Return of the Crimson Guard

‘Yes.’

‘Then you're finished. Everyone's gone.’

Yath stepped closer. He appeared even more hungry and wiry now that he'd shaved his beard. He leant forward on his staff — a new staff he'd found on board — to tower over Blues. ‘Not everyone…’

‘Now wait a minute. Why should we-’

‘You were in the Pit.’ Yath raised a brow to Fingers. ‘Your friends nearby were exposed to the dust. Your continuing contamination spreads dust anew. All of you must wash. Cut your hair. Scour your skin with stones. Just as we have. And wash again. Your people and the women inmates as well — all, Su, Inese and that Korelan sea- witch.’

Blues eyed the man as if he was insane. ‘Why in the Abyss would we do that right now, right away? I mean, I plan on getting cleaned up — eventually. What's your rush?’

The Seven Cities priest's dark wrinkled face broke into a self-satisfied grin. He caught Ho's gaze and Ho realized that the man knew — that somehow he'd sensed what was going on — or had been informed by one of those he'd browbeaten into following him. ‘Tell him, Ho,’ Yath invited.

Blues turned to him. Ho rubbed his scalp and winced again. He pulled his hand away. ‘Something's going on at Heng. A lot of us can sense it — bits and pieces — glimpses, now that we're far from the islands. Something important. And Laseen is there.’

‘This insurrection you're talking about?’

‘… Yes… and more.’

‘More?’

‘Your mercenary company is involved,’ Yath said.

Blues’ gaze narrowed on Ho. ‘Is that true?’

Ho was unable to meet the man's eyes. He lowered his head. ‘Yes. They've come back. They are in the field near Heng.’

Blues was silent for some time. Jain continued coughing. Waves washed the sides of the Forlorn. Cordage creaked and rubbed overhead. ‘Why didn't you say anything?’

Ho raised his eyes, tried to plead for understanding. ‘I said nothing because I do not agree with Yath's proposal. What he is talking of is too dangerous. Far too risky for all of us. We will most likely all be killed.’

Blues’ mouth twisted in his clenched anger. He took his hands from the twin blades he now carried at his sides — his own swords had been left behind when he came to the Pit. Without moving his gaze he said, ‘Talk, old man.’

The Seven Cities priest made no effort to conceal his triumph. He bared his sharp yellow teeth. ‘A ritual, mercenary. We have among us more than thirty mages of considerable power. We will enact a ritual of movement through warren by ship. It is more common than you might imagine. Ask our Korelan friend — with her aid we are assured of success.’

‘Provided we can cleanse ourselves of the Otataral.’

‘Yes. Provided.’

Blues’ gaze slid past Ho to question Fingers. ‘Interesting…’ the mage said.

‘Now I'm definitely nervous,’ Blues muttered. But he waved a hand. ‘All right, Yath. We'll get cleaned up. In the meantime, set your people to scrubbing the deck.’

The Seven Cities mage actually bowed. ‘Excellent — Captain.’

Blues ignored the man, pointed to Treat. ‘Take down the sails, wash ‘em.’

Treat just rolled his eyes.

That night Ho sat with Su in the empty cargo hold. ‘If you don't go, they'll come down and carry you up.’

‘I'd curse their manhoods — if they still had them.’

‘It's just water. A quick dunk and they'll leave you alone.’

‘I'm too old for too many things, including dunking.’ The hull groaned around them. Rat claws scratched on wood. Ho felt the dark pressing in upon him, damp and gravid. ‘And what of you,’ Su said, tilting her head back to eye him. ‘They are all so much less than you — why fear them at all?’

‘We're not talking about that, Su. We could lower you in a net.’

‘A net? Am I a fish? Does your friend Blues know the real reason why you did not tell him of Heng? Why you are so frightened to return?’

‘Quiet, witch.’

‘Let us make a pact, magus-’

‘No pacts, witch. Just washing.’

‘A washing for me and a reunion for you.’

‘You're going under regardless, witch. It's just a question of coercion.’

‘Yes, it is always a question of coercion in the end, is it not?’

Ho sighed his impatience. ‘Su, I told you already I'm not impressed by these vague empty pronouncements you toss off hoping people will think they're wise.’

She smiled. ‘Is that what I do?’

‘Su…’

The old woman lifted a crooked finger. ‘Wisdom lives only in hindsight.’

Ho pushed his head back to hit the hull planking.

‘Is that anger I'm seeing, Ho? A temper, perhaps?’

‘Right, that's it.’ He stood, gestured Su up. ‘Let's go. On deck. Right now. There's something going on you should see. C'mon.’

She stared up at him, fiddled with her walking stick. ‘What? Right this minute?’

‘Yes. Come on!’

‘Well! Give an old woman a moment, would you?’ She struggled to rise, slapped away his offered hand. ‘As if anything could be so pressing! You would think Hood's Paths themselves had opened up above vomiting up all the dead!’ She grasped the steep gangway in one gnarled hand. ‘Just a trick, I'm sure,’ she grumbled, climbing.

On deck, torches and a bright moon in a clear night sky lit a crowd of inmates gathered around the Avowed at the larboard side of the Forlorn. Fingers sat gripping the sides of a slat seat perched atop the gunwale. By turns he peered down with pure dread and at Blues with pure venom. Treat and another of the Avowed, Reed, were tying ropes to the seat and to Fingers — who was already tightly strapped in.

‘It ain't gonna work!’ Fingers was shouting. ‘You're taking advantage of me right now is what you're doing! I'll drown.’

‘We'll keep a close watch,’ Dim assured him. ‘Don't you worry now.’

Fingers glared bloody fury at the man.

‘OK,’ Blues said. ‘All secure?’

Treat slapped Fingers’ back. ‘All secure.’

‘Bastards!’

‘Over we go,’ Blues ordered.

Treat and Reed lowered the stretcher by the ropes, backed up by Blues and Dim. Fingers had stopped cursing them all and, sinking out of sight, his pale white face stretched even tauter over his sharp cheekbones. The crowd of inmates pressed forward to line the side.

‘Room, dammit,’ Blues complained, raising his elbows. ‘Room!’

Ho observed aside to Su, ‘We're a little short on entertainment out here.’

‘Somehow this is not reassuring, Ho.’

‘Don't worry.’ He waved to a solid woman, her greying hair hacked short, who had come to his side. ‘Su, this is Devaleth. She's been over already but she and you and Inese — and Opal also — can wash at the stern. We'll put up a spare canvas or blankets. It's that or they'll throw you over in a net.’

The old witch's thin mouth curled in condescension. ‘If I must.’

Whoops and laughter sounded from the gathered inmates. Treat and Dim were hauling on the ropes. A sodden, shivering Fingers appeared at the gunwale. His torn linen shirt hung from his lank form. He stuttered something — curses probably — as they lowered his stretcher to the deck. Dim held out a blanket that he snatched and wrapped around himself. Ho watched, wondering, how could anyone be so skinny?