The Pirates of Pacta Servanda (Pillars of Reality Book 4) (7 page)

Alain murmured in her ear. “This official pretends not to be aware, but he is watching everything. There is a worry inside him that he does not show to other commons.”

The captain greeted the official with a smile and a salute. “The
Gray Lady
, an honest merchant ship out of Gullhaven, honored sir. Here to pick up provisions and perhaps give the crew a bit of liberty ashore.”

The official nodded, smiling politely back, but only for a moment before his face went serious. “Gullhaven? That was your last port?”

“Aye, sir.”

“That’s odd. We have a report out of Altis that a ship like enough to yours to be her twin left that port under hasty circumstances.”

Mari tensed, but the captain of the
Gray Lady
only looked surprised. “Is that so? I’ve not seen that ship, sir, or I’d have marked it for certain. Much like this one, you say?”

“
Exactly
like this one,” the official stated. “Even down to the name.”

The captain looked outraged. “They claimed the name of my ship? That’s not the work of honest sailors, sir.”

“I daresay,” the official responded, glancing around again. “The Mechanics Guild gave us the description and the name. The Mechanics Guild said there was a substantial reward for this ship and its occupants. They want this ship very badly.”

The
Gray Lady
’s captain looked puzzled. “Why ever for? We’re but honest sailors.”

“Naturally. But the Mechanics Guild thinks you’re carrying someone the Guild wants badly enough to offer that substantial reward for, dead or alive. I might add, preferably dead.”

“What!” the captain cried in feigned astonishment. “I’ll not deny looking askance at the odd Mechanic, sir, because you know how they can be with their pride and their ill manners, but surely that’s not grounds for such a charge. No one on this ship could match such a description, sir. We’re all—”

“Honest sailors,” the official finished dryly. “The Mage Guild has communicated with us as well, saying that they also seek a ship carrying someone, a young woman, and offering a huge reward for her death.”

“No wise person deals with Mages, sir,” the captain avowed.

“In that we are in agreement. Do you have any passengers?”

“Passengers? Well, sir, I’m not comfortable with carrying passengers, you see.”

“The harbor sentries on the breakwater reported sighting figures on your deck wearing the jackets of Mechanics. They also,” the official added, “saw at least one person in the robes of a Mage.”

“The fog does funny things to a man’s sight, sir. There have been times I’ve been near to jumping overboard from thinking I saw mermaids beckoning to me.”

“You took on three Syndari galleys and bested them,” the official said. “That’s very impressive. But do not think that you can best the city leaders of Julesport.”

The captain held out his hands in earnest entreaty. “I have but one task in Julesport, sir, and that is to take on food and water for my crew. We’re bound for other ports, sir. I have no wish to act contrary to the laws of Julesport.”

“Which other ports? Where are you bound?”

The captain finally hesitated in his reply. “We were bound for Daarendi, but after that tussle with the Syndari galleys I’ve been rethinking things, sir.”

The official gave the captain a stern look. “You are sailing in very deep waters, whether you realize it or not.”

The captain nodded. “I full realize it, sir, but I have my reasons.”

“Do you? There are rumors about, Captain. Rumors that someone may be headed this way. Someone important enough to cause both of the Great Guilds to demand her death. Julesport needs to know if that someone is on your ship. Julesport needs to speak with that person. I can promise nothing except this. Your ship will not leave this harbor until we have spoken with her, or until this ship has been searched down to the last nail.”

The captain eyed the official. “And if I knew her whereabouts, this person you seek, why would I betray her for any price or in the face of any threat?”

“Your reputation is known,” the official said.

“That may be a poor guide in this case. Tell me you mean her no harm, and we’ll discuss more.”

“You know that we’re discussing a woman? A young woman?”

“Aye. And those traveling with her.”

“A Mage?” The official waited for some confirmation, but the captain just stood watching him. “I swear by the honor of my mother and my father that if this woman is who she claims to be, there will be no harm done to her.”

Alain leaned close again to murmur to Mari. “He does not lie.”

“And he already knows too much,” Mari said. She sighed, nerved herself, then shoved open the hatch and walked out onto the deck, straight to the official. Alain and the others followed her. “There doesn’t seem much point in pretending I’m not aboard.”

The official eyed Mari, then Alain standing beside her, then the other Mechanics and Mages. “A young female Mechanic and a young male Mage. And others unknown to me. Are you the Mechanic your Guild seeks, Lady? Master Mechanic Mari of Caer Lyn?”

Mari nodded, trying to keep her face calm and wondering just what the city council of Julesport was up to.

“Are you also…” The official paused, as if finding it hard to ask the next question. “Do you know why your Guild wants you dead?”

“I know exactly why,” Mari said. “Why do you want to know?”

“I am one of those responsible for the protection of this city.”

She took another look at Alain, who nodded to confirm that the official was once again being honest. “I am no threat to Julesport. I do not intend staying here.”

The official stared at her. “Lady, Julesport is on edge. The people have been pushed as far as they can go and are ready to set this city ablaze for no better reason than anger and frustration and fear. If they hear that…someone…is in this city, it may be all the spark that is needed.”

Mari took a step closer to the official. “I’m not trying to be a spark. You said it yourself. The people are angry and fearful. They lack hope that things will ever change. What if they could gain such hope again?”

“What if,” Alain said, “they had reason to believe that the prophecy is coming true?”

The official rubbed his mouth with one hand as he gazed at Mari. “Hope. Hope will not defeat the Great Guilds, Lady.”

“I have other means for accomplishing that,” Mari said with confidence she did not entirely feel. “But hope is important. Without hope there is nothing, and without hope there will be no future. Just let us go on our way, and when next you hear of me you will know I spoke the truth.”

“Lady, if it were up to me I would do so, but I have orders. Will you accompany me into the city? There are those who must speak with you. I swear that we will not betray you to either of the Great Guilds.”

“Yet,” Alain said, “simply entering into your city will make her more vulnerable to them.”

Mari looked out at Julesport, biting her lip as she thought. “I’ll go talk to your leaders. But only if Mage Alain accompanies me.”

“I was told to bring only you, Lady.”

“The Mage Alain goes where I go,” Mari said. “That is not negotiable.”

The official saluted her. “Very well. I agree.”

“You need this,” Alli said, offering Mari her Mechanics jacket.

Mari shook her head. “Hang onto it for me, will you? I don’t want to be any more conspicuous than I have to be. You guys stay aboard, keep a low profile, and watch for trouble. If our Guild finds out we’re here, they’ll try something.”

Bev pointed toward the smokestack just barely visible amidst the forest of masts. “If the Guild plans to start anything, they first thing they’ll do is order that ship to get steam up. We’ll see the smoke and know there’s something up.”

“If there is an attack on this ship,” the official said, “Julesport can officially do nothing. But there will be boats near you, ready to take on…refugees from the fighting and bring them ashore, where a unit of the city militia awaits to protect anyone and take them to a safe location.”

“Good,” Mari said. “Hopefully it won’t come to that. Alain, aren’t you going to change out of your Mage robes before we go ashore?”

Before Alain could answer, Mage Dav spoke up. “I would advise that Mage Alain remain garbed. He must show that he is still a Mage in good standing, not a Dark Mage skulking about in the clothes of a common and willing to sell his skills in exchange for money.”

Mage Asha nodded. “The advice of my uncle is wise.”

Mari wasn’t so certain, knowing that they had made it through many dangers only by hiding their guild status, but when Alain nodded in agreement she knew there wasn’t much sense in arguing wisdom with three Mages. Arguing with one was usually frustrating enough. “All right. Mage Dav, Mage Asha, will you listen to the…suggestions of Mechanic Alli in my absence?”

Both Mages inclined their heads slightly in agreement.

Mari got close to Alli. “Remember. Suggestions, not orders.”

“Right,” Alli said. “They’re Mages. I’m not too likely to forget that, what with the robes and the deadpan faces and all. If we run into any problems getting along I’ll ask Dav for advice, since he seems to be on such good terms with Mage Asha.”

“Alli, give the guy a break!”

“Not on your life! Teasing him will be the only entertainment we have to pass the time while waiting for you and Alain to get back from the latest trap you’re no doubt walking into.”

Mari nodded in reluctant acquiescence. “If the Mages warn you of danger approaching, listen to them. Their warnings may be very vague, but they’re probably true.”

“Got it. And we’ll watch that stack. See you back here soon.”

The official bowed courteously as he led them toward the ladder into the launch. “I am Colonel Faron, commander of the Julesport harbor guard. It is an honor to meet you.”

The journey to the quay was fast, the rowers bending to their labors and someone in the bow of the launch waving off any boat that threatened to get in the way. Colonel Faron hustled Mari and Alain up another ladder to the top of the quay and along it to a building on the shore. There a large force of soldiers in light armor waited, swords at their hips, some with crossbows at the ready, eyeing Mari with questioning looks and avoiding looking at Alain in the manner of commons around Mages everywhere.

Faron spoke quietly to the commander of the soldiers, who saluted briskly. Most of the soldiers faded back into the building, but two squads fell into place on either side of Mari and Alain as they walked inland along a broad street. The soldiers cleared any pedestrians and wagons out of the way, but Mari felt uncomfortably like a prisoner being marched to confinement. She stole sidewise glances at Alain, seeing that he betrayed no signs of alarm, and felt slightly comforted as a result.

They reached an alley down which Mari and Alain were led by Colonel Faron as the soldiers formed a solid wall behind them facing the street. The alley ran behind a building that looked imposing even from the rear. Faron entered a back door and led them along several long passages.

“This place looks oddly deserted for this time of day,” Mari observed. It called to mind uncomfortable memories of the city hall in Ringhmon.

“Those who normally work here were asked to leave for an emergency drill,” Colonel Faron said. “Just a routine test of procedures.”

“Of course. Absolutely routine.”

Finally, Faron led Mari and Alain up some stairs to a large room dominated by an impressive table with only a few chairs near it. “Please wait here.”

Mari could see Alain watching Colonel Faron closely. “Is anything wrong?” he asked.

“No,” Colonel Faron said. “I just have to inform certain people that you have arrived.”

Alain nodded, and Faron left.

“No warnings yet?” Mari whispered to Alain.

“No. I have seen no signs of deception in him,” Alain replied.

Standing in the center of the room, Mari pivoted to look around. “One thing for sure, this isn’t a prison cell.” The high-ceilinged room was paneled with light woods that had darkened with age. Assorted statuary stood in the corners and a number of paintings adorned the walls, some of them clearly evoking events from the life of Jules herself. Under Mari’s feet fine carpets covered the hardwood floor, and the table on one side of the room had been made from one of the rare and exotic woods that had once been exported from Tiae. Various weapons were displayed, including swords, a few crossbows, and some shields. Banners hung along the top of the walls, one of those banners the crossed-swords flag of Jules.

“I wonder if that’s a banner that Jules herself flew,” Mari commented. “It looks old enough.”

“The room lacks windows,” Alain said. “That is common for rooms in Mage Guild Halls. Do you find it of concern here?”

“No,” Mari said. “When people are talking about secret things, or meeting someone they don’t want anyone to know they’ve met, they want rooms without windows.”

The door opened again. Colonel Faron entered, followed by an elderly woman and a middle-aged man and woman. The old woman and the man wore the fine clothes of well-off common people, while the other woman wore a uniform similar to Colonel Faron’s.

The old woman walked with difficulty to the table and sat in the largest chair before it. The others took up a standing position on either side of her, while Colonel Faron went back to the door to stand sentry.

Silence stretched as no one said anything. Mari felt growing annoyance. “If you’re trying to unnerve us or put us off balance,” she finally said, “you should know that we’ve been to Marandur, and personally faced dragons and trolls. This is just irritating me.”

The old woman smiled thinly. “You sound as though you think you should be in charge, Lady Mechanic.”

“No, I think that if someone has something to say, they should say it,” Mari replied.

“Will you give us your name and title, Lady Mechanic?”

“I am Master Mechanic Mari of Caer Lyn.” She turned just enough to indicate Alain. “This is Mage Alain of Ihris.”