Dragonvein (11 page)

“You know these two?” asked the soldier.

“Of course,” he replied. “They are wanted by the Hareesh for questioning.”

The soldier spat on the ground. “I should have guessed that by the very look of you. Well, you can tell the Hareesh that they’re coming with us. And if they don’t like it, they can go to hell.”

The man chuckled. “I was afraid you might say that.”

The newcomer’s hand was a blur as he reached for his belt. Before any of the soldiers could react, a small dagger whipped through the air and sank into the middle soldier’s exposed throat. The other two stared at their dying comrade, momentarily stunned.

By the time they had recovered, the man was already across the street with sword drawn. Frantically, they reached for their own weapons, but two swift blows opened up massive wounds in their necks – the second one of these very nearly removing the head completely.

The man stepped back and watched the bodies fall. “You’ve got to love Imperial arrogance.”

Utterly astonished, Ethan and Jonas simply stood there, unable to move or speak.

“Snap out of it,” the man told them. His eyes swept around. “Where is the girl who was with you?”

The mention of Kat brought Ethan back to his senses. “What girl?”

The newcomer sniffed. “It doesn’t matter. Come with me unless you want to end up in an Imperial prison.”

Jonas planted his feet firmly. “We’re not going anywhere with you.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself. But you won’t get far with the Hareesh on your trail.”

“I…I thought –” stuttered Ethan.

“Not a good time to be thinking,” said the man. “Someone is bound to walk by here soon. And you don’t want to be anywhere near these bodies when they’re discovered.”

After a few seconds impatiently waiting, he sheathed his weapon and threw up his hands. “Fine. Stay here then.”

He strode off with Jonas making no move to follow. Ethan took another look around, hoping to see Kat.

“I think we should go with him,” he said.

“Are you insane?” Jonas responded, then quickly shook his head. “Don’t answer that.”

Ethan glared at him for a second or two. “I’ll go on my own then,” he said, setting off after what he hoped was their rescuer. Letting out an exasperated grunt, Jonas followed.

“Who are you?” Ethan asked after catching up.

“They call me Specter,” he replied.

“Why did you help us?” asked Jonas, full of suspicion.

“Let’s just say I’m not a fan of the Imperials. I knew they were looking for someone.”

Specter stopped short and pulled them both into the shadow of a tall hedge surrounding a particularly large manor. Three young men in silk finery walked by laughing drunkenly and talking of their night at the tavern. When they were out of sight, Specter continued.

“I heard that they were looking for two strangers leaving Jaobin. And when Hank turned up dead, it didn’t take me long to find you.”

“We had nothing to do with that,” Jonas protested.

“Really?” he mocked. “That’s a shame, because I always hated him. Anyway, the girl was the one who really helped me to find you. Jared is going crazy about that one. He’s turning over every bloody stone in Miltino. When I spotted her, I knew you’d likely be nearby.”

Ethan listened intensely to every word Specter was saying. There was something about the man – his mannerisms and voice seemed familiar. And though his face was badly scarred, his eyes were friendly and kind.

“That still doesn’t explain why you helped us,” Jonas said. The anxiety in his voice was growing. “Are you with the Hareesh?”

Specter laughed. “Of course I am. But like I said, I have no love for the Empire. And if they want you, I want to know why.”

Jonas raised a hand. “In that case we must part ways here.”

Specter looked him directly in the eye. “Believe me, I have no intention of allowing the Empire to get their hands on you. And I couldn’t care less about Hank. The papers you bought, which by the way, you forgot to take from the guard’s body, were worthless. So you can either come with me or wait to get captured. At least with me you stand a chance.”

“I’ll go with you,” said Ethan.

“Smart boy,” he replied.

Jonas considered this new situation for a few moments, then his shoulders sagged. “This is a bad idea, Ethan. But if you’re going to follow this…person, I guess I must do so as well.”

With the matter settled, Specter turned and led them down a series of side streets and narrow alleys until they reached an area not far from where they had entered the city. He pointed to a large brick building at the end of the avenue. Two men were guarding the entrance, and even from more than a hundred yards away they could hear the sounds of harsh laughter and merrymaking issuing forth.

“Stay silent until we’re inside,” he ordered.

“Where are we?” asked Ethan.

“Home sweet home,” Specter replied with a roguish grin.

Chapter Five

T
he guards by
the entrance gave Specter a sideways glance and then moved aside.

He pushed open the door and paused. “Evening boys.”

The two men didn’t bother to respond. Specter chuckled and continued on inside. Directly beyond the entrance was a long hall with a series of doors on either side. Lamps along the corridor were bright enough to reveal the stains and blemishes on the floor – some of which Ethan easily recognized as being dried blood.

The muffled sounds of laughter and songs increased as they wound their way through the building. Ethan tried to make a mental note of their route, but it seemed as if the place had been designed specifically to be confusing.

Eventually they reached a stairwell that led down into a basement – which was the apparent source of the merrymaking. At the bottom they came to a thick wooden door with a covered slot at eye level. Specter knocked. The slot slid open almost immediately.

“Oh, it’s you,” came a voice from the other side. “What do you want?”

“To kick your teeth in if you don’t open the door,” replied Specter.

After a short pause, the door slowly opened. Beyond it was a large room filled with dozens of unpleasant looking men and women all seated at tables, drinking and laughing. At the far end, raised up slightly on a small platform, stood a beautifully crafted oak chair. Though currently unoccupied, Ethan imagined that this was where the leader of this band of miscreants sat.

The man who had opened the door was staring at Specter with a hateful sneer.

“Who’s this,” he asked, pointing at Ethan and Jonas. “You can’t just bring whoever you want down here. Or do you think the rules don’t apply to you?”

Specter lowered his head and smiled. “Let me show you what applies to me, Lark.” In a blur of motion his fist shot out and connected solidly on the side of the man’s jaw. Such was the force, he spun almost completely around before falling hard on his face.

Ethan was dumbstruck by the sudden outburst of violence.

“We should get out of here,” Jonas whispered in his ear.

Specter pushed the door closed. “I’m afraid it’s far too late for that my gullible friends.”

Ethan’s heart froze. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you should have listened to your companion.” He drew a dagger from his belt. “I’ll have your weapons, purses and packs, if you please.”

Ethan’s eyes darted back and forth. There was nowhere to run. Specter blocked the door and dozens of armed men were on the other side.

“Do as he says,” Jonas instructed. He removed his sword and purse.

Ethan glared angrily. “So you lied to us?”

Specter threw his head back in laughter. “Of course I did. Otherwise I would have had to knock you both out and carry you back here all by myself. That’s way too much work. Far better to have you walk.”

“But why?” Ethan demanded while handing over his dagger and money.

“Gold, dear boy. Gold.”

Once Specter had gathered all their possessions, he instructed Lark to have them taken to the cells. Not wanting to risk another thrashing, the man obeyed without complaint.

He gave a loud whistle. Seconds later three armed men arrived and forced them through the crowd to the other side of the room. There, Ethan saw a large iron door. An older man with a long scraggly grey beard and the creases of age carved deeply into his face was sitting on a stool just beside it. When he saw the group approaching he hastily unlocked the door and stepped aside. One of their escorts gave it a hard shove.

With a loud screech, the door swung open. As they stepped through, Ethan was confronted by a series of small cages, each just large enough to accommodate one person.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured.

Jonas said nothing.

They were placed in cells directly across from one another. As the men left and the main door boomed shut, Ethan fought back the desire to weep. His arrogance and dislike for Jonas had led them here. And now they would likely die.

“We’re not dead yet,” Jonas said, sensing his despair.

The room was lit by a single lantern hanging beside the door. But even in this dim light Ethan could see that there was only one way in or out.

The time dragged by. How long they sat there, he couldn’t tell. But after a while the voices outside became quiet. When the door was eventually reopened by a young man bringing them a scrap of bread and cup of water each, Ethan could see that the room beyond was now empty.

“How long are we to be kept here?” Jonas asked. But the boy only shook his head and hurried away immediately after passing them their food.

Reluctantly they ate the meager repast and eventually, when their fatigue overcame their fear, both of them fell asleep.

“Wake up!”

Ethan stirred and cracked open his eyes. Standing just outside his cell was Specter. He was holding two sets of shackles.

“Time to talk to Thrace,” he said. He looked back at Jonas who was struggling to his feet. “You too, old man.”

Ethan spat on the floor and then held out his hands. Once he and Jonas were both secured, Specter led them back into the main hall.

The tables had been moved against the walls to create space. At least a hundred men had formed a semicircle around the ornate oak chair Ethan had noticed previously. This was now occupied by a muscular man with a bald head and a patch over his right eye. A large gold hoop hung from his left ear, and his face was tattooed with intricate spiraling patterns. A sword with a jewel encrusted hilt leaned casually against the chair’s arm. Ethan could only assume that this was Thrace.

“So this is your bounty, Specter?” Thrace asked.

He shoved Ethan and Jonas roughly forward so that they were directly in front of the leader. “It is.”

After scrutinizing them for an uncomfortably long moment, Thrace smiled, revealing three gold teeth. “I must say…they don’t look like anyone the Empire would burn a whole town over.” His eyes fixed on Ethan. “Do you know who I am, boy?”

Ethan shook his head.

“Specter didn’t tell you?”

“Only that your name is Thrace,” he replied, trying not to sound meek.

“That’s right. I’m the leader of this band of vermin.” He looked to the crowd. “Isn’t that right boys?”

His words were met with shouts of approval and harsh laughter.

“Specter tells me that you’re the reason Imperial soldiers burned Jaobin to the ground. Is this true?”

Ethan felt a knot in the pit of his stomach. His thoughts turned to the farmer and his family.

“We had nothing to do with that,” Jonas interjected. “We’re just trying to head north to find work.”

“The look on your young friend’s face tells me that you’re lying,” Thrace remarked. He leaned back in his chair. “Now here’s my dilemma. It appears that Specter has taken it upon himself to kill three Imperial soldiers just to get his hands on you. This creates a big problem for me. The Empire doesn’t like it when their people are murdered, so they’ll be looking for whoever did it. That hurts business. Of course, Specter assures me that the bounty on your heads will be well worth it.”

“There is no bounty,” said Jonas. “He’s a liar.”

Thrace smiled. “Oh, I’m sure he is. In fact, he’s known for it. But I don’t think he’s lying about you. Are you, Specter?”

“You know I’m not,” he replied sharply.

“Now Specter has not earned himself many friends in the Hareesh,” Thrace continued. “But he is a mighty good earner. So what do I do? Do I turn him in to the Empire? Or do I let him take you to the garrison for the bounty?”

“Enough of this, Thrace,” barked Specter. “You’ll get your cut when I return.”

“You’re assuming I
want
you to return,” Thrace countered. His jaw tightened and his fists clenched. “Your stupidity might bring us all to the hangman’s noose. What were you thinking? You don’t kill Imperials.”

“No one other than the Hareesh knows it was me,” he said. “There were no witnesses other than these two, and who would believe them?”

Thrace glared for a moment, but his posture gradually relaxed. “You’ll have your bounty, Specter. But there is another matter that must be addressed. Hank’s murder.”

Specter’s top lip curled. “Hank was a dim witted fool. Who knows how he ended up dead?”

“
I
know how,” came a voice from the crowd.

Ethan turned and saw Jared pushing his way through.

“Yes,” said Thrace. “You said you had information about that, didn’t you?”

“I’m not sure exactly who did it,” Jared continued. “But I know that these two were involved. Kat snuck them into the city using my girls as a distraction.”

Thrace laughed and shook his head. “Well, that certainly wouldn’t have worked on Hank. But how do you know they were involved? It could have been anyone.”

“I’m not sure,” admitted Jared. “But I bet you could get them to talk if you wanted.”

“I’ll not have my bounty damaged,” Specter protested.

Jared shot him a furious look. “They have stolen my property. I want to know what they have done with it.”

It took Ethan a moment to realize that he was referring to Kat. “She’s not your property,” he shouted.

“If I were you, I’d keep that mouth of yours shut,” warned Thrace.

“None of this matters,” said Specter. “I’m not going to hand over my bounty just so he can find his missing whore.”

“She’s not a whore,” snapped Ethan.

In a single step, Specter spanned the distance between them and struck him hard on the jaw. Ethan stumbled back, nearly losing his footing completely. Pain shot through his head from the blow – pain that was compounded by the stress to his existing bruises that were only now just beginning to fade.

Thrace chuckled. “I warned you, boy.” His eyes shifted back to Jared. “Unfortunately for you, Specter is right. A runaway whore is no reason to give up a bounty. And unless you’re prepared to fight him for it, I think you’re shit out of luck.”

Specter flashed a sinister grin. “Yes, you could fight me. I’d enjoy that…very much.”

Jared’s eyes burned with rage. “This isn’t over,” he declared loudly. With a final, hate-filled glare at his tormentor, he spun on his heels and stalked out of the room.

“One more thing, Specter,” said Thrace. “I want you to take Thaddeus along with you.” He plastered on a fake smile. “Just for security.”

His displeasure obvious, Specter snatched Ethan and Jonas by their chains and threw them back toward the iron door. Caught out by the momentum, Jonas lost his feet and hit the floor hard. Ethan bent down to help the old man, but Specter pushed him again, this time sending him slamming into the wall. After dragging Jonas roughly to his feet, Specter bundled them both back into their cells.

Ethan held out his hands so that Specter could remove the shackles, but he simply turned and left.

“Are you all right?” asked Ethan.

“I’ve had worse,” Jonas replied.

Ethan gingerly touched his face where Specter had hit him and sucked air through his teeth. “Markus always said my mouth would get me into trouble.”

“It would seem he was right,” Jonas shot back in a distinctly sour tone.

In spite of the barb, Ethan laughed. He sat down and leaned against the bars, trying his best not to think about what was going to happen next…or the cruel fate that had befallen the people of Jaobin.
These Imperial soldiers are no better than the damn Krauts
, he thought. He closed his eyes and relaxed his breathing. But sleep would not come, and soon the shackles were biting into his flesh.

“As long as we can still draw breath, there’s hope,” Jonas said softly.

“I know,” he replied.