Adversaries Together (17 page)

“
They’ve fed us.” Roth
turned back to the door and picked up a second tray.

Kira could only make out dark shapes and none
of the food had any real scent she could identify, “What is
it?”

Roth lifted a few fingers to his mouth,
chewed and nodded, “It is dhal. Bland, but it’ll fill you. Eat
up.”

“
Do you have…” Kira
hesitated as she looked toward the door and then Roth’s
tray.

“
You’ll need to use your
hands, m’lady.” He said with a bit of bitter mirth.

Kira scrunched up her face, but it was
doubtful Roth could even see it; she probed her tray with two
fingers and found a cold paste.

“
But what…is
it…”

Roth dropped his tray to the floor, his hands
held up in exasperation, “It’s the food you need to eat.”

“
I was just asking what it
was.”

“
It’s mashed lentils. Just
fucking eat it. We have no idea where we’re going or when they’re
going to feed us again. Take what is given to you.” Roth was
assertive, not bullying but definitely close to it to Kira’s mind.
Cowed, Kira began to lick at her fingers. The paste wasn’t
distasteful but it lacked any real flavor. After a few dollops, she
realized just how hungry she was and she began to eat with
vigor.

Roth nodded watching her, “It usually tastes
better than this but these are sailors, not known for the
extravagance of spice. Maybe the salt kills their sense of taste;
all their food is bland.”

Kira looked at him, “It’s not so bad.”

He smiled, “When we’re out of here, I’ll make
you some proper dhal so you know just how bad this is.” He held up
his tray, and Kira laughed a bit.

He tried not to sound too serious, but they
needed to figure out what to do next, “I’m not sure where we’re
headed. They’d want to put as much distance between you and Goshen
as possible.”

“
When Goshen wakes to find
me gone and him in Bandra, how will he even know where to
go?”

“
Well, I’d imagine at the
very least he’ll demand to head back to Anhra. That is, if he’s
alive or allowed.”

“
You think these men have
killed him?” Kira’s voice was small.

Roth shook his head, “No. I think that would
be worthwhile to them, but there’s no way Jena would let that
happen.”

“
You have a lot of faith in
her.”

“
She’s better than
me.”

“
I’d hope so, you’re being
held captive.” Kira said nonchalantly and Roth laughed.

“
True, true.” He leaned
back, “She’ll make sure Goshen is put in The Cathedral’s hands but
I get the feeling it’ll be messy.”

“
But once they find out
what happened, surely...”

Roth cut her off, “They’ll accuse Jena of
some kind of heathener crime? Hold Goshen for a needless
inquisition that will allow more leagues to be put between him and
you? Yeah, I think so.”

“
I don’t necessarily think
that’ll happen. Once Goshen reveals what’s happened a force will be
dispatched to rescue me.”

Roth scoffed, “Amazing how pompous you
sound.”

He couldn’t see it, but Kira blushed a bit,
embarrassed. She tried to hide it by sounding shocked, “You think
The Light would abandon us?”

“
Now it’s ‘us,’ is it?”
Roth said, immediately regretting his tone. He continued in a
kinder voice, “You’re not wrong. They will send someone. Whatever
your mission, your value, a crusader wounded by highwaymen and an
alm kidnapped will not stand.”

“
You see!”

Roth rolled his eyes, “Let’s assume we live
to be rescued.”

Kira paled and swallowed hard, the dhal in
her mouth turning bitter. Roth kept talking, “We’re alive, but
where are we? We have to figure out what they want, where we are,
and where we’re going.”

“
You don’t
know?”

“
How would I know? If
you’ll recall I have been hit on the head rather hard and have had
to have you keep me from passing out. Grant me some ignorance, eh?
Where do you think we are heading?”

“
How would I
know?”

“
What do you think they
want with you?”

Kira was uncomfortable, “I told you we were
envoys to The Aral.”

“
Yeah, but why would they
go through such trouble to disrupt such an ordinary mission? You
had nothing worth enough to steal. So that leaves them wanting you,
specifically. Why would they want you?”

“
Alright, alright.” Kira
gave in.

“
And.”

“
My father, well, my
guardian really, is rather…high up in the ranks of the
Cathedral.”

“
How high up?”

“
A Vicegerent.” She said
meekly.

Roth let out a long sigh, “How much do you
think you’re worth?”

“
What? What do you mean?”
Kira stuttered.

“
How much do you think The
Cathedral would pay to ransom you?”

“
I don’t know, I’m just an
alm, I’m nobody.”

“
You just made it clear
that you’re not. You’re somebody.”

“
I’m not his real daughter.
I’m just a ward. I’m not worth leveraging.” Kira shook her head in
denial.

“
So let’s be generous in
our estimation…”

“
You can’t put a price on a
person.” Kira whispered shaking her head.

Roth brushed her statement aside, “I know of
several Elvosi flesh traders that would disagree with you. And if
we are being kidnapped, we’re being delivered to someone somewhere
or being held until someone pays for our safe return.”

“
I know that.” Kira rubbed
her face with her hands and clenched them under her chin, “You
might as well have just told me we were being held prisoner in a
boat.”

His tone was hard-edged, “Then think it
through,” he snapped.

“
Fine! I don’t know…a
thousand aurei.” She snapped.

“
Good. Now if The Cathedral
pays that out then these mercs will definitely brag about how they
got a good pocket of coin for snatching an alm. You all go out all
over the world peddling your Light.”

“
I don’t peddle anything.”
Kira said defensively.

“
Right sure, no soul
soliciting,” Roth humored her, “You all are all over everywhere by
chance.” Kira said nothing and Roth continued, “So, what’s to stop
other mercs from doing the same? Nothing. They’d be poaching
nobodies like you left and right, then The Cathedral would soon
find its coffers thinned.”

“
The Cathedral won’t pay.”
Kira mumbled as she realized what Roth was getting at.

“
And where does that leave
us?”

“
Dead.” Kira said with
finality.

Roth shook his head and put his bound hands
on her shoulder, “They wouldn’t steal you away just to kill you.
They aren’t just kidnappers, is my point.”

“
We’re being taken to
someone.” She nodded.

“
It needs to be more than
just coin. They have to be looking to get something else from The
Cathedral or your guardian or someone who wants to get an in with
either. Those are the only reasons I can think of why going after
you would be something worthwhile. Especially since a botched run
would bring the wrath of the Cathedral and even a successful run
would still enrage it.”

“
I don’t know,” Kira’s eyes
welled up, she squeezed them closed in frustration, and pressed her
fists to her eyes. “We were going to Lappala to proselytize, to
entreat with the city’s leaders.”

“
For what?”

“
Increases in the amount of
bithumin allotted to the Lakes. A mission run twice a year. It was
all too plain.”

“
It has to be you then,”
Roth turned toward the wall pressing his forehead to it, “I don’t
really see it being anything else.”

“
I don’t…” Kira was close
to full on weeping.

“
It’ll be okay, Kira.” Roth
was uncomfortable but tried to be as consoling as possible, “We’ll
make it through.” He reached out and rubbed her back.

“
I don’t see how.” She
shook her head and got control of herself. “I’m sorry I pulled you
into all this.”

“
You didn’t, don’t feel
guilty.” Roth was assertive, “I chose to help you and Goshen. I
chose to send you on alone. I’m responsible for where you are not
and where he is.”

Kira pulled her hair back, balled it up, and
tied it with what had been the rags that had bound Roth. He pulled
at her shoulder and made her look at him, “You’re tired, you’re
sore. Just rest, just sleep.”

She nodded and stretch out, then laid down
on her side. Roth unbuttoned his jerkin, took it off and folded it
over a few times. He held it out to Kira who took it, rolled over
away from him, and used it as pillow. He leaned back against the
hull and closed his eyes, “I’ll figure something out. We’ll get out
of here. I’ll get you back with Goshen.”

Western Novostos Sea, 45th of Lammas

The pirates were rough with them both but
seemed to take special delight in knocking Roth around. They had
made it a point to give him a fast kick every time they came into
the hold, to feed them or to take their waste bucket. When they
came in this time, they yanked him up, nearly pulling his arm out
of its socket. They had no qualms about checking him into the walls
of the ship’s corridors or letting his head strike low hanging
beams. When Kira and Roth were brought on deck, he was punched in
the small of the back before his eyes could adjust to the sunlight.
Roth fell forward and cracked his face on some quarterdeck crates.
Jerking him back to his feet, Kira saw he had a wicked looking cut
above his left eye and a split lip.

She hadn’t realized how large the ship was.
In fact, she hadn’t even considered what kind of ship it was.
Having been brought aboard hooded, she now looked over the frigate
and took in its baffling array of rigging, masts, and sails. There
were maybe fifty men on the various decks never ceasing in their
work.

“
So these are pirates.” She
whispered to herself

“
Corsairs, perhaps.
Privateers, I think your Cathedral calls them.” Roth mumbled to
her, “No one says pirates.” He stood next to her. He looked horrid,
his face tight with pain, but his tone was still a detached, almost
mocking, casualness.

“
It’s not my
Cathedral.”

“
Right. It’s ours whether
we want it or not.” Roth never looked at her; he was scanning the
ship and then seemed to be lost in staring out to sea.

“
Where are we?” Kira was
tired and her tone was that of lost child.

Roth nudged her, and when she looked, he
nodded towards her left, “That’s the Stony Shore.”

Kira squinted and saw only water at first but
then she could make out a low, darker blue line. It was land, “How
far out are we?”

“
Not far. Maybe three
leagues. Maybe less.”

“
Why are they running so
close to shore?” Kira would have thought that the Spires’ ships
would have found them.

“
We’re heading to Rikonen.
No need to go out into the sea proper.”

“
Rikonen? But The
Blockade.” Kira was confused.

“
Yeah, I’m kinda getting
the feeling that we’re going to see that up-close.”

“
You mean…we’re being taken
to The Blockade.”

“
Well, you are…”

Before she could reply, a masked man came
down from the stern-castle. Roth kept his eyes locked on him,
unblinking. Kira tried not to cower and to stand firm, but she was
confused, lost, and terrified. The man raised his hand slowly and
pulled down the crimson bandana that covered the lower half of his
face. It revealed a tight line of black and wet looking stitches
along the jaw line of an otherwise cleanly shaven face with deep
laugh lines and a kind of default smirk.

“
New ship’s barber?” Roth
spoke and was immediately struck by one of the guards. He didn’t
waver but simply turned his head back to face the man; he locked
eyes with him and swallowed what certainly had to be his own
blood.

“
I do my own shaving,
Athingani.” The man finally spoke, his voice level and certain. He
had a wellborn accent, one with a hint of Silvincia.

“
Athingani? You’re a
rover?” Kira whispered, unable to hide her shock.

“
For all intents and
purposes, Sister Ambrose. Who knows or cares about him, a
troublesome tinker and trader. Perhaps even a cowardly mercenary.
He could be anything and, therefore, he is nothing.” The man had
been locked, bearing down on Roth the whole time, but when he
finished speaking turned to her and gave a warm smile.

“
You know who I am?” Kira
timidly asked.

“
I know all my charges. My
apologies for the crudeness of our encounter in the lowlands.
Things should have gone more smoothly.”

“
You mean you should’ve
killed us.” She said bitterly.

“
Well, no, not entirely.”
He shrugged.

“
Who are you? Where is
Goshen? Why are…”

The man waved her off, “I’m merely a courier
and you my cargo. Your companion is gone, either dead or back in
the arms of your precious acolytes.”