The Huntsman's Amulet (18 page)

Chapter 27

A Sailor’s Life

T
he second offer in
a day — and the third offer in as many months to become a sailor. Even for someone who hated the sea it was attractive. Ramiro’s had been tempting also, but Soren didn’t want to be a pirate, or be associated with pirates.

His plan had been to return to the mainland and take work as a mercenary, or something along those lines that would allow him to practice the Gift in an environment where killing carried less severe consequences. He could easily do the same here, and the idea of being a pirate hunter tugged at his romantic, adventurous urges. A foolish notion, but it fit well with his desire to get his sword back. Then there was the matter of wanting to see Sancho Rui die. Amero could wait a few more months. ‘How long will it take?’

‘Every pirate hunter with a ship’ll be after Rui now that there’s a bounty on his head. As soon as I can bring him to action, I will. Any delay will let someone else grab him. I’m going to get him, and soon.’

The only factor that made Soren reluctant to agree was that he had hated Varrisher from the instant he first met him and this opinion had held sway up until a few moments ago. Despite Varrisher’s newfound affability, Soren was not entirely convinced.

‘What would my share of the bounty be?’ Soren said.

‘As a banneret you’d be entitled to the same as an officer; one and a half shares after expenses,’ Varrisher said, clearly sensing that he had Soren on the hook.

‘How do we go about finding him? Are the Spice Isles a big place?’

‘It only takes about five days to sail from one end to the other, but to be honest that isn’t the difficulty. There are hundreds of islands, some no bigger than this room and Rui could go to ground on any of them. Any information we can get will help. You said you helped Ramiro Qai fight off Rui.’

Soren nodded.

‘If Rui tried to kill him, Qai might be willing to share anything he knows with you. After what’s happened, I’m sure he’ll be as happy as anyone to see Rui dead. I don’t know what we’ll get from him, but it might be useful and anything that’ll get us to Rui sooner is worth trying.’

‘And if I agree to join you, you’ll take me anywhere I want to go when we’re done?’

Varrisher smiled. ‘Absolutely anywhere. I’ll deliver you to the court of the Mogul of Jahar if that’s where you want to go.’

‘I won’t need anywhere as far as that; Auracia will do,’ Soren said. ‘But I have your word of honour on that?’

‘You do,’ Varrisher said.

‘All right then. I’ll join you.’

‘Outstanding. Now, Ramiro Qai. Will you speak with him?’

‘I’ll give it a try. He seemed grateful for my help in the jungle.’

‘Good. He keeps a house here, on the other side of town.’

Soren nodded. ‘I know where it is.’

‘His ship’s still at anchor, so that’s where we’ll find him,’ Varrisher said.

Soren finished mopping up the last scraps from his plate with a piece of bread and stood. ‘Let’s get going then.’

They walked across the cobbled square and toward the house. There were several tough looking men standing outside, a couple of whom had been in the jungle the night before. They were dressed in the sailor’s uniform of baggy calf length trousers, loose shirt and waistcoat, and they were all heavily armed. As soon as they spotted Soren and Varrisher, they became alert and threatening.

‘Whaddya want?’ demanded one of them.

‘I’m here to see Captain Qai,’ Varrisher said.

‘I’m sure you are,’ the pirate said, ‘but he ain’t here.’

‘S’all right,’ one of the men said, pointing at Soren. ‘He’s the fella that was in the jungle with us.’

The pirate looked him up and down. ‘Fine. I’ll check with the cap’n. Wait here.’

He went into the house, leaving Soren and Varrisher to wait with the other pirates outside. They looked at Soren with a curiosity that was excessive for an ordinary visitor. Soren wondered what they had been told about the fight in the jungle. They didn’t have to wait long. The first pirate reappeared.

‘You can go in,’ he said.

Both Soren and Varrisher made to go forward, but the pirate stopped Varrisher.

‘No, just you,’ he said to Soren. ‘And you can leave the blade here,’ he added, pointing to the broad bladed short-sword that Soren had picked up in the jungle and carried strapped to his waist.

Soren looked at Varrisher, who shrugged. Soren pulled the sword from his belt and handed it to the pirate, who took it and beckoned for Soren to follow him. They went into the house, leaving Varrisher to the pirates’ hostile stares.

‘Ah, Banneret Soren. Have you decided to take me up on my offer?’ Ramiro Qai said. He sat at a small table in the centre of the room, a position that afforded him a view across the town from the single window. There was an open bottle containing a dark amber liquid sitting on the table. It was half full and accompanied by mismatched glasses.

‘Please sit,’ he said, gesturing to one of the other chairs.

Soren nodded and sat as Qai filled two glasses from the bottle. He slid one of them across to Soren.

‘Ruripathian whisky,’ he said. ‘It’s very good and the last of it that we’re likely to see for some time.’

Soren took the glass, tipped it to Qai, and took a sip. It might have been good, it might not, but Soren wouldn’t have known one way or the other.

‘I’m not here to join you, I’m afraid.’

‘Oh. I have to admit I’m a little disappointed. A man of your talent is of great value to a man of my profession. The question that remains is why you are here then…’

‘I want some information on Sancho Rui,’ Soren said. ‘He has something of mine, and I want it back.’ There was no need to mention the bounty, or Varrisher.

‘Ah, I see,’ Qai said, leaning back in his chair. ‘I realise that you’re new to these islands, and that you’ll not be aware of how things work here. While it might appear to you that Sancho Rui is my enemy — and indeed, he is — there are certain, how should I put it, acceptable and unacceptable practices. If I were to give you any information about a brother member of the Conclave I would be in breach of the Accords of membership of the Conclave. You are aware of what the Conclave is?’ Qai said.

‘Yes, I am.’

‘Cenceno, my bo’sun tells me that you’re here with Captain Varrisher. Captain Varrisher has spent the last few days here asking about Captain Rui and telling anyone that will listen that he’s going to kill him and take his head to Shandahar. I assume he’s made you a more attractive offer than I did. If I’m seen helping you with this in mind, it will not reflect well on me,’ Qai said.

Soren silently cursed Varrisher. It seemed that old habits die hard and Varrisher still tended toward courting attention wherever he could get it. ‘Our goals are the same for the time being, and I wasn’t lying to you when I said that Rui has something that belongs to me. Varrisher’s reasons are his own, mine are as I’ve told you.’

Qai looked thoughtfully at his glass of whiskey for a moment. He swirled the contents and took a sip. ‘If I furnish information about a member of the Conclave to one outside of it, I breach my accords. Enemy or not, if I were to do this, the other members of the Conclave would view me with the same disfavour that they currently have for Sancho Rui. He’s our problem and we will deal with him in our own way. That is the rule of the Conclave, one of the tenets of the Accords that we all signed.

‘There’s something else that I can tell you though, which can be considered common knowledge, but may not be known to you and Captain Varrisher as newcomers. It’s no secret that the Conclave has divided the Isles up into territories, where each member of the Conclave has the exclusive right to operate. Rui is not happy that he cannot land in Valkdorf.’

‘I know that it’s considered the best place to unload plunder in the Isles,’ Soren said.

‘More so, with the war. The Ostians have always policed the coast as far as the border with Shandahar to protect their merchants. Now though, all of those warships are in the North, and the mainland coast is fertile ground much farther north than it ever was before. Rui was the first of us to realise it. Sailing back and forth between his territory in the western isles and the east coast takes time; time that could be spent plundering merchant ships.’ Ramiro paused and smiled, not continuing until he was sure that Soren had heard what he had just said.

Soren realised what Qai was doing. The western isles. He hoped it would mean more to Varrisher than it did him. It was a circuitous way of doing things, but would allow Qai deny having informed on Rui. He nodded and smiled.

‘If Rui had managed to kill me with his ambush, this island would have been free for all to use, at least until the Conclave could meet again and reassess the territories, when he would undoubtedly have claimed it. He’s already done well cruising the Auracian coast but when he took a Shandahari ship recently, he put all of that to shame. With that much wealth he’s a threat to everyone in the Conclave. For now though, I expect he will return to his own waters to plan his next move.’ Ramiro paused again for a moment and smiled.

‘I’m sorry I couldn’t be of any help to you, Banneret. While I’m in your debt for the assistance you gave me, my hands are tied on this issue. I will demand my rights under the Accords from the Conclave, and we’ll soon be seeking him out also. He’s broken our accords and we’ll kill him for it. I’ll use all of my not inconsiderable influence to ensure this happens. If you get in our way, you will be shown no quarter.’

‘I think I understand you, Captain Qai,’ Soren said. ‘Thank you for taking the time to see me.’ He drained the last of the whiskey and left.

Varrisher was much in the same position, standing uncomfortably under the hostile gaze of the pirates, who regarded him with something akin to hungry intent.

‘Well?’ said Varrisher.

‘Nothing, I’m afraid,’ Soren said, as they started back toward the tavern but while they were still within earshot of the guards around Qai’s house.

Varrisher cursed, but as soon as they were far enough away not to be overheard, Soren continued.

‘He’s headed for his base in the western isles. Ramiro as much as told me, but couldn’t say it outright.’

‘Well, that’s better than nothing. West it is. There are still a lot of islands, and a lot of sea to cover, but at least we know what direction to go. Pirates tend to stick near the main shipping channels where there’s plenty of prey, and men like Sancho Rui draw quite a bit of attention to themselves wherever they go,’ Varrisher said.

Soren reflected that they weren’t the only ones.

‘I have to call in on Governor dal Sifridt — or the Bayda as I’m sure he’ll be calling himself before too much longer. I haven’t sailed much farther west in the Isles than we are now, so I’m hoping he may be able to help with some rutters — navigators’ notes — and perhaps some warrants. Technically he’s still an agent of the Ruripathian crown, whatever that may be now, and he might give me letters of marque, which’ll come in useful if we encounter any of the western navies. Seeing as you’re an Ostian, it might be better if you wait at the tavern and I see the Governor on my own.’