Tarah Woodblade (34 page)

“How long ago was this?” she asked.

“It was a couple hundred years ago,” he said. “They’ve been on the lookout for the rogue ever since.”

“Two hundred years is a fairly short time when you’re talking business deals between gnomes and dwarves,” Tarah said in understanding.

“Exactly. Shade came to them representing some hoity-toity gnome scholar that’s looking for a rogue horse for some kind of research,” he said.

“The same gnome as before?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but Maggie Cragstalker is the clan boss and she sees this as a way to save face after their last mistake. She’s put a lot of responsibility on Donjon for this, so he’s under a lot of pressure.”

The sky had grown dark before Donjon finally received a message from Shade. It had been a difficult sell, but Shade’s silver tongue and purses of gold had persuaded the nobles to let them cross. The Romas had made a stipulation, though. The crossing would have to be taken in the deep of night after most of the city had closed down. The fewer people who knew of this particular ferrying the better.

Two ferries were in use; one docked at the port in Filgren, the other docked at the port on the far side of the river in West Filgren, their sister city in Razbeck. The two ferries were connected by heavy steel chains that were pulled by giant water wheels on either side of the river. Because of the way they were interconnected both ferries ran at the same time, passing each other in the very center of the river.

Just after midnight passed, the band headed into town. They stayed to the riverbank, avoiding the major roads and entering Filgren on the north end of the docks. They led their horses along the wooden planks in this relatively dark side of the city, careful to keep their mustaches covered by bandannas or scarves. The trip went smoothly. There was the occasional raucous sound from dockside taverns, but it was quiet otherwise.

Because of the size of the smuggler’s group it was going to take two ferry trips to get everyone across. When they arrived, ferrymen were already hard at work prepping the boats and de-icing the chains. Most of them were droopy eyed and none of them looked excited to be making the trip. They knew it would be dangerous. Where each boat normally had a crew of four, they had crews of six tonight.

Tarah and Djeri were in line to be part of the first ferry across. The dwarves started walking their horses onto the deck and tying them in place. While Tarah and Djeri waited for their turn to load, they discussed what to do once they reached the far side.

“This vision you saw, did it show you what to do on the other side of the river?” Djeri asked, a bit unnerved that they were following instructions from a complete stranger.

“It wasn’t a vision, just a voice,” she whispered. “It said, ‘Take them across the river.’ That’s all. There were no further instructions.”

“Are you sure the rider meant everyone. All the smugglers?” he asked.

“I don’t see how it could have meant anything else,” she said giving him a frown.

“What if it just meant for you to take Neddy and me?” Djeri asked. Tarah’s brow furrowed and Djeri knew that she hadn’t considered that possibility. “I don’t know how we could have done it that way. I’m just saying. We have no idea who they are or what they-.”

“Get in, lovers,” Leroy interrupted with a frown. “Come on. Don’t slow us down.”

It was their turn. Tarah walked across the wide plank and onto the deck of the ferry first. Djeri followed, pulling Neddy’s lead, but when he stepped onto the plank, the mule wouldn’t budge.

“Come one, Neddy. Come on up,” Djeri said. Neddy dug his hooves in at the edge of the dock, refusing to move. What was wrong with the animal? He hadn’t been a problem since day one of their mission.

“What is it?” Tarah asked, looking back at them.

“I don’t know,” Djeri said. “He won’t come up.”

“I’ll get him up fer you,” said Mel, walking up from behind the mule. Two large knots bulged on the side of his head from Tarah’s blows earlier that day. He swung the Ramsetter, delivering a stinging blow across Neddy’s rump with the flat of the blade.

Neddy’s eyes bulged and he let out a startled squeal before clattering up onto the deck. Tarah comforted the animal, bringing him over to tie him with the horses. Djeri fixed Mel with a glare.

“What? You ain’t gonna give me no thanks?” the dwarf said, sheathing the sword.

As far as Djeri was concerned, any time the dwarf touched the sword it was an insult to Tarah’s father. What he really wanted to do was throw the fool into the icy water. Instead, he said nothing and stepped aside to let Mel board. Sooner or later they were going to have a reckoning and Djeri was looking forward to it, but for now he just walked over to stand by Tarah.

The ferries were circular boats, wide and flat with stocks for up to ten horses and room for more to stand unsupported. Most of the regular band members were on the first ferry, while the wagon, supplies, and rest of the group would wait for the second ferry to arrive.

 Once everyone was aboard, one of the ferrymen raised the plank and signaled the powerhouse to get the ferry moving. On both sides of the river great signal lamps flashed. Two men at each dock turned heavy cranks lowering the enormous water wheels into the river. As soon as the swift-moving water hit the paddles on the wheels, the ferry jolted forward, breaking through the thin sheet of ice at the bank. Huge gears moved the chains, propelling both boats into the water towards each other.

Djeri had crossed the Wide River using the ferry system several times over the years and this was the part he hated the most. As they left the dock and moved further away from the bank, the currents of the river caught the boat and pulled it southward. The undersides of the ferry were shaped like smooth saucers to offer as little resistance as possible as they went. This reduced the drag, but also led to an awfully bumpy ride as the large chunks of ice hit the hull and either slid under the boat or were pushed to the side.

 The only lighting on the ferries were great lanterns pointed outwards in four directions so that the ferrymen could keep an eye out for obstacles. The further out they went, the more isolated Djeri felt. The wind wasn’t very swift this night but snow began to fall. Big fluffy flakes clouded up the lights of the lanterns until the only thing he could see was the heavy chain attached to the prow arcing into the darkness.

Soon the lights of Filgren faded to a muted glow, obscured by the falling snow, and Djeri saw the lights of the second ferry approaching. As it came closer, the ferryman rushed to the southern side of the deck with long poles to make sure the two boats didn’t come too close. The lanterns on their ferry illuminated the ferrymen on the north side of the otherwise empty second boat with poles of their own. Keeping the boats from colliding was a group effort. When the ferries crossed paths without incident, Djeri let out a relieved breath. The crossing was half way over.

Tarah clutched his arm. “Djeri, we might have a problem.”

Confused, Djeri turned and immediately understood her concern. The light of the passing second ferry illuminated their deck in the falling snow and Djeri could see the faces of their fellow passengers. The only dwarves on the boat with them were Mel’s friends and co-conspirators. Several of them were giving Djeri grim looks. Mel was smiling.

Djeri swore softly. He should have noticed that all of their supporters had waited for that second ferry. He and Tarah had been so focused on their plans that he had let Leroy and Mel herd them onto this ship alone. It would be another fifteen minutes before they reached the far shore and at least another thirty minutes longer before Shade and the leadership arrived. That was plenty of time for Mel to stage something and no one on the boat would tell the truth of what happened.

“Be ready,” he whispered. Tarah nodded, both hands gripping her staff.

As the second ferry’s lights faded to the east, the deck of the boat was plunged back into darkness. Djeri grabbed a short pole from the edge of the deck and moved with Tarah to stand by Neddy. Tarah crouched to make herself less of a visible target.

“Hey lovers,” came Leroy’s voice from the darkness to Djeri’s left. “Where you at?”

Tarah and Djeri glanced at each other, but said nothing.

“Yeah, I think its time we had us a good chat,” said Mel, somewhere to their right.

“I think they’re over by their stupid mule,” said Merba.

Djeri brought the pole down low, his muscles tense. The question was what to do? Should they try to talk their way out of this? If he and Tarah struck first, they could take down many of the smugglers by surprise. But they were outnumbered eight to two and dwarves were hard to subdue. One shot from a paralyzing rod and Tarah would be out of the fight. Djeri was pretty sure he had built up enough of a resistance that he would only be subdued temporarily, but it wouldn’t take long for someone to bind him.

Tarah suddenly stood, taking the choice out of his hands. “What do you want, Leroy?”

There was a shuffling in the darkness as eight pairs of boots walked their way.

“Well here’s the thing,” Mel said, stepping close. “We don’t like you two.”

“I was talking to Leroy,” Tarah replied.

“I agree with Mel,” Leroy said.

The only thing Djeri could think to do was try to delay the confrontation. He decided to try being reasonable. “I’m sorry you don’t like us. I can see that’s partially our fault. I know we haven’t tried too hard to be friendly.”

“We don’t want to be friendly,” Leroy said.

Being reasonable was going to be hard. “Then what do you want from us?”

“We want you gone, humie,” Mel said. Djeri could just barely make out the hilt of the Ramsetter sticking up over his shoulder. The lights on the western bank were coming into view. “Just havin’ you ‘round makes the rest of us look bad.”

“I don’t think Shade will let us leave,” Tarah said. “Leastways not until we find our quarry.”

“Maybe not,” said Merba, her voice almost as deep as the men. “But if you tried to escape and got yerself killed, he wouldn’t care too much.”

“We don’t need you,” Mel agreed. “We can find it all on our own.”

“They’ll know,” Tarah said, her voice full of contempt. “Shade and Donjon both. They ain’t stupid. They know you have it in for us. No matter what story you concoct, they’ll see right through your plot. If we die, you’ll have to answer for it.”

“Dag-gum it, she’s right,” said one of the others. “If’n we don’t find the rogue, the blame’ll fall on us.”

Good, Tarah
, Djeri thought.
Give them doubts
. “Hey, you don’t have to like us,” he said. The lights of the dock were getting closer. Just a few minutes more and they would be off the ferry. “You just have to put up with us long enough for us to catch the beast and then we’ll be gone. You’ll never have to even think of us again if you don’t want to.”

“We can call a truce,” Tarah said, building on what Djeri was trying to do. “From here on out, until we get the rogue, we stay out of each other’s hair. What do you say?”

There was a moment of silence.

“Nah,” said Mel. A sharp pop rang out and Tarah stopped moving.

Djeri jumped forward, swinging his pole up from the darkness. He felt the end catch Leroy in the side just as another pop sounded. Djeri’s body seized up and he fell to the deck.

“You son of a dog!” Leroy said, wheezing. “My rib!”

“What’s that sound?” asked one of the ferrymen. One of the lanterns turned slightly and Djeri saw the narrow, droopy-eared face of a gnome standing precariously on the railing. His voice sounded slow, like the voice of a drunken man. “Hey, you all right? I heard a pop-pop.”

“We’re fine,” said Merba. “Just a scuffle’s all. We’re just messin’ around.”

“Leave them alone, Cletus,” said another of the ferrymen. “It’s none of our business.”

“Okay,” the gnome said slowly and he moved agilely down the rail.

They were close enough to the eastern bank now that the dock lights were starting to illuminate the deck. Djeri watched with dismay as Mel walked up to Tarah. Djeri strained against the spell, willing it to break. He could feel the strands of the magic start to give.

Mel tore Tara’s staff from her hands. “Well, filly, you won’t be needin’ this anymore.” The dwarf took two steps and launched the blood red weapon like a spear, sending it overboard and into the icy water.

Djeri leapt up from the deck, swinging an armored elbow at Mel’s head, but Leroy was ready for him. Another pop dropped Djeri before he could land the blow. He crashed to the deck and strong hands shackled his feet and hands.

“I’ve been saving this for you,” Mel said and shoved a stained piece of cloth in Djeri’s mouth before gagging him.

“What do we do?” Merba asked.

“We wait until the ferry pulls away. No witnesses,” Leroy said. The three of them moved off, huddling together and planning.

Djeri broke through the spell again. He sat up and scooted back until his shoulders were against the railing. He ignored the taste that filled his mouth, focusing on escape. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much he could do besides kick out at his captors.

“Hey, pretty dwarf, you okay?” said a slow voice beside his ear.

Djeri turned his head to see the face of the gnome ferryman peering right at him. The gnome’s body was bent in an impossible manner. His feet were on the rail and his lanky form was crouched, his body hanging over Djeri at an angle, his weight suspended by a thin silvery chain that he held in one hand. Djeri couldn’t see what it was connected to.

“What’s in your mouth?” the gnome asked. “You still messing round?”

Djeri made a muffled sound and shook his head violently indicating that he wasn’t okay. The look of vague concern left the gnome’s face, replaced by a tense focus.

“These dwarfs,” said the gnome, his voice losing that odd slowness. “Are they with Shade?”

Djeri blinked in surprise, then nodded fiercely.

“Cletus, get over here!” shouted another ferryman. “It’s docking time!”

“Docking time?” the gnome said, looking over his shoulder. The focus left his face, replaced by a vacant smile. “Okay.” He pulled on the silvery chain, bringing his tall body back into a standing position and he was off, running along the top of the rail towards the prow.