Jalia Prevails (Book 5) (9 page)

BOOK: Jalia Prevails (Book 5)
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Sila tutted in annoyance and wagged her finger at him. “You are wrong, Alin. I had a little talk with our rescuer and she will not bother us if we do not bother her. I understand her motivation now.”

“She killed them all, Yandin, Hadan, Marcus, Dell and the rest. She stole the Association’s gold at Brinan and she came to Telmar and assassinated each and every one of them, despite them being protected by an army. How can you possibly feel safe?” Bredan asked in astonishment.

“She did not steal our gold to keep it,” Sila said delightedly. “She stole it because it was said it could not be done. She was told that no one in the history of Brinan had ever stolen anything from their vaults and that they were impregnable. To a woman like Jalia al’Dare that would represent an irresistible challenge. Why do you think she came over to the Silver Thorn to save us?”

“Because she’s a damned idiot?”

“No Alin, she came over to the Thorn because of the challenge it represented. Rescuing us is her way of keeping score, just as taking the gold was. She does not seek power or wealth. I watched her face as we climbed the mast. She was reveling in that moment as we faced imminent death. That is what she does to feel alive.”

“Then killing the two of us will give her even more satisfaction. We are the last of the Association and will complete the set.”

“They killed the leaders of the Association because it threatened them,” Sila explained.

“They?” Bredan asked. His face took on a look of disbelief. “You mean that al’Degar is still alive?”

“So I have been told. Jalia also told me, while she was distracted working out our salvation, that the gold is lost forever. But the Association kept sending people after them. Attacking the Association was the only logical way forward. They will leave us alone, unless we threaten them.”

“In any case, it barely matters,” Bredan moaned. “The gold is lost with the Silver Thorn and we have perhaps twenty pieces of gold to our name.”

“Oh, we have much more than that.” Sila laughed and Bredan looked up from black despair, a glint of hope in his eyes. “Look in the carpetbag.”

Alin hobbled over to the king-sized bed and tried to lift the bag up onto it. He found it was too heavy for him to move one handed. Sila laughed and dragged the bag up onto the bed for him.

“It was lucky I was so drunk. Nobody questioned why I was having so much trouble walking.”

Sila pulled open the bag to reveal it was full of gold coins.

“How?”

“While Jalia was getting the rope I filled the bag from the chest. I was sure she would find a way to rescue me. I told her I would not leave the hold without my bag.”

“We can buy people, take our revenge on this woman and her man,” Bredan said, his eyes greedily taking in the king’s ransom in front of them.

“We most certainly will not,” Sila admonished. “This gold will be used to buy us power, influence and perhaps a big chunk of Slarn. Over time, we will build a trading empire or perhaps our own kingdom.”

Bredan looked despondent and Sila put a hand on his shoulder.

“Alin, you are the most cunning manipulator of money and influence I have ever known. You turned Yandin Selda’s investments into far more gold than he ever mined and you raised him up to be leader of the Association. Let these thoughts of revenge go. Jalia al’Dare is much more than just an adventurer, she is also exceptionally, almost supernaturally, lucky. Try to kill her and it will surely bounce back upon you and send you to your doom.”

“I worked for Yandin for over twenty years and he was a good friend,” Bredan grumbled.

“Let it go,” Sila cautioned. “You work for me now and that is an order. We have enough to do in working the politics of Slarn to our advantage. Let it go.”

Alin nodded his head in acknowledgement of the order. However, he mentally reserved the right to kill Jalia and her man, when and if the opportunity arose.

 

“We have a dinner engagement?” Daniel asked Jalia in surprise when they had returned to their cabin.

“Yes, I agreed to meet for dinner with Lady Sala Rotiln and Halad al’Faran at seven o’clock. I was planning to go with Hala, but I suspect she will be far too busy looking after Nin. I’m sure his father will send them food. He is this boat’s chef, after all.”

“These people are your friends?” Daniel asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Not really, I held my sword against Lady Rotiln’s breast when she dared to call me a liar. She didn’t believe who I am, and then told me I was carrying my sword as an act.”

“I suppose we should consider ourselves lucky that she is still alive to dine with us,” Daniel said, sighing. “Have we made any other friends while I’ve been asleep?”

“Hala ran away from Dor. You remember, the man in the tavern who was with Grilt and Tel. He asked her what we were doing onboard. She told him we were trying to get our property back from Gally Sorn.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t already recovered it.”

It was Jalia’s turn to sigh. “She is no longer wearing the ring. I searched her suite the other night and found nothing. Well, not your dagger or my ring. She could have hidden them anywhere.”

“I expect they will turn up sooner or later,” Daniel concluded. “It’s nearly seven and we should freshen up. I’m a little sweaty from the entertainment in the hold.”

 

-

 

“So this is the mysterious Daniel al’Degar,” Lady Rotiln said, holding out her hand to Daniel.

Daniel leaned forward and kissed her fingers lightly, much to Lady Rotiln’s amusement.

“And he is a gentleman as well as being so handsome. What have you done with the rude child?”

“She is attending to her friend, Nin, who is indisposed,” Jalia replied.

“No matter, we can have a much more adult conversation without her,” Lady Rotiln said cheerfully. “Halad in particular, seems to find her cheeky and will be happier without her presence.”

“As my lady indicates,” Halad said imperturbably.

The conversation meandered inconsequentially as they waited for the food to arrive. Lady Rotiln had watched Jalia’s rescue of Sila and Alin earlier in the day and was impressed, or so she said.

“A very daring rescue indeed,” she said putting the serviette to her lips and dabbing lightly. “Forgive me for ever doubting you, my dear. I think you have put that particular question beyond all doubt.”

“Why were you visiting Boathaven?” Daniel asked.

“I have relatives there. They were very boring indeed and I would not want to waste your time recounting any of the tedious time I spent in their company.”

“And you Halad, what brought you to Boathaven?” Jalia asked.

“I buy trinkets in the market. They tend to be of low value, but they can be enhanced by skilled work back in my shop,” Halad explained. “I travel this route once a year and search the markets of Bratin, Wegnar and Boathaven for jewellery that will tickle the fancy of my clientele in Slarn.”

“And very successful you are at it too,” Lady Rotiln said with a light laugh.

“Have you traveled together often?” Daniel enquired.

“Why, you do ask a lot of questions, young man. And yet it is you and your charming lady who are the talk of Jalon. Surely, you can regale us with the story of your time in Brinan? That would be so much more interesting, I am sure.”

“There’s nothing much to tell,” Jalia said quietly. “The Mine Owners Association annoyed the people of Brinan and they took their town back from their mercenaries.”

“But what became of the gold?” Halad asked leaning intently over the table.

Jalia shrugged, “They say it vanished from the vaults. As usual, I got the blame.”

“And the story of you confronting the Association’s guards at the gates of Brinan?” Lady Rotiln enquired of Daniel.

“Oh, that happened,” Daniel told her laughing. “I just happened to be in front and I shouted Boo! And they ran off like scared rabbits.”

“Well you really don’t make your adventures seem very heroic at all,” Lady Rotiln complained.

“At the time they were anything but,” Daniel agreed.

 

Later, as they walked back to their cabin, Jalia turned to Daniel.

“What do you think?”

“I think that they are up to something, though I have no idea what,” Daniel confessed, “Perhaps they are lovers and don’t want their families to know.”

“Somehow, I don’t see Lady Rotiln as the shy retiring type,” Jalia said as she opened the door to their cabin.

“Daniel you have to help Nin!” Hala screamed. She rushed to Daniel, put her arms around his waist, and snuggled up to him. “Nin is in such pain. I can’t stand it. You have to do your magic and fix him, Daniel. You have to.”

Daniel stood still, feeling completely helpless. He didn’t know how he saved Hala. The gift came and went as it wanted.

“It touched him when I put on the ointment and nothing happened,” he pointed out.

“For which we can be truly grateful,” Jalia said angrily. She pulled Hala away from Daniel and knelt down so they were at eye level.

“Nin is not going to die. He was punished for breaking the rules of his people and that was appropriate. This is his home and he has to live with these men. Do you understand, Hala.”

Hala struggled in Jalia’s grasp and turned her head towards Daniel in appeal. “It’s hurting him so much.”

“Hala,” Jalia shouted. “You would risk Daniel life just to save your boyfriend a little pain? He broke their rules, you stupid girl. How can you think of asking such a thing?”

“Please Daniel?” Hala whimpered.

“Daniel, get out of here. Hala and I have to have a little talk.”

“Jalia, she’s only upset because Nin is in pain.”

“Get out now. Come back in an hour, not sooner.”

Hala was frightened of what Jalia would do and tried to wriggle from her grasp. Jalia held her so firmly she couldn’t move.

“Jalia,” Daniel pleaded one last time. He read the look in Jalia’s eyes and turned and walked from the room.

Hala cried “No,” as the door closed behind him.

Jalia slapped Hala across the face. “Daniel has put his life at risk by saving yours, because I begged him too. And this is how you repay him. Anybody could be listening.
Anything
could be listening. It seems you still have some lessons to learn and I shall be a good teacher.”

 

Daniel walked into their cabin an hour later. Hala lay on her tummy, propped up on her elbows. Her eyes were bright red and she looked as though she had only just stopped crying.

“I’m sorry I asked that of you, Daniel,” Hala said quietly. “Jalia has set me straight and I won’t do anything so stupid again.”

On the other side of the room, Jalia nodded her head to indicate she had said her words just right.

5.
          
Alliances

 

Dor, Jant, and Mal entered the dining room early the next morning. The Steam Dragon had barely got underway again, as it was just past first light. They waited a few minutes as the bread was not quite ready, before they went to the table at the farthest corner to sit to eat.

“I want to persuade the brother and sister to join us for a meal,” Dor told his men. Mal gave him a sideways look through his permanently slanted left eye while Jant was far from happy at the suggestion.

“Why do we need to have anything to do with them? They are too closely allied to Dare and Degar for my liking,” Jant complained. “It is my job to keep you safe and I can’t do that if you keep talking to people. Your father will have me hung for the crows to feed on if I fail my mission.”

“I need to talk to them exactly because it is unclear where their loyalties lie. Brila Marlin has powerful allies in Slarn and it is extremely unusual for two of her children to travel so far from home unaccompanied,” Dor explained. “It is possible they have been tasked with negotiating a deal with someone. If that is so, I need to know the who and what.”

“You see conspiracies everywhere, my lor… Dor,” Jant continued. “Should we not be talking to Tonas and the Denger brothers instead? They are the ones with the swords.”

“And do we have the money to pay them?” Dor asked. Jant didn’t attempt to answer the question, as it was rhetorical. “Exactly, and neither does Gally Sorn for that matter. If we even look at those men, she will become suspicious of us and I thought that you wanted to keep me safe? We both plan to steal the swords from the traders. The only question is which of our plans will succeed. Do not believe for a moment that we will be the only players involved in this game.”

Mal finished eating while the others talked, took out his dagger and began to clean his fingernails with its point. Dor was fascinated and disgusted by his servant’s actions and lost the thread of the conversation. He and Jant began to eat their breakfast in silence.

Alin Bredan limped into the dining room using a stick. It was lucky that the Steam Dragon was in a quiet stretch of the river as he would otherwise have fallen over from the swaying of the boat.

Dor nudged Jant. Jant gave Dor a look very close to despair before he stood up and the men helped Bredan over to sit at their table. Dor carrying the food and drink that Bredan had selected while Jant helped the man to walk.

“I am Dor and these are my companions, Jant and Mal,” Dor said cheerfully once they were all sat down.

“Alin,” Bredan said. “I must thank you for your kind assistance.”

“It is the least we can do for a shipwrecked sailor. Though I suspect you and your lady were more passengers than crew on that particular ship,” Dor said and smiled. “It is a dangerous journey upriver by sail, though I must say that most ships make it safely to Slarn.”

“As would we, had we not been cursed by bad luck,” Alin said briefly before giving his attention to his meal.

“You surely cannot mean to leave your story unspoken?” Dor said, laughing at the thought. “Whatever happened to maroon the two of you on a derelict and sinking ship?”

Alin paused from eating his breakfast. These men had helped him to their table and he could see little harm in telling them part of the story.

“The anchor chain snapped while we were moored a quarter mile from Wegnar. Our captain did not want to risk entering the harbor in the failing light.”

“It is a narrow entrance,” Dor conceded, “Though you could have paid the locals to pull you in.”

“Perhaps we should have, but Lady Glan chose to stay on the river until morning.”

Dor raised an eyebrow at the mention of Lady Glan, but chose to pursue what happened to the ship and to save that particular matter for later.

“Surely, you had a second anchor that you could have dropped and kept the ship safe until morning?” he asked.

“I think that something happened to it,” Bredan said with a shrug. “I am not a sailor and have little understanding of such things. In the event, we found ourselves drifting down the river with only the moons to light our way. The captain did a sterling job keeping us in the center of the river and that worked for many miles until we ran aground.”

“Which just happens to be in the center of the river,” Dor pointed out. “Your captain was skilled indeed, just unfamiliar with the vagaries of the River Jalon.”

“Lady Glan was in the hold, checking that the cargo when we grounded and the ship keeled over. Some of the cargo shifted and blocked her way out. I broke my leg trying to get to the hold to help her. Our crew abandoned ship, leaving me onboard when I refused to leave without my lady. Our rescue yesterday, I am sure you saw for yourself.”

“That we did,” Dor agreed. “The only thing puzzling me is why you refer to Sila Klint as Lady Glan?”

Bredan almost jumped from the table in the shock of being discovered. He managed to control himself with some effort.

“You are mistaken. She is the Lady Glan, originally from Bagdor.”

“No,” Dor said, with a smile. “She is Sila Klint, last and only survivor of the Mine Owners Association of Telmar. Ah, now I have it. What irony it is for you to be rescued by Jalia al’Dare, the woman who the stories claim killed the other members of the Association.”

“Why would you think Lady Glan is this Klint woman you speak of?” Bredan said, trying to keep his voice steady.

“Because I was introduced to her a few years ago,” Dor replied. “I was left on the island of Sep while my father went to negotiate with Yandin Selda. Oh, do not panic, Alin. I have no intention of revealing her identity to Dare or Degar. I am also traveling incognito, as it happens.”

“I see,” Bredan said, relaxing a little.

“However…,” Dor said and paused. “Should I need a favor at any time during our voyage to Slarn?”

“I am sure that my Lady would be more than happy to oblige, as would I,” Bredan conceded in a wooden voice.

“Splendid!” Dor declared, giving Bredan a hearty clap on the back. “I’m afraid we shall have to leave as there is much we have to do this morning. It has been a pleasure to talk with you.”

Jant and Mal joined Dor as he stood up from the table. Alin Bredan watched then leave, anger seething through him. He had no idea who Dor was, though he was sure that Lady Klint would recognize him when they met. Whoever he was, he would regret trying to blackmail Sila Klint and Alin Bredan. Bredan vowed to make certain of that.

 

Daniel, Jalia, and Hala entered the dining room a few minutes after Dor left. Bredan was still eating his breakfast and they might have joined him, but for the glare he gave them as he looked up.

“A man who obviously takes exception to being rescued,” Daniel commented when Hala explained who he was.

They had no sooner sat down than Sila Klint entered the room. She took a tray with food and drink over to Bredan’s table, but then she walked across the room to greet them.

Sila had tucked up her evening gown and almost made it appear a sensible garment. Despite the gown’s somewhat damaged state, she looked stunning.

“I’ve brought another big breasted beautiful woman onboard,” Jalia muttered under her breath. “What was I thinking of?”

“Now that I am sober I must thank you sincerely for my rescue, Lady al’Dare,” Sila said and smiled. If there was deception in her smile, neither Jalia nor Daniel spotted it. “I must also thank your young traveling companion for her quick thinking with that rope. I’m afraid we have not yet been introduced.”

Jalia made formal introductions.

“I do hope that boy who helped you came to no harm,” Sila told Hala. “These rules that sailors set themselves seem so silly to me.”

“He is fine,” Jalia said, before Hala could reveal anything. Hala nodded her head.

“Then all is well. If there is ever a favor I can do for you, Jalia al’Dare, please let me know. Deeds of heroism should never go unrewarded.”

With once last warm smile at the three of them, Sila walked back over to Bredan and sat with him to eat her breakfast

“That is a woman we would do well not to underestimate,” Daniel said thoughtfully.

“She seemed nice to me,” Hala put in.

“Daniel has too high an opinion of women with large breasts,” Jalia told Hala. “Even when her life was in danger, Sila Glan wouldn’t let go of her carpetbag and that smacks of gross stupidity to me.”

“Perhaps the bag was not what it seemed,” Daniel said. “I am certain that Sila Glan is much more than she appears to be.”

Jalia snorted and mumbled something that sounded like ‘big twits’. Hala wondered what that had to do with anything.

 

Before they finished their meal, Cara and Don arrived. Cara’s face lit up when she saw Daniel at the table.

She rushed to them, leaving Don to get her breakfast.

“I’m so glad you are better, Daniel,” Cara gushed. She leaned over the table, exposing a large amount of her cleavage to Daniel. Jalia turned her gaze towards her plate and decapitated an innocent piece of cheese that had been minding its own business. The smaller of the pieces shot across the table, bouncing onto Hala’s plate.

“It’s good to see you too,” Daniel replied and Jalia muttered ‘two he says’ under her breath, ‘I’ll give him two’.

“Have you recovered from the crossbow bolt to your breastplate?” Daniel asked. “I have some ointment that will help if you have suffered bruising.”

Cara pulled her shirt down to show Daniel that there was only a small bruise below her left breast. In the process, the whole of her left breast became uncovered and most of her right. Daniel couldn’t help but notice how firm they were despite their size and how Cara had the largest nipples that Daniel had ever seen. Jalia glanced up at Cara uncovered state and then down at her plate.

“See, it is hardly anything to talk about,” Cara said smiling, “Though if you were to insist on rubbing ointment onto it, I will not complain.”

“I’m afraid that if I did, it would make certain swellings go up rather than down,” Daniel replied with a sly smile on his face.

“Enough,” Jalia shouted and everybody looked at her in astonishment.

“I’ve had enough to eat and have things to do. I will see you later,” Jalia covered hastily. She ran out of the room much to Cara’s and Hala’s surprise.

“Did I say something to offend her?” Cara asked.

“Only in the sense that you have rather more upfront than Jalia can cope with right now.” Daniel made his excuses and left the room in search of his favorite, but in one particular area, highly insecure woman.

When Don arrived a few seconds later, only Cara and Hala were still at the table to greet him.

 

Daniel found Jalia exactly where he expected her to be, up on the viewing platform. She leaned far out on the rail, staring into the mists on the river up ahead. Daniel stood beside her and looked into the distance.

The Jalon was narrow at this point, but deep and running slow. The river was only about four boat lengths across in Steam Dragon terms and they were plowing through it at speed. Behind them, the wake from the Dragon roiled towards the banks causing waterfowl to scatter and take to wing.

The air was still that morning, still and strangely cool for summer. However, the Steam Dragon’s speed provided enough of a breeze to stir Jalia’s hair, which was untied and blowing free.

“I am not in the slightest bit interested in any other woman,” Daniel said after the silence dragged on into tens of minutes.

“Only their breasts.” Jalia didn’t look at him as she spoke. She just stared ahead up the river.

“Well, of course I’m going to look, especially if a girl thrusts them into my face.”

“I am not enough for you then. Nature did not make mine big enough to satisfy your manly urges.”

“Yours are wonderful, luscious, pretty, perfectly formed….” Daniel had to stop as he struggled to find appropriate words.

“The words you are struggling to avoid are, small, tiny, minute, diminutive…”

Daniel found a way to stop Jalia from talking by taking her in his arms and kissing her. After a long lingering kiss, he let her up for air.

“Crab apples, shrunken pears…”

He kissed her again, this time taking longer about it. Somewhere in the middle of the kiss, Jalia decided to join in and put her arms over his shoulders. When he finally stopped, she smiled, put her hands lightly against his chest and, without warning, pushed him back towards the funnel.

BOOK: Jalia Prevails (Book 5)
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