Fang Shway in LA (26 page)

I crept in and closed the door behind me.
Reaching out, I fumbled around until I found a candle and lit it. It didn’t give off much light, but enough for me to see by. I sifted through the papers on the desk. All I could tell for sure was they had been heading toward the Isle of Man for supplies and to get more men. I found a note from Prince Warren and stuffed it in my pocket. I didn’t have time to read it and besides, there wasn’t enough light.

The smoke was getting thicker, I needed to get topside before the ship went down. I opened a few more drawers before I spotted the small decorative box. It wasn’t much larger than a deck of cards. I tried to open it, but it was locked. I could blast it open, but I didn’t want to risk ruining the contents. I tucked it into my shirt and headed for the door. By the time I got to the deck Trevor and his men had everything under control.

“Lauren, thank god. I thought we’d lost you. We’ve searched everywhere.”

“Trevor, I decided to check out below decks to see if it might give us any clues. How did it go up here?”

“Fine. This ship was being run by mostly Einherjar. They turned to ash when we blasted them. We caught the captain and a few of his men trying to escape. They’re over there.”

“What about the second ship? They must have seen the flames by now.”

“Yes, one of the men just reported they’ve surrounded the ship. Shall we go see?”

Trevor jumped off the deck, changed form.
He pumped his wings with several powerful strokes and he narrowly avoided hitting the water. He glided effortlessly alongside the ship. I jumped on and he soared up and away. He headed south and we flew in silence. It didn’t take us long to find the second ship. Two of Trevor’s men were waiting for us when we approached.

I leaned in and yelled to Trevor, “Has anyone contacted the ship?”

“No, they waited for us. How do you want to handle this?”

“I think pretty much like the last one. We don’t want to give them a chance to dispose of any evidence. You can come along side and hover near the main sail. I’ll jump off. Give me twenty minutes or so and then attack. If I need you sooner I’ll send up a flare.”

“As you wish, but I still don’t like this but, I can’t see any other way. If one of us changes, we’d crash into the ocean before we could get on board and that would certainly erase the element of surprise.”

“I’ll be careful. Now if you’ll pull alongside, I’ll get to it.”

Trevor climbed up above the ship, descending to just above the mainmast, the wind buffeting us, while the ship rocked up and down in the water. My stomach did a somersault with each heave of the ship. On the next upswing of the mast, I jumped landing hard on the rigging, ouch, that was going to leave a mark. Thankfully, I didn’t think anyone saw me.

Shimming down the mast was a thrill, with the ship bucking and bouncing like a wild stallion. Yea haw, you go girl. Jumping the remaining three feet or so to the deck, I rolled when I landed, coming to rest against a crate. There didn’t seem to be anyone on watch. I guess they assumed they’d made a clean get away.

I crouched in the shadows straining to hear or see any movement. Nothing caught my attention, so I slowly edged around the corner of the crate. I could just make out a light somewhere up on the port side. I couldn’t tell if it was a smoker or a candle from where I hid. Moving from shadow to shadow, I inched forward. It seemed like an eternity, but I’m sure it had only been minutes. I smelled the smoke before I spotted the man. He appeared to be by himself. Creeping forward until I was directly behind him, I tapped him on the shoulder.

“Can you take me to the captain?”

“What the…”

He never finished the sentence. I hit him hard enough for him to sleep for a week. Easing him down on to the deck, I tied and gagged him, before rolling him under a tarp. I slinked over to the hatch, peering below. There were men eating and drinking. I’d have to find another way down. I’d never get past all of them.

I retraced my steps and started looking for another hatch or door. Locked damn it. I needed to find a way in quickly or Trevor and company were going to attack before I got a peek. Finding nothing, I knew I’d need to bring the men out.
Then I could sneak in. I started a small fire in some rags near the hatch and fanned the flames.
The wind did the rest, pushing the smoke toward the hatch opening. It didn’t take long. I heard shouting and then men came running. My fire spread to one of the sails and the wind was whipping it into some serious flames. No one saw me go below.
They were all busy fighting the fire.

I knew I didn’t have much time, so I scanned the immediate vicinity. The dining area wasn’t likely to be hiding anything. The men’s sleeping quarters were next and I doubted these grunts would know anything. The storeroom was nearly empty, which is one reason I’m sure they were leaving. They’d need to restock.

I started to open the last door and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I never ignore this type of feeling.
I backed slowly away from the door.
My heart pounding loudly in my ears and I stopped to think. Easy girl, you need to send out some probes. Gradually, I slowed my breathing.
Then I sent my senses out into the immediate area. This was risky, because it might alert whatever I’d sensed, to my presence. Unfortunately, I was almost out of and I didn’t see any other way.

“Are you looking for me wizard?”

Damn, I hated ease droppers. I’d found what set my senses into hyper alert, vampires.

“It’s nice of you to drop in. We haven’t fed yet and you so kindly removed our jailers.”

Before I could respond a loud bang announced Trevor and crew’s arrival. Good, now all I had to do was see how many vampires I had to deal with. I backed slowly, away in the direction I’d come and none too soon. The door exploded outward, showering the immediate area with splinters of flying debris, dust billowed out filling the air, making it nearly impossible to see the vampires rushing toward me. I torched the first two before they got out the door. The third hesitated before diving at me. I hit him in mid leap, stunning him.
He was hit, but not dead. I finished him with another blast from my bracelets. A shadow appeared from the doorway, blocking most of the light in the hall. Whatever it was, it was big. I readied myself, preparing to shoot, waiting for it to attack.

“Wizard, I want to talk. Hold your fire and I’ll come out. Do we have a deal?”

“That depends on who I’m dealing with. Who are you? Better still, why should I care about anything you have to say?”

“My name is Farris and I cull the Einherjar for Ragnar.”

“What does any of this matter to me? The Einherjar are dead and Ragnar is either captured or dead as well. Show yourself and I’ll decide. I can kill you now or in a few minutes.
It doesn’t matter to me.”

“I’m coming out.” A large vampire stepped out into the hallway. I could say he was the most hideous vampire I’d ever seen, but honestly I’d seen worse. Nevertheless, he was butt ugly.

“What have you got that interests me? As you can tell from the smoke, we don’t have too much time to chat. Pity.”

“I could tell you about Prince Warren’s alliance with Ragnar and our plan to stock your ranks with Einherjar.”

“Old news. You’ll have to do better than that Fenris or you’ve breathed your last.” I raised my arms and prepared to fire.

“I know what happened to the missing prince. One of my men was the last to see him.”

I wanted to choke the life out of this scum with my bare hands. Still, I knew it wouldn’t help me find Traygen any sooner. “I’m listening. Tell me what you know and maybe I’ll let you live.”

“How do I know you’ll honor your word?”

I sent a blast of flames past his left ear, scorching him slightly. He yelped in pain and threw himself back into the room.
Sprinting toward the door, I found the vampire at the back of the room. He hissed at me when I entered and lucky for me he was alone.

“Now tell me what you know or I’ll slow roast you over an open flame.”

I watched his eyes dart around the room and swing back toward the door. He hesitated only slightly before answering. “One of my men intercepted the prince on the ledge. They wrestled and fell off the cliff. The changeling trying to change as they fell, but there wasn’t enough time. They crashed into the ocean.”

“Then what happened to the prince? Did he survive the fall?” My voice quavered, but I didn’t care. I had to know what happened.

“They fought until my man lost consciousness when he came to sometime later. He saw that the prince had washed back up on the beach.

“He was afraid to move because he didn’t want the prince to know he’d survived. After he’d waited for some time and the prince still hadn’t moved, he went to check on him.”

I sent a blast at the vampire, hitting him in the leg.
Screaming in pain, he fell to the floor. “Was he alive or dead and don’t even consider lying to me.”

“He was alive, I swear it. My man would have finished him but, he heard men’s voices. So, he ran and hid in the rocks.”

“Don’t keep me waiting. Who approached the prince?”

“It was Ragnar and his men. They went to the prince, rolled him over and searched him. They took his ring and left him for dead.”

“You’re sure? Where is the man that saw this?”

“Over there, you killed him. He was the first man out the door.”

I didn’t know what to think. I hadn’t found the ring in Ragnar’s cabin. Maybe he had it on him. I’d check as soon as I disposed of the vampire. I looked hard at the vampire. I was pretty sure he’d told me all that he knew. I raised my arm and blasted him into tiny pieces.

Running back the way I’d come when I reached the deck the battle was nearly over. There was a small group of raiders still firing on Trevor and his men. I yelled for them to drop their weapons and they declined. They left me no choice. I set fire to the area around them and waited. It didn’t take long for them to jump overboard. When Trevor and his men finished fishing them out, there wasn’t any fight left in them. We managed to get the surviving men to shore and turned them over to General Wingo. I hadn’t told Trevor what I’d learned. It was just too hard and it could wait until we got back to the castle.

Once the prisoners were turned over to General Wingo the rest of us flew home. It was a quiet ride. We were all exhausted and it was nearly daybreak. I’m not sure but, I think I nodded off on the way back.
I woke with a start when we landed and I staggered down off Trevor’s back. He looked concerned, but I assured him all I needed was rest. I don’t know how I managed to get into bed but, I slept most of the next day. Finally, hunger roused me from my stupor. I got dressed and headed downstairs to find something to eat. Trevor also needed to be updated. I had no way of knowing if Fenris told me the truth about Traygen. If he had, then at least I knew he survived the fall. It wasn’t much, but it was something. When I got downstairs, I found everyone in the large hall. They’d just finished their evening meal.

“Lauren, I was beginning to worry. Are you hungry? I’ll have them bring you some food.”

“Trevor, I’m fine and I’m starved. I would appreciate something to eat.”

Trevor motioned for one of the servants to bring me some food. While we were waiting, I told him what I’d learned. He listened without interruption. I’d
just finished explaining what I’d learned when the food arrived. Miss Manner’s would not have approved. I inhaled my dinner and I made a most unladylike burp when I sated my hunger. Trevor chuckled to himself, but said nothing.

“Do you feel better?”

“Much. Thank you. I assume the prisoners were thoroughly searched before they were locked up.”

“Yes, General Wingo and his men found nothing of value. We’ve tried questioning the men, but no one is talking.”

“I can probably loosen their tongues. We’ll need to speak with each of them separately. I don’t want them comparing notes. Unfortunately, I think the interrogations will have to wait until morning. Have you heard anything from Jason and Tokem?”

“They sent word my father and family are safe. Jason added they would not rejoin us for the time being. They don’t want to be tracked. They’ll wait until I send for them.”

“As much as we could use their help here, I think he’s right. Until we know for certain that all the traitors have been flushed out,
it isn’t safe. Well, I think I’ll walk some of my dinner off. Would you care to join me?”

“It would be my pleasure.”

Trevor and I walked out of the hall and made our way outside. The castle had lavish gardens and the evening was warm. The air heavily scented with jasmine and wisteria. No wonder Traygen loved this place.
It was a little piece of heaven. My peaceful thoughts were interrupted by a sound that didn’t fit in.
I strained my ears, but I heard nothing. We continued on and I could swear I heard it again. Yes, this time I was certain.
We were being followed. I put a finger to my lips and motioned for Trevor to keep walking. He nodded and continued down the path we’d been following.

I ducked into the shadows and waited for our pursuer. Listening to hear every sound, filtering, and worrying, I tried to sift through what belonged and what didn’t. A slight movement, a barely perceptible shift, a stirring, it was an incongruous movement.
It drew my attention. Yes, our tracker had just slipped past me.
I waited a second, before I stepped from the shadows.