Chapter 42: Old Friends
Blackness. Not even the slightest trace of light. Bilblox could hear the wind howling, but that was the only information he could gather from the outside world. Bilblox let out a long, heavy sigh. Once again, he was locked up. There were heavy iron handcuffs around his wrists and manacles around his legs.
Bilblox had been in prison several times before. He’d been jailed in Fort Krasnik for brawling, and of course he had been imprisoned in Somnos after it was discovered that he’d burned a leaf from the Dormian Bloom; but this was different. When the door to his cell closed this time, the click of the lock had been louder and more menacing than he remembered.
He stared into the darkness for so long that he couldn’t tell whether he was awake or asleep. It all became one long, rolling wave of semi-consciousness. His dreams were scattered and empty, just scenes of devastation. It felt like watching a silent movie that flickered on for only seconds at a time. He closed and opened his eyes but nothing changed.
And then abruptly, it did change. He opened his eyes from a fitful sleep and saw a glow of light coming from the far corner of his cell. The glow emanated from a lantern. Sitting next to the lantern, with his back propped up against the wall, was Kiril. Bilblox blinked. He was amazed to see Kiril and equally amazed that his eyesight was still working. Kiril had given him the potion so nonchalantly that he figured it wouldn’t last very long.
“I thought you could do with a bit of light,” said Kiril.
“Yes,” said Bilblox as he struggled to adjust to the light. Kiril handed Bilblox a flask of potion and Bilblox took it eagerly. However, before he brought it to his lips, he looked at Kiril suspiciously.
“Go ahead, drink it.” said Kiril casually, “It’s the same thing I gave you before. I promise.” He smiled. “Your suspicion is comforting – it shows how much you and I have in common.”
Bilblox studied him for a second, and then lifted the flask to his lips. He drank deeply.
“You’re wrong,” said Bilblox, once he finished. “We ain’t got nothin’ in common.”
“Listen...” persisted Kiril.
“Naw,” said Bilblox with a violent shake of his head. “Spare me the whole bit where you tell me that we are both black sheep who been vilified, but really we’re a bunch of swell guys who gotta band together and we’re in this thing together. That’s not your way. You got no interest in helpin’ me or anyone else but yourself.”
“Normally I would agree with you,” admitted Kiril. He shifted his body, trying to find a more comfortable position, as he leaned against the stone wall. “But not today.”
“No?” said Bilblox doubtfully. “So why are you here?”
“Unofficially,” said Kiril. “I’m here to ask you again – where is the Pen?”
“I ain’t got a clue,” said Bilblox.
“Don’t be a fool!” said Kiril. “Have you seen what that Tree is doing? It’s not too late for us to do something about it.”
“Us?” said Bilblox with a snort.
“Do you have it?” persisted Kiril.
“I ain’t got it,” said Bilbox. “How many times do I have to tell you? You can question me and beat me all you like, but you won’t squeeze blood from this turnip.”
The two men sat in silence for a long minute or so.
“So,” said Bilblox finally, “Why are you here – officially?”
“Nartam asked me to get you,” said Kiril.
“That seems easy enough,” said Bilblox. “So why do you look so bent out of shape?”
“He’s holding Naomi as a hostage,” replied Kiril flatly. “And I doubt he’ll return her until he has his Pen.”
“As a hostage?” said Bilblox. “What the heck happened between you and Nartam anyway? You two used to be as thick as thieves, other than the occasional fight in which he’d cut your face with a knife. Is that what this is all about?”
Kiril said nothing.
A sudden look of understanding dawned on Bilblox’s face. “It’s the Shadow Tree ain’t it?” he asked. “Of course it is. That’s why ya wanted the Pen in the first place. Ironic ain’t it? You gave up two years of your life for that Tree and it’s given you nothing but grief. It almost makes me feel sorry for you. Almost.”
Kiril made no reply.
“So tell me why Nartam wants to see me?” asked Bilblox.
“He says he wants you by his side,” replied Kiril.
“By his side?” said Bilblox quizzically. “Ha, that’s a good one, but I don’t buy it. Tell me something else, Kiril, buddy – why is it that Nartam has taken such a keen interest in me lately. Why was he callin’ me his lucky rabbit’s foot before – what was all that about? That guy looks crazier than usual.”
“You really want to know?”
Bilblox nodded.
“He thinks you’re going to save his life,” replied Kiril.
Bilblox half-choked in a snort of laughter. “Why on earth would he think that?”
“Because I told him so,” explained Kiril angrily. “I told him that I had a vision in which you save him. You see, I needed an excuse to keep you around, so you could...”
“Be your pawn,” finished Bilblox.
“No,” said Kiril, “I brought you here to help Naomi.”
“I never took you for the sentimental sort,” replied Bilblox.
“I’m not,” said Kiril.
Kiril rose to his feet and walked over to where Bilblox was standing. He then reached into his pocket and took out a large brass ring that jangled with skeleton keys. Kiril searched until he found the key he wanted and then knelt down, and used the key to unlock the manacles on Bilblox’s feet. Kiril then walked back across the cell and used another key to open the door. “You’re free to go,” said Kiril. “I have to leave the handcuffs on until we reach Nartam’s quarters – as Nartam requested.”
Kiril led the way out of the jail cell and walked down a long hallway and up a narrow set of stairs. The wooden floorboards creaked beneath their feet and, every minute or so, the entire ship shuddered as icy gusts of wind slammed against its sides. They continued onward until they came to the door leading into Nartam’s chambers.
Bilblox raised up his wrists, indicating that he wanted Kiril to unlock his handcuffs.
“What’s your plan?” whispered Kiril.
“It doesn’t concern you,” replied Bilblox.
Kiril leaned in close to Bilblox’s ear.
“Listen to me,” he said. “I’ll be blunt, because I know that’s the only way you’ll understand me. I am the only person that stands between you and a life of blind obedience to your new master Nartam...”
“Spare me the whole song and dance,” interjected Bilblox. “I don’t want to hear it.”
Kiril pushed Bilblox forward and while doing so, reached into his pocket for the key to unlock Bilblox’s handcuffs. The sleeve of his kimono got in the way and he roughly flung it back. At that moment, he felt a sharp bite on his wrist as if he has just been stung by a hornet. He looked down at his hand and saw it was covered in blood. Kiril quickly pulled back the sleeve and saw that something sharp and metallic – a tiny blade – was sticking out of the sleeve of the shirt. Kiril often stitched small knives and vials of poison into his clothing – so that if he were ever in dire circumstance he could kill his enemies. Apparently, when he had rolled up the sleeve, the blade had cut his wrist. It was a peculiar, crescent-shaped wound.
Kiril froze.
“What happened?’ hissed Bilblox.
Kiril stared at the wound on his wrist. This was, without a doubt, the wound in his vision. It was his arm. And, apparently, it was his hand that would push Naomi into the abyss.
Just then, the door to Nartam’s chamber swung open and there, standing in the doorway, was Nartam.