Ruen said. Icelin wondered whether his words were for her benefit, or the guard's.
The man glared at Ruen and spat on the deck. 'I know the rules better 'an you, Ruen Morleth.' He looked at Icelin. 'I said open it, girl.'
Icelin took out the box and laid it in her lap. She ran her fingers along the edges until she found the clasp. Thank the gods it wasn't locked. Releasing the catch, she lifted the lid.
Red velvet lined the inside of the box, but it was frayed and soaking wet from their swim. Nestled in the small space was a stack of folded parchment sheets, tied together with a black ribbon. The parchment and the ribbon were dry and perfecdy preserved, obviously via some magical means. 'Icelin' was inked on the top sheet.
'They look like letters,' she said. She traced her name and felt a stab of disappointment. She had hoped Brant's words would be on the pages, but she didn't recognize the thick, black script proclaiming her name so boldly.
'Some heirloom.' The guard sniffed. His fellows chuckled.
Icelin clutched the letters and tried not to let her anger show. It would be foolish to provoke these men.
Ruen laid a hand on the closest guard's arm. Immediately, the other two raised their swords.
'Step back,' the largest of them warned.
'My apologies,' Ruen said. He smiled easily and removed his hand. 'I couldn't help but notice how cold your friend's skin is.'
The guard he'd touched paled. Reading the mocking light in Ruen's eyes, he gripped his sword as if he might strike out at the thief.
'Get on with you,' he said, his teeth gritted. 'Though if it were up to me, I'd stick your head through that wall and let you breathe seawater.'
Icelin quickly sealed the box and stood up. She wished she could read whatever was in the letters, but this was not the place. Palpable tension thickened the air. She had no idea what Ruen had done to offend the guards, but they stared at him now with murder in their eyes.
'You know the way,' the guard said, still eyeing Ruen hatefully. 'He's expecting you.'
'You know this Arowall fellow?' Sull asked when they were past the guards. 'I hope he likes you better than that lot.'
'Arowall was captain of The Darter? Ruen said, 'a pirate vessel for twenty years. When his ship finally went down, he'd strung it with so many magics salvaged from old cargo that the ship stayed intact. It drifted into the harbor and stayed here, resistant to water and, mostly, to time.'
'What is The Darters purpose now?' Icelin said.
'Without a ship, Arowall had to turn his hand to another profession,' Ruen said, running his hand along the wall.
'The Cradle?' Sull said, echoing the mermaid's words. 'Sounds awfully harmless for a pirate.'
'Not exactly,' Ruen said. He pointed ahead, where another pair of guards flanked a door at the opposite end of the ship. 'Fighting was Arowall's second favorite activity, so he created a shrine to the sport. He died years ago, but his descendents- one of them is the man we're going to see, he goes by Arowall too-have been keeping up the business, and they turned The Darter into a secret passage to their domain.'
The guards opened the portal and Ruen ushered them through.
Icelin's mouth fell open in shocked amazement.
She'd expected to enter another cramped cabin, but instead she beheld a tunnel through the seawater. It extended eight feet above their heads, reinforced by another magical shield. Water beaded and dripped on their heads in a steady drizzle. The air reeked of salt.
'They drain the water periodically,' Ruen said, 'so it doesn't flood the passage.'
'Don't look sturdy to me,' Sull said.
'It isn't.' Icelin pointed to the stutters in the shield. The sensation of walking on water unnerved her. She kept her eyes off her feet. 'Was the shield here before the Spellplague?' she asked.
'Yes,' Ruen said. 'The enchantments held. Most people who come to the Cradle come from Mistshore, walking above water. Only the lucky souls who can't afford to be seen entering the Cradle use this entrance now.'
'Who?' Icelin asked.
Ruen shrugged. 'Maybe a young noble. He wants a night of fun but doesn't want his face known in Mistshore. Long as he doesn't mind a swim, this is the way he comes.'
The tunnel began a gradual, upward slope. At the end loomed another water wall.
Ruen passed through the opening first. Icelin followed, with Sull bringing up the rear.
Behind the wall Icelin could tell they were in the belly of another ship. The hull had been reinforced several times over. No visible magic greeted them beyond the water wall. A ladder led up to the main deck, and Icelin could see a square of dull sunlight above. The breeze blowing down the ladder was cool and smelled strongly of rain. She couldn't see anything beyond the opening, but she heard muffled voices.
She turned around and noticed for the first time the pair of guards standing on their side of the wall. One of them, a young man not much older than Icelin, stepped forward to speak to Ruen.
'Arowall sends his greetings, Ruen Morleth, and I bear a message. If you wish his protection, the cost will be the same as when last you came here. Can I tell him you will fight in the Cradle?'
'Yes,' Ruen said.
'No, he won't,' Icelin interrupted. 'Ruen, what is this? We're not here to fight. You told us you were taking us someplace safe.'
'Safety comes with a ptice,' Ruen said. 'Haven't you learned that yet? Fighting is Atowall's business. So if we want to stay here, that's what we do. Tell your master that I'm in,' he told the guard. 'Expect his champion to fall tonight.'
'Bold words,' the guard said. His face split in an involuntary grin. 'Bells has no equal this past tenday.'
'Bells?' Sull said. He snorted. 'The champion is called Bells?'
'Death knells, that's why,' said the guard. 'They nicknamed her after she sent that poor bastard Tarodall into the pool. She hates it, but everyone likes a good nickname, you know.'
'We need time to test,' Ruen said.
'Arowall says if you're committed to fighting, you can stay here in safety for the day,' said the guard. 'Fight's tonight, after gateclose.'
'Give him my gratitude,' Ruen said. The guard nodded and climbed the ladder. His partner followed, leaving them alone in the cabin, which reeked of mildew and the general stink of the harbor. Icelin found she was growing used to the smell. She wrinkled her nose. Likely because she was soaked in it, she thought.
'You've been here before?' Icelin asked Ruen when they'd arranged themselves on the floor near the back of the cabin.
'I only come here when I need protection,' Ruen said, 'when I'm desperate enough. We're safe here for the day. You should both sleep.' He looked at Icelin. 'We'll need whatever spells you can muster if things don't go well tonight. I see no way Cerest could track us here, but I want to be prepared.'
'You said one night, and then we'd renegotiate the price for your aid,' Icelin said. 'The cameo can't possibly cover all you're doing for us.'
Ruen laughed. 'That, my lady, is the most profound understatement I've yet heard you make.'
Icelin bristled. 'You don't need to throw it in my face. In fairness to me, I hardly expected to be menaced by the undead, ambushed by a dozen men, interrogated by an insane elf who knows more about my life than I do, which, considering my powers of recollection, is distressing in the extreme. Then you drag me underwater, half drown me, and where do we end up? Back in Mistshore, in the teeth of gods alone knows what type of men, with onfy a warm place to sleep as consolation.' Her brow furrowed. 'Come to think of it, that's not terribly awful under the circumstances.'
'You talk a lot,' Ruen said.
'Only when I'm under immediate threat,' Icelin said. 'Keeps me calm.'
Ruen nodded politely-a ludicrous gesture, considering his previous attitude toward her. And he was letting the subject of his payment drop like it was nothing of concern.
'Why are you doing this?' she demanded. 'In case you hadn't guessed, I have no idea where this little adventure is taking us. You'd be wise to get as far away from me as you can. I don't have any coin to pay you, now
