15 – Answers
As soon as Ward left Lisa’s room, Grace was there, hissing, “I almost tried to surprise her like I did with the guy in the alchemist’s shop! I could tell you were getting ready to do something, though, and she was talking, so—”
“It’s okay, Grace. I knew you were watching.” Ward hurried toward the cabin he shared with Haley. “Like you said, she was talking. I don’t think she wanted to shoot me.”
“She certainly seemed distraught, considering she’s supposedly some kind of agent against an evil cult or whatever. Did you see how her hand was shaking?”
“I think she’s at her wit’s end. She might be tough and smart, and maybe she’s working for some secret organization to fight evil, but I don’t think she was ready for what it would be like to slit a guy’s throat. I don’t think she was ready to confront me face-to-face like that. I could see the wheels turning in her head as she pointed that gun at me, imagining what it would be like to kill someone she wasn’t sure was bad.”
“You saw all that, hmm?” Grace chuckled, shaking her head.
“What?”
“Cops. You’re all so sure about what other people are thinking.”
Ward sighed. “Don’t lump every cop together, please, Grace.” He’d reached their cabin, and when he opened the door, he was surprised to find the light turned low and Haley sound asleep in her bunk. Ward looked at Grace and raised an eyebrow as he whispered, “Good thing I didn’t need a rescue.”
“She’s had a hard day, Ward.”
“Yeah.” Ward slipped into the room and quietly locked the door, then he crawled into bed, wincing with each creak and squeak of the springs. Haley didn’t stir, though, and after he whispered good night to Grace, Ward turned the lamp all the way down and closed his eyes, succumbing to his own exhaustion.
As usually happened, Ward’s eyes snapped open in the wee hours of the morning, and even though he no longer intended to cast his spell near the bloody railing outside, he decided he’d get up to go to the bathroom. He’d barely sat up on the side of his narrow little bed when Haley mumbled, “Is it time?”
“Nah, go back to sleep. I talked to Lisa last night; we don’t need to investigate anymore.”
Of course, his words had the opposite of his desired effect; Haley sat up and, rubbing her eyes sleepily, asked, “What? Why?”
“I suppose you won’t be able to sleep until I explain, huh?”
Haley squinted at the porthole, and Ward could tell she was trying to see how light the sky was. “I want to get up at dawn, anyway—Gopah.”
“I think we’ve got a couple of hours until the sun’s up. Anyway, about Lisa…” Ward took ten minutes to recount his encounter to Haley, and she took the news in stride, though her first question surprised him.
“What does Grace think?”
“She…didn’t call me an idiot or anything. She didn’t say exactly if she thought I was right to look the other way, though.”
“I think you’re right. I think Raymond was a bad man, Ward. I’d still like to talk to Lisa some more, in any case. I’m not sure I trust her. What’s her ‘organization’ called?”
Ward sighed, shaking his head. “I didn’t ask. Before you ask, no, I didn’t overlook it. I think part of me wanted to keep some distance between us until I could think about things objectively and talk to you and Grace. Part of me wanted to get out of that room ASAP. I figured we’re on this boat for a week or more; there’ll be time to ask her about that stuff.”
“All right.” She nodded, yawning, then flopped down on her pillow. “Don’t let me sleep too long. I’m feeling less than enthusiastic about…everything, and I want to work on my forms…before…I want to work on…” Her words faded to a mumble as sleep claimed her again. Ward couldn’t help watching her face for several seconds before getting up to use the bathroom. She looked so peaceful—when awake, she carried her stress in her eyes, but as she slept, they were relaxed, her dark brows arched and unfurrowed. He tried to remember if that’s how she’d looked when he’d first seen her and her brother go into the catacombs, but he wasn’t sure. Maybe she’d been stressed then, too.
A few hours later, after failing to wake up again before the sun rose, Ward and Haley went to the galley for breakfast. They were served cafeteria-style, where everyone was given a pair of little pork sausages, half an orange, and a butter-slathered biscuit. Ward saw Lisa sitting with some other guests, and when they made eye contact briefly, she offered him a small smile and a nod. It seemed their truce and plan to talk after breakfast was still on.
Haley wasn’t talkative, and Ward knew it had to do with her not having done Gopah recently. Her “corruption” was gaining ground, and she needed to drive it off again. That being said, their breakfast went quickly, and they were getting ready to head out to the quarter deck when Captain Lemon approached their table. “Good mornin’, folks. I understand you insisted on seeing the body of our murder victim last night, yeah?”
Ward shifted in his seat to look more easily at the captain. “That’s right. I was hoping to find some hint as to who might have slain your passenger.”
“And?”
“And I wish I had better news, but I’m feeling stymied. Has the widow been any help? Does she have any idea why anyone would want her husband dead?”
The captain shook his head. “Afraid she’s gone a bit hysterical with despair. Raymond was her second husband, and if I understand her correctly, he’s taken care of her since her first husband died o’ consumption. She’s been carrying on about how she’s likely to be taken advantage of by every stray man that wanders by. Like many wives, I’m afraid she’s unfamiliar with the workings of the world. She even asked me how she’s supposed to get from port to their home.”
“Like many wives, hmm?” Haley interjected, and Ward couldn’t see an ounce of levity in her eyes.
“I’m sorry, young lady,” the captain sighed, turning to look at her more directly, “but she’s from a different generation and a certain social class. Things were different when she was young.”
“Hmph.” Haley pushed back her chair. “Ward, we should get some fresh air.”
“Right.” Ward stood and nodded to the captain. “Listen, Captain Lemon, I’ll keep poking around, and if I learn anything, you’ll be the first to know.”
“See that you do. I hate to think there’s a killer loose on my ship; it’s fostering unease among the other guests.”
“With good reason!” Ward decided to push back a little—give the captain a taste of the pressure. “I didn’t book passage on this vessel thinking someone might slit my throat in my sleep. I hope I’m not the only one trying to find the killer.”
“Not at all!” The captain harumphed, reaching up to rub the back of his neck. “Naturally, me and my men are scouring the ship for clues, and I’ve tripled the watch duties. It’ll be a tough nut to crack if the scoundrel tries to repeat what he did!”
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Ward nodded. “Good to hear.” With another nod and a firm clap on the shoulder, he followed Haley out of the galley and onto the deck. They walked around the captain’s castle to the rear part of the ship and climbed the short set of steps to the quarter deck. It was an ample, wide space with only an occasional crew member passing through. Ward figured it would be different if this were a sailboat, but with the big steam-driven engine chugging away, he had the impression that most of the crew duties were below decks.
Haley stood at the top of the steps for a minute, and Ward tried not to hover or pester her, but he began to wonder if she’d fallen into one of her depressions and if she would need some prodding to start her Gopah workout. He leaned against the railing, watching her for a minute, but decided to give her a chance to get her thoughts sorted. He turned to look out at the dark blue waters and almost immediately heard her quietly pad toward the far end of the deck, just beneath one of the enormous steam stacks. A few seconds later, her rhythmic breathing told him she’d begun her practice.
Ward hadn’t heard from Grace yet that day, but before he could start talking to himself to see if she’d respond, he heard boots on the metal steps to his right and looked to see Lisa ascending. She had her rapier on her belt, and Ward realized he’d left his—Haley’s—sword in the cabin. She must have seen his eyes drift toward the weapon because she arched an eyebrow. “I thought we were going to practice.”
“Yeah, I’ll go get my sword in a bit,” Ward covered, “I thought we’d talk a little first, now that we’ve both had some time to think.”
“You can say that again,” she sighed. “I don’t think I slept more than an hour last night.”
Ward nodded. “Yeah, I did better than that, but I could use a few more hours. Probably going to turn in early tonight.”
She moved to the railing, leaning her back against it. She glanced up and down the deck then, in a softer voice, asked, “Is your conscience troubling you?”
“About?”
She frowned, narrowing her eyes in poorly concealed irritation. “Not turning me in.”
“Oh. No, I don’t think so. I told you I got a good glimpse at the kind of man Raymond LaCorte was. I think, if anything about you is bothering me, it’s the possibility that you’re playing another angle with me.”
Her frown deepened. “An angle?”
“Yeah. I’m still mulling over all the pieces, but I guess I’m worried that you were acting a bit last night. For someone who could…” Ward paused, watching a crew member walk by carrying a large burlap sack. When he was a good way down the deck, he continued, “Slice a man’s throat, you seemed pretty shaken up confronting me with that little pistol. Your tears seemed a little too ready to flow.”
“Because I’m not a monster!” she hissed, leaning toward him. “I did not have an easy time doing what I did. Even so, I knew LaCorte was a monster, which made it easier. I had doubts about you. You know that! I told you as much.”
Ward tried another angle, attempting to throw her off balance a little, “What happened to the knife?”
“I threw it overboard!”
Ward supposed it made sense; he’d do the same. “Must have been a hell of a sharp blade.”
“It was.” She turned to look out at the ocean, then glanced sideways at him. “I’m stronger than I look, too.”
“Yeah, I figure you are.” The truth was, Ward didn’t want to convince himself that she was bad; he wanted to believe she could be a friend and that she genuinely was working against some evil people. Not because he felt like he needed more friends but for a more selfish and pragmatic reason: he wanted to see what he could learn from her about magic. Of course, the sword lessons would be nice, but he could get those from any number of people in a city; finding a friendly sorceress was another matter. “Do you use a hemograph?”
She turned toward him again. “Naturally.”
“So? What level is your ‘vessel,’ if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Ward, I know you told me you’re new to this world, but you should be aware that such a question is considered exceedingly rude in the Vainglory System. It’s also dangerous. You should only share the details of your hemograph readings with people you wholly trust, and I don’t mean girlfriends or lovers. There are sorcerers who would pay courtesans to seduce a rival to learn even a little about their hemography.”
“Huh.” Ward turned back to the water and was surprised to see a gigantic gray whale breach the waters only a hundred yards or so away. It blew a plume of water from its blowhole and dove back in. “Did you see that?”
“I did! Amazing!” Lisa was leaning forward, staring, clutching the railing with both hands.
“Anyway, sorry if my question was rude. Do you think I could ask you some general questions about hemograph readings, though?”
“Of course. I’m happy to share some of my knowledge, especially considering your…discretion.”
“Oh, shit, that reminds me of another question.” Ward shifted, placing an elbow on the wide wooden railing. “What, um, organization do you work for? You told me they’re in league with the Assembly, but who are they?”
Lisa shook her head. “We’re called the Oathbound, but I can’t reveal other members, as our opposition to the Circle puts us at risk. I…I can introduce you to one of our leaders in Westview if you’re interested.”
“Oathbound?”
She nodded. “Part of our initiation is a sworn oath to confront the Circle at any cost. It’s why I had to act when I saw LaCorte at the captain’s table.”
“I mean, you could’ve waited until we got to shore and—”
“Ward, please. Let’s not rehash my…actions over and over. You know I felt pressured because I feared you and,” she nodded to Haley a dozen yards away doing her forms, “your apprentice were in league with him. I was afraid—”
“That we knew who you were.” Ward took a deep breath through his nose and blew it out as though sending thoughts about the murder away from his mind. After a few seconds, he asked, “What can you tell me about anima?”
At his question, she turned away from the ocean to look him in the eyes. “Now, that’s an intriguing change in topic!”
“Well?”
“Anima—the dense, purified form of mana that surrounds and protects our souls. Some scholars believe it’s required for a soul to move from this world to the next. Some beings feed on it, gaining myriad benefits, from powerful energy for magic to the catalyzation of chemical compounds required for metamorphoses.”
“And an anima heart?”
“Oh, I see what’s going on here! You’ve been getting more information on your hemograph than you’re used to, hmm? Did the ones on your homeworld not provide readings on anima and the associated attributes?”
Ward shrugged. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“An anima heart is…well, it’s like an engine, the construct that houses a person’s anima and uses it to shield their soul. It compounds and purifies anima and, so the rumors go, can be used to drive and draw anima through a person’s anima pathways.”
“Rumors?”
“I don’t know how it’s done, nor does anyone I’ve ever met. I don’t know what it would be for, unless it’s just a more potent fuel for magic than mana. Of course, being a native of Tarnish, it’s not surprising how little I know; I imagine there are those on the higher worlds who could teach us both a thing or two about anima. Even so, it’s not worth getting too hung up on; mana is plenty potent for the types of magic you and I do, at least for now.”
“Fair enough. Speaking of—”
“Tut, Ward, I’m beginning to think of you as an ally, but let’s not rush our courtship, shall we? Let’s start with the swordwork, and if we still like each other in a few hours, perhaps we can talk about spells, hmm?”
Ward smiled. He was starting to like her more and more. He hoped he wasn’t being lulled by her friendly manner and pretty face, but he didn’t think so. He had a good nose for trouble, and he could sense plenty of trouble lingering around Lisa, but it wasn’t the kind of trouble that was malicious, not on her part. She wasn’t trying to sell him anything or trick him, at least not yet, and his gut told him she wouldn’t double-cross him. Of course, his gut was good, but it wasn’t a flawless judge of character, and there was certainly the chance that she was just better at hiding her intentions than the hundreds of other criminals he’d dealt with over the years.
“Yeah, all right. You think you can teach me much?”
“I can teach you more than you can learn on this little voyage, that’s for certain. You already caught me in my lie about being a novice, so let me just say that I’m far from it. I was a fool to hold you at gunpoint last night. If I’d had my rapier in my hand—”
“I would have thrown that chair a little harder and aimed more of it at your face, risking those nice straight teeth of yours.”
Lisa’s cheeks reddened, and she held her hand over her lips as she looked at him with a new, more wary expression. “You’re a little meaner than I gave you credit for.”
“I’m just saying, a sword is great when you’ve got room to maneuver, but when twenty pounds of hardwood comes flying at your face, and you’ve got no way to deflect it without hurting yourself—”
“I get the picture, Ward. In future endeavors, I’ll be sure to consider chairs and their potential as weapons.” She rubbed her wrist, and Ward could see the green and yellow bruises from where the chair had hit her the night before.
“At least your bones didn’t break, and I didn’t wind up with a bullet in my eye.”
“Yes. Let’s focus on the positive. So—your sword?”
“Right.” Ward turned away from her to look at Haley. She was still intensely focused on her drills and didn’t see him trying to catch her eye. “I’ll go get it.” As he turned to leave, he looked into Lisa’s green eyes and nodded. “You know, if you look past the murder on the first night, I think this is going to be a pleasant boat ride.”
She looked down at the mention of the murder, but when he finished his statement, she looked up and answered his smile with one of her own. “I think so too, Ward. I think the next week is going to be a good one. I’m glad we cleared the air.”