Don Bassinghtwaite - The Binding Stone

A heavy bottle nestled in a little boxshelf attached to the wall inside. Singe eased carefully into the cabin and fished it out. When he opened the bottle, a sickly sweet smell wafted out. There was a bluish stain around the cork. Singe hissed and glanced at Natrac's flushed face. A matching blue stain colored his lips and trickled down his face. Singe hesitated for a moment, then stepped out of the cabin and hurried back up to the deck.

Dandra met him at the hatch. She had her spear, but not their gear. Her face was pale. "The crystal band and the honor blade are gone!"

Singe clenched his teeth and touched the rapier at his side. "Something's wrong. Where's Geth?"

"He wandered down onto the dock with the other passengers. He said he wanted to feel something solid under his feet again." Dandra's nose crinkled. "What's that smell?"

"Natrac," said Singe grimly. "He's been drugged." The ship was entirely silent around them. Everyone had gone. "We should join Geth." He started across the deck toward the gangplank.

A curved sailor's cutlass swept out of the shadow of the captain's cabin, barring his way. He leaped back as Vennet followed the weapon into the light. The crystal band was clutched in his free hand. Behind him, Ashi glided out the shadows as well, the unsheathed honor blade held low before her.

"I have a better idea," said Vennet. "Let's wait for Geth to come back and join us."

Singe stared at the crystal band in the half-elf's grasp, then studied his face. His eyes narrowed. "Have you worn it already, Vennet?"

He heard Dandra draw a sharp breath and stretched out a hand to her. Vennet's cutlass twitched sharply. "Don't move," the captain said. "Not a muscle."

Singe let his hand fall slowly back to his side.

Vennet nodded as Ashi came up beside him. "That's good," he murmured, "that's very good."

"Vennet, what are you doing?" Dandra said.

"He's turning on us," Singe answered for Vennet. Everything was clear in his mind. "He planned this. Convincing us to stay behind on the ship, arranging for the crew to be busy in the hold so we couldn't check on our gear until the last minute." He glanced at Ashi then asked Vennet, "Was the crew really too scared to go into the hold or did you order them to stay out so you could talk to her alone?"

"A little of both," Vennet said tightly.

"And House Lyrandar's prohibition against throwing people overboard?"

"Ironically," said the captain, "that's the truth."

"Singe," Dandra said, "what's going on?"

The wizard risked turning slightly to give her a dark smile.

"The cults of the Dragon Below aren't something you find just in the Shadow Marches."

Dandra turned pale.

Singe looked back to Vennet. "I think our good captain has decided to make a move for power. If he hasn't done it already, he's going to contact Medala and offer his services to Dah'mir."

Vennet's face tightened. "You're too smart for your own good, Singe."

"I've been told that before," Singe said casually. At least he hoped he sounded casual. His stomach felt like it had squeezed down into a rock. "Why did you drug Natrac? No, let me guess." He followed a line of reasoning through his head. "Natrac was the only other one in your cabin when we told our story. He was the only other person on the ship besides us who knew that Ashi was a follower of the Dragon Below. You had to be sure that he didn't let that information slip out, so you made sure he couldn't talk to anyone on the ship and you spread the word that he was giving up his business and traveling on to Sharn. That way no one would suspect his disappearance afterward." He smiled. "And there's Captain Vennet d'Lyrandar, with no one left to give away his secret."

"Storm at dawn!" Vennet snapped. "Would you shut up?" He slid closer cautiously, cutlass at the ready. "If either of you moves or makes as much as a sound to cast a spell or-" the cutlass wavered slightly toward Dandra "-do whatever kalashtar do, you'll regret it. Ashi, hide by the rail. When Geth comes back aboard, make sure he dies."

The hunter nodded and darted across the deck, hunching down to stay out of sight. When she reached the rail, she peered over cautiously. She grimaced and snapped the fingers of her free hand softly to attract Vennet's attention. He turned slightly, enough to see her and still keep an eye on his captives. Ashi mimed someone wandering back and forth on the dock below. Vennet's teeth clenched and he cursed softly.

In the instant that the captain's attention wandered, Singe felt the brush of Dandra's mind on his, just as he had when she'd shared her memories on the morning after Bull Hollow. Trying his best to keep his face neutral, he relaxed and accepted the touch of her thoughts. The voice that rang in his head was taut. Singe, what are we going to do?

It took a conscious effort not to turn his head and look at the kalashtar as he answered her. Can you warn Geth the same way we're talking?

He's too far away. He'd need to be almost at the top of the gangplank for me to reach him and if he's that close, it will be too late!

Vennet was turning his full attention back to them again. Be ready to tell Geth to get back fast, Singe told Dandra. A plan was taking shape in his mind. He formed an image and sent it flickering at her-then swiftly focused back on Vennet as his cutlass flicked close.

"Call Geth!" the half-elf ordered. "Get him up here."

Singe looked him straight in the eye. "How long have you followed the Dragon Below, Vennet?" he said, buying time. If he called, Geth would come bounding up the gangplank. The shifter needed to come up slowly if Dandra was going to have any chance at warning him.

Vennet tensed. "Just call him!"

"Not too long, I think," Singe continued. "You don't seem obviously insane yet."

"You're baiting me," Vennet said. He pushed the cutlass forward until its tip pricked Singe's chest through his shirt. The wizard held back a wince. Vennet looked at him coldly. "You think I'm going to get angry and you're going to distract me? It's not going to work. You want to know how long I've followed the Dragon? Nine years-and that faith is the only thing that saved my sanity. I know you'll understand why." His eyes were hard. "You're a veteran of the Last War. You saw the things that men and women who claim to be good and righteous are capable of doing. That almost drove me mad. The powers of Khyber don't make those claims. The cult of the Dragon Below draws power from darkness. Two years after the darkest day of my life, I came to the cult and it made sense."

He leaned close, pressing down on his cutlass. A bright spot of red sprang up on Singe's shirt. Over Vennet's shoulder, he could see Ashi, still watching the dock-and, presumably, Geth down on it. The wizard swallowed and looked back at Vennet. "I saw dark things during the War, too. I got through it."

Vennet gave a thin smile. "Are you trying to convert me, Singe? Bring me back to the light?" His hand, the one holding the crystal band, trembled. "Geth told me there are things about the War you don't like to talk about. Like Narath. Narath bothers you." His lips twisted as Singe stiffened. "Well, I was on one of the ships that sailed against Narath. I had to stand on the docks and watch while our fine Aundairian soldiers ripped Narath apart."

Blood roared in Singe's veins, pounding in his head and burning hot across the skin of his face. Ashi, Dandra, and even Geth vanished from his mind as he met Vennet's gaze. "You weak, pathetic coward," he breathed. "That's your darkest day? Watching Narath die?" He seized Vennet's sword hand and shoved the cutlass away from his chest, heedless of the line of pain that the blade's tip traced across his skin. "I was in Narath."

It was only Dandra's piercing shout inside his thoughts that broke through the rage that gripped him. Singe! Geth's coming!