Chapter 43: Birds of a feather
Captain Crow still lived, as it turned out, though one leg bent in a way that legs shouldn’t in humans. After about an hour he came to, still weak from blood loss, and dragged himself to sit up with her around the pot of water being heated.
Unfortunately, there was no food save some hard field rations they scavenged off the two agents. She had some basic ingredients, but she was missing tools and time required to make anything worth making. At least the agents all carried jaffa beans on them, something she’d grown to appreciate over the past few weeks. Apparently, there was a little kitchenette buried somewhere deep in the treasury, but Crow didn’t know where exactly, and it would be buried under tons of gold anyhow.
Her and Crow were currently gathered around the little tea lamp, waiting for the water to boil while Dantes cleared out the vines blocking the passage. The two agents lay unconscious on the floor next to the exit, courtesy of the sleep powder.
“So, what’s with all this gold anyway?” she asked.
Crow seemed troubled, but spoke anyway with a clear voice, as though burying a bad thought.
“It’s something my ancestors found hundreds of years ago, though it wasn’t so big when they found it. It was lost for a time, but I found it again in my search for… something.”
“Something?”
“Aye, a cure. For my wife. I needed a cure money couldn’t buy, so I set out in search for a wish. Some of my ancestor’s documents pointed me here, but in the end, gold is all I found” he said, gesturing. “I wish I’d just stayed with her until the end. At least Will was too young to remember.”
They sat in silence and watched the flame dance across the base of the golden helmet they were using as a pot. She had pots in her pockets, but this seemed like more fun. In a few minutes, the water started bubbling reluctantly.
“Dantes, you can take a break, waters boiling!” she shouted up the stairwell.
“Coming!”
She poured out the jaffa equally into three ornate chalices. The jaffa was a little bitter, either through poor preparation or poor quality beans, she wasn’t yet experienced enough to tell. She suspected that latter, as anything made from boiled golden helmet water was surely near the peak of preparatory skill.
“I’m almost done clearing the stairs. The sloped floor makes it a bit hard to get footing sometimes though” Dantes said, blowing the steam off his drink.
She nodded. “The sooner you finish, the sooner we can leave this creepy island.”
Dantes nodded along, but Crow hesitated.
“I can’t leave with you Mitty” he said.
“What, why not?”
“They have Will. I can’t go against them when they have my son. But I also can’t just give them that” he said, jerking his head towards the out of place rowboat in the center.
“Just give it to them. Who cares?”
Crow just shook his head.
“I can’t, my deal with Delphi was to hide it somewhere the Sultan could never get it. If he does, hundreds of thousands will die. But if he doesn’t, my son will die.”
“So, what is it?”
“A weapon of great destruction. Innocents and soldiers alike are judged equally before it. Much was sacrificed to separate that man from it.”
“Mitts, I think it’s a bomb. It’s a bomb, isn’t it, Captain?” Dantes said, tensing.
He nodded his head with regret.
“It is, Dantes. Equipped with a powerful magic nullification pulse moments before detonation, to wipe out any defenses, magical or otherwise. With this, the Sultan would have wiped the Lupan Kingdom from the map and leveraged the position to wage war on the eastern states. Can’t have competition for his spice trade after all” Crow added sardonically.
“So, what are you going to do?” she asked.
“There’s no way they’ll believe I cooperated with those two agents tied up in the corner over there.” He nodded towards the unconscious duo in chains by the staircase. “And I doubt the Sultan would have let my son live regardless. He’s not exactly known for forgiveness. You two had best run away while you can. I’ll… I’ll destroy the bomb before he arrives. It’s either Will dies, or he dies anyway but with thousands more on top. Yes, that would be best...” He fingered something looped around his neck, hidden under his shirt as he trailed off in thought. An amulet of some sort, she thought.
“Well, you heard him, pooch. Let’s clear out before that Sultan guy arrives.”
Dantes clenched his fist, his hand white around his chalice.
“No. I’m not going to give up on a friend just because it’s not easy. There must be a way we can save everyone. Maybe we can just explain to the Sultan-“
“Dantes! You think I’d give up on my son just because it’s easy? There is no other way. If you ever held any respect for me, you would leave this island and never look back” Crow bit out.
But Mitty saw the look in his eyes. Grim determination.
“Clear the way out, Dantes. We don’t know when he’ll arrive. We don’t know how long they’ll be delayed by Hawk.”
“Expecting more guests, are we? I should have expected so from the [Nature’s Grasp] on the stairs,” said a voice.
Mitty jumped to her feet and whirled, not having heard an approach. Even now, she didn’t hear any footsteps from the group of four entering the vault.
“I must say, you haven’t been very kind to my boys here.” He patted the chains with which the agents were bound, and they slithered away like golden serpents.
What struck her first about the man was his bearing. While not great in stature, he held himself above everyone else with a demented certainty in his own superiority. His eyes coldly assessed the situation as he spoke frosty words, and even the temperature of the room seemed to drop as a chilly current passed through the vault.
His hair was combed back, loose dark brown curls tumbling behind his shoulders, the same shade as his eyes. She’d observed many nobles’ outfits since coming to this world, but the simple black uniform with crimson highlights was practical while maintaining an authority like no other she’d seen. He wore no weapon but seemed poised like a bare blade regardless.
Behind him, a trio of agents filed into the room.
He turned to the unconscious agents slumped against the wall, touching a hand to One’s forehead.
“
“Report.”
“Yes, sire. We escorted the captain here to ensure the package was present and swept for traps. He attempted to escape, using a magic item to delay us, but we quickly caught him and made it down here where we sent the signal. The package is untouched as best we can tell, but there is a powerful ward on the chest we will need a master enchanter to open it safely, and even then, it will be a long process. That box is the most impenetrable thing Two says he’s seen. That was the conclusion of our mission.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“To the letter as always, One, but not the spirit. What happened to you idiots?”
“The tall one came crashing down the stairs. We suspected reinforcements, so we blocked the staircase to prevent that, and also to prevent them absconding with the package in case of our failure. The small one was already in the room, and took us by surprise, leading to our shameful defeat.”
“Ha, Dantes beat you fair and square, kiddo. You’re just salty you lost.”
All the Estharians looked at her surprised before she realised what had happened. They’d been speaking a language she’d not heard before but had understood anyway.
“Again, One, truthful to the letter, and not the spirit. When we return, you will submit yourself to the punishment detail where you will await further orders. At least you recovered my Rose, so you’re not a complete failure. For now,
With those final words, One straightened up, no longer favoring his left side or wincing from the headache. Neither he nor the Sultan spared a glance for Two, who was still unconscious on the ground, face a lattice of scratches and bruises.
Their fight had been bloody and brutal. Despite not being physically large, the man was strong and had good reactions and had nearly stabbed her several times. If she hadn’t nicked an eye in her initial pounce, he might’ve succeeded.
“And voyager to boot. That wasn’t in your report, Nine.”
The man stepped forward and bowed deeply.
As the focus shifted towards this new agent, she realised she recognized him.
“Hawk?”
“So, this man was your backup? I’m sorry young voyager, but he belongs to me. And I don’t share.”
“Apologies, my sire. I hadn’t known, only about the man known as Dantes” said Hawk quietly, eyes averted to the ground.
“No matter, we will see about training you in recognizing voyagers upon our return. For now, detain these two.
“Hawk, no!” she cried, but it was no use.
Hawk stepped forward, a gust of wind hitting her as he arrived in a blink. She lashed out, but her tired arms had little strength, and he grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her back. She gasped in pain dropping to her knees.
“Why?”
He looked down on her, sadness, pain and fear mixing on his face.
“I’m sorry Mitty. I can’t disobey him.”
She noticed while Hawk tied pulled out some rope, Dantes was pinned on the ground, wildly trying to buck the three agents tasked with his capture to no avail.
“Just because he saved you once a long time ago? Just because you’re scared?”
Hawk shook his head.
“I can’t disobey him, Mitty. I just can’t.”
Her eyes narrowed in anger, but she didn’t struggle when he tied her hands behind her back, not desiring the treatment Dantes was receiving. She’d trusted him. And he’d betrayed her. Was that the natural end for all friendships?
She looked over and saw Dantes was finally restrained on the ground, hands and feet bound together where he lay helplessly. He looked over to her, and then Hawk, but she saw no anger in his eyes. Only confidence. He was too naïve to understand they’d been betrayed. He’d sold them out to his former master, outing them as voyagers, turning on them at the first chance. Was he ever even on their side? Was bringing them here part of his plan too? Probably. Voyagers were rather rare, and their powers were strange and powerful. Strange…
“You have what you want, Sultan. Why don’t you let us leave in peace and we won’t bother you” she purred.
“Captain Crow too” Dantes added helpfully.
“I can’t do that; you see your Captain and I have a deal. And while I am called many things in this world, liar is not one of them” he meowed. “And as for you two? You’re going to join my collection. I will own you both.”
It was his turn to pause as everyone froze, for the Sultan had just spoken in a series of enthusiastic meows. The agents faces hardened into a blank neutrality as they suddenly decided the knots needed to be rechecked. She was not so restrained and laughed openly.
“Ah, I see you played me at my own game and made a fool of me. Well done, cat. You will regret that” he said in English.
So he was a voyager too. If he spoke English, had he been to earth before? What was his power? She went through their interaction, and it was obvious looking back. Authority. But why didn’t he command them directly to go willingly? There was some sort of limitation to it.
Interrupting her thoughts, the Sultan spoke in a bored voice.
“Ah, while I’m thinking of it. Crow, you broke our deal. As such, the life of your son is forfeit.”
The man withdrew a small wooden slat etched with runes, not dissimilar from the one she’d seen One use, and snapped it in half in a shower of blue sparks.
Crow, whose legs were broken, attempted to push himself up screaming in pain and rage. Collapsing forward onto the ground, he instead hurled the pot of jaffa at the Sultan instead. It didn’t make it halfway before it was knocked aside by the yet unnamed female agent.
“Now there Three, one shouldn’t waste good jaffa” he said with a chuckle.
The woman bowed but said nothing.
“Well, he’s not dead yet, of course. Having him brought back to Esthar was the most secure way of dealing with him. Still, a clipper will be underway shortly with an agent carrying an order for his execution. Better get running if you want to catch them.” The man punctuated the end with a cruel laugh.
Crow looked up from the floor where he lay broken, roaring in anger.
“That’s enough from you.
The lean agent who had not yet spoken muttered a charm under his breath, words blurring together impossibly fast. With a final gesture, Crow’s anguished cries cut off. For a moment she thought they’d killed him, but no, he was untouched, just screaming noiselessly.
With [Silence] falling over the room, the Sultan moved on, taking stock of the vault
“I must say, this is a quaint little hoard you have here. It must have taken quite a few years to accumulate all this. But finders keepers, as they say. Or at least, I say that. Of course the true find is this island itself. Of course, a base will have to be built here, but its perfectly positioned to stage operations in both Windcrown and the Florial Jungle. That’s the true gem here. If only it weren’t so cold. Eight, turn up the heat.”
The blasts of warm air that subsequently filled the chamber did nothing to settle her goosebumps.
While the man casually perused the mounds of gold, she turned to Hawk who still stood beside her motionlessly, looking away.
“Hawk please. You don’t need to give him power over you. You were free” she whispered.
“That’s the cruelty of it Mitty. I knew freedom. I will live my life knowing the taste of what I can never have.”
“But you can have it, Hawk. Just let us go.”
“I cannot disobey Mitty. I’m sorry.”
“He’s right, you know. No one who belongs to me can disobey. He’s not your friend anymore.”
“Shut up old man. Hawk is a good man, and it’s not for you to decide who he is.” Dantes snarled.
The Sultan gestured towards Dantes, and quickly another cloud of silence settled over him as the Sultan strode over to her.
“You’d best watch carefully, boy, because I think we will start your training sooner rather than later. No one disobeys me. No one.” He turned to her. “
She was halfway to biting out a jeer when her head was whipped to the side, hard. The room rocked and flashed grey before she felt the stinging on her cheek. The taste of iron that followed was like a second blow.
She blinked, stunned, before a cold rage seeped into her bones. She clenched her bound hands tightly until she felt a warm trickle escape her fist. The marble floor was cold on her cheek, but she struggled to half upright to glare at the man.
“You see, he was a bit of a mystery. Weeks ago, a trained Nightjar returned to Black Sands Intelligence, oddly unpaired. This is odd, you see, because each hawk is specially trained to be paired with an agent. Now, I’m not great with names, but I never forget a face. And I sure as hell can count. So imagine my confusion when I check the roster and find our ninth agent missing. Completely erased from existence. Now imagine how I felt when I was on the path here and I bump into one of my toys, one that I don’t recognize, but know I own. Now, I don’t know what magic you cast on my dear Nine, but I intend on finding out. Tell me.”
Hawk hadn’t told him his name was taken, she realised.
“He’s not your property.”
“
The world rocked once more, and she was on the ground again.
“He is, but that’s not what I was asking. I asked what you did to steal him from me. Answer me.” He said, crouching down to stare her in the eyes.
She spat a mouthful of blood in his face and glared silently as he wiped it off with a black handkerchief, eyes hardening.
“It always takes the newcomers some time to learn how things work. Nine, cut out her eyes. I want them in a jar.”
Hawk was standing looking at his trembling hand, not appearing to have heard.
“He’s his own person. No one owns him.”
“
Hawk jerked to attention, hand stretching trembling to his belt where he withdrew a small knife.
“Don’t give in Hawk. This isn’t you. Please. You aren’t who you were.”
He knelt down to eye level and cupped a hand behind her head as he brought the trembling knife up. His eyes were full of fear, but more than that, rage. He took a deep breath.
“You’re wrong” he said, eyes hardening with resolve. Then he turned to the Sultan. “My name is Hawk, and I am a free man.”
He plunged the knife deep into the Sultan’s stomach before collapsing, as though the action had taken all his energy.
The Sultan stood staring uncomprehending at the dagger embedded in his abdomen.
Like a spell, everyone stared at the dagger, unspeaking.
“You… stabbed me. You. Nine, you traitorous dog. I’ll kill you. I’ll…” He stumbled back, falling on his butt. “You, idiots, protect me.
The spell broke, and everyone jolted into action, but only for a moment as a keening wail tore through the vault, echoing off the walls making her wince. The agents who had jumped into motion but a moment earlier were now again motionless.
“I’m sorry. But no one leaves this island alive.”
Everyone turned to face the unexpected speaker.
Captain Crow lay broken against the rowboat, a bronze key sticking out of the lock on the chest, sparking. A smeared trail of blood led to him from where he’d dragged his broken body across the floor unnoticed. As everyone stared, he brought his fist down on the key, snapping off the handle in a green flash.
He let out a barking laugh that ended in a coughing fit as he crumpled to the floor.
A cry answered the keening from far away, penetrating the vault from outside. The vaulted ceiling trembled in response. Then, the ground erupted.