CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Positions Vacant

 

The next morning, I pinned a sheet of paper to the noticeboard. The sheet sat against the otherwise-bare cork like a lone tree on a hill. Listing several vacancies, it immediately got the attention of those around the port. A small crowd had gathered before I had taken as much as twenty paces. Unemployment was rife in Sagemont, and it was hardly surprising that my listing got the attention it did.

 

It was a busy day for us, filled mostly with interviews. Dozens of applicants came past before lunch, and a line of hopefuls yet stretched around the corner. Exhausted, we took a break at our usual table.

“We can employ more people,” Marcus said.

“We don’t need more people than we advertised for.”

“But they need us,” Marcus said. “Come on, Saul, we can add a couple of people at least. Can’t you see their desperation? Besides, it would pay to have a few extra hands for when one or more of the others are sick.”

I rubbed my thumb over the faded patch on the table where I’d left a stain so many months ago. It felt like a lifetime. I never did get around to sanding it down, but my continual rubbing wore it off all the same and faded a spot around it. It became a habit, and I could not help myself.

“I thought we were equal partners. Are you going to take control of the tavern, as you tried to do to me?” Marcus asked.

He was a childish bastard. More and more, he came to use my foolish act to pressure me into things. I thought to raise the point that bullying people into doing what he wanted was not too far removed from what I had done. But I was too tired to raise the energy for the argument. “Fine, two more people,” I said.

 

The interviews continued well into the evening, and when the last hopeful applicant walked out, we looked at each other and sighed. It was an exhausting day. A small mountain of paper sat in front of me, covered in notes on each applicant. The actual list of potential employees was much smaller. “The way I see it, we have a good list of people for our openings. Except one,” I said.

“Someone to manage this whole thing?” Marcus asked.

“Exactly. It’s probably the most important role, and no one fits the bill.” I stood, walked to the fireplace, and tossed the largest part of my paper mountain into the fire. The pages curled into black ash.

“A bit dramatic, don’t you think?”

“You know me, always a show-off,” I said, sitting back down.

The door burst open, and the fire swayed and danced in the fireplace beside me. The wind curled around the room, sending two leaves of paper flying. They slowly glided to the floor as the door was shut. A figure stood silhouetted, a wide brim hat on his head. “Evening, Adair,” I said. “We will be closing shortly—how can we help you?”

Warden Adair walked in, pulled up a chair, and sat down at our table. “I am here to apply for a position,” Adair said.

I looked at Marcus. “I don’t think the taverns need a warden… sorry, Adair.”

Adair took off his hat and tossed it on the table behind him. “Pfft—I don’t want to be a damned warden,” Adair spat. “I want to run this business,” he said, gesturing at the tavern.

“Convince us that you are up to the task,” I said.

“Does this information stay confidential?” Marcus and I looked at each other before nodding.

Adair’s answer was long in coming. “I wasn’t always a warden,” he said at last, twiddling his fingers. “I once ran a branch of the Imperial Bank in Morwynne.” It surprised me, but the job instantly seemed more fitting for the man. “I was good at my job. Very good. But one of the noble-born arseholes running another branch had aspirations of moving up in the world, dealing with imperial taxes. Word got out that I was the chief candidate for the position. So he planted false information and alerted the emperor. He made it look as though I’d had my hand in the bank’s purse. There was a trial, and though the evidence looked sketchy, the noble arsehole was given the benefit of the doubt. Lacking the proof to hang me from a tree, they stripped me of my job and everything I owned and sent me to this chamberpot of a town as the new warden. The people here hated me, still do, for taking the place of the former warden. He was a well-liked man, and truth be told, a much better warden than I. I am sick of this thankless job. I work tirelessly, but no one gives a damn. The legion are forever getting in the way of me doing my job, and that’s if the bloody Dark Legion doesn’t throw me into my own cells.” He took a deep breath, then released it as a long sigh. “I am the only man even remotely qualified for this job, and I would appreciate it if you would consider me,” Adair said. He stood up, retrieved his hat, and bowed to us before spinning on his heels and making for the door.

I looked at Marcus, who nodded. “Adair,” I said. The man spun around to face us. “You start tomorrow—don’t be late.” Marcus walked to the shocked former warden and hugged him. To my surprise, Adair giggled like a boy. “You know…” I said. “When we first met, you struck me as an accountant. I guess that wasn’t too far from the mark, after all.”

 

The next day, we were most of the way through Adair’s introduction to the Bleeding Wolf when an incessant raven showed up. We made our excuses and once more found ourselves on the path to Malakai’s house. Perhaps it should be “a” path, as I had walked a few at that point.

An hour had passed when we noticed the change in temperature—much hotter, but with almost no humidity. It felt as though a burden had been lifted from me and I could breathe again. Before long, we came to a clearing with a pool of water as blue as Neysa’s eyes, and crystal clear. Palm trees surrounded the pool, and we could make out Malakai’s house through a clearing. Marcus and Neysa walked toward it, but I decided to look around first. I walked around the pool and through a cluster of palms, and on the other side, I saw what I was expecting.

Dry plains stretched as far as the eye could see, with nothing but the tough brown grasses and a few scrubby trees. This was Ubrain, and I was home. Honestly, I nearly cried. For many years, I feared I would never see my homeland again. It felt like a distant, impossible dream.

My father brought Shakir and me to the oasis once long ago. Perhaps not that oasis, but one much the same. We were but kids at the time, and it was a grand adventure, one we talked about for many years. We traveled with the nomads that roamed the northern reaches of Ubrain and stopped at the Great Oasis to make camp for the night. The wonder of it more than made up for the two days of negotiations that followed. Our father, the king, met with the tribal leaders and made my brother and me sit in on the proceedings. I snapped out of my memories of the past when I heard the others shouting my name.

 

“You’d think that the old goat could transport the house closer to us, as opposed to all over the Gods-damned world,” Neysa said. “Or at least save us the hour’s walk. On the upside, Saul wasn’t savaged by the wildlife this time.”

“Which is much appreciated,” I said. We walked in through the open door, along the corridor and into the messy room. Only it was not messy at all. The room was mostly clear, with a narrow red carpet leading to the desk and a range of bipedal animals arranged along the walls. This time they were not limited to reptiles, but included a variety of large apes I had no name for, each wearing a set of armor.

“Where do you find the time?” Marcus asked. Malakai was leaning back in his chair, his feet propped up on his desk. He smiled and shrugged, taking a puff on his long pipe.

“What do you want this time, old man? We are very busy,” Neysa said as we sat down.

“To bask in the pleasure of your company, child,” Malakai said. “I do so love your pleasant way with words.”

“Eat it,” Neysa said, sneering. Malakai sat up and held his stomach as he laughed.

“So,” Malakai said as his laughter died away, holding his arms wide. “Our sails are hoisted and our course is set. But are you ready up here?” he asked, tapping his temple. The three of us looked at each other and shrugged in unison. “So confident! I like it. With that attitude, how could you fail?”

I wished I could punch the old bastard. “Well, what have you done to help? As far as I can see, you have just as much to gain as the rest of us, but you contributed the least.”

Malakai raised his eyebrows and puffed a thick cloud of smoke. “Oh, really? Was it not my yeast that enabled you to win that competition? Did my student not save you? Did my distractions not lure the Inquisition away from your door? Did I not make good your escape, Neysa? Oh, I have done much. And much more besides that you will never know, child. And…” He got to his feet. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you my latest creation.”

We followed Malakai outside and walked to the rear of the house. He led us to a barrel that sat some distance away, and as we approached, he gestured to it with an expectant smile. “Do you like it?”

“It’s a nice barrel,” Marcus said.

Malakai dropped his hands to his side and rolled his eyes. “It’s not just a barrel… it’s a fantastic lock pick. If you recall, some months back I offered to provide you with a backup plan in case dear Saul’s abilities let him down. Well, this is it. It’s filled with the explosive liquid that was vexing me for so long. It makes for a very big bang, so Neysa, I need you to form a shield when I set the charge. Don’t mess it up, unless you have lost the will to live.”

“Can’t we just run?” I asked.

“Maybe, maybe not. Do you want to risk it? Besides, when the time comes to use it, you may not have much room or time to run. Neysa needs to be ready.” Malakai took a step closer to the barrel and went down on one knee. “Now, you two… to set the charge, open the tap, then kick it in. When you hear the click, you will have to the count of ten… more or less. Ready, Neysa?” When she nodded, he went through the motion, then stood and took several steps back.

A shimmering cone appeared in front of us as Neysa hummed a wordless song, her face the picture of concentration. But, nothing happened. “Malakai, I think—”

Boom!

My vision went white with the brightness of the explosion, and a warm gust blew past, ruffling my shirt. As the blast dissipated, the shimmering dropped away. I was hit by a sudden force. It lifted me from my feet and threw me back. I got the wind knocked out of me, either by the blast or the fall. Leaning on my elbow and holding my chest, I looked around to see Marcus and Neysa lying beside me. Malakai came walking out of the dust and smoke. He did not look at all bothered by the event.

“Neysa, you dropped your shield too early, child.”

“I know… I’m sorry,” she said, and slowly rose and straightened her dress.

“Just keep it up until you’re sure the blast has done its thing,” Malakai said. “Time can seem to slow down in all the excitement.”

Marcus and I found our feet and we followed Malakai back inside.

 

Malakai reached beneath his desk and retrieved a large roll of paper, tied with a ribbon. “I promised to provide you with plans of the palace,” Malakai said. “I have acquired a few more since our discussion, and I believe you will find them rather interesting.”

“Thanks,” I said, and took the heavy roll. “Question, are we in Wah ‘ha Gabeera? The Great Oasis?”

Malakai smiled. “You are indeed.”

I looked at Marcus, then back at Malakai. “Are there a number of former slaves in the oasis?”

“There are, yes.” Malakai said. “A rather large number, in fact.”

“Are we able to go and speak with them?” I asked. “I know Marcus has spent some time with them, but I would like to see them too.”

“Why, of course,” Malakai said. “That is why I brought you here. I can arrange swift passage here on a more regular basis if you wish.”

Marcus nodded. “I need to keep up with their training.”

“Very good,” Malakai said. “My raven will come by a few times a week, but you two can go to them now. Neysa and I have more learning to do.”

With the meeting concluded, Marcus and I walked to the door. “I will have the explosive barrels sent to you within the next couple of days,” Malakai said. “Make sure you mark them well. I will also be sending some of my fireworks for Harvest Festival, but my people will take care of them. Hopefully when you see them go off, you will be speeding for Sagemont.” Malakai had a wicked grin on his face. “Take the path at the rear of the house. It will lead you to your branded men.”