Shadow Trapped

by D. K. Holmberg

  “She couldn’t survive a jump. She didn’t have any extraordinary powers that would have allowed her to do that,” Carth said.

  “It appears that she managed to cling to the bottom of the platform,” Peter said. He stood near the entrance, as if unwilling to make it too deep into the cave, though with his heritage and beliefs, Carth suspected he was able to peer into the darkness the same way that Talia now could.

  “Your constables wouldn’t have watched for this?” Carth asked.

  “We cycled them as suggested,” he said, and his tone indicated that he didn’t think that had been necessary. “But not all of them would have equal skill. It seems as if this man simply overlooked his assignment. He was uncomfortable bringing food to the Collector, especially as stories about her have begun to spread throughout Keyall.”

  Carth had heard those stories. Many were true, especially those that dealt with her ruthlessness, touching on the fact that Talia had been willing to attack so openly and had sacrificed several people in pursuit of Carth.

  “We knew that she was likely going to escape eventually,” Carth said. She had hoped to have more time to prepare, and the fact that Linsay had managed to escape already was troubling, but it wasn’t the same devastating outcome that it could have been.

  “We knew it?” Peter asked.

  “I mean, no offense, Constable. It’s just that this is a woman who has planned as well as she has for as long as she has. She always was going to find some way to escape. That’s the reason I offered to hold her in my custody.”

  “I remember.”

  “You weren’t willing to leave her with me.”

  “I don’t believe that you have established the reputation of someone who could be trusted with person so difficult to contain.”

  “I can’t be trusted?” Carth said, laughing softly.

  “You escaped from the cells without following the proper lawful process,” he told her.

  “The very fact that I managed to escape the cells was the reason I suggested that I be the one responsible for her. If nothing else, I had intended to take her away from Keyall so that your people wouldn’t be in danger.”

  “And why should they be in danger?” Peter asked.

  Carth frowned a moment before deciding that it was a valid question. Linsay didn’t want to hurt everyone in Keyall. She wanted only to capture Carth and hurt her. That was why she had been willing to do what she had.

  “Perhaps you’re right.”

  Peter frowned. “You’re accepting responsibility for this?”

  Carth shook her head as she approached the entrance to the cave. They were high enough that none of the spray from the sea could reach them, but close enough to the water that she could hear it as a steady roar. Carth had jumped into that water—twice—and had survived, but it was not something that she would do willingly again.

  “I’m not accepting responsibility for anything. I am agreeing with you that she is unlikely to pose a danger to many in Keyall, especially if all she wants is to capture me.”

  “Then it’s agreed.”

  “What is agreed?”

  “You will leave Keyall.”

  “Is that really what you want?”

  Peter stared at her. They had never fully gotten along, and mostly that was a result of the fact that Carth had managed to escape his custody. Peter considered it a failing on his part, rather than viewing it as a necessity on the part of Carth. She had done what she had thought was needed to get out so that she could help her friends, and despite the fact that she had escaped, she still hadn’t helped Boiyn.

  “What I want is to maintain order in Keyall. If the Collector intends to pursue you again, order will fail in my city. The best way that I can see of ensuring that it does not suffer is to ask you to depart.”

  “And if I leave and she stays, who will protect you then?”

  “You’ve said that she has no abilities?” He glanced to Talia, who nodded. “Good. Without any abilities, she should pose no real threat to me or the rest of my people.”

  “I think you’re underestimating her.” After everything they had experienced with Linsay, it was surprising that anyone would underestimate her, especially someone like Peter who had seen what she was capable of doing. But she understood his desire for Carth to leave the city. In his mind, she was responsible for what had happened here, and all the violence that had erupted since she had first appeared. Not only had she broken free from the cells—which most of the constables had believed were inescapable—but she had freed her friends.

  “I’m not underestimating her. I’m doing what you have instructed others to do. Haven’t you said that we need to think the way that she would think? If she has escaped, logic would dictate that she would go after the person who placed her in that predicament. I believe that she holds some significant grudge against you?”

  Carth nodded. “She does,” she said.

  “And you don’t think it likely that she would pursue you to exact her revenge?”

  It was a reasonable conclusion, but not a guarantee. Carth would have been much happier were she to know with certainty that Linsay would follow her. She would have no problem leaving Keyall, especially if it meant that no others would suffer.

  For that matter, she had been willing to leave Keyall before. She had intended to depart, taking Linsay with her, but only when she had thought that she would have Linsay rather than trying to draw Linsay away.

  “She will need a better reason to follow than only me,” Carth said, turning and looking back at Talia. Talia’s eyes widened as understanding settled into her.

  “You would trust me enough to bring me with you?” Talia asked.

  “I trust you,” Carth said. “My friends, on the other hand, aren’t quite convinced. It will take time, but they have experience with reestablishing lost trust.”

  “If we draw her out and capture her,” Talia began, “what will you do with her?”

  “I could have killed her long ago,” Carth said.

  She felt Peter’s burning gaze on her and ignored it. She spoke the truth. She could have killed Linsay any of the times that she had come here. She could have poisoned her food or found any number of ways to end her. Most of them would have been viewed as an accident, and Carth wouldn’t have felt any remorse in doing so.

  “I’ve chosen to leave her alive. I don’t know that she can be rehabilitated, but I’m willing to at least work with her and see what more I can learn.”

  If nothing else, Carth wanted to know why Linsay was so motivated to destroy her. What had Carth done that had drawn her anger—and inspired her elaborate plan to gain revenge? Had Linsay really wanted to, she could have killed Carth at any point along their travels, though Carth suspected that doing so would have made it difficult for her to escape. Jenna and Alayna would have come after her, so perhaps Linsay’s plan had been to get set up in a way that would allow her to manipulate and maneuver without drawing the risk of capture.

  “I’ll help,” Talia said. “If it means that you are able to stop her from hurting others, I will help.”

  “It might force you to confront your sister.”

  Talia had so far avoided doing so, and had made no effort to visit with Linsay since they had captured her. Carth wasn’t sure whether it was fear of Linsay or whether there was an element of regret. Either would explain why she hadn’t gone to visit Linsay since her capture.

  “I’m not afraid of her,” Talia said.

  “It’s understandable if you are. She has done horrible things, and she has forced you to make decisions that are equally horrible. No one would fault you for being afraid of her, especially after everything she has done.”

  Talia sighed. “It’s not fear. Not exactly. I worry that she will say something that will…” Talia squeezed her eyes shut and looked away.

  “You worry that she might force you to betray me?”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time she was able to coerce me in such a way.
When I first left for Keyall, I tried to avoid doing her bidding, and that lasted for only a short while before she managed to draw me back in. What happens if she does it again? What happens if she makes me betray you, and those that you care about?”

  “The fact that you’re concerned about it tells me that it’s unlikely.”

  “You don’t know her,” Talia said.

  “Help me know her.”

  Talia stared for a moment before she nodded slowly. “What do you need?”

  Carth turned to Peter. “I will depart Keyall, but there will be a condition.”

  “You’re going to place a condition on me?”

  “Only because I know what it will take to draw her away.” She wasn’t certain whether drawing her away was even enough. It was possible that Linsay would know what Carth was after. She would have been better served trying to draw her away before, but now that Linsay had escaped, Carth would need something worthwhile to pull Linsay. Otherwise, she ran the risk of Linsay attempting to stay in Keyall and pull Carth back. It would do no good to get into a pushing match where each of them tried to draw the other.

  “What is it that you would need?”

  “The first thing I’ll need is a ship.”

  “You’ll have to get your own ship. I can’t help you with that.”

  Carth hadn’t been certain but had hoped that perhaps Peter would have been willing to assist with it. Alistan might be willing to help, but she wasn’t sure whether he had a ship to spare, and if he did, what would he require from her? Would he demand that she include him? She wasn’t necessarily opposed to including Alistan, especially as he had become increasingly helpful the longer she had been chasing after Linsay, but he wasn’t a fighter, and with what they were likely going to need to do, she would need people who were capable of handling themselves.

  “Not a ship, then. There is something else that I’ll need from you.”

  “What is that?”

  “I need you to spread the word that I have acquired the Elder Stone.”

  When Peter frowned, Carth only shrugged. “It’s the only way that I can be certain she’ll follow me.”

  “She only wanted the Elder Stone to hurt you,” Talia said.

  “She’ll chase me because I will tell her that I intend to use the stone.”

  She needed to try and see if she could pull Linsay back out. If she could draw her away, Carth thought that she could capture her. And then? She wasn’t sure what she would do next once she captured Linsay. All she knew was that she couldn’t allow the Collector to remain free.

  “Will you do it?”

  Peter watched her for a moment before nodding slowly. “I’ll spread the rumor, but you should know that it will not only be the Collector after you. If word of that gets out, there will be others who will seek power, regardless of whether it provides what they think it does.”

  It was a good point, and one Carth hadn’t fully considered. It was possible that she would draw the wrong kind of attention and that other artifact hunters would come after her, and attack. Was Carth ready for it?

  What choice did she have?

  “As long as the Collector comes, I think it’s worth it.”

  Peter studied her. “When you go, please don’t return, Carthenne Rel.”

  “If I promise not to return, will you make certain to send news of anything unusual to me?”

  “What sort of unusual news do you hope to hear?”

  Carth thought about what she needed, and whether or not Peter would be able to provide updates on the Hjan. That was what she really wanted to know. But could she tell Peter that without revealing more of her reasoning?

  “The kind of unusual news that might require my involvement,” she said.

  It was sufficiently vague that she wasn’t sure whether Peter would tell her or not, but without her having the opportunity to establish any sort of network here, it was what she would need. She might need his help.

  “If there is anything that I hear that we could use your assistance with,” Peter began, his tone making it clear that he did not think such a situation would arise, “I will send word to you. How, though, do you expect to have me communicate with you?”

  “Asador. There are people there who can make sure that I get word.”

  Peter nodded. “I can’t say that it will be unfortunate to see you leave, Carthenne Rel.”

  Carth sighed. “I only hope you still feel that way when everything is over.”

  She had some fear that Peter might regret the fact that he wasn’t willing to work better with Carth, but that was his choice, and she wouldn’t begrudge him that.

  “You don’t think that I will feel the same?”

  Carth met his gaze. “I worry that, when all is said and done, you will find that your decision is less desirable than you thought.”

  3

  The ship was impressive. It was long and sleek and had a hull designed for speed, much like the Goth Spald had once had. A figurehead carved in the shape of a sneering woman jutted out in front of the prow. It was an amazing carving, and Carth wondered if there was a message behind this ship and Alistan finding it for her.

  “Will this suffice?” he asked.

  Carth glanced over to him. He wore a finely cut jacket with stripes of color along the sleeves and pants that matched, but the cut of his clothing was out of place for the docks. The docks consisted of mostly fishermen, though there were merchants who traveled through here, more now than had been in Keyall in quite some time. Almost all of the fishermen were male, a fact that was not unique to Keyall. There were only a few places with predominantly female fishermen, and none in these southern parts of the world.

  A short sword was sheathed at his side, more for decoration than anything else, but fit the docks better. At least with the sword, he gave the appearance that he could defend himself were it necessary. Men who worked on the docks could be dangerous, and though Alistan was not a fighter, she suspected he could at least take care of himself were it to come to it.

  “This will suffice. Thank you, Alistan,” she said.

  “I wish that I could accompany you.” His dark eyes scanned the horizon; she had once thought them angry, but now she understood that they were insightful.

  Carth had not refused to allow him to travel with her, but Alistan had not asked. She was thankful for that, as she would have had to ask him to remain in Keyall. She trusted him more than she trusted Peter and the constables sharing information with her.

  “You’re needed here,” she said. “The tribunal—”

  Alistan offered a partial smile. “The tribunal does not need me. I think it’s more that I need the tribunal.”

  “I think you need them less than you realize,” Carth said. “They’re lucky to have you serving.” She meant it, much more than she had thought that she would. Alistan had become an ally. It was because of him that she had helped capture Linsay in the first place.

  “What will you do if you find her?” he asked.

  Carth glanced over to Talia, who stood on the deck of the ship, the wind catching her hair. She looked out at the sea, making an effort not to glance back and see Jenna watching her with a clouded expression. Alayna worked quickly, running the lines and getting the ship ready. It would be unfamiliar to all of them, which meant that there would be some growing pains, but Alayna and Jenna had sailed extensively with her, so Carth didn’t doubt their ability to come together as needed.

  “Her sister has asked the same question.”

  “Probably for different reasons,” Alistan said.

  “I don’t intend to kill her, but…”

  “But?”

  “I won’t resist if it’s necessary. If she harms someone I care about again, I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that they’re safe and that she’s stopped.”

  Alistan frowned, and even in that he was thoughtful. “Why are you doing this? What is it about the Collector that makes you feel compelled to go after her?”

&n
bsp; “There’s something she’s after,” Carth said. “It’s more than simply destroying me, though that might be part of it. I need to know what she wants.”

  “Why is that important?”

  “She came here seeking information about the Elder Stone. If all she wanted was to kill me, she could have attempted that many times during our journey.”

  “I thought you’d come to the conclusion that she was after you?”

  “I had, but I’m not so sure anymore.” That troubled her. Were that it—and Carth suspected that was at least a part of what Linsay had wanted—she could have killed Carth many times long before reaching Keyall. Whatever else she’d said and claimed, she’d believed that Carth was the key to reaching the Elder Stone.

  “Be safe,” Alistan said.

  “It almost sounds as if you’re concerned for my well-being,” she said.

  He leaned forward and lowered his voice conspiratorially. “Don’t tell anyone.” He leaned back with a smile. “You’ll return?”

  Carth’s gaze drifted to the top of the cliff and the city high overhead. “I promised Peter that I wouldn’t, but…”

  Alistan grinned. “You promised him, but you will owe me for this ship.”

  “You don’t trust that I’m good for it?”

  He arched a brow at her. “I didn’t become the kind of man that I am by trusting.”

  Carth grinned. “No, I suppose that you didn’t.” She looked over at the ship. “What’s she called?”

  “Alash Tiren. Don’t ask me what it means, because it’s from the local Keyall language, but I’m led to believe that it has something to do with this unpleasant-looking woman who’s carved into the ship. You could rename it.”

  Carth smiled. She was familiar with ship names that were difficult to say. The Spald had had a strange name, and she had never considered renaming it. “Her. Ships are always her. And I wouldn’t dream of renaming a ship. That’s bad luck.”

  “I never would have taken you for someone superstitious,” he said.

  “It’s not superstition so much as it is good sense. I don’t want to anger the ship before I have need of her.”