Robert Redick - The River of Shadows

“Why do you do this now?” said Rose.

The two ixchel said nothing for a moment. “Our lord Taliktrum is concerned for your comfort,” said Myett at last, in her cold, sibilant voice.

“You must listen for the ship’s bell,” said Ludunte. “It will ring stridently when ten minutes remain. Hurry back when you hear it. Step into this cabin, breathe in the drug. Otherwise you will die, as surely as though you’d taken no pill at all.”

“Remember this, too,” added Myett. “Below the berth deck the ship is off-limits to humans, except by special permission. Do not try our patience. Above all, do not imagine that you have any hope of finding where we hide the drug. The lives of those who remain in this chamber are forfeit if you try.”

The ixchel explained that only three hostages would be released at a time. “By evening, all of you will have had your turn. We shall begin with the youngest, and the women. Lady Oggosk, Marila, Undrabust: step forward. The rest of you, prepare to hold your breath when they open the door.”

Marila took Neeps by the arm. She almost never smiled, but he had come to know when she was happy by the wideness of her eyes. They were wide as saucers now.

“This is wrong,” said Dastu suddenly. “My master should be first, or Captain Rose-not these two traitors and the witch.”

Rose waved a dismissive hand; he would never seek favors from “crawlies.” Sandor Ott cracked his old, scarred knuckles and smiled wolfishly. “They won’t let me out,” he said with certainty. “Not for an hour, or a minute. Not first or last. I certainly wouldn’t in their place. I’m right, aren’t I? Those are your orders?”

Ludunte regarded him nervously. “I have nothing else to say,” he murmured at last.

“No matter,” said Ott. “I will free myself, by and by. And then we shall see about Lord Taliktrum’s concern for comfort.”

Myett looked at him with loathing, and not a little fear. Then she opened her bag and removed a small cloth package bound with string, which she quickly untied. Within lay three white pills. Side by side, they barely fit on Myett’s palm: clearly they had been made for humans.

“You must swallow your pills at the same time, all three of you, and exit together.”

“Glah,” said Oggosk, pointing irritably at Rose. “Give him my dose. I’ll go later, when the heat passes. Let the captain see what’s become of his ship.”

“Are you certain, Duchess?” said Rose.

“Was I ever otherwise, you fool? Take the offer, and leave me in peace.”

Two minutes later the door flew open with a bang. Rose stormed out and barreled for the quarterdeck, shouting for Fiffengurt and Alyash, watch-captains, duty officers, his steward, his meal. All around him men leaped to attention. Neeps and Marila stepped out more fearfully and shut the door. They clenched each other’s hands (for who knew, who knew?), closed their eyes and inhaled.

The drug worked. They were free, if only for an hour. Neeps opened his eyes. A mob was cheering, chasing after Rose. But three figures pushed through it in their direction. The first was running headlong: Thasha. She skidded to a halt and threw her arms around them both and laughed and shouted and kissed their cheeks. Behind her Hercol and Bolutu came striding, wide smiles on their faces.

“Nutter girl!” Neeps laughed, hugging her until it hurt. “How’ve you and Pazel managed to stay alive so long without us?”

“It was Hercol who got you out,” said Thasha, her own eyes bright with tears. “The council was about to explode, but he calmed everyone down and shamed Taliktrum into this furlough idea.”

“Sometimes it takes a fighter to stop a fight,” said Bolutu. “Come, away! The hour will pass quickly. We have food-of a sort-in the stateroom, and hot water for bathing is on its way, two buckets apiece. And Felthrup is simply going mad.”

“First things first,” said Neeps. “What in the nine stinking Pits happened to Pazel?”

There was an awkward silence. Thasha dropped her eyes, and to Neeps’ amazement her ears began to redden. Then a voice from behind her called out: “I’m afraid I did, Undrabust.”

Greysan Fulbreech, one eye purple and bloodshot, walked up and extended his hand. Neeps just stared at him. Then to his astonishment he saw Thasha take Fulbreech’s other hand, tenderly, like something she cherished.

“I tried so hard, Neeps,” she said, her voice a plea. “To tell him sooner, to explain. It wasn’t anything Pazel did wrong.”

“No one is to blame,” said Hercol.

“Least of all Pathkendle,” said Fulbreech, his fingertips brushing Thasha’s arm. “He was in shock, you know. He really does care for her. Because of that I can’t be angry. In fact I’m hopeful that one day we’ll all be friends.”

Neeps hit him. Savagely, in the stomach. He had Fulbreech down on the deck before they tore him away.

“You rabid Rinforsaken slobbering dog.”

Only Marila could deliver insults that cutting in a voice that calm. “I told you I’m sorry,” said Neeps, pressing clean gauze (provided by Fulbreech) into his nose.

“Brilliant. Just blary brilliant,” Marila continued. “Thirty minutes left. If we’re lucky your nose will stop bleeding for the last three.”

“Why don’t you go do something, then?”

“I hate you. I hate you.”

“You’re not being fair to him,” said Pazel, hands on the bars of his cell.

“Don’t tell me about fair,” said Marila, still in that deadpan voice. “You think I feel sorry for you, locked up for three whole days?” She looked hard at Neeps. “Taliktrum will never let you out again after this.”

“Listen, Marila,” said Neeps, his head still tilted back, “Fulbreech is a liar. A fake. He’s found a… weak spot, see? A weak spot in Thasha, and he’s exploiting it.”

“Thasha is not a fool,” said Marila. “If she’s with him, she has to have a reason. And if you ask me it’s because she’s taken a fancy, the same way anybody else does.”

“Then she’s a fake,” said Pazel. “She doesn’t love him. She’s pretending.”

“Well she’s doing a blary good job.” Then, seeing Pazel cringe at her words, she added in a louder voice: “I never say things the right way. I know that. If you want somebody to lie and make you feel better, maybe I should go.” She paused, breathing deeply. “But if you ask me you’re better off without her, that mucking rich grugustagral. You weren’t the only one she fooled. I was there when she told you she was done with Fulbreech. I know what you’ve been through with her. For her.”

Neeps whispered, “What’s a grugu-gu-”

“Shut up,” said Marila.

“Thasha’s a good person,” Pazel insisted miserably. “And we need her, too. We’re supposed to be a team.”

“Exactly,” said Marila. “Those burn scars mean you’re supposed to stick together, you three and Hercol and Bolutu and even Rose, somehow-to stay and fight together to the blary end. Besides, you and Thasha-” She puffed out her round cheeks, angrily. “It’s like magic. You love her despite the invasion of Ormael, despite her father. I think you even managed to love her father. And if she wants to throw all that away just because some handsome-”

“Handsome?” cried both boys. “He’s not! He’s a goon!”

Marila looked from one to the other. “Hopeless,” she sighed.

Neeps turned back to Pazel. “Hercol must be in on it,” he said. “But why are they doing it, and why won’t they tell you? That’s what you have to figure out.”

“Right,” said Pazel. But Neeps could see that his heart had gone out of it. Marila’s argument had struck home; he was at last considering the possibility that Thasha’s change of heart was real.