Laurel grinned, showing his fangs. "With the patrols looking for phantom pirates, there's no one to see which boats stop at the inspection point. And which boats don't." His smile curled into a snarl. "Or even what is dropped off or loaded from the warehouses on your docks.”
"There is too," Commander Ystan said. "Can't leave the checkpoint unmanned. Jaxtir's troop has it."
The Faena's silence was eloquent.
"But there are also the customs administrators ..." The governor's voice faded as her eyes rounded even more. Then they narrowed into slits at the lieutenant. "You bribed my clerks.”
"Only one needs to be corrupted, honored governor," Laurel said. "I would check to see who is assigned this duty when Jaxtir's unit has the docks."
The governor's eyes narrowed further. "Oh, I will.”
Laurel rumbled in his throat as his tail lashed. "It looks like we've just found the first nest of runners in Iversterre.”
We were escorted back to the docks by Commander Ystan and our former guards, Governor Somne, Doyen Orso and Doyen Allwyn. Ystan kept apologizing both for Jaxtir, who was put in the stockade on charges of smuggling and conspiracy, and the fact that the rest of his officers were out patrolling the river with their units (looking for pirates) and so couldn't form a proper honor guard for us.
We scoured Lieutenant Jaxtir's quarters, then the rest of the base looking for additional contraband, but nothing else turned up besides the hauberk and shield, which were placed on a horse by themselves.
Laurel Faena held the reins.
We decided to also search the dock warehouses. As Laurel had pointed out, smuggled goods could've been stored in them with no one the wiser. So as the doyens went to the ship, the rest of us went from warehouse to warehouse. Where we could find someone with a key, we had them open it. Where we couldn't find anyone, Commander Ystan had his men break off locks and chains. Again, we didn't find anything.
"Jaxtir had two weeks to move out the contraband," Governor Hoelt said at the last warehouse. "After Commander Ystan received the dispatches." She glanced around at the barrels of flour and sacks of rice.
"If there was any here to begin with."
"True, Governor," Javes said, also looking about through his quiz glass. He dropped the glass and frowned. "But then why didn't Jaxtir get rid of the shield and hauberk? He must have known that he ran the risk of Ambassador Laurel recognizing what it was, if not who it was.”
"Hubris, Javes," Suiden said, "and a certainty that he would be believed over a magical." He sighed, his gaze resting on Ystan, who was peering into a flour barrel. "And he probably would've been if we didn't have Rabbit backing up Sro Laurel.”
I wandered outside as Ystan and Somne assured everyone that, regardless of Jaxtir's motivations, they would uncover the full extent of his iniquity—including his accomplices. But I figured that any evidence not destroyed when Ebner's dispatches arrived was going into the fire right now as the news of Jaxtir's arrest spread through the city. I also figured that it would be a long time, if ever, before the runners would use Dornel again, as their ruse was revealed. Reaching the edge of the dock, I stared down into the water. For the first time in five years I wanted to be home on my parents' farm.
"Lord Rabbit," someone said from the direction of the river.
There were three men on a small boat, one holding a rope with one end formed into a loop. When I looked up, he flung it over my shoulders. And pulled.
I'd always scoffed at dramas where someone, after being explicitly told not to do something, did it anyway with predictable results. Yet here I was, after all Captain Suiden's orders and warnings, about to be snatched. I dropped to the wharf and braced my feet against a pylon. They responded by one of the other men grabbing the rope and pulling also. I strained harder against the column, and started yelling my head off.
From the warehouse I heard the rapid footsteps of several people running, one set much lighter and quicker than the rest. Someone brown and furry came to a stop beside me, his toe claws digging into the dock wood. At once the rope slackened, and I heard the splash of oars and shouts— screams, really—coming from the river. I shucked the rope, rolled behind Laurel and peered out from behind his legs. Two of the men in the boat were rowing as hard as they could; the third one used his hands. Laurel raised his staff.
Footsteps pounded behind me. I pulled my boot knife and spun around on my backside, picking up splinters. Captain Suiden glanced down at me and then looked at the Faena.
"Don't, Sro Laurel.”
After Suiden ran Captain Javes, with his sword pulled and looking nothing like a silly ass, Groskin with two knives, Commander Ystan and his troopers waving their own swords, and last, Slevoic, unarmed.
"Don't," the captain repeated. "They don't have Rabbit and using magic would cause a lot of upset.”
Laurel growled but lowered his staff and Suiden gave a soft sigh and looked down at me again. "Are you all right, Lieutenant Rabbit?”
I wasn't at my dignified best hunkered down beside Laurel Faena with his tail waving over my face, so I tried to stand. However, my arms were bruised and aching from the rope and my legs were shaking from the aftermath of both reaction and strain. Laurel had to carefully take one arm and the captain the other to haul me up.
The boat was growing smaller in the distance and though Ystan sent troopers scurrying to put a patrol boat on its trail, I figured that by the time they started looking, the would-be abductors would be long gone. Laurel hovered as I wobbled back to the warehouse doors, allowing the exclamations, expressions of outrage, and apologies of the governor and commander to wash over me—only to stop as I confronted my horse.
"Sir, if it's all right with you, I'll walk with Laurel to the ship," I said.
There was silence at my stated preference for the Faena.
"You are walking a little wide-legged, Lieutenant," Captain Suiden said. "Splinters?"
"Sir."
Everyone stared at my backside.
"Nasty things, splinters," said Ystan, who was becoming chatty now that Jaxtir wasn't snatching his speaking time. "Got one in my foot once. Still feel it." The commander raised his eyes to my face.
"Remove them before they fester.”
"The lieutenant will have it taken care of as soon as he gets on board, Commander," Suiden replied for me.
The good thing was that both the ship's sailors and the troops had been given a day's leave. The bad thing was that they were coining back. It was decided to remove the splinters on deck where there was plenty of light. Laurel had me drop my trousers, took one look at my pale backside, then had a couple of lounging sailors, ripe for any entertainment that presented itself—including my bare arse—set up an awning so that I wouldn't get sunburned. Doyen Allwyn had volunteered his services, and he and Laurel set up soap, hot water, towels, torture instruments, and evil smelling potions. Laurel then had me lie out on a table and he lifted my tabard.
"Full moon rising," a sailor called out.
Laurel bent to his work, the doyen standing by to give assistance. After a few moments, Suiden walked into my view, holding a cup of tea. "How are you doing, Lieutenant?" he asked.
Right then Laurel had to dig for a particularly stubborn splinter and I flinched. "I am all right, sir.”
"Sweet cheeks! Me own true love!" another sailor called out. Laurel had to stop as said cheeks clenched. Suiden took a hasty sip.
"Lord Rabbit, relax," Laurel chuffed. "I will defend your virtue.” I gave a pained smile only to have it fade as Jeff and Ryson passed behind Captain Suiden and paused, their eyes wide.
"Rabbit?" Jeff said.
"Lieutenant Rabbit had an unfortunate encounter with the wharf," Captain Suiden said. "However, I have confidence that he will completely recover.”
"Yes, sir." Jeff grinned. "May we keep him company in his hour of need?”
Captain Suiden took another quick sip. "Of course, Trooper Jeffen. I'm sure he'll appreciate your, ah, support.” I closed my eyes and for the rest of the time ignored the exclamations of returning troops, the catcalls of the sailors, and the more to the point comments of my mates while Laurel diligently plucked out all foreign objects from my backside. But I snapped my eyes open with a hiss when he slathered on something that stung like a swarm of bees.
'Truly virgin territory," Doyen Allwyn remarked.
Laurel finished up with a couple of dabs. "You may get up now, Lord Rabbit.” I was off the table and had my tabard down and my trousers up before Laurel laid down his swab. Laurel chuffed again as he and the doyen began cleaning up the work station. He dropped his instruments into the hot water. "Be careful of the splinters that are still in your clothes. I will see you tonight before you sleep to reapply the lotion," he said, washing a wicked-looking hook.
I nodded and turned, wanting to get as far away as possible, only to come face to face with Captain Suiden. "All's well, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, sir," I said..
"Good." He turned and started walking to the bridge, indicating that I should follow him. Which I was quite happy to do. I looked over my shoulder at the badger and weasel, both of whom looked upset at the loss of their prey. I blinked.
"Pay attention, Rabbit," Suiden said.
I snapped forward again.
"We will talk later about what obeying a command means, but right now Commander Ystan and Governor Somne want to get descriptions and details on your attempted abduction.”
"Laurel Faena was there too, sir. They should also ask him.” "Yes. However, due to the sensitive nature of what Sro Laurel is, they have decided it's best not to involve him."
I opened my mouth to comment on the rank stupidity of this, but then decided that I couldn't throw stones. I closed it again.
"Exactly," said Suiden.
I gave everything I had to the governor and commander, who once again promised investigations, gave apologies and exclaimed at the boldness of Lieutenant Jaxtir's smuggling gang. I kept any hint that I thought Jaxtir had nothing to do with my attempted abduction to myself—the lieutenant hadn't known who I was until Captain Javes told him during our procession to the garrison only a couple of hours ago.
It was improbable that he, with his life so suddenly full of incident, had time to set anything up. I did wonder, though, how the abductors knew where I'd be, then wondered some more if they'd been lurking about the docks all along, waiting for me to wander off on my own. I felt my shoulders tighten.
I was spared the captain's lecture on obedience as Commander Ystan, Governor Somne and Doyen Orso stayed to dine. For once dinner was lively as any soldier's tavern as Ystan had become loquacious and was full of army stories. He even dared to shout Doyen Orso down during dessert when the church elder tried to interrupt him. At the end Ystan, his face flushed with triumph, stood up at the table and proposed a toast to our glorious king, Jusson Golden Eye. I gratefully stood—my arse hurt—and Laurel politely did the same, drinking with us at the toast's end. He then proposed a salute of his own.
"Here's to understanding and peace, to the return of what has been lost, to the revealing of what is true, and the acceptance of who we all are becoming. Fiat.” In a bard's tale, the candles would have burned blue or some such rot after such a cryptic statement, but all that happened was a moment of silence; then my dinner companions slowly lifted their cups and drank. I suppose that Laurel's toast was vague enough that each could read their own meaning into it, and besides, who'd admit to not wanting understanding and peace? I did notice, though, that Slevoic's lips were dry after he lowered his cup.
While the captains were seeing our Dornel guests off the ship, Laurel and I went to the hold to check on the death staff and now dragon skin. I stared at them, once again feeling the hairs rise on my body at our private chamber of horrors.
"When you started your journey, honored Laurel, did you foresee this?”
Laurel shook his head. "Not this, Lord Rabbit. Never this." He raised his paws to renew the wards.
I waited until he was done. "What did you foresee, then?”
Laurel's eyes slid sidelong to me and if I had hackles, they would have risen. The thought suddenly came to me of how the Border took Iversterre by the throat and savaged it hard the last time it had transgressed. Now they couldn't find a ragtag bunch of runners who were murdering its People? I took a step away from the mountain cat.
Laurel rumbled, his ears lying against his skull as his eyes slit. Then he stopped. "The dragon's curse," he said, looking at the skin again. "Dissension, division, distrust." He sighed. "Even through the wards." He picked up his staff and began tracing once more. I watched for a moment, then reached out and stopped him.
"Also ward between the staff and the skin," I said. Laurel stared at me and I shrugged. "Can't you feel how they feed off each other?"
"I see," Laurel said slowly. He raised the staff again.
"No, not there." I took his arm and pulled him to a different spot. "Here." I stood next to him, keeping my hand on his arm. I grunted in satisfaction as the wards blazed. I allowed my shoulders to relax and my hand to fall away from Laurel's arm. "That's better."
"Yes," said Laurel, staring at me once more.
We also checked on the cask with the holy bells, but its wards didn't need renewing, so we extinguished the lanterns and left.
"So, honored Laurel," I said, climbing the hold steps behind him. "You didn't tell me. What did you foresee?”
Laurel said nothing until we were on the deck. He walked over to the railing and waited for me to join him. It was a beautiful night, the stars brilliant and low, and the waxing moon bathing the water in sharp-edged reflections. I remembered my earlier adventure, though, and didn't stand too close to the rail.
"I saw the fulfillment of the Council's charge," Laurel finally said.
Well, that was nice and vague, just like his dinner toast. "And what was that?"