by Stas Borodin
Ice frowned. “Aha, nice try. I bet no one ever ventured to check your story’s veracity!”
Bevid laughed.
The road to the city was paved with smooth yellow stone. We rented three donkeys and soon found ourselves on narrow tree-lined streets with painted fences and forged wickets.
“This city has no walls.” Ice looked surprised.
“The ships are our walls,” Nela said. “For more than a hundred years no one has dared approach us with evil intent.”
“That’s correct,” confirmed Bevid. “Because the real evil is brewing right here under your noses.”
“How dare you!” Nela was outraged. “You will be punished for such an insult!”
“Yeah? And by whom?” The seaman arched his bushy eyebrow. “I have visited here many times in the past and I know this place like my own backyard, kiddo. Many years ago I did business with your father Toras too. He was one of the honest men, I must admit. But there were others, less straight – you might say.”
Nela’s family house was huge. It was made from white stone, with wide windows and a rooftop balcony. The garden paths were strewn with yellow sand, and majestic peacocks strolled around with their tails spread wide.
Ice and I froze speechless, staring at the birds. I’d never imagined such a riot of colours. Small blue plumes on tiny graceful heads and great emerald-green tails painted with spots resembling an open eye.
“Are they real?” I said, dumbfounded.
There was also a red peacock sitting on the bench, with its long tail folded, streaming down like a waterfall of fire, and a snow-white one, perched on the top of a broken marble column.
“Wow!” Ice exhaled. “And my old man was so proud of his Mino roosters! Those beasties had just three green tail feathers and an army sergeant’s attitude to boot.”
“These hens are no better,” said Nela. “But my father thought them beautiful. He also used to say that a bad temper is the sign of a noble breed.”
“So true,” echoed Bevid.
A hefty servant came out of the door. He saw Nela and sprinted back into the house.
“Gone to warn my mother,” Nela explained.
The lady of the house was a sight to behold. Her head was covered with a colourful precious scarf, and her long cloak trailed behind, doing a poor job of covering her naked legs and almost transparent clothes.
“I wish our girls would wear something like this,” whispered Ice. “It would brighten up my Antraga considerably!”
“I’m afraid your girls wouldn’t be happy to turn into icicles. I have heard Antraga is famous for its draughts.” The woman smiled. She had a good ear. “Have you come back already? Where are Dad and your brothers?”
Lady Nameri was tall and stately, with a strong chin and muscular arms. She invited us into the house and seated us on a pile of embroidered pillows.
“Why so quiet?” She smiled at her daughter. “Introduce me to your new friends.”
Nela turned pale and was unable to utter a single word. She sobbed, eyes red, barely holding the tears back. The mother looked at her daughter, then back at us, and quietly wrapped her long arms around Nela’s shuddering shoulders.
“Shhh,” she said, gently stroking her hair. “You’re home, baby.”
“We are with the Paara war fleet,” said Bevid. “I’m the first mate on The Punisher, and these two fine gentlemen are the wizards, helping us to root out the pirate scum.”
The woman nodded. Her lips were tightly pressed together, turned into a thin pale line. She had already guessed that we had brought bad news.
“We found your girl in the sea on some deserted island. The ship was burned and the entire crew had been slaughtered,” continued Bevid. “It was sheer luck we were passing nearby and saw the smoke.”
Lady Nameri’s fingers dug into her daughter’s shoulders. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she hid her face in Nela’s hair.
My heart ached just to look at them.
Bevid, however, wasn’t moved. “We believe that they were betrayed. Someone must have sold information about their whereabouts to the pirates,” he continued. “If you have any views on this matter, perhaps it could help us to catch the culprit.”
Lady Nameri looked up and nodded slowly.
“Only one person, apart from my husband, knew The Swallow’s route.” Her face was stricken with grief. “But he would not do that. After all, he’d invested a small fortune in this expedition!”
“If we are right, this person still got a good profit,” Bevid said grimly.
“His name is Neksos. He’s my husband’s trading partner.” Lady Nameri bared her perfect teeth. “If he’s really involved in all this, I’ll skin him alive!”
Nela looked at her mother, surprised. “I’d like to see that!” she said.
The mother pressed her daughter’s face to her cheek and whispered, “Rest assured, my baby, I wouldn’t dare rob you of the pleasure.”
✽✽✽
We discussed our plan of action and went back to the city. Bevid quickly found an inn and rented us a small room.
“I’m gonna see if my old pals are still around,” he said. “You two sit tight and try not to attract too much attention.”
Ice and I slumped on our beds and sighed with relief.
“Tell me about the war,” said Ice. “Were you scared?”
I shrugged. “When I was with my friends, I wasn’t scared. We were as one, as one well-oiled war machine, destined to fight and win.” I stumbled. “I became frightened when my friends started to die one by one…”
“When you go into battle, and you see all those spears aimed straight at you”—Ice propped himself on an elbow—“what do you feel? Weren’t you tempted to drop your sword and run away like crazy?”
“No.” I shook my head. “We used to take some magic potions before the fight. These potions turn any coward into a hero, and a hero into a demigod. Believe me, there was no coward among us.”
“I wish I had a handful of those pills,” Ice sighed. “You know what kind of hero I am. Whenever the going gets tough my damn knees turn to jelly. That night, on the ship, I was so scared; I thought I would shit myself. If not for you—”
“You acted like a real hero.” I cut him off. “A hero is not someone who is not afraid of anything but one who can overcome his fear.”
There was a long silence, during which I thought that Ice had fallen asleep. But he spoke again. “You mean heroes are afraid too?”
“Only fools are afraid of nothing,” I said.
“I wonder if Master Aydiola was afraid when he fought the dragon Etfulstag on Nef mountain,” Ice snorted. “He’s not a fool!”
“You should have asked him,” I replied. “In his place I would have been scared witless!”
I remembered Telaris’s eyes, the attack of the Alims’ heavy cavalry and the silent tread of the Zontrakian hordes. I had been terrified then, despite all the magic potions I’d taken. “There is no cure for fear,” I added. “You have to deal with it in your own way.”
Bevid and Nela returned at close to midnight.
“The gods smiled upon us,” said Bevid. “One of my old acquaintances put in a word, granting us access to Neksos’s warehouse.”
The narrow street that snaked down to the docks was dark; the only light available came from the moon and stars. Some black-clad figures followed us not far behind. I looked back, wishing I had my old scout’s sabre with me.
“Don’t be alarmed, Master Wizard,” Bevid said quietly. “It’s friends.”
Soon we were at the piers. I could hear dogs barking in the distance and the sound of water splashing between the moored boats. The red sphere atop the lighthouse flashed from time to time, illuminating the warships at the harbour’s entrance.
“This is the place,” whispered Bevid, pointing to a long, low stone building. “They should be expecting us.”
Bevid knocked three times and the door opened. An imposing burly fellow in leather armour and horne
d helmet appeared on the threshold. He had a heavy spiked mace at the ready and a big toothless smile reeking of beer and garlic.
“Welcome, guests!” He gestured. “Our shop is always open for you.”
The thug carefully bolted the door and happily stomped forward, leading us through a corridor of empty rooms, deep into the bowels of his gloomy domain.
We made a few turns, went down some stairs and found ourselves in a large hall filled with merchandise.
Massive wooden shelves reached the ceiling and ran along the walls in both directions, disappearing into darkness. A round table in the far corner was occupied by four more brutes clad in leather and armed with battle-axes.
“These are the Master’s friends from Mino,” said our guide, introducing us. “He said to show them his private collection.”
The thugs got up, taking their weapons with them.
“Open the Red Chamber,” said the biggest one. “I’ll show them around.”
Ice clung to my cloak, breathing noisily down my neck. I felt uneasy myself. I felt like a mouse sticking its own head into the cocked trap.
“My wife likes fabrics and jewels,” Bevid said with a grin. “Can you possible satisfy her appetite for beauty?”
“You’ve come to the right place, fella,” said one of the thugs. “Believe me, we can feed even the greediest ones!”
The key turned in the keyhole, and the massive iron-bound door swung open.
“Feel free to explore, boys.” The thug smiled, his stare trying to pierce Nela’s scarf. “But be warned, your little plaything may leave you with no pants!”
The room was dark, barely illuminated by a tiny red spark flickering by the door. The guide reached out and turned a knob, adding more light. We all gasped in unison. The Red Chamber was indeed very impressive.
The tables were littered with jewellery – items made of gold, silver, and pearls scattered around, expensive clothes and weapons in heaps, dinner sets made of crystal and precious china, bundles of furs, neat rows of coloured glass vials filled with ointments and perfumes, rolls of fabric and dozens of priceless Zenor rugs.
Seeing our reaction, the guards laughed.
“No one leaves our dungeons empty-handed,” the guard in a horned helmet said. “I know your kind, dear sir; you will be back in no time for a new portion of wonders.”
“You are pretty shrewd for a simple guard,” chuckled Bevid. He turned to Nela. “Don’t just stand there, darling, pick whatever you want!”
Nela shook off her stupor and walked slowly along the tables.
I held my breath. How many ships did they have to burn and how many people did they kill to accumulate all this treasure?
As if nothing had happened, Ice dug into the glistening pile. “Dad,” he said to Bevid, “this dagger is awesome! I want it!”
Bevid’s smile turned sour. “Of course… son!”
I could not help but smile, and started to inspect the treasures too.
Nela looked around absent-mindedly, rising from time to time on her tiptoes to check out the contents of the upper shelves. Suddenly she stopped dead in front of one of the tables. From under a heap of rich brocade clothes she pulled out an astrolabe. It was an expensive device made of gold and encrusted with dozens of precious stones.
“A fine piece of nautical equipment,” the thug said. “Exquisitely made and very precise. Lucky you, it was brought in just yesterday. Fresh out of the oven!”
“Honey,” Bevid sighed, “why do you need an astrolabe? Better take a look at this china, crystalware or golden cutlery.”
Nela just frowned and stubbornly stamped her foot. I went closer and saw tears glistening in her eyes.
“Let’s see the fabrics,” I suggested hurriedly. “You promised Mum a new dress!”
Together we went through the heaps of fabric and pretty soon found what we were looking for. Nela’s knees buckled and she had to lean on Bevid’s strong arm.
“I am glad to see such happy customers.” The guard grinned and turned to me. “Can I help you, young gentleman? Can I offer you something?”
Ice looked happy, playing with his new dagger. I spread my hands helplessly. “Do you have books?”
“Books?” the thug said, scorn in his voice. “Does this look like a bookstore to you?”
“Just give him something,” Bevid shouted. “I don’t want hear him whining all week long!”
The puzzled guard pushed his helmet back. “Maybe in the other room.” he pointed to the door with his finger. “Gotta ask my boys.”
We left the Red Chamber and paid the thugs.
“Look what I found!” The guard appeared on the doorstep holding a hefty basket filled with books. “They are bit dirty and smell of rat poo… But hey, they’re on the house!”
I grabbed the basket and pressed it to my chest.
“Anything for a customer.” The leader looked smug, pocketing the money. “Come back next week, my friends, and I’ll show you a new batch of wonders at a reasonable price.”
“You bet!” Bevid grinned. “Wonders are pretty rare nowadays!”
✽✽✽
Lady Nameri held the astrolabe in her hands, her cheeks glistening with tears.
“I can’t believe it!” she said. “Master Neksos was here just yesterday and he brought me a huge bouquet of flowers…”
“Well, it was only to be expected,” Bevid said. “I believe he’s not just after your fortune…”
“You mean he wants my mother?” Nela asked. “Dirty bastard!” She buried her face in the retrieved fabrics.
“Calm down, ladies,” Bevid ordered. “We got all the evidence we need. Now it is time for payback.”
“Are you planning to take it to the city watch?” Nela lifted her tear-stained face. “Captain Eberan and Neksos are old friends. I’ve seen them together many times.”
“I know,” Bevid said. “As I told you before, this city is rotten to the core. Every official is taking bribes; everything is possible if you have lots of money.”
“Despite all the evidence we have,” Lady Nameri growled, “we still can do nothing!”
Bevid grinned. “But we can,” he said. “Forget about the authorities, my dear, I have a different plan.”
“Please”—Nela wiped her tears and moved closer—“tell us more!”
“The end justifies the means.” Ice said.
“Absolutely right, son,” Bevid nodded. “We gonna grab the sonofabitch and make him talk!”
✽✽✽
We returned to the ship and reported to the captain.
“Okay, but time is running out. Seize the merchant and bring him here. Be back before dawn, Bevid.” The captain looked annoyed. “The port authorities only gave us permission to stay until noon.”
“Damn bastards!” the first mate snorted. “They think we may stir up some trouble.”
“Captain Eberan is a very cautious man,” Captain Gormant snapped. “He smells trouble from afar.”
I put the basket full of books under the awning and dug into my travelling bag looking for my scout uniform.
“Stay put, Master Wizard.” Bevid stopped me short. “Jobs like these tend to get messy, and I don’t want you to get involved in this shit.”
I pulled a leather club out of the bag and offered it to him.
“Take this. You may need it.”
“No need, boy, I got my own,” the first mate smiled. “Wait three hours. Don’t get alarmed if you hear some commotion in the city. Old Bevid knows what to do!”
Waiting is always difficult. Ten minutes later, Ice tossed his golden dagger on the deck and started to pace back and forth.
“We should have tagged along,” he said. “What if he was caught by the city watch? Or by the thugs? Or the pirates!”
“Calm down,” I said. “It’s only been ten minutes.”
Ice sat down next to me on the deck. I took the basket with the books and put it in front of him.
“Let’s see what we have h
ere. Who knows, maybe we’ll find us a treasure!”
We dumped the contents of the basket on the deck and divided it in two neat piles. There were small palm-sized books with covers made of wood, fastened with oiled braids, and thick heavy tomes bound in embossed leather.
“This one is a ship’s log,” Ice said, showing me a book with a cover soiled by rodents and bad weather. “Can’t fathom why they took it…”
“Probably there wasn’t much to take,” I said.
I pulled the light sphere closer and picked up a smaller book with an elegant silver clasp and iron-bound corners. Its pages were filled with tiny mysterious symbols. My heart skipped a beat. Could it be another piece of some long-lost civilization? I held my breath, stroking the yellowish page with my fingertips.
The handwriting was very beautiful, almost calligraphy-like. The ink had faded a little, but it was still readable. The next fifty pages were filled with something that looked like formulas and calculations.
“Ice!” I lifted my book, showing him an open page. “This one looks like an alchemist’s notebook. Too bad I can’t understand a thing.”
“Listen,” Ice sighed and started to read aloud from the book he was studying, “for two days we have been followed by the pirate ship. The oarsmen are exhausted, fresh water is scarce. I’m afraid that this is my last entry…”
“Is it the last?” I asked.
Ice showed me a blank page.
“They got them,” I nodded. “Poor sods.”
Apart from the alchemist’s notebook, we found nothing valuable. Nevertheless, I was extremely happy to find a bunch of old “Sword and Magic” novels and a Paara-printed collection of Anesh Amash’s poetry. The poetry book was silk-bound; it faintly smelled of perfume and had a translucent dried flower stuck between the pages.
Looking at the small tome, I imagined a noble young lady spending her lazy summer days reading fine poetry and collecting wild flowers. I inhaled the smell of the long-wilted flower and felt unbearably sad at the thought of what had happened to the owner of this small volume and how it had ended up in the pirates’ secret warehouse.
Meanwhile, four dark figures appeared at the pier. Ice and I jumped to our feet and dashed to the gangplank. The cloaked figures were met by a squad of armed commandos.
