The Unwilling Accomplice (Book 5)

by Heidi Willard

  The princess' face reddened. "You have spoken enough, my cousin. I would have you change the subject before I am angered beyond control," she ordered him.

  He grinned and bowed low at the waist. "Unfortunately, duty at the port forces me away, and so I must beg leave of you," he told her.

  "It is given freely," she quickly replied. Ransan straightened, smirked at the companions, and left.

  After his departure Percy turned to Telana. "Do others support his opinion of outsiders?" he asked her.

  She scoffed and shook her head. "His opinion has few allies within the walls of the city, and any hope from outside must pass through the barrier," she reminded them.

  "Then for the moment his intentions are confined to you?" Percy wondered.

  "Unfortunately, that is true, but we should press on. There is much to see of this city without spoiling it over talk of my cousin," she replied.

  Telana led them to the door at the rear of the room. It was of a plain wood without window or ornamentation. She paused before the portal and swept her hand over the surface. They heard the sounds of a thousand locks unlock and the door swung inward to reveal a large circular room, also with a domed ceiling. Two guards stood against the walls on either side of a jagged stump a foot tall made from white, transparent stone. It was all that remained of the Region Stone of Caston. The rest of the shattered remains lay on the floor in sizes ranging from pebbles to fist-sized rocks.

  "What kind of lock was that?" Canto asked their guide.

  "Only those of my bloodline can open the locks. The guards are my distant cousins," Telana explained to them. She stepped into the room, turned to them, and swept her hand over the scene before them. "This is all that remains of the stone," she told them.

  Ned strode toward the remains and the others followed except Fred. Fred hadn't forgotten the last times he had come into contact with the stones, and though this one was destroyed he wouldn't take any chances. Ned stopped in front of the jagged stump of shattered stone, and the guards on either side of him tensed and clutched their rune staffs.

  "What was the treasure your father used to destroy the stone?" he asked Telana.

  She moved to stand beside him. "An ancient sword given to us by the castors of old." She shuddered and wrapped her arms around herself. "To be truthful we were glad to be rid of both the stone and its treasure."

  "Why is that?" Pat wondered.

  "The sword was-well, was rather a nuisance. A loud, penetrating song continuously emanated from its blade, and so we were forced to lock it in its own room," she explained.

  Percy stooped before the shattered remains and picked up a group of stones and pebbles. The guards saw his action and sprang at him. They thrust the ends of their rune staffs in his face and shouted words at him in their native Elvish tongue. Percy stiffened and his eyes flickered between one staff and the other as his other hand clutched the hilt of his sword.

  Telana hurried over and glanced between Percy and the guards. "What is the matter?" she asked them.

  "My Elvish is a little rusty, but I believe they want me to stop doing something," Percy replied.

  Telana's eyes drifted down to his hand, and she frowned. "You cannot leave with any of the pieces of stone. Please drop them and step away," she advised him.

  Percy bowed his head, and opened his hand. A few pebbles and a rock fell from his grasp, and he stood and stepped back. "Might one ask why such precautions when the stone is destroyed?" he wondered.

  "Though the stone is destroyed we fear there still remains a part of that magic contained in the rock, and that is why we must ask that no one take away any parts of the stone," she explained.

  Ned stepped forward and smiled at the group. "On that note perhaps we should leave. There are more pleasant aspects of the city I wish to see again."

  "Very well. If you would follow me I will show you the port," Telana invited them.

  The group exited the stone room but once the door closed behind them Percy held back. His hand slipped into his pocket and a sly smirk slip onto his face. A sudden sensation of being watched caused him to turn to his right, and he noticed Sins standing beside the door and just behind him.

  "You are as thorough as ever watching over me, my dear assassin," Percy coolly commented. Sins' narrowed eyes brushed over him, but he said nothing. Percy glanced forward at their retreating friends. "Shall we join them?" he suggested.

  Percy led them after their friends with Sins following behind in silent contemplation.

  CHAPTER 8

  Telana led them back to the wide, winding staircase and they moved farther downward. Fred was dizzy by the time the stairs widened to a landing, and on the opposite side of the landing was a large arch with a thick double-door. Telana opened this entrance without use of magic nor key, and the wings swung open to reveal a dazzling blue light. The light originated from the crystal-clear water that lay in the domed cove.

  The group stood at the farthest back wall at the top of a terraced road that wound its way like a snake down to the water's edge seventy feet beneath them. The ceiling stretched above them another hundred yards and curved toward the wide opening that lay at two hundred yards distance in front of them. The opening was shaped like an archway, and a tall, wooden wall stretched across the mouth of the entrance to the cove. The wall rose up twenty yards from the water and was twenty feet thick. At the top was a battlement where guards strolled the length watching the ships coming and going. In the center of the wall were two large gates that were opened to the maritime traffic. The battlement arched over the opening like a quaint bridge over a stream, and when the gates were shut the battlement would cap their tops. Beyond the wall lay the ships that were too large to enter the gates. They had their smaller landing boats to carry their cargo to port.

  The port itself lay at the foot of the terraced, cobble-stone road. At the water's edge the road widened to thirty yards wide and a hundred-yard long row of two-story buildings were nestled against the wall of the preceding portion of the road. A long wooden dock made of planks stretched the entire length of the water in front of the buildings, and from that stretched four dozen smaller docks. Those protruded into the water for twenty yards and, depending on the size of the vessels, allowed one to three ships to dock.

  The docks were three-quarters full and bustled with life as ships were loaded and unloaded. Sailors of all stripes talked, jeered, and spied on one another's cargo. The cargo was unloaded from the ships and people who emerged from the row of buildings went out to investigate the contents. Deals were made and the goods were carried to the buildings to prepare for dispersal into the town. Other buildings sold rather than bought goods, and the ships were loaded with items purchased at the dock buildings. Those buildings were designed where half their front walls weren't connected to the building and those parts had small wheels along the bottom. The wheeled half of the wall could be pushed to one side to cover its connected brethren and the seller could easily set out and advertise their goods through the large hole in the front of the building. One or two of the buildings advertised alcohol on their signs, and a great deal of noise and shouting wafted from their open doorways.

  Carts pulled by horses plodded along the road carrying goods to and from the city. The entrance to the main part of the city lay to the right of the group. It was a large archway capable of allowing four carts to travel abreast of one another. The entrance to the city also had large, swinging wooden doors, but these stood open to allow the current traffic access to and from the port.

  To the group's far-left and at the end of the docks lay a group of four similar ships, though one was much larger than its three brethren. They were small and narrow, with two white sails apiece. The wood glistened in the light of the water, and they could see there were faint impressions in the sides of the ships. Fred squinted at the ships, and Telana noticed where his attention lay.

  "Those are the ships of our fleet," she informed him.

  "Four ships are now a f
leet?" Canto scoffed.

  "The number is less important than the quality," she countered. "Our ships are the fastest ships in the world because each plank is etched with runes to ensure a good wind for the sails."

  "Are the gates in case the barrier should fail?" Percy wondered.

  "Yes. In emergencies the gates are closed, and only by a direct order from my father or me can they be opened. At the call of the horn they were closed last night, and were reopened a few hours later," she told them.

  "How do boats pass through the barrier?" Pat spoke up.

  "Each trusted captain is granted a personal set of runes which allows him to open the barrier as far as his ship needs to pass through. If the captain proves to be untrustworthy than the runes are stricken from those allowed to access the barrier's release magic," Telana explained.

  "A very effective system," Ned complimented.

  "It has worked for fifteen years, and I am sure it will continue to perform well for several more," she agreed.

  "Would a closer inspection of the docks be too much trouble?" the old castor mused.

  Telana smiled and shook her head. "No, of course not. I will admit I am not as competent a guide as my cousin, but I know my way around. Please follow me."

  Telana guided them across the road and to stairs that led down to the next road level. There was another flight beyond that part of the road, and one more before they reached the lowest level. The last stairway finished between two of the buildings and they walked through the narrow alley and out into the main port street. They were immersed in the sights and smells of the controlled chaos as sailors strolled by carrying cargo or a bottle of alcohol. People bartered and traded with one another, and others who sat on crates traded the latest news.

  "A very interesting place," Pat dryly commented as a group of men passed by. They leered at the women, but one warning look from Canto, and Sins' appearance, was enough to hurry them on their way.

  Telana glanced over the crowds and her eyes lit up when she spotted a long ship with two sails sitting at one of the docks. "Captain Lee is here!" she exclaimed.

  "Captain Lee?" Ned wondered.

  Telana turned to him with a smile. "Do not tell me you have never heard of him, Edwin," she teased.

  "I have, but I am not personally acquainted with him," Ned admitted.

  "Then you must allow me the honor of doing so. There is no greater gentleman on the seas than Captain Lee," Telana insisted.

  They crossed the busy street to the docks and she hurried them to where the ship of Captain Lee anchored. The sailors were unloading several large boxes labeled with the word Lapita. A young man of thirty stood off to the side and watched the process with eyes as blue as the clear water. His raven-black hair was combed back over his strong brow, and his mouth was set in a perpetual smile. He wore a dark duster over a white blouse and brown pants. On his right hand was a bright, blackened ring wrought from a dark stone.

  "Captain Lee!" Telana shouted above the noise of working men.

  The captain turned and grinned at the princess. "Princess Telana! What brings you here into the depths of the city?" he wondered. His eyes fell on the wounded Anduvis on her shoulder, and he frowned. "What has happened to Anduvis? He looks injured."

  "He was attacked only yesterday by a large eagle," Telana revealed.

  "An eagle? In the woods? Had somebody lost it?" the captain wondered.

  "I do not know, but I wanted to see you to introduce to you to these wonderful people who saved Anduvis' life," she explained, gesturing to her followers.

  Captain Lee glanced over the guests, and his eyes stopped on Ned's staff. "A wonderful piece of woodcraft you have there. I don't believe I've seen a better example of a castor's staff," he complimented.

  Ned smiled and bowed his head. "I thank you, Captain," he replied.

  Captain Lee shook his head. "I merely speak the truth. Judging from such a perfect example of a castor staff I must assume you are a great and powerful castor."

  "My name is Ned, and I know of you, Captain Lee. You are one of the best pilots in the western sea," Ned returned.

  Captain Lee smiled and returned the bow of the head. "I'm honored you know of me, for I know of you, Ned." He looked to the others. "May I ask the names of these other friends?"

  "This is Canto, Pat, Ruth, Sins, Fred, and Percy," Telana spoke on their behalf.

  Captain Lee shook hands with each of them in turn, and paused at Percy. "Your hands are in need of a wash after touching that strong of magic. Your clothing may also need some cleaning," he commented. His eyes flickered down to Percy's pocket, but only for a moment so that none noticed but Percy himself.

  Percy raised an eyebrow. "I don't know what you mean," he argued.

  The captain chuckled. "I'm sure you do. You recently touched a strong bit of magic, or what used to be strong magic. The echo of its power lingers from your fingertips," he insisted.

  Ned raised an eyebrow. "Do you have the second sight of a castor?" he wondered.

  Captain Lee shook his head. "No, nothing so special. I merely have the ability to feel magic, or the echo of it. This young gentleman has a slight tremble of power on his fingers, like a sprinkle of gold dust that faintly sparkles." He paused and chuckled. "As a sailor I would easily recognize gold dust. That's the god of the sea for sailors. Phaeton is respected, but gold is supreme."

  "Are you a castor?" Pat wondered.

  "I wouldn't go so far as to call myself that. Castors are a much more powerful breed than I," Captain Lee replied.

  "Fred is gifted with seeing magic," Ruth spoke up.

  The captain turned to Fred with a raised eyebrow and twinkling eyes. "Is this true?" he asked the young man.

  "Yes," Fred admitted.

  Lee grinned and winked at Fred. "Then we're two sides to the same coin, and speaking of coins I must supervise my crew. You can never quite tell if they'll work themselves to the bone hauling the ropes or tipping back their mugs, and this cargo is very delicate."

  "What do you sell?" Ruth wondered.

  "All kinds of trinkets and bobbles, but this cargo is Diluvian bees," he told them. He tapped on a nearby crate with the word Lapita. "See? It says 'danger' in Elvish to keep unwanted hands from prying into a box they'd regret opening."

  Canto scowled at the boxes. "That's not something Ah'd want to be dealing in," he commented.

  "Are they very dangerous?" Ruth asked the group.

  "Very," the captain replied. "There are tens of thousands of bees in a single hive and they are very aggressive."

  "And intelligent," Telana added.

  The captain smiled at her and nodded his head. "Yes. When attacking a foe they work together as a group, and they won't stop attacking until their target stops moving."

  "Why bring these into the city?" Ruth wondered.

  "Nothing in the world makes the best honey, and the cream from their honey is an age-old recipe to rejuvenate the skin," he explained.

  "Has Lord Ransan allowed this shipment into the city?" Telana asked him.

  "Yes, but only because it won't be here for long. These hives are set to go by cart to Kite in a day or two," he told her.

  "And you carry how many of these hives aboard your ship?" Percy wondered.

  The captain chuckled. "Enough to cause quite a mess if they were to get out, but no fear. My men are clumsy, but-" He was interrupted when one of his men dropped the end of a heavy box on the deck. "You there, be careful!" the captain shouted. He bowed his head at the group and clamored up the gangplank.

  The princess turned toward the companions with a strained smile on her face. "Well, perhaps we should leave the captain to his cargo."

  "And quickly," Percy agreed.

  CHAPTER 9

  The princess led them up the stairs and through the cart entrance. They emerged into the sunlight on the lowest terrace of the city. The entrance square lay just a quarter arch down the road. Far ahead of them and to their left lay the gates, and to their
right was the stairs leading to the higher terraces. Telana guided them to the square where the market bustled with the day's business, and where they paused at the intersection to decide their new route. Elves bustled to and fro in their search to appease their shopping lists.

  Ned breathed deeply and sighed. "There is nothing quite like emerging from the darkness into the light that lightens the soul," he commented.

  "Yes, the world beneath the castle is a very dark place and you will not often find elves inside those stone walls. We prefer the warmth of the sun and the greenery of our plants," Telana replied. Anduvis squawked, and Telana looked to him disapprovingly. "Must you be so demanding?" she scolded him. The hawk glared back at her.

  "Is something the matter?" Ruth asked her.

  Telana sighed and looked to the group with pleading eyes. "Please excuse me, but I must attend to Anduvis. He is hungry and, unfortunately, very particular about who feeds him. He will only accept food I have prepared myself, and given to him."

  Ned smiled and shook his head. "You needn't worry about us. We will be sure to keep ourselves out of trouble," he assured her.

  Telana's bowed her head. "Then I bid you farewell until you return to the castle." She hurried off to attend to her pet.

  Ned turned to the group and stroked his chin. "Now what shall we do?" he asked them.

  "I would like to go to the Feora Library," Pat suggested.

  "I, too, would like to see the library," Ruth chimed in.

  "That's two votes for the library. Anyone else?" Ned wondered.

  Canto cringed. "Ah'll pass. Reading's not my thing. Ah'd rather go and see that Dueling Grounds again, if ya don't mind," he replied.

  "I see nothing wrong with our splitting up, though we must be mindful of the intruder," Ned reminded them.

  "Ah'll take the risk," Canto assured him. He glanced at Percy. "Were ya wanting to come with me?" he wondered.

  Percy smiled, but shook his head. "As interesting as the customs of the elves are to me, I would much rather return to the port and study the ships," he told him.