“There it is, King’s Port.” Robert made a grand sweeping gesture to encompass the entire city. He had brought the wagon to a halt on a small hill looking down over the city.
King’s Port was an oddly sprawling city with a huge waterfront. Ships of all sizes, from massive galleons to three-man sloops crowded the docks. What made the city look odd was that it sprawled along the coast but only went about half a mile inland.
Gentle waves lapped against the shoreline. It looked perfectly calm to Shara. “Why do they call it the Sea of Torments?”
“Because one of the nastiest creatures on the planet calls this sea home, the Black Widow Shark. It gets about fifty feet long and some have been known to swallow small ships whole.”
“Why is it called the Black Widow Shark?” Shara asked.
“Because it’s all black and has a red hourglass-shaped mark on its belly, just like the spider.”
Shara shuddered. “I hope we don’t meet one.”
Robert smiled and Blade slapped him across the back of his head.
“Tell her the real reason,” Blade said.
“Real reason?” Shara was confused.
Robert rubbed his head. “I was only kidding about the shark. They call it the Sea of Torments because there’s a whirlpool at the center that moans like a tormented man. Don’t worry, everyone just sails around it.”
“Then there is no Black Widow Shark?”
“Nope, just sea dragons and giant octopi. We’d better get going.” Robert flicked the reins and they started down the rough dirt road toward the city.
Sea dragons and giant octopi, that’s much better than giant sharks. Shara shook her head as they rattled down toward the city.
She grabbed the side of the wagon when they hit a bad bump. Since they’d left the other bandits behind, Shara had gotten relegated to the back of the wagon like cargo.
For the most part, the trip had been quiet, lacking the usual chatter between Robert and Blade. When they got a moment alone Robert had told her that Blade felt down because she’d left a big part of her life to the wolves, literally. For the last week Robert had done his best to bring Blade around. He’d do or say just about anything to get a response out of her, even if it was just to tell him to shut up.
His efforts had started to pay off two nights ago when Blade had started working out with her sword again, weaving and dancing through a complex routine.
When she’d finished she’d gone to lie down beside Robert to sleep, the first time she’d done so since the battle in the forest.
Then last night she’d cried.
Shara had actually heard her sobbing into Robert’s shoulder. If anyone had told her the woman was capable of crying, she’d have called them a liar. Yet Shara had heard it.
When the sun came up Robert and Blade acted as if nothing had happened and Shara followed their lead.
They came to a stop just outside the city. Unlike most towns Shara was familiar with, King’s Port had no wall surrounding it. Instead groups of four bored-looking guards stood at regular intervals to inspect the incoming merchants.
Robert drove right up to one such group. He reined in the horses when one of the guards raised his mailed hand.
“Purpose of your visit?” he asked in a bland monotone that suggested he didn’t really give a damn.
“We’re paying a visit to an old friend, Argus Hamilton,” Robert said.
The guards immediately straightened up and looked serious. “You’re a friend of Lord Argus?”
Robert and Blade exchanged glances. “Last time I saw him he wasn’t a lord, but yes, Argus and I go way back,” Robert said.
The guard that had spoken gave their wagon a superficial glance then waved them into the city. “Give my best to Lord Argus,” the guardsman called after them as he took his poleax from his partner.
Robert smiled and waved.
He turned to Blade. “How does a guy with a leaky caravel become a lord of the city in five years?”
Blade shrugged. “You’ll have to ask him. Does this change our plans?”
“No, if anything it helps us. Someone with a lot to lose is easier to blackmail.”
Blade made a face. “I wouldn’t know.”
“Look, I’m not crazy about blackmail myself, but we have little time and less money. If Argus doesn’t want to help, we don’t have much choice.”
“Is anyone else hungry?” Shara asked.
Robert grinned. “You bet. Let’s find an inn then I’ll go find Argus.”
The inn was a typical design with a large common room downstairs and rooms above for rent. A score of tables were scattered about the room and a wooden bar ran half its length. Behind it hung several nautical-looking items like a harpoon and sextant. On the right-hand wall was a large fireplace with a pair of cutlasses hanging over it.
They had arrived between meal times so the common room was almost empty. The only other people in evidence were a pair of men at the bar and the bartender.
Shara and Blade found a table while Robert went to talk to the bartender. He returned after a couple minutes with a key and three glasses of wine.
Blade took her glass and smiled. “At least the help is cute.”
Robert dropped into the third chair with a grin. “Remember that when you leave the tip.”
The bartender brought their food over after a few minutes. The fish chowder wasn’t the best-looking food Shara had ever eaten, but after weeks of trail rations it tasted like heaven.
When they had finished Robert said, “I’m going to look up Argus. See you back here tonight. We’re in room two.”
He handed the key to Blade and walked off, leaving the two women alone.
Shara said, “Doesn’t it seem like we spend a lot of time waiting for him?”
“Sure does.” Blade stood up and stretched. “I don’t feel like sitting around here for three or four hours. Let’s get out of here. King’s Port has a ton of little shops, or so Robert claims.”
Shara smiled in surprise. “I didn’t take you for the shopping type.”
Blade looked down at herself in disgust. “This armor’s about had it, and my sword could stand a visit to a smith.”
“Sounds good to me, but I thought we were low on funds.”
Blade winked at her. “I have a little stash of my own.”
Shara and Blade left the inn and headed toward the sea. The shopping district lay just inland from the docks.
They walked at a leisurely pace and the closer they got to the docks the more crowded the streets became. It took about fifteen minutes to reach the shopping district. Stores lined both sides of a broad boulevard. It appeared the city planners had put all the businesses in the city in one area. A good idea, Shara thought. If everything was in one place shoppers would be more likely to go to more than one store, thereby increasing business.
Shara looked in the window of the first store they passed. Coral jewelry was displayed in a variety of settings. The pinks, blues, and greens looked beautiful. She didn’t have much time to browse as Blade continued on without pause. They passed half a dozen more shops before Blade spotted what she was looking for.
“Over here,” Blade said.
Shara left the window of a silversmith and joined Blade. The shop where she stood didn’t have a large window like all the others. Hanging over the door was a sign with a shield drawn on it.
“This is the best armorer in town. I should be able to get what I need here.”
“How do you know it’s the best?” Shara asked. “It looks like a dump to me.”
“See that mark above the shield?” Blade pointed to a small carving of a pair of crossed swords. “That’s the mark of the mercenary’s guild. My father once told me that every major city had a weapon and armor shop with that mark. It means the owner makes the best equipment and won’t try and cheat you.”
“I see.” Shara followed Blade inside.
When she got home she’d have to make a point of looking around Sultan’s Oasis for similar marks. It would be interesting to see how far such customs traveled.
Inside the shop were a score of wooden stands. A number of different styles of armor hung from them for a prospective buyer to look at. Leather and chain were the most common though Shara spotted a heavy steel breastplate near the rear of the shop.
At the front a fat man in a leather apron stood talking to a trio of other men dressed in filthy clothes. All three carried shortswords.
While Blade studied a suit of black leather armor, Shara noticed the three men staring at them. Blade seemed oblivious so Shara nudged her. “Blade, those men…”
“I see them. They could be trouble. Just ignore them unless they make a move.”
Shara nodded and continued to watch them out of the corner of her eye. They kept pointing at Blade and snickering. She swallowed the lump in her throat and prayed they wouldn’t do anything foolish. Blade finally chose a suit of armor and Shara followed her up to the counter where the three men stood.
“Who owns this place?” Blade asked.
“I do,” the fat man said.
Blade set the armor on the counter. “How much?”
“I never had much use for women wearing clothes, much less armor, how about you, Juck?” one of the filthy men said to his companion.
“Me neither,” Juck agreed.
Blade’s eyes narrowed and Shara winced. This was going to get ugly.
“Me and my buddy will make you forget all about that armor, girlie.” The first man grabbed Blade by the shoulder and spun her around.
Blade lashed out with her right hand, the fingers held straight and rigid.
She struck the man in the throat with enough force to drop him to the floor gasping for air. Before Juck could react Blade had her sword drawn and the tip resting against his Adam’s apple.
“Please don’t kill them, miss,” the fat man said. “Both these louts owe me money and it’s hard to collect from a corpse.”
“True enough.”
Blade drew back and hit Juck between the eyes with the hilt of her sword. He collapsed on the ground next to his friend. The third man raised his hands and backed away, seeming to have taken the hint.
“How much for the armor?”
“Seven gold pieces,” the shopkeeper said.
“A fair price, do you not wish to bargain?”
The merchant eyed Blade’s naked sword. “I’m not in the mood.”
She shrugged. “As you wish.”
Blade reached down the front of her shirt, pulled up a small leather pouch, and counted out seven coins. The merchant pocketed them with a smile.
“Where can I get my sword sharpened?”
“Three doors up, miss.”
Blade nodded, sheathed her sword, and swung the armor over her shoulder. She started toward the door when the first man she’d hit groaned. Blade walked over and kicked him in the side of the head. Smiling, she left the shop behind.
When they were outside Shara said, “That was most impressive.”
Blade snorted. “Those two were so drunk you could have taken them.”
“No, I don’t know anything about fighting,” Shara said.
They walked down the street to the smith’s shop. Blade paused outside the door. “Do you want to know one of the secrets to winning a fight?”
Shara nodded. She didn’t really, but if Blade felt like talking she could listen.
“Never do what your opponent expects. Take those two idiots back there. They expected a meek reaction when they confronted a woman. Therefore I attacked aggressively. Such a simple tactic wouldn’t work against a truly skilled opponent, but against many it will end a fight in a hurry.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Shara said.
“Good.” Blade led the way into the weapon shop. It took about ten minutes for the burly smith to regrind the edge of Blade’s sword.
It was near dusk when they set out for the inn. Long shadows filled the streets. Blade wore a happy smile as she carried her new armor over one shoulder.
Shara yawned. It had been a long day and even a dirty bed would feel good tonight.
They were about halfway back to the inn when six men stepped out of the shadows of an alley. They all held cocked and loaded crossbows. Blade didn’t even try for her sword.
“Hold very still,” said a voice from the shadows. “Princess Shara, you will come with us.”
Shara started. How could they know her name? “What about my friend?”
“If she does nothing foolish she won’t be harmed. Now, come here.”
Shara looked at Blade who nodded ever so slightly. She sighed. It didn’t seem she had much choice.
Shara followed the voice into the right-hand alley. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light she saw a small man leaning against one of the buildings. Petite was the only word to describe him. He stood an inch shorter than her and couldn’t weigh much more. Still, he held himself with the calm assurance of a man used to being obeyed.
The little man sketched a bow. “Princess, your Uncle Kent sends his regards. If you will accompany me, a safe house is waiting.”
Uncle Kent? How could these men know her Uncle? “What about my friend?”
“Have no fear, my men will stay with her for a few minutes to make certain she doesn’t try and follow us. Once we have a good lead they’ll leave her, unharmed.” He added that last bit as if it was just an afterthought.
The little man started down the alley and Shara followed. She didn’t have many choices that didn’t involve half a dozen men with crossbows, and if she tried anything they might hurt Blade. They came to the end of the alley and turned left, away from the sea.
“How is it you know my uncle?” Shara asked.
“Know might not be the correct word,” the little man said, slowing his pace just a fraction. “I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting Lord Kent. I’m just an employee, a spy for lack of a better word. One day though I hope to distinguish myself enough to earn a meeting with your uncle.”
Shara stopped and leaned against the building. “Look, I’m tired. Can we rest a minute?”
“Certainly, Princess, if you were tired you should have said something.” The little man walked over beside her. “I want you to understand we are here to protect you. We will do everything in our power to ensure your health and wellbeing.”
“Including kidnapping me?” Shara asked.
The spy held his hands out to the sides. “I apologize for the method of our introduction. Had you arrived alone, I would have simply approached you myself, quietly. However we had no idea what your relationship with that rather stern-looking woman might be, so we assumed she was your captor rather than your friend. Considering the bounty on your head it seemed prudent. If you like I can arrange for a message to be sent to her and the gentleman with you letting them know you’re unharmed.”
Shara nodded. What the man said made sense. She certainly couldn’t fault his logic.
“Thank you. I’d appreciate it if you let them know.”
“As you wish. If you’re feeling rested we should get going. The safe house isn’t far and the streets can be dangerous.”
“No kidding,” Shara said.