Darkness Rising: Disciples of the Horned One Volume One (Soul Force Saga Book 1) (22 page)

T
he inside
of the bolt hole reminded Jen of a small flat; they’d even brought in a cheap carpet to cover the stone floor. There were two cots against the back wall. The unconscious woman lay on one, a blanket tucked around her. Her burns had healed enough that only white patches of skin remained and those would flake off in short order. Even her nose had grown back. Whatever healing supplies they cached here must have been potent.

A fire burned in a little iron stove in the far corner, a full coal scuttle beside it. The stovepipe went through the side of the cave wall to vent who knew where. Rhys sat on a three-legged stool beside his patient, a half-full coffer of healing potions at his feet.

Jen sat cross-legged beside her cot. “How is she?”

“I rubbed three vials on her burns and she woke up long enough to drink three more. I think she’ll be fine, but I’m no expert. I heard fighting.”

Talon and Edward leaned on either side of the tunnel back to the secret entrance. Alec had drawn guard duty and stood just inside the entrance to make sure no one snuck up on them. Jen had no idea how many members the Unkindness had, but she didn’t plan to take any chances.

“Yeah, the thugs found us. This bunch had a new trick.” She described the black fire. “It made them a damn sight tougher than the last group.”

“Sounds like the goblins,” Rhys said, echoing her earlier thoughts. “How do you suppose they gained access to power like that?”

She shook her head. “You got me. We need to find Master Shen. I’m so far out of my depth I’m drowning.”

The woman groaned and tried to sit up. She failed and flopped back on the cot. “Thirsty,” she said in a rough voice.

Rhys shrugged off his water skin and handed it to her. She tried to sit up again and he put a gentle hand on her back, easing her into a sitting position. She drank deep and sighed. “Thank you.” Her voice sounded better already.

“You’re welcome. I’m Jennifer St. Cloud. My squad and I were sent to find Dominic Santen. Master Shen said we could find help at The Mermaid.”

She laughed, dry and bitter. “That didn’t work out very well. I’m Mariela. I was sent to consult with the observation team a week ago. I’m not sure how much I can do to help you, but anything within my power is yours for the asking.”

“Are you a sorcerer?” Jen’s heart leapt at the thought of getting some extra power on their side. Maybe she wasn’t as strong as Damien, but even a weak sorcerer would be a huge asset.

Mariela laughed again. “Hardly. I’m a scholar. I specialize in supernatural threats, demons and angels, along with their cults. The team had seen an increase in cult activity in the city and wanted my opinion. I wish I’d told them to take a flying leap.”

Rhys chuckled and Mariela smiled up at him. Now that her face wasn’t a mass of burns Jen realized she was an attractive woman with bright blue eyes, full lips, and prominent cheekbones. When her eyebrows and hair grew back she might even be beautiful. They looked close in age, maybe Rhys had found a girlfriend. Jen cleared her throat. “Can you tell us what happened?”

“Sure. I was reading in the back bedroom when something exploded. I stuck my head out and saw a girl standing in the flames. Marco, our lead sorcerer, lay dead at her feet. The other two members of the team were slumped against a wall bleeding out. She spotted me. I slammed the door, but she punched through it and stabbed me with a blade of power that surrounded her hand. The next thing I remember is seeing you standing over me.”

Jen frowned. “What did the girl look like?”

“Pretty, petite, short curly hair. She wore a short black dress and went barefoot of all things.”

Jen nodded, sounded like the servant girl was a sorcerer. “What happened to Master Shen?”

Mariela shook her head. “No idea. He gave us a report about the attempted assassination and your search for Dominic. He said you should receive any help you needed and left. He mentioned something about spying on ravens. It made no sense to me.”

It made sense to Jen. Master Shen had gone to spy on the Unkindness and ended up captured or killed. That wasn’t good, but at least now they had a place to start looking for him. “Can you tell me anything about Dominic Santen?”

“Not much. He was the head of the local cult of The Binder in Chains. Many of the richest merchants are members. It’s as much social club as cult.”

“I’m not familiar with that demon lord. Can you tell me anything about him?”

Mariela smiled. “The Binder isn’t a demon lord, he’s an archangel. His cult preaches absolute obedience and always following through on a contract. That’s what makes him so popular with merchants.”

“Tyrants and slavers too, I imagine,” Talon said.

“Yes. The Binder’s teachings are unleavened by any mercy or kindness. He’s considered the harshest of the archangels. Some of the paladins I correspond with think if he doesn’t find some way to soften his message he may fall.”

Jen shuddered. A fallen archangel would be a horrible threat, easily as great as any of the five dragons. “Do you think Dominic was a willing participant in the assassination attempt?”

“No. Absolute obedience, remember? Turning against the king would be a breach of his beliefs.”

Jen didn’t laugh, but it took some effort. She’d seen more than once that belief often gave way to ambition.

T
he docks
at night were a dangerous part of the city, especially with Jen and her squad sneaking through the shadows. Mariela had fallen asleep shortly after their conversation and she hadn’t woken when they slipped out of the cave at dusk. Jen hated leaving the woman alone, but didn’t dare spare one of her team to stand guard. They took four healing potions with them and left the other two for Mariela. Jen had no idea how many members the Unkindness had or how many could use the black flames, but she suspected they had enough that even together her team would have a tough fight.

This close to the water the stink of fish guts mingled with salt and rum to assault her nose. Scores of ships creaked in their slips, everything from tiny sloops to three-masted caravels. The streets were practically empty. Anyone they met after dark in this part of town would mean them ill.

The glow-ball lanterns had been smashed years ago and no one bothered to replace them. The only light came from the windows of the raucous taverns lining the streets. Dark as it was, to Jen’s soul-force-enhanced eyes it might as well have been daylight. Despite her night vision she saw no sign of the Unkindness and she had no idea where they hung out. If they had to search every vomit-scented tavern in the docks it would be a long night.

Jen leapt from her perch on the roof of a sail maker’s shop to a tavern roof across the street where Talon crouched.

“See anything?” she asked.

He pointed at a tavern three doors down. “There’s a pretty barmaid down there. If we live through the night I might introduce myself.”

She slapped his shoulder. “See anything useful?”

“Nah.” He patted the gauntlets on his belt. “How long am I going to have to drag these around?”

“Until we find someone to check them out. What’s the matter, they too heavy for you?” She leapt away to check on the others before he could respond.

Alec stood behind a meat smoker’s chimney, the mouthwatering scent of rendering pork filling the air. Jen landed softly beside him. “Anything?”

He shook his head. “I really want some bacon.”

“We can have some for breakfast after we rescue Master Shen.”

Jen leapt away. Three blocks further on she reached Rhys. The oldest member of the team stood in the shadows of a snow-clogged alley. “Anything?”

“Edward slunk by a minute ago. He was tailing a likely looking fellow, but I have no idea if it panned out.”

“Which way?”

He nodded to the right.

“I’ll see what he found. If we need help I’ll whistle, so keep an ear out.”

He nodded again and settled deeper into the alley. Jen leapt to the roofs and ran along above the street, eyes straining for any sign of Edward. She gritted her teeth. He should know better than to tail someone on his own, especially after seeing what the thugs could do.

At last she spotted him standing in the shadows of an empty alley, his maul leaning against the wall behind him. His gaze was focused on a two-story brick building across the street. A glow lamp hung above a closed door at the top of a short flight of steps. Nothing about the place seemed remarkable to her.

She leapt down and landed beside him. Edward never flinched. “Report.”

“I followed a guy in a coat like the ones the thugs were wearing to that building across the way. He knocked and when the door opened he rolled up his sleeve and showed the raven tattoo. The door guard let him in then slammed and locked the door. That was about a minute ago.”

Jen grinned in the dark. This was the best sign they’d found so far. “Do you think this is their base?”

He shook his head. “No idea. I couldn’t see past the guard. You want to go kick the door down?”

Kicking the door down was the last thing she wanted to do. If the Unkindness heard them coming they might kill Master Shen, assuming he was still alive. “Do you remember the knock he used?”

“It didn’t sound like a code if that’s what you mean. He just knocked, the door opened, and he showed off his tattoo.”

“Perfect. All we need is to get the door open. I’ll fetch the others. If anyone comes out before I return take them into custody. And for heaven’s sake keep it quiet.”

I
t took
ten minutes for Jen to collect the rest of her people and rejoin Edward. When they arrived, a dead man lay on the ground beside him. Jen grimaced. “This is not what I meant when I said take him into custody.”

“You said keep him quiet. He shouted when I grabbed him so I punched him. I may have hit him a little too hard.”

“No kidding,” Talon said.

“Did he have anything on him when he stepped out?” Jen asked.

Edward shook his head. “My guess is he’s a messenger.”

Jen eyed the dead man then turned to Alec. “You look about the right size. See if his jacket will fit.”

Alec leaned his staff against the wall and shrugged into the dead man’s long coat. It was a little short, but not bad. “What now?” He reached for his staff.

“Leave it.” Jen pointed to the hilt of a dagger sticking out of the top of his boot. “Use that. Knock on the door and when the guard opens it, take him out. We’ll be right behind you.”

Alec walked across the street, the boot dagger in his right hand behind his back. He climbed the steps and knocked.

Jen held her breath. If the guard raised the alarm they’d had it, and most likely so had Master Shen.

The door opened and the guard said something. An instant later Alec drove the dagger up under his chin and into his brain. They rushed across the street. Edward shouldered the body and dumped it with the first one. Jen tossed Alec his staff and they slipped inside, locking the door behind them.

Beyond the door was a small room with a hard wooden chair and rickety table with a broadsheet on it. Apparently the guard enjoyed reading gossip while he waited. Jen glanced at the front page. Two months out of date; maybe he covered his eyes with it while he napped. A second door led deeper into the building.

“What if someone knocks?” Alec tossed the nasty jacket into the guard’s chair. “Won’t they wonder where the guard is?”

“We can’t worry about that, unless you’re volunteering to fill in.” Jen raised an eyebrow.

Alec waved his free hand. “Just asking. What now?”

“Now we have a look around and see if we can’t figure out what’s happening in this city. Talon, take point. Edward, rear guard. Let’s move.”

The second door opened on well-oiled hinges. Behind it a long, narrow corridor led deeper into the building. Talon went through first, silent as a hunting cat. Jen let him get a short lead before she followed, the others right behind her. As she slipped down the hallway she trailed her fingers along the wall. Whoever built it had faced the walls with rough-cut lumber. Whatever business fronted this place it wasn’t high end.

Talon stopped at the end of the hall. It ended in a T. “Which way?”

Jen couldn’t see that it mattered. They’d have to search both directions anyway. “Right.”

They continued right maybe five paces before coming to a door. Talon gave it a tug and it creaked open. Jen winced at the noise, which certainly sounded louder to her soul-force-enhanced ears than it really was. Inside they found crates, coils of rope, and block-and-tackle sets hanging from pegs on the wall. Apparently this building served as an outfitter for sailors. That made sense. There were probably another two or three just like it further down the street.

“Keep going, unless you hear a heartbeat,” Jen said.

Talon nodded and continued down the hall. He paused at two more doors before continuing on. The hall ended at the rear of the sales floor. Everything you could imagine a ship needing filled the open space. Sails, rope, crates of nails, even barrels of withered apples.

Whatever the Unkindness were up to, it had to be either upstairs or in the basement. Jen enhanced her hearing as much as she could and lay down on the floor. She pressed her ear to the boards and held her breath. A faint grinding reached her along with some muffled grunts. Someone was doing something down there. Whether the gang or some unlucky worker sharpening harpoons they’d learn soon enough.

“Someone’s in the basement. Fan out and find the stairs.”

With their enhanced senses it didn’t take her team long to locate a door built into the wall. Rhys opened it and Talon had slipped through before she could say anything. Jen stood by the door, waiting for Talon to finish his scouting. The grinding she heard earlier sounded louder by the open door.

A minute later Talon returned, his face pale. “You won’t believe it.”

“What?” Jen asked.

He shook his head. “I don’t have the words. Come on.”

Jen followed her shaken subordinate down the short flight of stairs, the rest of the squad on her tail. What could he have seen that shook him so bad? At the bottom, a short hall led to a doorway through which came a dark, crimson glow. Something about that light chilled Jen to the bone.

Talon motioned “down” with his hand and they crouched as low as they could. Jen eased down the hall and peeked through the doorway. Her breath caught in her throat and her stomach twisted.

The doorway opened out onto a catwalk that ran around the perimeter of a deeper room. Down in that pit people, both men and women, lay strapped to vertical tables.

Their clothes hung in tatters. Hundreds of shallow cuts covered their bodies. Gags kept them quiet as people in long coats circulated amongst the prisoners. When a wound stopped bleeding one the torturers would slice a fresh grove in their flesh. Most horribly, the blood running out of the wounds flowed up toward a black circle in the ceiling a few feet from Jen’s head.

Every so often a drop of some black liquid dripped out of the circle and into a stone bowl placed under it.

Jen stepped back from the doorway and clenched her fists. It took every ounce of self-control she had not to run down there and kill every one of those monsters.

They needed more information. She didn’t see any sign of Master Shen or the servant girl or for that matter Dominic Santen. It didn’t look like they planned to kill those unfortunate people, just bleed them. Judging by the number of scabbed over wounds some of them had, they’d been prisoners for a while.

“What now?” Talon gripped his swords and looked as eager as she felt to go down there and do some cutting of their own.

“I noticed a door on the far side of the catwalk. There must be some cells around here where they keep their prisoners. We have to try and find Master Shen. Whatever’s going on down there it’s beyond my comprehension. If we go stumbling into something blind some of us are going to get killed. Rhys, Edward, and Alec, stay here and keep watch. Talon, you and me are going scouting.”

They left the others by the doorway and slipped out onto the catwalk. Whoever built it had bolted it securely to the wall; it didn’t creak or wobble when they put their weight on it. Jen inched along, careful to make no noise. She glanced down into the lower level. A gang member was sharpening knives on a grindstone. That explained the noise.

A woman with long, limp brown hair looked their way. Jen froze and motioned Talon to as well. They stood in the shadows and the woman was close to one of the braziers that provided heat and light for the torture chamber. She doubted the woman could see a thing in the deep shadows close to the ceiling.

Jen let out a silent breath when the woman turned her attention back to the horrors close at hand. The door was only fifteen feet away, but it took Jen and Talon five minutes to reach it at the crawling pace they set. Jen pressed the dark wood and the door swung open without a peep. She looked up and sent a silent word of thanks to whatever angel watched over crazy warlords. Talon closed the door behind them.

Beyond the door waited a pitch-black hall. Even with her enhanced sight Jen couldn’t make out much. Her nose, unfortunately, wasn’t hindered in the least. The stink of sweat, waste and blood filled the hall. She hated to risk it, but they needed more light.

“Open that door back up.”

“You sure?” The doubt in his voice came through loud and clear.

Jen wasn’t sure of a damn thing except that she was blind in the dark. They couldn’t help anyone if they couldn’t see them. “Open it.”

He eased the door open and dim light filtered through, just enough to let her see the row of cells lining the hall. Her lip curled in a snarl. If she’d wanted to kill the Unkindness before, now she
really
wanted them dead, and not necessarily quickly.

Ragged figures filled the left-hand cages, their bodies covered with freshly scabbed-over cuts. Grime covered them and from the smell she guessed their chamber pots had been emptied…never. She squinted, trying to make out the details of their faces. Master Shen had to be here somewhere. He’d only been gone a day so he should be in better shape than the others.

Jen worked her way down the hall. None of the pathetic figures reacted to her. Whether they couldn’t see her, or they didn’t have strength enough she didn’t know. She reached the end of the prison and someone groaned from her right. She turned and, alone in a cell, lay Master Shen.

They’d stripped him to the waist and cut a bunch of gashes in him. He wore no restraints and didn’t stir when she moved closer to him. She grabbed the door and pulled. Even with her enhanced strength the steel door didn’t budge.

“Master Shen.” She spoke just above a whisper and even that seemed far too loud.

He groaned and turned his head toward her. His face was a mass of bruises and one eye had swollen shut. She winced and tried again. “Master Shen, I can’t open the door.”

He crawled toward her, but only managed to get a few feet closer. He muttered something.

“I can’t understand, Master.”

“Drugged.”

Of course they’d drugged him. He couldn’t use his powers if he couldn’t concentrate. Jen fished a healing potion out of her pocket and reached as far into the cell as she could. He stretched out a trembling hand, fumbled, and finally got a grip on the vial.

He ripped the cork out of the top with his teeth, spat it out and drank the potion in one gulp. His bruises faded and the gashes on his chest shrank. A minute later he sat up and rotated his arm, and nodded.

“Thank you, Jennifer. I feared I’d die in this awful place.”

Relief flooded through Jen. “Can you open the door?”

He conjured a golden key and fit it into the lock. A second later it clicked and she pulled it open. He stood up and joined her in the hall. “What do you say we escort these people out of here?”