Read Online Circle of Thieves: Legends of Dimmingwood by C. Greenwood - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: C. Greenwood
Ads: Link
fell silent, I decided it was time to play my final
card. I announced, “Ada has told me that as soon as our scouts came to Rideon
to report the attack on Hammond’s Bend, she realized the connection. She
recognized the descriptions she was given of the raiders and identified them to
Rideon by one of the weapons they left behind. One of the scouts brought this.”
Ada brought out the Skeltai spear I had instructed her to
bring and held it out for the others to examine. She pointed out light etchings
spiraling down the shaft of the weapon and told us, “These are magical runes
spelled by the Skeltai shamans to grant the bearer of the weapon great strength
and skill.” She fingered the bits of feathers and bones strung on a leather
thong around the spear head, and I realized for the first time the resemblance
they bore to the ornaments she wore braided into her own silver-blue locks.
“These are Skeltai ornaments meant to protect the warrior,”
she explained. “And the spearhead is made of the red-streaked stone beyond the
Black Forest.”
To emphasize that point, she drew a dagger with a similar
blade from the inside of her boot and passed it around for examination. “A
relic of my past,” she admitted.
One outlaw snatched the blade, and on comparison, had to
admit the two weapons bore an unmistakable similarity. Others murmured
agreement.
Now was the time to tell them everything. I said to the
gathering, “I didn’t call you all together only to disclose who was behind the
attack on Hammond’s Bend. I came here tonight with the intention of asking your
help. I want to hunt the Skeltai raiders down, or barred the means to do that,
at least find a way to thwart them from crossing into Dimmingwood again. I
can’t accomplish either objective alone.”
The outlaw Nib had a question. “Are we to take it this
hunting down of Skeltai is meant to be carried out without Rideon’s knowledge?
Surely there can be no other reason why he’s not standing among us now.”
I hid my surprise that the observation came from Nib. I had
never suspected the burly man of possessing the wit to get out more than three-word
sentences.
I answered bluntly, “Rideon has forbidden the band’s
involvement in this matter, so any man who wishes to join the cause will do so
counter to his orders. I intend to keep our activities as secret as possible,
but I won’t lie to you—there will always be a chance someone in our circle may
betray our plans to Rideon. Or even that Rideon himself will simply become
suspicious. He is known, after all, for being a difficult man to fool.”
“He is that,” the outlaws agreed, some with low chuckles of
pride.
I wasn’t disturbed by their admiration for our captain. Part
of me still shared it, even as the newer and wiser part knew our affection was
misplaced.
Keeping the movement discreet, I reached a hand back to
stroke the smooth wooden arm of the bow slung across my back. At my caress, a
soft voiceless whisper stirred to wakefulness in the recesses of my mind.
Reassured by the contact, I turned my attention back to the men before me, to
see that Dradac at the forefront of the gathering was looking at me strangely.
I met his gaze with what I hoped was a reassuring look.
Then I told the others, “I’m as devoted to Rideon as any of
you. But I think we can agree that for once…” I struggled for the right words,
ones that would make my point without seeming like an attack against the Hand.
“I don’t believe this particular order of his to be the best,” I said at last.
Dradac’s asked, “And exactly what is it you would have us
do?”
I had anticipated the question and had my answer ready. “We
already have a strong observation network throughout most of Dimming and the
woods villages. Rideon himself has boasted to me of the wide range of his spy
network. I propose we put together a similar network or even set to work
winning over Rideon’s own spies to our cause. They can still
card. I announced, “Ada has told me that as soon as our scouts came to Rideon
to report the attack on Hammond’s Bend, she realized the connection. She
recognized the descriptions she was given of the raiders and identified them to
Rideon by one of the weapons they left behind. One of the scouts brought this.”
Ada brought out the Skeltai spear I had instructed her to
bring and held it out for the others to examine. She pointed out light etchings
spiraling down the shaft of the weapon and told us, “These are magical runes
spelled by the Skeltai shamans to grant the bearer of the weapon great strength
and skill.” She fingered the bits of feathers and bones strung on a leather
thong around the spear head, and I realized for the first time the resemblance
they bore to the ornaments she wore braided into her own silver-blue locks.
“These are Skeltai ornaments meant to protect the warrior,”
she explained. “And the spearhead is made of the red-streaked stone beyond the
Black Forest.”
To emphasize that point, she drew a dagger with a similar
blade from the inside of her boot and passed it around for examination. “A
relic of my past,” she admitted.
One outlaw snatched the blade, and on comparison, had to
admit the two weapons bore an unmistakable similarity. Others murmured
agreement.
Now was the time to tell them everything. I said to the
gathering, “I didn’t call you all together only to disclose who was behind the
attack on Hammond’s Bend. I came here tonight with the intention of asking your
help. I want to hunt the Skeltai raiders down, or barred the means to do that,
at least find a way to thwart them from crossing into Dimmingwood again. I
can’t accomplish either objective alone.”
The outlaw Nib had a question. “Are we to take it this
hunting down of Skeltai is meant to be carried out without Rideon’s knowledge?
Surely there can be no other reason why he’s not standing among us now.”
I hid my surprise that the observation came from Nib. I had
never suspected the burly man of possessing the wit to get out more than three-word
sentences.
I answered bluntly, “Rideon has forbidden the band’s
involvement in this matter, so any man who wishes to join the cause will do so
counter to his orders. I intend to keep our activities as secret as possible,
but I won’t lie to you—there will always be a chance someone in our circle may
betray our plans to Rideon. Or even that Rideon himself will simply become
suspicious. He is known, after all, for being a difficult man to fool.”
“He is that,” the outlaws agreed, some with low chuckles of
pride.
I wasn’t disturbed by their admiration for our captain. Part
of me still shared it, even as the newer and wiser part knew our affection was
misplaced.
Keeping the movement discreet, I reached a hand back to
stroke the smooth wooden arm of the bow slung across my back. At my caress, a
soft voiceless whisper stirred to wakefulness in the recesses of my mind.
Reassured by the contact, I turned my attention back to the men before me, to
see that Dradac at the forefront of the gathering was looking at me strangely.
I met his gaze with what I hoped was a reassuring look.
Then I told the others, “I’m as devoted to Rideon as any of
you. But I think we can agree that for once…” I struggled for the right words,
ones that would make my point without seeming like an attack against the Hand.
“I don’t believe this particular order of his to be the best,” I said at last.
Dradac’s asked, “And exactly what is it you would have us
do?”
I had anticipated the question and had my answer ready. “We
already have a strong observation network throughout most of Dimming and the
woods villages. Rideon himself has boasted to me of the wide range of his spy
network. I propose we put together a similar network or even set to work
winning over Rideon’s own spies to our cause. They can still
Similar Books
