Retribution

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The ship slowed and eased into the bay of the port city of Indore as crewmen furled the sails. Passengers carrying their luggage began appearing on deck when crewmen threw lines to small boats that would tow the ship to the correct pier. They stood in a mass on the deck, filling the starboard side, luggage in hand, and waited impatiently for the crewmen to finish the docking. Finally, the crewmen secured the mooring lines, set the gangway set into place, and backed out of the way of the anxious hoard. Passengers pushed and shoved each other as they fled the ship as fast as if believing it in danger of sinking at the pier.

Many of the workers on the dock and sailors on the ship paused in their duties to watch the passengers rush across the gangway. Upon reaching the pier, they raced for the nearest carriages for hire as if the surface was hot enough to burn their feet. None wished to remain on a ship where so many had mysteriously died, and the Indorian constables were sure to confine stragglers for an unknown length of time.

Prin caught sight of Marcus at the forefront of the crowd, and despite his bulk, he leaped into a carriage and ordered the driver to depart before sitting. Sara and Brice walked at her side, all moving quickly to hide within the crowd. But Prin’s focused her attention on the familiar city. She instantly located the church steeple near where they owned a small apartment above the warehouse a friend used as his workshop in their absence. She looked forward to seeing Eldemire, the carpenter who rebuilt their living space, again.

As they started to approach one of the carriages, a man stepped in front of Prin, forcing her to stop. He wore the abused garb of a warrior, stood taller than most, and the sunlight glinted off the bare sword he carried in a simple iron ring on his belt. She greeted the stoic man as an old friend with a warm hug. “I should have guessed you’d be here to meet me. The Order of the Iron Ring has stood with us since we left. How did you recognize me?”

A small grin formed as he returned Prin’s hug. “Welcome back, my old friend. I remember our first encounter well.”

“It’s good to be back. The city looks the same.”

“Looks can be deceiving, as are yours. This city has spent years of turmoil caused by those searching for an elusive young princess, and the search has intensified in the past weeks. Fortunately, you are much older than the girl they seek, but you can never tell what might happen these days. Will you and Sara be with us long?”

Sara said, “I thought my appearance fooled you. I hope it does better with others.”

He said, “Come, let’s get away from public attention. I should let you believe I have mystical powers to discern your identities, but Brice and I speak each time his ship is in Indore, so I knew approximately when to expect you and generally how you’d appear. He asked me to watch out for you as if I would do anything else.”

Brice wore a satisfied smirk as if he’d managed to put one over on them. But being watched and protected by the Order of the Iron Ring gave a measure of security that little else did. After they had walked up the waterfront near the smaller bazaar, he herded them down a side street to a small park where children played.

He said, “You cannot spend even a single night here.”

“That much scrutiny?” Sara asked.

He nodded. “I recognized at least five hunters in the bazaar, and the three of you had already drawn the attention of one before we ducked in here. You must leave. Today.”

Sara turned to Prin. “He has always been our friend.”

Prin felt stunned and empty at the same time. She heard her own voice sounding dull and weary as she turned to speak to her friends, “We have already decided Sara will go back to the ship today and sail tomorrow. Brice and I will find a way to leave the city. Will you watch out for her?”

“Your old friend Eldemire, the carpenter you call El, has a construction job outside the city at a farmhouse on the Coast Road. His wagon is almost ready to travel that way, and it is nearby. Is it possible a sorceress provided a spell that might allow you to amuse yourself by not being seen while you ride a wagon?”

“It is possible,” Prin said. “What would we do without you and your Order?”

“Perhaps we will expand our services and where we offer them in the future. One of several kingdoms inland have been mentioned where we may be welcome, and I’ve volunteered to travel to one called Wren in the coming days. You might watch for me.”

Prin wondered at the odd comment, but excitement and planning were foremost in her mind. She needed to get away. Even asking the Order for help violated part of their precepts, but the Order offered help without price or obligation.

None of the Order spoke directly for or against politicians, or took sides in those actions, preferring to operate as a charity, that chose who and when to offer their help. His suggestions and insightful answers made it clear he knew she was Hannah, just as he had when he’d come to their apartment years earlier with the warning of the mages searching the entire city for her.

However, she had not ever admitted her identity, and he had not accused her, so he would never have to lie if questioned. His suspicions were just that. She said, “El is going to take us?”

“He insisted. To my knowledge, it is the first carpentry job he has accepted outside the city so it must pay well and he’s in a hurry to travel. He’s waiting inside a carriage house near here.” The man of the Order turned and led the way without looking over his shoulder to see if anyone followed, but the three of them were at his heels.

They slipped along a few dank alleys and merged into the normal street traffic before entering a wide double door where a wagon waited. Sawn boards piled on either side of the bed formed an open space. A few cross pieces nailed between them hold everything in place. Prin noticed the unusual arrangement but her attention was for Eldemire who was checking the harness on a small brown horse.

Beside him sat a dog. Prin recognized it immediately. It was her dog, the one she’d purchased as few days before fleeing the city. It watched her, and she would have liked it to race to her, tail wagging, to welcome her, but it sat and watched. It was El’s dog now. But she had selected a fine animal. It kept itself positioned between El and the strangers, never growling, but Prin suspected it would if she made any threatening moves.

El spotted them. “Greetings can wait. Climb in and I’ll cover you with more wood.”

Just like that, Prin’s heart sunk, the tears flowed, and while Brice climbed into the seat, Prin clung to Sara. She knew Sara would immediately return to the ship with the man from the Order, and sail to safety in the morning, but Prin had expected time to say goodbye and now there was none.

El took Prin’s arm. “We have to leave now. Searchers going door-to-door are within a few houses.”

She allowed herself to climb into the vacant space between the lumber, and El rapidly placed more on top, then tied ropes around the entire cargo to hold it in place. Their protector from the Order of the Iron Ring stood aside, near Sara. His eyes looked red and damp. Then the last pieces of wood were in place and the wagon rolled away.

Brice rode on the seat with El and the dog. Before Prin could express her wish to see Sara one more time, the wagon rumbled sedately from the carriage house and onto the cobblestone road. Prin let the tears flow, but after a few blocks, someone pounded on the wood to get her attention. She listened.

El pulled to a stop and complained about the delay. He said, “Three times this morning you people have stopped me and the mage at the last one gave me a piece of paper saying my wagon has been searched. Here, read it.”

A strange, but the assertive voice said, “Sir, we have to search all wagons.”

“Not ones that have already been searched three times this morning, according to the Senior Mage who personally inspected this one. If you want to search this wagon, go get him and ask him to do it again, but now, I have work to do.”

“I have to search every wagon for a girl or woman.”

“Do you see a woman here? I just told you the mage a few blocks behind me said we won’t be searched again today because of his note. Here, read it. Are you defying him?” Because if you hold me up longer, I’ll turn this wagon around and my next stop will be to tell him you refuse to do what he told you.”

Brice said, “El, don’t put up with this idiot, just turn around and bring the Senior Mage here.”

The dog gave a warning growl.

The strange voice said, “How do I know this note is real?”

“Move out of my way and let me turn around. I’ll bring him here like Brice said.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” the man said as if wishing to prevent El from turning and the dressing-down he’d get if the note was authentic.

“Then, get out of my way,” El shouted as he slapped the reigns across the rump of the animal.

The wagon jerked and rumbled ahead again. With the stop, Prin had become more scared than upset at Sara’s departure. The search for the missing princess had certainly intensified. She reached into her travel bag and rummaged until she found the envelopes of powered spells. In the meager flickering light, she found the one for the no-see-me spell, and despite the tight space, she managed to sprinkle some on her head and chest, as well as her luggage.

The passion of the search was beyond anything she’d imagined. Prin needed to reconsider her plans. Princess Elenore, her old enemy, had correctly anticipated Prin’s return and placed too many obstacles in the way for her to reach the King’s Palace. If Prin could fly, Elenore probably had that way blocked, too.

Anger began to seep into her mind, forcing out the fear. If there was one lesson the combat master had instilled into her, it was to fight hard and never quit. Giving in to fear was the same as giving up. Her mental resolve hardened. Did you think it would be easy?

Yes, she had thought she could trick her way into Wren and the King’s Palace, where she would announce she had returned and all would be well. Only it wouldn’t. People weren’t dancing in the streets and parties hadn’t lasted all night because she was coming home.

The next stop for the wagon was almost a reenactment of the first. In the end, El bluffed his way past again, but they were nowhere near the edge of town.

Two more stops and El started cursing long before he reached the one after that. He called out to the searchers, insulting them and threatening to send his dog after them if they searched him again. Six searches, he moaned. Even people walking on the streets were upset with the searches, many with homes that invaded by men hunting her, and they were also angry. The city was growing resistant at a search for a princess from another kingdom.

At the first bend of the road outside of town, Prin ordered El and Brice to set her free.

“That’s not a good idea,” El said. “You can see how many times we’ve already been stopped.”

“Release me, or I’ll set fire to the wagon.”

Brice said, “I’ve seen her like this before. We’d better do it.”

El pulled the wagon off the road into a small clearing where it was partially out of sight. He used a bar to lift the several top layers of wood and gasped at the absence of Prin.

“I’m here,” she muttered, climbing out. “You just can’t see me.”

“What are we doing?” Brice asked.

“What we should have done in the first place. I am a princess, soon to be a queen. I will not hide and slink into my kingdom like some weakling. My head will be held high when I make my claim.”

Brice said, “That sounds well and good, but they’ll kill you. Princess Elenore will pay any amount to see you dead.”

“I’ve been looking at this all wrong, and therefore, doing exactly what she expects. It’s time to begin acting like a leader instead of a scared little girl. You know that picture of my Mother and Father? What expressions do you think they wear today?”

“Scared. They will want you to stick with the plan, I think.”

Shaking her head, she sorted through her bags and consolidated what she wanted to take with her in the backpack, stuffing the rest back in her luggage. “They’re smiling, Brice. They’re proud of me right now.”

“I’m not so sure.”

While he spoke intently, his eyes were looking over her left shoulder because he couldn’t see her. El simply appeared confused. She said, “When I worked in the morning kitchens, and a cook was mean, I learned that if I didn’t give it right back, she would keep coming at me.”

The dog issued a deep growl from its chest, positioning itself between El and Prin. She gave it a fond look, watching El if he wanted to say anything, but he was mesmerized by the conversation. The dog could smell her and her anger, and hear her voice, even if it couldn’t see her. A wave of pleasure washed over her. When she was Queen, she would own a dog exactly like El’s.

“I will send for a puppy when there is a litter.” She watched El nod and form a slight smile despite their circumstances.

“How are you going to fight Elenore when you don’t even know where she is?” Brice asked.

“I may not know, but others do.”

“How will that help?” Brice asked. “Are you going to make them tell you where she is and go there?”

Prin walked a few paces away and spun on Brice. “If I ever manage to wear the Crown of Wren, how long will it be before I’m poisoned, drive my carriage over a cliff, or fall victim to an unknown deranged killer?”

“We’ve talked about that. You’ll have to be careful.”

Prin turned to El. “Inside these bags are items I don’t need, but thought I did. Will you accept the task of doing some good with them? Pass them out to those in need?”

“I’d be honored, even though I can’t see you. But that satchel floating around in the air without a hand holding it is enough to send me running.”

Prin snorted a laugh. “I thought I got powder on everything. That just shows the fallacy of my plan. Please take it. Brice, come here.”

“Where?”

“Close to me so I can sprinkle some of the no-see-me dust on you.”

He stepped closer. “Then what?”

“You are I are going to leave Wren behind us,” Prin said. “Take only what you must. It will be a long walk.”

“Leave? We aren’t out of Indore hardly. El can drive us.”

“No, it’s time you and I took charge and did things without the help of family and friends. We’re on our own.”