It was good and dark by the time Trax got us back to civilization. There were a couple of locals sitting on the end of the dock with fishing poles, only they got up and ran away when they saw us approaching. Probably to tell the fisherman I’d got the boats from that we’d lost his property. I didn’t look forward to being yelled at. My hip hurt, I was covered in bruises, and my back and arms burned from the continual rowing. Lava was preferable to the ocean, and levitating barges were far superior to floating boats, and right then I’d have punched out anyone who dared disagree.
We tied up at the dock and wearily climbed up. It took a lot of effort to get hefty and delirious Bognar onto dry land, but Krachma and Trax were very strong.
A bunch of light charms were headed our way. That was a far larger reception than we deserved. The numbers made me alert and suspicious. I thought hard at Trax,Jump back in the water and hide.
“A fine idea.” Trax slipped off the edge of the dock and vanished into the dark water below.
Rade saw them coming and slowly moved one hand to his sword. “Why is there a mob waiting for us?”
Mob was a bit of an overstatement, but it was still a dozen toughs. I died inside when I saw it was Cutter Joran at the head of the approaching group.
“Good evening, Mr. Carnavon.” He tipped his hat toward us. “Lady Garzade. Krachma the Killer. Mr. Prescott.”
Rade frowned at the use of his birthname rather than the one he’d claimed for himself. “It’s Tartaros.”
“Sure. You’re a nobleman the same way I’m the Lord High Emperor of Norto Molto and this is my royal guard.” When Joran said that, his thugs laughed. “We’re here to welcome youhome, triumphant adventurers, for the whole city saw that great beam of light leap into the sky from somewhere upon the bay earlier. Hell, the real nobles probably even saw it way up in the Pallentine, and what else could that have been but a great and ancient treasure revealed? So where is it?”
“It got stolen.”
“Oh?” Joran was suspicious, but didn’t seem too surprised. “That’s a development. By whom was it stolen?”
I was too weary to put up with Joran’s threatening trogshit right now. “As you can see, we’ve got wounded. I’ll tell you all about what happened out there, but please let my people carry these two to a healer first.”
Joran scowled as he looked over our group. “Your headcount seems to be short a few.”
“Some of us didn’t make it.”
He nodded, real slow. “Or you’re a diversion, and they landed secretly elsewhere with the precious lamp.”
“We’re not thieves,” I stated, flat and offended.
Rade coughed. “Well, some of us might have dabbled in such behaviors in the past, but that’s not the case this time. As you can see, we were attacked.”
“I shall not sob myself to sleep at night over the loss of any Outcasts, as there’s too many high and mighty mages in the world as it is, to coddle the aspiring ones. However, my heart bleeds for every member of the Latrocinium… Where’s Dathka?”
“She’s been abducted by an orc named Gerzog.”
I’d seen Joran aggressive and menacing before, but it had always been real contained. This was the first time I saw him become genuinely angry. His manner changed, nothing really perceptible, but the subtle shift was enough to make me in fear of my life.
“What did you say?”
“Gerzog the Marauder. Big fellow. Green. Tusks. A bit of a prick. I’m sure Carcalla will be getting the ransom demand soon. He’s got the lamp too. The Tooth and Claw mercenary company jumped us after we fought our way through the monsters and defeated all the traps. They killed some of us, and these two are going to die if we don’t get them help…” I gestured toward where Sifuso and Bognar were lying on the dock. “Sopleaselet them through.”
“Where did he take her?”
Joran was one dangerous son of a bitch and he didn’t care if my friends lived or died. Too bad for him, I did, and my Fogo temperament was showing through. “I’ll tell you as soon as you let them pass, or let’s fucking get this over with and it’ll be more than these two needing a healer.”
He surely thought about just killing me right there for my impudence, and it got real tense on that dock. I recognized two of the band with him as the higher-ranking mages he’d had with him the first time. With them fresh, and us in our current sorry and soggy condition, we wouldn’t stand a chance.
Thankfully, even while angry, Joran remained sensible. “Fine. Let them through. Everyone but Carnavon. As spokesman for this band of rejects, me and him have got some business to discuss.”
I looked toward Azarin. “Get them taken care of.”
“I will,” she promised.
Krachma picked up Big Bognar in his arms like a baby, while Rade and Azarin together struggled to lift Sifuso. Morton couldn’t really do much to help, but he was quick to attach himself to that group rather than volunteer to stay with me.
Joran waved toward half his men. “Don’t just stand there. Help carry their wounded… Then keep them company and make sure none of them run off until we get this mess sorted out. The rest of you remain with me.” Then Joran raised his voice.“And as for you, Squalo. Don’t forget I can understand your picture language. I already heard you, so I know you’re out there skulking about in the waves. I assume you’re the reason Carnavon knows where these thieves have taken my employee. You can come out now.”
