A Scoundrel's Song

19

Maldani had gone. Taken beneath the surface of Lake Caranccilio leaving not a wave or a ripple. The water looked peaceful and flat again, as though nothing had occurred at all. Niico rose to his knees, still howling, reaching out a hand toward something that was no longer there and he soon had the hands of others dragging him back, away from the water's edge.

"He's gone, Niico!" Pelenia fell to her knees before him, gripping his shoulders and shaking him. "We can't save him. It's over!"

"Save him?" His voice trembled and he turned his eyes to look into those of Pel. Her hands fell away as he shrugged his shoulders a little more violently than required. "The coin pouch! I almost had the coin pouch! The old fool still held it!"

He jumped to his feet, stepping into the shallow waters, and bent almost double, searching with his hands beneath the surface, trying in desperation to find those coins. Talons. He had heard their distinctive sound, a different tone to the sound of silver or copper coins. A satisfying, heavy sound that brought cheer to his heart whenever he heard it. Now gone.

To the side, the remains of the boats drifted to the shore, bumping, lifting and lowering as the waters kissed the shore. If only Maldani had opened his fingers. Only a slight would have sent that purse falling into Niico's outstretched fingers, but the selfish old fool had held on, taking the pouch and the coins with him to his watery grave.

A splash reached his ears and he turned to see Herit beside him, little arms reaching in to the water, trying to help him find the coins. The boy knew the merits of having coin and that knowledge would carry him far, if the hovering form of Akafa didn't spoil it. That man's arms lifted Herit from the water, depositing the boy back on the lakeside, leaving Niico alone in his search.

"You are a greedy fool, Niico." The rumbling voice of Akafa didn't even sound disappointed, or angry. "A man has died, a good man, and you care more for trinkets and metal. I wish it were you satisfying the hunger of the Sirencci."

"Niico." Antioni's softer voice came close to Niico's ear as his smaller hands tried to pull him back. "The coins are gone with the man. You will not find them, and you chance calling the creature back to us. There will be other coins, in other places."

He was right. They had survived the encounter by a hair's breadth and he served nothing by putting himself in further danger. Though, were they to find the Sirencci's lair, they could find the body of Maldani, and his coins. Antioni spoke true. There will be other coins. In other places! Of course! The old idiot had said as much. The other bags of coins were somewhere around, hidden. If Niico could find them, it would make all this worthwhile.

"Right, everybody spread out. Look for fresh moved soil. Hidden places in the boles of trees. Rocks that look out of place. The madman hid other coin purses hereabouts. Find them!" He stepped backward, leaving the water yet unable to take his eyes from the lake. His commanding voice carried to them all. "He can't have hidden them far from here. Go! Find those coins!"

He turned, more determined about this than anything in his life. He had given his commands and the others, to a dutiful one, had completely ignored them. He swept his hand out in dramatic fashion, clicking his fingers and giving them his most serious, stern countenance and that had the effect of doing little. He clicked his fingers again, in case they hadn't heard.

Herit tried to run off to start the search, but Akafa held him back. He glared at Niico with undisguised hatred, which complimented the look of despair and shaking head of Pel, and the look of pity from Antioni. None of them understood. None of them cared. If they found those coins, it would set them all up for the rest of their lives. They could do anything. Go anywhere. Be who they wished to be. Yet they all stood there, looking at him.