Raw Winter

Chapter 46: The Long Hall

Despite himself, Daverel cowered. He cowered at how Rawintr bared down on the bar in a way that made it feel they were there to protect rather than imprison him. He could imagine her breaking the bars as easily as the neck of a bird.

He could easily imagine those hands reaching in and breaking his neck. He doubted it would be quick and painless, and could imagine the way his neck would splinter in her grip.

And she gave him a cruel smile that was subtle at first and then grew wider as she leaned in, her face nearly against the bars. "Do you think I mean you?"

He felt shivers of fear going through him he couldn't reconcile. He remembered the cute little girl she had been. She wasn't a memory that ate at him, but she came to mind from time to time. It was true he felt guilty for what happened to her and her mother. This wasn't the same girl he remembered, and he knew it was his fault.

"I know you're not here for me, Winter. I know you know exactly who you're after or you wouldn't be here at all," he said.

"And how do you figure that?" She asked as if to counter him, but was genuinely curious. Her blue eye gleamed in the dark where the little light reflected off it.

"I know if you had any idea how big and bad Catinol was, you wouldn't be here unless you intended to do exactly what needs to be done," he coughed. "I think I can help you. You've just got to get me out of here and I'll show you exactly what you need to do."

She stared wordlessly for a long while. He wasn't sure she was going to answer before she said, "There's nothing in this world bigger or badder than I am. I don't need anyone to show me how or why I need to kill a man like him."

She could hear people outside; the sound of yelling. It felt more like vibrations than sound, but she knew what it was. Her crew had arrived, and they were ready to find her, and they wouldn't find her in here.

And she turned away. He felt desperate and knew if he let her go, he would never be found or seen again. He lunged forward, wanting to get her attention any way he knew how, but was out of sight and mind by the time he fell to the end of his manacles. He found himself held suspended and unable to reach the floor. His shoulders ached from the display, like a torn angel.

And the door slammed shut, leaving him alone in the dark with only his next meal to look forward to if he would get one at all. This was the first new thing he had seen in a very long time, and he was afraid it was his last.

Out in the hall, Rawintr saw Whistle holding the guard that had been patrolling against the wall. Whistle was shorter but had no issue pressing the man's face against the stone. He was saying, "Where is she?"

And Rawintr answered, "If you're looking for me, I'm right here."

"Captain; it's good to see you're safe" Chresher said, smiling at her. He was holding Varnett, but he now wore a gag. She noticed Kircan was no longer with them and questioned it wordlessly with the way her eyes went between them.

Whistle answered, "After Mesmar died, Kircan said it would be better for him not to come with us. He said he doesn't trust himself to keep control, especially after what happened with the tiger man."

"Tiger man? What did you do to Captain Herred?" The patrolman said.

Rawintr said, her tone low and annoyed, "Kill him. We need to get going."

"What captain?" Whistle asked, glancing back at her, though the man he held down didn't mishear and bucked beneath him. Whistle shoved harder.

"Please don't kill me. I can turn a blind eye. You can knock me out and tie me up. I promise no one will know you're here because of me. I can help you with whatever you're here for. I just don't want to die," he said.

"I'm tired of trusting people today. I've already seen how easy it is for trust to go wrong, and you're already willing to betray your employer. Do you think we're going to pay you or give you something these people aren't already giving you? Except your life. Whistle, kill him and let's get going," Rawintr barked. "I know where we're going."

She turned and started walking. Chresher and Whistle didn't hesitate for long. They had no reason to argue, and Hades Smith asked for worse. The man was trying to reason with Whistle and when he realized he wasn't listening he screamed, but the sound was soon cut off.

Varnett, by now, no longer resisted. He had to be dragged along like a limp doll. Chresher was more than strong enough, and Rawintr only gave him a passing glance.

"You said you know where we're going, Captain?" Chresher asked, his dark eyes searching her. He could tell something had happened.

"The man in the cell back there told me how to find it," she answered, but he hadn't told her anything. She just had a strong feeling they were heading in the right way and was ready to have this over with.

The hall kept going for what felt like ages, and she wasn't sure she was there or somewhere else. The thing that kept her sane was Chresher talking.

He said, "When I was little I lived in a village with my mom, dad, and two older brothers. We worshiped many gods, but there was a group of people who hated us. It wasn't long before my parents and my brothers were fighting in a war they couldn't win and I was bitter because they wouldn't let me fight with them, but I was also very young then. Sure enough, the men from other the sea killed all of them and they left me an orphan."

"What did you do about it?" Rawintr asked, glancing at him though she couldn't see him. He was on the side of her blue eye.

"I did nothing for a long time. I suffered and mourned alone, but eventually got bigger. Sure enough, those men told pirates where to find us and raiders spotted and took me," he said.

"By Hades?" Rawintr asked.

"No, I couldn't tell you the bastard that took me, but I can tell you the Red Liar made quick work of them. So many men and women drowned when that ship sunk, but I kept my head above water where the others couldn't. I was lucky. They were chained worse than me. Hades pulled me out of the water and I resented him. I blamed him for sinking the ship, knowing how many were on it, and at the time I wanted to drown with them. He told me if I wanted revenge so badly, or if he wanted to see him die, I would have to stay with him. He was right," Chresher said, "and in the meantime he made me bigger and stronger on his ship. I don't know if I ever forgave him. I shared a few happy moments with him, but I don't know if I forgave him."

"You probably couldn't have guessed a little girl would be the one to kill him," Rawintr answered, listening to his heavy steps and listening to the way Varnett's body dragged against the stone floor. She considered asking him to carry him, but something was soothing about the sound. Whistle was listening to the two of them talk intently.

"Oh, but you weren't a little girl when you killed him, captain, just like I wasn't a little boy watching him die," Chresher answered. "You shouldn't worry about me being upset it wasn't me. I had plenty of time if I was going to do it."

Rawintr asked, "Is Chresher your actual name? Your true name?"

"Maybe I'll tell it to you one of these days if you'll tell me yours, captain," he responded.

"We'll see how this goes," she said, and the next thing she knew they were on the other side.

The light was bright, and she closed her dark right eye so the light reflected brilliantly off the blue jewel of her left. She felt a strong sense of relief. She could smell the ocean and slowly opened her eye again. She could make out docks and the sails of ships in the distance.

But as she stepped out into the light, Chresher and Whistle beside her, she could see they weren't alone. Catinol stood in front of her like the prize she had been looking for, but beside him stood Joeson and on either side of them stood dozens of men with crossbows.

Chresher moved to stand in front of her, Varnett held like a shield.