Mandon chuckled. “I still have that chopping post in the back if you’d like to test it.”
Bannon remembered when he had first purchased Sturdy. So full of the pain and tragedy that he hid every day, he had hacked the post to splinters. Now, he was much more controlled. Not only was he a better swordsman, but his inner hurts were hardened and healed. His optimism was more than a false façade—it was a real part of him.
The other swords in the smith’s shop had been picked over for the defense of Tanimura, and many notched and bloody weapons had been retrieved from the streets, pried from dead hands. Mandon would have years of work cleaning and resharpening them all.
Bannon sheathed his sword with a satisfying click in the scabbard. “It’s just fine as it is. I don’t need to hack at a wooden post.” He paused to smile. “I prefer opponents who fight back, but I think we’ve done away with all of them for now.” He added cryptically, “The sword cleaves the bone.”
“I’ll fight you, boy, if that’s what you want.” He turned to see Lila standing outside the shop, clad in her scant black leather. Though they had been lovers many times, she still intimidated him in certain ways. It was another sort of battle that Lila intended to win, but it was one he did enjoy. Bannon liked to think he had softened her as much as a morazeth could be softened.
“I don’t need any swordplay for today,” Bannon said to her. “But I’d be happy for your company otherwise.”
“Good. I came to retrieve you.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “The kraken-hunter captain asked for you. He says he knows what you want.”
“Captain Jared?” He frowned, puzzled. “What is it he thinks I want?”
Lila gave him an impatient sniff. “You made it quite clear that you wish to leave Tanimura.” She seemed disappointed in him.
He remained curious. “Then let’s go talk with him and see what he has to say.”
Down by the docks, crew members loaded crates of supplies on board the Chaser. From the foredeck, Jared directed the workers in a loud voice to emphasize that he was in charge, but they ignored him and did what they already knew how to do.
Jared saw them approach along the dock and waved. “I thought you’d come running, Bannon Farmer! This is your chance. The Chaser sails out with the evening tide if you want to go along. We’re heading to Chiriya Island.”
“Chiriya Island? Back home?” He hesitated, uncertain. “I haven’t entirely made up my mind yet.” He looked at Lila.
“Yes, you have,” she said, with frown lines appearing on her brow. “Though I’m surprised you’d want to go back to that island. You’ve had few kind words to say about it.”
With a bright flush, Bannon looked down at his boots. “I have no kind things to say about my horrible father, and he is dead. I couldn’t save my mother, and she was what anchored me there. My friend Ian was gone, so I had no reason to stay. But now I am a much braver man, and I realize that there’s also nothing to fear about going home.” After so much death and mayhem, after all he had been through with the Norukai slavers, the selka attack, and the defeat of the ancient army, he was weary to the bone, and in his heart he just wanted some peace. “I don’t know what that place holds for me anymore. I’m not convinced I’ve any reason to go back.”
Jared crossed his arms over his chest and he called down to them. “I’ve just had disturbing word, too—enough to make me reconsider the destination, if you didn’t want to go there so badly.”
“Wait, I never said—” Bannon spluttered, then paused. “What disturbing word? Has something happened to Chiriya Island?”
The krakener captain grimaced. “More Norukai ships seen in the vicinity.” He paused only a moment for the news to sink in. “We broke the back of King Grieve’s fleet, that’s for sure, but there are more serpent ships plying the seas. Raiders with their own mind for destruction. And now that we’ve conquered and strengthened the major coastal cities, they’ll be forced to attack softer outlying targets. Like Chiriya Island.”
“Then we have to go there!” Bannon said. “Somebody has to help protect them. They don’t know how to fight. How will they—?” He looked at Lila. “You and I can show them.”
She still seemed to hold a grudge. “I thought you were trying to get away from me, since you wanted to leave so badly.”
He was shocked. “I never said that. I … Sweet Sea Mother, I never thought it through! I contemplated going home, just as a daydream. I was just thinking of those poor villagers. Even with all my bad memories of Chiriya, there are still a lot of good people who don’t deserve to be slaughtered by the Norukai.”
“You didn’t even know about the new Norukai threat until just now.” Lila sniffed. “That wasn’t part of your decision.”
Jared grinned at them from the side of the ship, showing the gap in his teeth. “She’s got you there, lad.” After two of his crew members trudged up the gangplank, each with a keg of ale balanced on his shoulder, Jared bounded down to meet them on the docks.
“Wait…” Bannon hesitated again, his thoughts whirling. “Would it bother you if I go somewhere? You sound hurt.”
Lila stiffened. “You have seen me fight. It takes much more than that to hurt a morazeth. And would you not want me at your side if it comes to fighting more Norukai? Although why you would bother to help such weaklings instead of getting your revenge is beyond me.”
He squared his shoulders. “Because that island is full of people just like I was, and I didn’t deserve what happened to me. People just like Ian, and he didn’t deserve it. I want to save them, if I can. I, uh, assumed you would go with me.”
“You did not think to ask?”
“Would you go with me to Chiriya Island? And wherever else I might go?”
She nodded. “I accept your reasons. I will accompany you.” Lila adjusted her black leather skirt. “You always manage to find circumstances in which you need protection. I don’t dare let you go alone.”
Though Nicci tried not to show any emotion, saying farewell to Bannon turned out to be more difficult than she expected. As they stood in the large square above the harbor, the young man came forward and hugged her for a long moment, much longer than was necessary, and she allowed it. She even embraced him back.
“I will miss you, Nicci. I’ve grown much in strength and wisdom during my time with you.” When he finally let go, Bannon turned to Nathan.
The wizard clearly felt proud of his protégé. Tears welled in his azure eyes. “My boy, you are a brave fighter and a fine companion. You were naive and gullible when we first met, but now you are a man, stronger, braver, and more accomplished than I ever expected.”
“I admit, I am impressed,” Nicci said. “When I saved you from your own stupidity in that Tanimura alley, I was certain you were a lost cause. You created your own problems, and I vowed never to rescue you again.”
Bannon’s voice quavered with emotion. “I didn’t need any more rescuing, did I?”
“Yes, you did,” Nicci said with a laugh, “but no more than all of us did. You fought beside us, and we fought beside you. Go home, Bannon Farmer. You deserve it.”
Nathan looked closely at Lila. “You swear to protect him? As a morazeth?”
“Always. You should not need to ask.”
Offended, Bannon touched the sword Nathan had given him. “I thought you said I could take care of myself!”
Nicci and Nathan looked at each other with an amused expression.
Lila repeated, “You have nothing to worry about. I’ve already given my word.”