Christopher Byford - Den of Smoke - Absolutely gripping fantasy page turner filled with magic and betrayal

Bounty’s voice trailed off in thought, dwelling on such a thing. It would have been indulged in further if he didn’t playfully strike her backside. Claiming a thin red robe that clung to her sweat-covered skin, she sat at her dresser, watching the man observe her in a hilariously opulent mirror. She took a hairbrush from within reach and began to ease her hair back into some sort of presentable shape.

‘The minute I have an equally decent amount to my name, good lady. I need to keep you in the lifestyle that you’re accustomed to. Fine foods, hot water, satin sheets, soft beds. Those things don’t come cheap. Money woes seem to be arising of late. Not my choice, mind.’

‘I am an expense to maintain for sure,’ she purred, brushing her hair that shimmered in the lamp’s luminescence. ‘Wouldn’t you agree I was worth it?’

‘Not a doubt in my being.’

It took a couple of weeks until Cole was trusted with errands and errands were all they were. Fetch groceries, order supplies and very occasionally deliver letters. The letters themselves were well-sealed affairs to expose any attempts at tampering and, sure, Cole did, on occasion, feel the pangs of curiosity as to their contents. He thought better of it and delivered them to bar owners and shopkeepers, who each thanked him with a great deal of gusto.

For a while, Cole believed that he would be stuck as a second-rate deliveryman. There was certainly no stated intention of handing him more serious work, though his frustration over this was never vocalized. He saw how Jack treated others who attempted to outgrow their position – Blakestone most regularly, for he seemed to constantly push the boundaries of what was acceptable. Not wanting to endure any verbal lashings, nor threats of the physical sort, Cole wisely kept his grievances contained.

Jackdaw had done plenty to keep Cole busy but today hands were short, so Cole would have to accompany him on an apparently auspicious job. No details were discussed beforehand, only suggestions to carry out his chores quicker so they could be on their way. Time was, apparently, wasting.

Daylight welcomed the pair as they strode out into the long streets of Esquelle. Sandstone buildings of various compositions bordered the roads, their façades pitted by wind and war. Those with places to be strode on with purpose, those without took a more relaxed pace. The occasional truck bounced along the cobblestones, its body rattling loudly, along with its cargo and driver as it put-put-putted along.

Cole kept a brisk pace to keep with Jack’s own, stepping around those who marched past with importance clouding their manners. They moved past the docks, where the sand ships dominated the skyline with their enormous hulls, and into the trading quarter. It was here where most of the shady deals were done. It was just out of the way of the markets and stores, to operate on the fringe of legality, but close enough to give the impression of legitimacy.

In a small communal square, blocking the way to a communal water fountain, two robed men stood with armfuls of printed leaflets. The robes themselves were clearly of considerable worth, blacks and blues with flecks of silver, accompanied by peculiar, well-tailored symbolism down the back. They both declared their importance and accused the snubbing passers-by of insurmountable transgressions. For the most part they were completely ignored for this was just part of the day-to-day in Esquelle now.

Jackdaw, however, was not one of these who simply went on his way. Instead he sharply turned on his feet and approached. The first he shoved so they landed backwards, the leaflets launching into the air. The second was gripped by his robe collar.

‘Boys, boys, now what have I said about loitering? You’re irritating these nice folk.’

‘Get your hands from us, heathen!’ The man shuddered in surprise. ‘Witness! Witness the depths that you have sunk to! The likes of which will be dealt with when the Black Storm rolls in!’

Jack narrowed his brows. ‘See, that’s the problem with you doomsday predictors. There’s quite a while between the now and when what you tout will come to pass. Let’s say you’re right. Whatever happens in the now will surely take time for me to be punished for. That’s a risk I’m comfortable in taking. So if I see you again and the ground isn’t being torn asunder, I’ll be sending you to whatever goddess you worship personally . Get me?’

The man was tossed backward into the dirt. The pair scrambled away, watched by a few onlookers, leaving their pamphlets in the dirt.

‘Was that necessary?’ Cole attempted to restrain any sense of grumbling, but suspected Jack had cottoned on to this fact.

‘I don’t know where you came from, but if your town wasn’t infested with these maniacs then I envy you. Sure they’re all presentable, clean-shaven folk, but get enough crazies together and they do crazy things. Murders. Beatings. All the bad stuff.’

The thought of such things was far too dramatic for Cole to believe. All he had witnessed was a couple of street preachers being rough-handled. If he wasn’t in the company of somebody quite so unpredictable, he would have protested much more vigorously.

‘That has to be just rumour. All they were doing was preaching on a corner. There’s no harm in that. You just walk past and don’t listen if it’s not your fancy.’

‘I like to think I’m doing a public service.’

‘In whose eyes?’ Cole immediately recoiled, realizing he had completely spoken out of turn.

Jack slowed his stride and encouraged the man accompanying to stop a spell and take heed of his words. ‘Since the wars in the north, crazies like them are becoming more and more vocal. They preach about this and that, telling us how damned men like me are. I personally prefer to do my business this early without someone judging me. Makes me feel guilty of wrongdoings I’ve not performed yet.’

They continued. Jack nodded to a couple of street vendors, one tossing the pair a piece of fruit each. Cole stared at the peculiar, spiny, purple flesh, quite new to it, unsure how to eat it. His first attempt to peel it resulted in its barbs drawing blood.

‘You’re not worried about any of that I take it? The wars I mean, as clearly judgement doesn’t apply to you.’

‘Wars come and go. Always have, always will. History is littered with someone wanting what the other has and doing bad things to get it. These strange days are no different.’

‘What if it reaches down here? You’re not worried about any potential invasion?’

Jack heartily laughed at the suggestion.

‘Look around you, kid. Why would Cruden attempt to invade a shit-hole like the Sand Sea? It’s far too big to occupy. The manpower required would be enormous and do you honestly think that people would just lie down and let that happen? Folks around here are a mite touchy when it comes to being threatened, be it by animal, man or nation. The Empire’s got their hands full trying to stamp out the remains of that uprising against them. The Yellow Rebellion people there called it. Now, should you see Cruden flags hoisted in the capital we may have a different view on things. Bad men like us will be out of work as the Empire is less than tolerant of our kind. Until that day though …’ Jack prodded Cole in the chest firmly to get the point across ‘… it’s business as usual.’

Finally Cole managed to split the snack apart, only to have ribbons of orange and pips burst between his fingers. He raised it to his mouth and slurped the bittersweet contents.

‘I wish I had that kind of confidence.’

‘You’re a tolerant sort, Cole. Saw it in your eyes the first time I threatened you with iron. You think everyone is righteous and true until being proved otherwise. Good-natured, clean-mannered, that sort of thing. Am I wrong? Do you believe people should all just get along ?’