Jalia Prevails (Book 5) (37 page)

21.
      
Maximus

Gally Sorn sat alone in her cabin, breathing deeply to try and calm herself for the mission to come. Maximus would be onboard the Steam Dragon within the hour and the men who Maximus had promised would help had not yet revealed themselves. It looked as though she was going to have to take the bridge on her own.

The knock on her door was so loud that Gally jumped. She found a scared looking Halad al’Faran and a bandaged jawed Yan Berin waiting there for her.

“Let us in woman,” Berin growled through teeth that stayed firmly clenched together. “The last thing we need right now is to be spotted by the crew.” He pushed past her into the room.

“You are Maximus’s men?” Gally asked in disbelief as she shut the door behind them.

“We are all you are getting,” Berin replied. “The Captain has had a guard on my room since al’Degar broke my jaw. Halad had to knock him out. That’s why we’re late.”

Halad had not said a word and his hands were trembling. His eyes darted around the room like a frightened rabbit, as though looking for a hole to dive into.

“I take it you know what is expected of you?” Gally asked.

Halad nodded and Berin tried to laugh, which caused him considerable pain, or so Gally judged from the grimace that appeared on his face.

“The bridge will be deserted except for the officer standing watch,” Berin pointed out. “After all, the Dragon is tied up in the river and no one will be expecting trouble.”

“I see you are carrying a sword. Are you any good with it?” Gally asked him.

“Good enough to take on an unarmed man,” Berin replied grimly.

Cara and Don took their usual table in the dining room a little nervously. Cara kept testing that her sword would leave its scabbard without sticking.

“We are supposed to be unsuspecting, Cara. The way you are acting even the crew would work out something was up,” Don said severely. “Just relax and eat your meal.”

“I can’t,” Cara complained. “I know we are supposed to act like innocents who don’t have a clue, but knowing that a bunch of armed men are coming to take over the boat makes me more than a little nervous.”

“You’ll frighten Hala.” Don was surprised to see the girl in question walking towards them with Nin at her side. “And it looks like our young lovers have made up their differences.”

“Nin has been told he can sit with us tonight,” Hala said cheerfully. Both Hala and Nin had a flushed look about them.

“Have you just been running or have you been up to something you shouldn’t?” Cara asked innocently. The deep flush that instantly suffused their faces gave her an answer.

“Where are Jalia and Daniel?” Nin asked in an attempt to change the subject.

“I expect they will turn up eventually,” Don replied nonchalantly. Cara nodded her head and the children joined them at the table. The conversation died as everybody concentrated on eating their food.

Hal Patin, the office on watch in the bridge, wondered what a large barge was doing on the river this late in the evening. It was getting far too close to the Dragon for his comfort. Hal reached for the rope that would sound the Steam Dragon’s horn.

Berin appeared at the bridge door with a sword in his hand. “Don’t touch that rope.”

“What are you doing, Yan?” Hal’s hand was still inches from the rope.

“If you do as you are told, nobody will get hurt. If you sound that horn I will be forced to kill you.”

Halad entered the Bridge behind Berin with a vicious looking knife in his hand. Hal mentally surrendered as he worked out there was no way he could fight both of them unarmed. He took his hand away from the rope and leaned back against the ship’s wheel.

“Have you become a pirate then?” Hal asked. “You will certainly never work for the Boat Company again after this.”

“When Prince Maximus becomes King of Slarn I shall be the Captain of the Dragon so be careful what you say to me Hal Patin. I will have no use for a Bosun I cannot trust.”

“Not even the Kings of Slarn decide who the Boat Company employs,” Hal said with contempt in his voice. “You were never any good as Chief Stoker and I, for one, will be glad to see the back of you.”

Berin swung his sword as though he was going to strike, but Hal didn’t move and the blade stopped before it reached him.

“I have my orders from Maximus that there must be no unnecessary killing,” he told Hal. “Don’t give me any excuse to think that in your case it is necessary.”

“We should take him to the dining room. The others will be onboard by now,” Halad said nervously.

While Berin had been talking to Hal, the barge had pulled alongside the Steam Dragon on its starboard side. Men on the barge threw grappling irons up onto the safety railings and swarmed up the attached ropes. They were all armed with swords.

Hal was harried out of the bridge with his hands held high while the men from the barge took up positions in the bridge and on strategic corridors. He was pushed along the deck until he found himself staring at Gally Sorn. She was arm-in-arm with a man much shorter than her. The man was broad in the shoulder, with his hair cut as though a pudding bowl had been used. He had on the leather clothing of a soldier and wore a fine sword at his belt.

“This is the officer of the watch, Hal Patin,” Berin said to the man and bowed to him.

“Well done, Yan. I shall have you promoted to Captain, rely on it,” Maximus Tallis replied jovially. He wore the kind of a smile that a child has when they get the present they wanted. Gally leaned over so that Maximus could kiss her on the cheek.

“I am most sorry to put you out like this,” Maximus told Hal. “You see, there is rather a lot of my property on this boat and I really can’t be bothered to wait until the Steam Dragon gets into port to collect it.”

“I thought the swords belonged to Tonas Mallow?”

“A mere technicality,” Maximus said, waving his arm dismissively. “We are going into the dining room to complete the transaction; if you would care to lead the way?”

It wasn’t really a question and Hal found himself being pushed down the corridor by Berin while Maximus and Gally strolled behind them, arm in arm, as though out for a walk to take in the evening air.

When Hal stumbled into the dining room, the room hushed as people turned to watch them. Berin followed Hal into the room with Maximus and Gally following close behind. Twenty armed men entered behind them. They spread out around the room taking up defensive positions. Halad came in last and stood hesitantly behind Maximus and Gally, wringing his hands together.

Gally whispered to Maximus and pointed at the table where Tonas and the Denger brothers sat.

“A thousand pardons for the interruption to your meal,” Maximus announced to the room. “My men and I are here to complete a business deal and to take our property from the hold. Once that is done, we will leave and no one will be hurt.”

“What is the meaning of this outrage?” Seb Halder shouted from the other side of the room. He had just been pushed into the room by two of Maximus’s men.

“Aha, the new captain of the Steam Dragon. How good to meet you.” Maximus had a broad smile on his face. “You should be thanking Lady Sorn, as she located and dealt with the murderer of the late Captain Toren for you.”

“I should?” Seb asked as he looked towards the table where Dor, Mal and Jant sat.

Maximus followed his gaze and laughed merrily.

“Oh, not any of the good men of Dalk, they are all far too honorable and loyal to Gilan to carry out such a dirty deed. No, it was the disreputable Jak Venjer working for Queen Kalenda who off’ed the late lamented Captain. What did you do with the nasty man, my darling?”

“He had to leave the Dragon some time ago,” Gally said with a pout on her lips. “It was a great shame that he was in no condition to swim.”

Maximus laughed again, delighted with Gally’s macabre sense of humor.

“So you can see that we are honorable people simply picking up the goods we have had brought here. No one on the Steam Dragon has been hurt by us. We are just here to conduct a little business.”

“Then why did you order Halad to kill Lady Rotiln?” Dor asked as he stood up.

“Why I do declare, if it isn’t Prince Doran Dalk,” Maximus said clapping his hands together. “Do pass on my greetings to your father and tell him we will be meeting soon. As for killing Lady Rotiln, I would never consider such a thing. Has she disappeared?”

“I saw your man strangle her and push her over the side,” Mal said standing up alongside Dor. Maximus’s men raised their swords as they readied to fight.

“Really? You saw Halad do that?” Maximus asked in disbelief. He turned to Halad and put arm around the man’s shoulders. “Did you actually kill Lady Rotiln, Halad?” he asked in a kindly manner.

“Yes, my Lord. As you…”

Maximus’s dagger struck deep into Halad’s guts and the man looked down at it in stupefaction before looking back up into Maximus’s eyes.

“We can’t have you killing people, Halad. It just isn’t nice,” Maximus said as Halad sank to the floor and died.

“Well, that takes care of that,” Maximus said as if commenting on a good meal. “Now, let us get on with our business and be on our way.”

“They are not here,” Gally shouted as she looked around the room.

“Yes they are, my dear,” Maximus said as he looked at Tonas. “I recognize this one; he looks so similar to his father.”

“Not the traders!” Gally screamed. “Jalia al’Dare and Daniel al’Degar are not here.”

“Nor are they anywhere,” Maximus said in exasperation. “They are just stories people tell each other to feel better about the world. They don’t exist.”

“They do exist, you idiot,” Gally snapped back, bringing a deep frown to Maximus’s face. “They came onboard at Boathaven and caused havoc in Wegnar. I was going to take them on the barge, halfway at least.”

“Calm down,” Maximus said, steel suddenly sounding in his voice. “We do not kill legitimate passengers of the Boat Company. We are breaking no laws tonight.”

“But you don’t understand.”

“Enough!”

Gally ran to the table where Hala sat. “You know where they are, you little cow. Tell me now or I will kill your boyfriend.” Gally dragged Nin from his chair putting her dagger to his throat.

“I don’t know.” Hala said desperately. Blood was already flowing down Nin’s neck as the dagger sliced into him.

“Is this how you break no laws on my ship?” Seb shouted. “By threatening to kill an innocent member of my crew; and Nin is only a child at that.”

“Let him go,” Maximus ordered Gally, who ignored him and continued to stare at Hala.

“You little bitch,” Gally screamed. “Tell me where those bastards are or I swear he dies right now.”

“I don’t know,” Hala pleaded between sobs. “I really don’t know.”

22.
      
Sunk

Daniel and Jalia stood in Storage Locker 17, which just happened to be next to the hold with the swords in. They were in darkness except for the thin line of light coming in at the bottom of the door from the corridor.

“Are you sure Hala will be all right?” Jalia asked for the fourth time. Daniel sighed as he gave the same answer yet again.

“Gally Sorn would have turned it into a fight if we had been in the dining room. After what we did to her men in Bratin and, after stealing back our things she would have no choice. A lot of people would have got killed,” he continued wearily. “At least you put the letters back. If she knew that we had seen them she would be searching the boat with Maximus’s men right now.”

“We could have told Hala to stay in our cabin.”

“Where she might have put up a fight if she was cornered. She’s much safer with Cara and Don in the dining room.”

“I know you’re right,” Jalia admitted, giving a sigh. “I think the problem is that I hate running away and hiding. What if Sorn attacks Hala to try and find us?”

“Not a chance,” Daniel said dismissively. “She knows how loyal Hala is to you, so she won’t even try. Gally has no leverage over Hala and she knows it.”

“Shush, I think they are coming down,” Daniel cautioned as the muffled thump of heavy boots tramping on steel deck came to them.

Nin felt his bladder go as Gally knife pressed against his throat. He was going to die for nothing, murdered by a mad woman for information Hala didn’t have. The warm stream of urine ran down his leg and onto the floor.

Cara and Don leapt up from the table and drew their swords, causing several of Maximus’s men to face them. Across the room, Dor’s face contorted in indecision and then he drew his sword. Jant and Mal took up fighting positions to the left and right of him. The tension in the room was so great that it could be tasted in the air.

Maximus looked at Gally with disbelief written on his face. He could not imagine what events on the journey had driven Gally into such insane actions. When Tonas Mallow and the Denger brothers stood up and drew their swords Maximus knew he had to bring this nonsense to an end before his plans collapsed in chaos.

Maximus strode over to Gally and planted him body between Gally and Hala so that Gally had no choice but to look at him. Gally had a wild demented look in her eyes that gave Maximus pause for thought.

“Hand me your knife,” he said much more gently that he had planned. He continued in the same soft coaxing manner. “If you kill the boy, I will have no choice but to have my men kill you. This purchase has to be legal, remember?”

The insanity slowly faded from Gally’s eyes and she lowered her knife. Nin grabbed at his bleeding throat and staggered towards Maximus. Maximus moved to one side to allow the boy to fall into Hala’s waiting arms.

“Everybody in this room, put down your swords,” Maximus commanded. “That includes my men. This is a direct order; put your swords away now!”

As Maximus’s men reluctantly sheathed their swords, the passengers relaxed and let their swords point towards the floor.

“You don’t understand,” Gally mumbled weakly as Maximus carefully took the knife from her hand. “You don’t understand how dangerous those two are.”

“But I do understand what cowards they are. They are undoubtedly hiding somewhere on this boat, quivering in fear. Let them continue to shiver in peace; I have a purchase to complete,” Maximus said, derision in his voice. “I thought better of you, Gally. This journey has clearly exhausted you and robbed you of your judgment.”

Maximus turned towards Hala. “Is the boy unharmed?”

“He’ll survive,” Hala said quietly, moving Nin behind her and placing her hand on the dagger at her belt. Maximus noted her actions with approval.
This girl will grow up to be quite a warrior
, he thought.

Maximus nodded to her and walked towards the table where Tonas and the Denger Brothers were once again sat, having put away their swords.

“You have brought your swords to Slarn at the bidding of Lady Sorn and as you can see, Gally Sorn works for me. I would like to close the deal. The agreed price was twenty thousand pieces of gold, I believe?”

Maximus motioned to one of his men and seconds later two soldiers entered the room carrying a heavy wooden chest. The men struggled with its weight and were unable to carry it more than a few feet at a time. When they reached Tonas’s table they lowered it to the floor with sighs of relief. Maximus produced a key from his jacket pocket, unlocked the chest and lifted its lid. There was a collective gasp from the passengers at the sight of so much glittering gold.

“You only have to pay half of the asking price,” Gally said quietly from behind Maximus. “They have not delivered the full quantity of swords as was agreed.”

“Wrong, my lady,” Tonas said loudly and angrily. “All three thousand six hundred and sixty swords are stowed away in the hold. It cost my father’s life to get the last of them out of Boathaven, but get them out we did.”

Gally hissed in anger.

“Make out the bill of sale to Maximus Tallis,” Maximus instructed Tonas. “You may count the money while we I take the swords. Honor will be satisfied on all sides.”

“It looks like you have lost your commission,” Alin Bredan said in a whisper as he and Sila Klint watched the transaction taking place.

“Alin, you are always so negative. What I see is that my new business partners have just come into a great deal of collateral, which will come in useful to me over the coming months.”

“They agreed to your partnership offer?” Bredan asked in surprise.

“Of course they did. How are three men such as them ever going to get so much money back to Telmar? It will be much better for them to invest it here with me. They know that I am famous for keeping my word and that I will bring them a handsome return on their investment.”

Tonal, Wilf and Tred got down onto their hands and knees. They lifted handfuls of coins from the chest and counted them before putting them on the table. Maximus invited Gally to take his arm and they walked from room, leaving most of their guards behind. It was clear that no one was going to be allowed to leave the dining room until the swords were safely on the barge.

Hal Patin made his way to his Captain’s side and the two held a whispered conversation. Whatever was said between them, it appeared to cheer Hal up no end.

Maximus strode into the hold. Two of his guards held up their lanterns so he could see the impressive pile of bags in the hold’s center.

“Finally, I will have the means to take control of Slarn and end this madness. I shall start a new order in which only my descendants become Kings of Slarn.” Maximus rubbed his hands together in glee.

“You should check the bags, Maximus,” Gally advised from a little way behind him.

“Jaliscia, tip the bag on the top of the pile over when Maximus approaches it,” Jalia whispered to her ring from her hiding place. The bag was the one that had never been down to the ballast hold.

Maximus bent down to lift one of the bags at the outer edge of the pile and the bag from the top fell towards him, swords spilling out as it fell.

Maximus picked up one of the swords. He touched its edge and felt the keenness of its blade. Even without a hilt, Maximus could tell he was holding an exquisitely balanced sword.

“Made by a master craftsman,” he said softly in a voice full of admiration. “If the rest of the swords are as good as this one you have procured me a bargain, my dear.”

He gathered up the fallen swords and put them back in their bag carefully. They were sharp enough to cut an unwary hand. He quickly opened three bags at random from the pile and looked inside them. He saw swords in each one. He knew enough not to stick his hand into a bag and root around.

“They are all here.”

“Count the bags as your men move them. Each bag contains twenty-five swords. If the men notice that any bag feels light they should check inside and count the swords,” Gally suggested, still angry that Tonas had defeated her.

“As you wish, my dear. I, for one, am more than satisfied with my purchase.”

Maximus stepped back from the bags and his men formed a human chain to take the swords from the hold and onto the waiting barge.

Several hours later his men retreated from the dining room as Maximus gave the order to leave. All the bags were onboard the barge, which now sat low in the water. Its waterline was only a few inches from deck.

Jalia and Daniel left the storage locker. They crept along the corridor and then up to the main deck. They watched Gally and Maximus climb over the side and slide down ropes onto the deck of the barge.

“They will go back to the harbor they came from,” Daniel said with satisfaction. They watched the barge move away. The two leaned out on the safety rail and peered into the evening gloom.

“That isn’t very far,” Jalia pointed out. “The entrance is less than thousand feet from here.”

“But they have to do it against the flow of the river and that barge is laden with all that weight. There will be plenty of time for our plan to work. Give your ring the command,” Daniel suggested in a whisper.

Jalia spoke to her ring. Nothing obvious happened, but Jalia smiled as the ring gave her finger a sudden pulse of warmth to tell her that the job was done.

“It is done,” Jalia said more loudly than she intended.

“Exactly what is done?” Seb asked from just behind them. Jalia turned and found that the deck of the Steam Dragon was filling with the passengers from the dining room who had made their way out to watch the barge make good its escape.

“Watch and learn,” Daniel said without turning. It was getting dark, but there was still enough light to see the barge as its oarsmen struggled against the current to row the barge into the harbor.

The barge had had to move out into the center of the river to be able to turn and was some way downriver of the Steam Dragon.

“They are sitting very low in the water,” Hal commented from beside Jalia. Seb had taken a position alongside Daniel.

“A good few inches lower than they were when they left the ‘Dragon a few minutes ago,” Daniel said with satisfaction.

“Really?” Seb said in surprise, “But that would mean that they are…”

The shouts carrying across the river told them that the crew onboard the barge had also noticed the problem.

“This is the really interesting bit,” Jalia said. She was almost purring with pleasure. “They have a choice. If they keep the swords they will sink, but will Maximus allow them to throw away his dream of power?”

“That is just plain cruel,” Don said from behind them. “You never mentioned this part of the plan.”

“They do like to keep their little secrets,” Hala agreed as she pushed a way under the crowd to emerge between Jalia and Daniel with Nin besides her. Nin held a handkerchief tight to his throat. “This is why you had to hide.”

Onboard the barge, matters had come to a head. There was a great deal of arguing and then they heard a series of splashes as some of the bags were thrown over the side.

“At least Maximus has had the sense to keep his oarsmen at work,” Seb commented, thinking like the professional sailor he was. “I’m impressed at the way you managed to cut a hole in that barge that still gives them a chance to make it back into the harbor, if they can get rid of those bags fast enough.”

“That was more by luck than judgment,” Jalia said. “We didn’t want them to sink close enough to the Steam Dragon to think about coming back here.”

The tempo of splashes increased as the barge neared the harbor mouth. As far as they could tell, the barge’s height above water had not changed in the last few minutes, but it was still perilously close to sinking.

The barge slid out of sight into the harbor just as the splashes stopped.

“That must mean they have run out of bags,” Daniel said. He turned to leave, but Seb stood in his way.

“I think it’s about time you let me in on the rest of your plan,” Seb said in a voice that brooked no argument.