Adversaries Together (13 page)

“
You should ask her.” He
held out the paper and shook it at Roth to take. When he didn’t,
Adamix stepped closer and held it to Roth’s chest. Roth didn’t look
at him but eventually reached up and took the piece of
paper.

“
I don’t see how she’ll
want to.” Roth read the note.

“
I’m not saying it’ll go
well, you asking her. But she’s the only one that will do it for
you without taking all that you got.”

Roth nodded, but didn’t move to go.

“
And she’ll probably still
be pissed at you for leaving.” Adamix added.

“
Yeah,” Roth sighed,
“Pissed at me for leaving, pissed at me for being back…”

“
And pissed at you for
dumping this on her and leaving again.” Adamix hopped down off the
crates he had been sitting on and walked passed Roth back towards
Meg’s.

“
It’s going to be a shitty
day for me, huh.” Roth said not really expecting an
answer.

Adamix chuckled nodding, “When isn’t it a
shitty day for you?” as he made his way back into the brothel.

Roth had clasped his hands together
supplicating, “All I’m asking is that you just play wet nurse to
these idiots.”

Jena cocked her head and frowned, “How does
that make it sound enticing?” Her bright blond hair was cut short,
severe, and her green eyes were fierce. Unlike other fair-haired
women, Jena wasn’t ruddy faced or pale. She had some scars above
and below her right eye from surviving a pox when she was a child
but otherwise she was unblemished. Some had told her she’d be
pretty if she’d smile more and usually those men soon found
themselves with blood leaking from their face. Roth had known her
for a long time; they had been close.

“
It’s a simple job.” He
whined.

“
That doesn’t mean it’s
easy.” She pointed at him.

Roth gestured in the direction of the
wayfarer inns, “It’s an unconscious man and a slip of a girl.”

“
Cathedral.” Jena said
firmly.

“
Yeah…” Roth nodding
knowing what she was getting at.

“
You want me to take a
wounded paladin to the pagoda in Bandra?”

Roth nodded, “Kira will vouch for you, you’ll
be rewarded, and then you’ll leave.”

“
And what if they don’t
believe her? What if those thugs that attacked you come after
me?”

“
Why wouldn’t they believe
her? And you honestly think marsh bandits would follow a
ship?”

“
Marsh bandits don’t attack
a paladin. Highwaymen don’t poach crusaders off the high road.”
Jena turned away to the tinker stall where Roth had cornered her.
She nodded to the vendor to look at a few more things. Roth reached
out to turn her back around to face him. She threw off his touch
with a surprising vehemence and glared at him.

“
So, wait…you think those
guys were…were what? Assassins?” Roth tried to brush off Jena’s
concerns. This was going as well as he had thought it
would.

“
I have no idea, Avery.”
She snapped at him and shoved him in the shoulder, “I just know
that it doesn’t sound right.”

He couldn’t argue with her on that. It had
been a queer encounter and what Kira had told him hadn’t really
illuminated anything. If he was honest with himself, then he just
wanted rid of the two, he wanted to be out of this conversation, he
just wanted to go back to the wild, and be left alone.

“
You know I can’t do it.”
He whispered, his eyes pleading.

“
What makes you think I
can?” Jena’s tone softened.

“
You know you
can.”

“
Of course I’m able to, you
shit.” She laughed. The vendor had approached again, Jena turned
and pointed to three things on display. The vendor nodded and
disappeared back into his shop.

“
You know what I
mean.”

“
Do I? Do you know what I
mean? What makes you think that I have time for this? That I don’t
have something underway now or just about to be?” Roth realized she
had given in, she’d do it but he needed to give her more of an
incentive.

“
Why would Adamix tell me
you were here if you weren’t available? Why would you be here if
you weren’t looking for a contract?”

“
Not this contract. Nothing
about this sounds right.”

“
Damn it. What don’t you
get?” He ran his hands over his face and sat in a huff on a nearby
stack of straw.

Jena grimaced, “None of it. None of it makes
sense and until it does, I’m not touching it.”

It was a fair demand, “Okay look…”

She cut him off, “And even if it did make
sense, I’m still not touching it.”

Roth sighed, his hands held together in front
of his face, and his eyes staring at the ground at Jena’s feet. His
voice settled, “Look, they came crashing through my camp. The
paladin had already fought off some of the bandits, but they still
outnumbered them. He was clearly the girl’s guardian. The girl
killed one and nearly killed me even after I fended them off once
the paladin fell. They poisoned him, and he needs to get treatment
from better menders than what’s here. These hacks and alchemists
are useless. You know it.”

“
That’s appropriately
trusting.” Jena smirked.

“
I patched up the paladin,
he’s at a barber’s now but he needs a proper healer.”

“
So he’ll die in route.”
Jena shrugged and sat down next to him.

Ignoring her, Roth continued, “The girl has
never been outside of the Cathedral, she has no idea how to tend to
herself. She’ll either die or end up sold into slavery, glassy-eyed
in some Elvosi brothel.”

Jena spat, “I don’t need the hard sell.”

“
Obviously you do.” Roth
scowled.

The vendor returned shaking a canvas bag at
Jena. She stood and doled out a few coins to him, then brushed him
away. “There’s no way The Cathedral would let a paladin be
assaulted and, what I can only imagine is some kind of alm,
abducted without there being punishment.”

“
What makes you think it’d
be you that they’d skin?”

“
Because I would be there—a
woman, a free ranger, a heathener.” She gestured for him to stand
up and follow her. The two began to walk through the street, Roth
didn’t know where they were heading but he knew he had a few more
moments to sway her.

“
The Cathedral wouldn’t
think you’re enough to make an example of. Who’d miss you? Who’d be
cowed by your death?” Roth bit his tongue realizing he had made a
stupid mistake in his annoyance.

“
You are an awful
negotiator.” Jena said deadpan.

Roth nodded, “We’re not significant enough to
them is my point. And, you know, if they found out about me, it’d
be hundred times worse.”

Jena didn’t argue but looked away, “Still,
it’s dangerous for me too. And your argument that it’d be more
dangerous for you doesn’t quite settle me.” There was a moment of
tenderness in her voice.

“
The Cathedral would take
it out on places like Anhra.”

“
Anhra is Silvincian;
they’d never attack the Spires.”

“
No, but they’d burn out
places like Meg’s, they’d round up folks like Adamix, they’d raise
tariffs and squeeze out our options. You and I are nothing but a
chance to lash out at the free traffic.” These were reasonable
conclusions but Roth wasn’t sure they were on point to convince
her.

“
So, I’m doing this for the
greater good.” Jena had a contemptuous grin and seemed to be close
to walking away.

“
Jena. Jena, I’d do it
myself but I can’t take the chance…”

“
I know you can’t. It’s
just.” She sympathized, but shook her head.

“
I have eighty aurei.” Jena
perked up.

“
Eighty? You’re not giving
me all your coin are you?” Jena was taken aback.

“
No. I’m giving you fifty.
That should at least make it worth completing, even if The
Cathedral stiffs you.” He held out a small suede pouch.

She stopped and faced him, gingerly taking
the pouch, “And what if it wants a pound of my flesh?”

“
Then you’ll cut it off
them and throw it at their feet,” he said playfully.

Jena smiled, “I’ll take
forty.” She pulled out ten coins and placed them in Roth’s palm,
then closed his fingers around them, “Have them head to dock four
on the eastern side, there’s a kettuvallam there called the
Damot
. I can monitor the
pally and put the alm in enough comfort to hopefully keep her
happy.”

Roth was relieved, “I’ll make sure you get
paid.”

“
If I don’t, I’m coming
back here for that other forty.”

“
It’ll be waiting for you.”
Roth nodded and Jena seemed confused.

“
In your hands
or…”

“
Adamix will have
it.”

“
Where will you be?” Jena
was grave for a moment.

“
If things go bad?” Roth
asked. Jena didn’t break her gaze as Roth stood and said,
“Elsewhere.”

Jena understood, nodding a bit while biting
her lip, “I’ve not been there for a long time.”

“
Let’s hope it’s longer
still.” Roth extended his hand to Jena. She didn’t hesitate and
clasped it firmly, pulled him in, and the two hugged smacking each
other on the back quickly. Jena stood for a beat, then nodded,
turned on her heel, and strode away. Walking back towards the
barber’s, Roth couldn’t help but wish he could’ve spent more time
with Jena under different circumstances. They hadn’t had a good
time together for what seemed like years.

He thought on it as he made his way back to
the wayfarer inn, snaking his way through the crowded streets.
Maybe it had been in Rautia. No, that was Winterfinding, maybe
three years ago but not the last time they were together. It was
Imbolc up in the Siracenes, they had talked about going north. She
had wanted to return to Calla, and he said he needed to leave the
Cruor behind once and for all. That was the last time he had seen
any of the others too. After this business, maybe he’d book passage
on a riverboat in Midhalm and just float on north. He shook his
head and cursed himself. He was always making ‘what if’ plans and
then just floating. It was stupid, it was embarrassing, and he was
already angry with himself when he arrived.

The barber’s smelled odd, astringent. Goshen
was in a bed near the center of the longhouse past several other
beds each draped in thin, white netting. Roth didn’t linger long;
he caught the attention of a mender looking over a patient near
Goshen and gave him instructions for the paladin. He left and
crossed the way to the inn. It was a middling place and he'd
thought it would suit Kira better than the usual places he found
quarter. Inside, roughly fifteen patrons lounged in the common hall
eating, drinking, and talking. Some played ranj and qipan. Roth
made a mental note to come back through after he talked with Kira,
maybe he could hustle a game or two for some extra coin. Roth had
gotten them a room on the second floor in the rear of the building
and had told Kira to stay put. He didn’t imagine she had ventured
out, but he knew she’d want to check on Goshen’s progress with the
menders.

Standing before a large oaken door Roth gave
three firm knocks with his fist. There was some shuffling, and then
Roth heard the latch lift and the door opened. He was shaking his
head and pursing his lips when Kira saw him, “You ask who it is
first. How can you not know that?”

“
Who attacks someone in a
hostel?” Kira replied as though he were a fool.

Roth entered the room, closed the door, and
told her to sit. It was a small room with a single bed, a hearth,
and circular table with two chairs. However, Kira stayed standing
as Roth sat on the bed and explained how she and Goshen would be
moving on to Bandra. Kira stared at him with a look that obliged
him to keep talking—feet apart, her hands on her hips in a
surprisingly commanding stance, and her expression solemn. Roth
recognized this as one of the many self-satisfied and expectant
poses of those of the upper classes. Although it triggered contempt
in him, he still found himself stumbling somewhat over his own
words trying to explain himself to her.

“
And that’s the plan. I
checked in at the barber’s and told them where to take Goshen. They
should be heading there soon.”

“
So who is this again?”
Kira asked skeptical.

“
Jena Char, she’s a local
guide regularly traveling between here and the Spires. She’ll be
able to keep an eye on you, make sure you and your friend get to
Bandra safe and sound.”

“
How do I know I can trust
her?”

“
Because I’m telling you,
you can.”

“
I don’t find that to be
such a ringing endorsement.” Kira said wearily as she sat on the
bed.

“
Don’t you? I suppose I
could’ve just left you both to your own devices out there, eh?”
Roth held out his hands waiting for her to offer an
explanation.

“
No, no. I’m sorry, I
mean…thank you, of course, you’ll be compensated…I
appreciate…”

“
Yeah,” Roth waved her off,
“Look, Jena’s a ranger you can trust, this is her trade. You just
make sure the Cathedral pays her promptly and without hesitation.
She’s not the kind to suffer debts.”