unseen, intangible, unable to interact with the physical world in any way. For an orc, there could be no worse fate.
Chagai, hardened warrior though he was, had always relied too much on his considerable strength and speed and not enough on skill, and the intervening years since they'd fought hadn't changed this. Ghaji sidestepped Chagai's attack easily, and the orc's broadsword whistled through empty air. Ghaji swung his axe, hoping to hit Chagai in the armpit where his armor didn't cover, but Chagai allowed the momentum of his failed strike to bring him around so that Ghaji's weapon struck his right shoulder. Again, the enchanted chain-mail protected the orc from the worst of the blow, but the impact sent him stumbling off balance. He let go of his sword and fell forward onto the earthen street.
Ghaji knew better than to give Chagai a chance to recover. He moved in for the kill.
Chagai rolled as he hit, came up on his feet, spun around, and flung his hand outward. Ghaji saw a shower of dirt coming toward his face and realized that Chagai had grabbed a handful of earth as he'd pretended to fall-a dirty trick by any standard, but an unforgivable breech of honor to an orc warrior. Ghaji tried to close his eyes and avert his face, but he was too slow. Bits of dirt and mud struck him and got in his eyes. He swung his axe in a sideways figure eight in front of him to keep Chagai away as he blinked furiously, trying to clear his vision. Tears filled his eyes, washing away the worst of the dirt, and when his vision was finally clear again, Ghaji saw that Chagai was gone. Ghaji stopped swinging his axe, though he did not douse its flame. It seemed Chagai had chosen to abandon the fight rather than slay Ghaji while he was temporarily blinded. Well, well, well. It seemed that Chagai had some small speck of honor left after all.
Then again, maybe Chagai doesn't want you to be an easy kill, Ghaji thought. Maybe he wants to make you suffer before you die.
Ghaji sighed. That sounded more like the Chagai he remembered.
With a thought, he extinguished the axe's flames and tucked the weapon handle-first into his belt. Chagai wouldn't make another try for him. Not tonight. Tonight had simply been Chagai's way of renewing their acquaintance and putting Ghaji on notice that he was being hunted. The real attack would come later, and Ghaji was almost looking forward to it. For the two of them indeed had unfinished business, and it was long past time that their account was settled.
Asenka wondered if Diran had bought her story. She was commander of the Sea Scorpions, not the city watch, and while it was within the scope of her duties to keep an eye out for Haaken and his crew in case they decided to cause more trouble tonight, walking a foot patrol of Perhata's dockside-and alone yet-wasn't exactly standard procedure. She'd returned to the vicinity of the King Prawn for one simple reason: she'd hoped to encounter Diran Bastiaan once more. Still, in order to complete the illusion that she was doing her job, she headed for the docks to check if the Coldhearts had made port once more. Assuming they hadn't, she would then head to the Scorpions' dockside quarters, open a bottle of wine, and think about why she'd done what she'd done this night.
It wasn't like her to show such obvious interest in a man, let alone do so while pretending she was acting in her official capacity. If Baron Mahir found out, he'd strip her of her command and assign her to scraping barnacles off fishing boats for the rest of her life. But Diran wasn't just any man, was he? Haaken and his crew might have been loudmouths, but they were as tough as they came. Diran and Ghaji had stood toe to toe with them without blinking… and made the Coldhearts back down. While Asenka had been impressed with Diran's courage, that alone hadn't stirred her interest in the priest. While speaking with him and his friends after the Coldhearts left the King Prawn, she'd sensed a sadness in the man, along with a gentleness that seemed at odds with his grim demeanor. It was a combination she found fascinating and, if she were to be honest with herself, irresistible.
She laughed as she neared the entrance to the docks. Look at me: Asenka, hard-bitten leader of the Sea Scorpions, acting like a love-sick child! And I've only just met the man!
Even so, she hoped Diran would remain in Perhata for a time. She'd like to see him again, though it would take some thought for her to come up with another excuse to visit the King Prawn. Maybe she could-
'I was watching you, Asenka.'
The voice-a woman's-was soft, little more than a whisper, and it seemed to come from all around her. Asenka's long sword hissed as she drew it from its scabbard, and she held the weapon in front of her as she slowly turned in a circle, ready to meet an attack no matter from what direction it might come.
'Who are you?' Asenka demanded. She couldn't see anyone, but then the fog was so thick, an army could be surrounding her and she'd never know it.
The voice was louder now, more substantial somehow, though Asenka still couldn't see its owner. 'Makala.'
Asenka remembered that name: Diran had spoken it as she'd approached him back at the King Prawn. Foolish as it was, she'd experienced a tiny pang of jealousy that Diran's first thought as she came toward him was of another woman.
'What do you want?'
'A closer look at you. I don't blame you for showing interest in Diran. He's a fascinating man.'
Makala's voice no longer seemed to be coming from all around her, but Asenka couldn't pinpoint the precise direction it did come from. One instant it seemed to be in front of her, the next behind her, off to her right then on her left. It was as if the woman were circling her, but moving so swiftly and silently that Asenka couldn't get a fix on her position. She had the eerie sensation that Makala was some sort of phantom, an ethereal presence without physical shape, but then a dark silhouette coalesced out of the fog in front of her, and Asenka could make out the woman's form.
Being able to see Makala-or at least her dim outline-allowed Asenka's boldness to return. 'And you've come to tell me that he's yours, is that it?'
'He was. Once.'
Asenka was surprised by the depth of sorrow in the woman's voice. Despite the situation, she found herself feeling sorry for Makala, though she wasn't quite sure why. Still, she wasn't about to relax her guard around the woman.
'And now?'
Makala didn't answer right away. 'I don't know what we are to each other now, or if we can ever be anything to each other again. All I know is that I care for Diran and do not wish to see him hurt. If anyone does hurt him-for any reason-that person will have to answer to me.'
Makala spoke these words calmly, but that made them all the more chilling, and Asenka had to suppress a shudder. 'Brave talk from a woman hiding in the fog. Why don't you step closer so I can get a good look at you? Or are you afraid of stepping into range of my sword?'
'I'm afraid of very little anymore.' Makala didn't approach, but twin pinpoints of crimson light flared within the fog, and Asenka knew she was looking at the woman's eyes. 'I do not want to harm you, but remember what I said. I'll do anything to protect Diran.' Her crimson eyes flashed like twin flares. 'Anything.'
Then, as if the woman simply melted into the fog, she was gone.
Asenka stood there for several long moments, gripping her sword in a trembling hand as she struggled to understand what she had just seen. Makala wasn't human, that was certain. She was some manner of fiend, and though she professed to care for Diran, she might in truth be a threat to him.
Asenka-her hand no longer shaking-sheathed her sword in a smooth, practiced motion.
'Seems to me that you're right,' she said softly. 'Diran does need protecting, but not from me.'
The fog remained silent, and Asenka continued on her way to the Sea Scorpions' barracks. She was no longer contemplating having a bottle of wine, though. She intended to round up a squad of her people and keep watch on the King Prawn tonight. Just in case.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Diran was already seated at their table when Ghaji returned to the common room of the King Prawn. Tresslar and Hinto sat with him, watching Yvka perform a juggling routine for the crowd. The half-orc warrior was still brooding over his less-than-tender reunion with Chagai, but the sight of the elf-woman tossing small wooden balls