still had a contract on her life, it should not come as such a surprise that the assassin would follow her north.
“Our foe is quite the skilled warrior,” Jan said. “Not only that, but it’s almost as though he vanished into thin air.”
“It’s the assassin from the dungeon,” Talon announced somberly. Rhys and Beatrix looked at her in shock.
“How could the assassin be here, in Tarnon’s Watch?” Rhys asked of no one in particular. Apparently he was having a more difficult time accepting that they had been followed than Jan.
Tears of the Sun Page 23
