The Soldier and the Thief

Chapter 12

The Salty Workers Inn was full of rumbling laughter as the fishermen celebrated the end of the fishing season, thanked Eknia they had survived another year and remembered those who had been lost to the monsters of the deep. It was nearing late evening, and everyone was in good spirits. The door to the inn suddenly opened with a bang, and silence fell upon the fishermen. A hulking man with shaggy red hair and an equally untidy beard limped into the inn. Upon closer inspection the customers of the Salty Workers Inn saw that his hair was matted with blood and there was a large gash above one eye. Jade green irises glared out from under bushy eyebrows and thin lips bared in a snarl, revealing yellowed teeth. The newcomer limped over to the counter and laid a hand on the top, summoning the bartender.

"I want passage across the Lake of Ellan." His voice was gruff and unused.

"G-good sir, the fishing season has ended. There is no one crossing the lake until the beginnings of spring." The bartender gulped under the foreigner's glare.

"Perhaps you didn't hear me. I want passage across the Lake of Ellan, and I want it today."

"M-may I ask who wishes to cross the waters?"

"Took. Took wants to cross the waters."

Robin tugged the unconscious soldier back onto the ferry and laid him out on the boards. She was breathing heavily and her stomach ached to no end as she set about performing CPR. His lips were blue and cold when she blew into his mouth, and his chest moved up and down to the rhythm of her hands. There was no response.

"I did not rescue your sorry arse just to have you die on me." She muttered as she continued compressing his chest. She pressed her lips to his once more and returned to his chest.

In the tower where the High Mage studied his prize, the room was dark and the soldiers outside the door waited silently, not daring to disturb the one they feared. Bane had left her perch to curl around her master's neck. The heart's activity had increased rapidly, but now was beating steadily. The thief was in trouble yet again. There was a small but significant crack at the base of the glass dome.

Nik woke with a cry that became a gurgle as he coughed up the water sitting in his lungs. A blurry figure leaned over him and pulled him onto his side as he threw up what was left of the water and the Momrot from earlier. Nik rolled onto his back once he was able to breathe properly, and the thief blurred into view, her scarred face melting from concern into a scowl.

"R-Robin?" He asked weakly. She slapped him. Hard.

"I still hate you." Robin stood and walked away, snatching up her tunic on the way to their cabin. Nik watched her go and let his head fall back onto the wood, trying to process what had just happened. Looking all around him, he saw memories of what the giant octopus had done to the ferry. The sides of the boat were splintered and in certain places had been destroyed entirely. There was about two inches of water on the floorboards. The stable doors were shut, but he could hear Phantom and Sundance snorting with fear inside. His first instinct was to grab the Pacifier, but when he reached for it, there was nothing but an empty pouch.

Robin had saved him. Even though she'd known about the order King Kristian had given, even though she knew he'd helped execute Charlet to stop the spread of the Lurgy, even though she'd been in the middle of yelling at him, Robin had saved him. When Nik had stabbed the tentacle to stop it from crushing them, he'd only had to blink before he was in the air, hurtling toward the murky water. He could feel the beginnings of a bruise on his lower body from where his sword and belt had been pushed against his leg and waist. Looking down, Nik frowned when he saw that the Pacifier was gone. Where was Willem?