Or both. In fact, the more I think about it, the more sure I am they'll have
joined up by now. They always were very devoted to each other.'
'I don't know,' said Glen indistinctly, from behind his ice pack. 'Hawk seemed
honestly shocked when he heard the news about Fisher's treachery. I think
there's a real chance he may not be involved in the treason himself.'
'If he wasn't a traitor before, he is now,' said Burns. 'He's defied lawful
orders and assaulted a superior officer. And right now you can bet he's doing
his utmost to help the traitor Fisher to escape justice. Even though her actions
may have helped to start a war.'
'Calm down,' said ap Owen. 'It isn't that bad. Yet. The delegates are still
talking to each other, even if it's not on an official basis at the moment.
There's still hope. In the meantime, guilty or not, I think we can assume Hawk
is doing his best to locate Fisher. And since he's much more likely to figure
out where she's hidden herself than we are, I think we can also assume that when
we finally catch up with them, they're going to be together. And together,
they're the most formidable fighting machine Haven has ever seen. I'm not sure I
can take them, even with twenty men under me. Which is why, Captain Burns, my
men are staying here, warm and rested, until they're needed. I don't want them
worn out from chasing round Haven after every unconfirmed sighting.'
'Thank you, Captain,' said Glen heavily. 'I think you've made your point.' He
scowled at ap Owen and Burns, and then stared unseeingly at the papers on his
desk, his fingers drumming quietly as he thought. 'Hawk said something once,
about Fisher having a special place to go to be on her own, when she wanted to
get away from everything. He told me about it one time, when we were looking for
her in an emergency and couldn't find her. It was an inn. The something Bell.
The Tolling Bell, that was it.'
'What district?' said ap Owen.
'How the hell should I know? Find out!'
Ap Owen rose to his feet. 'It's got to be somewhere near their home. Shouldn't
be too hard to find someone here who lives in that area. I'll let you know the
minute I've got word, Commander; then I'll move in with my men while you have
the area surrounded. Maybe we can talk Hawk and Fisher into giving up. I don't
see any point in getting my people killed if I can avoid it.'
'It's not as simple as that,' said Glen slowly. 'I have my orders, Captain ap
Owen, and I'm passing them on to you. Hawk and Fisher are to be brought in dead.
We're not interested in their capture or surrender. Our superiors have decided
that they can't be allowed to stand trial. They know too many secrets, too many
things the Council can't afford to have discussed in public. So Hawk and Fisher
are going to die resisting arrest. That's the way our superiors want it, and
that's the way it's going to be. Understand?'
'Yes, Commander,' said ap Owen. 'I understand. Now, if you'll excuse me…'
'I'm going with you,' said Burns. 'I have a personal stake in this.'
Ap Owen glanced at Commander Glen, who nodded brusquely. Ap Owen crossed over to
the door without looking at Burns, and left the Commander's office. Burns
followed him out. Glen stared at the papers on his desk for a long time before
returning to his work.
Fisher slipped into The Tolling Bell tavern with her hood pulled low, and
ordered an ale by pointing and grunting. The bartender drew her off a pint
without commenting. You got all sorts in The Tolling Bell. Fisher paid for her
drink and quickly settled herself in a dark corner, careful to avoid her usual
booth. She took a long swallow of the bitter ale, wiped the froth from her upper
lip with care, so as not to disturb her hood, and only then allowed herself to
relax a little. She'd always thought of The Bell as a sanctuary, a place apart
from the cares and duties of her life, and now she needed that feeling more than
ever. She looked around casually, checking the place out.
The inn was quiet, not surprising given the time of day, with only a dozen or so
customers. Fisher recognized all of them as regulars. They'd mind their own
business. They always did.
Hawk's gone berserk. He's killing anyone who gets in his way.
Fisher squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't want to believe that what she'd heard
was true, but it could be. It could be. And if it were… she didn't know what to
do for the best. She couldn't let him go on as he was. If he really had gone
berserk, innocent people might get hurt, even killed. She couldn't risk looking
for him herself; she might unknowingly lead the Guard right to him. But she
couldn't just abandon him, either. She had to do something… something, while
there was still time.
In the street outside, Hawk leaned against a wall and looked casually about him.
No one seemed to be paying him any untoward attention. He was pretty sure he
hadn't been followed since he shook off the pursuing Constables, but he wasn't
taking any chances. He approved of Fisher's choice of inn. The Tolling Bell was
quiet, off the beaten track and nicely anonymous. Not at all the kind of place
you'd expect to find Captains Hawk and Fisher. He took one last look around,
pulled his hood even lower, and ducked in through the open doorway.
He strolled over to the bar, and ordered a beer by grunting and pointing. The
bartender looked at him for a moment, and then drew him a pint. Hawk paid the
man, put his back against the bar, and sipped his beer thoughtfully as he looked
about him. The other customers ignored him completely, but one figure near the
back seemed to be going out of its way to avoid looking in his direction.
Fisher's heart beat painfully fast, and she clutched her glass until her
knuckles showed white. She had recognized Hawk the moment he entered the inn.
She knew the way he walked, the way he moved… He'd spotted her. She could tell
from the way his stance suddenly changed. Her thoughts raced furiously. Why was
he just standing there? Had he come to take her in? Did he want Morgan so badly
now, he'd even sacrifice her in return for a clear shot at the drug baron? He's
gone rogue. Killing anyone who gets in his way. Anyone.
She shoved her chair back from the table and sprang to her feet. She swept her
cloak over her shoulders, out of the way, and drew her sword. She couldn't let
Hawk take her in. He didn't understand what was going on. They'd kill her, once
she was safely out of the public eye, to be sure of appeasing the Outremer
delegates. She couldn't let Hawk take her in.
Hawk shrugged his own cloak back out of the way, and drew his axe as she drew
her sword. What little he could see of her face looked strained and desperate.
She must be a traitor. She's betrayed everyone. She betrayed you. There were
frantic scrambling sounds all around as the other customers hurried to get out
of the way. A tense, echoing silence filled the room.
She's a traitor. All the evidence proves it. She drew a sword on you. You can't
trust her anymore.
He's a rogue. He's gone berserk, out of control. He's killed people all over
Haven. You can't trust him anymore.
