Shadows Bleed

VII

VII

We were five days into our journey and had just rounded the southern edge of Üarye, now in Arulenite waters, when Jarne Fex, the Mayflower's first mate, sighted sails on the horizon.

"It's an Inquisition ship. A frigate-built Enforcer by the looks of it," he informed Robert.

Jarne spared a sideways glance in my direction and I knew he suspected me as the cause of this new variable. Jarne was the only member of the crew who still went out of his way to avoid me, the others having gradually fostered acceptance of and kindness towards me.

"They'll be brushing cheeks with us by mid-afternoon. What do you want to do?" he asked, returning his eyes to Robert.

"I want everyone to go about their business, we've dealt with the Inquisition before and this time will be no different. When they arrive, just let me do the talking; we've got nothing to hide."

Jarne nodded and left the cabin.

"He didn't look all that convinced," I observed aloud.

"Never mind Jarne, he's a good man and will do what I say. Right now, I want you below deck so I can sort this out. This isn't my first rodeo."

"Rodeo?" I was unfamiliar with the term.

"It's a- that's not important, just leave it to me. I know what I'm doing when it comes to the Inquisition."

"You know it's me they're after right?"

"I do," he gave me a reassuring smile. "Don't fret, I won't turn you over to them."

"Thank you," I said with all the sincerity I could muster. "Just don't do anything foolish for my sake. And his."

I looked in the direction of the small crib where Robert's eleven-month old son, Danyael, now slept soundly.

"Trust me," he said. "I've got this."

I nodded and retreated to the hold to wait.

***

A grating in the ceiling opened onto the deck above. I watched from the hold as the Inquisition Enforcer pulled up alongside the Mayflower, the Inquisition's flag flying proudly above the mainsail. Their crest was of an open eye wearing a three-pronged crown; one prong for each of the three branches, or Aspects, of the Inquisition.

I saw an Inquisitor of the Third Aspect, a Hunter, perching lightly atop the vessel's foremost mast. In his hands, strung and ready for use, was a powerful recurve bow. His black cape whipped about in the open sea breeze.

Once the two ships were perfectly aligned, a boarding ramp was lowered from the Enforcer to bridge the gap between them. Robert stepped forward and greeted the two people who crossed the ramp and now stood on his deck.

"Hail Seeker," he said to the man. "Paladin," he addressed the woman. "How may I be of service?"

Of the three Inquisitors, the man at the fore of the boarding party, the Seeker, was certainly the most formidable. The metal gauntlet on his left hand was not made of ordinary iron or steel and betrayed his Alchemical training. This gauntlet was special, for they were only used by Alchemists and were constructed of a rare and expensive metal, Ilurian. Each of the four fingers and the thumb had a Lazarus Stone, the very gems Savari slaves sweated and bled for, embedded in the tip.

The Lazarus Stone was the only natural element capable of containing the chemical compounds the Alchemist would cast in the midst of battle. Lazarus Stones were, subsequently, integral to a practicer of the Alchemical arts.