Gates of Ruin (Magelands Eternal Siege, #6) Christopher Mitchell (classic reads .txt) 📖

‘Everything fine back there?’ he said.

‘All good,’ said Van. ‘Take us south for half a mile, then we’ll ditch the wagon.’

Corthie started to laugh. ‘Thanks, everybody. Twenty years they gave me; can you believe that? Twenty years for ruining a tavern and breaking some guy’s nose.’

Naxor frowned at him. ‘If it had been up to me, I would have left you in that cell.’

‘I’ll bet you would have,’ Corthie said. He glanced at Van. ‘I assume it was your plan?’

‘It was a joint effort,’ said Van, ‘although I do have a little experience in breaking people out of prisons. Still, it would have been a lot trickier without Naxor’s vision powers. And poor Sohul’s spent the entire day selling the house boat and then buying this wagon.’

‘We’ve sold the boat?’

‘Yes. It might be unwise to stay in Kin Dai after what we just did.’

‘And after what Belinda told us,’ said Naxor.

Corthie frowned. ‘And, eh, what did she tell us again?’

Naxor shook his head at him. ‘You don’t remember the huge fight we had?’

‘Nope.’

‘Demigods with vision powers, based in Alea Tanton,’ said Van; ‘they found us yesterday. Well, they found Naxor. Belinda said it would be a good idea for us to leave town as soon as possible. Sohul’s been sorting that as well. He’s bought us passage on a ship that leaves tonight.’

Corthie nodded. ‘And why were we fighting?’

‘You were adamant that you weren’t leaving,’ said Naxor. ‘You told us that there were still a few taverns in Kin Dai that you hadn’t visited yet.’

‘Oh. I guess I might have been acting like a drunken arsehole recently.’

Naxor raised an eyebrow. ‘You guess?’

‘Let’s not reignite any disagreements,’ said Van. ‘Corthie, I saw the way you handled those two guards. Are your powers back?’

‘Aye. I feel better than I’ve done in ages. Since, well, you know. Was there something else that Belinda told us?’

Van nodded. ‘The Ascendants haven’t been able to get the Sextant to work. Your world, and Naxor’s, are still safe.’

Corthie puffed out his cheeks in relief. For two months he had been living with the thought that Banner soldiers or greenhides might be rampaging through his home world, and occupying the City of Pella. The images he had conjured had brought him to the edge of despair, and he felt a weight lift from him. He cleared his mind. They were getting on a ship, and leaving Kin Dai. Aila was out there, somewhere, with his sister; finding them was what mattered.

Van leaned forward and nudged Sohul. ‘That’s far enough. Pull over.’

The lieutenant nodded and reined in the two horses. Van and Naxor stripped out of their militiaman uniforms and pulled on civilian clothes, then they jumped down from the back of the wagon into the busy street, Corthie following them. They walked round to the front, and Sohul climbed down from the driver’s bench to join them.

‘Twelve gold they cost us,’ he said, gazing at the two horses. ‘It’s a pity we don’t have time to sell them.’

‘Just add them to the list of things Corthie owes us,’ said Naxor.

They walked into a large crowd next to a fish market, and headed in the direction of the main harbour. Corthie’s height stood out, but he didn’t care; he was starting to look forward to the upcoming voyage. He had enjoyed being on a ship when they had sailed from the Falls of Iron, and then from Capston to Yoneath; and he reckoned he would make a good sailor.

The streets and waterfront were well-lit by lamps hanging from the eaves of buildings, and they covered the distance to the huge harbour in under an hour. Van was careful to lead them by the busiest routes and, though they passed several detachments of militia, none took any interest in them.

A large merchant vessel was tied up alongside a broad jetty, and Sohul pointed it out to the others.

‘We have two cabins,’ he said, ‘and I’ve already paid for our meals.’

‘Including dinner tonight?’ said Corthie. ‘I’m so hungry, I could eat Naxor.’

‘Yes, including dinner,’ said Sohul. ‘It’s good to see your appetite’s back.’

‘And I’m going to stay off the booze for a while.’

‘That might be advisable,’ said Van, ‘though I might have an ale or two after today’s excitement.’

Sohul showed their travel documents to a small group of harbour officials and sailors at the base of a long gangway, and they were allowed to board the ship. A young deckhand took them to their cabins – Van was sharing with Corthie, and Sohul with Naxor, and they washed up and went back up onto the deck as the ship was slipping away from its moorings. A wind had picked up, and the large vessel sailed among the dozens of fishing boats and other merchant ships until it reached the enormous breakwaters at the edge of the harbour basin.

‘Farewell, Kin Dai,’ said Sohul, a smile on his face.

‘I spoke to a sailor,’ said Van; ‘we can get something hot to eat in twenty minutes.’

Corthie leaned on the railings and gazed back at the lights of the city. ‘And then we start the search for Aila and Kelsey. How far is it to that place; Stoneship, was it?’

The others glanced at each other.

Corthie frowned. ‘What?’

‘This ship,’ said Sohul; ‘I, uh, we needed to leave the city immediately, and this was the only vessel sailing this evening.’

‘So?’

‘It’s not sailing to Stoneship, Corthie,’ he said; ‘it’s taking us back to the Southern Cape.’

Chapter 12

Home to Roost

C atacombs, Torduan Mountains, Khatanax – 21st Luddinch 5252

Ashfall’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Sable. ‘But you have nothing to do with Blackrose’s world.’

‘I know.’

‘Then why are you so determined to go there? What business is it of yours?’

Sable stretched out her hand and flicked the ash from her cigarette over the edge of the tomb. ‘You’re right; it isn’t any of my business, but I want to do what I can to help. I have other reasons. Travelling to Lostwell wasn’t exactly my choice – it