Chapter 13
Mya sighed and pushed herself off of her knees. She’d been playing a lovely game of checkers out the side of one of the many bars that surrounded the town’s port.
“Sorry Jil, looks like this one is going to be cut short.” She grabbed her stone mug and drank from it.
“Trying to get out another game?” The woman growled in mock anger.
Mya tilted her head towards the group moving towards the bar. Jil, the bar’s owner squinted and then raised an eyebrow looking at Mya.
“That why there all those eyes on you?” She asked.
“Well, they wanted to make sure I didn’t head out of town. Got something that they want.”
Jil sighed and stood up, wiping her hands on her apron out of habit. “Don’t go getting yourself killed. Its hard enough finding someone that likes a quiet game and ain’t too much of a sore loser.”
“Don’t piss of the bar owner,” Mya raised her mug.
Jil grinned and swiped up her mug, tapping it to Mya’s. “Aye!”
She finished it off in one go.
“Could you send out some drinks?” Mya asked, taking out gold coins.
“Paying before you got them. Might be thinking you trust me now.” Jil took the coins.
“Never know what the future might bring.”
Jil made a noise of someone who’d lived a dozen lives and seen hundreds more. “Fair that.” She moved to the bar’s door and entered.
Mya looked right at two people working nearby. “Its alright lads I think your boss knows where I am now.” Mya shifted her seat so her back was against the wall, looking out onto the port.
The two men, some of the latest tails that had followed her throughout her wanderings acted as if they were confused.
“Acting is worse than a ten year old found with his hand inside the damn sugar drum.” Mya grumbled and sipped on the last of the beer as the party of five, two women and three men stepped onto the wooden walkway, focused on Mya.
Sarnai’s skin was a dusty tone, black tattoos dotted her face. Her eyes were a turbulent blue and red. Her hair was braided into long strands, held back by a thick band of material. She wore a sword on her hip and several wands on her belt.
A blue shirt and black pants filled out her clothing. The three fellas with her spoke of those with time spent fighting and hauling. Big and strong without being too big to fight effectively.
The woman beside her showed intelligence and interest wearing just wands at her sides. Probably administrative over being and active fighter.
Mya cleared away the checker chips with one hand and put a pile of paper down, holding it down with a chip.
“High Captain,” Mya raised her mug to the woman and went back to looking at the port. “Got some drinks on the way. Give you time to look things over.”
“Look things over?” The woman asked.
“Well the information of course.”
“I got the information you passed on already, what do you want?”
Mya finished off her beer swallowing it before her teeth drew back into a smile. “Well my friend’s friends are in a bit of a situation and I’d rather like to see the Emberclaw clan disappear. I hear you’re the woman for the job. This is a list of several hidden caches they have, as well as spies watching you and your vessels. I suggest you look into the ones at this very port.”
The door opened, the guards shifting and then calming as Jil appeared. She moved around them and put down two tumblers filled with clear liquid and a bottle.
“Figure you might need more than one drink.”
Sarnai nodded in thanks.
“Cheers Jil,” Mya smiled.
Jil nodded and headed back inside.
Sarnai sat and began leafing through the documents. Her calm perusal turned slightly animated, then restrained as she tried to hide her interest.
Mya poured the drinks and then sipped it. “Fuck its nice being able to taste again. Worth the contract at the very least.”
She let out a content sigh and then stretched, taking off her hat and rubbing her hair before putting it back on.
Sarnai held out four pieces of paper to the other woman. “Get these checked and verified.”
The woman read the papers, looking alarmed before she stepped back. Mya checked where Sarnai was I the packet. Probably at the part where there are several people taking from her and selling her information.
The woman took out an enchanted rock, a spell enveloping her as she talked into it.
Sarnai finished the pages, picked up the glass and drank half of it, staring daggers through Mya.
Mya took another drink, the warmth of it comforting her. This whole damn place was hot as hell. At least there was a breeze coming off of the land. The Molten sea’s winds were even hotter.
Ships descended out of the skies, their sails working in tandem as they came close to the berths, throwing out their ropes and retracting their keel sails.
Crews brought them in over the berths before they dropped the final distance. It was a dance like any port.
Flying ships . Mya snorted and shook her head.
The talking woman came back, and whispered into Sarnai’s ear. Mya couldn’t hear a thing. Everyone’s got magic now, great .
Sarnai slammed down the rest of the drink and her face crunched up. Mya betted that it wasn’t because of the drink’s taste.
“So, what do you want?” Sarnai said.
Mya turned with a smile and put her arms on the table. “I want you to take out the Ember claws.”
“Why?”
“Favor for a friend and its probably the best shot you’re going to get at them.” Mya shrugged.
“They’re allied with the Molten Fist and Cinderstein.”
“You think that the Cinders care about anyone other than themselves?” Mya raised and eyebrow. “As for Molten Fist.” Mya focused on the woman. “Do you think they’d give up this stupid war if they were given another option?”
“You’re working with Ilus,” Sarnai said.
“Not exactly a large leap in logic there.”
“The way you look at the ships in the port. You know how these things work. You’re very interested in the ships. Some similar, some not. I hear that Ilus came from the Material Plane. Place where ships travel on water. Were you someone that traded with them?”
“Doesn’t really matter.” Mya shrugged. “We’re talking about deals. The first two pieces of information were to show that I’m not talking out of my ass. Plug up your leaks and now we can get into the real business.”
“Ember claw on a plate,” Sarnai said.
“Right.” Mya picked up the bottle and held it up in question. Sarnai moved her glass closer. Mya filled it and then her own.
“The way I look at it, it seems that I’m the one doing you a favor,” Sarnai said.
“Remove one of the biggest threats to your forces. You get ports to operate from. Could get an ally in Ilus, one of the strongest magical cities in the material plane. Might even be able to pull the Molten Fist onto your side.”
“The Cinders are not the kind of people to let that go,” Sarnai said.
Mya took a drink from her cup. “Well they’re the ones that pushed the whole matter and went against Ilus. My friend and I agree on a few things, one is; don’t stop till your enemy is dead and buried. No half measures.”
Sarnai raised an eyebrow. “They have remained the power in that region for several centuries.”
“That must’ve been nice,” Mya shrugged and drank. “Shit changes.”
“You are very confident.” Sarnai drank from her cup. Mya could feel the scales moving behind those eyes.
It is so nice to deal with the smart ones.
“I have looked into you, nothing other than you showing up here. There has not been a show of anything changing recently in the area. No military is coming to aid Ilus.”
Mya’s smile deepened with dark thoughts. She turned her eyes on Sarnai. There must have been something in her eyes as the guards all tensed, even the other woman shifted as if ready for a fight.
“We brought War and Conquest, why would we need an army?”
Sarnai frowned, trying to understand her words.
“I want the Emberclaw clan gone and so do you. I give you information you take them out. We do a bit of favor trading and come out all the better for it.” Mya shrugged. “You interested? There are others that are interested in controlling those ports.”
“And yet you have come to me,” Sarnai said.
“Well your people are the best positioned to make things happen in a way I want. You’re also well managed and while you do fight, it is done on contract or to defend your haul. That said you’re no slackers. Though there are plenty of others to do the work. I think that we could also create a working relationship.”
Mya leaned against the wall again and watched the ships. “I happen to know that there is going to be a bunch of traders moving around in the area that will need transportation. Ever heard of Netherforge Consortium?” She glanced over.
The suppressed reaction was all she needed. “Seems you have.”
Mya pulled out a paper and put it on the table and sipped.
If anything this piece of paper shook Sarnai more than the reports she’d read. Well the first was something that she could assume. A signed contract from the Nether Forge’s Master herself.
Mana ran through the contract, the seal within the page glowing. Sarnai studied it and then passed it to the other woman.
“Check this.”
She took it without a word, pulling out an eye piece.
“Now you’re not much of a trader, more a transporter. That would work perfectly with our needs.”
“How did you get a contract with the Nether Forge Consoritum?” Sarnai hissed.
“Beware for you tread in waters deeper than you think,” Mya said
Sarnai tilted her head at the saying.
“Don’t have water here so its not really the same. Anyway, I have it.” Mya took out a contract and put it on the table and pulled out a pen. “I’m offering you ports, removing one of your greatest threats and a transportation agreement to move the Nether Forge’s gear.”
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“And in return you want me to put my ships at risk against an enemy we’ve never been able to defeat and possibly piss off the people who surround those ports.”
“What is life without risks, you think that they’re going to piss around with a group that work directly with the Nether Forge? That can purchase their gear?” Mya wagged the pen.
“Its real,” The woman put the Nether Forge Contract back on the table.
Mya put the pen down on the new contract and took the other back.
Sarnai looked at the information packet, at the contract. Her eyes tracked over the words within.
“I would be under your command throughout the fighting?”
“I won’t tell a captain how to fight her ship. I’ll pass on information and objectives to help you along the way.”
“Fifty percent of everything we loot? That’s not going to happen.”
“Thirty percent, girl has to get her drinking money.” Mya lifted up her glass.
“Thirty,” Sarnai agreed.
The wording in the contract changed to the new terms.
“Do love these smart contracts, make it so much easier and cleaner.” Mya grinned.
Sarnai searched through the contract again before taking the pen and signing on it.
Mya grimaced as her soul was bound with the words of the contract, as was Sarnai’s.
Mya pulled out a copy of the contract, filled out with the same information and signatures. She slammed what remained of her drink. Sarnai did the same, rubbing her chest from the phantom pain.
Mya stood, grabbed the bottle and stored it away. “Alright, well lets get moving I saw your Cold Flow arrive. Tell your fourth Flotilla and the sixth that we’re going to be needing them, they’re in just the right place. Got some gear to recover.”
“They’re well away from Ilus.”
“I happen to know about a group of Emberclaw ships that are trying to sneak their way back to port. I don’t think that it would be good to let them. Also profitable. Oh,” Mya took out a folder labelled War Plan’ and another ‘Ridiculously useful information’.
“Been working on that plan with my buddy, objectives and missions. Only alteration is, how well do you know Molten Fist?” Mya walked past Sarnai and along the walkway.
Sarnai stored everything and grabbed up the War Plan folder. “What do you mean?” She asked moving after Mya.
“Well, if you think that they’ll look the other way and they’d be willing to talk. Maybe help to guard the shipments. Would that pull them away from their alliance?”
“I’m not sure.” Sarnai said.
“Well put your feelers out. Going to be a pain to destroy them otherwise. Though that’s not my part in this.”
Sarnai reached her and walked beside her through the town towards the port.
She opened the folder and glanced at the first page, laying out what her immediate actions should be, and missions to dispatch her people on.
***
Desari flexed her muscles, the closest she could get to stretching. Her crystal vibrated in her pocket. She cast invisibility on it, a silence spell and layered alarm spells had been around her all day.
“V here, how copy?”
“P here, loud and clear.”
“M here, loud and clear.”
“D here, loud and clear,” She said, trying not to hurry them along.
“Little change here, the city has begun to recover. Losses from raid are significant. Several forges were hit and other storage locations. The local population is scared and wary. I have kept Ikor sedated. I have enough potions for three more days,” Valter said.
“We’re getting requests from everyone for supplies. The hardest hit was food, followed by crafting materials. Anything that could hold a charge was a main target it feels like. The first posters should start to activate tomorrow and add in some more chaos. We brought up supplies to the front and we’re going to be doing the same run for the foreseeable future. Rumors are that the Cinderborn are going to reinforce people. Supply is grumbling as they’re getting real low,” Petor said.
“Got myself a cabin with my target. Came to an agreement and should start to put some real hurt on the Emberclaw’s plans and their supplies. Seeing what we can do from this end to put some more pressure on the Molten Fist. Looks like they don’t think Torin will be the one to talk to, instead they’re going to chat to another,” Mya said.
“Are they fully devoted?” Valter asked.
“They had a look at the plan and like it. They’ll carry it out as best as possible,” Mya said.
“Good. Continue,” Valter said.
“I think I have a way to disrupt Cinderborn channels. I should have confirmation tonight and I can start putting it to work in the next couple of days. Forces will be moving out tomorrow. They should arrive at the front in three days. It would be my preference to hand out my last letter before teleporting to make sure that it works,” Desari said.
“Things are going to be tight,” Valter said.
No one said anything, Desari agreed with him, it was just like Sorelli, they were on the cart and there was no way of telling how it was going to end, till it did.
“Same time tomorrow,” Valter said.
Desari stored the crystal away and crept to the edge of the building, just to see the last of the soldiers left their office, identical to the others that ran down the road. Behind them were armories and training grounds for the companies that the offices administered.
Ilus had carried out several raids on various villages and towns near them, stealing supplies, burning what they couldn’t and then disappearing.
They had to have some kind of teleportation to get into and out of Ilus. And Valter is holding Ikor .
Thankfully he didn’t need to be out in the city and kept watch on the grumpy lightning mage. It definitely put a kink in their plans.
She cast an alarm formation. A minute passed and her channels vibrated. She cut the spell, the shadows fell away as she dropped to the ground and walked down the side of the officer, wearing her disguise as a Lava Walker.
She reached the office and cast invisibility upon herself and silence on the building. She took out a magical lockpick and inserted it into the lock and activated it.
Air solidified in the lock and she turned the pick, it released without a noise. She scanned the area for the moisture of a person’s breath, the heat of their body. Nothing.
She opened the door, slipped through and closed it, locking it behind.
Fourteen desks, pressed up against the walls, between the office doors or butted up against one another in the middle of the space were organized in the exact same manner, near identical to one another.
Commander’s office . She moved for the door right across from the front door, insterting the pick again and entering.
There was a more comfortable seat behind the desk. Infront was a seat that looked much more uncomfortable than even the ones in the outside office.
There was a window on the back wall, with clear sight of the training fields beyond. The wall was covered in different accolades and commendations. Bookshelves on either side of the desk.
Magmaist Ravst wasn’t one to spend his time with the lower castes. His work in the higher ones had gained him a prominent position. One that allowed him command over the forces that were going to be deployed against Ilus.
Desari moved to the bookshelf on the right and scanned over it. Several books moved a lot by the lack of dust.
One was a bigger tome on the lowest shelf. She reached down and pulled it out and opened it. There you are . The book was hollow, filled with letters of all kinds. Each of them nearly identical.
Wish I could have known that after listening to those three at the bar instead of having to cross all over the damn city and then spend three hours listening to the general of the army huff for a few seconds with his mistress before he started spilling his guts.
The city reminded her much of the Empire. People gained their positions through any means. Most of them done through backstabbing, blackmail or other means.
Those in power were revered, at least that was what others said. Fear held things together, the machinations of everyone keeping them in a revolving web. One that might elevate them higher than ever or drop them to the lowest rung.
Those that remained outside of the games followed the rules. The very same ones that those higher up flaunted and sidestepped as easily as breathing.
She’d seen Ravst’s commander at the bar again, got herself and meal and then followed him through the night and today to his office.
Letters had arrived but she saw none on the desk. She hadn’t sensed any fire and smelling the rock bin there was no burnt smell or ash.
They have to be here somewhere.
She searched for magical and then physical traps. A drawer in the commander’s desk was locked. Her pick opened it, revealing stationary inside.
He’s keeping all of them and storage devices are not something that even a commander can afford here.
She checked the desk before putting it all back. The rear wall was too thin to hold a bunch of letters. Desari moved to the bookshelves and looked through the books. The dust was thick on most, she pulled off books that showed signs of recent use.
In a few some racy letters from someone. She squatted down, a large book nearly clean of dust. She pulled it and opened it.
There you are . The book had been hollowed out and was filled with letters.
She spotted two other identical big books, she checked them, more letters.
This is the most recent one .
She went back to the first one and pulled out the letters from the top and read through them. Her eyes widened at the litany of orders.
Announce to the troops to form up to be addressed.
Fifteen meters later inspect them.
Fifteen minutes later, inform them they are headed out to take Ilus.
Complete speech after twenty minutes.
Remember that you are to leave tomorrow for the front. I will be sending my messages through my Ravst messengers. Do not deviate from orders, I will know.
You will—
Desari stopped reading and jumped through the timestamps that told of where to be and at what times. She took out several letters, inspecting them. The paper, the ribbon used to close it.
The paper was all the same, the ribbons changed based on the information within. Everything that had come in the last few weeks and most of those in the older books since Ilus showed up were in red.
She used clay and pressed it against the seal on the card to get an impression before taking her copier and copying out all of the letters.
Can use those to put together the messages. She studied it through her mana sight again. Not a hint of mana in the whole card. A random card detailing how a parade was to be carried out went into her storage as well.
She put the cards back into their books in the order they’d come out and removed any signs of her being there, locking the desk, then the commanders door.
She swept through the front door, locking it and hurrying away, she dropped her invisibility and headed for the gate.
Time to go stationary shopping .
***
A sound talisman lit up on her hip, she grabbed it.
“Elara here.”
“Hello old friend.”
“Sarnai Hellfire?”
“The one and only.”
“What could you want?” Elara relaxed slightly, the High Captain was the good sort, she’d got her and her people to places they shouldn’t have been several times. In another life she might look at signing on with her, but the Molten Fist had claimed her a long time ago.
“Heard upon the vapors that you might be working with the Emberclaws.”
Elara held back from grinding her teeth. She bet she could find more daggers in that clan than her personal armory, and not a single spine till she turned her back. Snakes the lot of them.
“Something like that,” Elara said warily.
“I have it on good authority that something is going to happen to them and your other allies.”
“The Cinderborn?” Sure they were worse fighters than Ilus, but they held that volcano for centuries, they could create decent gear and were generally left the hell alone. No one had made it up their volcano.
“Yeah. From the way it was mentioned to me, they weren’t even a footnote.” There was some worry and disbelief in Sarnai’s voice.
“Really and who was this?” Elara asked.
“An outside source, a powerful one. That’s all I’m willing to say. I don’t want to piss them off. All I can say is this. If you got people with the Emberclaw, they should think about getting the hell out of the way and you should see if you can mend things with Ilus. I can feel it on the winds.”
Things were starting to move well beyond her control. She was usd to being the person in the shadows watching and changing things. Now she was the one in the light having to react to it.
“I’d be interested to strike up an alliance with you. Let me say this, if you agree to it, if Emberclaw falls, then the Cinderborn won’t even think about turning on you. You’d gain a backer much stronger than them.”
“Who is this backer?” Elara asked. Having that kind of power here? The Cinderborn weren’t the kind to bow to many.
“I can’t say right now. In a day or two maybe,” Sarnai said. “Chat with your people, with Torin. Let me know what you think.”
“I will,” Elara said.
The sound talisman cut off.
The only forces they had with the Emberclaw were with that shipment. She breathed in through her nose.