—sacked from my position at the University, for rather obvious reasons. But I was planning on taking my leave soon anyway, so I have the next phase of my research already in motion. There’s a small shop for rent in a town not too far from Harramschall where I can set up a lab—one where sorcerers won’t just walk in on me practicing Alchemy. It’ll be a bother to procure supplies, making frequent trips to Harramschall, but it’ll be better to have privacy in the end. I wonder if I can rip out the walls of the interior—
Brex looked at the stars—as if they had an answer for a question he’d yet to ask.
There were people on the ship whose job was to find their way by the stars, people who had charts and maps and a compass in hand. They could tell him how close the ship was to Goronich, if he cared to bother them.
But it was a dumb question to ask. Are we there yet? Of course not, if you were there, you wouldn’t be on the ship anymore because you had better things to do.
And yet there was a feeling of dread over him as he stood under the moonlit sky. He leaned on the ship’s railing, looking at the reflection of the stars across the ocean’s surface. Pinpricks of light that seemed to both rise from the depths and cover up everything that lurked beneath.
It’s just fish down there, he told himself. Fish and shipwrecks.
A door nearby opened and closed. Footsteps approached.
“Something the matter?” Red asked.
Brex shook his head, then stopped.
“Well,” he said. “Maybe a few things.”
Red leaned on the railing next to Brex. “Like what?”
“Firstly, you snore,” Brex said.
“Do I?”
“I’m sure I can find a few other people you were keeping awake as proof.”
Red flashed a smile. “I can take your word for it.”
“Second,” Brex said. “Can’t sleep anyway. I don’t know, I’m nervous, I guess.”
“Nervous about what, exactly?”
“What if something goes wrong? What if we’re attacked by another vessel, or we hit a reef? What if we run into another rainstorm like in Harramschall? I don’t know any spells to help in any of these cases and I just can’t stop thinking about how we’re…just doomed if these things go wrong.”
Red considered his response, scratching at his beard. “Why is it your job to make sure we don’t hit a reef or get attacked?”
“It’s not, I just don’t want to feel–“
“Helpless, I know,” Red said. “But there are two dozen people on this ship who you paid good money to make sure none of those things happen. People who’ve done this before. We’ll be fine. Let’s just enjoy the time together.”
Brex was almost relieved, until that phrase—just enjoy the time together—reminded him that the time he had with this Red he knew was limited.
“You have to trust people sometimes. People you barely know, but people who are good at what they do. You can’t just go around assuming that everyone is out to get you.”
Brex gave a cheerful scoff. “I get it. I do.” He sighed. “But, there are all these stories the elders tell about the world outside the clan. How brutal and dangerous the humans and the dwarves are.”
“You’ve been around them a while,” Red said, “Are the stories true?”
“No,” Brex said. “Well, some. Sort of. In a way.”
“Sounds complicated.”
“Yeah, complicated.” Brex narrowed his eyes. “Are you being coy with me?”
Red tilted his head to the side in a sort of half-concession. “Just a little. But you understand, right? The world isn’t the same as the picture those stories painted.”
Brex nodded, rolling his eyes. “Sure.”
Red turned around and leaned his back against the railing before crossing his arms. “So you don’t need your guard up all the time. The world isn’t about you. It mostly doesn’t care. You can’t know everything there is to know about the world. And sometimes, that means you have to put yourself at the mercy of other people. Maybe because you pay them. Maybe because they just happen to be nearby. Or, maybe because you choose to be around them because they’re decent and can help you.”
“Hopefully that one.”
“Hopefully. Usually.” Red smiled. “You did it for me, and you’ll do it again.”
Brex slouched against the railing. “When did you get so good at this?”
“Being around you has made me a little better with words.”
Brex smirked. “You’re right, though. I just hope the next person I have to trust like that is as good and decent as you are.”
Red smiled at him, then yawned and rested his hand on Brex’s shoulder. “Let’s go back to bed. We’ve got three more days of this.”
“Fine,” Brex said as they turned back toward the door that led to the guest quarters. “But if you start snoring again I’m making you sleep on the floor.”
Goronich always felt disgustingly warm to Karna.
In theory, it shouldn’t have been very different from Harramschall. Both of them were port cities, connected by an ocean, warm summers and mild winters. But there was a sense of grime in Goronich that Harramschall lacked. It was like the difference between a house made of stone and a house made of wood, and she vastly preferred the stone, no matter what praises her dwarven friends or family might have sung about the wonders of lumber.
It was like the city itself mocked her as she stepped off the dock. You grew up here. You can’t escape this. You’ll always end up coming back here. But the sight of the city caused an instinctive sneer in her lips, one that Tiv must have recognized as they both arrived on dry land after an entire week at sea.
“We’re not staying long, at least,” Tiv said.
“If we can find the orcs,” Karna said. “Which shouldn’t take long. They’re not hard to spot.”
“They stick out from a crowd, yeah,” Tiv said. “Especially in a city mostly made of dwarves.”
Karna glanced at her, with eyes narrowed.
Tiv froze up. “Statistically speaking, I mean.”
Tiv knew better than to press the subject. Karna hardly cared for her own upbringing, but it did give her a certain advantage in the city, no matter how many taverns went out of business or blacksmiths competed for a dwindling market.
At least Goronich didn’t have any insufferable sorcerers breathing down her neck. Without a major academy situated in the town, there was a decidedly tedious-but-true feeling to the structures and the way of life. Even as they headed toward the dock gates to have their tickets inspected, Karna could see and hear natural sounds that put her slightly more at ease. The sound of axes and saws working at wood, wagon wheels squeaking as they turned. Very different from the eerie operational perfection of Harramschall and its sorcery-assisted infrastructure.
Tiv handed over both of their tickets while Karna watched the scenes on the street unfold. Dozens of people going about their day, unaware of the danger that lurked somewhere among them.
“Pardon me, if you don’t mind,” Tiv said to the dock inspector, a male dwarf, shaven and dressed in rough clothes. She pushed her golden-brown hair behind her right ear, which always seemed to endear strangers to her, and spoke with an innocent tone that Karna knew was a farce. “We’re representatives from Harramschall and we’re here on official business, looking for a pair of orcs who may be able to help us with something. Both men, one wearing a lot of pockets and the other without tusks. Have you seen them?”
The inspector pushed out his chest and rose up on the balls of his feet with a smile. “Why, yes I did, ma’am. They arrived about six hours ago.”
“Any idea where they might have gone, sir?” Tiv asked.
“I believe they mentioned finding something to eat. Not uncommon after a big voyage like yours, though.”
“Thank you,” Tiv said.
She and Karna stepped through the open gate and Karna felt herself sneering at the city again. Sorcerers or not, she still preferred Harramschall’s industrial build and overall sturdiness. She wondered if Goronich could even have recovered from the kind of storm that Harramschall just weathered.
“So, should we just check nearby inns or cafes?” Tiv asked, dropping the sweetness in her voice. “Or are we going to try the proper channels first?”
Karna crossed her arms. “We need to connect with the embassy. No use trying to smuggle a pair of orcs back to Harramschall for judgement, especially if they don’t cooperate.”
“Didn’t he promise to behave?” Tiv asked.
When you find me again, I promise I’ll surrender.
“He did,” Karna said. “But he promised to stay out of trouble in Ziqondi too, and that sure as stone didn’t happen.”
Which is why she’d brought a collapsable hand crossbow with a sleeping poison bolt. Just in case. Ideally, she’d have liked to bring proper equipment, but there was precious little time to gather resources before they boarded their ship, and her gut told her that staying hot on his trail was a better advantage than a trunk full of arms.
She and Tiv went over the facts several times on the trip. Really, they’d only ever been six hours behind the pair of orcs, but they never seemed harder to reach than in that moment. Brex was unpredictable and slippery. He didn’t behave like any criminal profile she’d studied, but neither did he line up with an innocent’s behavior either. His actions seemed to imply something far more troublesome than complete absolution or guilt.
“Regardless,” Karna said. “We’re better off trying to find him with the cooperation of the local guard and whoever the embassy’s willing to spare.”
“Are we going higher-lower for this one?”
Karna gave it some thought. “12 hours.”
“Before midnight?” Tiv asked. “A hundred sentas says it takes longer than that, especially if we’re getting the embassy involved.”
“Fine by me,” Karna smirked. Tiv underestimated just how much she wanted to get out of Goronich as quickly as possible. “Let’s get moving.”
They strode off toward the Harrish embassy, a fire igniting in Karna’s heart once more.
The air in High Ambassador Thornwater’s chambers was stale and oppressive, turning Karna’s stomach over on itself. If only she could open one of those ridiculously large windows, but no, that would be rude.
Clean and meticulously placed, much like the ambassador’s own outfit, the room had a certain sense of disdain for anyone who bothered to step inside.
Thornwater looked over the few sheets of parchment that Karna and Tiv had brought with them.
“Yes, we’ll see to your sleeping arrangements, and make sure your travel bags are brought to the inn,” he said with a drone, finger and thumb pinching the edge of his half-circle glasses. “How long do you expect to be staying?”
“Just one night, most likely,” Karna said.
“But we’d recommend booking three,” Tiv interrupted. “Just in case.”
“Very well,” Thornwater continued. “My, my. Serial murderer hiding somewhere in Goronich. And an orc at that, quite a doozy.”
“Accused serial murderer,” Karna corrected.
“And you’ve come all the way over here with a sprained shoulder? Is there no one else who was willing to take this task so you could get your proper rest? Do you need a sling? Perhaps a healer to take a look at it?”
“I requested to remain on this case despite my injury. Harramschall’s healers did what they could, and resting on the ship during the voyage was enough that it won’t be a problem. I assure you I’m in well enough shape to take care of this case.” Karna made sure not to glance at Tiv, who was surely stifling a groan.
Thornwater looked at her over the top of his glasses. “Pardon my surprise, Captain. Usually the most tenacious Enforcers are the ones least concerned with the semantics of the law.”
Karna mustered up the politest smile she could find. “Those Enforcers are rarely given special projects or task forces like this. Goronich has an accused criminal on the loose, we’re simply looking to make sure he’s brought before the courts like anyone else would.”
“Well, I appreciate Harramschall’s Guard sending over their best and brightest,” Thornwater said. “We’re on good enough terms with the Goronich law enforcement that we can request some manner of protection for you.”
“Strictly speaking,” Karna said. “Enforcers would be ideal. The accused has slipped out from our grasp before, and we believe he may be working with another orc. So whatever forces the Guard is willing to spare will be necessary to bring him in. It shouldn’t take long with a cooperated effort.”
“Yes, well…” Thornwater began. “Goronich’s law enforcement is not quite so fond of us as that. I believe the best I can get you is a bodyguard, but let me speak with the Guard-Commander and see if I can pull a few more strings.”
He rose from his chair. “Just a moment, please.” And he walked out of the room with his hands held behind his back and his posture slumped forward.
Karna’s blood was already boiling. “A bodyguard? A single person?” She spat in a whisper to Tiv.
“Starting to think that these good terms with the Goronich Guard are exaggerated,” Tiv whispered.
“Oh it’ll be great when he jumps in front of a bolt for me instead of just tackling the suspect,” Karna said, voice rising in volume. “Like any decent Enforcer would.”
“I wouldn’t put so much stock in loyalty, he might let you take the bolt.”
Karna glared at Tiv just as the office door opened again, with Thornwater returning to his seat behind his desk.
“Good news, my fellows. I was able to secure two bodyguards, which means you can even split into groups to track your suspect. Of course, you’ll have to take one bodyguard each, as stipulated by the contract negotiated by Goronich and Harramschall. But I’m confident you’ll be able to work wonders with the two of them.”
“Delightful,” Karna said, trying and failing to leave the edge of sarcasm from her tone.
“Ah, and before I forget,” said Thornwater. “Captain Barrask sent word that he’d be arriving tomorrow as well, and he spoke nothing but the highest praises for you.”
“Barrask is coming?” Tiv asked.
“Yes, I believe he wishes to be present for the capture and trial of your suspect, based on his comments. He mentioned he would be on the next ship out from Harramschall after yours departed. I suspect he’ll be here by morning.”
Karna scratched under her ear, confused. “A trial? Wouldn’t it be easier to just extradite the suspect back to Harramschall? The crimes were all committed in the greater Harrish area.”
The ambassador pursed his lips, choosing his words carefully. “I believe the Guard in Harramschall would like to deal with this problem as swiftly as possible. We do have the space necessary for a trial here at the embassy. A full courtroom and chambers for all parties, as well as a Defender on retainer. Of course, the most exciting things that happen there are revocations of temporary citizenship or plea negotiations over petty crimes.” He smiled meekly. “But there’s a first time for everything, I suppose.”
Tiv looked over at Karna, nervous, before speaking up. “Ambassador, if our suspect is convicted, would they carry out an execution here or transport him back to Harramschall?”
Thornwater bit his lip. “I don’t know for certain. We may have to cross that bridge when we reach it.”
The door opened behind Karna, and she looked back to see a clerical worker signal something to Thornwater.
“Ah, yes, your accompaniment is ready.”
They each rose from their seats to meet them, but Karna found herself struggling to understand why the embassy would host a trial of such importance.
Two men dressed in light armor, one dwarf and one human, saluted with fists over their hearts before bowing to Karna and Tiv.
“Ladies, these are your bodyguards.” Thornwater gestured to the dwarf. “Nico here has served the embassy for six years, and will be protecting you, Miss Tivyana.”
“A pleasure,” Nico said.
“Call me Tiv, please,” she said before shaking his hand.
Thornwater motioned to the human, a full two heads taller than Karna. “Captain, Ydward will be providing your security during your stay here.”
Karna addressed him before he could offer any pleasantries. “Are you combat-trained, Ydward?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Can you follow orders?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Then just do what I say and I won’t need any protecting.”
“Naturally, ma’am. But it is my duty to keep you safe during your stay here in Goronich.”
Karna glanced to Thornwater. “Lovely,” she said, voice dripping with barely-contained disgust. “If we bring back the suspect in chains, do you have a holding cell for him here, or will we need to take him to the Goronich Guard?”
Thornwater shook his head. “We have space here for him if need be.”
Karna gave as much of a bow as she could muster to Thornwater, then signaled for the rest of the group to leave.
Orcanist 