safe at sea. Why did your message say to depart at dawn?”
“In your estimation, Captain, should we leave now?”
“Absolutely not.” The tide was against them, his crew could use the rest, and the Lyathatan was exhausted from pulling them back to land with such speed. Well, not exhausted precisely, because Calder wasn’t sure the Elderspawn ever got tired as he understood it. But from Reading the giant creature that pulled their ship, Calder was sure that it would find a way to retaliate against overwork. Forcing it to pull against the tide could be a straight route to the bottom of Candle Bay.
But if it was a choice between trying to persuade the Lyathatan and fighting off assassins, then Calder would pick the “flee to open ocean” route anytime.
Naberius nodded. “I agree. Tristania and I are also tired from our journey here, and we would welcome a night of rest before we headed out into open ocean. To be fully honest with you, we do not expect to be pursued this early, and we have set other precautions in place to be sure. But in case our preparations come to nothing, this is why we hired you.” He leaned forward. “It may be improper to ask, but...is it safe to say that you have a Soulbound among you?”
Calder tried not to do anything that would draw the Chronicler’s attention to Urzaia. Or Foster. Or, for that matter, himself.
“That would be safe,” he said at last.
“Then I am relieved.” He held up a hand. “Again, I do not expect any trouble tonight. But in case of a mistake on our part, it is a relief to know that there is at least one member of your crew who can stand with Tristania in our defense.”
“For the amount you’re paying, Naberius, consider the lives of my crew completely expendable. If you’d like to kill one to relax, I have a pistol you could borrow.”
Andel took a swig of wine. “That offer is good for the next ten minutes, until our inevitable mutiny.”
Calder jerked a thumb in the direction of his Quartermaster. “Andel will be first in line to take a bullet for you. I can tie him to a shield, if necessary.”
With a crash like thunder, the trap door to the hold burst open, and a dark figure soared out.
Naberius had a pistol out and aimed before the sound faded. Urzaia rose to his feet with a hatchet in each hand, Petal shoved herself behind a barrel, and Andel drew a pistol of his own. Tristania reached a hand inside her coat, Calder’s hand tightened on the grip of his cutlass, and even Jerri pulled a dagger.
Then the dark figure flapped into the light of the quicklamp, its black eyes glaring, working stubby wings to stay afloat. “MUTINY,” it bellowed, and then hopped up onto Calder’s shoulder. It leaned over, reaching out with the nest of tentacles on its mouth to clean the last bits of debris from Calder’s dinner plate.
The rest of the crew relaxed, but the Witnesses kept a tight grip on their weapons.
“What is that?” Naberius asked in disgust.
They normally kept their pet Bellowing Horror sealed up when they had passengers onboard, but it seemed that this time the cage hadn’t held.
Oh, well, Calder thought. He was going to find out sooner or later.
“Naberius, Tristania, meet Shuffles.”
C HAPTER F OUR
When someone charges an object with their Intent, we call that process ‘investing,’ and we say that the object has been ‘invested.’
Why? Are we nothing more than slaves to ignorant tradition?
The early Empire knew nothing of finance, and thus nothing of true financial investment. I think you’ll find that our proposed term, ‘empowering,’ really captures the modern spirit of today’s Empire.
-From the (rejected) proposal of the Aurelian Banker’s Union to the Guild of Magisters
Thirteen years ago
Rojric rarely spoke of Calder’s mother at all, and Calder thought he was beginning to understand why.
“He took you with him on a burglary? You’re lucky the Guard knew to take you to me, or you might be in
“In your estimation, Captain, should we leave now?”
“Absolutely not.” The tide was against them, his crew could use the rest, and the Lyathatan was exhausted from pulling them back to land with such speed. Well, not exhausted precisely, because Calder wasn’t sure the Elderspawn ever got tired as he understood it. But from Reading the giant creature that pulled their ship, Calder was sure that it would find a way to retaliate against overwork. Forcing it to pull against the tide could be a straight route to the bottom of Candle Bay.
But if it was a choice between trying to persuade the Lyathatan and fighting off assassins, then Calder would pick the “flee to open ocean” route anytime.
Naberius nodded. “I agree. Tristania and I are also tired from our journey here, and we would welcome a night of rest before we headed out into open ocean. To be fully honest with you, we do not expect to be pursued this early, and we have set other precautions in place to be sure. But in case our preparations come to nothing, this is why we hired you.” He leaned forward. “It may be improper to ask, but...is it safe to say that you have a Soulbound among you?”
Calder tried not to do anything that would draw the Chronicler’s attention to Urzaia. Or Foster. Or, for that matter, himself.
“That would be safe,” he said at last.
“Then I am relieved.” He held up a hand. “Again, I do not expect any trouble tonight. But in case of a mistake on our part, it is a relief to know that there is at least one member of your crew who can stand with Tristania in our defense.”
“For the amount you’re paying, Naberius, consider the lives of my crew completely expendable. If you’d like to kill one to relax, I have a pistol you could borrow.”
Andel took a swig of wine. “That offer is good for the next ten minutes, until our inevitable mutiny.”
Calder jerked a thumb in the direction of his Quartermaster. “Andel will be first in line to take a bullet for you. I can tie him to a shield, if necessary.”
With a crash like thunder, the trap door to the hold burst open, and a dark figure soared out.
Naberius had a pistol out and aimed before the sound faded. Urzaia rose to his feet with a hatchet in each hand, Petal shoved herself behind a barrel, and Andel drew a pistol of his own. Tristania reached a hand inside her coat, Calder’s hand tightened on the grip of his cutlass, and even Jerri pulled a dagger.
Then the dark figure flapped into the light of the quicklamp, its black eyes glaring, working stubby wings to stay afloat. “MUTINY,” it bellowed, and then hopped up onto Calder’s shoulder. It leaned over, reaching out with the nest of tentacles on its mouth to clean the last bits of debris from Calder’s dinner plate.
The rest of the crew relaxed, but the Witnesses kept a tight grip on their weapons.
“What is that?” Naberius asked in disgust.
They normally kept their pet Bellowing Horror sealed up when they had passengers onboard, but it seemed that this time the cage hadn’t held.
Oh, well, Calder thought. He was going to find out sooner or later.
“Naberius, Tristania, meet Shuffles.”
C HAPTER F OUR
When someone charges an object with their Intent, we call that process ‘investing,’ and we say that the object has been ‘invested.’
Why? Are we nothing more than slaves to ignorant tradition?
The early Empire knew nothing of finance, and thus nothing of true financial investment. I think you’ll find that our proposed term, ‘empowering,’ really captures the modern spirit of today’s Empire.
-From the (rejected) proposal of the Aurelian Banker’s Union to the Guild of Magisters
Thirteen years ago
Rojric rarely spoke of Calder’s mother at all, and Calder thought he was beginning to understand why.
“He took you with him on a burglary? You’re lucky the Guard knew to take you to me, or you might be in
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