Outcast Chronicles - Sanctuary Part 43

*What landsmen we all are!' Hueryx mocked. He'd been leaning against the mast, now he straightened up. *He's saying we have to cut across the wind to fill the sails.'

The all-fathers turned to Hueryx with a certain wariness and Tobazim got the impression they'd felt the sharp edge of his tongue in the past.

Hueryx gestured impatiently. *Not one of us knows the sea as well as Tobazim's voice-of-reason. Leave it up to him, unless one of the brotherhoods is hiding a weather-worker?'

Had anyone else said this, there would have been laughter. As it was, they broke up and returned to their ships.

*I spoke with Egrutz,' Ardonyx said, as they climbed down to the rowboat. *He's shattered.'

Tobazim felt his gift rise to incorporate all the other brotherhoods, in a structure that protected but could also threaten his own brotherhood.

When they reached the Victorious, Tobazim found the adepts cheering from the rear-deck as they watched a fight on the mid-deck. The brotherhood's initiates crowded around the partic.i.p.ants, but they were strangely silent.

He pushed through them to find Iraayel and a skinny youth in his mid-twenties circling each other. Both were bleeding. Up on the mid-deck, Karozar took bets. This was just the sort of thing Tobazim wanted to eradicate.

Furious, he was about to plunge in and pull the two combatants apart, when Ardonyx took his arm and Norsas...o...b..oke it up.

Iraayel fell to his knees, holding his side.

*Get him up to the infirmary,' Norsasno ordered.

No one came forward to help Iraayel. As he struggled to his feet, Tobazim's gift told him that although he had accepted the causare's choice-son, his brotherhood hadn't. Even Haromyr and Eryx stood with their arms folded, faces grim.

*This must be a personal grudge match, because when I became all-father I said the initiates would not have to fight for the entertainment of the adepts,' Tobazim said. He rounded on Iraayel. *Did you offer this initiate insult?'

Iraayel looked offended.

Tobazim turned to the other combatant. *You...'

*Oteon.'

*Did you offer him insult?'

As Oteon glanced up to the adepts on the rear-deck, Tobazim noticed faded bruising on his ribs. Old habits died hard; his warriors were used to winning stature through force and violence.

Oteon swallowed and grimaced. *Yes, I insulted him.'

Iraayel blinked in surprise.

Tobazim hadn't expected Oteon to lie. It put him off his stride.

Luckily, Ardonyx stepped in. *In that case, you are appointed Iraayel's carer until he is healed. Take him up to the infirmary.'

Oteon offered Iraayel his arm. The seventeen-year-old refused it and limped off, holding his side. Oteon followed. The initiates parted for them.

Tobazim looked up at the adepts along the rear-deck rail. Most would not meet his eye, while a few stared down with barely concealed contempt. From the age of seventeen they'd lived under Kyredeon's rule, bowing to fear and intimidation. It was all they understood. Did they think that because he was fair, he was weak?

*Karozar, come down here.'

*What are you going to do?' Ardonyx whispered. *Reasoning won't convince them.'

*Let me discipline him,' Norsasno offered. *A certain type only understand violence.'

Tobazim didn't know what he was going to do.

Karozar reported to him, eyes dutifully lowered, but Tobazim noticed the twist to his top lip.

*You were taking bets,' Tobazim said.

Karozar shrugged.

*Do you want to go back to Kyredeon's rule?'

He looked up at that, surprised.

*Because you can,' Tobazim said. He gestured to the side of the ship. *You can go join him, right now. Him and his inner circle.'

Karozar's eyes widened as he realised what Tobazim meant. He shook his head.

*No?' Tobazim asked. He looked up at the others. *Anyone else nostalgic for Kyredeon's ways?'

They shook their heads.

*Good. Because this is my brotherhood and we do things my way. Initiates don't fight for the entertainment of adepts.' And he walked off.

*RONNYN, SARDEON?'

They left the ship's side as the last of All-mother Ceriane's people and stores arrived, and reported to the hand-of-force.

Cerafeoni led them to the empowered lads' cabin and stood in the doorway. *We're moving Ronnyn and Sardeon into this cabin.'

*But neither of them are empowered,' Toryx objected.

*The all-mother's cabin is overcrowded. I want everyone out on deck, now. Time for unarmed combat.'

Having spent all morning moving belongings and stores, the lads groaned, but spilled out onto the mid-deck nonetheless.

Cerafeoni turned to Ronnyn and Sardeon. *Go get your bedrolls, then join the cla.s.s.'

Behind her back, Toryx held Ronnyn's eyes and made an obscene gesture.

As they headed down the pa.s.sage to the all-mother's cabin, Ronnyn felt sheer terror. He'd been able to ignore it up until now, but what if his gift never came back? He grabbed Sardeon. Since the only place they could be private was the bathing chamber, he pulled him in there and shut the door.

It was on the tip of his tongue to confess everything.

*What is it?' Sardeon asked. He looked pale and slightly ill.

*I'll make a pact with you. I'll watch your back, if you watch mine. Like shield-brothers.'

*We can't be shield-brothers,' Sardeon said. *You'll be joining Hueryx's brotherhood and I'll a"'

*Shield-brothers until we leave the sisterhood?' Ronnyn rolled his sleeve, baring his arm from the wrist to the elbow. *I swear on my honour to protect you.'

Sardeon hesitated for so long Ronnyn thought he would refuse, then he pulled up his sleeve, clasped Ronnyn's hand, and entwined their fingers. *I swear to protect you.' He released Ronnyn's hand. *Did you see Toryx?'

*Yes. If we were empowered, they'd accept us.'

*We'd still have to prove ourselves, but yes, they'd be more accepting.'

*Has your gift manifested yet?'

Sardeon went very still. *Has yours?'

*Yes.' It had, but not since he reached port. *It was...' Ronnyn recalled the intense rush of power. He missed this. *It was driving me crazy back on the island, always demanding to be used. I spent all my time trying to hide it or guide it. Back then there was no one to show me what to do. My mother told me to beware the higher plane. But I had no idea what she meant. How about you?'

Sardeon looked away. *I...'

Ronnyn waited.

*I think we should get our bedrolls. Cerafeoni will be waiting.'

In the all-mother's cabin, the sisters were fussing over three little T'En boys from Ceriane's sisterhood. The boys were uninjured, but they looked stunned by what they'd been through. Ronnyn remembered that feeling.

Vittor spotted Ronnyn rolling up his bedding and hurried over with Tamaron at his heels. *What's going on?'

*We've been sent to the cabin with the big lads,' Ronnyn told him.

Tamaron's chin trembled.

Ronnyn knelt, taking his little brother's shoulders in his hands. *You have to be brave. Vittor will be here to look after you, and I'll be coming back to check on the three of you.'

Tamaron nodded, but tears slipped down his cheeks.

*I'm only going up the hall to the next cabin,' Ronnyn said, but they all knew the move was much more significant. He glanced over to the three little boys. *I want you to do something for me. See those three new boys? Their mother died last night, fighting to save their lives. We know what it's like to lose our mother. I want you to look after them. Can you do that?'

They both nodded and Vittor put his arm around Tamaron. *We'll be good to them.'

Tamaron nodded.

*I know you will.' Ronnyn kissed his brothers. *I'm so proud of you.'

When he came to his feet, Sardeon was watching him.

*What?'

*I'm glad you became my choice-brother.'

Ronnyn shrugged, but he was touched. He slung his bedroll over his shoulder and wrapped his arm around Sardeon's shoulder. *Me too. I'd hate to move into the empowered lads' cabin without you.'

AS SOON AS it was light enough, Sorne inspected their prison. The cellar was dug into the earth and lined with scavenged boards. The low side, facing the beach, was half exposed. He thought that with a bit of effort he could force the cellar doors, but he would have to choose the right moment. He was not leaving the children behind, and there was no point escaping if they could not get them all off the island.

The tavern door at the top of the stairs could also be forced, but when he peered through a knot-hole in the wood, he saw several people snoring under the tables.

After the capture of the merchant ship and subsequent celebrations, their captors were late waking up. The Maygharian had to bellow to get them moving, but before long, they were packing supplies onto the three skiffs. The Maygharian's banner now hung from the tallest mast of the merchant ship. They appeared to be stocking all their sailing vessels, which did not fill him with hope.

It was not like he could put to sea with twenty children in an open rowboat. That morning, no one remembered to feed them, and the children resorted to eating raw potatoes and carrots, and chewing on grain. Since they'd run out of water, Sorne gave them ale. It was mild, but it made them sleepy. And then, of course, they had to pee and filled the buckets.

It was almost mid-afternoon by the time the tavern door opened and a shaft of light came down the cellar steps.

The Maygharian entered, carrying a lantern. One of his men followed, his hand on his sword hilt, and the old woman carried a pot and a basket of bread sc.r.a.ps. The two biggest boys, brothers Vivore and Vivane, were sent to take the buckets away and bring down fresh ones. Meanwhile, the Maygharian hung the lantern and beckoned Sorne.

As he ducked his head to step under a beam, the swordsman kicked him in the back of the knee and he fell at the Maygharian's feet.

*No, don't get up,' he told Sorne, then gestured to the swordsman. *Pa.s.s me one of those brats. The little one over there will do.'

The swordsman picked her up by the back of her shirt like a kitten and tossed her to the Maygharian. She flew through the air with a shriek.

The Maygharian caught her and held her in front of Sorne. *I've got plenty of exotics, but only one Warrior's-voice. If you give me trouble, I'll kill this one, or another one. I don't mind which. If you give me trouble a second time, I'll kill two of them. You get my drift?'

Sorne nodded, keeping his head lowered.

*Good.' He tossed the child aside.

She rolled and came to her knees sobbing. The rest of the children crowded around her, consoling her. Then they drew her over to Tiasely, who was doling out the sc.r.a.ps. There was no fighting; they waited patiently.

*I'm going away for a few days,' the Maygharian said. *But I'm taking the skiffs and the merchant vessel. Don't you even think of escaping. I know this island like the back of my hand, so there's no point running off.' He gestured to the old woman. *This is Loris. If I come back and find you've hurt her, I'll let my men take the pretty girl and do what they've been wanting to do all along.'

Sorne nodded again.

After they'd gone, he sat on the steps and rubbed his face, feeling overwhelmed. He couldn't take twenty-two children out on the open sea in a ten-man rowboat. It would be suicidal. And running away was pointless. What he really needed was one of the skiffs the Maygharian was taking with them.

Tiasely brought him a crust of bread.

*Thank you,' he said. *Tell the oldest and most sensible of the children to come over here.'

She returned with seven youngsters who looked to be ten years of age or older. Apart from the T'En girl, they were all Malaunje. *Can any of you sail a boat?'

*He's taking all the ships,' the T'En girl said.

*But he isn't taking the rowboat.'

*You'd put twenty-two children in a rowboat? That'd be awfully crowded.'

*It would,' Sorne agreed. *What's your name?'

*Yosune.'

*Well, Yosune, I'd put twenty-two children in a rowboat and take you all to the nearest uninhabited island to make him think we've sailed off. Then, when they came back, I'd steal the smallest skiff. Does anyone here know how to handle a boat?'