"Well, my interests don't extend to solving riddles posed by vermin like you," Maq said, standing up. The pirates and Salomdhi were now all securely bound. Maq went to stand over the merchant, who was shaking and sweating and appeared to be going into shock.
"I've never seen anyone killed before," he whispered up at Maq.
She looked at him disdainfully. "I suspect your honest business dealings have set you on a path to witness many things you haven't seen before-and won't want to. Now, where's the key to Lendle's ankle charm?"
The merchant motioned his head toward his vest. In an inside pocket, Maq found the key. She removed the charm, a small disk of smooth gray stone embedded with white rings that continued to flash.
"Where did you get this?" she asked. Salomdhi nodded his head toward Mandracore, who smirked back at Maquesta. Knowing she would get no information from the pirate, Maq dropped the charm on the ground. "Maybe it will help someone find you."
"Let's go," she said, turning to Lendle.
Maq helped Fritzen up and supported him as they walked out of the cave.
"Till we meet again, Maquesta," Mandracore called out as she closed the hillside door.
As they walked through Salomdhi's house, Lendle pulled a strip of linen off the dining room table and tied it around Fritzen's wound, trying to stanch the flow of blood. The trio could feel eyes watching them, but not one servant made an appearance or tried to stop them.
"You're a dangerous lady to be around," Fritz said jokingly to Maquesta as they reached the street.
"I thought you said you liked to live dangerously," she replied. Her tone was light, but her face showed concern. "We have to get back to the wharf and out to the Perechon as fast as we can. I have a feeling it won't be long before help arrives for those scum."
"I need to make one quick stop while we're at the wharf," Fritz said. "I've a pearl necklace in my pocket that will pay off the debt to my friends. Think of it as your comrade Mandracore buying your new sails."
Chapter 12
"A watcher charm-that is very old magic," Tailonna said thoughtfully.
Once the Perechon was sailing out of Sea Reach harbor-with new, crisp, white sails on the newly strengthened masts-Maquesta had asked the sea elf and Ilyatha to come to her cabin. She told them about what had transpired on the island, about Lendle's temporary servitude, the cache of treasure and weapons, Mandracore's appearance, and the charm.
"I am surprised that a simple merchant or even a pirate would know about such things as watcher charms, much less be able to put his hands on one," Tailonna continued.
"Well, Mandracore kept talking about the friends whose interests he was furthering. I wish I knew who they were," said Maq. She looked up from her thoughts to see that Lendle had slipped into the cabin. "How's Fritzen?" Maq asked the gnome.
Lendle had, once again, set up the armory as a temporary infirmary, with Fritzen as its sole patient. "He's stubborn, Maquesta Kar-Thon, and he keeps mumbling that being with you is very dangerous business. I am worried about him. He lost a great deal of blood, and he was still not fully recovered from the sea hag attack," Lendle replied, rubbing his chin in concern. "I am not certain what is necessary to treat him. I came to ask Tailonna and Ilyatha to consult with me on his care."
If the situation hadn't been so serious, Maquesta would have smiled at Lendle's phrasing. The gnome didn't like to admit to any gaps in his knowledge. And he wasn't one to ask for help.
"Tailonna, would you please take a look at Fritzen?" Maq asked reluctantly.
The Dimernesti nodded silently, and Maq suppressed a flash of irritation. Tailonna had already been of great help, and no doubt would be again before the voyage ended. But Maq found the sea elf maiden's remoteness annoying.
"We'll keep you posted on his condition," the gnome said. "Oh, one more thing, Maquesta Kar-Thon. Fritzen Dorgaard acquired pocketfuls of gold coins from the treasure cave. He had me divide them among the crew. Morale is much improved."
Maquesta grinned, pleased at Fritz's generosity. "Ilyatha, I'd like to have a word with you before you join them," she said unnecessarily. The shadow warrior had not made any move toward the door, having telepathically sensed Maq's desire before she stated it.
"Have you had any communication with Belwar since he left us the other day?" Maq asked once the other two had gone to the armory.
"No, I have not. Why do you ask?"
"See if you can contact him. If I know anything about Mandracore, he will try to follow us, and in Sea Reach he gave me cause to think he knew what our mission was," Maq said worriedly. "I know you, too, are anxious to return to Lacynos. Any interference from the Reaver could delay our return past the time… past the deadline Attat has set." Maquesta found she could not speak aloud words that referred to her father's possible death.
"How could the pirate know anything about what Attat has done?" Ilyatha asked, surprised.
"I don't know, but I intend to find out," Maq answered. "Mandracore referred to friends in Lacynos. The minotaur Koraf worked in the Horned Bay shipyards. I want to ask him what he has heard about the Reaver. I want your advice on how much I should tell him. Do you think I can trust Koraf? I made him my first mate because by doing so the crew would be forced to accept his presence. But could he be a spy Attat planted on the Perechon?" Maquesta realized she was asking the shadow warrior for his counsel as she once would have asked her father.
Ilyatha considered the question. "I sense a great anger in the minotaur, matched by an almost equal measure of gentleness," he replied finally. "His nature does not seem a duplicitous one. You have shown good judgment in your actions so far, Maquesta. Trust your own assessment. I believe you have his loyalty."
Maq smiled warmly at Ilyatha, grateful as much for his approval as for the advice.
Fritzen lay on a cot, pale and feverish, his eyes closed.
"Show me what medicinal supplies you have on hand," Tailonna told Lendle, more a command than a request. But since the gnome himself had no sense of social niceties, he didn't take offense.
Lendle went to the corner where he had left his medicine case, a wooden box with a handle and a latch. However, instead of having a top that unlatched and flipped back, as most such cases would operate, this one opened on all four sides with spring catches. When Lendle pressed on one of the catches, intending to open the front panel only, all four sides fell away, leaving him holding the top and bottom of the case, which were connected at the corners by leather thongs. Three open shelves of herbs and potions were promptly revealed, and these immediately began spilling out onto the armory floor.
"This case I made makes it much easier to get at all my herbs," said Lendle as he hurriedly scooped up his supplies. "But this has never happened before. It always works correctly."
"Of course," said Tailonna, showing a rather rare flash of humor. She bent over to help him, murmuring the herbs' names as she replaced them in the case one by one.
"You have collected a very useful selection of medicines," Tailonna said. Lendle beamed at the compliment. "Let me examine Fritzen first, then we'll see if you have what he needs."
Tailonna leaned over the patient, and lightly touched the handsome half-ogre's chest. Fritzen's eyes fluttered open for an instant, held Tailonna's gaze, and then closed. She removed the bandage Lendle had applied and gently probed around the edges of Fritzen's wound. Despite her gentleness, the half-ogre cried out in pain.