‘Un-huh. I think we understand each other.’ Antsy hefted the waterskin, stoppered it. Too damned low. ‘You rest. I’ll take first watch.’
The lad nodded his gratitude and eased further down. Antsy pushed himself to his feet. He set the lamp in the middle of the alcove they’d chosen, then turned his back to the light to stare out into the dimly lit adjacent street and portals. He cradled his cocked crossbow in his arms. So many damned nights spent on sentry duty. Seems like nothin’s changed. Just the venue. Same ol’ same old. Still … there’s not many as can say they’ve wandered the bowels of the Moon’s Spawn. Thought I was gonna collect a retirement package but seems I’ve just bought myself a last hurrah.
Damned stupid waste. Looks like someone on this rock is gonna be cleaning his teeth with my bones.
An’ to think Blend and Picker were relieved to see me go! Not like there’s so many of us Bridgeburners left, is there? Even Ferret got a proper service and remembrance. Whiskeyjack took off his helmet and said a few words with Free Cities battle magics blastin’ overhead and two dragons circling. And it’s not like he was a popular guy.
Thinking of Ferret he found he could almost see the skinny hunched figure there in front of him: his pinched pale face and sharp teeth — gods! We weren’t kind to the fellow, were we?
Then Ferret looked him up and down and said: ‘What the fuck are you doin’ here, Antsy? You’re not dead.’
Antsy jerked a startled breath and the crossbow jumped in his hands, the bolt skittering off down the stone street.
Corien called, alarmed, ‘What is it?’
Feeling that he’d, well, seen a ghost, Antsy squinted into the empty dark. ‘Nothin’. False alarm.’
‘Time for my watch?’
Antsy eyed the remaining fuel in the lamp. ‘Naw. Bit longer.’
‘Well. I’m up now.’
Antsy nodded, distracted, while he rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Yeah. Fine.’ I swear this damned dark is gonna drive me rat-crazy.
In the ‘morning’ — that is, when they were all up and eating a light meal of dried fruit and old stale bread — Malakai emerged from the dark. He looked much the worse for wear, was growing a beard, and his dark jacket hung torn and stained with sweat.
But then, Antsy reflected, none of us is looking any prettier.
Distaste curled the man’s slash of a mouth as he studied them. ‘What’s this? You should be up the stairs by now.’
Antsy decided he’d had a stomachful of the man’s command style. He’s never with us yet he presumes he’s leading. He cleared his throat. ‘Ah, we had us a talk. An’ we’ve decided we’re goin’ our own way in our own time.’
‘Oh?’ the man breathed, a dangerous edge entering his voice.
Rather belatedly Antsy glanced about for his crossbow. He saw it sitting to one side, uncocked. Damn. Gotta think these things through before I open my stupid mouth.
‘Yes,’ Orchid cut in quickly. ‘We’ve decided.’
The dark glittering eyes shifted to her. A scoffing smile now openly stretched his lips. ‘And where will you go?’
‘The closest way out. We’re going to get off this rock while we still have food and water and strength in our legs.’
‘You’ll never make it.’
Antsy cast a quick anxious glance to Orchid: that evaluation, so final, made her flinch.
‘That may be so,’ Corien said into the silence following Malakai’s comment, ‘but that’s our worry.’
The man seemed to make a show of considering the idea. He gave a great exaggerated frown while his hands brushed his belt. Antsy knew all the blades the man carried at that belt, and in other places. He ached to slip a hand into his shirt to the shoulder harness where he kept a munition in reserve, but he also knew Malakai would act the moment he saw him do that. ‘There’s still the matter of my investment in you two,’ Malakai said, and cocked an eye to Antsy.
Shit. Why didn’t I load the damned crossbow when I had the chance?
‘If I may …?’ Corien spoke up. Malakai gave the slightest dip of his head, his eyes fixed on Antsy. ‘Well. It seems to me that you are already of the opinion that you’ve a far better chance of achieving your goal — whatever that is — without us … yes?’
Both Antsy and Malakai turned to eye the lad. ‘Yes?’ Malakai prompted.
‘Well, then, cutting us free recoups your investment by improving your odds of success.’
Antsy glared his anger. What in Osserc’s dark humour is this?
But Malakai nodded thoughtfully. Something in the proposition seemed to touch on his own private evaluation and he slipped his hands from his belt. ‘Very well. On your heads let it be.’
‘Yeah — right,’ Antsy said, scratching his stubbled jaw, still rather puzzled.
‘We’ll part company here, then.’ Malakai bowed to Orchid. ‘I would wish you luck but I’m afraid your luck will run to the lad’s pull.’
‘We’ll see,’ she answered, firm, having regained her confidence.
‘Farewell then.’ And the man backed away into the darkness to disappear up a narrow side alley. Antsy listened for a time but couldn’t hear one betraying step or scuff. He thought the man had gone but looked to Orchid for confirmation.
‘He’s left,’ she said after a time.
Corien let out a long breath. ‘Thank the gods.’
‘He didn’t ask for any of the water or food,’ Orchid said, surprised.
‘Maybe he knows where he can steal any he needs,’ Antsy said.
‘So what now?’ Corien asked.
Antsy was silent, until it occurred to him that maybe that question had been asked of him. He cleared his throat. ‘Well … I suppose we press on. Keep an eye out.’
‘Good,’ Orchid said, emphatic. ‘I don’t want him to get too far ahead of us.’
Antsy blinked in the dimming light of the lamp. ‘Hunh? What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘I mean just that. I don’t trust him. He’s after something. And there are things here on Moon’s Spawn that mustn’t see the light of day.’
As if on cue the lamp guttered then, and went out. After a moment of surprised silence Corien laughed. Even Orchid joined in, though Antsy just swore. ‘Can’t see a damned thing!’ he complained, and started searching through his bags for more oil.
‘Would you like to see then, Red?’ Orchid offered from the dark.
‘Hunh? You can do that? Why didn’t you-’
‘I told you I don’t trust Malakai. I don’t want him to know what I can do. If I can, that is.’
‘Well, gods, yes! If you would.’
She crossed to his side. He heard her skirts rustling over the stones, felt the warmth radiating from her. Her cool dry hands touched his face. The touch pleased him.
‘I’m glad you managed that without violence, Red,’ she whispered. ‘You nudged him just the right way.’
Antsy resisted the urge to shrug, kept his head steady in her hands. ‘He’s been itching to drop us since we landed. I just handed him the moment. Anyway, it was Corien here who sealed the deal.’
‘I just helped out,’ Corien protested.
‘No. How’d you know he’d buy that argument?’
The lad grunted from the dark, sitting down. ‘Well … it’s a touch embarrassing to say, but my guess is that he didn’t want to face you down, Red.’
Antsy jerked his surprise in Orchid’s hands and she let out an impatient hiss. ‘Sorry,’ he murmured. ‘Lad, the man’s a killer. I think he just decided he didn’t want our blood on his hands.’
‘Is he a killer? Think on it, Red. We actually haven’t seen him use all that hardware, have we?’
‘In Pearl Town he knifed plenty.’
‘Certainly — scared unarmed men and women in the dark from behind. But you’re a veteran, Red. You wouldn’t flinch. You may not know it, but you’re a rather intimidating presence.’
Antsy snorted. Me? You haven’t met the scary Bridgeburners, friend.