Brenner shrugged. “Yeah, I’m scum. But none of your boys will shoot half as straight, and there’s nothing I don’t know about quick and clean.”
“He’s very, very good with a crossbow, Captain,” said Slate, almost inaudibly.
The Captain’s nostrils flared. For a moment, Caliban thought he would throw the proffered help back in Brenner’s face, and small blame if he did.What a deal with the devil that is…
Then: “Very well. Smithkin, get this man a crossbow and take him to the scene.”
Smithkin looked even greyer.
Brenner paused on the threshold, not meeting anyone’s eyes. “If the blight gets worse, you’ll want to get a sharpshooter. Probably a couple of them.”
The Captain nodded slowly.
The door shut behind them.
There was a long, brittle moment. Caliban waited for Slate to either catch it or smash it into a million sharp-edged pieces.
Slate drew herself up to her full height, which put her only a little below the scholar’s eye-level. “I believe, honored dedicate, that we have gotten off on the wrong foot.”
Learned Edmund opened his mouth, and Slate lifted a hand to forestall him. “Believe me, I realize that this is not an ideal way to proceed, for any of us. Had we the choice, we’d perhaps choose differently. Nevertheless, we’re what you’ve got to work with. Now, I am certain that we all share the same desire, do we not?”
“Do we?” asked Learned Edmund skeptically.
“We do. The defense of the Dowager’s kingdom against the Clockwork Boys is uppermost in our minds, believe me.”
That’s true, anyway. After a fashion.
Learned Edmund nodded. “My temple has charged me to assist in this matter. And, if I may, to ascertain whether Brother Amadai still lives.”
“Brother Amadai?” said Caliban.
“The scholar in Anuket City,” said Slate.
Ah. The one who had gone missing.Caliban vaguely remembered something about that, although he’d been distracted by the tattoo being inflicted on him.
Learned Edmund clearly did not like agreeing with Slate, but said “If he is still there, yes.”
“I believe that our goals align, then,” said Slate. “We all wish to reach Anuket City swiftly and as safely as we can.”
The dedicate narrowed his eyes. “I do not wish to deal with unseemly displays of emotion on the road,” he warned.
“I’ll attempt to keep my weeping and vapors to a minimum.”
It was probably a good thing Brenner had left. Caliban wondered how long it had been since the Learned Edmund had exchanged words with a woman at all. He was guessing a good decade.
The dedicate swung around and looked at Caliban. “And you have no objections to placing yourself under this woman’s command, Knight-Champion?”
The Knight-Champion doesn’t think it’ll matter a pig’s eye who thinks they’re in charge,Caliban thought, but aloud he only said “None whatsoever, Learned Edmund.”
If we get out of the city gates without killing each other, the gods will have granted us a miracle.
“Very well, then,” said Learned Edmund. “If we must.”
The Captain pried his hands away from his eyes, and looked over the group. “Wellnow,” he said, with false heartiness, “now thatthat’sall settled. We’ve arranged horses—I believe you’ve seen to your own supplies. I’ve gone over your planned route and I have papers so that you can cross the border at Archenhold…assuming you can get there.” He favored Slate with an ironic smile. “Not that you couldn’t have seen to your own papers, I’m sure, Mistress.”
She smiled faintly and inclined her head. “I’ll let you know if I think of any improvements on yours.”
“The army is expecting you. They are under orders to render all reasonable aid.”
