smile on his face.
'Had to sell them all,' confessed Meaghran as he poured the amber-coloured beer. 'Too many families now to have folk standing idle while we feed extra mouths.'
Anglhan raised his mug in toast before Barias could say anything else.
'With the blessings of the spirits, I think my coming here may solve your problems,' he announced. 'Well, some of them.'
They all drank from their mugs, signalling that business could start in earnest.
'Weapons,' Anglhan said, seeing no reason to delay. Meaghran's eyebrows rose in surprise. Anglhan plunged on. 'I wasn't being entirely honest when I said there was no news from Magilnada. Rumour has it that rebels have been gathering in the mountains.'
Barias shifted next to Anglhan, but he ignored the chieftain and continued.
'Speculation, there's nothing like it for good business. I would guess that you've got a few things in your armoury doing nothing but getting in the way. I could help you clear some space.'
'You want to buy weapons from me? Who are you going to sell them to? I'm sure as the sky is blue that Gerlhan can equip his troops just fine.'
'You're right, my friend. But the good citizens of Magilnada, they're not all that confident in their militia. And the freeholders in the farms outside the walls, well, they are getting very nervous.'
'They're not really mine to sell,' said Meaghran, without much conviction. 'They were given to Carlangh by the king, to defend his lands.'
'You're not selling them for yourself,' said Anglhan, his voice as slick as oil. 'You'll just be holding the money until you find someone to take it to Carantathi.'
Meaghran looked at Anglhan for a long time and shook his head.
'No, it's too dangerous. You wouldn't pay what I would ask for, to cover the risk.'
'I am happy to negotiate.'
'No,' said Meaghran. He stood up and offered a hand to Anglhan. 'I'm sorry, but it'd be my skin on the line.'
Anglhan took a small tin wafer from his belt and put it into the commander's hand.
'I really didn't want to do this,' said the landship captain. 'I'm happy to pay the price you name.'
Meaghran looked at the token in his hand. It was no bigger than his thumb, stamped with three things: the seal of the king, a sum of money, and a name. On seeing the last, Meaghran's face flushed red.
'My son?' he snarled. 'You've bought my son's debts?'
Meaghran lunged for Anglhan, grabbing the front of his jerkin. Barias hooked an arm around the commander's waist and hauled him away, the pair of them falling into the straw. Furlthia leapt up, putting himself in front of Anglhan.
'Calm down!' said Anglhan.
Meaghran tried to wrestle Barias aside but the chieftain shifted his weight, pinning down one of the commander's arms with a knee. Meaghran spat and threw the debt token at Anglhan.
'You filthy slavefucker! You dirty, lying bastard!'
Anglhan stood very still, his expression calm.
'I am doing you a favour, you stupid arse,' he said slowly.
'Taking my son into slavery? What did the stupid prick do? I can't believe it!'
Anglhan stooped and picked the token out of the straw. He held it up between two fingers.
'It doesn't matter,' Anglhan said. 'Something to do with wool trade with the Fetea. Your son is in a cell in Labrias. I saw his token and bought it before anybody else could. I thought being a prisoner for the moment was better for him than the alternatives. If it wasn't for me, he'd be mining copper, panning salt or worse. You can have him back if you sell me what I want. Take this token to Labrias and the Fetea will hand your lad over without a problem.'
The debt guardian picked up Meaghran's mug from the floor, dropped the tin token inside and filled it with beer. He proffered it towards the commander. Meaghran's shoulders sagged and he sank back into the straw with a groan.
'That stupid little shit. I knew it was a bad idea to send him away, but his mother insisted.' He banged a fist against his forehead. 'Shit.'
Anglhan nodded Barias aside and helped Meaghran to his feet. The commander straightened his cloak and dusted down his trousers with sweeps of his hands. When he was done, he sat back on his stool, glaring at Anglhan.
'So what is it you want?'
'Why don't we have a look in your armoury and see what you have,' replied Anglhan as he handed over the mug of beer.
IV
The crew heaved up bundles of spears, shields and swords to the landship, while Furlthia kept a tally of everything being loaded on a wax tablet. When the last box was being hoisted up, filled with bronze mail links, the first mate handed the tablet over to Meaghran.
'What's this?' the commander asked.
'We'll need your mark on this so that we can take the cargo into Magilnada,' replied Furlthia. 'Just to avoid too many questions. What happens after that won't be your problem.'
Meaghran slipped a heavy ring from his left hand and pressed its embossed design into the wax. He handed the wax slate back to Furlthia. Anglhan joined them as the commander was putting the ring back on.
'This is yours,' said the debt guardian, placing a sack of coins in Meaghran's hands. He glanced at the Carlanghian warriors who had gathered around the landship and raised his voice. 'I've put in a little extra for your men; a thanks for their help in loading.'
Meaghran growled in irritation.
'I could have my men take you prisoner right now,' he said. 'It'd be a justice if I did.'
'Why don't you?' Anglhan asked innocently.
Furlthia edged a little closer to his captain, fingers on the handle of the knife at his waist. He looked over his shoulder and was pleased to see most of the landship crew were done with the loading. They lined the side of the deck, wiping their sweaty bodies, winking and waving at the local women. A few suggestive calls rang around the square. Several of the men lounged close to one of the spear throwers, the sharp point of its bolt aimed towards Meaghran. Barias was with them. The chieftain grinned at the group on the ground.
'We're not brigands,' Meaghran said between clenched teeth. 'Get out of here. May the spirits shit in your mouths while you sleep.'
Furlthia followed his captain up the side of the landship and puffed with relief when the chocks were stowed and the beat of the drum sounded. The vessel turned laboriously around the square and headed back out of the gate, followed by several dozen warriors. The landship headed towards the river.
'I don't think you'll be coming back here in a hurry,' said Barias.
'I don't think we'll be back here, ever,' said Furlthia.
'Oh, I don't know,' Anglhan said with a smile. 'I'm sure Meaghran and me will be doing business again sometime.'
'He'll cut open your guts for sure,' said Furlthia. Anglhan plucked the ship manifest from his mate's fingers and planted a light kiss upon it.
'Not while I have proof that Meaghran sold weapons to escaped slaves,' he said with a wink and a satisfied chuckle. 'Never let a fish out of the net unless you have to, my friends.'
V
The weather was worsening by the time the landship returned to Thunder Pass. Twice on the journey back flash floods had swept across the mountains, bringing deluges with them. Light rain pattered on the deck and splashed from the sail as the crew steered the landship along the rutted road leading up the valley.
