by Susan Grant
Val frowned. “Didn’t my father know the danger?”
“We never discussed sharken,” she said nervously. “I didn’t see the point if he wasn’t using it. To my knowledge, he wasn’t. But he wouldn’t give up the squatter’s. Your father long ignored my advice on that subject.”
Val’s need to find answers kept her moving despite a torrential rush of despair. Anger felt a whole lot better right now than misery. “Get Despa in here.”
Grizz grabbed Ayl and sent him after the girl. Grizz was a quiet steadying presence, but not his usual alert self. He was still fighting the aftereffects of moonshine, like all the senior raiders in attendance were, and most of the crowd outside, too.
“Despa, did my father buy sharken from you?” Val asked when the girl showed up moments later.
Despa stood unusually close to Ayl as if staking her claim. “No.” She seemed uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot. Val didn’t know what made Despa more nervous—her or the topic. “He always said he didn’t need no boosting.”
Appreciative chuckles went around the room at that.
“Then how’d it get in him?”
“Food, maybe. Drink. You can’t taste it.” Despa kept glancing at Ayl as if for reassurance.
Ragmarrk stepped forward. “Them Surebloods put it in him.” The eternally cranky senior raider glared at everyone gathered there. “Them bastards were with Conn the last time he was seen alive. I saw them.”
“Is this true?” Val asked Grizz.
Grizz shook his head. “Couldn’t tell you, I’m afraid. We were dead to the world.”
“Ask Ayl,” Ragmarrk said. “He was with me, and saw them, too. Weren’t you, Ayl?”
Ayl swallowed at Ragmarrk’s pointed stare. “Aye. I was there.” Then he cleared his throat and seemed to speak with more conviction. “I saw Surebloods with Conn.”
The grumbling grew louder. “Dake Sureblood?” Val demanded, testing his honesty, wanting to rip the guts from the accusation she saw forming. Only a small group crowded into her father’s bedroom, but once the rumors spread outside it would be chaos. She had to contain it before it did or put Dake and his contingent in danger.
“No. Just his men.”
Ragmarrk jumped in. “Them Surebloods were at Despa’s earlier, buying sharken, weren’t they, Despa?”
The woman nodded after another searching glance at Ayl.
“They weren’t the only clan buying from Despa,” Reeve said, jumping in to help defend Dake, whose heroic actions he’d seen firsthand. “Everyone was.”
“Reeve, did you see anyone with my father after he left the dance?” Val asked her friend.
“Only Blues. By the time I found him he was alone. Just Conn lyin’ on the ground.”
“Show them what you found there, Reeve,” Ayl said quietly. “What was on the ground next to him.”
Reeve’s lips compressed. He seemed almost apologetic as he pulled a cup from his pocket and held it out. “He was clutching this.”
“A Sureblood cup!” Ragmarrk yelled as all the raiders roared in anger and shock.
Val’s heart dropped. It was damning. The cup was the same kind that Dake had used the night before—tall, cylindrical, with a leather lanyard used to hang it around the neck. But it wasn’t etched like Dake’s was and those of his men.
“The Surebloods poisoned Conn Blue!” someone yelled.
“Are we going to let them bastards get away with it?” another sneered.
“Shut your traps!” Grizz scowled at them all. “Have some respect for the dead at least.” He grabbed the cup from Reeve. “This was a gift. I saw the Sureblood give it to him.”
“See? The proof!” Ragmarrk cried.
“It’s not proof any more than the Surebloods buying sharken is proof,” Val argued wearily. “I want answers as much as you do, even more. But not gossip. Fact. The cup’s a gift like the many other gifts exchanged the past two days. There are items from all the clans scattered around the village.” But the Blues wanted vengeance for what had happened, and the Surebloods were the most convenient target. She could tell them all that she’d spent most of the night with Dake and that he couldn’t have been behind any plans to hurt Conn, but instinct told her to keep that secret.
What the hells did any of it matter now? She should have been on duty guarding Conn. He was a great man and now he was lost.
Emotion surged—aching remorse, guilt and gut-wrenching grief—but she couldn’t show it. Couldn’t show weakness. With her brother gone and her mother incapacitated, she had to represent her family and lead, or someone else would step into the vacuum created by Conn’s death. Someone who might not have the clan’s best interest at heart.
Suddenly Grizz was by her side. She murmured, “I don’t know what to do next.” She’d never felt so isolated and alone. Did Dake feel this way the day he found out his father wasn’t returning home?
“Val, girl, doubt comes with the territory. The weight of command will feel overwhelming at first, and less so as you learn to shoulder the burden.” His tone was hushed to assure their privacy, but his manner was matter-of-fact and confident, bringing her back to the days in space apprentice school and her first raider missions, taking lessons from the master.
“What if I can’t? What if I’m not cut out for the job?”
“You are. You already know what to do. It comes from somewhere deep inside you. The spirit of Conn lives on in your soul. You’re Conn’s girl. Our Conn.” At that, Grizz’s voice cracked, a show of emotion she’d never seen in the man. “Make him proud.”
Val’s stare was hard and straight ahead, her throat tight with emotion of her own. Grizz’s words of encouragement fortified her. She faced the group of Blues crowded into her home and focused on Ayl, Ragmarrk and the rest of the troublemakers. “We all blasted well want answers. And we’ll have them.” She turned to the physician next and gave her the cup. “Analyze the contents and bring me the results personally.” Then she shoved her dozer in her holster. “Because my mother is indisposed, I’ll make the announcement of my father’s passing.” And she had to do it in a way that wouldn’t cause a riot. Conn’s dream was unity. He’d started them down that path, and she knew he’d want her to finish it. She bloody well would.
NEZERIHM HUNCHED HIS shoulders against the rain as he waited for the Blues to make the official announcement of the news. Pirates crowded into the street outside the home, jostling each other and trying to foist blame on one another. Soon enough they’d point fingers in the right direction.
Then he could leave this wretched, cloud-soaked rock with the satisfaction of having made the region much more unstable than it had been before. There was more work to be done, of course, but the prospect excited him rather than tired him. What good was one’s destination if one couldn’t enjoy the journey?
The front door opened and those gathered inside began to filter out. Grunting and pushing, the crowd expressed their impatience to hear the news.
Ayl emerged from the home and peered around. Spotting Nezerihm, he separated from his cohorts. He fairly smoldered with dark emotion as he strode close. His words were a gust of hot air against Nezerihm’s ear. “It’s done. I told them.”
Ayl’s eyes snapped with self-doubt, fear and anger. He was worried he’d be caught in the lie. “I hope you’re right about what happened.”
“You already know in your heart who’s guilty of murder,” Nezerihm reassured him patiently. “You didn’t change the facts. Merely shortened the process. Someone had to. Someone not under Dake Sureblood’s spell.”
Ayl’s upper lip curled. “Like Val. Maybe she’ll listen to reason now and quit embarrassing herself and us by drooling over him.”
“She’d be a fool not to.”
Smug triumph overcame Ayl’s doubts as he hunted for the Sureblood in the crowd, just as Nezerihm expected he would. The boy was as predictable as he was malleable. It reinforced his belief that he’d made the right choice in coaxing Valeeya Blue
’s spurned lover to give an eyewitness account he might not otherwise have communicated. Someone had to clarify the events of the night before after all. They were all drunk off their asses.
With all the distrust and quarreling between the Blues and the Surebloods, it was easy convincing one of them to bring the evidence into the spotlight. Ayl was jealous of Dake. It made him the perfect conduit for inciting more division amongst the pirates. As long as the boy’s lust for power and for Valeeya could be manipulated, he’d be of use. When he was no longer, he’d be discarded like the others.
Nezerihm smiled, savoring the sound of Ayl and his faction angering the crowd with rumors. There’d be no hope for the silly gathering after this. After pitting the barbaric clans against each other for years, undermining them at every turn to keep the bandits from becoming stronger than he, it seemed he was finally getting somewhere.
CHAPTER TWELVE
VAL EMERGED THROUGH HER front door to address the crowd impatiently waiting outside for news. It felt like a hundred years since she’d last come through that door. In the short time since, everything had changed.
“You never know what life’s going to hand out.” It felt like even longer since Dake had shared that wisdom. No, you never did know what life had in store. Today was proof of that.
Grizz remained at her side. His presence was steadying as well as symbolic. He was respected by the clan, long seen as the missing hand of her father. His support at this critical time was a huge boost in her favor. One by one all the senior raiders gathered around, even sullen Ragmarrk. They would have done the same for Sashya had she been strong enough to make the official announcement confirming what everyone already knew: Conn was dead. There was a new leader, and it wasn’t Sethen. It was Val.
She paused outside her home. There were shouts, some scuffles. A baby cried, and male voices argued. The roiling crowd had all the makings of a mob: Blues, Surebloods, Calders, Feckwiths, Lightlees and Freebirds milling about, twitchy, nervous and hungover. As Grizz bellowed for silence, she caught herself searching for Dake with a horrid mix of emotions: the pang of guilt for fooling around with him when she should have had her eye on her father; dread that if he’d already fled, it would give weight to all the accusations.
When she spied him in the crowd, the knots inside her unwound. He’s still here. His eyes were filled with acute understanding of her plight and the unexpected rise to clan leader. He’d lived it. Just as quickly, she hardened herself to his commiseration. If she let his concern seep into her composure right now, she’d crack.
“Today Blue clan suffers a broken heart.” Her voice was somehow steady despite her wrenching grief. “Conn of the Blues is dead.”
The wails of the women of the clan rose into a sky bloated with dark clouds. Children began to cry, fearful and sad. Many men dabbed at their eyes. The Blues had loved their leader, and now he was gone, stolen from them. Maybe, if you were a better, less selfish raider, he’d still be alive.
She forced herself to take a breath and finish. “Now we Blues must mourn. The gathering is over. In honor of Conn Blue and his hopes for all of us, go in peace.” She started to turn away, intending to make her way to Dake.
“Is it true it was poison?” someone demanded loudly, stopping her.
“Them Surebloods did it!” someone else shouted to the sound of booing. “They found one of their cups in his hand.”
How did that spread so fast? Who had the big mouth? She didn’t know Dake well, but she knew enough to believe he wasn’t guilty. Yet she still caught herself waiting to see his reaction.
He reared back at the charge, his face alive with burning pride and defiance. And hurt. Only a flicker, but it told her it gutted him that anyone, especially her, would consider even the remotest possibility that he was guilty of the crime. Then all vanished in the most outraged, wounded look of insult she’d ever seen. “Bull flarg! We Surebloods aren’t responsible for harming Conn Blue.”
His men roared their displeasure, and the other clans roared at the Surebloods, happy to have the blame falling on someone else.
“Poisoned!” a clansman cried out, picking up the call. “Found murdered! A Sureblood cup in his hand!”
The crowd grew angrier as rumors flared and spread.
“We Blues want blood, and we’ll have it,” others bellowed as the Surebloods fiercely defended their clan’s honor, led by the furious Dake who seemed to have no fear as they ganged up on him.
The prospect of dozens of angry, shocked, hungover raiders turning violent chilled her. She had to get Dake out of here.
“The only blood spilled around here is what I’ll be spilling if anyone takes clan law into their own hands! We Blues take care of our own business. We’ll find who did it. Justice will be served but not by a mob lynching.” She cast her glare far and wide while purposely avoiding Dake’s. Meeting his eyes now would be like tripping over a rock in the road. She couldn’t afford to stumble, not with the crowd calling for his clan’s blood.
She turned to Grizz. “If this turns ugly, they’ll kill him, or at least try to.”
“Aye, I know. Best if we expedite his leaving.” He took a step toward Dake.
She caught his arm. “I’ll do it.” His eyes flashed with sudden understanding. Grim, she walked in Dake’s direction.
Ayl appeared and blocked her path. “If you need to tell the Sureblood something, let me.”
“It’s my place to do it. I’m moving the clans out. The Surebloods first.”
“You’re letting him escape?” Ayl glanced from her to Grizz and back again. “After he poisoned your father?”
“Move aside, Ayl.”
He hesitated, standing in her way.
It was defiance, plain and simple. Others were watching, listening, seeing what she’d do. As leader, if she wanted to speak with Dake Sureblood or anyone else she didn’t owe Ayl an explanation. If she didn’t stand up to Ayl now, she’d never be able to put him in his place and keep him there. “I said move aside, raider.” Her hand went to her dozer. The noise ebbed as the clans watched.
Ayl’s eyes were black-dark. Angry. His jaw twitched. Those were the longest seconds of her life before he gave in and let her pass.
Nezerihm lurked only paces behind him in the mist. She froze. Her instincts prickled at the two men’s proximity. They were talking before you interrupted. Plotting.
She remembered what Dake had told her. Splintered, the clans were weak and dependent on the mine owner. Their dependency kept him in control. “He’ll do what he can to keep it that way. View everything he does through that lens, Val.”
Conn’s death, too?
She shuddered in the falling rain. Was Nezerihm responsible in some way for her father’s murder? The thought slugged her like a fist. She gave her head a single hard shake as if to empty it of the crazy, grief-stricken thoughts. Yet the unease persisted, and she’d better take heed. Never argue with your gut.
As Nezerihm observed her, clearly wary of her thoughts, she narrowed her eyes to blunt her distaste of the man. It was a struggle not to call for guards to lock up the mine owner, but if she acted on emotion and accused without facts, she’d be no better than this crowd’s instigators: Ragmarrk, Ayl and their cronies. She’d get Nezerihm off Artoom, but nicely. If she learned he was responsible for murder? Well, she and her raiders knew where to find him.
“Reeve,” she said to the raider who hovered nearby, “escort our guest Nezerihm to his ship. See that all his needs are met.”
Nodding, Reeve seemed surprised by her cool control. He had no way of knowing that grief was hot on her heels. Rain pelted her, and she gladly let it soak her to the bone. The more pain she suffered, the less likely she’d give in to the anguish of her family being reduced by half. Yesterday she had all she wanted within her grasp. How could everything change in so short a time? How could she go forward when she wanted to lie down and weep? You already know how. You’re Conn’s girl.
Then she was with Dake
. “Val,” he said. How could one word convey so much? Sorrow. Tenderness. Absolute understanding of what she was suffering.
With a gargantuan effort, she refused the urge to fall into his comforting arms. To delay his departure was to put him at risk. She wanted no more murders on this turf today.
Nodding, she made fists behind her back and pressed them to her spine to hang on to emotions already strained to the limit, fearing that if they snapped she’d have to give in to his steadying strength. “It’s going to get ugly,” she warned under her breath. “It’s true what they’re saying. They found Conn out cold with a Sureblood drinking cup next to him. Grizz said he saw you give a cup as a gift.”
“Not that cup. I took back the other before the end of dinner to have it etched with Conn’s armor design. It’s on my ship. I intended to return here and give it to him, fully engraved by our artisans.” And to see you again, his eyes broadcast plainly. Then he narrowed his gaze. “Someone else gave him that drinking cup. Someone wanting to cause conflict.”
Nezerihm, she read in his eyes. “And if he caused my father’s death?” she whispered, her pulse drumming.
“Then we’ll wreak revenge as one people, Blues and Surebloods, and all the clans. Unity was my father’s dream, and yours. Now it’s ours.”
They were speaking words of upheaval and war. Nezerihm held the power in the region and commanded most of the wealth. He’d never relinquish either without a fight.
“Surebloods—murderers!” someone shouted to hearty jeers. “Hang them now!” All around them there was swearing and shouts. It was like one of Grizz’s pre-raid rallies but with a dark twist.
“Dake, you got to get out of here. Grizz will make sure you and your men get to your ship and get the first slot out.”
Dake looked disgusted. “Girl, I’m not leaving. Not like this.”
“You’re in danger here.”
“Danger? Bring it on. I’m staying here to defend my honor.”
“No. Get the hells out. Now. We’ve got a mob brewing. It could flare up and get deadly in a heartbeat.” But Dake glared down at her. She’d have no more luck moving him than she would a deep-rooted river stump.
