CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Vanderjack stared at the Baron’s beautiful daughter.
“You knew the whole time, didn’t you,” he said accusingly.
Gredchen was leaning up against one wall of the gallery, running a hand through her hair. “Yes, of course I did. But I couldn’t tell you everything. Lord Gilbert’s orders.”
“To the Abyss with the baron,” he swore. “I had a signed contract and everything. Did Theo know?”
Theodenes was still lying on the floor, staring blankly up at the painting, his limbs occasionally twitching as the ghoul’s paralysis worked its way out of his system.
“No, he didn’t.”
“So that’s two of us you’ve been lying to. I thought this was going to be an actual rescue mission. I kind of looked forward to it-a romantic notion, I suppose. Instead it’s an art recovery job. Who in the blazes pays somebody to come all the way into occupied territory for a bloody painting?”
Gredchen coughed. “Well, it’s not just-”
“Lord Gilbert Glayward, expatriate Solamnic and gloomy art collector, that’s who. Ackal’s Teeth!”
Vanderjack paced back and forth, tugging at the collar of his arming doublet. It was chafing at his neck. His head pounded from the lump on the back of his skull, and his stomach was lurching again. He had lost his sword, he was miles behind enemy lines, and his contract was effectively a sham.
“Look,” said Gredchen, a little of the steel returning to her voice. “Let’s just take the painting, get out of here, and-”
“Listen, lady.” Vanderjack spun about, raising his voice. “I’m not leaving the castle until I get my sword back. I am fond of that sword. It’s how I pay the bills and keep myself in drink, something I am going to need a great quantity of if we ever manage to get out of this mess.”
“I am sure the baron will completely cover any and all expenses, including buying any new sword you desire. This painting means more to him than you can possibly know.”
A surge of anger replaced the wave of weakness and nausea that had come over Vanderjack. “No!” he yelled and slammed his fist against the wall only inches from the painting’s frame. Wooden panels split, the painting rattled in its place, and Gredchen let out a shocked shriek.
“Be careful!” she said, rushing forward to steady the painting.
“That sword is irreplaceable! It was my mother’s sword, and I didn’t even swindle her out of it. I need that sword, that particular sword, my sword. Mine!”
“Separation anxiety?” said a woman’s voice from the direction of the stairs.
Vanderjack and Gredchen stopped shouting at each other and turned. The red dragonarmy highmaster, fully armored, caped, and helmed, stood at the top of the stairs. Behind her were the gaunt albino wizard Cazuvel and the hulking form of one of the Red Watch sivaks.
“Ackal’s Teeth!” swore Vanderjack.
“Ackal’s Teeth? I heard he’d replaced them all with wood near the end of his long depraved life,” Rivven Cairn said. “It’s a pleasure to finally catch up with you, Ergothian.”
Vanderjack instinctively reached for his sword, but gritted his teeth and formed a fist instead. “The pleasure’s all yours, Cairn,” he said. “Believe me.”
“As I am sure you have already discovered, the good Baron has sent you on a fool’s errand. I’m not sure if he’s going senile in his old age or if he truly believed this would work, but you won’t be returning with that painting.”
“Highmaster, please, we’re only here to retrieve what is rightfully his,” said Gredchen, stepping forward with her hands raised and open. “Under authorized contract.”
Rivven cocked her head to one side. “Do you know, Cazuvel,” she said, “Gredchen here actually lied to me earlier? She told me she knew nothing about the Ergothian and was simply on the road within my lands to get supplies.”
“How unfortunate,” muttered the wizard, his violet eyes wandering along Gredchen from crown to heel.
Gredchen shuddered then started to say something, but Rivven cut her off.
“Enough. You’ve made your bed, girl, so now you’re going to have to drag it home to the baron’s manor and lie in it. Say good-bye to the Ergothian.”
“I’m half Saifhumi, actually,” Vanderjack said through clenched teeth. “Some say it’s where I get my good looks.”
“Do they now? But Saifhumi explains a lot,” Rivven said. “The Saifhumi are all pirates, thieves, and liars.”
“Guilty as charged,” Vanderjack said more cheerfully than he felt, glancing around to see if there was any way out of their predicament other than through the highmaster, the wizard, and the draconian thug. It didn’t look likely.
“Sellsword, I am here to collect on debts you have incurred since you signed on with the baron. You have three choices: you can repay me and the highlord of the Red Wing with steel coins, with your services, or in blood.”
“Can I have a moment to think about it?”
“You can have as long as you like. Of course, you will have to do your slow deliberating back in my dungeons under Wulfgar. I’m sure you’ve heard that they are quite secure, unlike those beneath this castle.”
“Your hospitality is legendary,” Vanderjack said. “But perhaps I can pay you back in services, as you suggest. Yes, it almost appeals to me. However, I can’t rightly sign up with your army without proper armor-my armor, which has been taken away from me, and my favorite sword.”
“Your Excellency,” said Cazuvel. “The armor in question once belonged to your captain Annaud.”
Vanderjack shrugged. “He wasn’t using it anymore.”
“That’s enough!” Rivven snapped. “I shall be keeping both your stolen armor and the sword Lifecleaver as partial repayment. You would get suitable replacements in my-the highlord’s-army.” She turned and looked at the sivak, who was lurking silently at the top of the stairs. “Bring him along. Leave the gnome to the pleasure of the wizard.”
“Now wait a minute,” said Vanderjack as the sivak advanced upon him. “That sword is a priceless family heirloom.”
“Gredchen, you are free to go,” said Rivven coolly. “I suggest you make haste. I can’t guarantee your safety for long. Apparently,” she looked pointedly at Cazuvel, “some of my officers and draconians have been acting quite independently lately, and I would truly hate to have you suffer under any of their unwarranted misbehavior.”
Gredchen looked apologetically at Vanderjack, who didn’t return the favor. The sellsword’s arms were yanked behind his back by the sivak, and he was forcibly marched out of the room and down the spiral stairs.
“Watch the head!” the sellsword called out, launching into a long string of expletives.
Rivven Cairn moved to stand in front of the baron’s beautiful daughter and pointed at the stairs.
“Go,” she barked to Gredchen, “before I change my mind.”
“What about Theodenes?” asked the baron’s aide, looking at the incapacitated gnome.
“Does it matter?” asked Rivven.
“He is promised to me,” said Cazuvel, stepping forward and hovering over the gnome, fingers laced together.
“I feel responsible for him,” she said in a soft voice. “Moreover, I admit I feel a fondness for him.”
Rivven hesitated, her brows knitted. “Very well.” Rivven turned to Cazuvel. “Sorry, wizard. I’ve had a rare change of heart. You can keep that dragonne creature, but the gnome goes home with Gredchen.”
“But, Your Excellency!” said Cazuvel, noting Gredchen’s look of surprise at the mention of the dragonne.
“Any more complaints, wizard, and you won’t even get that,” she said dismissively. She motioned toward the gnome. “So pick him up and get out of here.”
Gredchen nodded and stooped to lift the gnome up in her arms. “The baron isn’t going to be very pleased,” she whispered.
Rivven looked at her with amusement. Gredchen turned, paused to glare at the wizard, and hurried down the stairs with Theodenes thrown over one shoulder.