“Yes. A shaman.”
The foreigner wore buckskins rather than the factory-sewn wool garments Amaranthe had on, and the thick blond braid and pale skin were unlike the darker coloring of imperial citizens. Tattoos of snakes and rats adorned the side of his cheek and neck-the rest of his face was buried in the snow.
“He has a friend.” She waved to indicate the blankets and bags.
“I saw.”
While Sicarius searched for other tracks, Amaranthe knelt and rifled through the Kendorian’s pockets. Nothing identified him, nor did a handy why-I’m-invading-the-empire-and-killing-soldiers note provide illumination. She checked the belongings under the dock but again found no identifying items. A small toolkit stirred her imagination though.
Sicarius returned. “No other recent prints.”
“Hm. Any idea what Kendorians would be doing down here?”
Other than the ice workers chiseling out blocks for the summer trade, little activity centered around the lake in the winter. The military’s ice-breaking ship kept the transportation lanes open for imports and exports, but the fishing boats and canneries lay dormant.
“Something important enough to warrant killing soldiers to avoid discovery,” Sicarius replied.
“Kendorians would kill our soldiers whether discovery was involved or not. The empire isn’t exactly loved by neighboring nations.” She stuck her hands under her armpits. Now that her body had cooled, she noticed the chill air probing her sweat-dampened clothing. “Still, most of them don’t travel a thousand miles in the middle of winter for random soldier-slaying.”
“We should go.”
True. With the bounties on their heads, being found loitering around murdered soldiers was not a good idea.
“Agreed.” Amaranthe picked up a jog again, heading for the broad street lining the waterfront. “We’ll need to hurry to have a shot at finding the second Kendorian before he does…whatever it is he’s planning.”
Sicarius matched her pace, but the long look he slanted her suggested that was not the “go” he had in mind.
As her mind whirred with possibilities, the weariness from her run bled away. If the second man could turn himself invisible, too, he could be anywhere. It would take some lucky guessing to suss out his destination.
When they reached the ice-free channel fronting the merchant and naval docks, she slowed. Could one of the trade vessels be a target? Most ships sat dark. The gathering night and the snowfall had sent folks home for the day. Only one pier was lit up, its great steel steamship sending a few black wisps from its stacks. The
Amaranthe halted so abruptly she almost tripped. “That’s it.”
Sicarius turned, watching her face.
“The ice-breaking ship,” she explained.
“You think that’s the target?”
“What else would a Kendorian be after at this time of year on the waterfront? The snow’s already too high in the passes for the locomotives to plow the rail tracks. If the shipping lanes freeze over, the capital city goes without imports for the rest of the winter. Not to mention we’d be unable to get more troops in if something happened to the city. It’d be especially bad this year, since the
Sicarius pulled her into the shadows of a dark warehouse. “You have no evidence.”
“No, but I have this lovely hunch, and it’d be downright uncivil to ignore it.”
“We have no way of knowing the Kendorian is on board,” Sicarius said. “We
“I know.”
“Even if the Kendorian
“I know that, too.”
Two soldiers marched along the street, rifles balanced on their shoulders. Amaranthe put her hand on Sicarius’s forearm and guided him into an alley.
“I know this is dangerous,” she said, “probably more dangerous for you than for me-my poster just says wanted, yours says shoot on sight-but this could be a chance for both of us.”
For years, he had assassinated politicians, warrior-caste scions, and wealthy entrepreneurs, never for the money, always for the challenge. While she had won many victories in her adventures, her greatest might have been in convincing him the most worthy challenge was in becoming a man the emperor might one day be proud to know.
“But,” Amaranthe continued, “you’re going to have to be seen doing some empire-saving heroics before the emperor will consider lifting that mountain-sized bounty on your head.”
“Heroics aren’t my specialty,” Sicarius said.
“No, but I’m partial to them.” She squeezed his arm. “And I know when the current’s too strong for my swimming level. I need your help for this.”
A trolley clanged in the distance. A clump of snow fell from the gutters. Pale flakes gathered on Sicarius’s dark shoulders.
“What’s the plan?” he finally asked.
She rubbed her hands together. “I’ll get on the ship, get some information, and get the crew hunting for intruders. You start looking for the Kendorian.”
“How do we get on?”
“I’ll go my way, you go the assassinly way.”
“Assassinly?”
“You know, skulk under the docks to the ship, climb the dark side of the hull without so much as a rope, slip unnoticed onto the deck, ghost through the shadows without a sound, and surprise the enemy in the act.” Amaranthe quirked a smile at him. “Isn’t that your usual method?”
“I might use a rope,” he said mildly.
“You didn’t bring one. Also, make sure to come find me before you leave. I’m guessing getting on board will be easier than getting back off again.”
“Likely.”
“One more thing,” Amaranthe said before Sicarius could disappear into the shadows. “You
A moment passed before he looked back at her, and she imagined an inward sigh despite the lack of expression on his face.
“Heroes don’t leave trails of dead soldiers behind, no matter how practical it may be to dispose of anyone who wishes to harm you.”
When he had disappeared into the shadows, Amaranthe shook the tension out of her limbs and strode toward the
As she neared them, Amaranthe held her hands well away from her own blade. “I need to report an incident. Is your captain available?”
“He’s busy.”
“Would the knowledge that two soldiers were murdered on the trail a couple miles down un-busy him?” she asked. “Oh, and there’s a dead Kendorian, too. Looks like he might have done the murdering.”
The two men exchanged concerned looks, but the speaker merely said, “You’d need to report that to someone at Fort Urgot. We’re detached to the
“It’s snowing and dark. I’m not running five miles to the fort. I just thought I’d try to help you boys out. It looks like someone inimical is around causing trouble.”
