Luke Scull - The Grim Company

Brodar Kayne gave him a broad grin. Despite himself, he couldn’t help but smile back at the Highlander. Like Cole, the old barbarian was clearly a man of action.

‘And these two strapping fellows?’ Kayne asked, nodding across the fire. Cole frowned. He disliked the Urich brothers, who had given him a hard time as he grew up in Garrett’s care.

‘Aram and Garmst,’ answered Garrett. ‘Twins, if you hadn’t guessed. They’re the fiercest fighters in the group,’ he added, to Cole’s displeasure.

‘If there’s killin’ needs doing, we’s your boys,’ growled Aram, shooting Brodar Kayne another glare.

Cole couldn’t help himself. ‘Just don’t ask them to do anything more complicated than hit something,’ he quipped. ‘I’ve heard they check each other’s trousers each morning to make sure they’re not back to front.’

He grinned at the faces around the fire. Brodar Kayne chuckled softly. The Urich brothers gave him looks that promised grim retribution. Everyone else stared back at him coolly except for Sasha, who wore a faint smile. In Cole’s estimation, that made it worthwhile.

‘On to business,’ Garrett said. ‘I received news last night. News that could not wait. Salazar has summoned his Augmentors to the Obelisk. Every single one of them.’

What? Cole could hardly believe his ears. ‘The Augmentors are Salazar’s elite force,’ he added, in response to Brodar Kayne’s puzzled expression.

Garrett shifted on his haunches and exhaled slowly. He looked every inch the wealthy and successful merchant — and as far as his colleagues in the Grey City Cartel were concerned, that was exactly what he was.

None of Garrett’s peers could have suspected that he spent much of his considerable wealth funding a rebel organization dedicated to overthrowing the Tyrant of Dorminia. Cole loved his foster father dearly, but he knew that when the time came for him to take the reins of leadership and guide the Shards, he would achieve more than the humiliation of a few magistrates. He would see the Magelord dead .

‘The war over the Celestial Isles will not end with our navy’s defeat,’ Garrett was saying now. He placed a hand on his stomach and made a sour face. ‘The political situation in the Trine is on a knife edge. Marius of Shadowport and the White Lady of Thelassa know Dorminia is weakened. Salazar will seek to strike back, and quickly. He will not accept being relegated to the position of third power in the Trine.’

‘But why gather all his Augmentors to him?’ Vicard said, rubbing at his nose. He did that a lot, Cole noticed.

‘He’s working great magic. Magic on a scale that has not been attempted for many years. He’s siphoning.’

‘From his Augmentors?’ Sasha exclaimed. ‘Is that possible?’

Garrett nodded. ‘Salazar is served by at least forty Augmentors. The raw magic he has spent decades accumulating is invested in swords and spears, shields and helms that elevate an Augmentor above any normal soldier. Yet that magic is still tied to him, to be drawn upon and added to his own formidable reserves. He could be working a spell to wreak devastation on a scale not seen since the Godswar, when he and his peers slaughtered the deities. Murdered the very goddess whose temple we now shelter in.’

Everyone was silent for a time. Eventually Cole spoke. ‘Salazar’s Augmentors defend Dorminia’s territory from abominations and other threats. If he consumes their magic, they’ll be useless. He can’t afford to lose his enforcers. Can he?’ He suddenly felt a surge of possessiveness towards Magebane. He looked across at Brodar Kayne and the magical dagger at his belt. As if reading his thoughts, the Highlander placed a hand over the weapon. With his other hand he took a huge bite out of the old apple he was eating and spat the core into the fire, where it sizzled slightly.

‘Salazar is utterly ruthless, as we all know. He will do whatever it takes to further his aims,’ said Garrett. He rubbed at his stomach again before continuing. ‘The Celestial Isles are the greatest source of raw magic in the known world. Dorminia’s existing supplies will have dried up within a decade. A Magelord who holds the Celestial Isles will ensure their domain goes unchallenged for centuries. Augmentors can be replaced, new items of power forged and bound to those Salazar considers worthy.’

Sasha leaned forwards. Cole couldn’t help but notice that her eyes looked huge in the firelight. ‘With his Augmentors at the Obelisk, Salazar’s assets are suddenly vulnerable,’ she said. ‘This could be our chance. Our chance to do something big.’

Garrett’s heavy moustache twitched and he smiled at the group. ‘The Wailing Rift,’ he said. ‘Dorminia’s only active magic-mining operation, and hence of great value to the Magelord. It is usually guarded by at least a dozen Augmentors. We are going to sabotage it.’

‘But the city’s under lockdown,’ protested Garmst. His brother nodded sagely, as if this detail had escaped everyone else around the fire.

‘Let me worry about that,’ Garrett replied. He turned to Sasha. ‘You will lead a small group down to the harbour where my contact awaits. I’ll give you the exact location when I brief you. Vicard is going with you. Remy, your presence would also be useful.’

‘Not me,’ the drab physician replied. ‘I’ve no taste for adventure. Besides, I must spend the evening with a patient, one of the city magistrates. He won’t be happy if I fail to turn up.’

Garrett sighed and then turned to Brodar Kayne, who had finished the apple and was now attempting to dislodge a particularly stubborn pip from the back of his teeth. The merchant’s expression became grim. ‘I would have you speak your intentions, Highlander. You and your friend now know enough to get us all killed.’

The old barbarian raised an eyebrow. ‘I saved young Cole’s life. I reckon we’ve earned your trust.’

Garrett had that calculating look Cole had seen on those occasions he had accompanied the merchant to negotiate business. ‘I have made my fortune out of my ability to read people,’ his foster father said slowly. ‘There is little that escapes me. I note, for example, that your compatriot’s breathing seems to have slowed a fraction — and that his hands are mysteriously closer to the axes at his side than they were a moment ago.’

Cole glanced across in surprise, just in time to see Jerek’s eyes shoot open and witness his silently mouthed shit . He felt a sudden rush of admiration for his wily old mentor.

Brodar Kayne, too, appeared vaguely impressed. ‘You got my word,’ he said. ‘I ain’t never broken it except once, and in the circumstances I would have called any man who acted differently a damn fool.’

Garrett nodded. ‘As I said, I have made a living out of judging men. I suspect that, even outnumbered five to one, the two of you would turn this temple into a bloodbath if it came to it.’ He shook his head ruefully. ‘But enough of such talk. I have a proposal for you.’

‘Go on.’

‘The Rift is at the very edge of the Trine. Bandits often cross over from the Badlands to the north. And the area is plagued by abominations.’

Brodar Kayne raised an eyebrow. ‘Bandits and abominations? I reckon I got more experience with them than most.’

Garrett nodded. ‘Sasha and Vicard will require some muscle to accompany them. I would send the Urich boys but they’re needed elsewhere. How does ten gold spires sound?’

The old Highlander stopped picking at his teeth for a moment. ‘The way I see it, this magical dagger is fair reward for rescuing your lad Cole. I reckon I would get more than twenty spires for it in the Unclaimed Lands.’

Garrett shook his head. ‘You will find that Magebane is useless to you and most anyone else who attempts to wield it.’