As the ship bumped against the dock and the other passengers waited patiently for the gangplank to be lowered, Singe looked around. There was a figure missing from the small crowd. The wizard reached out and tapped Pandon. “Where’s Natrac?” he asked. He would have assumed the half-orc would be among the most eager to disembark.
Pandon, however, gave him an awkward look. “I suppose you wouldn’t have heard,” he said.
“Heard what?”
The thin man shifted and sighed. “He’s not coming ashore at Zarash’ak. He’s staying in his cabin and going on to Sharn. He’s afraid that you’ve ruined his business and House Deneith will be investigating him.”
“What?” said Singe. “Pandon, you know that was just a joke!”
“Apparently Natrac thought otherwise,” Pandon said. “Captain Vennet told me himself. Natrac has even released his clients from their contracts. They’re free to do as they please.”
He pointed. Singe followed his gesture and his eyes widened as he took in the sight of the Natrac’s thugs, held back by the crew, waiting eagerly in the stern of the ship for their turn at the gangplank. Singe smacked a hand against his forehead and groaned.
“Twelve moons! What is he thinking? Dandra!” The kalashtar looked around. “I have to go to find Natrac and talk to him,” he told her. “Can you gather my gear when you fetch yours? You know where all of it is.”
Dandra nodded and Singe strode back toward the hatch that led to the tiny passenger cabins. The thud of the gangplank hitting the dock followed him. Shortly afterward, he heard the murmur of Vennet’s disembarking passengers, then the excited calls of Natrac’s former clients as they rushed to embrace a new life.
The crew would follow next; they had certainly already abandoned the rest of the ship. Singe stopped at the door of Natrac’s cabin and banged loudly on the thin wood. “Natrac!” he called. “We need to talk. You’re making a mistake. There’s no House Deneith investigation. I was just having you on!”
There was no response. “Natrac!” Singe called again. Was the half-orc even inside? He paused and listened closely at the door.
A soft moaning met his ear-and a vile smell his nose. A wretched stink like an overflowing chamber pot wafted through the door. “Natrac?”
He tested the door. It was latched, but nothing more. It opened easily.
Natrac lay on the narrow bed, struggling fitfully. His clothes were soiled with his own excrement and only an open porthole vented the reek out of the ship. His face was flushed. His wrists and ankles had been lashed securely to the bed’s frame and a gag forced into his mouth. Singe bit back a curse.
A heavy bottle nestled in a little boxshelf attached to the wall inside. Singe eased carefully into the cabin and fished it out. When he opened the bottle, a sickly sweet smell wafted out. There was a bluish stain around the cork. Singe hissed and glanced at Natrac’s flushed face. A matching blue stain colored his lips and trickled down his face. Singe hesitated for a moment, then stepped out of the cabin and hurried back up to the deck.
Dandra met him at the hatch. She had her spear, but not their gear. Her face was pale. “The crystal band and the honor blade are gone!”
Singe clenched his teeth and touched the rapier at his side. “Something’s wrong. Where’s Geth?”
“He wandered down onto the dock with the other passengers. He said he wanted to feel something solid under his feet again.” Dandra’s nose crinkled. “What’s that smell?”
“Natrac,” said Singe grimly. “He’s been drugged.” The ship was entirely silent around them. Everyone had gone. “We should join Geth.” He started across the deck toward the gangplank.
A curved sailor’s cutlass swept out of the shadow of the captain’s cabin, barring his way. He leaped back as Vennet followed the weapon into the light. The crystal band was clutched in his free hand. Behind him, Ashi glided out the shadows as well, the unsheathed honor blade held low before her.
“I have a better idea,” said Vennet. “Let’s wait for Geth to come back and join us.”
CHAPTER 9
Singe stared at the crystal band in the half-elf’s grasp, then studied his face. His eyes narrowed. “Have you worn it already, Vennet?”
He heard Dandra draw a sharp breath and stretched out a hand to her. Vennet’s cutlass twitched sharply. “Don’t move,” the captain said. “Not a muscle.”
Singe let his hand fall slowly back to his side.
Vennet nodded as Ashi came up beside him. “That’s good,” he murmured, “that’s very good.”
“Vennet, what are you doing?” Dandra said.
“He’s turning on us,” Singe answered for Vennet. Everything was clear in his mind. “He planned this. Convincing us to stay behind on the ship, arranging for the crew to be busy in the hold so we couldn’t check on our gear until the last minute.” He glanced at Ashi then asked Vennet, “Was the crew really too scared to go into the hold or did you order them to stay out so you could talk to her alone?”
“A little of both,” Vennet said tightly.
“And House Lyrandar’s prohibition against throwing people overboard?”
“Ironically,” said the captain, “that’s the truth.”
“Singe,” Dandra said, “what’s going on?”
The wizard risked turning slightly to give her a dark smile.
“The cults of the Dragon Below aren’t something you find just in the Shadow Marches.”
Dandra turned pale.
Singe looked back to Vennet. “I think our good captain has decided to make a move for power. If he hasn’t done it already, he’s going to contact Medala and offer his services to Dah’mir.”
Vennet’s face tightened. “You’re too smart for your own good, Singe.”
“I’ve been told that before,” Singe said casually. At least he hoped he sounded casual. His stomach felt like it had squeezed down into a rock. “Why did you drug Natrac? No, let me guess.” He followed a line of reasoning through his head. “Natrac was the only other one in your cabin when we told our story. He was the only other person on the ship besides us who knew that Ashi was a follower of the Dragon Below. You had to be sure that he didn’t let that information slip out, so you made sure he couldn’t talk to anyone on the ship and you spread the word that he was giving up his business and traveling on to Sharn. That way no one would suspect his disappearance afterward.” He smiled. “And there’s Captain Vennet d’Lyrandar, with no one left to give away his secret.”
“Storm at dawn!” Vennet snapped. “Would you shut up?” He slid closer cautiously, cutlass at the ready. “If either of you moves or makes as much as a sound to cast a spell or-” the cutlass wavered slightly toward Dandra “-do whatever kalashtar do, you’ll regret it. Ashi, hide by the rail. When Geth comes back aboard, make sure he dies.”
The hunter nodded and darted across the deck, hunching down to stay out of sight. When she reached the rail, she peered over cautiously. She grimaced and snapped the fingers of her free hand softly to attract Vennet’s attention. He turned slightly, enough to see her and still keep an eye on his captives. Ashi mimed someone wandering back and forth on the dock below. Vennet’s teeth clenched and he cursed softly.
In the instant that the captain’s attention wandered, Singe felt the brush of Dandra’s mind on his, just as he had when she’d shared her memories on the morning after Bull Hollow. Trying his best to keep his face neutral, he relaxed and accepted the touch of her thoughts. The voice that rang in his head was taut. Singe, what are we going to do?
It took a conscious effort not to turn his head and look at the kalashtar as he answered her. Can you warn Geth the same way we’re talking?