Fireteam Delta J. Halpin (top 10 books of all time TXT) 📖

a week. And my previous offer still stands, despite any misgivings your friends may have. . . I, of course, would expect a service in exchange.”

Asle considered that for a moment before she realized what the woman was saying. She’d briefly considered sneaking onto the ship, if the others tried to abandon her. But if she was with the traders, she’d get time. Time to prove herself, to atone for her mistakes. They’d do great things, she knew. If she could help them . . .

No, she had to believe that she could help them, that she could do something.

Because that was the only way that she could live with herself.

“What kind of service?”

The corner of Synel’s mouth twitched.

“I find myself in want of an apprentice.”

Chapter 30: Sea Life

“Goddamned stupid . . . I have no idea how to do this.”

Summers stared at the journal in front of him. He’d found it in one of the few stalls that had popped up around the city. Synel had loaned him a stick of something resembling sharpened charcoal to write with, which was apparently rare, given the woman’s insistence that he return it.

As of now, he was trying his best to record any and all things that were important to him. The idea was to make sure he couldn’t forget anything else. Or that, if he did, he’d at least have something to jog his memory. It was something Cortez of all people had suggested. The problem was, he had no idea where to start. After all, how do you summarize a lifetime of information, and how do you know which is the most important?

“You ready?”

Summers looked up from his writing to find Nowak in the doorway.

“Yeah . . .”

Summers closed the journal, picking up a small bag as he headed to join Nowak. It was time to set out again.

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They came upon the ship they’d be spending the next two months on soon after. It reminded Summers of a longship, like the one he’d seen being constructed. Or maybe it was a galley. Either way, it was something close enough to the two that Summers’ uncultured eye couldn’t tell the difference. It was impressively massive. Oars stuck out from holes below deck, where white bone cradled the vessel like a ribcage. Synel had taken a room for herself in there somewhere, while Summers and the others were given a closet-sized space of their own. They couldn’t complain. Each of them had joined up knowing that sailing with this level of technology wouldn’t be pleasant. Hell, the fact that they got a room at all probably cemented their status as VIPs.

The captain came to greet them a few moments later. He was a pudgy, boisterous man who spoke more in the sing-songy cadence Asle used than any of the other elves.

“We’ll be setting out in an hour. Will you be needing anything else?”

“I’m sure we’ll be fine,” Synel remarked from the boat. Asle stood beside her, looking down at Summers and Nowak.

The captain turned to regard them for a moment before inclining his head and heading off to yell at a few sailors loading crates onto the bow.

“I would suggest that you be careful around our dear captain.” Synel moved closer to Summers, making sure to stay out of earshot of the sailors bustling around the dock. “He’s made a living conning merchants like me into believing he can read the ‘mood’ of the sea. Do not misunderstand, he’s talented, but I would not trust someone who would use a lie where the truth would do instead.”

“Fair enough.” Summers eyed the man as he began to hustle half-drunk rowers onto the deck. Asle trailed behind Synel, pointedly looking away. “Asle, we can still find you a place here. You know that, right?”

Synel looked pointedly back at him.

“I have some very capable companions I’m certain will be able to handle any problems we encounter.”

Summers saw the corner of Synel’s mouth twitch as she finished. Asle just continued to look away, but he could see how tense she was holding herself.

“If you’d like . . .” Synel continued, “I could have one of my associates find another ship to charter. However, my apprentice and I will be heading out today.”

“No.” Summers looked to the others. They’d already made their decision. “It’s fine.”

“It’s decided, then. I’ll see you two on deck. We should be heading out shortly.”

Synel inclined her head before moving to the slowly growing stack of supplies that were being loaded aboard.

Summers sighed, watching her go.

“Why do I feel like I’m being manipulated every time I talk with that woman?”

“Because you are,” Asle explained.

Summers glanced down at the girl. Synel had assured them she wouldn’t be stupid enough to march into dangerous territory, and if things proved to be too much, she could easily find Asle a safe haven in one of the southern cities.

He dearly hoped that that was true.

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“Commander!”

Summers turned to find Pat, Orvar, and the twins once again holding up a hand in the local rendition of a wave.

“Again, not a commander,” Summers replied before waving them on board the ship.

Nearly every one of the elves that had “vowed” their lives to the group had taken up positions in the city’s guard when it was offered. They’d given each a rifle as a “gift” to sweeten the deal for the city, but kept the rest of the ammo and supplies for themselves. Part of that had been because they simply couldn’t afford to move, let alone feed that many living bodies. That, and they didn’t entirely see what help that many elves could be against what they’d seen. At best, they’d be cannon fodder to creatures like the hamr. At worst, they’d be an active hinderance. If the