“Out with it,” another demanded.
Hands on his hips, Joe shook his head and stared at the floor.
“Is this about Cole?” Adam guessed. “He’s our newest acquisition.”
All eyes turned to Cole, who shrank down in his seat. Joe followed their gazes to him and gave a little huff. “I’m not telling. I don’t want to be mysterious or difficult. It would just be safer for everyone if we settle this quietly.”
Adam put his boots up on a footstool. “You’re failing at mysterious, but you’re overskilled at difficult. We all know one another here, Joe. If someone vanishes, everybody in this room will realize who departed.”
“Not immediately,” Joe said. “And they won’t know why. We need all the time and secrecy we can get.”
Adam scowled. “Who would the High Shaper care about? Is it Durny? Our lead shaper? If so, you’re too late. He’s beyond all reach.”
“Not him,” Joe affirmed.
Cole avoided looking at Mira. He felt sick with worry. They had to be talking about her.
Adam raised his voice. “Any sign of legionnaires?”
“We’ve seen hints of a big group approaching,” a voice answered near the door. “Really big. Thought it might be a herd of buffalo. Could be riders. If so, it’s lots of them.”
“Hundreds of them,” Joe added.
Adam stood up. He was taller than Joe, with a thicker build. “I’m not sure whether you’re trying to solve our problem, cause it, or just profit by it.”
“I can make it all clear in private,” Joe insisted.
“I’ll tell the others, soon as we’re done.”
“I’m willing to take that chance.”
Adam considered him shrewdly.
“Incoming riders” came a shout from outside. “Three legionnaires.”
“We’re out of time,” Joe said urgently.
“Advance party,” Adam said. “Might be wise to hear both sides of this.”
“They’ll lie,” Joe said. “They’ll pressure you. Lend an ear, and you’ll end by handing over the slave.”
Pounding hoofbeats approached outside. Everyone turned their attention to the door.
“You skipped your chance to state your side,” Adam said.
Joe stepped close to Adam and whispered something. The men escorting Joe moved to intervene. Eyes widening, Adam lifted a hand to stop his men from interfering. Adam whispered something back. The stranger whispered something else.
“You want to hide?” Adam asked.
“Only if you give me the slave.”
Adam furrowed his brow.
The hoofbeats stopped near the door. Joe stepped away, taking a seat at a table. Adam returned to his throne. A man in a dark-blue uniform with gold trim came through the door, followed by two others, all three striding confidently. They each wore swords at their hips and held helmets under their arms.
“Captain Scott Pickett looking for Adam Jones,” the legionnaire in front announced. He had a small neatly trimmed mustache. His sweaty hair was plastered to his head from wearing the helmet.
“You found me, Pickett,” Adam said. “I don’t know your face. What brings you to the edge of the world?”
“An errand of small weight to you but of great import to our leaders,” Pickett said. “Might we confer in private?”
“We conduct our business publicly around here,” Adam said. “Most of those present share ownership in the operation.”
“As you will,” Pickett said efficiently. He seemed slightly unsettled, but he kept his gaze on Adam. “A slave was stolen some time ago from the High King. His Majesty would like her returned. We have traced her to this location. At present, we do not hold you at fault in the matter—you would not have known she was stolen property.”
Cole refused to let himself look at Mira. She had told him she wasn’t a slave before she left the High Shaper. The soldier must be lying to get what he wanted.
Shooting a quick glance at Joe, Adam shifted in his seat. “All the slaves here are bought and paid for.”
Pickett nodded briskly. “Understood. Considering the inconvenience, we will offer you five times her value.”
Adam whistled softly. “Slaves don’t come cheap. If she’s already the High Shaper’s property, why offer so much?”
“She is dear to the High King, and he wants the matter resolved.”
“You have her papers?”
“The matter is . . . delicate,” Pickett hedged.
“Surely you have proof of ownership.”
“You have the word of the legion and of the High King.”
Adam rubbed his mouth. “If you can spare five times her value, surely you could offer ten.”
Pickett paused. “I expect that could be arranged.”
Cole squeezed the edge of the table where he sat. Was Adam going to bargain with him? If so, Mira needed to run for it immediately.
“I see,” Adam said. “And if ten, why not a hundred?”
“Now let’s not—”
Adam held up a finger in protest. “The High Shaper has deep pockets, the matter is sensitive, and I’m a broker of rare valuables. Why not a thousand?”
Pickett straightened, his expression hardening. “Do not imagine you can abuse the legion, sir. The High King would prefer this to be handled with civility. He appreciates the value of your operation. But he will not hesitate to take what belongs to him. Commander Rainier is coming with a number of men.”
“Four hundred?”
“At least.”
Adam narrowed his eyes. “Why send so many men for a single slave you can’t prove you own?”
“We’re not just here for the slave,” Pickett said. “We’re also on our way to deal with Carnag.”
“Carnag?” Adam repeated. “The High King is finally getting involved?”
Pickett ran a hand through his hair. “The reports about the monster are most disturbing. We’ve seen some oddities across the five kingdoms, but never anything quite like this. It’s emptying towns quicker than a plague. Local militia and small groups of legionnaires haven’t even been able to get reliable information.”
Frowning, Adam stared at Pickett. “Who is the slave?”
“She presently goes by Mira.”
Unlike the rest of the room, Cole didn’t swivel to stare at his friend. The revelation came as no shock. At least now he knew for sure.
Hands on his hips, Joe shook his head and stared at the floor.
“Is this about Cole?” Adam guessed. “He’s our newest acquisition.”
All eyes turned to Cole, who shrank down in his seat. Joe followed their gazes to him and gave a little huff. “I’m not telling. I don’t want to be mysterious or difficult. It would just be safer for everyone if we settle this quietly.”
Adam put his boots up on a footstool. “You’re failing at mysterious, but you’re overskilled at difficult. We all know one another here, Joe. If someone vanishes, everybody in this room will realize who departed.”
“Not immediately,” Joe said. “And they won’t know why. We need all the time and secrecy we can get.”
Adam scowled. “Who would the High Shaper care about? Is it Durny? Our lead shaper? If so, you’re too late. He’s beyond all reach.”
“Not him,” Joe affirmed.
Cole avoided looking at Mira. He felt sick with worry. They had to be talking about her.
Adam raised his voice. “Any sign of legionnaires?”
“We’ve seen hints of a big group approaching,” a voice answered near the door. “Really big. Thought it might be a herd of buffalo. Could be riders. If so, it’s lots of them.”
“Hundreds of them,” Joe added.
Adam stood up. He was taller than Joe, with a thicker build. “I’m not sure whether you’re trying to solve our problem, cause it, or just profit by it.”
“I can make it all clear in private,” Joe insisted.
“I’ll tell the others, soon as we’re done.”
“I’m willing to take that chance.”
Adam considered him shrewdly.
“Incoming riders” came a shout from outside. “Three legionnaires.”
“We’re out of time,” Joe said urgently.
“Advance party,” Adam said. “Might be wise to hear both sides of this.”
“They’ll lie,” Joe said. “They’ll pressure you. Lend an ear, and you’ll end by handing over the slave.”
Pounding hoofbeats approached outside. Everyone turned their attention to the door.
“You skipped your chance to state your side,” Adam said.
Joe stepped close to Adam and whispered something. The men escorting Joe moved to intervene. Eyes widening, Adam lifted a hand to stop his men from interfering. Adam whispered something back. The stranger whispered something else.
“You want to hide?” Adam asked.
“Only if you give me the slave.”
Adam furrowed his brow.
The hoofbeats stopped near the door. Joe stepped away, taking a seat at a table. Adam returned to his throne. A man in a dark-blue uniform with gold trim came through the door, followed by two others, all three striding confidently. They each wore swords at their hips and held helmets under their arms.
“Captain Scott Pickett looking for Adam Jones,” the legionnaire in front announced. He had a small neatly trimmed mustache. His sweaty hair was plastered to his head from wearing the helmet.
“You found me, Pickett,” Adam said. “I don’t know your face. What brings you to the edge of the world?”
“An errand of small weight to you but of great import to our leaders,” Pickett said. “Might we confer in private?”
“We conduct our business publicly around here,” Adam said. “Most of those present share ownership in the operation.”
“As you will,” Pickett said efficiently. He seemed slightly unsettled, but he kept his gaze on Adam. “A slave was stolen some time ago from the High King. His Majesty would like her returned. We have traced her to this location. At present, we do not hold you at fault in the matter—you would not have known she was stolen property.”
Cole refused to let himself look at Mira. She had told him she wasn’t a slave before she left the High Shaper. The soldier must be lying to get what he wanted.
Shooting a quick glance at Joe, Adam shifted in his seat. “All the slaves here are bought and paid for.”
Pickett nodded briskly. “Understood. Considering the inconvenience, we will offer you five times her value.”
Adam whistled softly. “Slaves don’t come cheap. If she’s already the High Shaper’s property, why offer so much?”
“She is dear to the High King, and he wants the matter resolved.”
“You have her papers?”
“The matter is . . . delicate,” Pickett hedged.
“Surely you have proof of ownership.”
“You have the word of the legion and of the High King.”
Adam rubbed his mouth. “If you can spare five times her value, surely you could offer ten.”
Pickett paused. “I expect that could be arranged.”
Cole squeezed the edge of the table where he sat. Was Adam going to bargain with him? If so, Mira needed to run for it immediately.
“I see,” Adam said. “And if ten, why not a hundred?”
“Now let’s not—”
Adam held up a finger in protest. “The High Shaper has deep pockets, the matter is sensitive, and I’m a broker of rare valuables. Why not a thousand?”
Pickett straightened, his expression hardening. “Do not imagine you can abuse the legion, sir. The High King would prefer this to be handled with civility. He appreciates the value of your operation. But he will not hesitate to take what belongs to him. Commander Rainier is coming with a number of men.”
“Four hundred?”
“At least.”
Adam narrowed his eyes. “Why send so many men for a single slave you can’t prove you own?”
“We’re not just here for the slave,” Pickett said. “We’re also on our way to deal with Carnag.”
“Carnag?” Adam repeated. “The High King is finally getting involved?”
Pickett ran a hand through his hair. “The reports about the monster are most disturbing. We’ve seen some oddities across the five kingdoms, but never anything quite like this. It’s emptying towns quicker than a plague. Local militia and small groups of legionnaires haven’t even been able to get reliable information.”
Frowning, Adam stared at Pickett. “Who is the slave?”
“She presently goes by Mira.”
Unlike the rest of the room, Cole didn’t swivel to stare at his friend. The revelation came as no shock. At least now he knew for sure.
