A cautious man despite his desperate hopes, he had taken with him the ceremonial blade awarded to him by his admiral. With it, the innkeeper had gone out into the wilds, following the call of his child. For more than an hour he had trekked through the woods and hills, seeking, searching…
Finally, near a crooked tree, he had caught sight of his beloved Terania. The girl, her skin so oddly pale-even more so than Kara's-had stood waiting for her father with arms outstretched.
She had called out to him again and Jeronnan had, of course, responded. Sword in one hand, he had taken his daughter close-
Her fangs had nearly ripped out his throat.
Captain Jeronnan had sailed the world, had seen many a marvelous and disturbing thing, had fought pirates and villains in the name of his masters, but no experience in his life had meant more to him than raising his only child.
And nothing had ripped at his soul more than running the creature she had become through the heart.
"It hangs downstairs," he muttered, finishing. "A fine piece of craftsmanship and designed to be practical, too." Almost as an afterthought, the captain added, "Plated in silver or else I'd not be here with you today."
"What happened to her?" Kara knew such tales, but the causes varied.
"The damned thing is, I never found out! Finally managed to push it to the back of my mind until you vanished. Feared that it had come back for you!" A daring tear escaped his eyes. "I still hear her cries… both the one when she vanished and the one when I slew her."
Jeronnan's unknown horror had not stalked Kara, but the two undead tomb robbers had certainly been waiting, which drew her at last back to her own immediate situation. "Forgive me, captain, for sounding so uncaring about your great loss, but can you tell me if any ships departed during the time I was lost?"
Kara's question caught the grieving man off guard for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Only ship that's sailed off so far has been the Hawksfire, a cursed vessel if I've ever seen one! Surprised it hasn't sunk yet."
Only a single ship had departed. It had to be the one she wanted. "Where was it heading?"
"Lut Gholein. It always sails to Lut Gholein."
She knew the name. A prospering kingdom on the western side of the Twin Seas, a place where merchants from all over the world bought and sold.
Lut Gholein. The Vizjerei and his grinning friend had trekked all the way here from the tomb, moving at a pace only those who felt no exhaustion could maintain. They had specifically come to Gea Kul, whose only good purpose served as a point by which to reach other realms. But why?
There could be only one reason. They pursued the remaining members of their party, the ones who also carried with them Bartuc's armor. Kara suspected that might be only one man, but she had to keep in mind the possibility of more in mind.
So this Hawksfire carried either the survivors or the revenants. If the latter, the pair would have to have secreted themselves carefully in order to avoid detection, but she had heard tales of the undead doing whatever they needed while pursuing their victims. Crossing the sea would be difficult, but not impossible.
Lut Gholein. It might yet be only another brief stop, but at least Kara had a particular destination.
"Captain, when is the next ship sailing there?"
"Lass, you're barely able to sit up, much less—"
Silver eyes fixed unblinking at him. "When?"
He rubbed his chin. "Not for a time. Maybe a week, maybe more."
Much too late. By then, both the revenants and those they pursued would be long gone, the armor with them. Even more important than her dagger remained the fact that the bloody warlord's suit moved about. The enchantments within would certainly call out to the ambitious, the evil.
Even those not necessarily human.
"I have funds. Can you recommend a ship I could hire?"
Jeronnan eyed her for a moment. "This is that important?"
"More than you can imagine."
With a sigh, the innkeeper replied, "There's a small but sleek vessel, the King's Shield, near the northernmost end of the port. She can sail at any time. Just need a day or two to gather the crew and supplies together."
"Do you think you can convince the owner to hear me out?"
This caused Jeronnan to laugh hard. "No need to worry about that, milady! He's a man who used to follow many a cause, so long as it was a good one!"
Her hopes rose. Already she felt nearly well enough to travel. The Hawksfire had a few days head start, but with a good ship, Kara might be able to arrive in Lut Gholein in but a short time after. Her unique skills, combined with a few careful questions, should enable her to follow the trail from there.
"I need to talk with him. I must be able to leave by tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow morn—"
Again she gave him that gaze. Kara regretted pushing, but more than her health and the patience of this other captain were at stake. "It must be so."
"All right." He shook his head. "I'll get everything ready. We'll set sail in the morning."
Kara was touched by his sudden offer. "It is more than enough that you can convince the King's Shield' s captain to take this journey, but you need not tear yourself from your beloved inn! This is no longer your concern."
"I don't like when my guests are nearly killed… or worse, lass. Besides, I've been too long on dry land! Be good to feel the sea again!" He leaned nearer, giving her a smile. "And as for convincing the captain, I don't think you understand me yet, enchantress! I'm owner of thatfine vessel and by all that's holy, I'll see that she sets sail in the morning-or I promise you that there'll truly be hell to pay!"
As he hurried off to see to arrangements, Kara slumped down, caught by his last words. Hell to pay?
Captain Hanos Jeronnan had no idea just how fateful his oath just might end up being.
Seven
"My men grow restive and I can truly understand their positions, Galeona. Greatness beckons and we have sat here on the edge of the desert!"
" 'Twas by your command that we remained yet longer, my dear Augustus."
He towered over her. "Because you said that soon we would better know the location of Bartuc's armor! We would soon know where this fool brings it!" Malevolyn seized her hair, pulling her up until their faces nearly touched. "Find him, my darling. Find him-or I may have to find myself mourning your passing!"
She let him see no fear. Those who showed fear to the general became much reduced in his eyes, nevermore respected, forever expendable. Galeona had worked long and hard to make certain that she remained invaluable and she would not let that change now.
"I will see what I can do, but it must be accomplished without you this time."
He frowned. "You always required my presence in the past. Why the change now?"
"Because what I must do will require me to delve deeper than I ever have before… and if for any reason I am disturbed at the wrong point, not only will it kill me, but it may also perhaps slay anyone nearby."
This clearly impressed even the general. Brow raised, he nodded. "Very well. Is there anything you require of it?"
A voice suddenly spoke in Galeona's head. There must be… some sacrifice.
The sorceress smiled, wrapping one arm around Malevolyn and putting her lips to his. As she pulled away from the kiss, she absently asked, "Who's failed you most of late, my love?"