Doc spent two days meeting with the tribes and healing people, including the children of Jamie’s workers. Sequoia let Rosa know that she would travel north, readying the tribe that Rosa hoped would help them upon landfall in Alyseka. He gifted the tribes with a water elemental who would help them, as most of their life hinged on fishing the coastal waters.
He even had the city gravedigger show up, and Doc purged the entire curse from Quartz Digger. It didn’t change him physically, but the tall man collapsed into tears, overcome with emotion.
On top of that, he had two Hutmachers stop into the shipwright’s yard to see him, as well. The gnome had brought his daughter, who was just starting to learn to be a hatter with him. The father wasn’t as advanced as Sigmund had been, but the mercury was seeping in. Doc made sure that both would be free from the effects for the rest of their lives.
~*~*~
It was on the fourth day of being in Olimna when things went right, but also took a bad turn. The good news came first: Jamie had found them a captain who would be shipping out in six days and would bring the riverboat with him. The captain was a regular who crossed over to Tsarrus to trade with the clans there. He knew the Alyseka coast well, and Rosa was sure she could explain exactly where along it would be best for them. The only hitch was that the ship, the Anastacia, was in Port Townsend up the coast, as the captain didn’t like going all the way into Olimna.
With that in mind, Doc, Rosa, and Lia went shopping for the gear they’d need for the trip and for staying months in the frozen north with the tribes. Lia asked him to purchase a couple of things to give as gifts as they passed through tribal lands. It was mostly knives that she asked for as quality knives were always welcomed by a tribe. When they were checking out, the first hint of trouble came.
“It’s a pleasure doing business with you, sir,” the shopkeeper laughed. “Going to trade with the savages, eh? Use your wife there to get some trust with them?”
“Something like that,” Doc replied with a false smile.
“Well, be careful with it. My cousin who works at the depot told me that an inquisitor came into the city last night. Never know what one of them might see as heresy. Your little endeavor could get his attention.”
Doc laughed amiably as his heart clenched. “Trading with the tribes isn’t against the church’s stance, last I knew.”
“Inquisitors draw a hard line,” the shopkeeper said seriously. “Doesn’t matter what we think. If they say it’s wrong, well…” Trailing off, he shook his head. “My soul might need saving, but it’s my body I worry about with them.”
“Good point,” Doc said. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. Have it all delivered to the Anastacia; it’s in dock at Townsend. Tell them it’s for a traveler heading north.”
“Gladly, sir. You paid the fee for delivery, so it’ll be there by the end of the day tomorrow.”
“Wonderful. Good day.” Doc headed for the door, then went over to the cabbie. “Daniel, I need to go to the governor’s office. It’s urgent.”
“Right away,” Daniel said. The moment all three of his passengers were on, he snapped the reins to get the horse moving.
“You think the inquisitor went right there?” Lia asked.
“It’s possible. We’re in a bad spot. Six days until the ship is ready to leave, and still three for the riverboat to be ready? The inquisitor is already here and will send for his allies as soon as he realizes we’re here, too.”
“We’ll deal with it as we have to, even if it upsets our wives.”
Doc exhaled roughly, understanding what Lia was suggesting. Killing the inquisitor would give them more room, but Doc didn’t want to do it without provocation. If he did, the church would use that to mark them as outlaws.
“We need a solid reason before we do it,” Doc said after a few seconds. “We can’t give them a reason to turn the entire country against us. I want to push this deal through today. If we can do that, we can buy more time.”
Lia nodded. She knew why Doc didn’t want to act first. If it came to it, though, she would rather ask forgiveness than lament not acting when she could have.
The governor’s office wasn’t as stately as some, but Olimna was still growing into its role as the capital of the territory. Just down the street, the capital building was being built. The temporary offices would likely become another city building once the capital was finished.
“Your wives are still here, sir. Peter is parked in the shade right over there,” Daniel said, waving to another driver who waved back. “I’ll pull up behind him after dropping you off.”
“Thank you,” Doc said, some of the worry easing from his mind.
They quickly walked up the path to the front doors. Entering after scraping their shoes off, Doc slowed upon hearing unhappy voices. Swiftly heading toward them, he slowed again at the open door to the governor’s outer office.
“He will see me!” a man was saying tightly. “No one refuses to see one of my office unless they have something to hide.”
“He’s in a discussion about long-term business for the entire territory and is not to be disturbed,” the secretary said primly, her otter ears quivering.
“Look here, lost child, you are damning your soul by refusing me. More than that, once I talk with Governor Perry, you may well be out of a job. Now, I am willing to overlook this if you inform him that I am present.”
Doc’s lips thinned and he pulled back from the door. “Go around the corner for a moment. I want to see if I can bluff this.”
Lia gave him a hard look, but took Rosa’s hand, walking away from the front doors and office. Doc swallowed before he stepped into the office. The bestial had risen to her feet, fear etched on her face.
“Ah, I see another person already has the governor’s time,” Doc sighed. “Well, I don’t mind waiting.”
The inquisitor turned to face Doc. Intense eyes stared out from a sallow face. The man wore a gray robe belted at the waist with hemp rope. The throat of the robe bore the same black circle of Apoc that McIan had worn. A broad-brimmed flat hat was snug on his head, completing the outfit. “He will be busy for the rest of the day.”
“Ah, a pity. I just had a conversation with a man who swore he was a faith healer. I was coming to ask the governor if—”
Doc cut off as the inquisitor lunged to be within a foot of him, staring into his eyes. “Where was this man?!”
“Umm…” Doc said, taking a step back. “He was… well… down near the Wavefront Hotel. Healing bestials and claiming his false goddess was why.”
The inquisitor strode from the room with hurried steps. An aura of hatred followed the severely-dressed man as he left the room.
The sigh of relief from the secretary got Doc’s attention. “Sorry, ma’am, but my wives are seeing the governor. I need to speak with them.”
“What?” The woman was lost until Lia came into the room with Rosa. “Oh, I remember her. Very well, sir. Let me just check.”
“My name is Doc Holyday.”
She left them for less than a minute, coming back out of the office with a smile. “Go on in, sir.”
Doc walked in with Lia and Rosa behind him. Ayla and Sophia gave him worried smiles, as they’d both heard some of the conversation through the door. “Governor Perry, I wish I’d come with better news,” Doc said, advancing on the desk to shake hands with the man.
“What do you mean, Mr. Holyday?” Perry asked, shaking hands.
“Take the deal, or we’re leaving in five minutes,” Doc said flatly. “You’ll be the only territory in the west left out of the new growing railroad system if you don’t want in. I’m fine with that, but your constituents might be angry when they hear about everything happening everywhere but here.”
Perry sat back; he’d not expected this hard sell. Something must’ve changed. He briefly wondered if he could use it to his advantage, but he saw the set to Doc’s jaw and knew this was truly a now-or-never deal. “I see… Well, if the secondary offer is open, fine.”
Sophia set a contract on the table. “You just need to call a clerk up to witness it.”
Ayla pulled out a check. “After she leaves, we’ll sign off the… incentives.”
It was less than ten minutes later when they all left the office behind. Doc waited until they were out the front doors before he told them, “Get back to the hotel and pack as quickly as you can. We’re on the train for Port Townsend as soon as we can be.”
“What happened?” Ayla said. “I heard someone arguing with the secretary, but not what was said exactly.”
“Inquisitor,” Lia said grimly.
“Lia, come with me. Rosa, you go with them. We’ll meet you at the depot,” Doc said. “I need to speak to Jamie to make arrangements for the boat. Things are starting to tighten up, but we can still get out without bloodshed right now.”
~*~*~
Jamie was puzzled by Doc showing up in the afternoon. He stood to greet the Voice, but Doc’s expression made him hold his tongue.
“Jamie, I need a favor. Get me a pilot and single crewmember who can get the riverboat up to Port Townsend when it’s done. The inquisitor is here, and we’re trying to duck him.”
Jamie nodded slowly. “Any of my men would be happy to; I’ll find a pair who can manage it. You’ll beat me to telling Captain Moltenhand what’s going on, but he knows your name. He’ll be willing to take you on and hide you.” He extended his hand. “I’ll get the ship started as soon as a drydock comes free. By spring, you’ll have your new ship. I’ve already got some old friends who are willing to sign up as crew for you.”
“Thank you,” Doc said sincerely. “That’s a big weight off my mind. Send it to Anchor Bay, along with the goods we discussed. The bank will pay out once a telegram confirms things are ready.”
“I hope whatever you are up to works, Doc. Inquisitors don’t stop. If they’re hunting you, they’ll go to the ends of the world to follow you.”
“It’s not the end of the world, but you might see it from where we’re going,” Doc laughed before sobering. “Stay safe. Don’t fight them. In a week, it won’t matter what they know.”
“I can buy you a week,” Jamie said. “Fair seas and safe travels.”
“Warm home and happy life,” Doc replied. They shook hands, and Doc left.
Lia walked beside him the entire time. “Do you think we’ll make it out of the country without trouble?”
“I don’t know, but if the inquisitors want to chase us to Pale River… it’ll be better for them to vanish there.”
“That’ll be easy to do,” Lia nodded grimly.