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Chapter 21
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Sinker was my protege, a lad I was grooming to be my successor, if that was what he wanted. Would he have been safe if I hadn't given him my room?
It was ironic. I had always taken steps to protect myself, and those I worked with. Keeping their names and true identities a secret, or pretending that the relationship between us was merely casual, or superficial ... yet their connection to me had cost them their lives.- "It was Molun who did this." said Pamna. "Not you. It wasn't your fault." Very perceptive, that one. She knew that I was punishing myself.- "I could have prevented it."- "Are you prescient? And should you go through life without friends? Molun had no friends. If you were like him, he would have gone after your associates. Or innocent people."Good points, all of them. I appreciated what she was doing. Someday, I might even come to agree with her.I took Lena's body to her uncle, and leftRelated chapters
Jayden's Luck Chapter 22
- "It blew up." - "You wouldn't lie to me, would you, Ken?" he asked. Then he answered himself: "No, I don't think you would." I resumed my tale (leaving out Sylvia's massage - though I would have liked to tell him that part, just to see his reaction). I didn't fabricate, or obfuscate. Just the facts. - "How did you find Molun so quickly?" he asked. - "I have ... contacts." - "Is that so?" - "Are we in trouble because ... because we took justice into our own hands?" I asked. Ledomir frowned. "That's not ... an issue." - "Is it about the tax on the loot we took?" Ledomir took a deep swig of his ale. Rundown though it may be, there was nothing wrong with Anson's ale, which was why sailors and pirates kept coming back, night after night. - "No, Ken. The late, unlamented Molun had money stashed in several places. He'd also invested in property across the city. Since he
Jayden's Luck 23
I was alert to everything around me. I am almost always alert, of course - that's how I've survived this long. But a marketplace attracts more than honest and dishonest customers. Pickpockets and other thieves are drawn by the money being spent, and the goods on display. No, thieves wouldn't attempt to steal a slave. But you'd be amazed to see what can be stolen, while a shapely female slave is being shown.Codyla was watching the ships. I saw three or four suspicious figures skulking about. Two of them, just off to my left, perplexed me. Adult males, much too large to be inconspicuous. They looked more like strongarm types, or muggers, than pickpockets. And they were wearing cloaks. It was quite warm, already, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The only possible reason for wearing a long cloak in this weather would be to conceal a weapon. But why here? I glanced to my right. Two armed men. Pirates - I knew the type. But they were looking around,
Jayden's Luck Chapter 24
The next night, I was too exhausted to pretend to be nice to gamblers and glad-handers. Sylvia had worn me out, during the daylight hours, all in the interest of furthering her philosophy of 'Enjoy the Sweet'. But it was impossible to sleep at night. The Narimac was a marvelous source of profit; unfortunately its inverted hours were wreaking havoc with my sleeping habits. My malaise went deeper than that, though. I didn't know what to do with myself. Yes, I can hear your heart breaking in sympathy for me: lucky bastard survives dragon, wins casino, sleeps with fabulous Jasmi. What was I crying about? I wasn't a thief anymore. I couldn't run a successful con anymore, when everyone with money knew who I was. And why steal at all? It hardly made sense to steal a few hundred from some rich man's house when I could rob him repeatedly when he came to the Narimac. I would just have to find something to do. Something consistent with the kind of life I liked to le
Jayden's Luck Chapter 25
has been behaving ... oddly. He dismissed his longtime right-hand man - a childhood friend. One of his captains was assassinated. Two more are ... mixing with the wrong sort of people. Money has been changing hands in unusual places." - "Jerian the Younger." I said. Inavar raised an eyebrow. - "Told you he was well-informed." said Ledomir. Several of my contacts had mentioned this little tidbit: Jerian the Younger, up and coming member of the Pirate Council, had suddenly dropped his best friend. And while pirates are frequently knifed, shot, or dropped in the harbour after dark, the only Captain to die of non-natural causes in the last month was connected to Jerian. - "How can I find out more about this than you can, my Lords?" They had to have much greater resources than I did. Ledomir answered. "I had two men inside Jerian's crews. Both disappeared three weeks ago." He made no bones about spying on another Pirate Lord; I suspected that the
Jayden's Luck Chapter 26
The waitress was well beyond her prime, but that made no difference. I was polite, and tipped generously. If I was going to come back to the Eagle regularly, it wouldn't hurt to cultivate her. Sources of information come in many shapes and sizes. But for my present needs, this place was perfect. As I nursed my second pint, I thought about the task that Inavar and Ledomir had dropped in my lap. I needed to know more about Jerian - much more. I wasn't going to break into his house (not yet, at least), or run a scam on him. Then again, my marks didn't usually have a fleet of ships and a private army of three hundred pirates. I would have to tread carefully. When I ordered a third pint - unusual, for me - I realized that I was grinning. I had been feeling sorry for myself, not knowing how to keep myself occupied. Well, I was occupied now. This job could be dangerous: but then, I'd always lived dangerously. It could also be fascinating, and might earn
Jayden's Luck Chapter 27
- "Marta." I said, rising to my feet. "You look ... marvelous." She did, too. Marta preferred low-cut dresses, or peasant blouses, which revealed about six or seven inches of cleavage. Simple, but supremely effective. - "It's been so long." she said, presenting her cheek for a kiss. - "You haven't changed." I said. A bit of a lie, but forgivable, under the circumstances. - "What an unusual place." she said. - "Wait until you've tried the soup." I said. "The bread is fresh-baked, across the street. And you have to try the beer. I know you drink expensive wines, but please - have a beer with me. For old time's sake?" There's an old saying about girls from my neighbourhood: you can take the girl out of the Bottoms, but ... I suppose you can guess the rest. Yes, it's rather rude. Try substituting the 'F'-word for 'take'. Marta smiled; I think she was genuinely pleased to see me. - "I
Jayden's Luck Chapter 28
I started by visiting a few of my more reliable contacts. I had new questions that I hoped to find answers to. Then I got together with one of my best street operatives.Her name was Denya, and she was a black-haired, eleven year-old wharf rat. She worked with her little brother and another orphan. They stole, but Denya was careful. She was also clever; she knew very well that they could earn more performing simple tasks for me than they could in a week of stealing - and with less risk.I put them onto Teeshay. Once they knew where she was meeting me tomorrow, it would be child's play (literally) for them to tail her.- "I want to know where she goes. If possible, it would be nice to know who she talks to. Be careful, and don't let her spot you."- "Teach yer grandmother to suck eggs." said Denya's little brother. Denya cuffed him in the ear.- "Shut yer gob." she snapped. "I does the talkin'. An' you show Master Ken some respec
Jayden's Luck Chapter 29
***I was up on the roof of the Narimac, talking to the gargoyles.They weren't employees. They were bound to the building, by an incredibly powerful spell. But it was finite; it would expire one day. Until then, they were compelled to protect the Narimac, and do the bidding of the owner. Me, or Sylvia.But the spell couldn't hold them, if I ordered them to go more than three hundred yards away.- "It's prolly 500." said Thaak, the male. "But you shouldn't risk that. You never know."It was Sylvia who'd told me how the pair of gargoyles were ensorcelled, magically trapped to serve as security for the Narimac.- "They have 187 years to go." she told me. "Bella paid for the spell. It was set to last for 250 years."- "Damn." I said. "Do they know that? The gargoyles?"- "Why not ask them?" said Sylvia.- "They can talk?" I said. Sylvia just gave
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Jayden's Luck Chapter 46
- "Well, there is a way to prevent it from happening again." she said. "Ken could buy you the house next door." It wasn't as crazy as it sounded. Sylvia wasn't simply floating an idea that had just occurred to her. - "We have more than enough money." she told me. - "What about the research for your spell?" I whispered. - "We can easily to buy another house. Or several houses. In fact, it would be a wise investment, against the day when the Narimac is no longer here." - "Really?" - "You could sell them, at some time in the future, if you needed money. Or you could rent them to lodgers, and provide yourself with a regular income." - "How do you know so much, when you've never set foot outside this place?" It wasn't a real question; no answer was required. I was just amazed by my partner - again. Pamna and Fhaernala weren't sure that they wanted to be housemates, but the idea of a l
Jayden's Luck Chapter 45
I was stunned. Sylvia couldn't leave the Narimac. It had never occurred to me that her magic could. Or was it the fact that it was Taliesine's spell, first? Taliesine turned to Aressine. "I am sorry if I caused you undue worry. It was not my intention to harm either of you." "You may have said certain things, in my presence, when you believed that I was dead. I was not expecting to eavesdrop, or to hear sentiments which probably would not have been expressed if you knew that I was alive." - "You don't have to apologize to us. Well, to me, anyway. Sorry." I said, to Aressine. - "I understand why you didn't tell us, Taliesine." she said. "But I was frightened. I really thought you were dead." - "That decision was taken in haste. I may not have made the best choice ... for all concerned." - "She didn't think that I could keep the secret." said Kima. She still looked half furious, and only half relieved. "She was pr
Jayden's Luck Chapter 45
No such luck. Cremyne was a crazy bitch - but she'd make all of us suffer if I pushed her too far. - "If ... if I tell you what the problems are ... you'll give them a quick death?" I whispered. - "Absolutely." said Cremyne. Another lie. She was already angry. Boutan and Naomi, Kima ... and Aressine were going to endure torment before they died - all because of Cremyne. I'd been wrong again. All these weeks, I'd been wondering why Syrava hated me so much, and how she could turn, so viciously, on her former friends. But the fey wizard was only part of the picture. Cremyne was just as bad - or even worse. Plan C, then. Three pathetic little spells, and a slim blade in my boot. That's when I saw the shadow on the stairs. Aressine might have noticed it. Boutan and Naomi probably couldn't see, from where they were. Nor could Samadar, who was still standing next to them. Kima, of course, was facing t
Jayden's Luck Chapter 44
- "Denya, you met her. She had the personality of a horned lizard. What was to like?" - "You hated her, then?" - "No, dummy. I respected her. Taliesine couldn't have cared less whether I liked her or hated her guts. Most of the people I've met who didn't care were assholes. But you have to admire someone - who isn't a complete asshole - who genuinely doesn't give a shit what people think of them." - "That's definitely not you." said Denya. "You try too hard to make everybody like you. And I'm not a dummy." - "Yeah, you are." I said, prodding her with my dagger. "When I called you a dummy, you got upset, and you totally missed me drawing my dagger and transferring it to my left hand." - "FUCK!" Denya was seriously ticked off. Not at me - at herself. I went to find Mehdawi. That night was the rarest of occurrences: a quiet time at the Gale. He only needed me to cast one spell. After that, he open
Jayden's Luck Chapter 43
Syrava's spell was broken as she fled. I lurched forward, off-balance. There was no sign of Samadar now, either. He had crawled away, and then melted into the shadows. The gargoyles dropped the dead crossbow-woman to the ground. Thaak stood for a moment, admiring his handiwork. Aacah loomed up beside me. - "Help." I got out. "Help me carry Aressine. Careful -" Aacah bent over, and scooped my girlfriend up in her arms. Aressine screamed as the shattered bones in her hip ground together. Then she passed out. The two gargoyles helped me carry my injured companions to the Narimac. We created quite a stir when we entered through the front doors. Sylvia was there. Thank all the Gods - my partner took charge of us. The gargoyles took us upstairs, where Sylvia had a look at Taliesine. Then she switched her attention to Aressine. Neither woman was making any noise. - "Crossbow bolts.
Jayden's Luck Chapter 42
- "You don't want to hear me trying, sweetheart." - "Please? Just a little bit?" - "Don't ask. You'll regret it. Take my word for it." She wouldn't stop. She continued to plead with me, to harp, to badger, to cajole ... but I knew how to make her quit. I sang four verses of a well-known sailor's shanty. What will you do with a drunken sailor? What will you do with a drunken sailor? What will you do with a drunken sailor, Earl-eye in the mornin' Aressine took it like a warrior. Her eyes watered, a little, but she didn't run away. - "I see." she said. "You were right." There's a first time for everything. *** Aressine and I were entwined, in the spoon position, with my erection buried inside her. We weren't thrashing about, though - it was our third lovemaking session of the day, after all. We were in no hurry. - "HA!!" I heard, from halfway across the
Jayden's Luck Chapter 41
"I didn't want to put you in danger." I said. "I think you already are, though. I'm sorry about that." She took my hand in both of hers. - "What's the alternative, Ken? To live at the Narimac, and never go outside? Or to cut yourself off from everyone you know, so that no one but you is in danger?" She was remarkably perceptive; I'd been thinking along those very lines, only a few nights ago. It sounded sillier when she said it that way. "Your friends would rather support you, and help. You can't expect us to let you face your adversaries alone." We sat in silence for a moment. Then I remembered something she'd said earlier. - "You said that you'd been thinking, too." - "Yes." I didn't press her. I did reach over, with my free hand, to stroke her fingertips. Other than that, I just waited. Aressine was not an impetuous person; more often than not, she was very deliberate, taking her
Jayden's Luck Chapter 40
- "Better." I said. "Who is your employer?" - "Jerian, the Younger." Technically, I suppose, that was true. I decided to let it pass, for the moment, and let Teeshay think that she'd gotten away with one. - "Have you slept with him?" She hesitated for a moment. "Yes." That gave me a sudden inspiration. "Who else have you slept with, in the past month?" Her jaw dropped. "Are you serious?" - "Very. Who else?" - "You, for one." Then, reluctantly, Teeshay proceeded to name nine more men. Three were independent pirate captains; three were members of Inavar's crews. The last trio were one of Ledomir's captains, his first mate, and a man whose name meant nothing to us. Teeshay glanced at Sylvia, quickly, as she finished her list. - "All true." said the Jasmi. "But she left out two men, and two women." Teeshay could only stare at my partner, her mouth open. - "That counts
Jayden's Luck Chapter 39
- "We've met." said the dark-skinned, dark-eyed asshole that I'd encountered at the Eagle - when he claimed that I was sitting at his table. He'd shaved his head for the occasion. His voice was just as cold, just as expressionless as the first time I'd heard it. "I remember Master Ken." he said. "I remember him very well." Had we been meeting outdoors, I would've been reaching for my pistols. They wouldn't dare to try anything at a party, in a crowd - would they? Pirate Lord Rymogo extricated me from what might have become an awkward situation. She threw an arm around my shoulder, and shouted in my ear. - "Ken! I was looking for you!" Then she pretended to catch sight of Jerian's party. "Jerian." she said, coolly. - "Rymogo." he answered, equally cool. "You know my wife, Cremyne." Then he had to introduce the rest of his party. They were - understandably - much more polite to old Rymogo than they'd been to me. She gree
