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

the others left to explore and procure supplies. Van was the first to return.

‘There’s a little garden up on the roof,’ he said. ‘Ramshackle, but we can sit out there in the evenings to escape the humidity inside.’ He pulled a bottle of raki from his coat. ‘I also got us this. Are you going to behave? We can’t have you smashing up any more taverns.’

‘I’ll be fine,’ said Corthie.

‘Hmm. I’ve heard that before.’ He smiled. ‘It’s usually me that people have to worry about. I’ve disgraced myself in a hundred different bars, brothels and smoking dens in Serene. Now I know how my friends felt.’

Corthie frowned. ‘Why would you pay for a woman? I never understood that.’

‘It kept my life simple,’ he said. ‘I used to look at married guys in the Banner, and how they would leave their wives for months at a time to go on operations or training exercises. All they did was worry about what their other halves were doing in their absence, and many of the men would stray. They were plagued with guilt and paranoia, and I had enough problems of my own without having to deal with that as well. Now, Sohul on the other hand, he stayed clear of all of that. I don’t think he’s set foot in a brothel in his life; oh, apart from that time he had to help carry me out of one; I was too drunk to walk.’

Corthie laughed. ‘How come you never acted like that in Kin Dai?’

‘I was too busy looking after you. I had a rule – never when on an operation, and being in Lostwell still feels like I’m on an operation; I haven’t relaxed in months. And before you ask; I’m not about to let my guard down now.’

Naxor and Sohul entered the room, and it immediately felt cramped. The lieutenant was carrying a large basket, and Corthie could smell the cooked food that lay within.

‘Let’s go onto the roof,’ said Van. ‘There are tables and chairs up there, and a view of the harbour.’

* * *

An hour later, the four men were sitting under the shade of a canvas canopy, as the noonday sun beat down on the village of Capston. Their empty plates and bowls were piled up on a low table, and the bottle of raki had been opened. Everyone except for Corthie was smoking, Naxor having purchased some fresh tobacco from the market. Their bellies full, the conversation moved onto their next steps.

‘It’s obvious,’ said Corthie; ‘we need to go back the way we came, and head further north; that’s where Naxor noticed the God-Queen’s powers.’

‘That was a while ago now,’ said the demigod, ‘and there’s every chance that my deranged grandmother would have moved on. However, we have a more pressing problem – even if we wished to travel back to Kinell, we can’t afford it. Most of our gold went on the horses and wagon, and the passage here; we have very little left over.’

Van narrowed his eyes. ‘How long can we afford to stay here?’

‘Three days.’

The men groaned.

‘I’ll have to get another job,’ muttered Van. ‘Back to unloading crates of fish again, but that will only be enough to buy food, not to fund any trip north.’

‘Or we rob someone,’ said Naxor. ‘A rich merchant, perhaps. That would be easier than manual labour on the harbour front, and, let’s be honest, a lot more fun. There’s also the possibility that Vana is here in Capston; she had a fair amount of gold on her when she left.’

‘Have you looked for her?’ said Corthie.

‘I don’t need to. If she’s here, then her powers will detect my presence before too long. I’ve already used my vision a half dozen times; I would be like a beacon to her.’

‘So we wait here and see if she shows up?’ said Corthie.

‘Exactly. In the meantime, I can scout out some rich residences, and see if any are ripe for a midnight robbery.’

Sohul frowned, but said nothing.

‘What about you?’ Corthie said to the lieutenant. ‘What do you think?’

‘I don’t know,’ he said, his eyes downcast. ‘I’ve lost sight of what I’m doing here. Everything’s upside down. If I go back to Implacatus, then there’s a good chance I’ll be arrested for what happened in Yoneath, but I don’t want to stay in Khatanax; I don’t belong here. I never intended to get involved in a fight against the Ascendants, and now I’m adrift. Sorry, I don’t want to sound despondent, but I did a lot of thinking on the voyage here, and I came to the conclusion that my future is bleak.’

‘You and I are in the same situation,’ said Van, ‘and I know what you’re going through. We just have to take things one day at a time.’

‘At least you have a purpose,’ said Sohul. ‘You want to find Kelsey, because you made her a promise; and Corthie wants to find Aila as well as his sister. And Naxor, well, he’ll get by no matter what happens.’

The demigod smiled as he sipped his raki. ‘I’ll take that as a compliment.’

‘You’re free to go your own way,’ said Corthie to Sohul; ‘you’ve already gone beyond any handshake contract we had, and I’ve no more money to pay you.’

‘Thanks, but you three are all I’ve got,’ said the lieutenant. ‘My priority is to make myself useful, so you don’t decide to ditch me.’

‘We’d never do that,’ said Van.

‘I agree,’ said Corthie; ‘not after everything we’ve been through together.’

A serving boy appeared at the top of the stairwell, blinking in the bright sunshine. He approached the four men.

‘Which one is Naxor?’ he said.

The demigod raised a finger.

‘You have a visitor,’ the boy said. ‘A woman.’

‘Oh,’ said Naxor.

‘Should I send her up to see you?’

‘Of course, yes. Thank you,’ said the demigod.

The boy nodded then returned to the stairs and disappeared into the gloom.

‘See?’ said the demigod. ‘All we had to do was wait. Good old Vana.’

Corthie puffed out his cheeks