by John Booth
“Who has done this to you?”
The Captain’s eyes flickered open and he tried to speak. Ignoring the blood dripping from his mouth Gally put her ear to his lips.
“Jak… Venjer,” the Captain whispered hoarsely and died.
18. A Dish Served Cold
Hal Patin knocked at the door of the Captain’s cabin. He had barely come on shift before he had been ordered to report below. Hal yawned as he waited for the door to open. He always felt tired at the start of the morning shift. Today the Steam Dragon would reach its home port and Hal was feeling more than a little excited at the prospect. His wife and their two children waited for him and it had been a harder than usual voyage.
To Hal’s surprise, the First Mate answered the door. Seb Halder looked exhausted and there were dark rings around his eyes.
“Come in, Hal. There are things you have to know.” Seb gave Hal a weak smile and waved him into the room.
The first thing Hal noticed as he stepped inside was that the Captain’s carpet had been removed. Very few cabins on the boat were carpeted. In fact, apart from the four royal suites and the Captain’s cabin, there wasn’t an inch of carpet to be found on the Steam Dragon.
“I needed to speak to you and the Captain anyway,” Hal said as he stepped into the room. “There is a crew matter that I need you to make a decision on.”
“Captain Toren is dead,” Seb said, interrupting him. “He was found stabbed in this cabin last night by Lady Sorn.”
Hal sat down with a thump, feeling giddy with shock. He had worked for Captain Toren for over ten years and Toren had proved to be a good boss and an excellent friend.
“I can’t believe… Who did it?” he asked in horror.
“We don’t know. The Captain was dead when Lady Sorn entered the cabin. She ran to the bridge in a distraught state. I believe that she actually cared for the Captain, which came as a bit of a surprise to me last night.”
“But why would anybody kill the Captain? He was a good man and not the sort of man to make deadly enemies.”
“He has been working on a mission for the Board. I believe that mission is what got him killed,” Seb explained. “We were working together, but he was taking the risks. Now he is dead I need to take you into my confidence in case something should happen to me.”
“I understand,” Hal said as bravely as he could. Working on the Steam Dragon was not usually a hazardous occupation and he suppressed a shiver of fear as he waited for Seb to tell him what was going on.
“You know about the swords, the ones we have been letting Jalia al’Dare and Daniel al’Degar steal?” Seb said, covering the common ground they had.
“Yes sir. The men have been wondering why we are letting them do that. Though the truth is, we would have likely never known if you and the Captain hadn’t set us to watching them.”
“The swords could decide the next King if they found their way into a single set of hands. Worse, we could end up with a leader who will take over the Triums, which the Board thinks would be bad for business. The Captain believed that Gally Sorn was going to hand the swords to Maximus Tallis.”
Hal Patin’s face paled at the thought of someone as ruthless and notoriously evil as Maximus ruling Slarn. His wife and children would not be safe in such a city.
“We have to stop her, sir. Let’s throw the damned things over the side,” Hal said, standing up as if he was going to do it himself, there and then.
“If the Boat Company is seen to be playing favorites we will make ourselves a target for the Triums. The Triums leave us in peace, because we have made a point of never interfering in their affairs.” Seb put a hand on Hal’s shoulder and encouraged him to sit down again.
“Then what can we do?” Hal was approaching a state of panic.
“The Captain was feeding information to the spies from Jenver and Dalk who are onboard. They are Prince Doran Dalk and his servant Jant Pinder and Queen Kalenda’s representative, Jak Venjer. The Captain hoped to prevent them bringing their war onboard the ship. He was getting close to Gally Sorn to try and learn her plans. It is a shame we have no one to replace him.”
“I’m a married man, sir. My wife would kill me if I ever got involved with someone like Lady Sorn,” Hal spluttered as the horrifying thought of what he might be asked to do occurred to him.
“Relax Hal, no one is asking you to betray your wife. It suited the Captain to allow the swords to be stolen. Gil believed that Jalia and Daniel are seeking revenge on Lady Sorn for trying to kill them in Bratin.”
Seb sighed before he continued. “If they prevent the swords from getting into the hands of Maximus then we cannot be blamed, and at least a part of our mission will have been accomplished. Gil ordered me to help them as necessary.”
“What can I do, Captain?” Using the title for Seb felt strange to Hal, but he was undoubtedly the new Captain of the Steam Dragon. Hal had no doubt that the appointment would become permanent once they reached port. Everyone in the crew knew that Seb would be appointed captain of one of the boats as soon as a post became available.
“Pick eight of the crew we can trust and explain what is going on. Tell them to be ready to assist me should the need arise. I would do it myself, except that I have to see if I can find out who killed the Captain. Whoever did it is not going to escape this boat unpunished; I can assure you of that.”
“I will get on it right away, Sir.” Hal got to his feet.
Seb stopped him before he could leave the room.
“What was the crew matter you wanted to discuss with me?”
“It can wait, Captain.”
“No, tell me about it. I want to know.”
Hal paused to collect his thoughts. It seemed as if days had passed since he walked into the cabin. The matter in question came back to him in a rush.
“Hala Taldon, sir. She has been asking about possible apprenticeships with the Company. I believe she might be officer material, sir; after her actions rescuing Lady al’Dare.”
Seb smiled. This was good news.
“I agree. I know the Captain expressed admiration for her quick thinking and unswerving loyalty. That’s an uncommon mix these days. I would not hesitate to recommend her to the Board when we reach Slarn.” Seb paused as he thought more on it. It felt good to be discussing simple matters of recruitment rather than high politics. “Is she aware she would have to go to the training school for a couple of years before she moves onto one of the boats?”
“I explained that to her, sir, and she seemed happy at the prospect. I told her she would probably get to travel on the Steam Dragon a couple of times in a year. She could see Nin in Slarn during the stopovers.”
“Well, I think we can regard the matter as settled then,” Seb said with satisfaction. “I will fill in the paperwork as soon as we are docked and the matter of the swords is resolved.”
Hal frowned and Seb looked at him in puzzlement.
“Is there still a problem?”
“Hala has made an unusual demand of us, sir. You are not going to believe what she wants.”
Gally Sorn woke as the light of dawn filled her cabin. She had left the curtains open so it would wake her. She washed quickly, wiping the stains from her face and tidying her hair. Gally wanted to look her best for what she planned to do. In her mind, it was a matter of showing Gil Toren the respect he deserved.
Maximus would be onboard tonight and she had other responsibilities to address before she could concentrate on avenging Gil. Maximus’s men on the boat had not yet revealed themselves and time was getting short. Gally’s memory was excellent, but she felt she needed to read Maximus’s words one final time, especially regarding his love for her. She needed to know that there was a man who still loved her.
She slit the pillow open with her knife and, without regard for scattered feathers, pulled the puzzle box from within its depths. It took Gally three tries to get the box open; she had never been good at remembering the sequence.
Tak
ing out the sheets of paper, she retrieved a small vial from her purse. She took off her necklace and undid one of the small silver trinkets attached to it. Gally took the top off the vial and replaced it with the trinket, which fitted perfectly. Across its top was a tiny silver pipe. When she blew through one end of the pipe, a fine mist came out of the other end and covered the sheet of paper. Maximus’s words came back into existence on the paper.
“I will see you tonight, Maximus,” Gally told the sheet of paper after she had read it. “But I have another little matter to finish first.”
Jalia undid the last of the sword bags from the rope. She was exhausted, as was Hala who sat beside her. Hala handed over the last four swords to be put back in the bag.
“We must have worked through half the night,” Hala said, yawning.
“Daniel will be here soon, once they have finished clearing up the mess in the shaft. You can go back to the cabin and get some sleep if you want.”
“What about Cara and Don?”
“We planned they should go back to their cabins once the job was done. We hardly want a parade.”
“I want to see you put the cover back,” Hala said softly. “I could help.”
“We can do it on our own, Hala,” Jalia said gently. “It would be best if the three of us aren’t seen coming up together. It might get the crew to thinking.”
Hala sighed and went to the door. It opened and Daniel walked in. If anything, he looked even more tired than Jalia. Daniel smiled and held the door open for her to leave. She walked through and then stuck out her bottom and waggled it at him before skipping down the corridor.
“The energy of youth,” Daniel said, giving a deep sigh. “We used to be young once, didn’t we?”
“I think we still are.” Jalia raised herself laboriously up from the pile of bags.
They went to the cover and levered it back into place. Daniel and Jalia put the bolts that the ring had removed, back into the holes they came from.
“It would look better if we could glue the sheared bolt back in place,” Jalia said as she looked at the cover critically. “Someone might notice if we don’t.”
“Well the bolt heads are here,” Daniel told here. “I collected them from the floor, remember?”
Jalia touched her ring and spoke to it in a whisper.
“Jaliscia, you know what I want you to do later tonight. If you can also stick these bolts back in place, I would ask you to do it.”
The heads jumped off the floor and fastened themselves back in place around the cover.
“If that ring isn’t truly alive, then I am damned if I know how it can follow your instructions,” Daniel said.
“Of course she’s alive, silly,” Jalia said as she gently stroked the ring.
Gally Sorn looked impressive in long leather boots, sheer black trousers, and frilly blouse. She had pulled her hair back severely into a bun at the back of her head. It did not take her long to find Jak Venjer, who sat at a table in the dining room in deep discussion with Tonas and the Denger brothers.
“Excuse me, Tonas, Wilf, Tred. I have business to discuss with Jak if you don’t mind?” Gally asked in her most polite voice.
Jak looked at her and was astounded how vibrant she looked. He knew that Gil Toren’s body must have been found by now and that she must know of his death. Obviously, the Captain had meant little to her.
“I did not know that we had anything to discuss, my lady?”
“Please, feel free to take Jak with you,” Tonas said airily. “We were discussing the price of bread throughout Jalon.”
“Such a dry subject,” Gally said with a light laugh. “I’m sure that my business proposition will interest Jak a great deal more.”
Venjer stood up and walked with her, stopping as they approached the dining room door.
“I really do not think that we have anything to discuss together, my lady,” he said insistently.
“Not even about how the swords will be gone from this boat long before it docks?” Gally asked. “If you want Queen Kalenda to see any of the swords in her hands, rather than that of her enemies, you will come with me now.”
Gally strode towards her room without looking back. Jak Venjer watched her retreating back. As she turned a corner, he cursed and began to run after her. He didn’t know what she was playing at, but he was sure that she was not dangerous enough to do him any harm. He knew all about her little tricks.
Jak caught up to her as she opened the door to her suite and strode in.
“You cannot get these swords off the Steam Dragon in mid-river.”
“You are right, Jak Venjer. I cannot. But Maximus Tallis will have no trouble doing it. This is your last chance to save your Queen’s life, because if you do not stay to listen, I can assure you that Maximus will take her head along with that of Gilan Dalk.”
Gally prepared a pot of tea while Jak stood in a state of indecision. All his instincts told him this was a trap and yet he could not risk his Queen’s survival based only on his feelings.
Gally turned to face him and placed the tea pot on the table. Seconds later, she put two cups down next to them. She sat at the table and looked up at Jak.
“Sit down or get out. My willingness to betray Maximus weakens as you stand there dithering. Maximus killed my lover Gil Toren last night, or rather one of his agents did. Maximus has always hated Gil because he knew I loved sex with him so much. I never thought he would go so far as to kill him.”
“The Captain is dead?” Jak asked with faked incredulity. He sat on the chair on the other side of the small table, having heard enough to risk staying.
“Yes, cut down in his prime by an ambitious man with less than half his ability to satisfy me. I shall have my revenge on Maximus by giving his precious swords to your Queen. I can think of nothing I could do that would hurt him more.”
Gally absently poured out two cups of tea. She put one of them in front of Jak and raised the other to her lips.
“To Queen Kalenda, long may she be a thorn in Maximus’s side.” Gally took a big gulp, downing half the cup before putting it back on its saucer.
She looked at Jak and noticed that he was not drinking with her.
“Is my toast not fitting? Or are you scared to drink with me?”
“You have a certain reputation, my lady. But I will happily drink the remainder of your own cup.”
“Take it then,” Gally said offhandedly, “Because I will not help a man unwilling to drink what I drink fearlessly.”
“To Queen Kalenda,” Jak said, drinking down the remainder of the tea in Gally’s cup.
“It is a strange fact that I loved Gil as much as I continue to love Maximus,” Gally said thoughtfully.
“But you would betray the one for the other.”
“Your precious Queen will die at Maximus’s hands,” Gally said as if she was talking about the weather.
“Not while a breath remains in my body,” Jak said, rising to his feet and drawing his sword. The sword fell out of his hand and he found himself sitting down again. Neither his arms nor his legs would obey his commands, though otherwise he remained fully conscious.
Gally smiled and Jak knew he was undone.
“My father is a determined and ruthless man. When my sister and I were little, he was told about a substance extracted from the sap of the retald tree. It renders those who take it weak of limb, though they remain fully awake and cognizant. He was told that if taken in controlled doses, a child could gain a degree of immunity from its effects. Of course, some children who were given it would die of it, that was the risk.”
Gally leaned over the table and patted Jak on the shoulder.
“My father obtained a supply of this poison and I and my sister spent many nights in bed unable to move a muscle. We would wet ourselves and worse while we lay there in a drugged state, fully awake but unable to move. Eventually we developed the immunity our father sought. Derren Sorn hones his weapons carefully and we are what he has made of
us.”
“You won’t win,” Jak slurred through lips he could barely use.
“Oh, I think we will. I am now going to explain in detail how Maximus and I will take the swords from this ship without the slightest problem. Then, when you know your queen is going to die, I shall help you to my window and push you out of it. You killed my lovely Gil and will suffer the distress of failure before I allow you the release of death.”
Gally’s smile became a snarl. “They say that drowning is a horrible death. Perhaps you will get lucky and be hit by the Steam Dragon’s propeller before you drown.”
Gally picked up Jak’s cup of tea and took a sip.
“Retald actually improves the taste, in my humble opinion,” she said. “Now let me tell you exactly what my brilliant Maximus has planned.”
19. Mistakes and Machinations
Seb Halder knocked on Dor’s cabin door. When Mal released the lock, Seb and four of his largest men barged into the room. Seb was carrying a sword while the other men carried loaded crossbows, which they pointed at Dor, Jant and Mal.
“What is the meaning of this?” Dor demanded. Jant and Mal put their hands on their weapons, willing to die to protect their Prince if there was no other option.
“Last night, just past the hour of seven, Captain Toren was found murdered in his room,” Seb stated grimly. “I have reason to believe the murderer is one of you.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Dor stated equally grimly. “My men were with me at that time and I certainly don’t remember killing Captain Toren or leaving this room until nearly eight. Then we left for our evening meal.”
“He threatened the Captain in my hearing!” Seb shouted, pointing at Jant.
“Did you threaten the Captain?” Dor asked.
“Yes, my lord,” Jant replied, ignoring Seb and his men. “I paid the Captain good money for information and had come to believe he was deceiving me.”
