Stoneweaver

Stoneweaver - Chapter 10

The self-involved idiot probably didn't even know he had a tail, Andira thought as she left him. Would she have warned him if the man had seemed a threat rather than just a watcher? Probably. If only for Syssarra's sake.

The tail watched her leave, apparently oblivious to the fact she'd spotted him, but made no move to follow. She took a circuitous route, anyway, in case of other followers, but didn't spot any.

While many streets seemed busy, they quietened as she approached her destination, especially once the rain started. She raised her hood and pulled her cloak tight against it, but more because it afforded the opportunity to so hide herself. While heavy, the rain didn't feel like it'd stay long, and at sea she'd hardly consider taking cover from something this brief.

Reaching the end of the street, she took brief refuge under an overhanging building as she scanned the area around the church. She couldn't remember the name of the god it had originally been devoted to, although sure she'd been told. Some sea god, anyway. No one really cared about them anymore, especially since those in power usually forcibly convinced adherents to repent their beliefs. But enough superstition had remained that the place had never been demolished, and over time had become more-or-less forgotten. Now and then the thugs of those in power would clear out any who'd taken residence inside, but otherwise ignored it.

The side door opened with the same creak she recalled from childhood, but now raised concerns about who may have heard it outside, rather than what may be within. With a quick check for watchers, she ducked inside, pulling the door behind her and giving her eyes a moment to adjust.

As the deep shadows came into focus, she made her way through the building, and cautiously up the rickety stairs towards a better lighted area. She felt no surprise at Welden waiting for her to the side of the landing. He visibly relaxed as he recognised her, pocketing whatever he'd had in his hand.

With a nod he led her into a room. It held only a few changes of clothing, of various types, and a blanket on the floor.

Leaning against the wall next to the door, she couldn't spend too much time taking in the surroundings. "You got here safely then?"

He said nothing, having returned to a sheaf of notes lying on his blanket.

"Would it have been so dangerous to travel on my ship?"

"Safer not to have you linked with me."

"I don't particularly care what they think of me."

He met her gaze. "But I care that you're available to keep your end of the bargain. Is everything prepared?"

Bristling slightly at his attitude, she forced herself to calm, reminding herself what he must have been through. "I've spoken to a couple, I'll go to the other one after I leave. They need to discuss it, but I think if what you've promised is as big as you say it'll be, they could be inclined to agree. Tensions are running high at the moment."

He frowned slightly.

"What'd you expect? Your promise is fairly vague. Even desperate men need something solid to grab onto."

With a faint nod, he returned to his work. "You're ready to sail when I need you?"

"Yes, but it'd be easier if I knew exactly when we'd be going. How are your plans progressing?"

"They suffered a slight... diversion, but the next step should be done tomorrow, and the final one... probably the next day. But be ready in case..." The sentence drifted in search of an ending.

"In case of further diversions," Andira offered.

He smiled, a strained one, but with a faint hint of warmth.

"There are rumours you met with Thortus?"

"We had a chat."

Andira shook her head. "He seems to have a lot of people looking for you?"

"Unsuccessfully, so far."

"You could hide on my ship. I know you don't want to draw attention to us, but they'll get around to searching here at some point."

"They already have. I waited until they'd been through it. And if they come again... I can handle it. But I'd rather keep us unconnected until I need your ship. I can always find other hiding places, but a ship as fast as yours, with a captain I can trust, will be harder to acquire on the run."

"And can you fight your way past Thortus' men if needs be."

He met her eyes. "Yes."

She saw no doubt there, and believed him. He was so different from the one time she'd seen him, years ago. But he hadn't been the focus of her attention at the time. "I saw Zienna here once, when I was young."

He held her gaze, his softening slightly.

"Downstairs, just talking, telling us her dreams, as she did. But it... She could inspire people to believe things could be made right, that we could... A part of me wonders if Thortus let her talk so much, so that when he did take her it'd be that much harder, like our final hope was being crushed."

"No," Welden glanced away. "Thortus is a simple creature. He doesn't scheme. But he also doesn't think talking can change anything. He didn't see her as more than an irritation, and it was only when she needled him too much, or when he was in a bad mood from something else, that he lashed out. But he obviously didn't crush all hope." He turned back to her. "You're still fighting."

She dropped her gaze. "Sometimes. But I ran away."

"You refused to serve him, or the way his kind have set things up."

"I could have done more."

"You are doing more. You're doing what Zienna would have." Discarding his notes, he rose, walking to the window, his back to her. "You're doing what she always dreamed she would: taking advantage of an opportunity to overthrow the way things are."

Andira hesitated, afraid to ask, afraid both that she'd cause offence, and that she wouldn't like the response. "And is there really an opportunity here? An opportunity to stop them?"

"Yes." Again, his tone held no doubt.

"For more than just revenge?"

He glanced back at her, and she regretted the words.

But then she remembered who she was. And what was at stake here. "If you're just doing this to get the chance to kill this Narvon..."

"I never said I'd kill him."

"I thought you wanted revenge?"

"I do. And I'll have it. But I'm not intending to kill him. I'm going to destroy him. And I'd rather have him alive to suffer it."

"Fine. But if your interest is in your revenge, what happens if you have to choose between that and what you've promised?"

"There isn't a choice." He turned to face her squarely. "This isn't my revenge. It's Zierra's. It's doing things the way she'd want them done."