The Red Wolf Conspiracy Part 36

"I will be last from this chamber," said Talag. "Sister: you will run spear-point."

Taliktrum whirled. Spear-point was the most dangerous position when ixchel ran, the spot where life-and-death decisions were made. It was the place of honor.

"You promised it to me!" he said.

"But I cannot allow it now. The prisoner is too weak, and like Fentrelu I smell something amiss in this chamber. My heart warns against it. Diadrelu will lead."

Taliktrum did not hide his fury. By leading their escape he would have completed the last rite of manhood, and could claim the t.i.tle of lord.

"We agreed," agreed," he hissed. he hissed.

"You dare to argue?" said Talag, enraged in his turn. "Look to your aunt, boy! She is overtrusting and soft of heart--but also selfless. There is no thought of herself above the clan, no distraction at this moment of peril. That That is the mark of a leader--not your insolent whining." is the mark of a leader--not your insolent whining."

Taliktrum was deeply shaken. "Father--" he began.

"Silence!" snapped Talag. "By the Pits, you shame me!"

"Fentrelu," called Diadrelu, looking up at the beam, "how is Steldak? Can he run?"

"He claims so, m'lady," came Fentrelu's voice from the darkness.

"Then he must try. Make your way to the door frame, quickly."

Then Steldak cried, "No!"

"What?" cried Talag. "How no, brother?"

"I want to stay, and kill him! Help me! Lend me a sword and the tyrant dies!"

"Are you mad? Kill Rose? You'd sign all our death warrants with the act!"

"We'll make it look like suicide, Lord Talag! Everyone knows he's cracked--"

"Not another word!" said Dri. "You will obey us and make part of our clan! Surely you owe us that much? Get to the doorway, instantly!"

"You don't understand, m'lady! He's brought the s.h.a.ggat aboard! The s.h.a.ggat! G.o.d-King of the Nessarim! Whole countries will be laid waste if Rose has his way! Arqual will seize the Crownless Lands, even the Mzithrin in time!"

"The s.h.a.ggat Ness drowned at sea," Talag said.

"A lie! Arqual's master lie! He's here, aboard--that is why we stopped at Licherog!"

Brother and sister looked at each other.

"There is no time to debate," Dri said.

"None," agreed Talag. "Hear me, Steldak. Rose will not be killed. Nor will he or the Emperor achieve their foul ends. This s.h.i.+p is mine. I have sworn a blood oath to see my people out of the h.e.l.l of fear and misery that is Arqual--to see them returned to the isle from whence all ixchel were stolen, long ages ago. Rose alone of all men can pilot us to that place. Join us and be welcome--or by my own hand be slain! Now go!"

Steldak said no more, but Dri felt horror at his revelation. Here was the conspiracy, laid bare at last, confirming the clan's worst fears about giants and their cruelty. And they are cruel. By the Nine Pits, the s.h.a.ggat! What would Arqual do with that butcher of a king? And they are cruel. By the Nine Pits, the s.h.a.ggat! What would Arqual do with that butcher of a king?

Then Ensyl cried: "Rose is come!"

No one needed commanding now. Taliktrum leaped to the dark floor; Dri bent her bow. Talag stood beside her, tense as a cheetah ready to sprint.

The door opened: Dri's arrow flew. Lamplight from the hall spilled yellow on the floor. The rat squealed to life, terrified, and bolted under the table.

"Broil and blast you!" shouted Rose, lurching after it.

Dri and Talag were already off his desk and halfway to the door, which Rose had left open for the light--as Talag knew he would. Dri saw Ensyl flit through to safety.

And then disaster. A voice overhead shouted, "Stop!" "Stop!" Brother and sister turned to see Steldak fighting on the beam with Fentrelu. The prisoner had the strength of sudden mania: even as they watched he broke free of Fentrelu and hurled himself from the beam--and onto Rose's back. Brother and sister turned to see Steldak fighting on the beam with Fentrelu. The prisoner had the strength of sudden mania: even as they watched he broke free of Fentrelu and hurled himself from the beam--and onto Rose's back.

The captain was bending under the table, looking for the rat. He apparently felt something, for he half stood, hit his head on the table and roared with pain. Steldak, clinging spider-like to Rose's s.h.i.+rt, began moving upward.

"He has my knife!" cried Fentrelu.

The next instant Dri was in flight. It nearly broke her arms to rise airborne from a standstill, but she did it. Across the cabin she flew in a heartbeat, her own sword drawn. She would kill this poor mad Steldak, bear his body away, say a prayer for him-- A black shock of pain. Claws, fangs, falling.

Sniraga!

Dri was pierced through leg and torso. A crash: she was pinned to the floor. Her sword gone. Her swallow-wings snapped. The cat's mouth closed over her head and shoulders, its blood-scented breath filled her lungs. With her left arm she drew her knife and struck--the mouth withdrew, but a claw hooked her hand and ripped it, and then the knife was gone, too.

Rose had sensed it. You're here, aren't you? You're here, aren't you?

The cat had been waiting all along.

Dri was ready for death. But death did not come. Instead her brother did, and Steldak himself--two blades whirling, stabbing. She saw Talag thrust his sword deep into Sniraga's neck. A deafening yowl. She was flung free.

Somewhere close, almost on top of her it seemed, Rose was bellowing: "Kill it, animal! Kill that rat and I'll almost think well of ye!"

Dri was against a table leg, bleeding fast. She forced herself to rise. Rose was staggering around the far side of the table, holding his head. But where was Sniraga? But where was Sniraga?

Taliktrum's voice, high-pitched with fear: "Papa!" "Papa!" Years since he called Talag that. Years since he called Talag that.

Then Dri saw the cat. She had leaped to a dinner chair, rolling and striking at something--at Taliktrum, as the boy parried both her front paws, his sword a blinding arc. Steldak held her tail in one hand, and with the other slashed wildly with Fentrelu's knife. Talag, limp and bloodied, hung from Sniraga's mouth.

Dri sprinted for the chair. Blood was splas.h.i.+ng from her hand but she did not feel it. Talag! Talag! Talag! Talag!

The chair crashed over, Taliktrum was pinned. And Sniraga, with one great bound, leaped through the open door.

Dri ran until she thought her heart would burst, no longer caring who saw her. Steldak held the cat's tail for half the length of the empty pa.s.sageway. Then he too fell, gripping a handful of fur. Her neck gus.h.i.+ng blood, Sniraga skidded around the corner and was gone.

The other ixchel escaped unseen. The prayers in the hold that night were not for Steldak--who offered suicide, and sat stone-faced, alone--but for Talag, their master, slain with no thought of self above the clan.

Running Before the Storm

2 Teala 941

80th day from Etherhorde

Druffle's s.h.i.+p was the Prince Rupin Prince Rupin, but the only thing princely about her was her name. Pazel gasped at the sight. The vessel sagged at the waist like an old mule, her paint little more than a memory. Torn rigging dangled from her spars, and sailors aloft moved gingerly, as if expecting the footropes to snap. She had no gunports, but three rusty cannon pointed backward from the quarterdeck. Apparently she was used to being chased.

Her captain was a frowning, bushy-haired man with no love for Mr. Druffle, and, "Right hazardous, and a fool's waste of time!" was his greeting as the skiff drew up to Prince Rupin's Prince Rupin's side. Druffle answered with a rude gesture involving the eel. side. Druffle answered with a rude gesture involving the eel.

One by one the purchased boys climbed her ladder, followed by Druffle and his Volpek thugs. The boys huddled near the bow, ignored by the surly crew. Already men were straining at the capstan, weighing anchor. Bakru, Wind-Sire Bakru, Wind-Sire, they chanted, half asleep. Do not let your lions devour us Do not let your lions devour us. Soon they were drifting with the river's flow, leaving the islets behind, sliding into the sea.

Dawn was breaking, and Pazel knew from one glance at the water that it would be rough sailing. A fierce south wind battered them from portside, and yellow-black clouds like bad bruises were gathering ahead.

He wrapped the old coat about himself more tightly. The waves were ragged and confused. And yet (with Druffle at his elbow, urging him on) the captain ordered the mainsails set.

"The mains?" said Neeps, as if he couldn't believe his own ears.

Pazel looked at the wind-torn sea. "Impossible," he said.

The other boys looked at them anxiously. "What's wrong? Are you tarboys? What's impossible?"

But it was happening. Sailors aloft--leechlines freed--the big square sails flas.h.i.+ng open-- "Hold on!" Pazel shouted.

The s.h.i.+p leaped forward. Timbers groaned, old sheets struggled to rip bolt from frame; on the spars above men clung to anything that seemed likely to be there a moment later. The wind was soon moaning through the stays, and the waves on the bow were like men trying to kick in a door.

Pazel and Neeps had heard all these sounds before--but never all at once, and never on such an obviously ghastly s.h.i.+p. But if they were frightened, the other boys were terrified. One fell seasick in the first few minutes and had to lean over the rail in the las.h.i.+ng spray.

Druffle, however, looked almost merry. He staggered about the deck, black coat flapping scarecrow-like, gazing up with approval at the great spread of canvas.

"He's a loon!" said Pazel. "This old hulk won't take such speed!"

Neeps shook his head. "This is bad business, mate--I can smell it. But what are we to do? It's plain they don't want our opinion."

"They don't," Pazel agreed. But he couldn't take his eyes from the sails.

"Come on," said Neeps. "Let's get out of this wind. And talk, if we can."

They took shelter behind one of the Rupin's Rupin's sorry-looking lifeboats. At first they could still barely hear each other. But by lying on their stomachs with their heads close together, they managed to talk almost normally. And Neeps had much to tell about the sorry-looking lifeboats. At first they could still barely hear each other. But by lying on their stomachs with their heads close together, they managed to talk almost normally. And Neeps had much to tell about the Chathrand Chathrand. The mystery of the slaughtered rats was just the beginning. A rumor had also spread among the tarboys that the s.h.i.+p's carpenters and blacksmiths were at work on a secret project, deep in the s.h.i.+p. Whole decks were off-limits, night and day, except to sailors cleared by Rose himself.

"Reyast heard talk of an iron door and a padlock," said Neeps. "He thinks they're building an extra brig."

"But there's n.o.body locked up in the regular brig. What do they need two for?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," said Neeps.

"I can't guess at all," said Pazel. "But you haven't told me what happened to you."

"I'm coming to that. I told you it was Jervik's doing--blast him!--but it was also Thasha's. Honest to salt, that girl is a menace!"

It seemed Thasha and Syrarys had had a ripping fight. Thasha had caught the consort opening vials of Amba.s.sador Isiq's headache medicine: vials sealed by Dr. Chadfallow back in Etherhorde. Syrarys claimed she was merely adding an herbal tonic to calm Isiq's nerves. "Tasteless and harmless," she told Thasha. "You could drink it by the gla.s.s." But Thasha didn't believe a word of it. She accused Syrarys of poisoning her father.

"But they're married--or close enough!" said Pazel.

"Well, mate, ain't that the question?" Neeps gave him a hard look. "Is it close enough for her to inherit his gold, if Isiq knocks off?"

"Are you saying she wants him dead?"

"Who knows? Thasha might be cracked. She thinks that old crone Oggosk is spying on her--ever since the woman's cat got hold of her necklace. And she also suspects Jervik."

"Jervik, a spy? Who would be fool enough to use him him?"

"n.o.body, but Thasha's convinced of it. We met an hour after they took you ash.o.r.e. You might as well know she was crying her eyes out."

"For her father?"

"For you, you thick stump. Days running."

Pazel thought the wind had played a trick on his ears. Neeps couldn't suppress a laugh.

"Aye, Pazel, she's a wee bit fond of you! 'Money, why didn't I give him some money money?' she kept wailing--not a bad question, either. But she's in trouble herself now. Her father took Syrarys' side in that fight. 'You may want want what's best for me, girl,' he told her, 'but Syrarys what's best for me, girl,' he told her, 'but Syrarys knows knows what is.' That just about broke Thasha's heart. And it was while she was telling me all this--we were down on the mercy deck--that we heard a thump a few yards away. It was Jervik, and two other tarboys what've become his bootlicks. They were crouched behind a bulkhead, listening. what is.' That just about broke Thasha's heart. And it was while she was telling me all this--we were down on the mercy deck--that we heard a thump a few yards away. It was Jervik, and two other tarboys what've become his bootlicks. They were crouched behind a bulkhead, listening.

"They claimed Uskins had sent them to check on a noise in the rudder-chains. But Thasha went wild on 'em. 'Do I sound like a rudder-chain? Is that why you follow me around? Is that why you pressed that ugly ear to my door last night?' Jervik said he never did. But he said it with a wink at his mates. Oh, Pazel"--Neeps grinned from ear to ear--"he should have skipped that wink."

"What happened?"

"She whacked him silly, mate. I've never seen the like. Jervik was pinned up against the wall before he knew what hit him, protecting his tender parts. One of his mates took off running. The other one grabbed Thasha's arms from behind. I got him off--clipped him two good ones in the stomach--but he, well--"

"He beat you," said Pazel.

"Only because of his rings," said Neeps, turning scarlet. "Otherwise I'd have had him. Tubsung, that smelly hulk. Anyway, I blacked out for a moment. When my head cleared Tubsung was on the deck. So was Jervik, curled up in a ball. Thasha was standing over them, shouting, calling them worms. I mean loud, mate. Like screaming. WOOOORMS!" WOOOORMS!"

"Oh," said Pazel. He could guess what happened next.

"A crowd came--sailors, steerage pa.s.sengers, marines. Uskins was the first officer to arrive, and he had the marines whisk Thasha off to her cabin in a flash. She shouted: 'I started it! Don't blame him!' But Uskins never believed she'd done any fighting. Jervik, that filth-tongue, said I I was the one pestering the Young Mistress. And what could I say? How could I tell 'im what we were doing on the mercy deck, when it's off-limits now? Then Jervik showed off his bruises. Said I attacked him after he caught me asking Thasha for was the one pestering the Young Mistress. And what could I say? How could I tell 'im what we were doing on the mercy deck, when it's off-limits now? Then Jervik showed off his bruises. Said I attacked him after he caught me asking Thasha for unseemly favors unseemly favors. What do you suppose that means? First-cla.s.s food?"

"It means kisses and the like, Neeps," said Pazel, smiling in his turn.

Neeps blushed brighter than before. "That sc.u.m," he said. "I'll kill him!"