Ghostwalker (Book 1) (7 page)

Kendril looked up from the gun, and gave both Maklavir and Jade a look that sent chills down their spines. “We can’t,” he said in a low voice. “They’ve killed the sentries at both gates, and they’re watching this place right now. I only managed to get in here by crawling on my belly from the stables to the back door, and I’m still not sure they didn’t see me.” He slapped back the lock on the pistol with a sharp click. “We’re trapped.”

The tavern maid gave a whimpering cry and folded her arms over her head. The innkeeper simply stared at Kendril in dumbfounded disbelief.

Maklavir tried to swallow, but found he could not. “What do they want?” he asked, his voice still measured.

“I don’t know,” said Kendril. He finished checking his first pistol, then pulled out another. He looked over at Jade, who was staring at the floorboards. “I was hoping Jade might help us out with that.”

The woman looked up, her face a mask of confusion and fear. “What, me? I don’t know, Kendril, I—” she buried her face in her hands. “I still can’t
remember
anything…”

Maklavir placed his hand on the girl’s shoulder. “It’s all right, Jade.” He glared at Kendril. “How do you know it’s
her
they’re after, anyway? It might be
you
, for all we know.”

Kendril looked up from his pistol. “What? A nice guy like me?” He glanced over at the two tavern workers, who were still sitting against the far wall. The tavern maid was weeping softly. “Relax,” Kendril said gruffly. “I’m not going to hurt either of you. But no one can leave right now. If the men watching this place see it, we’re done for.”

Maklavir sat down in a chair next to Jade, his hand still on her shoulder. “If they’re after one of us, then why haven’t they made their move?”

Kendril crossed to the window, edging up against the wall and peering carefully between the cracks in the curtains. “I don’t know. My guess is that they’re waiting until later. They’ve been quiet so far, and I think they want to keep it that way. No one else has even noticed the sentries are dead, as far as I can tell.” He moved the curtain slightly with his finger and peered out. “They think we don’t know they’re here. As far as they’re concerned, they have all night to make their move.”

Maklavir shivered. “I see.” He rubbed Jade’s shoulder. “What exactly do you propose we do?”

Kendril scowled. He looked at Jade, then the innkeeper and the tavern maid, then back to the front door. “I’m not exactly sure. They have all the exits covered, and the whole place is being watched.” A rumble of thunder sounded loudly overhead, and the rain seemed to suddenly increase in tempo.

“Can we try to make it to one of the gates?” asked Maklavir hopefully. “Sneak out without being seen, perhaps, and overpower the guard?”

The Ghostwalker shook his head. “I doubt it. I barely made it in the back door by myself. All of us trying to make it without being seen would be near impossible.”

“
You
can leave,” said Jade suddenly. All eyes turned to her. She brushed back her hair, her eyes filled with resolve. “You can
all
leave, right now. It’s me they want, not you. I’m sure of it. I’ll stay here. Please,” she said after a short pause, “it’s your only chance. I don’t want to be responsible for anything happening to any of you.”

Maklavir shook his head. “We don’t
know
that it’s you they want. For that matter, we don’t know what they want at all.”

“It’s me. It has to be.” She glanced at Kendril. “You think so, too, don’t you Kendril?”

The Ghostwalker said nothing, but quickly looked away.

Jade sighed. “Please, I’m asking all of you. Leave me here. It’s the only way.”

“Absolutely not,” said Maklavir. “I know the situation seems grim, but I have no intention of abandoning you to these thugs. Not without a fight, at least.”

Kendril smiled. “I’m glad to hear you say that.”

The men were tense. Reginald could feel it, like a static charge in the air. They no longer sat, but stood uneasily by the door, fingering weapons and glancing periodically out the windows. Only Montrose remained seated in his rocking chair, chewing thoughtfully on his now unlit pipe. Outside the rain had slowed to a drizzle, and the thunder and lightning were drifting further away. It looked like the worst of the storm was over.

Montrose pulled out his pocket watch once more, just as he had done half a dozen times in the last half hour or so.

“Eleven twenty-three,” he said quietly.

A few of the thugs dared a peek out the window. Even through the falling rain, it was obvious that candles were still flickering in the common room of the inn across the street.

Reginald sat down in one of the wooden chairs, swishing his cape to one side. “You understand she is not to be injured?”

Montrose nodded, his eyes looking out the window. “We’ll keep her alive.”

“And keep your hands off her. That goes double for your men.”

The bounty hunter grinned. “Don’t worry, Sir Reginald. We won’t so much as touch a hair on her head.”

“This is completely insane.”

Kendril checked the latch on one of the windows by the front door of the tavern. Outside the rain had slowed to a drizzle.

“How so?”

Maklavir gaped at the Ghostwalker. “
How so
? There are nine men out there, Kendril. You can’t possibly think we can fight them all at once. It’s madness.”

Kendril shifted to the door, and checked the lock carefully. “If they don’t know we’re on to them, then we have a chance.”

The diplomat shook his head in exasperation. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’m perfectly serious.” Kendril turned away from the door, then moved quickly back to the bar. He glanced over at the flickering candles along his way, frowning. He jerked his head in the direction of the bartender and the tavern maid, who were still crouched obediently against the wall. “What time do you close the inn?”

The innkeeper seemed surprised by the question. “Uh…around eleven thirty, I guess.”

Kendril scowled as he looked at the clock resting on the fireplace mantle. “Right.” He turned back to the innkeeper and tavern maid. “You have a cellar or basement?”

The bartender nodded his head towards the door set against the right wall. “Just the pantry, but—“

“Good.” Kendril gestured towards the door. “Both of you get in there, and keep your heads down. No matter what you hear, don’t come out if you want to live.”

The two nodded their understanding, then quickly scrambled for the pantry door. It clicked shut behind them.

Maklavir got up from his chair, glancing at the clock himself. “For pity’s sake, try to think this through logically, Kendril.”

“I have.” The Ghostwalker picked up the blunderbuss. “Are you in or out?”

The diplomat blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

Kendril held the blunderbuss out to him. “In or out? It’s this or the pantry. Your choice.”

Maklavir looked with vague disgust at the weapon. He swallowed, thinking quickly. “We could try to parley,” he said with the first note of desperation in his voice.

Kendril shook his head. “We have nothing to bargain with. Unless you want to give them Jade. Besides, I don’t think these guys are interested in talking.”

Maklavir took a step back. “We still might be acting prematurely. They might be after someone or something else entirely. It may not be us—”

“They’re watching the inn right now. We’re the only ones here. They’re coming
tonight
, Maklavir.”

“You don’t know that for sure—“

“Wake up, Maklavir!” Kendril snapped. “They’ve already killed two guards. Why in the Halls of Pelos would they wait?”

Maklavir played his last card. “We could try to get help,” he said. “There are others here in town. Perhaps—”

“We can’t get out of this inn without being seen. And even if we could, no one here would help us. They’re all just drifters, mostly hunters and trappers. They’ll lie low and save their own skins.” He thrust the gun forward once again. “You said before you wouldn’t give Jade up without a fight. So here we are. What are you going to do, Maklavir?”

The diplomat hesitated for a moment, his eyes fixated on the blunderbuss. Then, very slowly, he reached out and took the weapon.

“I’m in.”

Kendril nodded. “Good man. There are two entrances to this place, one in the front and one in the back. I think I can cover things out here, but I need you to guard the rear.”

Maklavir nodded slowly. “Tell me what to do.”

Kendril vaulted over the counter, flinging open the door to the kitchen. “Keep this door open, and watch the back door, through there.” He pointed at it through the rows of pots and pans. He looked Maklavir in the eyes. “Whatever happens, and no matter what you hear out here, don’t take your eyes off that door for even a second, understand?”

The diplomat nodded silently. “I understand. What then?”

“If anyone comes through, shoot them. Don’t wait to see who it is, and don’t hesitate. Just fire.”

“I see,” said the diplomat nervously. “I should warn you, I’m not much of a marksman.”

“You don’t have to be. This blunderbuss will hit anything standing in front of you. Don’t worry about aiming. And don’t even think of shooting into the front room. You’ll hit me along with anyone else.”

Maklavir peered nervously into the darkened kitchen. “And what happens if the first shot doesn’t stop them?”

Kendril sighed. “Then use that sword you’ve got attached to your belt.”

“Ah, yes.” Maklavir tugged at his goatee nervously. “About that. To be honest, I’m afraid that I’m really not much of a swordsman. Actually, the weapon is largely decorative.”

Kendril’s eyes narrowed. “All right, then make sure you don’t miss with the blunderbuss.” He glanced into the dark kitchen. “I suggest hiding behind that cabinet, there. Probably your best cover.”

“And where should I be?” Jade’s voice came suddenly from the stairway landing. Both Kendril and Maklavir glanced up.

The green dress was gone. In its place she was wearing a pair of worn trousers, a blue shirt, and a large vest. On her head was a broad-brimmed black hat, with a yellow feather sticking jauntily from the top. A pair of well-traveled boots was on her feet.

She smiled, giving a mock pose. “I found these in the closet upstairs. So what do you think?”

Maklavir smiled. “Not bad. New look, I take it?”

“Tuck your hair in,” said Kendril, “and try to keep the hat pulled down low.”

Jade came carefully down the stairs. “Do you really think this will fool anyone?”

Kendril walked quickly around the edge of the bar. “Probably not. But in the dark, it might be enough to confuse them, especially if they’re looking for a woman in a dress.”

The young woman walked over to one of the tables. “So where should I be?”

Kendril blew out one of the candles, giving the clock on the mantle another glance. “The pantry. That door, over there.”

“Absolutely not.” Jade walked over and blew out two more candles. The room grew dark, lit only slightly by the dying glows of the fire.

“This isn’t a debate,” said Kendril roughly. “Get into the pantry, and stay there until I tell you things are safe.”

“I’m not going to hide out while you two risk your lives up here.” Jade took off her hat, pushing her hair up into a bundle and then putting it carefully back on again. “I’m staying whether you like it or not.” She glared at Kendril defiantly. “Now where do you want me to be?”

Maklavir leaned in through the open kitchen door. “Best to just give in, Kendril. I’ve found that arguing with a woman is a rather pointless endeavor.”

Kendril frowned. “All right. Get behind the bar.”

Jade crossed her arms. “I told you I wasn’t going to hide—”

The Ghostwalker moved swiftly to the bar himself. “If you want to stand out in the middle of the room and make yourself a better target, go right ahead. As for me,
I’m
getting behind the bar.” He dropped behind the counter, resting his back against a large barrel.

For a moment Jade looked indecisive, then she walked around the counter, and plopped down beside Kendril.

“So,” said Maklavir’s whispered voice from the darkness of the kitchen. “What do we do now?”

Kendril closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the bar. “We wait.”

Chapter 6

The inn was deathly silent, save for the light patter of rain on the windows and the last few spits and crackles from the fireplace. Jade closed her eyes, listening to the dull sounds. Even the thunder had vanished, and the storm seemed to have lost most of its fury. With each passing minute, fear seemed to envelope her more and more. The darkness of the common room certainly didn’t help. She glanced over to her right, seeing Kendril’s dark shape just a few feet away. The Ghostwalker had not moved since he had sat down. For a terrifying moment, she wondered if he had fallen asleep.

“Jade?” his whispered voice came out of the darkness, dispelling her fears.

She nodded, then realized it was too dark too really see. “Yes?”

Kendril shifted slightly, and Jade could feel his face turning towards her. “Do you know how to reload a pistol?”

The question took her slightly by surprise. “Uh…I don’t—no.”

There was a rustling of fabric, then she felt a cold wooden and metal object being thrust into her hands. “Time to learn. I won’t have time to reload during a fight, so I’ll need you to do it for me. Can you handle that?”

“Yes,” she whispered back, feeling the awkward shape of the gun. “Yes, I think I can. What do I do?”

“The gun’s already loaded, but I’ll walk you through the motions.” Kendril reached out a hand, and Jade felt a small, heavy paper tube pressed into her palm. “This is a pistol cartridge. It’s filled with gunpowder with a bullet at one end. It’s made out of stiff paper, and tied at the top. Pinch the end. You can feel the bullet.”

Jade did, and felt the hard lump. “Yeah, I feel it.”

“Good. When you reload the pistol, you have to bite off the end of the cartridge, pour the gunpowder into the barrel, then the bullet, and then the paper cartridge itself.”