Chapter Nineteen: A New Direction
In which Connor takes Ian to the mainland and introduces him to a new freelance.
Ian finished his meal, retreated to his room, and lay awake long into the night. While he was loath to leave the Emerald Wind and its rough crew, he felt obligated to at least try to help his friend out of whatever trouble he’d brought upon himself. If he took the time to return to the ship and sail to Barlena, the guards who had taken Xian would have a valuable head start. If I leave at first light, I might be able to catch up on the road. He rose long before first light after just a few hours of restless sleep. He dressed and made his way quietly down to the small launch area where the boat had deposited him.
Connor stood there already, dressed in leathers and a sword. Fresh rawhide adorned the hilt of his sword, obscuring the Mac Niall crest, and he had a small traveling pack across one shoulder. He turned to Ian. “I left word at the house for you—did you see it?”
“No—I came down here to see if I could get a boat to the mainland.”
Connor nodded. “You can ride with me. I’ll help you find another freelance on the mainland.”
“You’re leaving?”
Connor stared out at the water. “Helene and I couldn’t come to an understanding.” He signaled to one of the fishing boats off the shore, and the fisherman waved a small flag in response.
The fishing boat hauled in its nets, and the men aboard started to row toward the shore. When they pulled the boat up onto the sand, the odor of salt, fish, and damp nets hit Ian. He took a deep breath. “Smells like home,” he said.
Connor chuckled. “I confess I’ve done the same thing in a pine forest.” He stepped into the boat. “Take us to the mainland,” he told the fishermen. He offered them a few coins, and the owner of the boat argued with him until he offered a few more coins. He motioned Ian aboard, and they sat in the stern. The fishermen started to row again.
The freelance pointed out to the open sea off the reef. “What will your captain do when he discovers you’ve deserted?”
“I don’t know,” Ian said. “I’m not really a crew member, so it’s not really desertion, but he won’t be happy. Still, I’m not sure he’d be much happier if he discovered I’d lost his charge, either.”
“You didn’t lose him. He had legal problems. He underestimated the seriousness of his dilemma.”
“I doubt that will matter to the Eiryan or Tal’Amuni governments.” Ian shrugged. “At least this way, Captain Graeme can tell my father he was completely without fault. He dropped us on an island at our request. What we did once we were there is our problem. It’s only a few days to Barlena by ship. I can catch up with him there, once he’s gathered up the crew and set sail again.”
Connor nodded and returned his gaze to the approaching shore. Ian watched the crystal blue water rush past and thought about Xian. If he simply has debts, why wouldn’t he have told me so? I’d help him. But if it’s more than that . . . He let out a long breath and thought of Igraine. Sister, perhaps you were wiser than we all thought by refusing him.
When the fishermen pulled the boat onto the white pebbled beach, Connor jumped out first. “Did anyone along here see some Esparan troops take a Tal’Amuni man in irons toward Barlena last night?” he asked in Esparan.
The fisherman nodded. “The man protested much,” he said. “Mentioned his father was important. Insisted on being returned to the kanisse, but the men said no. I overheard them mention Lord d’Tarjian.”
The Chancellor of the Treasury, Ian remembered.
Connor nodded and thanked the man. He gestured Ian toward the pier and slipped back into Taurin. “There’s a tavern up here where freelances wait for work,” he said. “I’ll help you find someone who won’t gouge you—in coin or in blood.”
Ian nodded. “My thanks. This man—Lord d’Tarjian—do you know of him?”
“I do. A hard man, and not one to toy with.” He paused. “If your friend is in trouble with Lord d’Tarjian, it may not be financial.”
“Oh?”
Connor nodded. He lowered his voice. “d’Tarjian is rumored to control a large portion of the criminal side of Barlena. He has his fingers in everything. He’s ruthless when it comes to collecting taxes legally, and then he extorts more through his captains on the other side of the law. The emperor turns a blind eye. He doesn’t care what d’Tarjian does as long as his coffers stay full.”
Ian stopped at the entrance to the tavern. He put his hand on the door. “You think Xian may have made a deal with this devil?”
“I think Xian has a lot of secrets, and I think a naïve young Eiryan prince should keep his head low when mucking about with this set of people.” He opened the door.
A man flew out and landed flat on his back in the street.
Connor stood out of the way while a giant, hairless man with a very large cleaver came out of the building and towered over the man in the street. “You touch my wife again, you will see how close I can shave your—”
“All right, all right,” the man said. He sat up and shook his head. “Gods. I didn’t know she was your wife. I just thought she was a serving girl.”
The man tilted his head, considering, and then frowned. “Stay out of my bar.” He walked back in and closed the tavern door.
Connor stood over the man in the street. He crossed his arms. “Melik.”
The man looked up. Four gold earrings glinted in his ear. He grinned. “Connor Reid. I didn’t know you were here. How is my aunt?”
“Still rich. You between jobs?”
Melik spread his hands. “I’m at your service.”
“Good. I need you to take someone to Barlena.” He gestured to Ian. “Melik d’Nostrius, allow me to introduce Ethan Cardig, Eiryan wool merchant.”