Chapter Thirty-One

‘The power of the Wardens was unknown. They were known only to be killers in the night. Never seen or heard from. Their presence was only known by the seer’s who bragged their name.’ 

Creaton was left out of the upbeat reunion. He glanced over his shoulder at the men he knew, Boog and Mug, just to make sure they were still stationed far away from him. In Parian, he arrested these two clowns more times than he could count. Yet today, it was no longer about who was a criminal or an envoy, or what he had thought before the war had started. Today was a different matter altogether. He would follow what Caid had to say and he would listen to Pog to see what the man could offer them in return for giving him their time.  

Caid glanced over his own shoulder at Creaton, who just shrugged.  

“Later,” Caid whispered to him.  

Right now, Creaton wasn’t interested in being introduced to these men, he only wanted to know how a man reappeared after being assumed dead.  

“Pull up a couple of seats. They aren’t the most stable, but they should hold for a little while longer,” Pog said, pulling up his own wooden chair.  

Creaton grabbed a chair and, seeing there was, some serious lean to the legs, hesitated.  

“Come on,” Boog yelled from a few seats down, “I am far bigger than you and I haven’t fallen on my ass yet.” He laughed, and Mug joined in.  

Creaton, unwilling to let Boog get one up on him, sat down, hearing the chair creak and strain, but it held. He would just make sure he sat still.  

“So, Pog, how did you do it? How did you manage to fake your death, find a body to pose as your own, and then evade the Wardens for this long?” Caid asked.  

“I see we aren’t doing any small talk, huh? No worries about the weather? No mention of the cool breeze coming in from the sea this evening? No, I guess we just are to jump right into things,” said one of the wardens Creaton had never met.  

Pog held up his hand to silence the man. “Rightfully, a few of us aren’t in the best of moods,” he said, turning to the man on his left. “However, that doesn’t excuse the jibes between those on the same side.”  

“You’re right,” the man said.  

Pog turned back to Caid. “Want anything to drink? We have rum and possibly more rum,” he offered.  

Caid shook his head. No one bothered to ask Creaton, as if he was the unwanted guest which he supposed he probably was.  

Pog licked his lips and stared off into space for a moment. Creaton figured he was gathering his thoughts; it had been a hard month for everyone.  

“It happened so fast that night,” Pog began. “I remember watching you and Geth down below me arguing like a married couple. Then I remember the carriages pulling up and the fighting started. The ambush was so fast, and I clearly didn’t expect it. I could tell neither you nor Geth were fairing any better. When I saw this idiot with you today,” Pog stopped, pointing to Creaton, “I knew you had a story to tell as well, Caid.” He turned back toward Caid.  

Creaton now understood why the wardens were hostile toward him. He was sure Pog told them all this story once or twice over a few cups of rum, and his name would have come up in association with the death of a warden and the near-death of a second. He doubted they would like him any better once they figured out that he had almost killed Caid as well. Caid gave Creaton a stern look, and Creaton kept his mouth shut. Although Caid had every right to turn on him, Creaton knew Caid would not let anyone kill him, though Creaton would not have blamed anyone who tried. 

“I watched you and Creaton fight next to the carriage. I was sure Geth was doing his best to hold off five or six men and, we both know he would have skewered them like rats. He didn’t get the chance though.” Pog took a deep breath before continuing. “Geth wasn’t the first to fall that night. Maddog had stabbed me in the ribs with his dagger from behind. He had every intention of stabbing me again, but one of the envoys had gotten overzealous and climbed the ladder to the building we were on. Maddog turned to him, to yell at him. Knowing I was bested, I rolled from the building and used my daliwin to shield my fall.” Pog twirled the daliwin that had been hidden in his pocket. 

Creaton was starting to understand that the item he had forever thought a burden, was something much more than that.  

“After I hit the ground, I disappeared into the shadows. I stopped my wound from bleeding, but I was never strong enough to stop the pain. I had no chance to win a fight against Maddog or the envoys. When I turned back to look, I saw Maddog stick his sword into Geth’s heart. Geth never saw it coming, and the envoys didn’t stick around to celebrate, they ran.” Pog glanced at Creaton again, and Creaton could see the disgust on his lined face.  

“So, you watched me pick up Geth? You let me walk back to the hideout with Maddog?” Caid asked, still clearly trying to process the events.  

“Yes and no. I didn’t know. Caid, I honestly didn’t know. You could have been with him. I saw the hurt look on your face over Geth, but I just didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know what I was feeling. Fifty years of my life was spent in the Wardens¾fifty years is a long time! And then it was all gone, and I was sitting there wondering if I was going to make it through the night. I just didn’t know,” he said again. 

Caid nodded. “I know the feeling. It was a shock to us both, Pog. I am glad you’re alive, all of you. How did you find the body they talked of in the papers?”  

“It is not as hard to find a dead body as you would think.” Pog said. “Dressed one in my clothes and knew it wouldn’t be you all identifying the body yourselves,” he finished.  

Caid nodded again. “Smart.”  

Pog waited a moment for Caid to process everything he’d just said. Caid asked no more questions.  

Creaton could have done without Pog’s next question.  

“Can I kill him?” Pog asked, pointing toward Creaton.  

*** 

While Creft and Alyn talked, Alis found a book on gears and settled into the corner with her back against the wall. She would never find much use for universities, mostly because her kind would never be allowed to step foot into these doors; at least not if they knew what she was or had been.  

Alis licked her fingers, turning the next page. It was an interesting topic, but she was having trouble following it. She was distracted by the way Alyn clicked her tongue at everything Creft said. It seemed like she felt superior to him, all because she had her ideas and he had his.  

This was something Alis saw everywhere she had been. People had their opinions and were unshakable in them, even dying for what they believed. That was probably the problem with the city, the main reason why war was even possible.  

Most people had no opinion on how the city was lit; even fewer understood the concept of smog or pollution. Their parents or authorities, who were supposed to be smarter and better, had told them about how energy should work, and they had believed it unquestioningly. They didn’t realize authority was just a word and an image; no man was better than another. No man was born with the knowledge to lead, it was an acquired thing. Books, on the other hand, had information that stayed the same. Any book could be traveled back to and looked upon. You could put down a book and tomorrow it would still be the same. People weren’t like that, they were apt to change daily, sometimes even more frequently. They changed to get what they wanted, to get their way, and those in power were the worst. They needed votes, they needed a proper image, and they wanted money.  

Alis was still reserving judgment on Creft. He had known she was a slave and let her stay free from chains and a rope. He had not thrown her back into the slave quarters, and that was more than she could have expected from any seer.  

“So, what you’re trying to say is that you were taken by another seer and held captive, not because of your disagreements, but because he wanted to do an experiment on you?”  

Alis shut the book, she wouldn’t get any reading done now. She stood up and stretched her legs, then stood behind Creft.  

“Not exactly, I don’t know why he initially took me, but it was probably the arguments between us, which was probably the same reason he took the overseer¾” Creft was cut off.  

“You are accusing another seer of taking the overseer?” Alyn was doing a poor job of faking shock. Alis knew it was an act to show how much better she was than Creft.  

“Do you listen?” Alis asked.  

Creft stopped in mid-breath.  

“What did you say?” Alyn huffed.  

“I asked if you listened or just waited for your turn to speak.”  

Alyn’s face turned bright red. Alis knew she had touched a nerve and realized she probably should have not said anything.  

“I will have you know…” Alyn started, but Creft stood up in front of Alis, as if to shield her from the words.  

“Alis is right. I have told you about Taluva and about Seer Pryce. You can either help or not, but I have a feeling you don’t want to be of help to anyone but yourself,” Creft said.  

He turned, grabbing Alis by the shoulder and headed toward the door. 

“What was the book?” Alyn asked before they reached the door.  

*** 

Creaton made that sudden movement in his chair he had promised himself he would refrain from, and the next thing he knew, he was staring up at the wooden planks of the ship’s top floor.  

“Might even do it quickly,” Pog said, standing up and hovering over Creaton.  

Creaton blinked hard and tried to refocus his vision. He had a sword on his hip, but that would do nothing for him in these close quarters. He had also seen how wardens fight with swords and he knew he would be dead in moments.  

“For the things he has done to me and to those I have loved, I should let you,” Caid said, also now standing.  

Creaton put his hand on the pommel of his sword not caring that he would die if he drew it. Then remembered that he had brought his one-shot with him as well. It would only take one of them with him, but one was better than none when it came to death.  

“Keep your hand off the one-shot, Creaton,” Caid said as the others in the room backed up. “I won’t let them kill you.”  

“What? Why?” Pog asked with real disappointment.  

“Because he can still help us. He has his people, he has his weapons, and right now, he is worth more to us alive than dead,” Caid said.  

Creaton knew he would not get kind words from Caid, not after what he had put him through. He had been the cause of a warden’s death and he would have been the cause of Caid’s death if he had been successful. Creaton was glad Caid defended him at all; at least his brain matter would not be the newest decoration in this place.  

Creaton slid back, putting his back against the wall. He knew Caid hadn’t saved him out of pity; it was simply that he was worth more alive than dead.  

“How can he help us?” Pog pressed his dark hands against the dark wood of the table.  

Caid was quiet for a moment. “He has the Seer of Parian on his side. He can bring us the envoys of Parian and possibly others. He can also tell us what Pryce has been doing in his manor, or he can get Creft to tell us, and that may be important.”  

Pog took a deep breath and held it. Creaton recognized this as his attempt to swallow the anger in his chest; Creaton bore no resentment toward Pog for feeling angry. He had done some stupid things that he had thought were right¾things that Caid had left out, things that Caid hadn’t even known about. Caid dropped it for the betterment of the city, something Creaton may not have been able to do if he were in the same shoes.  

“So, we don’t kill him, but can we really trust him?” Pog sat back down in his chair.  

Caid shrugged his shoulders. “He knows things that he hasn’t told anyone else,” he replied.  

“I want to see the city go back to being whole, just as badly as you all, maybe even more,” Creaton said.  

Pog turned sharply. “I don’t talk to you and you don’t talk to me. I will keep you alive because I respect Caid and his decisions, but that doesn’t mean we are friends or partners. You are alive because of Caid’s good graces, and if you like breathing, then you better praise him like he is one of the afterlife wardens.” Pog turned back abruptly and Creaton decided not to reply.  

“You’re probably better off at this end of the table, Captain,” Boog said. He kicked out a chair opposite him and waved for Creaton to sit down with them.  

Creaton stood up, moving toward the open chair. He wished that he knew how to better use his daliwin because right now, his head was pounding.  

“You play?” Boog asked, holding up a set of eight-sided dice.  

Creaton shrugged. “Not like I could fail worse at this than anything else I have done tonight,” he said.  

*** 

Alis followed Creft’s lead and paused as they walked toward Alyn’s door. He hadn’t scolded her for her outburst. As a slave, she was ready for the whip, the hand, or the noose for opening her mouth; this was all at the discretion of the seer and his council. Creft was his own council, and he made the decision to stand firmly by Alis’s words. That by itself bought her respect. Coupled with his willingness not to turn in the slaves and his desire to save the city, she felt she might even like him.  

Without turning around, Creft said to Alyn, “What was the name of the book? That is what you want to know, but will it even matter? Will it change your mind?”  

Alyn didn’t answer for a moment. Creft made a movement to continue walking to the door, and she stopped him again. “If you can tell me the name of the book, I may be able to help you. It isn’t a guarantee, nor is it a pass on what you and the other seers are doing to the city, but at least I may be able to make some good of this.”  

Creft looked down at Alis, giving her a wink. Had he known that Alyn would crack? How? She tucked the questions away for a later time.  

“The book was called, The Judge of the Wardens,” he said and spun around.  

Alis turned with him and caught the momentary slip of Alyn’s mask. Alis saw real fear touch the woman’s stern gaze. Alyn’s hands slipped off her hips, and her stance became weaker; almost like a brick had been taken from the wall she had been before.  

“Do you know it?” Creft pushed her to answer.  

Alyn looked down, and when she looked back up, the facade of power was back in place. Her eyes were set and focused as if she had shown no fear moments before.  

“What do you know about the book, Creft?” She turned the question back on him.  

Creft shrugged. “Not much else aside from the ritual I watched.”  

“Nothing strange happened to anyone after? Nothing you couldn’t explain?” She asked him, her voice now stony.  

Creft shook his head. “I passed out and woke up again in the cellar. It wasn’t until this little lady and a few others burst through the wall and saved me that I had any real time to think about what the book was.”  

Alis could instantly tell Creft lied. She didn’t draw attention to it, but his lip had curled, and he had flexed his fingers. That meant he hid something.  

“I can tell you little about the book.” Alyn turned back toward her desk, making her way to the only chair in the room.  

Alis could tell that her posture would slip further if she stood for too much longer. She could mask her face and voice, but she was having more trouble stabilizing those shaking legs. Alyn knew something else as well, something she was keeping to herself.  

“Sorry, I can’t be of more help,” Alyn said diving back into her work.  

Creft looked down at Alis with a look of disappointment on his face.  

“You can tell each other what you really know, and maybe we can do something about what is making you both so nervous,” Alis said.  

She closed her eyes hard after letting the statement slip from her mouth, but again, she was not met with the sting of a hand, nor did anyone yell.  

“She is right, Alyn. The truth needs to be put on the table. What you know may help with what I know and together, maybe we can make sure Pryce doesn’t get whatever it is that he is truly after.”  

Alyn put down her pen and looked back up, her face no longer a mask. Alis could swear that she saw a tear running down the side of her face.  

“If he hasn’t gotten it already,” Alyn said.