A Flight of Ravens John Conroe (great books for teens txt) 📖

it would appear the kingdom may be in a de facto state of war with the Nuks.  We’re very well versed in eradicating woldlings, but our shy neighbors to the north will be a new endeavor.  How exciting,” I said.

Two more rivulets of sweat had joined the first trickle, all three running for his bushy white eyebrows.

“Where do the Nuks get the artifacts?” I asked suddenly.

“He’s not completely sure but apparently they’ve dug up all kinds of Punished ruins,” Kassa said.

“Which confirms that the Nuks supplied them,” I said.

“No!” he suddenly shouted, before regaining control of himself.  I just raised both brows and waited.  “Yes, the chips, as Andru calls them, come from the north,” he said.  “But I don’t know that all of his father’s people are behind this.”

“Why would you care?” I asked.

“They are a wonderful people,” he said.  “Craftspeople without peer.  Artistic beyond anything we could ever hope to be.  Shy, yet fiercely loyal.  And they are terrible foes,” he warned.

“He’s lived among them,” Kassa said.

The old man shot her a glare of annoyance, then shook his head in what might have been admiration.  “She’s correct.  As a young man, newly ranked as a journeyman tailor, I had ideas of grandeur, of creating the next, best winter apparel. I grew up in Mandrigo, far north, where winters are harsh.  Up there, crossing onto the northern ice fields isn’t that uncommon.  When the Great River freezes, Mandrigans go hunting. Sometimes whales get too far upriver from the open ocean and the ice traps them.  It’s about the only way that men can kill those monsters anymore, although there are records of men hunting whales before the Punishment.”

“Those earlier whales were much different from the ones today,” Jella said. “Gentle giants instead of the angry armored behemoths of today.”

“True, good Forester, true,” Mr. Kazilionum said, nodding so vigorously that sweat flew off his head.  “It’s still hard for teams of men to accomplish, but sometimes it happens.  I traveled with a few whale hunters, testing my designs and refining them.  Right up until a wicked storm hit our party unawares.  I was the only survivor, but I was hundreds of spans from safety.  A party of Nuk ice fishermen found me and took me to one of their communities.  That’s where I met Andru.”

I glanced at Kassa and she nodded.

“This right here makes you dangerous,” the old man said, nodding his chin from me to Kassa.  “Mandrigo is terrified of esllings.  I was forced to hide my Talents my whole life, at least until I met the Nuk.  From what I understand, Berkette is also disparaging of people with Talent.  Yet you have weaponized us.”

“Actually, I believe it is you, yourself, who weaponized your own talents and created objects of division and disruption,” I said.

“Too-chay, as the Nuks say.  Point to you, Captain.”

“How do we stop the things you made?”

“You can’t.  I mean, eventually the Impressions that I made will lessen and their effect will dissipate, but there really is no way to just shut them down.  And people won’t give them up willingly.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because part of what I did was make them desirable.  That’s why people pick them up and don’t put them back down.”

“So, unless something more desirable comes along, they won’t let go of them?” Cort said, shaking his head and frowning.

“Something wrong, Cap?” Soshi asked, watching me with concern.  I was staring at Cort, my eyes wide.

“Say, Kaz… How many of those chips do you have in your stockpile?” I asked the old man, an idea forming.

“Oh, I know that look,” Drew said, smiling.

“I do too,” Jella agreed.  “For several years, I thought it was just gas.”

“It does look a little painful,” Cort said.

I gave them all a single-finger salute.

Chapter 28

“Mr. Andru, nice to meet you.  I’m Savid DelaCrotia,” I said, smiling into the squat man’s glare.

“He probably can’t get many words out, Cap. Not with that smelly old gag in his chompers,” Cort said. Besides the sapper, Jella and Kassa were the only ones in the room with us.  Soshi, Trell, Drew, and Freyla were occupied with other matters.

“Hmm, I believe you’re right, Corporal.  Would you help him out?” I asked.

“Sure, but if he bites me, I’m gonna slug him one with a hammer,” he warned as he moved to untie the piece of cloth.

“There ya go. Much better, right?” I asked.

“Foul piece of cloth tastes like an outhouse,” the hairy man growled, his voice much deeper than you’d expect.

“Yeah, I think the boys were short-handed and made do with what they could scrounge.  What was that, Cort?”

“A pair of Drew’s old underwear,” Cort said, looking at the gag with distaste.

“I guess the torture has already begun,” I said with a grin to Andru.

He grimaced and spat on the ground.  “Do your worst,” he challenged.

“Actually, we’ll be striving for our very best,” I said.  “Now then, we’ve had a long chat with your tailor friend and learned a great deal.  We’re hoping you can clear up a few of the finer points.  For instance, our new friend Kaz feels that the Nuks as a people aren’t necessarily behind your actions.  He doesn’t want us to think badly of them.”

“And, you know, go to war with them,” Cort said.

“That would be a grievous mistake on your part, manling.  My people are warriors without equal,” he said, spitting again.

“Oh, I’m sure they are,” I said.  “But hey, we’re used to fighting stronger, tougher opponents, Mr. Andru.  Woldlings being what they are and all.”

“And look how that worked out,” Cort said in a reasonable tone.

“You would never find our communities,” Andru snarled.  “And if you did, there is nothing you could do to dig us out.”

“You should listen and think, Nuk, before committing your people to a fight with these folks,” Jella said from her spot against the closed door.

“And why are you with them, Forester?” Andru asked her.  “Your people have always seemed honorable.”

“As have yours, which is why I counsel you caution,”