the Leathermines

Back to Chapter 36

 

It was so different than her home city in Rosemond.  Not just because she was not wearing Lady Engrid’s livery.  It wasn’t the few calls to her to sell her wares, from the basket and elsewhere.  It wasn’t even that she was wearing her Mistress’ clothing as a disguise.

It was that she was alone.

Gem had not been alone for more than a few minutes for most of her life.  She did not see anyone she recognized as she went through the streets of the Capitol City of the Midlands.  She had left Evan at the side entrance of the Palace she knew from when Ithian had come to get Laun.  She had her training and her blades, but she felt naked and alone.

She went the route she thought she knew to the harbor, almost a straight shot from the Palace to the water.  It was the almost that caught her up.  She went left when she should have gone right and walked into a warehouse district cull-de-sac that should have been closing up for the night.

Gem did sell a few of the smallbreads to some of the workers, pocketing the copper coins as she tried to look like she was just trying to make sales as she circled back.  The fruit was looked at, but most of the men wanted a different fruit from her.  She did not have as much experience in saying no as she could have, but she had seen the women of Salam-Dir put off the men without saying no.

The same fellow approached her for the third time and putting him off did not seem to be as much of an option.

“How much again for the orange?”  He blocked her way between an upturned riverboat being fixed and a stack of crates.

“Three copper, same as last time.  Are you going to ask me the same questions all night or are you going to buy something?”  Gem pushed the tray of food towards him and tried to sound annoyed.

“What I want isn’t in the tray.”  He stepped closer and Gem had to pull the tray back to not tip it.

Gem felt like he was trying to push her back.  It wasn’t a good feeling.  She smiled at him and said, “Now we are getting somewhere.  Now, I have to sell all this before ten bells and get back home.  I had one customer ask for me to stop by.  Real interested in the oranges, you see.  If you would walk with me to his boat, I can sell what I need to there and we can see what we can do for each other after.”

The man’s scarred face looked dubious.  “Not leading me into a trap, are ya?”

“Not any more than you are.”  Gem saw a small shrug and the man moved out of the way for Gem to go past, but not without a grope to her ass.

Gem walked just fast enough to seem like she needed to complete business, but not fast enough to seem like she was running.  The man kept up with her, but started to get tired of waiting and called after her that he would see her another night.

Gem’s nerves were on edge enough that she did not hear the other boots following her as the man stopped.  They were light, but paced her as she went through the dockside of the harbor looking for the schooner.  It was as described, the name prominent on the bow.  Gem did not see the person following her stop and look at a fishing net hanging to dry as Gem called across to the boat and a gangplank was lowered from it’s deck. She hurried up the narrow wood, remembering one of the other apprentices falling when they were boarding to come to the Midlands.  It was not a good remembrance as the cut-off scream of the girl had hung with Gem for the entire trip.

The schooner was clean and Gem felt exposed with the amount of open deck around her as she waited for Liam to appear.  He did and she motioned to the tray she was carrying, saying, “As you requested, good sir.  I am afraid I left the Peaches behind.”  She had an odd look from the man before she was invited into his cabin.

The message was handed to Liam.  He broke the Hawkwell green seal and the hair fell onto his wrist, tickling him slightly and making him look at it before it fell to the deck.  The paper was opened completely and he read it.  He read it again.  He looked up at Gem and said, “I was not expecting something like this from your Mistress.”

Gem bowed her head once.  “I never know what is going to happen around her.  This is urgent.”

Liam tucked the message into a cubby in a large writing desk and grabbed his cape.  “Then I shall go with you right now.  You are brave to come here to deliver the message.”

“Anything for my Mistress.”

The tray was left in the cabin as the two of them were let on the gangplank to the dock.  Liam knew the way to the Palace well and was able to get them there quickly.  He did not hear or see their shadow as they left the dock.

Evan was at the door and opened it to the two figures.  He looked around in the growing night and did not see anyone on the slope up to the Palace.  There were two figures that had stopped on the Palace greens hidden in the gloom, one following the follower.

Gem’s feet hurt from the ill-fitting sandals by the time they had reached the Palace.  She cut the thongs holding the leather straps to her and walked barefoot with the men back to Launs current room.

Servants of the blue and grey were standing outside of the door, several of them looking familiar to Gem.  She had spent so much time in the Palace she thought that it was the familiarity that servants get when rubbing shoulders on their way past to get things for their Masters and Mistress’.  Until she saw the helmet length hair and slight scar under one of the men’s ear and her mind flashed to the Manor.

Evan held the door and Liam went in first.  Gem turned and nodded to the soldier, saying, “Sergeant,” before going into the room.

He bowed his head and said under his breath, “How the hell do they do that?”  Gem smiled to herself.

The main room held many people in it.  The low, leather couches were much better for the amount of people that Laun seemed to gather around her than the velvet spindly legged things had been.  Laun was not in the room but she could be heard in the bathing chamber.  Gem scratched on the door and the call to enter came.

General Alsen was standing in the room, Silar at his side and a red scarf facing them.  It took a moment to realize that the veiled woman was Laun.  Laun’s eyes smiled at Gem as she entered, Liam behind her.

“Mistress, the gentleman you wished to speak to.”  Gem stepped to the side and heard an intake of breath from the smuggler.

Laun held out her hand and Liam took a moment to approach.  “Highness?  You do not look like yourself.”  Liam took the hand and bowed over it, his eyes going to the dramatically made-up eyes behind the pale yellow silk.

Alsen nodded, his eye taking in the new man in the room.  “If I hadn’t seen her walk after her man let me in, I would not have known it was her.  Sir, I am General Alsen.  I think I have seen you around-”

The warriors grip was taken and Liam said, “Liam.  I am a traveler and have had acquaintance with her Highness for a little while.”

Laun put a hand to Alsen’s arm and said, “I will be out in just a moment, Sir.  I have some delicate things to go over with my friend.”

The General saluted to Laun and nodded to the men before leaving, Gem going out behind him to close the door and stand guard.

“I feel like I stepped into a sprite’s story.  Highness, if I may ask...?”  Liam motioned one of his hands at Laun’s disguise.

Laun raised her hands to the side slightly and said, “Hunting down information, with a little fun on the side.  But the reason I sent for you is not so much fun.  Silar, please bring in Verat.”

The new apprentice was brought in, some of the happiness gone from him.  There had been time for a little nap before Laun talked to him seriously.  Ghosts were behind his eyes, and Laun did not want them to haunt him like they had haunted her.

“Liam, please meet Verat.  He has come across a situation that I am hoping that you may be able to help us with.”

Verat turned and looked at Liam.  “Liam, my Mistress trusts you and so shall I.  My last Master is dead.”

Liam’s face twitched and he looked concerned.  “I am sorry to hear that.”

Verat glanced over to Laun and she nodded.  “If the services you provide are what my Mistress says, I ask for your help in getting his body out of the city.”

Liam closed his eyes for a moment.  He looked at Laun and then back to Verat.  “It sounds like there are complications.”

Laun stepped in, taking pity on the slightly shaking Verat.  “What my apprentice will not say is that his Master was Sand Master.  He died in his home and his slaves have not dealt with the body.”

Liam could not repress the revulsion.  A grimace was on his face, his stance changing slightly as he said, “An information gatherer Master is dead.  No one has heard of this.  You want to keep it that way.”

Laun nodded.  “I have purchased the house from the Master’s title heir.  The body still needs to be taken from my house.  You are the only person in the Capitol City that I know who may be able to help, and keep it quiet.”

Liam turned and walked to the windows, looking out into the darkness.  “I can do it.  Is there a place that the body needs to go?”

Verat spoke, shaking his head.  “Sand only had one known relative and had lived in the Capitol City for decades.  A place that he can be placed and not be found is what I am asking for.”

Liam nodded, turning back.  “It will not be cheap, Highness.”

Laun stepped forward, the silks hissing against each other.  “It needs to be done, and soon.  I do not have all the resources of the Kingdom, but I have a few gold plate and I may be able to get you more.”

There was a dark flash across Liam’s face.  “Highness.  Coin is good, and can be used almost anywhere.  If you have truly read the messages I have sent you along with the trinkets, as such,” he pointed to her neck, “then you know that I do not depend on money for my livelihood.”

Laun sat on the stool at the vanity and looked up at the man, giving him the height advantage.  “What are we negotiating for, then?”

His fingers hooked over his belt and he took an aggressive stance.  His head went down slightly and he faced Laun straight on.  “From you, some of your time.  Your body.  To be used as I wish.”

Laun thought to her self that this was something that he could have asked for at any time.  Out loud, she said, “I do have limits, rules that I would wish to keep.”  She turned her head when she heard a loud noise in the main room, but turned back to Liam.  “How much time would it require of me to have you do the job?”

“Time to sail down to Hamlis harbor and back.”  His chin went down to his chest and it looked to Laun as though he was preparing to charge.

“Mistress,” Verat said quietly, “That could be as much as a week.”

The noise in the main room was louder again.  Laun did not turn even though she wanted to.  “That is a long time.  I have already been away from my babies several days.  A week is too long.”

He raised his hands out to her palm up.  “It does not have to be now, Highness.  We can arrange for your babies and one of your...servants to come with you.  It is up to you if you wish to take the offer.”

Laun was getting annoyed at the noise.  She closed her eyes and then stood.  “Liam.  I accept your offer, though we still have to know each others rules and such.  Please take care of Verat’s old Master.”  Laun held out her hand and found that Liam had her hand in his, and then pushed the sleeve of the tunic up to get to her wrist.  He pulled her arm up so that the inside of her wrist was at his lips, his teeth clamping on and sending pain and thrills through Laun.  She knew she had stepped into a place she shouldn’t have, but it had to be done.

“I can have the body dealt with tonight.”  His breath was on her wrist and Laun felt herself gasp.

It took a moment of her nodding for her to catch her breath.  “Verat.  Go with him.  Make the slaves release Sand, and the girl.”

“Yes, Mistress.”  Verat looked between Liam and Laun, noting the breathing, the postures, and the cut of Liam’s clothing before they parted.

Laun stood, turned away from the door as Liam and Verat left.  The noise from the main room grew with the opening of the door and Laun had to stay turned to not see what was going on.  She had heard screams.  She had heard skin against skin.  She had heard the furniture scraping across the floor.  She did not want to see what was happening, the thought that people were using her room to have sex without her pissing her off.

Silar came to her side and said, “Laun!  We have a problem.”

Laun snapped out of her self denial of what she had heard and heard the sounds for what it had been.  Struggling and screaming and crying and-

Laun turned and faced the door.  She could only see part of the room, but could see a figure being held by several men.  As she went through the door, she saw Gem being tended to by Evan, a slash across her arm.  Silar came out of the bathing chamber behind her and went in back of the men holding the struggling figure.  Alsen and Lucas and the soldier playing servant were all holding onto her.

Her.  Laun recognized her.  Where?  Lady Engrid.  One of the apprentice assassins.  The one that had gotten away from her at the Manor.

Laun could not speak.  She was horrified that one of Lady Engrid’s bitches was in the room, even though they had spent months living there alongside their Mistress before her.  There was blood running down her face, a broken nose marring the beautiful woman she had been.  One of her hands was not working properly, the wrist broken.  Plain, masculine garb on the assassin, dark colors and indeterminate of origin.

The assassin saw Laun and tried to spit at her.  Laun got out of the way of most of the blood mixed spittle and stepped into the assassin, her fist going into the woman’s stomach right under the ribs.  The woman coughed and lost strength in her legs but stood up and pulled against the men trying to get to Laun.

“What is this doing here?”  Launs voice was low and dangerous, the hiss of a snake and the growl of a big cat coming from her lips.

Lucas held onto the franticly struggling woman and said, “I was at the harbor on business when I saw your girl get onto a boat.  I thought it somewhat strange, but when she came out with the fellow that just left and this person started following, I followed, too.”

Gem looked at Laun and had tears of anger and regret in her eyes.  “Mistress, I didn’t see her.  I didn’t know.  She was in the hall-”

“I don’t have time for this.  Silar, strip her.”

The other men were not used to this and the assassin almost got away several times as Silar’s hands roughly took her clothing off.  She stood, her trial scars and fresh caning welts were there for all to see.  Her assassins’ blade was on her and Laun took it, seeing the well used blade and the slightly chipped carving in the onyx.

Laun sighed and tossed the blade to one of the couches.  “I give you one chance.  Where is Lady Engrid.”  The woman shook her head and smiled a bloody smile.  Laun shook her head and said, “I said one chance.”  She reached down to her boot and pulled the jeweled blade from it’s covered sheath.

The woman’s eyes went wide and her smile changed.  “No!  You can’t be!  You didn’t have that before...”

Laun stepped forward and then looked around.  “Take her to the bathing chamber.  That will be easier to clean.”

Her struggles were strengthened by pure fear, the men having to hold arms and legs to move her.  She started screaming again, but this time it was not epithets and threats.  She started begging for her life, to not be killed by the blade in Laun’s hand.  The door was left open as Laun watched the assassin do what she was supposed to be trained not to do.

“One chance.  I do not have time for this.”  Laun grabbed the brown hair of the woman and pulled her head back.  Laun struck the cheek of the woman with the butt of the blade, the crow and sword shape coming up immediately in a bruise, the crown taking some more time.  The screams were punctuated by sobs and she slumped between the men holding her.

“I hope that your dead tongue tells your Mistress much.”  Laun held the woman’s hair, looking into her eyes.  Though the jeweled blade in Laun’s hand had not been used for a long time, it was still sharp enough that Laun hit skin with the small crossguard before she knew she had pierced the skin.  It was a thirsty blade and the sharp steel let it drink.

Laun stepped back as she saw the life go out of the Assassin’s eyes.  Blood flowed over her hand, spilling to the floor.  Laun looked at the red in the lamplight across the light green of the glass tile.  It was so beautiful.

Reality hit Laun and she stepped further back.  The grim looks on the General and the Treasurer told her that it had to be done, but they were not happy.  Laun’s hand was slippery and the blade hit the floor, a smear of blood on the dark brown skirt as it went.  Laun went cold, but there was a tear in her eye that was not from fright or sadness.  It was relief.

“For you, Ithian,” she whispered.  Laun turned and started for a basin to wash in.

Silar put a hand on her shoulder and she jumped slightly.  He poured water over her hands as she used soap to clean what was visible.  Laun could still feel the blood and she was not sure if it was good or bad.

Laun leaned against the wall and looked at the body on the floor.  The blood was flowing towards the drain, slowing as it went through the channels between the tiles.  Laun felt pain in her heart.  For Ithian.  For herself.  And for the assassin.

“Highness?”  Alsen stepped towards her but stopped when she looked up and saw there was still danger in her.

“We need to get her out and back to the docks.  Dumped near Hamlis’ Mayor’s boat.”  Laun pushed herself away from the wall and went to the other room.  She went to Gem and saw the wrapping on her cut was good, but would need more.  She put a hand on Evan and smiled at him through the veil, the man nodding back to her.

“This was horrible.  We should not go to the red scarf house that-”

Laun turned and stood straight as she looked at the General.  “What has happened cannot be undone.  I need to see the Ambassador have his meeting, and find out what they are up to.  I cannot get into the diplomatic enclave without alerting them.  This was the only way I could think of to find out anything.”

The General stepped to her and held out his hand.  “If you are certain?”

“You have been there every night.  If you miss a night, they will miss you.  You are just bringing an exotic in with you for excitement.”  Laun tilted her head, the pearls shifting slightly and clicking together in her wrapped veil.  She took Alsen’s hand and curtseyed a little.

He shook his head a little.  “You are cold, Highness.”

Laun stood and looked the man in the eyes.  “For the Kingdom.”

Laun took the red scarf from around her hips and tucked it into a pouch.  She turned to Lucas and said, “I am sorry you had to see that, but I am glad that you were there to help Gem.”

“Highness,” he bowed slightly, “I understand.  Do your gathering and I will do mine.  I know how to use that to do it.”  He motioned to the body.

“Thank you.”  Laun turned to Gem and said, “Get yourself to the household healer.  That cut needs stitches.”

“Mistress.”  Gem stood, Evan helping her.

All the people in the room left, Gem making a scene to distract the clutch of servants as Alsen and Laun left.

 

Continue to Chapter 38 where Laun has her first real experience in a House of the Red Scarf