No sooner had the ship stopped moving than Knute was shouting orders. The six wagoners hurried forward, while Knute pulled his knife. He was going to ensure no one below recovered from too little poison, then he was going to get that treasure to Krondor.
There was one man in the world he knew he could trust and that man would help him hide all these riches. Then Knute would celebrate, get drunk, pick a fight, and get himself thrown into jail. Let Bear come for him, thought Knute, if by some miracle he had survived. Let the crazed animal of a pirate try to reach him in the bowels of the citys stoutest jail, surrounded by the city watch. That would never happen at the very least Bear would be captured by the city guards; more likely hed be killed. Once Knute knew for certain Bears fate, he could bargain for his own life. For he was the only man who knew where the Ishapian ship had gone down. He could lead the Princes men and a representative of the Wreckers Guild to the site, where the Wreckers Guilds mage could raise the ship and they could offload whatever trinket it was that Bear had been after. Then hed be a free man while Bear rotted in the Princes dungeon or hung from the gibbet or rested at the bottom of the sea. And let everyone think the rest of the treasure went down with the pirate ship in the deep water trench just a mile offshore.
Knute congratulated himself on his masterful plan, and set about his grisly work, as the wagoners from Krondor climbed aboard to offload the Upright Mans treasure.
Miles away as the dawn broke, a solitary figured emerged from the breakers. His massive frame hung with clothing tattered and soaked from hours in the brine. He had tossed aside his weapons to lighten himself for a long swim. One good eye surveyed the rocks and he calculated where he had come ashore. With dry sand under his now bare feet, the huge pirate let out a scream of primal rage.
Knute! he shouted at the sky. By the dark god Ill hunt you down and have your liver on a stick. But first youll tell me where the Tear of the Gods is!
Knowing that he had to find weapons and a new pair of boots, Bear turned northward, towards the secret temple at Widows Peak and the village of Haldons Head. There he would find some men to serve him and with their help they would track down Knute and the others. Every member of his crew who had betrayed him would die a slow, agonizing death. Again Bear let out a bellow of rage. As the echoes died against the windswept rocks, he squared his shoulders and began walking.
CHAPTER ONE
Arrival
JAMES HURRIED THROUGH THE NIGHT.
As he moved purposefully across the courtyard of the Princes palace in Krondor, he still felt the odd ache and twinge, reminders of his recent beating at the hands of the Nighthawks while he had been their captive. For the most part he was nearly back to his usual state of fitness. Despite that, he still felt the need for more sleep than usual, so of course, he had only just settled into a deep slumber when a page came knocking upon his door and informed James that the overdue caravan from Kesh had been sighted approaching the city. James had gotten up and dressed despite every fibre of his being demanding that he roll over in his warm bed and return to slumber.
Silently cursing the need to meet the arriving magician, he reached the outer gate where two guards stood their stations.
Evening, gentlemen. Alls well?
The senior of the two guards, an old veteran named Crewson, saluted. Quiet as the grave, Squire. Wherere you bound at this ungodly hour? He motioned for the other guard to open the gate so that James could leave the precinct of the palace.
Stifling a yawn, James said, The Princes new mage has arrived from Stardock, and Ive the dubious honour of meeting her at the North Gate.
The younger guard smiled in mock sympathy. Ah, youve all the luck, Squire. He swung the gate wide to allow James to depart.
With a wry smile, James passed through the opening. Id rather have a good nights sleep, but duty calls. Fare you well, gentlemen.
James picked up his pace, as he knew the caravan would disband quickly upon arrival. He wasnt worried about the magicians safety, as the city guard would be augmented by caravan guards coming off duty, but he was concerned over the possible lapse in protocol should he not be there to greet her. While she might be only a distant relative of the Ambassador from Great Kesh to the Western Court, she was still a noble by rank, and relations between the Kingdom of the Isles and Great Kesh had never been what one might call tranquil. A good year was one in which there were three or fewer border skirmishes.
James decided to take a shortcut from the palace district to the North Gate, one that would require he pass through a warehouse district behind the Merchants Quarter. He knew the city as well as any living man, and had no concerns about getting lost, but when two figures detached themselves from the shadows as he rounded a corner, he cursed himself for a fool. The out-of-the-way route was unlikely to be host to many citizens abroad on lawful business at this time of night. And these two looked nothing like lawful citizens.
One carried a large billy club and had a long belt knife, while the other rested his hand easily upon a sword. The first wore a red leather vest while his companion wore a simple tunic and trousers. Both had sturdy boots on, and James instantly recognized them for what they were: common street thugs. They were almost certainly freebooters, men not associated with the Mockers, the Guild of Thieves.
James pushed aside his self-recriminations for taking this shortcut, for the matter was now beyond changing.
The first man said, Ah, whats the city coming to?
The second nodded, moving to flank James should he try to run. Its a sad state of affairs. Gentlemen of means, wanderin the streets after midnight. What can they be thinking?
Red-vest pointed his billy club at James and said, He must be thinkin his purse is just too heavy and be hopin for a helpful pair like us to relieve him of it.
James let out a slow breath and calmly said, Actually, I was thinking about the foolishness of men who dont recognize a dangerous mark when they see one. He drew his rapier slowly and moved the point to halfway between the two men, so that he would be able to parry an attack from either man.
The only danger here is tryin to cross us, said the second thug, drawing his sword and lashing out at James.
I really dont have time for this, James said. He parried the blow easily and riposted. The swordsman barely pulled back in time to avoid being skewered like a holiday pig.
Red-vest pulled out his belt knife and swung his billy club, but James ducked aside and kicked out with his right leg, propelling the man into his companion. You still have time to run away, my friends.
Red-vest grunted, recovered his balance, and rushed James, threatening with the billy club while holding his knife in position to do the real damage. James recognized the mans outrage this was no longer a simple mugging; these two men now meant to kill him. He ignored the billy club, dodging towards it rather than away, and sliced at the mans left wrist. The knife fell to the stones with a clatter.
While Red-vest howled in pain and fell back, his companion came rushing in, his sword cocked back over his shoulder. James danced backward for two steps, and as the man let fly with his wide swing designed to decapitate the young squire James leaned forward in a move he had learned from the Prince, his left hand touching the stones to aid his balance and his right hand extending out. The attackers sword passed harmlessly over Jamess head and he ran onto the point of Jamess rapier. The mans eyes widened in shock and he came to an abrupt halt, looked down in disbelief, then collapsed to his knees. James pulled his sword point free and the man toppled over.