| |
“No, simply make your preparations and set sail,” Emisa was telling the captain and crew where they were still gathered upon the decks. “People will only see what I want them to see.”
“It’s true,” Notch said from the rail. “She has hidden us in plain sight since we returned.”
Heiko, the first mate, stepped forward and turned to the sailors. “All right, you heard the lady then, get moving, lads.”
The crew spread to their tasks, some heading up the rigging and others going to lines that had long been tied off, the sound of unfurling sails following.
Captain Marlosi joined them. “Can you tell me more of Hanja, Inquisitor?”
“Gladly, but I must concentrate for a time. Once we are in open water, I will tell you what I can and then I must rest, undisturbed for at least two days – half the journey.”
“So be it, lass.”
“Good.” Emisa moved off to the prow, facing the harbour.
Alosus placed a hand on Notch’s shoulder. “I’m glad to see you recovered enough to stand.”
“Wouldn’t be if you hadn’t carried me out.”
Marlosi raised an eyebrow. “Just what happened in there? We heard rumours, all kinds of things – like a Prince of Giants returning and some Mad King up there murdering everyone. They barely let us out to stretch our legs and barter for food and water – we’ve sold nearly everything that isn’t essential, already.”
“You can call me Prince of the Tonitora, Captain,” Alosus rumbled. “And I’m surprised you didn’t consider selling the scales sooner.”
“My apologies, of course,” he replied with a raised eyebrow, then nodded. “But we did consider it – had many a row over it in fact, but most of us wanted to hold on to them. You can tell, when you pick one up, that it’s special – not something to waste on bread and water, or the occasional piece of fruit. Heiko finished it in the end, when he said there was a chance that if we revealed the scales, the Inquisitors might simply kill us and take them.”
“Probably the safest move, Captain,” Notch said as he glanced back up to the palace – it remained deceptively calm. The lion’s mouth still roared and its window-eyes blazed. “And as for what you’ve heard, it’s probably all at least half true... but I hope the full tale can wait until we’re leaving.”
“Nervous?”
“Eager to see this city from a great distance.”
The Captain roared with laughter. “I know the feeling, Notch. Well, I’m going to relieve the helmsman. If your young lady can do what she claims, I want to be the one to sail us out of the place,” he said as he left.
Notch looked up to Alosus. “Now that Tanere is dead, I’m hoping General Olidas will not follow the same path. That way, we could find your family more easily, surely.”
“Perhaps.”
“You don’t sound confident.”
He shrugged. “I hardly trust the nobles, Notch, even ones who are generals and could be said to, comparatively at least, be more aware of the true cost of war.”
“I take your point,” Notch said softly. “But if Milus is involved, I think Lord Corvus will have a say in the direction of the Ecsoli power and that can only be a good thing.”
“You’ve spent time with Corvus?”
“Enough to believe I am not wrong.”
Alosus still wore a slight frown. “Then even if that is so, I will delay the search a little longer.”
“You will?”
The anchor chain raised and hand signals passed between the men. “Clan leaders may still meet to the north – even without Tanere behind it, and if so, I want to ask something of them. Something they may not like.”
“To free your people here?”
Alosus nodded, his jaw clenched.
Notch hesitated. Such a decision would be a costly one, even with people like Corvus and Milus hopefully involved on the side of justice. But it was also the right decision. “I will help you, whatever you decide.”
“I know, and thank you, Notch.” He glanced over his shoulder to where Emisa still faced the busy docks. “What of her?”
“She is unusual for an Inquisitor... and I owe her. Without her help we wouldn’t be here.”
“Agreed. But do you trust her?”
Notch took a moment. Things had changed now, that much was obvious. “For the most part, yes.”
“Then let’s get to Hanja waters. We can circle north from there once you help her with whatever she needs.”
Notch rubbed at his neck. In some ways, hadn’t her needs already been met with the death of Tanere? Which might become a problem – he needed Emisa yet. But for now, that issue was not yet upon him. “Will that kind of detour take too long?”
“No, the tribes will wait. Whenever we meet, I will put forth my proposition and we can plan from there.”
“Then your faith holds, about your family?” Notch asked. “You don’t worry about this extra time, now that we’re finally free?”
“Well, I’d note that we’re certainly not free yet,” Alosus replied with a small smile. “But yes. No lord would knowingly kill one of us, though my family may well have been mistreated, they live yet. As I said before, we are too ‘valuable’ as slaves.”
“Right.” Notch had to sigh. “That statement shouldn’t have to be true.”
“I know.”
The ship began to slide from the harbour now, catching a mild breeze. It was a slow escape, but no-one upon nearby ships bothered to look up from their work and even as Notch checked upon the city walls and the palace beyond yet again, there remained no signs of pursuit.
From back at the helm, Marlosi was laughing as the Hawk continued to slip from the bay, now heading further out to sea. The captain had no doubt been instructed to avoid incoming ships, since they wouldn’t notice the Hawk and risked a collision, and moment by moment now the tension eased within Notch. As the muscles in his shoulders and the rest of his body relaxed, aches seemed to grow stronger. He ran a hand across his chest and sucked in a great lungful of sea air anyway.
He’d survived.
Somehow, his bull-headed plan had worked – the Gods truly favoured him. He escaped after every foolish risk, and now with Alosus in tow, and a suitable surrogate for Sofia within reach. Luck probably played a part too – how much better prepared would Tanere have been had he not been hunting the old king when Notch arrived?
And above all, the bracers. Notch pushed a sleeve back and glanced down at the lion, posed now as if sleeping, tail curled around its body, head upon paws.
Without the Fura Leones he would have failed.
Without Emisa too.
“Notch – it is time.”
A familiar voice echoed across the ship. He turned, a sinking feeling filling him with dread... the White Witch – Chelona – stood upon the boards, arms outstretched and a cruel smile upon her face.
“No.”
The Hawk had fallen silent now.
“I am afraid refusal is not an option.”
She snapped her fingers and he found himself within her arms now – her scent was an intoxicating mixture of jasmine and citrus and he blinked against it, struggled to free himself but he was too exhausted to free even a single limb, as he had when last they met.
Voices shouted his name and the ship disappeared.